“I didn’t think you’d act like a caveman if we did cross paths again.”
When she tried to sidestep him, he latched onto her upper arm. He pulled her behind him, herding her against the corral and boxing her in. “Wrong answer, sugar twang. You know firsthand that I give in to my baser impulses without apology.”
She blushed.
They stared at each other.
“Do you remember when I said you looked familiar and you accused me of feeding you a line?” Fletch asked. “Now I know why. I must’ve seen you in pictures. I’ve heard about you, Tanna Barker, Celia’s sometime traveling partner. Wild child on the circuit, according to Lainie.”
She lifted her chin. “And?”
“And you’re so damn beautiful you take my breath away.”
Her stiff carriage softened slightly. “You are far too charming and knowledgeable about me, Mr. . . . ?”
“Fletcher. August Fletcher. Everyone calls me Fletch.”
She drilled him in the sternum with her fingernail. “Aha! Celia’s talked about you too. So has Lainie. You’re a vet, right? Veterinarian, not a military vet.”
“Yep. Now that that’s out of the way, can we go someplace and—”
“No.”
Fletch moved in closer. “Why did you immediately say no before hearing my suggestion?”
“It either had something to do with us getting naked, or with us talking.”
“Oh, I wanna strip you to skin all right. Then spend the rest of the day and all night reacquainting my hands and mouth with your body. But talking is a good place to start.”
Her eyes turned defiant. “We have nothin’ to talk about.”
“We have everything to talk about now that I know you’re sticking around, working at the Split Rock. And you oughta know that I tried to bribe the desk clerk to give me your name after I woke up alone. I walked through the motel and the bar parking lots looking for any vehicle with Texas plates. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I even went to Cactus Jack’s last night, hoping that you’d show up.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Did you think of me at all?”
She seemed reluctant to answer.
He heard the boot steps and then Eli stepped into view.
“Hey, Fletch. What’s goin’ on? Looks like you’re browbeating this lovely woman.”
“We’re just having a conversation. A private conversation. Everything is fine.”
“Is that right?” Eli asked. But he wasn’t looking at Fletch; he was focused on Tanna.
Tanna sidestepped Fletch. “I’ll catch up with you later.” And she bailed.
Fletch got right in Eli’s face. “What the hell was that about?”
“You looked like you were gonna throttle her. People were taking note.”
“Remember when I told you about the woman I met? That’s her.”
Eli’s eyebrows rose. “No kiddin’? And she’s here? How’d that happen?”
Fate. “Guess it’s my lucky day. Get this: she’s working up at the Split Rock.”
“Look, I ain’t one to meddle. But will you go easy on her? She’s had a rough year and still hasn’t found her footing.”
Fletch gave him a suspicious look. “How do you know that?”
“I pay attention.”
“You gossip, you mean.”
Eli shrugged. “Not gossip if it’s the truth. But the truth is, she and I had a conversation earlier.”
“What’s goin’ on with her?”
“Ain’t my place to say. You’ll have to ask her.”
“I would have asked her, but you chased her off,” Fletch reminded him.
“Like you said. She’ll be around. Don’t hound her today and give her a reason to avoid you.” Eli walked off.
Fletch considered that option for roughly four seconds before he went to track her down.
But she’d disappeared once again.
Chapter Five
Tanna ducked into the barn from the rear entrance. Hopefully no one had seen her and she’d have a few minutes to think.
Holy, holy shit. In all the wide-open spaces of Wyoming what were the odds that her last hookup would be . . . a Muddy Gap homeboy?
Fletch—God, the name fit him perfectly with that wickedly naughty grin of his.
The barn door opened and she stepped deeper into the shadows.
Lainie stopped just inside the doorway and called out, “Tanna?”
“Over here.”
“Aha. So you were hiding.”
“I was just looking for a little quiet time. Why? Did you or Celia need something?”
Lainie plopped beside her on the long wooden bench. “No. I saw you talking to Devin, then Fletch horned in and appeared to be chewing your ass. Then Eli interrupted and you took off. So, what’s the deal? Because, dude, this is way better than The Bachelorette.”
At one time Tanna could’ve talked to Lainie about anything. But in the years since Lainie had married Hank and settled down as a ranch wife with two kids and a part-time job, they now lived in different worlds. As Tanna internally struggled with her answer, Lainie poked her arm.
“No way, missy. You don’t get to pull that silent crap with me. I told you about the wild sex stuff that summer I traveled with Hank and Kyle.”
