Page 5 of Cruz

Cruz wasn’t happy with the additional work on his plate.

“Your home looks good,” Kate said, feeling her cheeks heat as he turned to look at her. “I mean, you know, because I know what Jaxson had to do.”

“And he completely trashed my home in doing this rewiring, and I’m still working my way through having to deal with all the bullshit he’s created,” he said.

This made her smile, but she didn’t know why. “At least Jaxson is good at his job.”

“Yeah, I can’t fault him for that, even if his job is messy.”

Cruz rummaged through the cupboards, and she knew what he was looking for, so she moved to the cupboard where she knew the hot chocolate balls were kept. Cruz had a bit of a sweet tooth, and the man loved his hot chocolate. Not that she could fault him. Who didn’t love hot chocolate?

She moved to the cupboard for him and opened the door. “There you go.”

Cruz chuckled. “I swear your mother moved everything when she left.”

This just made her smile.

“I am sorry I had to fire her. I did try to avoid it, but it was not working out.”

“You did what you had to do.” She shrugged. “I get it.”

“I am still sorry.”

She put a hand on his arm. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve all got to do stuff we don’t want to do. Like the fact she came by the shop the other day. The same day you came looking for these, and she wanted to take over the fabric shop.”

“What?”

“Yeah, she told me it was time for her to take over because I was done playing with it.” She shook her head. “I didn’t play. Mom, she ... took money out against my name. It was so far into what felt like so many different colors. It was bad, and then I was able to pull it back. I still don’t know how, but I know it was with Tillie’s help.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “I shouldn’t be talking about this.”

“Sometimes it helps to get things off your chest,” he said, placing a mug of hot chocolate with the bomb still floating inside. He handed her a spoon, and she took it to roll her chocolate and watch it melt.

“Do you think I was being too harsh?” she asked. “Do you think I should give my mother a second chance?”

“No,” Cruz said. “We can do all we want for family members, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy for us or even them. There are times you have to allow them to get to it. It’s all you can do.” He shrugged.

She watched as he peeled back the aluminum foil, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away, even as he licked his lips. It looked rather ... sexual. Not that she would know what that meant.

No, she hadn’t been with a man. Her life had been devoted to her studies, putting herself through college, or at least night school, and then dedicating her life to her business. She had no choice. And men never flocked toward her. She was considered a bland person, and she was boring. She was pretty sure in high school she was voted the most boring girl in the school. It wasn’t exactly an accolade she wanted attached to herself.

She didn’t have anything to do with men her own age. She tried to focus instead. That seemed the easiest, and probably why she was so obsessed with the man who was currently serving up two cinnamon rolls, rather than one.

Even though he was wearing a sweater and a pair of worn jeans, she knew he looked good.

Every single part of Cruz looked good.

****

There was no way Cruz was going to be able to eat just one cinnamon roll. He needed to eat two. Rather than be rude, he put two rolls on each plate and joined her at the table. Through to his sitting room, he saw Belle had curled up in front of the fire. With the weather getting colder, he had no choice but to call it a day around three. Most of the jobs on the ranch had been done.

His men were thankful to get home to their families. Right now, it was back to his cooking, as no one answered the advertisement he’d made in the local paper. In the end, he also advertised in the supermarket, as well as the coffee shop for help wanted.

Nothing. Not a single answer.

It wasn’t exactly a shock. He was not a nice person. People didn’t like him, and it was something he was used to. He would need to find someone soon, because the men were not going to be happy with his cooking. They just weren’t.

He sat opposite Kate, and he didn’t have the first clue what to say to her. She looked so beautiful. Her long, brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and there were a few wisps falling around her face. He loved looking at her, with her full lips and cute button nose. She had beautiful brown eyes. So full. He could barely read them as well.

Did she even know that? He couldn’t tell what she was thinking when she looked at him. He was able to read most people, but Kate was a mystery.