“That’s the least of my worries. I’m more concerned about why you’re here than how you’re dressed.”
“Because they’re my lovers, Roger. That’s why.” Gwen stood in the doorway.
Roger let out a long breath and looked down at his boots, as he fiddled with the hatband on his gray felt hat. “Always direct and to the point, Gwen. And impetuous. Just like your mother.”
Chris saw a frown cross Gwen’s face before her attention was drawn to Chris and Julián. “Be that as it may, you’re here at an ungodly hour, grilling them, while drinking the coffee they made and sitting at my table. Couldn’t you at least have called to let me know you were coming?”
Roger shrugged. “We knew you’d already be up at this hour, taking care of this place. All by yourself. Or so I thought anyway.”
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
“Yes. Your father and I stopped for breakfast at an all-night diner off the interstate in the last town.”
“Where is he?”
“Outside getting your box of mail.”
“Fine. Then why don’t you wait for me in the living room. I’ll be in there in just—”
“I’ll wait outside.” Roger rose from the chair, put his hat on his head, and strode to the door.
When the door closed behind him with a bang, Gwen slumped into the chair he’d vacated. “Shit. Oh no.” She rubbed her forehead and her still slightly damp locks swung down to hide her face.
Julián knelt in front of her and Chris took the seat beside her. “You didn’t have to tell him what we were to you, darlin’, especially if there was the risk that you might lose his help. You could’ve told him we were hired hands. I’m sorry we didn’t talk about this beforehand.”
Gwen was frowning when she looked from him to Julián.
Julián nodded and stroked her knees. “We would’ve understood, love. We don’t want you to lose your chance to get your ranch back.”
“If I do, it’s not because of you. I never made any kind of personal commitment to him. Maybe he was just surprised.”
Julián gave her a sideways grin. “Surprised? Yes, he was definitely surprised. But I think there’s more to it.”
Chris rose from his seat and took a brief look out the kitchen window. Harold stood out near the truck with a large box in his hands, speaking to Roger as though he was pleading to him. He kept gesturing to the house, his body language obviously trying to get Roger to go back inside.
“We’d better eat before everything gets cold,” Julián said as he stood after kissing the top of her head, and got plates out of the cabinet for the scrambled eggs and bacon he’d made. “Sorry, the eggs are a little overdone.”
Chris thought Gwen looked like the blade of a guillotine was hanging over her head as she tried to eat and eventually gave up. She sipped her coffee until they were finished hurriedly eating their breakfast and then she said, “Well, I guess I’d better get this over with.”
One by one, they kissed her and Chris offered to do her morning chores for her.
“No. I won’t have you getting in trouble with Del. You go on. I’ll be fine. I’ve known this man for several years. There’s no reason for you to worry.” Her personal safety might not be in question but Chris had a feeling that Bedford was waiting to give her a verbal whipping.
Chris hesitated, willing to take a little flack for her. “I don’t want him talking down to you. I wanted to kick his ass earlier.”
Gwen smiled and hugged him. “Thank you, Captain Caveman. I love it when you go all Neanderthal for me but I can handle him. I’ve dealt with his type for years. He’s no different. Plus, my dad is here. He’ll be of help, I’m sure.”
Chris couldn’t see how the diminutive man he’d met would be of any help but he knew Gwen was a big girl. He kissed her one last time before he ran upstairs to grab his shirt. When he came back down, with shirts and clean socks for both of them, Julián was still locked in an embrace with her.
With one eye on the clock, they finished dressing and put on their boots which were lined up by the back door. Chris kissed her one last time, patted her sweet little fanny, and headed out the door behind Julián. He nodded to the men before climbing in his truck and starting the engine as Julián got in the passenger seat and closed the door.
“The shit has officially hit the fan.”
“Damn, I hate leaving her to face that,” Julián muttered. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I shouldn’t have mouthed off.”