Read Her Lifeline: (A Romantic Suspense) for Free Online Page A

overwhelming.” She tried to read his reaction. Maybe she should slip in that she was divorced, but that might be a bit too forced and up front for now. He’d learn a lot once he got to the ranch. “Like I said on the phone, I can’t pay much, but you are welcome to stay in our bunk house that’s right there on the land and have dinners with us.”
    Nick leaned back in his chair as if he were digesting the information. “Right now, a roof over my head is the biggest issue. What kind of work are you needing done? What goes on at your ranch?”
    “We’ve got cattle and horses. We also do a wheat crop if we have the manpower. Lately we’ve been so short handed that we can’t do much, which means financially our hands are tied. It’s a vicious cycle.”
    “That’s understandable with the way small businesses have been hit. I’ve got some experience in ranches and am pretty handy with repairs. Of course, most of my job history is the army, but I can adjust just from living that life for so long.”
    Amelia loved his honesty. “So, you from Texas? Tell me a little about yourself.”
    His mood shifted, but she wasn’t sure if she was just reading too much into it. “Yes ma’am, I’m from Texas. I guess you can say I’m kind of a drifter, especially now. Joined the army to get away and see the world. Not much else to say. Did tours over in the Middle East. What about you? You a Texan woman?”
    She liked that this was turning into a two-way conversation. It was starting to not feel like a job interview at all. “Yeah. Grew up on the ranch. Now I’m raising my son on the ranch. I’d like to keep the tradition going or die trying.”
    Nick arched his eyebrow. “How old is your son?”
    “Seven. And I’m divorced, which is another reason we need help. There’s no other men around.” She wasn’t going to disclose the bit about her divorce, but since they were both talking about each other, she felt comfortable with it.
    “Well, Amelia, I’m interested in the job if you’re willing to hire me on. I’ll sure do my best to help out with it all.”
    He seemed perfect, but was the only one she had interviewed. Options were minimal. With the few phone calls she did get, no one was willing to work with what she was offering. What if she decided to wait and he found something else, ruining her chances of finding a good fit? She didn’t want to drag her feet, but she also didn’t want to make a hasty decision. Her instincts were screaming at her to make an offer, and she was slowly learning to trust them. Had she asked him enough questions and got enough information? What if he was really a convict with a bad past? It would be easy to find out about his military history, but something told Amelia that he was being truthful. She promised herself at the first sign of trouble she’d kick him to the curb. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
    “The job is yours if you want it, Nick. When can you start?” It felt good making the offer, but she still had a flit of butterflies in the pit of her stomach. Was it those green eyes and rugged good looks that made her weak in the knees? Was she acting on attraction? No, this guy looked like he could handle it all.
    “I can start immediately.”
    Amelia put her hand out for him to shake again. Her heart skipped a beat when his hand grasped hers. “Welcome to the Tucker Ranch, Nick. I’ll be happy to give you a ride out there and show you around.”
     
    ***
     
    Nick packed up his duffel bag and threw it in the back of Amelia’s truck. For a split second he had to ask himself what he was doing. He had barely met this woman and trusted her to take him out to the ranch he would be working. He hated to think that she could be up to something, but with as much of the cruel world he had seen, stranger things could’ve happened. How much harm could she cause? She likely didn’t weigh over one hundred and forty pounds, and he couldn’t help but notice her physical