Home on the Ranch

by Tanya Michaels

  “Pretty sure the ladies who buy the calendar won’t be scrutinizing the backgrounds,” Quincy teased.

  Layla waved a hand. “Consider it a matter of artistic integrity. Anyway. I need a variety of settings. Taking some inside makes sense, but it feels a little claustrophobic for a group photo. I won’t have as many angle options. So let’s take this outside. We can get some great shots along the fence.” Without waiting for agreement, she picked up a dark bag and exited the barn, her stride purposeful.

  Jace grinned, reminded of a stern elementary school teacher and a field trip he’d once taken. Come along, single file, this means you, Jace Trent! He’d been disregarding the single-file rule in an attempt to hold hands with Anabelle Shermer.

  Outside in the sunshine, Layla’s demeanor turned a bit more sheepish. “Not to be crass, gentlemen, but shirts off, hats on.”

  There were good-natured chuckles as the men followed instructions. Jace bent his elbow behind his head and grabbed the back of his collar, tugging off the T-shirt. When he’d shrugged free of the material, his eyes met Layla’s and her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. She quickly glanced away, erasing his earlier pangs of jealousy. Quincy could flirt and joke all he wanted. The sight of his chest didn’t make Layla blush.

  Jace balled up his shirt and was prepared to toss it on the ground, but Jarrett walked past him to hang his long-sleeved shirt from a fence post.

  Layla snapped her fingers. “I have a great idea for a cover! Can I borrow someone’s hat?”

  Jace and Quincy both stepped forward at the same time, but Jace quickly moved in front of the other man. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” Layla smiled up at him, but shyly avoided his gaze, and he was reminded of moments like these when they were teenagers. How had he not realized sooner that she was attracted to him? Or maybe he’d known on some level but had been content to stay in denial because she was his best friend’s little sister. There was an unwritten code among guys. Chris and Jace had candidly discussed wanting to make out with girls they thought were hot, but Chris would have kicked his ass if he’d ever talked about Layla that way.

  Layla took some of the discarded shirts and hung them over the wooden slats, leaving Jace’s cowboy hat over the post at the end. She took several shots from different angles, and watching her work was sexy in its own right. Jace knew from the pictures on her gallery website that she was good at what she did. But it was captivating to watch her intense focus, the energy in her posture, the way she momentarily forgot that any of them—even him—were there.

  She was smiling when she straightened, and Jace’s urge to kiss her this time had nothing to do with possessiveness. “Perfect. Pretty day, picturesque paddock and a couple of masculine clothing articles to hint at the contents inside. That gives us a family-friendly front cover no one could object to at the local store.”

  “Much appreciated,” Grayson said. “I could just tell anyone who complained to get over it, but I’d prefer to avoid alienating customers.”

  Layla nodded. “I’m sure the sponsors listed on the back would like to keep paying customers happy, too.”

  A breeze kicked up, and Quincy shivered comically. “Can we move this along before the talent freezes to death?”

  Jace was immune to the wind. Just looking in Layla’s direction kept him plenty warm.

  “Okay, let’s figure out how to arrange you. This isn’t a bad class photo—you shouldn’t all just be standing in a line according to height. We want some depth of composition.” She came over to them, considering, and asked Jarrett to stand on the other side of the fence, leaning against it. “Like this,” Layla demonstrated, folding her arms atop the wood. “Great forearm display. Trust me, women go for that.”

  “We really do,” Sierra called, strolling up the path with Hadley.

  Layla turned, surprise evident on her face. “Weren’t you going to the movies?”

  Hadley shrugged. “Becca called and told us it was sold out. So we came back to see if we could—”

  “Ogle.”

  “—help.”

  Layla laughed. “Maybe it will be helpful for me to get someone else’s opinion on how things look.”

  “But you’re only allowed to ogle me,” Jarrett called to his wife with a mock glare.

  She blew him a kiss. “No problem. I’d happily stare at you all day.”

