Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(17)

Boone popped a piece in his mouth and chewed. “I’ll have that. And tomato.” He leaned closer to watch her. “So do you like to cook?”


“My parents got divorced when I was five and we ate out a lot, no matter which one of them I stayed with. By the time I was ten, I never wanted to eat another McDonald’s Happy Meal. My Grandma Grace taught me some basics. Then dad and I enrolled in cooking classes that forced us to look beyond canned stuff, mac and cheese and spaghetti. I experiment with food because I know my dad won’t.”


“My idea of experimenting with food is to put different taco sauce on frozen burritos.”


Sierra sliced tomatoes. “I haven’t seen you on the bus lately.”


“I’ve got a job after school or I’m studying at the library.”


“You work with your uncles during the week?” She slathered mayo on the bread and placed it over the tomato.


“Nah. I work part-time as an EMT on the Crook County ambulance crew.”


Her eyes met his. “Don’t you have to be eighteen to be certified?”


“I passed the course last spring after I turned eighteen.”


No wonder he didn’t look like a boy—he wasn’t one. She slid his sandwich onto a plate and set it in front of him.


“Tell me what that little shit Kyler said about me when I haven’t been on the bus to defend myself.”


“He mentioned that you’re…kind of mean.” Not entirely true. Kyler said Boone had a bad reputation.


“Bullshit. What’s he really say?”


So Sierra told him.


Boone grinned. “I’m back to being bad boy Boone, eh? Cool.”


No explanation.


Sierra filled two water glasses and parked herself next to him at the breakfast bar. This was surreal. Having lunch with Boone West. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. God. He was so hot.


“How you like livin’ in Sundance?”


“I’m starting to like it better.”


“You’re hanging out with Marin Godfrey, right?”


“Why? Is she a troublemaker or something?”


Boone shook his head. “No, she’s cool. I saw you talking to Angie and Kara. Those two chicks have bad reputations. Don’t go to any of the parties they invite you to, okay?”


She wasn’t a country bumpkin waiting to taste her first beer. “Umm, no. If I actually get invited to a party, I’m going. And FYI, I went to parties all the time in Arizona. I’ve probably seen more wild stuff than you have, Boone.” An exaggeration, but he wouldn’t know that.


He chuckled. “Don’t bet on it.”


“Do you go to those parties?”


“Sometimes. So I know what I’m talking about when I tell you to steer clear.”


She drained her water and felt him staring at her. She faced him and said, “What?” a little sharply.


“Don’t get pissy with me. You’re a pretty girl.” His gaze slowly roamed her face. “Scratch that, you’re a beautiful girl and I don’t want to see the jerks and *s taking advantage of you because you’re new to town, looking for friends and a good time.”


Had Boone really said she was pretty? Wait. He’d said she was beautiful? Get out. And she looked like shit today.


“Sierra? Were you even listening to me?”


“Ah. Yeah. Sure. Watch the parties. Got it.”


After he finished his sandwich and the other half of hers, he said, “Is that your Jeep Waggoner parked out front?”


“Yeah. Why?”


“Sweet ride. I love those classic cars.”


“My dad says I’m still learning to drive so he never lets me go anywhere by myself. He’s being such a hardass about it.”


Boone wiped his mouth with a napkin. “He should be. Driving on the gravel roads takes getting used to. We get all sorts of accident calls and that’s before the snow and icy conditions start.”


Talk about treating her like a kid sister. That wasn’t the way she wanted him to see her at all. Maybe she should’ve worn that stupid push-up bra.


He rinsed their lunch plates. Then he slayed her with his high-power grin. “I’d better get back to work before my uncles see that I’m not starved to death. Thanks for lunch. It was awesome.”


“You’re welcome.”


“See ya around, McKay.”


Sierra stood by the window, watching him walking away, a plan hatching in her mind. If she ever was at a party with him, she’d show him that she could live up to the wild McKay reputation she’d heard so much about.


Chapter Eight


“No. I don’t care what the policy was before. My management policy is the tenant’s problem gets addressed the first time they call, not the third.” Gavin paced in front of his desk. “This bullshit has been going on since I bought the property three months ago? Leave Chris a message. I’d better hear from him today, or he’ll be in the unemployment line tomorrow.” He hung up.