Fencing You In (8 page)

“We will,” Gage said.

“Thank you.” Tess nodded. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Likewise,” Mrs. Johnson said. “You’re welcome anytime.”

Once they were back in the pump rig and headed to his ranch, he said, “It’s a shame to end the day with work and no play. How about dinner?”

“I’m not exactly dressed for a night out.” She smiled but shook her head. “I need a shower.”

He glanced from the road to her. “I meant at my place,” he said before looking back at the road.

“Your place?” she repeated. “That’s probably not a good idea. We’re taking it slow, remember?”

“Just dinner.” He glanced at her again. “Promise.”

She studied him for a moment, the strong lines of his handsome face, the sexy stubble on his jaws. Despite having worked all day, he looked good enough to eat.

At that thought she mentally shook her head and wondered if she was the one who needed to be reminded that they were supposed to be taking it slow.

She settled back in her seat. “Okay. After all of that, I am hungry.” She could control herself when it came to Gage.

Right? Sure she could.

Chapter 11

After Tess called the sitter to make sure she was fine with Tess staying out a little later, she helped Gage with dinner.

She glanced at Gage as she held an onion on a cutting board, ready to slice it. The delicious smells of baking corn bread and chili filled the kitchen.

“So that’s what a day is like in the life of Gage McBride,” she said.

“One of the more exciting days.” He gave her a sexy little grin as he stirred the chili on the stovetop. “Because you were there.”

 “It was fun seeing you at work and helping out.” She cut the onion in half. “Maybe I’ve found a new career in pulling pumps.” Her eyes stung and watered as she started to slice the onion.

“My assistant just got married and is moving to Phoenix this week, and I haven’t had time to replace her.” Gage set the chili spoon on a small plate he was using for a spoon rest. “How would you like a change in occupation?” he sounded completely serious.

She looked at him in surprise. “You’re offering me a job as your assistant?”

He nodded. “You’re smart, personable, and it’s something you mentioned that you’ve done in the past, before you went into the restaurant business with your parents.” He braced one hand on the countertop. “You work ridiculously long hours at the bar. If you take the job with me, you could work partly out of your home and partly here. That would give you more time with Jenny and no doubt you’d have more time to work on your writing career.”

She was silent for a moment and found she was actually considering it. “My mom would come unglued.”

“The pay isn’t too bad.” He named a figure.

Her eyes widened. It was more than she was bringing in as part owner of the restaurant and bar. Nectars and the Hummingbird were doing well, but still growing, and they needed to put a lot of what was earned back into the business. Her hours truly were long and she was exhausted when she came home.

With a higher income she could afford to let Jenny go to dancing school with Katie Sue. Not to mention having more time with her daughter and maybe even time to get some writing experience.

She let out her breath. “It’s a lot to consider.”

He nodded. “If you’re not too tired after we eat I can show you a little of what’s involved and then you can think on it.”

“Okay.” She scraped the diced onion off the cutting board and into a bowl. “But no promises, not tonight.”

“Agreed.” Gage took a brick of cheese out of the fridge, cut it into smaller chunks, and then started grating them.

She enjoyed dinner with him and she had fun flirting with him as they talked. The more she was with him, the more she found she liked him and liked being around him.

When dinner was over, the kitchen straightened, and the dishes washed and put away, she followed him through his rustic home to the opposite side of the house. When they walked into his office, she nodded with appreciation. Two desks with large screen computer monitors, file cabinets, a copier, and other things you’d find in any office. It had a nice feel to it—businesslike but not sterile. Rather it seemed warm and comfortable.

He briefly showed her a few of the administrative duties and some of the accounting. “That’s enough for this evening,” he said after a bit. “I’ll bet you’re tired from today.”

“I have to admit I am.” She rested her hands on the back of a chair as she watched him from across a desk.

He studied her for a moment. “You know I don’t like it when anything’s between us.” He walked around the desk and moved close to her. “That’s better.”