  Quincy cleared his throat. “Uh, you guys mind leaving the rest of us out of your foreplay?”

  Laughter rippled through the group, and Layla returned to arranging the men where she wanted them. As she had with Jarrett, she would demonstrate the exact pose she was looking for, then she would make hands-on adjustments, fine-tuning body language, the tilt of the head, even the smallest angle of a hat brim, occasionally glancing to Sierra and Hadley for nods of approval. When she got to Jace, however, she stiffened briefly, as if hesitant to touch him. It would have felt like rejection, except that the flare of heat in her gaze before she lowered her lashes gave her away.

  He couldn’t resist fanning the flame. “How do you want me?” he asked, the words casual even if the erotic images in his mind were anything but.

  She was close enough that he could see the rise and fall of her chest as her breathing quickened. “I, ah...” She leaned back, jerking her chin toward Hugh. “Just stand like him but with the opposite arm at your side. You two will mirror each other and bookend the group.”

  With that, she retreated behind the lens, testing the light before she began taking pictures in earnest. Jace grinned. She was nowhere near immune to him. While there might not be much he could do about it in the group setting, it would be time for his solo portrait soon enough. Can’t avoid me forever, beautiful.

  * * *

  “Layla, hold up!”

  With her hand on the car door, Layla paused and turned back to see Sierra emerge from the ranch house, a foil-wrapped container in her hands.

  “It seemed wrong to let the person who did all the work leave without something to eat,” Sierra said. Earlier, Sierra had gone into the house and ordered pizza to be delivered so that when the photo session was done, there’d be something to feed the guys. Layla had appreciated the forethought. “I ordered way too much, especially since Grayson and Hadley left to pick up the twins. If you’re not going to stay, at least take some with you.”

  “Thank you,” Layla said. She’d declined the offer of staying to eat with the others, stating that she should get back to her daughter. Jace’s expression had turned to one of yearning, so fierce that she’d expected everyone in the room to remark on it, to realize that Addie was his daughter, too.

  “I put in enough for your little girl, too,” Sierra added.

  “Theoretically, she’s just finishing up dinner with her grandpa, but now she has pizza to snack on later. You’ll be her favorite person.” As long as you don’t insult the opening sequences in The Wizard of Oz. “I really appreciate your input today—and your being all right with Jarrett posing in the calendar.”

  “I know how devastated he was after his sister’s car accident a few years ago. She’s fine now, but he felt so helpless. It’s fantastic that you came up with something tangible you can do for Chris and his family. Jarrett is honored to be a part of it, and there’s no way I ever could have objected to that.” She stood there a moment, not yet handing over the pizza.

  “Was there something else?” Layla asked.

  “Well, we haven’t known each other very long, so I might be overstepping with what I’m about to say.” She smiled mischievously. “Luckily, I am okay with that. Watching you today, I couldn’t help but notice that you had a pretty strong reaction to Jace.”

  “Wh-what?” Damn. She hadn’t realized she’d been so transparent. Had the other men noticed, or had it been more obvious to someone observing from a distance? “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Sierra arched an
eyebrow. “Boy, are you a terrible liar.”

  Layla’s face heated, and she relented with a half truth. “I had a crush on him when we were teenagers. There may be lingering nostalgia, but it doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Do you want it to mean something? Because I’ve gotten to know the Trent brothers through Jarrett, and I’ve never seen Jace look at anyone the way he was watching you.”

  A rush of joy went through Layla. “Really?”

  “Maybe we could double-date sometime.”

  The joy ebbed. “Well, I’m—”

  “Once you’re done with the calendar and not as busy,” Sierra added.

  “Thanks for the offer—you seem like a lot of fun to hang out with—but once the calendar is done, I’ll be leaving.” One of the many reasons it wouldn’t do to dwell on how Jace Trent might or might not be looking for her. “I won’t be in Cupid’s Bow long.”

