Curves and the Rancher Read Online Free Page A

accounts was two months ago. ”
    Cassie rested her hand on
one of the piles of paper, her fingers almost brushing his. “ I ’ ll
get started then. ”
    “ Can I get you
anything to drink? ”
    “ No,
thanks. I ’ m good. ” In fact, she was itching to make sense of the piles in front of her.
She might not be confident with men, but she loved dealing with
numbers.
    “ I ’ ll
leave you to it then. ” He pulled out
a comfortable looking chair for her. “ If
you need me, I ’ ll be in the barn. ”
    “ Okay. ” Cassie sat down, then noticed him hovering in the doorway. Her brow
wrinkled. “ Was there anything else
you wanted me to do? ”
    “ No. ” He rubbed the back of his neck. “ I ’ ll
be in the barn, ” he repeated.
    Cassie turned her
attention to the receipts in front of her as Luke ’ s
footsteps echoed down the hall. It wouldn ’ t
take her long to whip these accounts into shape, she thought with
satisfaction, as she sorted each invoice into date order.
    Stretching in the chair,
she looked at her watch. Three o ’ clock.
It had taken her just over an hour to get the accounts in order and
entered into the program.
    Cassie walked down the
hall, guessing the barn was behind the house. Turning a corner, she
entered a large, homey kitchen . Shetwisted the knob
on the backdoor and it opened easily. Stepping out onto the back
porch, she spied the barn.
    “ Luke, ” she called out as she reached the wooden barn. She squinted, the dim
interior of the barn making it hard to see inside. A second later he
appeared in the doorway and she smiled. “ I ’ ve
finished the accounts. ”
    “ Already? ” His brow raised in surprise.
    She shrugged. “ You
already did some of the work by sorting them into income and
expenses. ”
    “ How
about a cup of coffee? ” He led the
way to the kitchen, matching his stride to hers.
    Once inside, Luke
gestured to the kitchen table. Cassie sat down on a cushioned chair,
and watched him make a pot of coffee. His movements were efficient
and economical, and she couldn ’ t help
comparing his expertise with Phillip ’ s.
Her ex had to have the latest kitchen gadgets and made a big
production out of using them, unless he delegated that particular
task to her.
    Resolving not to think
about her ex, Cassie relaxed in the comfortable wooden chair.
    “ How
do you take it? ” Luke enquired.
    “ Just
cream, please. ”
    He placed a charming,
old-fashioned pottery mug in front of her. “ Thank
you, ” she murmured, wrapping her
hands around it. Taking a sip, she savored the taste of the mellow
brew. So Luke could make coffee, as well as help her face her fears.
She peeped up under her eyelashes at him. And give her work, she
reminded herself.
    They drank their coffee
in silence. Cassie let the charm of the old house envelop her, as
well as the company. This rambling old house seemed too big for
Luke, but he seemed comfortable living there. And why not with the
house’s wooden floors, comfortable furniture, and thick throw
rugs . The home was warm and cozy.
    “ I
thought I ’ d introduce you to some of
my friends next week. ” At her
puzzled frown, Luke elaborated, “ Ranchers
looking for someone to do their accounts. ”
    She smiled, warmth
curling through her at his thoughtfulness. “ That
would be great. Thank you. ”
    “ How ’ s
the diner? ” He quirked an eyebrow.
    “ Good.
Betty said she ’ ll be able to cut
down my shifts so I can fit in any accountancy work. And she ’ s
asked me to take a look at the diner accounts for her. ” In fact, Betty hadn ’ t batted an eye
when she ’ d found out Cassie was an
accountant.
    Aware of Luke ’ s
eyes on her, Cassie wondered if she had a smudge of coffee on her
lips and he was too polite to say. She swallowed the last ofthe
brew and set the mug on the table. “ I ’ ve
left the accounts program open on the computer so you can see what
I ’ ve done. Would you like me to go
over it with you before I leave?