Her Renegade Rancher EPB

by Jennifer Ryan

  “But you said you need to learn the business, too.”

  “I do, but I’m still trying to get settled in the house. I need to run to town to buy new carpet.” She also needed some furniture.

  “So I do all the work and you spend all the money,” Simon snapped.

  Rich and the other two men stopped what they were doing and stared at them.

  “I got the place free and clear. You have to earn it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t take my responsibilities seriously. I am, however, the boss. I can do whatever the hell I want, including replacing the carpet your family ruined. You had five days to clean out the house. I’ve had half a day to move in. I’d like to finish, if you don’t mind?”

  He seemed to catch himself and plastered on a contrite grin. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

  She pulled the reins around and kicked her horse into a tight turn, leaving Simon at her back, no doubt pissed off and thinking of ways to make her pay for leaving him to work while she went shopping with Sadie.

  Her tag-along met her a quarter mile up the dirt road and fell in beside her.

  He tipped his Stetson. “John, Miss Hill.”

  “Tell everyone on the ranch, it’s just Luna.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He caught her frown and added, “Luna.”

  “Did Colt send you?”

  “I work in the stables with Ed. He asked me to keep an eye on you and Simon. Word’s spread the family is giving you some trouble.”

  “That they are, but nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Until you can’t,” he pointed out.

  She hoped it didn’t escalate to the point she actually needed an armed guard. For now, she’d stop balking at the necessary caution and let it go. Until she had Colt in her sights.

  Chapter 16

  Colt hung up from his call and stuffed his cell into his back pocket. He walked out of the mare’s stall and closed the gate on her. He reached over and gave her a pat down her nose. “Not long now, mama.”

  “She still hasn’t dropped that foal?” his grandfather asked from down the aisle.

  “Not yet. She likes to hold on to them as long as possible.”

  “She makes pretty babies.”

  Colt let that one pass because he didn’t want yet another lecture about settling down and having a family, especially when his grandfather got an earful this morning at the breakfast table from Rory, Ford, and Sadie about him and Luna.

  “It won’t be long before we’ve got a baby in the house. Sadie looked good at breakfast. The morning sickness is tapering off.” His grandfather nodded, satisfied Sadie was doing better.

  “Her belly is starting to round, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  His grandfather laughed. “Not if I want to keep my own head.”

  Colt nodded his agreement.

  “Everything good with your girl? Any trouble this morning?”

  Of course his grandfather knew everything. “She’s fine, so far as I know.”

  “It’s a good thing you’re doing looking after her.”

  “Fishing for information?”

  “Telling you I’m proud you stepped up to help her. The two of you worked through that rough patch.”

  “We didn’t have a rough patch. We were never together.”

  “Not until now,” his grandfather guessed.

  “Granddad, can’t you be happy and satisfied Rory is getting married and having a baby. Give me some space to breathe.”

  “No one is crowding you, son. I’m happy for you, is all. She’s a great girl.”

  “She is. She’s also a whole lot of other things that complicate the situation. So give me some time to figure it out.”

  “Do you like her?”

  “Yes. I like her a lot.”

  “Does she make you happy?”

  “Every time I see her,” Colt admitted, though the smile on his grandfather’s face told him he should shut the hell up before his granddad called the preacher.

  “Okay then.”

  Colt didn’t question Granddad’s abrupt end to the conversation, or the fact that he walked out of the stables without prodding Colt for more answers about his feelings. Colt didn’t want to talk about his feelings. Mostly because they were all jumbled up inside of him, because he’d spent the morning worried about Luna and talking himself out of going over there every other minute until he’d driven himself nuts wondering what she was doing and how everything went this morning.

  “Hello, Luna. How’s the day treating you?” his grandfather asked.

  “Not bad,” her voice carried to Colt on the wind. He bolted from the stables, trying to get to her before his grandfather really embarrassed him and started asking her how she felt about him.

  “Luna. You’re here.”

  “Standing right in your yard,” she teased. “Is Sadie around? We’re supposed to go shopping.”

  “She’s inside working on her book. I’ll go get her. You just wait right here.” Granddad made a beeline for the house.

  “Subtle,” Luna teased Colt again. Of course she’d heard from Sadie about his grandfather’s obsession about marrying off all three of them. “Has he called the preacher to schedule a double wedding yet?”

  “Don’t encourage him, please.”

  “Okay.” The word held a defensive tone he didn’t like.

  “Luna, I didn’t mean I wouldn’t marry you.”

  She laughed. “Um, okay.”

  Colt raised his face to the sky and sighed. “Have mercy.” He faced her again. “You know what I mean.”

  “Relax. I was just joking. Besides, I have a bone to pick with you.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What?” he asked cautiously.

  “Did you order the men who work for me to guard me?”

  “Um . . .”

  “So that’s a yes. I’ll bet Toby or Ed or one of the others already called you to let you know everything went well with Simon this morning.”

  “Uh . . .”

  “I can check your phone and find out.”

  “Only if you can get it off me.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  “Uh, yeah.” He held his hands out wide, silently daring her to take her best shot.

