Starstruck Cowboy (Working Man Series Book 1) Read online

  Star noticed an empty bottle sticking out from under the hay. Her father had liked his whiskey and, oftentimes, took to drinking when something was troubling him. Maybe Luke was upset after all. Perhaps, it bothered him a little more than he was letting on.

  Eyeing up the pathetic man, a tinge of guilt dropped in from nowhere. One minute Star was ready to throw him off her farm, and the next minute she was wondering if she should show him a little kindness. After all, he did save Baby, and the accident was both of their faults.

  “I’m sure if you head over to the kitchen, Louise could find something for you to eat.” She played with the buttons on her blouse so she wouldn’t have to look at him and his sexy chest and sultry blue eyes.

  “Louise?” he asked.

  Star slowly lifted her gaze to answer. “Louise is our cook. She has been for the last twenty years. She was always a good friend to my family.”

  He hesitated before he answered, then lifted his hand and ran it through his slop-laden hair. “I wouldn’t want to bother her since breakfast is probably already over.”

  “Suit yourself.” She turned to go, but stopped in her tracks as Luke blocked her path with his body. Standing with his feet apart, his arms slowly crossed over his sturdy chest.

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Here we go again,” she mumbled with a sigh. “Tell me what you meant, Mr. Tyler, and then get out of my way. I’ve got chores to do and you are slowing me down.”

  “How about you make me breakfast instead of Louise?”

  “Me?” gasped Star. She couldn’t have possibly heard him right. “I don’t cook,” she answered coolly.

  “Then how about going out for a bite to eat?”

  Star’s heart drummed in her ears. Was this man really asking her out on a date? Did he think it was a good time to make a move when they were both covered with slop? What was he doing? “I’ve already eaten. Besides, I don’t go anywhere with strangers.”

  “I see.” He looked down at her, doing nothing to move out of her way. “Do you give tours of the ranch?”

  She shook her head. “No time.”

  “Play cards?”

  “Never.”

  “Tell a man the time of day, perhaps?” Irritation tainted his words.

  “Sorry, but I don’t even own a watch.” She flashed him a sarcastic smile.

  Luke let out a frustrated breath, feeling like he was getting nowhere with this stubborn woman. How could he ever get to know her when she wouldn’t even give him the time of day? All he was trying to do was make up for the trouble he’d caused her, but she wasn’t making it easy for him.

  What this girl needed was an aggressive man. Someone to put her in her place and let her know how to behave. Luke had never thought of himself as that type, but figured maybe he’d try a new approach. A strong, powerful man might be just what this little hellion wanted and needed. With tongue in cheek, he stumbled over the words of his next question.

  “Well, then, Ms. Starbright, do you find pleasures in more creative ways, such as . . . helping a guy out with his manly needs?”

  He realized as soon as the words left his mouth that it wasn’t the right thing to say. Too late now.

  “Most definitely not!” she retorted.

  “Look, my head hurts and I’m getting tired of this little game,” he said. “So why don’t you just tell me what you do around here besides throw slop, race old, rusty pickups and talk to chickens?”

  Star pushed past Luke on her way out of the pen. He grabbed her arm and turned her around. His face was only inches from hers, and the idea danced through his head to kiss her. But he wouldn’t. If he even attempted it, he would probably end up with two black eyes.

  “Does this mean you won’t be cooking me biscuits and gravy this morning?” he asked in a low voice.

  Star looked down at her wrist and shook out of his grip. “That’s exactly what it means,” she answered through gritted teeth. “And as for your bath . . . the creek is out back, so go jump in. Maybe it’ll cool down all those manly needs of yours!”

  Luke lazily leaned against the wooden slats of the gate and gingerly touched his aching eye as he watched Star storm across the yard and make a beeline for the house. He chuckled inwardly at the amount of spunk this woman showed. Never had Velvet Barabelle stood up to him like this feisty redhead had. And never before had he been so attracted to a tomboy with such a foul mouth . . . and with such a good swing!

  “Well, Ms. Starbright,” Luke said to himself with a chuckle as he watched her disappear into the house. “I might be the biggest fool to walk the earth, but before I leave here I’m going to get you to like me if it’s the last thing I ever do.” He gently touched his eye again, feeling the sting of her punch. “From now on, you’re going to see a whole different side of this Starstruck cowboy.”

