Page 165 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

“I’ll be sure to.”

Jared hung up and stood to greet Bella. “How is she?”

“She’s sleeping. The doctor says she’s going to be fine. The swelling is down now. And they’re giving me some medication for her. I only came out to tell you they’re keeping her overnight. You don’t have to stay. I can—”

“I’m staying, Bella.”

When he expected an argument, she slumped into his arms. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Come here, take a rest. You’re exhausted.” He led her over to a chair and they both took a seat. Wrapping her snugly in his embrace, he kissed her forehead and stroked her arms up and down.

“That feels good,” she said softly.

“Feels good to me, too.”

She chuckled and a soft glow lit her eyes. “You’re so bad.”

“You like me that way.”

Slowly her eyes closed and she nestled closer into his chest. “I like you any way I can get you.”

Jared smiled, totally knocked out. She was soft in his arms and smelled like a sugar cookie. He lifted her chin and placed a soft kiss to her lips. “Me, too, Angel. I like you any way I can get you, too.”

Ten

Tuesday morning dawned gloomy and gray, with a light drizzle coming down. After growing up in San Francisco, Bella wasn’t bothered that much by the lack of sunshine, and especially not today because Sienna was up and happily singing a silly song along with the cartoon characters on her favorite morning show.

The ordeal with Sienna over the weekend had taken a toll on her nerves. She’d never been more frightened in her life. Yesterday they’d stayed in all day and Sienna had recuperated fast, the meds and the nourishment giving her the boost she’d needed to get better. She hoped to high heaven Sienna wouldn’t get croup again, but if she ever did, now she knew how to recognize it and what to do about it.

“Are you ready to go downstairs?”

“See Tared?”

“In a little while. We’ll make him a nice lunch for when he gets back.” Jared had a doctor’s appointment early this morning. She hoped he’d get a clean bill of health. Not that he’d observed his doctor’s warning about not driving. But Bella had understood his need to take control and help her. She’d actually appreciated his taking her to the hospital. And though he had driven fast, he hadn’t broken any speed laws.

“Come on, let’s go.”

By the time they got downstairs, the rain was coming down hard. “Looks like we’re in for a storm, baby.”

They entered the kitchen and she spotted a note at her workstation.

I’ll be back before noon. See ya then. Love, Jared.

She smiled at his reference to love. Things were happening quickly between them and she wanted to clear the air, to talk to him from the bottom of her heart. She hoped that he would accept her reasons for not telling him the whole truth. To make him see that it wasn’t him she didn’t trust, but a fear of her father learning her whereabouts that had kept her lips sealed good and tight.

She glanced at the clock. It was almost noon now. “Okay, well, let’s get started,” she said, rolling up her sleeves and putting her apron on. She set Sienna down in front of her brand-new dollhouse, a gift from Jared, taking up space right next to the kitchen Christmas tree.Because she’s been sick, he’d explained. He teased Bella that he had an even better gift for her, but she had to wait until Christmas.

As she was putting the finishing touches on a vegetarian chili dish, with enough kick to knock Jared’s socks off, she glanced at the clock. It was already half past twelve and no Jared. She checked the messages on her cell. Nothing.

She was about to text him about his delay, a little knot of tension working its way into her system, when she heard his footsteps at the front door.

Thank goodness. He was home. She picked up Sienna and walked to the door. “Let’s surprise Jared,” she said. She opened the door with a big smile. And came face-to-face with her father.

Oh, no.She froze and then backed away, her mind racing. She could hardly believe her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“That’s a nice greeting for your old man.” He appeared every bit as stately and entitled as he’d always been, but there was sadness in his expression and maybe a few more lines around his eyes than she remembered.

“You mean the father who threatened to take my baby away?Thatold man? The man who cut me off and caused me to run away in fear? I don’t think you deserve any sort of greeting from me.”