“Which was years ago.”
“So, because I’m not single I can’t possibly understand your love life anymore?” Lainie said with an edge to her voice. “That’s crap. We’re friends. Friends talk.”
Tanna released a slow breath. “Maybe I don’t wanna tell you because I’m embarrassed about my most recent one-night stand.”
“With who? And how recently?”
“With Fletch. Thursday night.”
“Fletch?” Lainie cocked her head and stared at her. “How’d that happen?”
Tanna met Lainie’s gaze. “I wanted to cut loose and he was the guy holding the scissors. I didn’t tell him my name and refused to let him tell me his.”
She laughed. “You guys really didn’t exchange any personal information?”
“Nothin’ besides we were both single and we don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases.” Tanna braced herself for Lainie’s reaction.
But Lainie just whistled. “You’ve always been a braver soul than me. So, with the angry way Fletch loomed over you, I take it you snuck out before he woke up?”
“That was our deal. He had no right to act all pissy and territorial.”
“Fletch never acts that way.”
She offered Lainie a shrug. “Fletch just needs to realize I meant it when I said I wasn’t interested in any kind of relationship.”
Lainie opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “Why not?”
“Because I need to figure out where I’ll go and what I’ll do after this job ends.”
“Does that include thinking about returning to barrel racing?”
Tanna fidgeted. “I don’t know.”
Lainie patted Tanna’s thigh and stood. “It’s too bad, though. Fletch is a great guy. Crazy busy with his practice. I swear he puts as many miles on his vehicle as you do each year. And he’s not the type of guy looking for a permanent thing either.”
Rather than continuing to hide in the barn, Tanna followed Lainie outside. Two tables had been set up in the backyard and she felt guilty watching Celia bustling about. “Celia, is there anything I can do?”
“Nope. Our neighbor Ronna had everything organized ahead of time. She and Kyle’s mother practically threw me out of my own kitchen.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m pregnant, not helpless.”
A woman with fiery red hair, sharply dressed in a rhinestone dotted Western shirt and jeans, came up behind Celia and hugged her. “It won’t hurt you, my darlin’ girl, to take the help when you can get it. Because as soon as my grandbaby is here, you’re gonna wish you’d taken the time to put up your feet when you had the chance. Now why don’t you sit down and I’ll bring you a plate?”
Celia kissed the w
oman’s cheek. “You spoil me, Sherry. I’ve got a couple things to do and then I promise I’ll sit.”
Tears welled in Tanna’s eyes at seeing that sweet moment between Kyle’s mom and Celia. She missed so much about her mother, especially the casual affection they had shared.
All around her, conversations rose and fell. Kids cried. Chairs scraped against the cement. A radio played country tunes. Just a typical gathering on a ranch. She could be on any ranch anywhere in the country. So her sense of the familiar warred with her disconnected feeling. Somehow she found herself wandering to the fence that housed the horses.
The sunny day had become cloudy and the wind had picked up. She rested her elbows on the top of the fence and watched the horses in the distance. At least a dozen milled about, starting to get spooked by the weather. She didn’t see any foals, but the new mamas and babies might be in a different pasture.
Boots scraped behind her, but she didn’t turn around, expecting it’d be Fletch. But it wasn’t. Eli propped a boot on the bottom rung and stared across the landscape.
She fought a ridiculous pang of disappointment. “You don’t have to hard sell me on accepting your help, Eli. I said I’d think about it.”
“That ain’t my style at all. I came to apologize that I interrupted earlier with Fletch.”
“You didn’t interrupt.”
“That’s not what he said.” Eli’s dark brown eyes met hers. “He mentioned you to me.”
“He did?” Tanna couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice.
“Yep. Before he knew you were here. Before he recognized you.”
That startled her—and pissed her off a little—so she tossed off, “Was he bragging about his most recent hookup?”
Eli shook his head. “Girl, you are defensive. But no. Fletch ain’t like that.”
“What did he say?”
“That he was an idiot for letting you get away without having a way to contact you.”
“Oh.”
Eli said, “Fletch is a really good guy.”
“You don’t have to warn me off your friend. I won’t drag him into my drama. That one night was it.”
“Fletch is one determined cuss. He’ll aim to change your mind.”
“He can try. But there’s a reason I was named ‘Most Stubborn’ on the circuit.”
Eli grinned. “Ironic that his football nickname was ‘Muley’ because of his stubborn streak. It’s gonna be fun watching you two.”