  “I said that exact same thing a few years ago.” Laughing, Sierra held up her left hand. The sun glinted off her golden wedding band. “And now I live here with the love of my life.”

  * * *

  “Should it make me nervous that our womenfolk are bonding?” Jarrett asked, staring out the kitchen window.

  “Hmmm?” Jace barely heard him. As he leaned against the counter finishing his slice of pizza, he was mentally replaying his favorite moments of the day. He wished his one-on-one photo session with Layla was sooner. She’d scheduled Hugh for tomorrow and Grayson for the day after, but Jace wasn’t until next week. He wanted to tell himself that she was saving the best for last, but he knew what she was doing—avoiding him and their mutual attraction. “Wait, did you just say our womenfolk?”

  “Sierra and Layla. They’re both sharp ladies. If they ever conspired against us, we’d be toast.”

  “Layla isn’t ‘my’ anything.”

  Jarrett rolled his eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired of being the perpetual bachelor? Quit being afraid of finding something real.”

  “You’re a dumbass,” Jace said mildly. “I’m not afraid.” She is.

  “So you admit you like her?”

  “Whole-heartedly.”

  Their conversation had drawn the attention of the Washington brothers. Quincy glanced up from the kitchen table with a groan. “Dammit. Does this mean I can’t ask her out?”

  Jace nodded adamantly.

  “Well, hold on, now,” Hugh told Jace. “You can’t knock Quincy out of the running unless you’re prepared to ask her out yourself. Does she know you like her?”

  He was pretty sure he’d made that clear last time he’d kissed her. “I think so, but it’s complicated.” Although he couldn’t tell them the whole story, he could at least vent some of his frustration. “She’s a single mom, and I didn’t make a great first impression on her daughter. Pretty sure the kid hates me.” It hurt his heart to admit that out loud. Layla had assured him that Addie would come around eventually, but what if she didn’t? “I tried to befriend her. I brought her a stuffed horse and—”

  Quincy laughed. “What is it with every little girl wanting a pony?”

  “Actually,” Jace said, “I don’t think she even likes horses.”

  “Do you know how I proposed to Sierra?” Jarrett asked.

  “Dude, I thought we were talking about my life.”

  Hugh rolled his eyes in Jarrett’s direction. “You know how it is with this one—all roads lead back to the redhead.”

  Jarrett ignored them. “I wrote out my proposal on a napkin and left it with her morning coffee.”

  “And she said yes to that?” Quincy said incredulously.

  “Long story, but it had meaning for us. You don’t necessarily win someone over because you assume every little girl wants a pony. Hell, Trent, you should know that. How different are Alyssa and Mandy? What makes a perfect gift for one of your nieces might not interest the other one at all.”

  “True.” He was eager to try again with Addie, but Layla hadn’t suggested another meeting.

  Hell, she’d barely stuck around long enough for him to even ask about it. Are you going to let that stop you? No. Definitely not. If she wasn’t going to give him an opportunity, he’d just have to create his own.

  Chapter 10

  Although it was a relief to see her brother out of the hospital bed, free of IV tubes and monitor wires, Layla’s heart still twisted at the strain etched into his usually smiling face. With help from friends and family, Suzanne had turned the living room into recovery headquarters. Chris was stationed on the couch, with a remote control, his phone, bottled water and assorted medications all within easy reach. When Layla had arrived twenty minutes ago, he’d joked about the perfect existence—“a beautiful wife and all the binge-watching a man could want”—but he was clearly frustrated by his lack of mobility. He kept staring through the window into the backyard where Addie and Suzanne were blowing bubbles. The twins were napping now, but whenever one of his daughters cried, his jaw tightened, and Layla knew he hated that he wasn’t more help with the babies.

  “It’s temporary,” she offered.

  He turned back toward her, his expression puzzled. “What were we talking about?”

