Page 12 of The Little Things
I made quick work of whipping off my robe and throwing on a pair of sleep shorts and a matching camisole—I was sorely lacking in the casual clothing department. I ran a brush through my damp hair, working out all the tangles, and twisted it up into a bun at the top of my head before heading back into the living area just as the microwave above the stovetop started dinging.
Lennix popped it open and pulled out the plate, immediately filling the small space with the most delicious smells. My stomach immediately made its hunger known with a growl that sounded like it belonged to a wild, ferocious animal, but I was too hungry to be embarrassed. I hadn’t realized I was supposed to bring my own lunch with me, so all I had to eat the entire day was half a baloney and mustard sandwich that Hal had offered me when he realized I was empty-handed. I’d never had baloney before, and I could now say with certainty that I was not a fan. But it had gotten me through the day, which I appreciated. I was set to make myself another peanut butter and jelly for dinner, and could have wept with gratitude when Lennix waved me over to one of the chairs at the kitchen table and plopped the plate down in front of me.
I barely bothered looking to see what I was eating before snatching up the fork and stuffing the first bite into my mouth. I let out a loud moan as the flavors burst on my tongue.
“Good, right?” She pulled up the chair across from me and sat down. “It was Nicky’s night to cook. He’s part of the grounds crew for the lodge, and he’s damn good in the kitchen. He woke up early to prep the pot roast and get it going in the slow cooker.”
I wanted to find this Nicky guy and give him the biggest hug. I wasn’t sure if it was simply because I was starving, but this had to be one of the best meals I’d eaten in a really long time. I bit off a chunk of cornbread muffin, the texture moist and fluffy but pleasantly dense at the same time. “Does your family eat with the staff every night?” I asked mainly out of curiosity, but also because I wanted to know if I would be breaking bread with my new boss night after night.
Lennix shrugged as she uncapped two of the beer bottles, sliding one my way before taking a sip of her own. “Not always. They’re all great people, and we’re all close, but we understand that sometimes they need a break from the bosses for a bit.”
“Well, I appreciate you bringing me this,” I said with a wave at the plate that was somehow half-empty already. “I haven’t had a chance to get to the store yet, so I was going to have a peanut butter sandwich. This is much better.” I lifted the beer bottle to my lips and took a drink, schooling my features to keep from wincing at the bitterness, but it was unnecessary. There was no bitterness at all. In fact, it was surprisingly good. “Oh wow.” I took another sip, the refreshing, icy brew going down smooth and quenching my thirst. “I really like this.”
Lennix smiled like I just paid her the highest compliment. “I’m glad. I don’t know if my mom told you much about our bar.”
I shook my head, drinking more beer. “We only drove past it.”
“Well, we’re basically a brewhouse. We have every kind of beer you could imagine, plus our seasonal brews. I thought long and hard about what a girl from Los Angeles might like when I was deciding which one to bring you. Glad I picked right.”
Her thoughtfulness really got to me, causing my sinuses to tingle. I couldn’t remember the last time someone other than my parents had taken my likes or dislikes into consideration. I bit into the muffin again, chewing slowly to give myself time to fight back my emotions. “That was really nice of you,” I said through a full mouth. “Thank you very much.”
“No biggie,” she said easily. “It might not seem like it right now, but we look out for each other here. You’ll see that. And you’ll get to know the real Zach soon enough.”
I kind of had the feeling that I already met the real him and that the problem was, the real Zach simply didn’t like me. It sure as hell wouldn’t be the first time someone had made a snap judgement of me, and I was doing my best not to let it bother me.
My attention caught on the bag once more, and I couldn’t help but wonder about his motivation. Was Lennix right? Or was it that he didn’t want his newest ranch hand out of commission before he got his money’s worth.
I pushed those questions from my mind and turned back to the woman sitting in front of me, returning her smile. I really hoped she and I could be friends. “Thanks for the clothes and the boots too. I feel stupid saying this, but I was not prepared for what this was going to be like.”
“It’s nothing. I figured you wouldn’t have the right wardrobe for this kind of work, and I’m happy to share.” She waggled her eyebrows. “And I’ll admit, I might have had ulterior motives.”
I lifted my brows. “Oh?”
“Yeah. We might be a small town, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do.” She shrugged and took another drink. “Maybe you’ll feel like returning the favor one night when we go out and let me wear something of yours. I’m thinking something small and sexy that’ll turn a guy’s head, if you know what I mean.”
I loved the sound of all of that. Of sharing my clothes, of going out with her for a night on the town. I liked it so much I actually felt a niggling of excitement at the prospect. I smiled my first real, genuine smile for the first time in days. “That I can most definitely do.”
She let out a little squeal and hopped in her seat. “Yes! I knew it was going to be great having you here.”
Hearing that someone was actually happy—excited even—to have me around made me feel better than I had in a really long time. Even before the sound of police sirens led to my entire life being turned upside down. Maybe being here wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Lennix hung around a little while longer, keeping me company until my yawns became more frequent and my eyes were growing visibly heavy. Having her here had been so nice I wanted to ask her to stay, but I wasn’t sure we were at the sleepover level of friendship yet, and I didn’t want to do anything to scare her off, so when she said it was time for her to go, I didn’t argue. We said our goodbyes at the door, and I stood in the opened doorway as she climbed into an old-school truck that looked like it had been completely rebuilt. She gave me one last wave before climbing inside and starting it up. I returned the gesture and was about to head back inside, but as I turned, her headlights illuminated something resting on the arm of the Adirondack chair, catching my attention.
I reached out, picking up the small plastic baggy and holding it up to inspect what looked like a pair of foam earplugs inside. I grabbed up the folded piece of paper beneath them and opened it, reading the sharp, slanted handwriting scrawled across it.
In case the owl comes back, was all it said, and at the very bottom it was signed with a single letter: Z.
My head shot up and my eyes darted around. For the first time since I moved into this cabin, I noticed a small house not too far away, partially hidden by a grove of tall, thick trees it was tucked into. I couldn’t make it out fully thanks to the trees and the fading light, but it almost looked like a bigger version of my cabin.
I only knew of one person on the ranch so far whose name started with a Z. Was that where he lived? And if he knew about the bird—apparently an owl—did that mean he’d seen the whole scene play out the night before? Including my breakdown?
Any other time, I would have been embarrassed at having someone witness me in such a weak, vulnerable moment, but instead, warmth bloomed in my chest, slowly branching outward and warding off the numbness that had filled the space for days now.
He wasn’t making fun of me for my temporary loss of sanity the night before. He was helping.
I stepped back into the cabin and closed the door behind me on a single thought. Maybe Hal and Lennix were right. Maybe Zach wasn’t so bad after all.
But I still wasn’t ready to let my guard down completely.