A little shiver ran down her spine. “It might not be such a good idea to work together.” She didn’t know if she could keep her hands off of him.

“It’s a very good idea.” He took her by the shoulders. “I want you to realize that I’m not offering you the job just to keep you close to me, although that’s a benefit.” He smiled but then gave her a serious look. “I would like to see you get to spend more time with your daughter and pursue your dream.”

“What if you hate the job I do and it doesn’t work out?” she asked. “Or what if I don’t like the job?”

“You’re not going to hurt my feelings if you feel like it’s not what you want to do,” he said. “So you can stop at any time. I just want you to be happy and I need a new assistant. The best of both worlds for each of us.”

“And if you hate the job that I do?” she asked again.

“I’ll just take you out with me and we’ll do pump work instead.” He rubbed her upper arms. “I think we made a good team today.”

“You’re just being nice,” she said but smiled.

Her smile slipped away as she stared up into his eyes. She could tell he wanted to kiss her but was holding back.

She put her hands on his chest and slid them up to his shoulders. “Maybe there would be extra benefits having you as a boss.”

“I forgot to mention the benefits,” he said. “Medical, dental, and vision.”

“And you,” she said without meaning to. But she stood up on her toes and pulled him down to her as she reached up to kiss him.

He groaned as she opened up to him, wanting his kiss more than anything. His taste, the feel of his lips against hers, his tongue dipping into her mouth as he tasted her in return.

She held onto him as he picked her up and she wrapped her thighs around his hips. She felt so much hunger for him that her mind spun with it and her body burned.

He kissed her as he carried her through the house to the living room. She made soft whimpers as she kissed him with a fervor she’d never felt before. Her nipples ached to be touched and sucked and she wanted to feel him inside her more than anything at this moment.

She thought she felt him shudder with desire as he drew his head away from hers and then set her down on the floor. She looked up at him, wanting him more than anything and in her lust-crazed mind she wondered why he was stopping.

“We’d better get you home.” His voice sounded strained.

She took a deep breath. “Slow.” She stared at his chest, trying to convince herself that was what she wanted. “We’re supposed to take it slow.” She looked up at him and met his gaze. “What if I’ve changed my mind?”

He gave a tight smile. “I keep my promises. And if I take you right now, you might have regrets and I don’t want that to happen.”

She searched his eyes. “You’re a good man, Gage.”

“You don’t know how hard this is,” he said, his expression strained.

“I think I do.” She leaned close to him, her head resting on his chest. “Thank you.”

He held her tightly and squeezed her to him, like he didn’t want to let her go. And she didn’t want him to release her.

When he pulled back, he caressed one side of her face with his knuckles. “I’m going to get you home now.”

She took a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay.”

After she picked up her small canvas purse, he put his fingertips at the base of her spine, as if he couldn’t stop touching her, and they walked to the front door where he let them out. Once the door was shut and locked behind them, he put his arm around her shoulders and they headed for his truck.

When he took her to the passenger side of the truck, he gave her another lingering kiss before he helped her into the truck and shut the door behind her. He made it around to his side, and once he was in he reached across the console, took her hand, and squeezed it before letting it go.

The drive home was quiet compared to the rest of the day when they hadn’t seemed to stop talking. It had been a fun day.

And now she had a lot to think about, more than just the prospect of dating Gage. Should she even be considering working for him? She was already struggling with the fact that she wanted him in her bed. Being around him even more frequently could complicate things. A lot.

But she liked being around him and the opportunity was a good one at this time in her life, for all of the reasons he had mentioned.

She was glad he didn’t live far from her and that it was a short ride home. He walked her to the foot of the stairs and they stood just outside of the porch light’s low radiance.

He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head to kiss her again. It was a sweet and slow kiss that had her sinking against him, almost unable to breathe.

Then he put space between them. “You’d better get to bed. It’s been a long day.”

“Shower first, then bed,” she said. The thought of taking a shower brought back memories of the night she’d brought herself to orgasm, imagining he was taking her. She felt her cheeks heat and was glad for the darkness.