  Nothing really—because he’d trailed off midsentence a few minutes ago, and she’d been trying to decide what to say. She could hardly tell him how she’d spent her day so far, since it had involved taking pictures of Hugh Washington for Project Secret Calendar. “You just had a look on your face like you desperately want to get off the couch, so I was reminding you that before too long, you’ll be on your feet again. Sierra will see to that.”

  Layla thought about her new friend’s comments yesterday. I’ve never seen Jace look at anyone the way he was watching you. It was unwise to let the observation make her giddy, yet every time she thought of Sierra’s words, she felt a tingle down to her toes.

  “What are you grinning about?” Chris asked suspiciously.

  Oops. “Was I? I’m...just really glad you’re out of the hospital.”

  He grimaced. “I was, too, at first. But at least in the hospital, there were nurses and staff. I feel awful that Suzanne has to take care of me by herself when she already has her hands full with the twins.”

  Layla bit her lip. Did he wonder why she wasn’t spending more time here at the house? Maybe she should tell him about the calendar so he understood that she was trying to help even when she wasn’t present. “Maybe I could make my visits longer. Addie’s kindergarten teacher has been emailing me worksheets, so those might help keep her occu—”

  “Not necessary. I was feeling sorry for myself, not trying to inconvenience anyone further. Honestly, I should be counting my blessings that we have so much help. Mom offered to spend the nights here to be on hand for her granddaughters. We haven’t felt desperate enough to take her up on it yet, but it’s nice to know the offer’s there.” He raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of Mom, neither of you has said much about the other one. I was expecting hysterics or outraged monologues...or, at the very least, minor griping. Have y’all reached a truce?”

  “Something like that.” Truthfully, the time Layla was spending on calendar plans gave her an acceptable reason to avoid her mother. She hadn’t told Claire the specifics, but she’d confided that she was working on a surprise to help Chris and Suzanne. Given how much Claire adored her son, that had been sufficient to excuse Layla from some of their otherwise awkward mother-daughter time. Hopefully, Claire’s approval would last once she discovered the project revolved around her daughter spending a lot of time with half-clothed men. Layla had endured more than enough pearl-clutching, what-will-people-think lectures.

  Of course, Claire’s response to the calendar couldn’t be nearly as scathing as her reaction to learning Martin was in town. Layla sighed. Her father had asked her—if she found an opportunity where it felt right—to talk to Chris on his behalf. She wasn�
�t eager to broach the subject, hating when it felt like she and Chris had to take sides on their parents’ problems, but she supposed this was the best opportunity she was likely to have.

  “Hey, can I talk to you about something?” she asked.

  “Of course. I mean, unless it’s some lady medical problem. In which case, I beg you, go talk to my wife instead.”

  Layla chuckled, the sound rusty with nerves. “Nothing like that. It’s...about our family. When was the last time you talked to Dad?”

  His expression grew stony. “Not much to say to him after the hell he put Mom through.”

  Layla took a deep breath. She knew from past experience how protective Chris was of their mother, and she didn’t want to get sucked into an argument about their parents. “Granted, he was a terrible husband.”

  “And a selfish SOB of a father,” Chris interrupted. “We live in a small town, and he didn’t care at all that his actions affected us. Do you know I got into a fistfight my sophomore year because Bobby Grendale blamed Dad—and somehow, by extension, our whole family—for breaking up his parents’ marriage by sleeping with his mom?”

  She winced. “I vaguely remember that.”

  “When Dad left Cupid’s Bow, he didn’t just leave Mom. He abandoned us, you and me. I’ll never understand how you could choose to go live with him. It wrecked her.”

  “Okay, but that was years ago. This might be hard for you to fathom, but Dad has really been there for me. He’s changed. He’s not self-absorbed, and he’s not a womanizer. He dotes on Addie, he misses you and...he’s here in town.”

  “What?” Red blotches mottled Chris’s face. “Since when?”

  “Not long,” she evaded. Chris didn’t need all the details of Martin’s reunion with Gena the other night. Frankly, it was pure luck that Addie hadn’t mentioned it already. “He’s worried about you. He wants to see you.”