  Chapter 4

  Luke swung open the back porch screen door and strolled into the kitchen like he was walking into a Hollywood party. He had his duffel bag flung over his shoulder and it swung back and forth with every step he took. Brent, Velvet, Star’s mother, Daisy, and three hired hands sat around the table with empty plates in front of them. The hired hands were gathered around Velvet who was clad in nothing more than a thin, satin dressing gown. Daisy and Brent clutched huge mugs of steaming coffee as they carried on a conversation, laughing and smiling pleasantly at one another. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Luke said. Nobody heard him over their own conversations. Star was across the room, hands waving in the air, as she complained to the old cook, Louise, who was up to her elbows in soapy water, scrubbing a pot. Luke would have bet she was whining about him. “Thanks, I’d love a cup of coffee,” Luke said to no one in particular.

  Star went right on talking while Daisy and Brent were rambling about where to set up the crew when they arrived. Velvet twirled a lock of her red hair around one finger while the three hired hands were transfixed to her every move.

  Luke’s stomach grumbled from the leftover aroma of fried bacon, flapjacks, omelets and hot coffee. By the looks of the table and the way Louise was already cleaning up, he figured he was too late for breakfast. All that was left on the griddle were crumbs. A blue speckled coffee pot steamed on the stove, threatening to boil over by the high fire raging underneath it.

  “Look at the fire.” Luke’s voice stayed calm but his words stuck out like a sore thumb. Suddenly, he had everyone’s attention in the room.

  “Fire? Where?” screamed Daisy, rushing to look out the window. The three hired hands jumped to their feet, scurrying around the room in a dither.

  Luke threw his duffel bag down on the table and pulled up one of the vacant chairs next to Velvet. The chair scraped over the wooden floor as he twirled it backwards and sat down, resting his elbows on the back. He casually pointed to the coffee pot bubbling over on the double metal stove. “Fire’s a bit too high under the coffee,” he said.

  Louise pulled her hands out of the dishwater and hurriedly dried them on her apron as she rushed to turn down the gas. Coffee sizzled onto the hot grate and she grabbed a dry towel and pulled the pot over to a cool burner.

  “I’m sorry about that, Daisy,” she apologized to Star’s mother. “It’s just that Star was chewing my ear off about her ordeal with Mr. Tyler and I . . .”

  Daisy looked over, seeming to just notice Star standing by the sink in her wet attire. The hired hands stopped and eyed her curiously as well.

  “Why, Ms. Brighton,” snickered the tall, lanky hired hand. “What happened to you?”

  “And what happened to you, Tyler?” broke in Brent in a half-laugh as he noticed Luke for the first time since he’d entered the room.

  “I guess you could say I’ve been getting acquainted with the pig out back,” Luke answered.

  Velvet pushed far away from Luke and turned up her nose. “Don’t think I’m going to shoot a single scene anywhere near you until you’ve showered and r
id yourself of that ghastly smell!”

  Luke ran his hands over the front of his soiled shirt and smiled at Star. She stood with her hands on her hips, gloating at him. Then returning his attention to Velvet, he continued. “I don’t know. I rather like the smell of food right now. Of course, breakfast does smell better than last night’s dinner at the moment.”

  Velvet opened her mouth to reply but, instead, shot out of the chair and ran from the room.

  “Ms. Starbright over there was kind enough to give me a wake-up call and christen me at the same time this morning, weren’t you, sweetheart?” Luke winked at Star. Her face reddened instantly as all heads in the room turned in her direction.

  “Star?” Daisy walked closer to her daughter with the coffee mug still in her hand. “Did you have something to do with all this?”

  “Really, Star,” broke in the dark-haired hired hand with the crooked teeth. “If I woulda known there was goin’ to be slop wrestlin’ in the barn this morn, me and Zeke woulda placed bets.”

  The plumpest of the three men joined in the conversation. “That’s right. Garvey and I always like action so early in the mornin’. Buck here would’ve probably gotten in on the action, too.”

