Since she was clearly going nowhere until he tried her food, he took a bite of what looked like the most amazing breakfast taco he’d ever seen and … almost died. Spicy was an understatement. Holy hell hot was an understatement. But it was also the best thing he’d ever tasted, even if his tongue was numb.

Ivy smiled at him. “Still think you can handle the heat?”

Jake and Caleb were doubled over laughing, the asses. “I’m not a cop,” he managed to wheeze, holding her gaze while he took another bite. And another. No doubt, he was going to eat her food the entire three weeks he was here. If he lived that long.

“He’s a sheriff and ranch owner in Idaho,” Caleb said. “So … kind of a cop.”

“Also kind of a cowboy,” Jake added ever so helpfully.

Kel rolled his still watering eyes. His grandparents had left him and Remy their ranch, which he oversaw, but had employees handling the day to day operations since his day job was more like a 24/7 job. “I’m just a guy on vacay,” he croaked out. The more accurate term would have been assigned slash medical leave, but hell if he was going to share that. Or the fact that his still healing broken ribs ached like a bitch, as did the deep bone bruising he’d suffered down the entire right side of his body from being pitched into the air by a moving vehicle.

Caleb snorted. “You don’t do vacay. As evidenced by the fact you agreed to work for me for the entire two weeks you’re here. I needed him,” he said to Ivy. “He’s got serious skills. He’s going to manage security on several large projects, including my most recently acquired building, the one being renovated into condos.” He looked at Kel. “Ivy’s going to buy one with her brother, who’s an antiquities specialist. It’s a great investment,” he said like a proud parent, even though at thirty-two, he couldn’t have been more than five years or so older than Ivy.

“Actually, it might just be me investing,” Ivy said. “Brandon just got into a deal on the east coast I was telling you about.”

“The auction house job.”

“Yes, and it’s going to keep him busy for a while, so…” She shrugged. “I told him I’d go after this myself.”

“That’s too bad,” Caleb said. “Was looking forward to meeting him.”

Kel stopped chewing because something in Ivy’s tone had just set off his bullshit radar. She was either lying or stretching the truth, but his eyes were still watering and his throat was burning or he might’ve joined the conversation.

Ivy reached out as if to take away his basket, but he held firm to it and kept eating. He was starting to sweat and he couldn’t feel his lips, but he also couldn’t get enough.

“Okay, Cowboy, it’s your funeral,” she said, and he couldn’t tell if she was impressed or horrified.