He sat in the whiskey-colored, Manhattan leather chair in his sitting area, removed his boots, and tossed them. Sparky cowered when they hit the floor. “Come here, Spark.” His ten-month old pup crept over with his tail between his legs. He picked him up, cuddled him close, then took him to his dog bed across the room. Releasing him, he smoothed his fur after lowering him. “Stay in your own bed.”
A few minutes after he hit the bed and switched off the light, Sparky whined and clawed at the blanket to get up. Tanyon crawled out and took him back to his own bed. This happened twice more before he was able to close his eyes, but by then the scent of her perfume seeped into his memory along with the sadness in her eyes. What the hell could he do now that she was here? He hadn’t intended on a damn second chance. Avoid her? Yeah, he’d avoid her for as long as he could because there wouldn’t be no starting over bullshit.
He grabbed a cigarette and went out the balcony door, casually looking around the corner to see if Karis might be on hers, and he lit it up. He didn’t know what he’d do if she was there. His thoughts drifted back to the night of the Children’s Benefit Dinner and her in her backless black dress, her auburn hair up with sexy tendrils left down and framing her gorgeous face and blue eyes.
How that night, he’d opened the gate to one of the pastures on the way home and let her thick hair down with the removal of a couple strategically placed pins. They’d settled onto a blanket in the bed of his truck under a yellow moon rising from the black horizon. The night they came an inch away, literally, from making love unprotected, until he’d remembered he had the wallet for special occasions, condom free.
The only thing that mattered had been pleasuring each other, and in safer ways, and pleasure each other they had. He licked his lips, still able to taste her if he allowed himself that gift. Lord Almighty, he burned as hot as the ember at the tip of the cigarette. He took one more hit from it then shoved the butt into his coffee can of sand until it was good and out. Good and out. If only he could do the same thing for his burning ember.
∞∞∞
Outside on his horse in the morning, he checked his watch and shook his head. Everyone made the early deadline except her. He’d planned on getting the crew organized, then going off on his own to repair the fencing, but now this. “Anybody seen Karis this morning?” He got off his horse to tighten the cinch, and eyed the front door of the house, willing her ass to walk out dressed in her tight jeans.
Annette rode up to him prepared to ride. “I haven’t seen her since she planned on asking you to change her room. You didn’t bury her in the barn, did ya?” Annette clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, Tanyon.”
Tanyon removed his hat and shoved fingers through his hair. His throat tightened. This wasn’t the time for sarcasm. “You like working here, right?”
Annette narrowed her eyes at him. “You know I do, Boss.”
“Then don’t be a wisecracker like one of these punk greenhorns.” He nodded toward the group going on their first cattle drive. Sure, they’d had training in the small pasture and by watching his drone videos, but today they’d experience the real thing. Tanyon mounted his horse then rode toward his brothers who had the downsized herd moving. “Go ahead. I’ll see what the holdup is.”
His brothers snickered among themselves, which pissed him off. “Smartasses. Dusty, you go see where she is. I guarantee we’ll have a slow ride. I don’t like being a hand short while we have beginners.”
“Chill. We can handle it.” Dusty trotted toward the house, hopped off the horse, and tied him.
Tanyon took another glance back and circled the pack, telling the riders to remember what they’d half-ass learned, then took his place. He glanced over his shoulder one more time.” For crissakes. “Cade, take over until I get back.”
Cade shifted his gaze toward the house. He dished out orders to his little brother, Levi, telling him to fill in up front until Dusty got back.
Tanyon galloped toward the house, threw his leg over to get off the horse before stopping, and tossed the reins over Sullivan’s back. “Thanks, Dusty.” He observed her luggage handle in her hand and backpack and purse over one shoulder, but he chewed on a corner of his lip, remaining as patient as he could until Dusty rode out of earshot. “What are you doing, Karis? You’re leaving us a trained man short?”
She came down the steps avoiding eye contact. “There’s nothing for me here. This was a mistake.”