  The man called Buck turned back from the window. “No, I wouldn’t Zeke. But I sure would’ve enjoyed watchin’.”

  “Go on now and get back to work, you three,” Daisy commanded. “We’ve got plenty to do. Mr. Valens’ crew will be showing up sometime this morning.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the hands replied, grabbing their hats before scuffling out of the room in a hurry.

  “Mr. Tyler, I’m sorry about all this,” apologized Daisy. She walked over to the table and clunked the ceramic mug down on the wood. “If my daughter had anything to do with this, I’ll . . .”

  “Ma!” Star interrupted, taking one step closer, then halting before she got too near Luke.

  “It’s quite all right.” Luke found an empty mug on the table and picked it up, heading over to the stove. “May I?” He pointed toward the coffee pot.

  “Of course,” stammered Daisy. “Louise, pour Mr. Tyler a cup of coffee.”

  “No need to bother the pretty little lady.” Luke grabbed the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. “After all, I’m sure Louise is tuckered out from cooking all that food.”

  Luke watched Louise blush and tuck a gray strand of hair back into the bun atop her head. Brent gave Luke an inconspicuous nod from the table, as if approving of the way he was taking control of the situation.

  “Why, I’m not tired at all, Mr. Tyler,” said Louise. “As a matter of fact, since you missed breakfast, how about if I cook you up something real quick to eat. Biscuits and gravy all right with you?”

  Luke put the pot down and shot the old woman one of his flirtatious smiles. He caught Star looking at him out of the corner of his eye. She pouted and clutched her arms around her tightly. “I’d love to take you up on your offer, Louise. That is . . . unless Star wants to cook for me instead.” He flashed Star a smile this time. “After all, I’ve discovered she is mighty handy when it comes to whipping up a mess of grub. Especially leftovers.”

  “My daughter’s going to cook?” asked Daisy, sitting down at the table across from Brent. She picked up her mug in two hands, bringing it to her mouth. “I was going to go check on the hands, but if Star’s going to cook I’ll stay here to see it.”

  “Mother, I’m not cooking, and Mr. Tyler damned well knows it!” Star stormed toward the hallway. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  “Star, watch your language,” scolded Daisy, sitting up straighter as she glared at her daughter. “After all, we’ve got guests. Now, make sure you leave enough hot water for Mr. Tyler to take a shower, too.”

  “Just leave it running,” Luke called after her. “I’ll be up as soon as I’m done eating.”

  Star stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. “Mr. Tyler,” she fumed.

  “Please, just call me Luke.” Luke set his mug on the table, wiping off the back of his pants before sitting in a different chair, this time next to Brent. “After all, I’d like to think that after our little rendezvous in the barn this morning, we’d be on a first name basis by now, don’t you, Star?”

  Luke slowly took a sip of the hot coffee and nonchalantly glanced back in Star’s direction. Her eyes were narrowed and her defiant chin rose in the air. Her hair dripped with last night’s leftovers, making her clothes a smattering of three different colors.

  “Let me tell you something, Mr. Luke Tyler,” she said, pushing up her soiled sleeves. Luke expected her, at any moment, to stroll over and slug him again. His eye hurt just thinking about it.

  “Yes, Ms. Star Brighton?”

  “Right now, I’d like nothing more than to . . .”

  When Daisy cleared her throat, Star seemed to reconsider her words and headed down the hall instead.

  “Tyler, what’s this all about?” Brent leaned forward in his chair, talking softly.

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” Luke answered, not at all concerned. He leaned back on two legs of his chair and rested his feet on the table.

  The smell of baking powder biscuits filled the air as Louise noisily hurried around the kitchen preparing him a special breakfast. Luke’s mouth watered and his stomach grumbled at the mere thought of eating actual food. His head pounded from his hangover and his body ached from sleeping on the ground. He took another sip of hot coffee and savored the taste as it slid down his throat.

  Daisy slowly pushed her chair back and walked around the table to Luke’s side. “You’ve got that wrong, Mr. Tyler,” she said, apparently having overheard his conversation with Brent. “No one, including me, can actually handle that girl.” She started to head toward the kitchen door when she stopped in her tracks and made her way back to Luke. With a swipe of her hand, she knocked his feet off the table. “No boots on the table! That rule goes for not only my hired hands but my guests as well.”

