Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(41)

“Nah. Thanks for the offer though. I think I might just pop a couple aspirin and crawl in bed.” He stood and grabbed his empty beer bottle. “Probably be best if I slept in the guest bedroom tonight so I don’t disturb you.”


“But that’s not necessary—”


“’Night, Gem.”


He didn’t look back. He couldn’t take her look of pity.


And he knew she wasn’t ready to see what he couldn’t hide in his eyes.


Chapter Sixteen


Headlights swept the windows above the sink. Water splashed in the mud puddles and the red taillights disappeared.


Macie was back.


Gemma didn’t move from the kitchen table where she’d been working on the ranch books. She glanced at the clock. Cash had been in bed for two hours. She’d resisted checking on him, more worried she’d find him awake and avoiding her than sleeping off his headache.


Things had taken a strange turn today. Not only because he’d f*cked her senseless in the barn, but because he’d opened up to her. She suspected he was filled with regret about showing her that tender side of himself and the guilt he carried.


Did Macie know? Did she care?


How did Gemma reconcile wanting to be with Cash outside of the workday, when she knew he felt guilty that he wasn’t spending that time with his daughter?


She jumped at the four solid knocks on the glass window of the screen door. She said, “Come in,” and Macie slipped inside and hesitated by the wall.


“Hey, Gemma. How’s it going?”


“Good. How are you?”


“Okay.” She glanced at the doorway to the living room. “Umm. Is my dad around?”


“Yeah. But he had a bad headache and he’s in bed.”


Macie’s eyes filled with concern. “Is he all right?”


“I hope so.” Gemma expected Macie to say a quick goodbye and disappear back to the camper. It surprised her when Macie pulled out a chair and plopped down.


“Is he mad at me?”


“Why would he be mad at you?”


“Because he and I were supposed to go horseback riding tonight. I fell asleep at Carter’s. When I woke up it was already dark.”


Ah. No wonder Cash acted so melancholy. “He didn’t act like he was mad. Maybe a little disappointed.”


“Crap. I never meant…I just lost track of time.” Macie sighed. “Story of my life.


Story of our life actually. Seems like our plans are always interrupted.”


Macie left her as good an opening as any to broach the subject. “Does it bother you that your dad is here working for me rather than hitting the backroads with you? That was your plan, right?”


“Yeah, but I’d never put any stock into it beyond getting to hang out with him. We talk on the phone at least once a week, but it’s not the same. It’s been a rough year for him.”


“How so?”


“Realizing he’s too old to rodeo fulltime. Having to take shit jobs just to make ends meet.” She shot Gemma a sheepish look. “No offense intended.”


“None taken.” Gemma sipped her cold coffee. “What about you? Are you taking a shit job just to hang out here?”


Macie grinned. “No. I was thrilled to find work in a restaurant. Mucking out stalls would be my idea of a shit job.”


“You working a lot?”


“We’ll see. I think Velma is testing me. Or punishing me. I’m waitressing some. I’d rather be in the kitchen.” She pointed to Gemma’s cup. “Got any more coffee?”


“In the pot.”


She stood. “You want a reheat?”


“Sure.”


Gemma watched while Macie made herself completely at home. It was weird to think this beautiful young woman was Cash’s daughter. It was probably equally weird for Macie to sit down with her father’s boss.


And her father’s lover.


Yeah. They weren’t ready to go there yet.


“So, you’re doing some modeling for Carter?”


“I guess. He’s been pretty mum on what it’ll turn out like.”


Gemma frowned at Macie’s baggy black sweats. “Those seem a little informal for the kind of art Carter does.”


“Let’s just say there was an incident with my clothes today, and Carter lent me these.” Casually, Macie said, “It’s pretty cool you’re letting Carter live here this summer.”


“It works, since he’s willing to help me out.”


“How long have you known him?”


“Since he was about ten. Technically, that’s how long I’ve known the whole McKay clan.”


“So what’s his family like?”


“His folks are nice. His brothers are sweet-talkin’ hell raisers. The youngest, his sister Keely? She’s hell on horseback. They’re a close bunch. All the boys except for Cam live around the McKay ranch.” She blew on her coffee and looked at Macie.