“Yeah, like the last four summers, to you. Damn you.”
She flicked a narrowed glimpse his way. Karis unlocked her car to set her purse and backpack inside then popped the trunk. She reeled toward him with a combination of sadness and anger in her eyes. “Not true!”
He folded his arms. “You’re sure proving it now. Running back to your ex-boyfriend who showed up at the funeral to console you?”
“What? Do you think I’ve neglected you for him?”
Tanyon loosened the neckerchief from around his neck and half shrugged.
“Yeah, okay. I dragged him away from his nine-month pregnant wife so he could deal with my grief. When I couldn’t think straight regarding my own life? Get real, asshole.”
Again, he chewed on his lip as their fuming gazes held. What the hell was wrong with him?
She slammed the side of her fisted hand into her car body. “I see the way you look at me. You hate me. I’ve been through enough. This, this is something I can’t do.”
“So, you’re running away?”
She lowered her eyes, murmuring, “I never should’ve come in the first place.”
He took a step forward. “Then why did you?”
He wanted to see those blue eyes smiling, not narrowing in rage. “I suggest you don’t leave. I’ll have to have cowpunchers sign long-term contracts to work around this damn place.” She raised her eyes, and he rested his gaze on her face. She was thinner and her eyes didn’t have the sparkle he remembered. It took every breath to get the words out, but he forced them in a softer tone than he’d wanted. “Don’t leave.”
Karis remained silent appearing to be as shocked as him.
“I don’t hate you, anymore. I’ve struggled through that shit already. Now, I’m…pissed.” He rested his palm against his chest. “I thought I meant something to you, but I was wrong, and I never should’ve let myself go like I had. I apologize for forcing you into a relationship you weren’t interested in.”
“Weren’t interested? Weren’t interested in! I had fallen in love with you.” Karis dropped the trunk lid and got in her car.
“Well, woman, the past year shot your statement all to hell! All to hell.” Tanyon caught the door from closing.
Their flaming gazes met and held.
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes so he didn’t make another stupid mistake like draw her against him and kiss her inviting lips. “Listen, this short cattle drive will do you good. Go change and come along with us.”
“You don’t know me now.”
Sonofabitch. He slammed the door and spoke through the open window. “I know more than you think I do. A maniac shot and killed your brother, leaving your niece, nephew, older brother, and mother a wreck. You’re barely dealing with your own grief.”
She shot him a glare. “You knew all that.”
“Yeah, but not everything. I wanted to know why you stopped us. I worried something had happened to you, that maybe it was you who had fallen ill on top of losing Rory. I know how hard this ordeal has been for you, but I traveled to Phoenix to find out on my own and learned all the details surrounding your brother’s death. You didn’t care enough to tell me all the details? Even at the funeral and the weekends I came to you?”
“Th-th-that isn’t it.”
“Your mother never told you I visited because I asked her not to. I know your grief is what stopped you from taking my calls and answering my texts so I gave you the time you needed…then one day became another. One month into another with nothing from you. After all t
his time, I accepted you’d preferred it this way. Honestly, I never expected you back here. I see I was right.”
Tanyon took the reins and strode to the barn to find another body to accompany them on this training ride. Not for the cattle. They knew what they were doing, but like an unruly cowpoke, any one of his cows could get out of hand at times. That’s why this stripped-down drive was only two miles. He wanted to give these cowboys vying for a job, and city slickers, a sample and a chance to eat some cattle dust, and learn this old-fashioned way of driving cattle instead of using helicopters or four-wheelers, which he had if needed.
His stomach cramped, and he had a pain in the back of his throat. He breathed in then released it out slowly. Ronni tacked up a horse inside. “Hey, Sis. Since you have a horse all ready, come with us?” Karis’s car started. He didn’t look back. Whatever.
“Yeah, I planned on it after Karis came out with her luggage. What’s up with her this summer? What’s up with you? Are you all right?”
“More than what she can deal with right now. We don’t need her bullshit.”
