Page 117 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

Sienna found the bell and that was that. The ringing lasted at least thirty seconds before Bella took her hand away. “Sienna, do you like the tricycle?”

She began nodding. “Me yike it, Mommy.”

“Can you say ‘thank you’?”

“Tank you,” she said without hesitation. Her eyes were transfixed on her new trike.

Jared grinned. “You’re welcome. Now you can ride around the ranch in style.”

“It’s very generous of you,” Bella said.

“There’s a helmet for her, too. Lauren, my sister-in-law, said she couldn’t ride outside the house without one.”

“Yes, that’s true. Again, very thoughtful.”

Bella took the trike out of the box and set it on the floor. Immediately, Sienna, thrilled beyond belief, lifted her leg and tried to climb up. Bella gave her a little push and then she was all set, her butt settled on the padded seat.

“Your feet touch the pedals. Oh, my baby is getting to be such a big girl.”

“I’ll attach this thing,” Jared said, a screwdriver suddenly appearing in his hand. He lifted the rod out and bent on his haunches. His body creaked and his face went white, but his jaw was tight, determined. Bella bent, too, and suddenly she was inches from Jared, breathing in a light musk scent, seeing the tiny lines of pain around his eyes. And for a second, the briefest of moments, she saw not the victim whose life she’d saved, but a beautiful, bone-melting, blue-eyed man.

Amy would say he was a hunk to the hundredth degree.

“Can you hold this?” he asked.

“Oh, uh, yes.” She secured the rod while he screwed it to the back step of the trike.

“There,” he said, his breathing labored. He was taxing himself, but there was a gleam of accomplishment in his eyes that shouldn’t be shot down. “That should work.”

“Yes, it’s nice and tight.”

“And now for your gift.” He began to rise and wobbled a little. She was there immediately to catch him, putting her arm around his waist. He used his other hand to brace himself on the desk and then gazed at her. “I’ve got it,” he said quietly, the sexiness in his voice playing tricks on her.

“Yes, you do. Sorry.”

“For trying to rescue me again?”

“For—” She shrugged. “I don’t know why.” The words tumbled out of her mouth and, too late, she took her arm off his waist. Jared Stone definitely made her nervous.

He smiled. A killer this time, showing white teeth, handsome lines around his mouth and a twinkle in his eyes.

Sienna was patiently examining her new trike. Once again the temptation to ring the bell was too much for her and clanging filled the room. “A set of drums might’ve been less noisy,” Bella remarked.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest, one that caught him off guard. He winced, but it was brief and soon replaced with a smile. “I’ll remember that next time. This one is for you,” he said, pointing to the other wrapped gift. “I’m told every chef should have a good set of these.”

She stared at him for a moment and then carefully unwrapped her gift. It was an attaché case and inside she found a twenty-four-piece set of executive chef knives. They were beautiful, of the finest caliber, the handles made of rosewood.

“Oh...” A lump formed in her throat. She’d grown up with privilege and had had the finest of things, but this gift was special. It was the first time she’d been recognized as a legitimate chef. Other than by Paul. Her husband had believed in her and was awed by her talent, but her father and his wife had never taken her seriously. “It’s too much. I love it but—”

“No buts. Marie told me our kitchen was sorely lacking in equipment, and you should have all the tools you need at your disposal.”

“You mean for those burgers and fries I’m going to toss your way.”

Jared laughed.

“Thank you. It’s a beautiful set.”

Sienna went for the bell again and the ringing echoed off the study walls. “Well, we’d better get out of your hair now. Do you have more work to do?”