Free Reckless Heart by Barbara McMahon

bite of ham. She'd pushed her potatoes around but eaten very little. At least she wouldn't make that mistake twice.
    “Plenty of food tonight,” Lance said. He glanced at Josh and then smiled at Molly. “You go shopping again?”
    “Nope, I called the store and they delivered. They even brought the groceries right into the kitchen. Saved me oodles of time.”
    “That's how you play housekeeper?” Josh asked.
    “Don't knock it. I’m the best bet you have for housekeeper.” Molly rose and began stacking the empty plates.
    “Doesn’t say much,” Josh said.
    “You’re the one who drove the others off.”
    “Is that what Mrs. Montgomery told you?” he asked, tilting back in his chair, his hands tucked into the front slash pockets of his jeans.
    Molly paused a moment, her eyes feasting on him. Then she resolutely moved to the sink.
    “Yes.”
    “So we have you to blame, boss?” Lance said, setting down his cup, and rocking back in his chair.
    “Let’s see, when Rachel first left, it took two weeks to replace her. Her name was Alice. She was allergic to hay. I guess since I insisted we keep hay on the ranch for the animals I could be accused of running her off.”
    Lance nodded, smiling. “I remember her. She was the one sneezing all the time.”
    Molly tried not to smile while she ran water into the sink.
    “And number two?” she asked, intrigued by this unexpected playful side of her austere boss. Especially after a less than perfect meal. Her father would have been ranting and raving for hours at her ineptitude.
    “Ah, number two came a week later. Ms. Patricia Dare. Only she dared nothing. She didn’t like the isolation, didn’t like being so far from town, didn’t like the language of the men, didn’t like the wind blowing constantly.”
    “Didn't like our wearing boots inside, didn't like our putting our hats on the backs of our chairs. She mostly didn't like anything,” Lance added.
    “I didn’t notice any bad language,” Molly said.
    “Wait a few days. They’re on the best behavior around you. It’ll wear off when they’re hot and tired and grumpy.”
    She slid her eyes toward him. “I’ve seen you grumpy and not heard anything so bad.” Giving up the thought of washing the dishes for a few minutes, she turned off the water and leaned her back against the sink looking at the two cowboys.
    Josh grinned and her heart flopped over. Unable to move her gaze, she could only stare and feel more alive than ever in her life. What was it about Josh?
    He had two eyes like everyone else. Well, maybe his were more sexy than a man had a right to have, especially when he narrowed them to gaze down at her.
    He had a nose and a mouth like everyone else. But unlike anyone else, his mouth had kissed her silly. Her body grew warm with the memory.
    “That’s because I’m on my best behavior, too. Sugar in the potatoes notwithstanding, having you is better than us fixing our own meals.”
    “I wouldn’t have burned the biscuits if you and Lance hadn’t been having words,” she said primly. She had hoped he wouldn't mention the potatoes. She should have known better.
    “We weren’t having words, I simply asked what the hell he was doing in my house coming from your room.” Josh’s grin faded and he looked annoyed. “Next time you need help, ask me.”
    “Wasn't any trouble for me,” Lance interjected.
    Josh glared at him. “Don't you have some final chores to do tonight?'
    “Nope.” Lance looked at Josh in amusement. “I could stay here all night in fact.”
    “I could have managed to bring in all my things. Lance offered, so I thought I’d take him up on it. What's the big deal?”
    “Yeah, boss, what's the big deal?”
    Josh fished the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Lance. His foreman caught them easily.
    “Then go get them. Burning biscuits prevented me from doing so.”
    Lance rocked down on all four legs of the chair and stood. Grabbing his hat from the back, he put it on.