Trusting Them (16 page)

“Yeah, but don’t you go and cook anything. We’ll eat sandwiches like always,” Brady said.

“Okay, but I’ll have something warm for you tonight.”

“You don’t have to cook for us, Jeni,” Brock said.

She smiled when Brady punched Brock in the arm. “I really don’t mind. I told you. I enjoy cooking.”

“Okay, I’m not going to complain about a home-cooked meal,” Brock said.

They waved goodbye as they trudged out onto the snow-covered porch. She watched them until they disappeared inside the stable. Once they were gone, she turned around and began cleaning up the kitchen. She smiled as she put away the jelly. It would be fun to be here in the fall when blackberries were ready. She could put up homemade jelly for Brady. Maybe she could even have a small garden for fresh vegetables. Reality set in, and she sighed, sitting down at the kitchen table.

You don’t even know if you will get to stay, and you’re already planning a garden, for goodness sake. One thing at a time.

Chapter Eleven

The next several days passed in much the same fashion. She got up and made breakfast, had sandwiches ready when they came in for lunch, and cooked a hot meal for dinner each night. They seemed to be getting used to her being there. They hadn’t mentioned her leaving, so neither did she. Her only problem now was how to bring up the subject of maybe staying on to cook and clean for them. Surely they wouldn’t pass up a live-in cook and housekeeper for room and board.

She decided that tonight right after dinner when they all sat around in the living room watching TV she would bring it up. The worst they could do would be to tell her no. She sighed. It would break her heart, and she would have to think about leaving fairly soon after that. She couldn’t stick around knowing there would never be anything between them. It would hurt too much.

Once dinner was over, she cleaned up the kitchen and then joined Brock and Brady in the living room. They angled the couch to make it easier for all of them to see TV. Jen sat between them with Brock’s arm around behind her shoulders. Both of the mens’ legs touched hers. The pressure against her legs seemed to be a tease. Oh what she wouldn’t give to have their naked legs touching hers. Better yet, their naked bodies pressed against hers. The image sent a shiver down her spine.

“You cold, baby?” Brock pulled her closer to him.

Brady ran a hand up and down her jean-clad leg. That small gesture had her catching her breath.

“A little, maybe. I’m okay, though.”

“I’ve been thinking…” she began.

“We’ve been thinking…” Brock began.

They laughed.

“What have you been thinking?” Brady asked her.

“No, you first. It was nothing.” Jeni was getting cold feet now.

“Well, we were thinking that since you’re cooking and picking up after us anyway, maybe you would like to stick around as our cook and housekeeper.” Brock hurried on when she started to answer him. “We’d pay you, of course.”

“Goodness,” she began. “You wouldn’t have to pay me. I’m living here as it is.” She cringed inside.

They really only thought of her as a friend whom they were thinking of hiring. It hurt, but she wouldn’t give up. If they hired her, she would still be there with them, and maybe she could work on them.

“Of course, we would pay you. You can’t work for nothing.” Brock hugged her tightly for a second.

“Um, I guess. I just feel bad about taking your money. You’ve been so good to me.”

“You’re not in our debt or anything.” Brady sounded a little put out.

Jeni wondered why he seemed upset now. Had she said something to make him mad? She couldn’t think of anything. Maybe he wasn’t as happy with the idea of her working there as Brock seemed to be. That thought bothered her.

“Well, what do you say?” Brock finally asked.

“Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll enjoy being here.” Jeni took the chance she was making the right decision.

“Great,” Brady said.

When he reached over and gave her a hug, pulling her out of Brock’s arms, she thought maybe he was okay with the idea after all. Who knew what men were thinking sometimes? All she knew was that she felt on top of the world knowing she would be staying around for awhile. Hopefully permanently, if she could convince the guys they loved her and wanted her around.

“Hey, there’s the weather. Hush up you two,” Brock said and turned up the volume.

Looks like another snowstorm heading our way. Right now, it looks like it will hit over the weekend. I’m not predicting how much snow just yet. We’ll keep a close eye on the situation and give you an update as it gets closer.

“Damn. We just got past the last one.” Brady hit the arm of the couch with one hand.

“Maybe it won’t be as bad,” Jeni offered.

“It really shouldn’t be. It’s too early in the season for it.” Brock sighed. “It was too early for the last one, too.” Brock turned off the TV. “Best be turning in. We need to be better prepared for this one.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.

“Naw, just keep us in food and you’ll be doing great,” Brock said with a smile.

They all stood up and headed for the stairs. Brady pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss. Definitely not brotherly. More like smoldering, she decided. When Brock pulled her out of Brady’s arms and did the same thing, she thought maybe she would be able to convince them she was more than just a cook and friend. She smiled to herself as she climbed the stairs and got ready for bed. Yeah, she wished they were going to be sleeping with her, but she was one step closer than she had been.

* * * *

The next morning after breakfast, Brady saddled his horse. He couldn’t stop thinking how good it felt to see Jeni in their kitchen cooking breakfast. The only thing better would be to wake up next to her every morning.