“I saw her at the funeral. She’s still broken. Don’t hassle her.” They mounted their horses and rode out to the range to catch up with the others. “I don’t believe you mean it, Tanyon. You two had a special smile for each other. I don’t understand why either of you want to let this go.”
“It isn’t up to you to understand.” He urged his horse into a gallop. The crew and cattle lie ahead of them. He slowed down then glanced over his shoulder at his sister. “What’s the matter, Cowpoke? You out of practice?”
Ronni kicked in her heels and her thoroughbred went into a run past Tanyon. “Shut up, little brother. Make it right with Karis.”
“Slow down. You’ll scatter the cattle.” Yep, there they go. Dammit. “Yaaaa.” After gathering the few strays, he fell into place at the left to prevent the cattle from sneaking out too far from the pack and into the wooded area of the acreage. This was going to be a fun summer. Like hell.
All it took was one smell of her perfume last night when she’d sat beside him at the campfire. Hair had raised on his arms. He wanted to take her into his embrace then shake her for breaking his stupid heart. His stupid-for-falling heart that is. Tanyon distracted himself by paying attention to the young guys here to pick out the keepers.
By the time they completed the two miles, that might as well have been ten, and the cattle had been driven into the holding pastures, Tanyon had distinguished the guys who grew up here—real cowboys at heart—the handful who inherited this life.
Those who couldn’t find any other type of work, were here for the money. Well, he didn’t plan on breaking them in only to have them leave when they discovered how much grit it took to work here.
After this past week of having them here training and today, he had his eye on a couple locals, plus one he didn’t know was a female until she removed her hat and brunette hair cascaded down her back. She knew her way around cattle and driving almost as good as his sister and mom, and Karis. She deserved a start. Tanyon rode up beside Ronni. “See what you think of her. She’s pretty good. I didn’t know we had a girl vying for the job until a little while ago. Convince Cade to hire her.”
“My goodness. You’re slipping. How’d you miss those curves? That’s Emily. She’s a year behind Levi and helped him study. Otherwise, I doubt he would’ve completed high school this year. I’m pushing college, but he isn’t interested.”
“Do tell. Neither you nor Mom and Dad can make him do what he isn’t going to do. Is she here for the job or our brother?”
Ronni laughed. “I’m not sure. Maybe you should have a talk with him later. While you’re at it, ask him when he’s going to respond to those college envelopes he’s received. The large ones, which could be acceptance notifications, are sitting there. He’s waited too long as it is.”
“I will, but damn, I’m not his dad. Come on. Let’s give these guys a break before heading back.” He rode off. Heading back? To what? He’d had a glimmer of hope that Karis would’ve come back to work here at the ranch this summer. However, he’d had mixed emotions now that she was here. Being near her brought back the ache of her cutting him off. Now…well, he still didn’t know what to do or think. Besides, she had left. Problem solved.
∞∞∞
As he’d expected, Karis’s car was long gone. He pictured her sitting by the pool in Phoenix, her long auburn hair glistening in the sun, and the cute body of hers in a bikini exposed to other men instead of him. What had he expected when he’d done nothing but showed her his cold-shoulder?
He untacked Sullivan, his favorite cow horse—a quarter horse standing at almost sixteen hands. This bay gelding was full of bone and muscle. There wasn’t a job on the ranch this guy couldn’t do. Tanyon brushed him down, patting his neck before releasing him to the stall. “Good job today.”
After a shower, he headed down to raid the refrigerator. Max wasn’t in the kitchen, but he’d left them food. He fixed a plate then took it to his office, the dog on his heels. It helped to have relatives working here. Tanyon had always been close to his Uncle Maxton. Max had fallen on hard times after his wife had left them some years ago with no remorse for walking out on a young child. He had given Max a job he loved doing, anyway.