  She closed the distance between them. Without touching him, she went up on tiptoe and planted a kiss on him that made him stop thinking and pull her in close. He dove in for more, sliding his tongue along hers. Setting aside the fact he probably needed to wash his hands, he slid them down her back to her hips. Her hands slid across his sides to his back and smoothed up his spine to his shoulders. He kissed her again and again, lost in her taste and the feel of her pressed against him. Her hands slid down his back. He gripped her hips tighter and pulled her closer. She planted one hand on his chest and shoved him away, breaking the kiss and his hold on her.

  Lost in the lust running through his veins, it took him a second to register what she held up in front of him. His cell phone. He made a grab for it, but she spun away and swiped her finger across the screen.

  “Last call came from Ed. Right after I dropped my horse back at the stables.” She turned to face him with a tsk, tsk spilling from her kiss-swollen lips. Lips he wanted to kiss again.

  “How was your ride?” He tried to pull off the question without admitting guilt, but she didn’t buy it.

  “Don’t you trust me, Colt?”

  “Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because you seem to think I’d do something stupid to put my life in danger.”

  “No, I don’t. I think the Travers family will do anything to get you to sell the ranch, including trying to hurt you to intimidate you into doing it.”

  “So you did it solely to protect me, not because you think I’m an idiot and wouldn’t have taken my own precautions?”

  “Were you really going to protect yourself?”

  She frowned and tossed his phone back at him. He caught it, but not before she turned and started walking back to the Ra
mbling Range truck she drove over.

  “Hey, wait.”

  “Why?”

  “I did it so I’d know you were safe. Because I spent the better part of every second after I left you last night crazy worried something might happen to you. Remember what happened to Sadie with her brother and that drug dealer who wanted to get her out of the way so he could get what he wanted? It still gives me nightmares, and I can’t even think for a second about anything happening to you.”

  She stopped in her tracks and stood for a few seconds before she turned around to face him again.

  “I can’t let anything happen to you,” he admitted.

  She tilted her head and brushed the bangs from her face, driving him crazy to kiss her again. “Wanna make it up to me?”

  “You think I need to make it up to you that I want to keep you safe?”

  “The sentiment is sweet. The way you went about it behind my back, kind of annoying.”

  “What do you want?” He hadn’t meant to sound so beleaguered about it.

  She laughed anyway at his annoyance. “Come over tonight. I’ll feed you dinner, then you’ll help me clean up the mess we missed yesterday.”

  He closed the distance between them and held her by the shoulders, searching her face for any sign that she’d been hurt or upset. “What are you talking about? Did something else happen after I left?”

  “No. It happened at the same time as the other stuff, by my guess. We never unlocked the library.”

  Colt thought about the dead rats in the tub and the message written in blood on the tile. “What did they do in the library?”

  “Nothing too terrible. They pulled all the books and knickknacks from the shelves and dumped them on the floor.”

  He let loose the breath he’d been holding and raked his hand through his hair. “Okay. That’s not so bad.”

  Her eyes narrowed with suspicions. “What did you think they did?”

  Since she only knew about the garbage and rotten food, he played off his concern. “Nothing. Maybe ruin more walls and furniture.”

  “Thank God they left the furniture in there alone. It’s my favorite room.”

  “Is that why Wayne didn’t allow them to take anything from there?”

  “Yes. And some of the books are worth a small fortune. He didn’t want them to sell them off for quick cash or toss them out, not knowing they’re special.”

  “You and Sadie have that in common, huh? Books.”

  “Yes. Here she comes. So are you coming over tonight, or what?”

  “Sure.”

  “Well, that’s a resounding ‘Can’t wait to see you.’ ” Her voice rose with false cheer.

  He slid his hand to the back of her neck and kissed her again. His mouth fit to hers in a searing kiss that should tell her everything she needed to know. He held her close, broke the kiss, rubbed his nose against hers, and pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t wait to see you tonight.”

  Her hand rested against his cheek. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “I know I’m acting like a crazy woman. You kind of scramble my insides whenever I see you. And when you kiss me, I can’t think of anything but more.”

  “Good to know.” Colt loosened his hold on her and stood tall in front of her, but missed being a breath away. “Have fun shopping. I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay. Um . . .”

  “What is it, honey? Sadie’s waiting in your truck.”

  Luna spun around, surprised Sadie had already climbed into the passenger seat. She waved from inside the truck, smiling at them.

  Luna spun back to face him. “What’s your favorite color?”

  He didn’t expect that question. “Green. Why?”

  “Things I should know, right?”

  “Sure, I guess. What’s yours?” He should know hers, too. Why? He didn’t know.

  “Purple.”

  “Which explains why you have so many purple shirts and scarves.” He tugged the purple-and-white gauzy fabric circling her neck over her lavender T-shirt.

  “Right. Uh, gotta go.” She spun to head to the truck, but he grabbed her arm and spun her back again.

  “What time do you want me to come over tonight?”

  “Six. Five-thirty.”

  “God, I really do scramble your brain. Which one?”