Tanna threw up her hands. “There’s nothin’ to watch!”
“Keep telling yourself that.” He offered another quick grin. “Let’s see if there’s any food left.”
They walked back to the house in silence. Tanna felt Fletch’s eyes on her, but he didn’t approach her. She filled a plate and listened to Devin entertaining Hank, Abe, Kyle, the two guys she’d met this morning who worked at the Split Rock, Tobin and Hugh, and two other men she’d met earlier, Bran and Ike.
Devin said, “She don’t look nothin’ like in her videos where she’s always glammed up.”
“I’d still take her for a tumble,” Tobin said.
“You’d have to get past her two bodyguards. And they are mean SOBs.”
“Why don’t you have bodyguards?” Ike asked Devin with a snicker.
“Fuck off. I don’t need one, let alone two. At the bigger venues I get assigned a security detail, but they’re more like drivers herding me into the car, getting me where I need to go.”
Someone’s cell phone rang, forcing a pause in the conversation.
Bran answered. “Hey, darlin’. I was just . . . what? When?” He moved out of line abruptly. “Come on, sugar. Take a deep breath.” He listened. “That’s it.” He frowned. “You’re sure Tierney and Renner are okay with takin’ care of him for that long? Uh-huh. I’ll tell her. No. I will. I promise. Harper,” he said sharply, “calm down. Remember to breathe. We’ve been through this before and you did great. Yep. I’m on my way. Love you, baby.” He hung up.
“What’s up?” Hank said.
“Harper’s water broke. And she’s already had contractions. So I gotta get her to the hospital.” He looked around. “Where’s Celia?”
“I’ll grab her,” Kyle said and left.
Bran paced. Stopped. Looked at Hank and Abe. “How long’s it take to deliver a second baby?”
“Usually way less time than a first baby,” Abe said. “Why?”
“I might need one of you to check cattle for me in the morning.”
“No problem. Just keep us up to date.”
Celia rushed forward. “Harper’s in labor?”
“Yeah. She wanted to know if Tierney and Renner can’t watch Tate all night, if you’d mind picking him up and bringing him back here.”
“I’d love to. But Tierney is great with him and I know she won’t mind keeping him. Don’t worry. Now. Go.” She shoved him a little. “Harper needs you. But I’d suggest you wear protective hand covering in the delivery room this time.”
“Thanks.” Bran jogged to his truck.
When Celia wandered over to the picnic table, Tanna said, “Why would he need protective hand covering?”
“Because when Harper was in labor with Tate, she squeezed Bran’s hand so hard she dislocated his knuckle,” Fletch said and sat down beside her. Right beside her.
Tanna didn’t say anything but her stupid heart skipped a beat.
“I should’ve asked if I could get you a beer. Corona, right?”
“No. In fact, I’m done.”
Fletch’s hand gripped her thigh under the table. Then he slid his hand down to her knee and squeezed gently. “Don’t go on my account.”
It’d look like she was running from him if she left now. And Tanna Barker didn’t run from any man. She glanced up to see Celia’s gaze winging between them.
“You two know each other?” Celia asked.
“We’ve met.” Fletch didn’t elaborate. Neither did Tanna.
Hank, Abe and Ike left, distracting Celia long enough for Tanna to hiss, “Stop it.”
Fletch leaned a fraction closer and whispered, “Make me.”
“What are you, an eight-year-old boy?”
“More like a sixteen-year-old boy,” he murmured in her ear. “I’ve had a hard-on since I first saw you today.”
“Really? That’s an original line. Not.”
He chuckled. “Sugar twang, that wasn’t a line but the gospel truth. And I’ll keep throwing you lines all damn night if I thought you’d bite.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Celia demanded.
Tanna smirked. “Fletch was just confessing that he’d rather deal with a hundred pregnant heifers than just one human woman in labor.”
Celia’s mouth dropped open. “Omigod, August Fletcher, I oughta reach over and smack you for that.”
“Calm down, brat. Tanna was kidding. She likes to get folks riled up. The last time we were together, you gotta rise out of me, what? Four times? In one night?”
Double entendre much?
And dammit. She blushed. Again. She never fucking blushed.
“What are you two talking about?” Celia complained. “I’m lost.”
“Inside joke. You up for a little honky-tonking tonight?” Fletch asked Tanna, changing the subject.
That grabbed Devin’s attention as he plopped down with a plate piled high with food. “Hey, I wanna come dancin’.”
Tobin and Hugh took seats at the table.