The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

her, then glared defiantly.
    Rita glared right back. “Looks great,” she said, and speared the largest piece.
    “You mean to tell me you ain’t got one of those prissy little girl appetites?”
    “That’s exactly what I mean to tell you,” she said, and took a bite of chicken.
    “Uh-huh.” Tex returned to the kitchen, but Brady would have sworn he was smiling.
    * * *
    Randi stepped out into the evening. The air had cooled some and the night creatures were warming up for their regular performance.
    “Get enough to eat?” Brady asked, coming out of the dining room after her.
    She laughed. “I can barely move. If these jeans weren’t loose to begin with I would have had to unbutton them.” She patted her stomach. “Three pieces of chicken, two servings of potatoes and vegetables, three rolls and dessert. Are you sure you want to include room and board in my salary?”
    “The men eat twice what you do. It’s all the physical activity. These guys aren’t sitting behind a desk in some office. They’re outside working hard.”
    At least they had an excuse, Randi thought. She’d been hungry from not eating much over the past couple of days. She shook her head, determined not to dwell on that. For now she was here and things were looking up.
    She paused in front of the bunkhouse, not sure if she should say good-night or if Brady was walking back to the main house, as well. She took a tentative step in that direction and he moved with her.
    “You made progress with Tex,” he said.
    “Uh-huh,” she replied, trying to imitate the cook’s low, disbelieving tone.
    Brady chuckled. “He’s proud of his culinary skills and enjoys people eating what he prepares. I’m sure he thought you were going to complain.”
    “About someone else’s cooking? Never. Maybe tomorrow I’ll take that second piece of pie and he’ll actually smile at me.”
    “Oh, that’s a tough one. It takes about a month of solid eating to earn one of Tex’s smiles.” Brady shoved his hands in his pockets. “The men aren’t usually like that.”
    “I know.” At his quizzical glance she shrugged. “They’re showing off because I’m female and I’m new. They’ll get bored soon and I’ll be one of the guys.”
    “You sound experienced.”
    “I’m no expert, but I have a brother. He’s a lot like that. In fact—”
    Randi crossed her arms over her chest and bit back a groan. What was she thinking, spilling personal information like that? She had been so careful since she’d run out on her wedding. She’d never let anything slip. It must be all the food making her sleepy, or maybe it was the ranch itself. Maybe here she could feel safe for a while.
    If Brady noticed her faux pas, he didn’t let on. “I did warn you about being the only female around. But I think you’re right. They’ll get over it in a few days.”
    “I can handle meaningless flattery until then.”
    They’d reached the main house. Brady rested one foot on the stairs, but made no effort to climb up to the porch. “What makes you think it’s meaningless?”
    She glanced down at herself, then at him. “Let’s just say I have no illusions.”

    “Then you have some misconceptions.”
    Randi wasn’t sure how to take that. Brady didn’t give her a chance to respond. He jerked his thumb toward the house. “We’ve got a satellite dish on the ranch so you can get a couple hundred channels, if you want to watch TV. There’s books in the library. I’ve got some work to do in my office, so you’ll have the place to yourself. ‘Night.”
    With that he turned and walked away.
    Rita stared after him. He moved easily through the darkness, walking a path he’d traveled thousands of times before. She waited until he disappeared into the barn before climbing to the porch and entering the house.
    She touched the switch by the back door and lights sprang on in the kitchen. Having him come inside with her would have been awkward. Had Brady really wanted to return