“I drove over to the winery to talk to Ryan.”

A sharp pain stabbed me in my gut. Why the hell was she talking to Ryan? Ryan was known as the most jovial and best-looking Steel brother. The guy always had a smile on his face. No baggage for that one. Of course not. I had saved him that day.

“He’s going to give me some work over at the winery until I get my bar results.”

Thank God. So that’s all it was. Jade was interested in wine.

“What kind of work?”

“Nothing too exciting. Mostly helping Marion around the office with busy work. He did say he would train me to do tastings. I’m really excited about that opportunity.”

“Yeah, he opens up the winery for tastings all day on Friday and Saturdays. We get quite a good crowd there. He doesn’t charge for the tastings, but that doesn’t matter, because most people end up buying a case or two of wine.”

“Do you like wine?”

“I’m more of a bourbon or whiskey man myself. Peach Street is my favorite.”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“It’s made here in Colorado. It’s some smooth stuff, let me tell you. Colorado makes some amazing whiskeys. Breckenridge and Stranahan’s are two other great ones.”

“I’ll have to try them sometime. I’m not much into hard liquor, or beer, for that matter. My preference is wine when I drink at all. Which isn’t a lot.”

No longer scalding hot, the rest of my sandwich was amazing. The sharpness of the cheddar and sweet acidity of the tomato combined with the whole-wheat bread into a succulent delicacy. I opened my mouth to say again how delicious it was but decided against it. No sense beating a dead horse.

Jade finished her sandwich just as I took the last bite of mine. She stood, grabbed her plate and then mine, walked over to the sink, and ran water over them.

For an instant, I imagined we were husband and wife. She had made my lunch for me and picked up my plate. No one other than Felicia, or whoever the cook/housekeeper of the day was, had ever picked up after me. Not my mother, not my father, and certainly not my brothers or sister. Was I supposed to say thank you for that as well?

Why was it so hard? Usually I said thank you to Felicia. That was impersonal. It was a trained response. I took Felicia for granted. I knew I did. I pretty much took everything for granted.

Jade tussled around the kitchen, putting something in the microwave. “I’m making a cup of tea,” she said. “You want anything?”

There she went again. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why this was so amazing to me. “No thanks.” Although a cup of tea did sound good.

I rose, walked to the cupboard, pulled out a mug, and filled it with water. When the microwave dinged, and she took her cup out, I put mine in.

“What in the hell are you doing?” she asked me, her eyebrows arched.

“I’m making some tea.”

She shook her head. “What? The tea I offered wasn’t good enough for you?”

My cheeks warmed. “No, I…I just didn’t want to be a bother.”

She shook her head again, letting out a heavy sigh. “I really don’t get you, Talon. I was over here making a cup of tea. It would not have been any trouble to make another cup of tea. In fact, I could have put both cups in the microwave at the same time, and they’d be done by now.”

Great. Now I felt like a piece of shit. Of course, since I always felt like a piece of shit, this was really nothing new. “Now you don’t have to bother.”

“Oh, for the love of God!” She pounded her fist on the counter. “Damn it, that hurt!”

“These counters are solid granite.”

“Yes, yes. And I’m used to cheap Formica. Well, you got that right. Enjoy your tea.” She took hers and turned, walking toward the table.

But she passed the table and headed for the hallway.

Something stirred within me. I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. I wanted to spend more time with her. But how? If I asked her to stay and drink tea with me, she probably would. So ask her, Talon. Just fucking ask her.

But my lips stayed clamped shut. If I let her anymore near me, the walls that were already beginning to crumble in her presence would come crashing down.

What was it about her? Why did I want her so much?

I had to stay away from her. Ryan probably didn’t have room for me in the guest house, but Jonah might have some room in his house. I’d go over and see him this afternoon and find out. And then I’d go into town and start the process for a permit to build my own structure here on the ranch. I needed to get far away from Jade Roberts. For her own good as well as mine.

 

* * *

 

Jonah was in his office, decked out in full cowboy regalia, ready to go out in the field and check on some steers. He looked up when I entered.

“Hey, Talon, what are you doing out here?”

“It is one quarter my ranch. Shouldn’t I know what’s going on from time to time?”

“Sure. But you never come out here. I take care of the beef, Ry takes care of the vineyards, and you take care of the orchard. We don’t bug each other.”

“I didn’t come out here to bug you, Joe. Actually came out ask you favor.”

“Anything for you if I can. What you need?”

“It’s time for me to build my own house here on the land. I’ve got a spot in mind, and I wanted to go over it with you, make sure you didn’t need it for pasture or anything. Then I plan to go into town and file the papers for the permit. I’ll drive into Grand Junction and hire an architect later this week.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? That will leave Marjorie in the big house all by herself.”

“She’s a big girl. And she’s got her friend with her now.”

“I suppose. One of us is going to have to take over the big house eventually, though, and I figured it would always be you, Tal. I mean, I’ve got my own place already, and Ryan’s comfortable in the guest house. Marjorie will probably eventually meet someone and move off the ranch.”

“Is it a goddamned crime for me to want my own house?”

“No, of course not. Calm yourself down, for God’s sake.”

“I just can’t stay there anymore, Joe.”

“Why? What the fuck is wrong with that house? It’s beautiful. Felicia comes in every day and takes care of everything. You don’t have to do a damn thing.”