Tanyon had enough of greenhorns today and needed to be alone. He opened his computer, set his playlist to play randomly, pulled up the pro and con cheat-sheet on the applicants he and Cade used to help determine who stayed and who hit the road. Two guys from out of town had left by the third day. Tanyon chuckled. They hadn’t seen anything yet. He typed a note beside their names as a reminder if they applied next year. Everybody deserved a second chance.
He wasn’t aware of the song playing until he sang it in his head. He turned up the volume a notch to Elvis singing “Are you Lonesome Tonight?” Dammit. Yeah, I am. What the fuck of it? Sure, he could skip to the next one. Plainly, he chose not to. Tanyon pushed his laptop back and lowered his head to his folded arms, listening to every word. He hadn’t followed his own rules. Everybody deserved a second chance? Not Karis? Well, she was the one who called it quits.
A car pulling into the driveway woke him after dark. It hadn’t been his intention to fall asleep at his desk. His uncle’s voice drew his attention. The voice answering his sounded damn familiar. He pulled the curtain back. She hadn’t left. Tanyon stood in the dark office. He smoothed his hands over his towel-dried, messy hair and strode to open the door but went back for his plate. At the end of the hallway after exiting his office, he met her face-to-face. So much for avoidance. “You didn’t leave.”
“I’m not a quitter—”
“You are a quitter in some things.” Why had he shot off his big mouth?
Karis lowered her eyes to the floor.
Against his will, he grasped her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“I couldn’t leave you short-handed. I’ll stick around until you get a replacement. You have enough out there wanting a job now.”
How the hell did she know how many he had waiting in line? Tanyon glanced at Max walking toward the kitchen. He spoke low. “I’m glad you stayed.”
She cocked a brow. “Are you?”
“I can always use an extra hand. We work well together on the range.” He glanced toward the kitchen again. “Where you been all day?”
Karis sat down filled shopping bags on a table in the hallway. “I helped Max shop. He showed me a new recipe today. It’s hot for chili though.”
“Yeah, he makes the best. I’m taking my plate to the kitchen. Let me help.” He picked up one of the bags. She carried the other to the kitchen. Tanyon lowered his eyes to the sweet sway of her hips. Her boots were pulled up over jeans. He couldn’t take the chance of getting lost in the look he’d always loved her wearing, but it didn’t matter if it was her sexy black dress at the benefit banquet they’d attended, or short-shorts in the lake he’d nearly ripped off of her more than once. What was he to do now when the
chance of her walking away again could happen in a few short months, or days according to her?
“Thanks,” she said in the kitchen. She sat the bag on the long island counter. “Here you go, Max.”
Max smiled at Karis. What was up with that? What had they been doing today besides shopping? He glanced back and forth at them. Karis hadn’t returned Max’s smile in the same cajoling way.
Tanyon dropped a K-Cup into the coffee maker and waited for it to finish. “Hey, Max, I appreciate you leaving the food.”
Max shoved against Karis and remained up against her side, teasing her over something they’d purchased.
Tanyon took a drink of coffee then cleared his throat.
Max acted as if he hadn’t seen him standing there until now. “How’d it go today?”
“We found a couple potential keepers after this drive. They were right on top of things on branding day, then picked right up today. One of them is a girl. Ronni says she’s a local. Once I determine if she’s here for the job or Levi, I’ll make a decision.”
“By the way,” Karis piped in. “Congratulations to Levi on graduating. I’ll tell him myself the next time I see him. Once, you didn’t know where he was headed.”
Tanyon eyed her up and down. She was right, but he was surprised she remembered. “Well, I still have paperwork.” He strode out of the kitchen as she offered to help Max put groceries away.
Fifteen minutes later, Tanyon raised his eyes at a tap on the door. Karis stood there. Sparky ran up to her.
She knelt to pat the dog. “Can I interrupt for a moment? Hey there, little buddy, who are you?”
“Come on in.” He rose to close the door then stopped his playlist.
“Who is this guy? What a cutie! Pretty blue eyes. What happened to Rowdy? I haven’t seen him since I’ve been here.”
Imprisoned In A Cowboy's Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws Book 1) Page 3