He gave her a quick hard kiss then stepped back. He watched her as she headed up the stairs and unlocked and opened the door. She gave him one last look as she walked in. She paused for a moment and met his gaze before closing the door behind her.

Chapter 12

“You’re what?” Margaret Dyson’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Tess.

“Mom, it’s a good opportunity.” Tess pushed her fingers through her short, curly hair. “More time with Jenny, better pay, and benefits. I really need medical and dental for Jenny and we’re living on a shoestring as it is.”

It was the Monday following Gage’s job offer and Tess was standing in the Hummingbird’s office with her mother and sister. Tess had not been looking forward to this moment and it was already going about the way she’d expected.

Before Margaret could respond, Megan said, “It really is a good opportunity for her, Mom.”

“You would just abandon me?” Margaret knew how to play the part of the mother who had done everything for her kids and she played the
this-is-the-thanks-I-get
card. “After all I’ve done for you?”

Tess took a deep breath. “I said I’m considering it, but I haven’t made my decision yet.” Truthfully, it wasn’t her mother holding her back, it was the fact that she wasn’t sure about combining a personal relationship with Gage and working for him would turn out. What if she decided she didn’t want to date him anymore? Or he changed his mind about seeing her?

“It’s a no-brainer.” Megan put her hands on her full hips. “Tess works too many hours here and doesn’t get to see Jenny as much as she wants to. All the hours she works also makes for a lousy social life. Add the benefits and pay—how could you not encourage Tess to take it?”

“I need her here,” Margaret snapped at Megan. She turned back to Tess. “How am I going to run this place alone?”

“We’ll hire someone to manage the restaurant and bar, and an extra part-time bartender.” Tess took a deep breath. “I’ll help out until things get settled.”

“It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.” Margaret picked a clipboard up off the desk. “In that case I want you to sign over your share of the business back to me.”

Tess’s skin prickled and Megan said, “That’s so unfair, Mom. Tess has worked her butt off to get this business up and off the ground. She deserves to maintain her share.”

For a moment Tess considered signing off her portion of the business then shook her head. “Megan’s right. I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this place. I won’t continue to get a salary, of course, but I should maintain my interest in the business.”

Margaret looked from Tess to Megan and back. “I expect you to find a well-qualified replacement and another part-time bartender before you leave.” With that, she marched out of the office, still clutching the clipboard.

“That didn’t go so well.” Tess pushed her fingers through her blonde curls again. “Not that I really expected it to.”

“Like I said, it’s a no-brainer.” Megan pushed away from the file cabinet she’d been leaning against. “I don’t mind helping out here, but I’m glad I have my graphic design business. If I had to be here all of the time, I think I’d go nuts.”

Tess nodded. “It’s not easy. But I haven’t actually made a decision.”

Megan cocked her head. “Why wouldn’t you take the job?”

Tess paused a moment and then everything came out in a rush. “Gage and I have been sort of starting something. I only went out with him once and even then we had to go work on one of his wells so it wasn’t a real date. I don’t even know if I’m ready to have any kind of relationship.”

Megan smiled. “I wondered if you’d give in and go out on a date with him.”

“You knew?” Tess said in surprise.

With a shrug, Megan said, “I’ve seen him flirting with you the days I’ve been here to help out. And, after all, he tried to follow you the one time you did go out with someone. I figured it was only a matter of time.”

“Isn’t that a good reason
not
to work for him?” Tess sat on the edge of the desk. “It could complicate things if we have a relationship.” She raised her hands. “He dates so many women. One even came in here and slapped him right in front of me.”

At that, Megan laughed. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” Tess crossed her arms over her chest.

“That’s something to tease my future brother-in-law about.” Megan laughed again. “Seriously, though. He’s got a bad rep, but Gage is truly a good guy. Ryan mentioned that Gage went through a relationship that hurt him really bad and since then he hasn’t settled for one woman.”