  “I beg your pardon, Ms. Daisy.” Luke started to give her one of his smiles but stopped when he saw the frown on her face.

  She leaned over and spoke softly. “That smile might work on Louise or maybe even my daughter, but I’ve been around long enough to know a womanizer when I see one.”

  Luke swallowed hard and pulled his chair closer to the table, resting his hands atop his lap like a schoolboy caught putting a frog in the teacher’s desk drawer.

  “That’s better,” said Daisy. “Enjoy your breakfast, Mr. Tyler. And for the record, I won’t let Louise do this again. So, from now on, make sure to be here on time or you won’t eat.” Her boot heels clicked over the wooden floor and the screen door banged behind her as she left the house. Now, Luke knew where Star got her hard-as-nails disposition. Trying to pull anything over on this woman would be just as tough as seducing her daughter – both things that Brent had instructed him to do.

  “Well, Tyler, nothing like making a grand entrance and then clearing the room in a matter of minutes.” Brent drained his mug and pushed back his chair. “Try to get a little more sleep tonight. You’ve got bags under your eyes. Or one of them, anyway.”

  Luke subconsciously wiped his eye and then grabbed Brent’s arm before he could stand up. Sneaking a glance toward Louise, he realized by the way she was clattering dishes in the cabinet that she’d never be able to hear what he was about to say.

  “Brent, I don’t think it’s going to be easy to talk the Brightons out of half their pay.”

  “I’ve noticed,” Brent answered softly. “Somehow, you’ve already managed to anger both Daisy and her daughter. I thought you only had that capability with Velvet. You must be losing your touch with women, Luke.”

  Brent tried to stand again, but Luke pulled him back down in his chair.

  “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this job. Maybe you ought to work on Daisy, since she seems to like you.”

  Brent let out a sigh and shook his head. “All right, Tyler. Since I somehow know you’re going
to screw this up worse than the love scene with Velvet, I’ll do it. You work on Star and I’ll take care of Daisy. Between the two of us, we should be able to get them to agree to the new price.”

  Brent tried, once again, to leave but was pulled back to a sitting position by Luke.

  “What the hell is it now?” snapped Brent. “I’ve got to get out there. The horses are arriving any time now along with the production crew. I have to supervise.”

  “Brent, why don’t we just keep the original deal and forget about chewing them down on the price? After all, by the looks of that drafty barn out back, I’d say the Brightons could use the money.”

  “The plan is still on,” mumbled Brent. “You just take care of getting Star under your thumb and leave the rest to me. I’ll show you how to handle a real woman like Daisy.”

  With that, Brent took off after Daisy. Luke watched him go and, once again, touched his throbbing eye. Ever since they’d ventured out to Bright Star Ranch, he’d had nothing but trouble. He was beginning to wonder if this place was cursed. Or maybe he was the cursed one. Hopefully, a good meal and a hot shower would help him think clearly and then he’d know how to approach Star and everything else.

  “Here’s your breakfast, Mr. Tyler.” Louise placed in front of him a plate of steaming hot biscuits smothered in the most delectable-looking white gravy.

  “Thank you, Louise, you’re an angel. And please, just call me Luke. That is, if you want to.”

  “Oh, I do,” the old woman answered, smiling from ear to ear. “Mr . . . I mean Luke . . . is there anything else I can get you?”

  “No, Louise, thank you.” Luke shot a glance to where Star stood just moments ago. Picking up his fork, he jabbed it into a biscuit. “I think a nice hot shower will be the only other thing I’ll be needing for now.”

  Chapter 5

  Star scrubbed her skin until it hurt. It had taken her longer than she thought it would to get the slop out of her hair. Now she tried her hardest to do the same to her skin. Scrubbing hard was a way to vent her anger for Luke Tyler and the way he’d upset her life since she’d met him. The man not only ruined her truck, but he was also the cause of her losing the money from the sale of their chickens. Her mother had been furious when she found out the money was gone. Now, their only hope was to somehow raise the rest of the cash they needed and add it to the amount they’d be getting from Brent Valens if they wanted to save their ranch.