  “Five. We’ll clean up the library while the chicken is in the oven, then we’ll eat and stuff.”

  “I’m all for stuff.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss while she giggled at his stupid joke. “Go. Buy things to sit on and eat off of. Four plates, bowls, and sets of utensils is not enough.”

  “Anything else you want?”

  “Looking forward to dinner with you.”

  “Ah, there’s that sweet side again.”

  “Done being pissed about me watching out for you?”

  “That’s sweet, too. Next time, keep me in the loop.”

  “The tank arrives tomorrow,” he teased, heading back to the barn, waving goodbye over his shoulder. Her laugh followed him and kept him wanting her the rest of the day while he counted down the seconds he worried about her and until he saw her again.

  Chapter 17

  Colt pounded on the front door but got no answer. He fished the key out of his pocket. In another of the awkward moments they shared, fighting their growing attraction to each other, he’d kissed her good night after they cleaned the library and had dinner together last night, and she’d handed him a key to her house. “For Sadie,” she’d added after a few tense seconds. “Just in case.”

  Thank God she’d remembered to change all the locks.

  He’d meant to give the key hanging from the horse-charm key ring to Sadie, but hadn’t found the opportunity. Avoided the opportunity, one might say. And for exactly this reason. He had to get in there to see why she didn’t answer the damn door.

  He’d knocked once before and gotten no response, so he’d gone down to see if Luna was still in the stables working with the horses she adored. Ed had told him she’d been up at the house all day, taking one delivery after the next after the carpet installers put in the new carpet this morning.

  So where the hell was she? Her Jeep sat in the driveway, along with the truck she’d driven to his house yesterday to pick up Sadie to go shopping.

  He pounded his fist against the door again, wishing his stomach didn’t feel like he’d swallowed acid. His heart thumped as hard as his fist on the door. Nothing. Not a damn sound from inside.

  He slid the key in the new lock and jiggled it to get it to work. Key copies never worked as smooth as the original. He unlocked the dead bolt and pushed the door open. She’d put the old barn wood from her apartment up on the foyer wall. Wayne’s old hat hung on a hook next to the display of silver and black framed mirrors Luna used to have on her bathroom door surrounding the photo of her and Wayne. A slim, brand-new table sat opposite the door, holding a plant in an antiqued mirrored glass pot on each end. Nice.

  The house smelled like chemicals from the brand-new carpet. She’d gone with a medium shade of tan that complemented the stone fireplace. A dark brown leather sofa and two club chairs filled the living room, along with a wood coffee table and side tables. Silver lamps with white shades flanked the couch. A purple blanket lay over the back. White and deep green pillows sat on the sofa and chairs for added comfort. He liked the look.

  “Luna,” he yelled, walking past the new furniture toward the library and hallway to her room beyond. He peeked into the now organized and perfectly neat library. No Luna.

  Alarms went off in his head. Adrenaline pumped through his system and pounded though his heart. She had to be here.

  He walked down the hall past the empty spare room and stopped just inside her bedroom. She’d bought a brand-new, king-size bed and covered it in a white-and-purple vine-patterned quilt that reminded him of the scarf she wore yesterday. A huge plum-colored rug covered the hardwood floor beneath the bed. A wooden chest sat at the end of the bed. Luna�
��s jeans and a pink T-shirt were tossed across the top of it. The huge photograph of the mountain hung across from the bed. When she woke up in the morning, it’d be the first thing she’d see.

  She’d converted the wardrobe thing she’d used at her other place for clothes into a TV cabinet. A new wood dresser and night tables had been added to fill up the massive room.

  He took this all in but still didn’t find Luna.

  The door beside him opened, and Luna walked out in a cloud of steam. She held a towel against her hair and wore nothing at all. His eyes nearly popped out of his head at his first glimpse at all that creamy skin and pink-tipped breasts.

  “Luna,” he croaked out around the lump that formed in his throat.

  “Colt!” She draped the towel in front of her, holding it at her breasts.

  “Is that a butterfly tattoo on your belly near your hip?”

  She held the towel tighter against her. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Looking for you.”

  “How did you get in?”

  He held up the horse key chain. “The key you gave me last night.”

  “I gave you that key to give to Sadie.”

  “I forgot. And it’s a good thing, too. You didn’t answer the door.”

  “I was in the shower.”

  He tilted his head. “I see that.” In fact, he hadn’t taken his eyes off her.

  She raked one hand through her wet hair. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all, honey. I’m so damn glad to see you’re okay.” So much so that the relief swept through him in a wave. Maybe that was the heat exploding through him.

  “What? Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You didn’t answer the door. I got worried.”

  “Well, as you can see, I’m fine.”

  He nodded, not even trying to hide the grin he couldn’t help. “Oh, I can see you just fine and you’re beautiful.”

  She blushed all the way from her chest up to her black hair. The embarrassed smile brightened her eyes and softened them after he’d scared her half to death. Fair enough, she’d scared him just as bad not answering the door.

  “What’s in the bag?” She cocked her chin, indicating the bag he still carried.