Free Jenna's Cowboy Hero by Brenda Minton Page A

handed the plates back to Jenna.
    She grumbled and walked into the kitchen, where the trash was overflowing. Had the man ever picked up after himself? She doubted it. He’d probably always been a superstar, even when he was in diapers.
    â€œJenna, I’ll clean it up later,” he called out as he scribbled his signature on a check.
    â€œI don’t mind. If we’re going to get any work done, I need a clean space to sit down.”
    â€œIt’s clean.”
    â€œGive it up, Adam, she’s going to win.” Words of wisdom from Clint. He smiled at her, winking before he turned his attention back to Adam. “I’ve lived with her, and she’s not going to put up with clutter, trash or dirty dishes. Have you seen her place?”
    â€œI’m right here, stop talking about me.” Jenna bumped her fist against her brother’s arm. “Don’t you have a wife that needs you for something?”
    â€œYeah, she wants me to do the dishes,” Clint admitted with a wry grin.
    â€œI know, when I picked up the boys, she asked me to come down here and make sure you didn’t hang out too long.” Jenna sat down on the sofa, spreading the catalog she’d brought on the table in front of her. “Time to get busy, Mr. Mackenzie.”
    â€œYeah, busy.” He sat down next to her, the sofa cushion sinking a little with his weight. “Where do we start?”
    â€œWe’ll need to order mattresses, and supplies for the kitchen.”
    â€œSee you later.” Clint paused at the door. “Jen, call me when you get home.”
    She nodded and waved, not wanting to look at him, to see the worry in his eyes. He was too protective.
    And Adam Mackenzie knew it. She felt him slide away, putting space between them. He didn’t need to. There was already space between them. His goals. Her need to focus on her boys and living her life.
    Those things equaled a chasm the size of the Grand Canyon. And she didn’t have any desire or need to close the distance.
    Â 
    Adam’s phone buzzed in his shirt pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at a familiar number with a local area code. He slid it back into his pocket and ignored the curious glances of the woman sitting next to him.
    â€œSo, we need mattresses. Can we get them in time? What about curtains?” He flipped through the catalog as she wrote down numbers.
    â€œMini blinds, not curtains. You won’t have to takethem down to wash them. I’ve called a company about mattresses and I think it is doable if we order them today.”
    â€œWhere am I going to find enough people to work here?”
    She put her hand on a page and pointed to a model of mini blind. “That one will work. I measured. It’s the right size, a good price and neutral color.”
    â€œOkay, back to workers. I need more than help getting the beds made and the lawns mowed.”
    She pulled a paper out of her pocket. “I know. You need people in the kitchen, a few in the stables, we need cleaning crews before—”
    â€œCould you slow down?” He took off his hat and brushed his hands through his hair. She was smiling at him, that cheeky grin he’d seen a few times. Someone should do something about her cheekiness. Not him.
    She was the kind of woman looking for long-term, for a father for her boys. He wasn’t the guy she was looking for. He didn’t do relationships.
    â€œOf course I can slow down. What’s wrong?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” He scrambled, wondering if he had missed something. He ran his finger over the catalog, trying to remember what she’d just said.
    â€œYou mean, because you’re looking dazed, staring at the wall and kind of mumbling?” She laughed a little.
    â€œHave you already planned the entire camp?” He tossed his hat on the nearby chair. She was bossy. He didn’t like bossy. It felt like she was taking over his life.
    He’d