“It worked better than I thought it would,” Brady said.

“What did?” Brock asked as he tightened the cinch on his saddle.

“Getting her to agree to stay on.”

“Yeah, it did. Let’s give her a few days to get used to the idea then start working on her,” Brock suggested.

“The snow storm is coming up,” Brady said. “It would be a stroke of luck if we lost electricity again.”

“Don’t count on it. Couldn’t happen twice in a row like that.”

“But I can hope and pray it does,” Brady said.

He thought about it most of the morning as they worked the cattle, moving them closer to the barns. He even thought about staging it so that she thought the electricity was out because of the storm. He figured he would broach the subject with Brock if it looked like the storm wasn’t going to pan out into as big a one as the last one. Knowing Brock, though, he wouldn’t go for it. He tended to be too honest, although he had come up with the “cook and housekeeper” idea.

So far, that was working out great. She was a damn good cook. She was the best thing that had ever happened to them.

He wondered, not for the first time, if they should talk to their parents about her yet. Brock hadn’t mentioned her to them in any of their phone conversations since the blizzard. He wondered why. He needed to ask him. It wasn’t like Brock to keep anything from their dads.

“Hey, Brady,” Brock called out. “Wake up over there.”

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Things are working out with Jeni so far.”

“Yeah. I was just thinking the same thing,” Brady said.

“Think she’s going to go for both of us? ‘Cause it isn’t going to work if she only falls for one of us.”

“Well, she hasn’t balked when both of us kiss her. She seems fine with it. I would think she would know we’re both coming on to her by now. Don’t you think?” Brady asked.

“You’re probably right. Guess I’m worrying for nothing.”

“I hope they have more to say tonight about that snowstorm heading our way. It would really work in our favor if it’s a big one.” Brady stopped to look at a section of fence that probably needed some work.

He leaned down and flagged it with a red flag. The hands would come back tomorrow and work on all the flags, making sure the fence lines stayed secure.

“Brock, why haven’t you told the family about her when you’ve talked to them?”

Brock was silent for a few minutes. Then he shrugged his shoulders.

“Guess I’m thinking that as long as they don’t know about her, we still have a chance with her. I don’t want to jinx us by telling them. You know how Mom will get.”

“I guess. She would want to come meet her and give her the once-over. I’d hate to scare her off before we’ve had a chance to woo her,” Brady agreed.

Suddenly, Brock reined his horse in. “Let’s call it a day, Brady. Maybe we can up the timeline a bit by helping her in the kitchen.”

“I’m all for that. Last one to the stables has to wash dishes.” Brady spurred his horse and took off for the stable.

Brock wasn’t too far behind. It wasn’t lost on Brady that he didn’t attempt to beat him. Either he was thinking mighty hard on something, or he had an ulterior motive. Maybe washing the dishes meant more time with Jeni. Well, damn. He’d screwed himself out of the real prize. When Brock rode up a few seconds after him, Brady scowled at him.

“Think you’re so smart, don’t you?”

“Why do you say that? You won fair and square.” Brock’s face couldn’t contain the grin splitting his mouth wide.

“You mean you won fair and square ‘cause I wasn’t thinking straight.” Brady finished unfastening the saddle and pulled it off the horse with a huff.

“You mean you weren’t thinking at all,” Brock teased.

He plunked his saddle on the saddle stand and started grooming his horse.

Brady shook his head. Naturally, his older brother would figure it all out before he did. Didn’t mean he was going to give up. He’d get his time with her. Brock couldn’t hog her all the time.

“Turn the radio on over there while we’re doing this. Maybe there will be an update on the weather.”

Brady switched on the radio they kept tuned to the weather channel. The first sixty seconds or so was naturally devoted to commercials. Finally, the weather for their area came on. After listening for the next couple of minutes, Brady turned it off.

“Looks like another storm for sure. Don’t know that it will be as bad as the first one, but it will be a problem one way or another.” Brock put away the grooming supplies and washed his hands.

“Sounds like it will hit Friday afternoon sometime. That gives us tomorrow and most of Friday to get everything locked down and taken care of,” Brady added.

“We may have to make a quick trip into town for supplies. I’ll check in with our Bob on what he thinks they might need for the ranch and look at the feed situation. You run talk to Jeni about the food. She might not know enough about staples for long periods of time. She’s probably used to running to a store anytime she needs something. Different out here. Best she learns that now.” Brock walked outside towards the closest barn.

Brady rubbed his hands together. He would have some time with Jeni, after all, and with a good reason behind it too. Smiling, he washed his hands before leaving the stable and walked across the wide yard to the house. Even before he made it all the way on the porch, he could smell the scent of some sort of baked good. Mmmm, he thought. Maybe a pie. He opened the back door and walked in to find Jeni frying something on the stove. It looked like little pies of some sort. Whatever they were, they smelled delicious. He couldn’t wait to try one.