Resisting the Rancher

by Kadie Scott

  “Not really. She just arrived.”

  “Uh-huh.” He eyed her speculatively for a second. “Something’s going on. Something about you makes people unburden.”

  Rusty rolled her eyes. “If I’m the kettle then I’m looking at the pot.”

  “What?” he frowned.

  “Your family comes to you with every problem they have.” Had he not really noticed?

  “No, they don’t.” He waved off her comment.

  “Huh,” she scoffed. “Take today. Autry wanted to talk to you about a breeding decision. Jennings wanted your input on that surprise party for Cash’s birthday that he’s supposedly organizing but you’ve made all the decisions and arrangements. Cash called and got you talking about Sophia’s schooling and if he should consider bumping her up a grade level.”

  “That’s just family stuff.” He really didn’t see it. Williams Hill was the strong backbone of this family, and he had no idea.

  “I laid all my troubles at your feet. And I don’t do that. Ever.” When it looked as though he’d wave that off too, she shook her head. “With anyone. But I trusted you, Will. Even when I hardly knew you.”

  He held up both hands. “Okay. I’m a helpful guy, I guess—”

  Rusty gave a sharp nod. “And don’t you forget it.”

  “Just like you. Carter is not a confider either, and she met you five minutes ago.”

  “I’m a neutral party around here is all.”

  “Hardly that. You’ve fit in here like you were made to be here.”

  Her heart tripped over itself at those words. Sweet words. Terrifying words. She was meant to be at Rising Star.

  “What’d Carter have to say?” he asked.

  Rusty fell back on the only thing she knew would keep him at a distance. Irritation. She stood and scowled at him, hands on her hips. “None of your business, Will Hill.”

  Will’s smile had dropped when she glared, but the second she used the name combo he hated, his brows lowered. Rusty waited for him to snap her head off or try to argue with her.

  But after a second, his expression cleared. “You’re right. It is none of my business.”

  Rusty honestly had no clue how to respond to his reaction. Anger and blustering she could handle, she’d handled all her life. Reasonable… that was totally Will, she had to admit, but also out of her wheelhouse.

  “Well… okay then.” She dropped her hands to her sides. Hard to keep up her angry posture when he’d just taken all the wind out of her sails.

  “Okay.” He held out his hand, obviously for her to take.

  She glanced at it, but didn’t move. Touching Will was dangerous. “What?”

  His mouth kicked up in a half-smile. “Escorting you inside. Mom made her famous Texas sheet cake for dessert.”

  Rusty straightened. “Chocolate?” she asked.

  “Yup. With the best fudge icing you’ll ever taste.”

  She put her hand in his, letting herself enjoy the strength and warmth of his grip for a heartbeat. “Lead on.”

  He chuckled. “You and that sweet tooth.”

  She took a step forward, only Will half turned and used the grip on her hand to tug her up against him. She gasped as she found herself up against his hard chest. Before she could speak, he lowered his head and claimed her lips in a long, lazy kiss. As unexpected as the action was, she had no time to slam up her walls, and sank into him with a whimper. Will took his time, exploring her mouth with leisurely care that had her hot and panting in seconds.

  Finally, he lifted his head, his blue eyes smiling down at her.

  Rusty licked her lips. “What was that for?” she asked, her voice coming out hoarser than she would’ve liked.

  “Let’s just say that was my dessert.”

  He spun away, though he took her hand again, tugging her along with him, into the house where sounds of his family spilled out into the night.

  *

  Will led Rusty into the house and did his best not to strut as they went, because that kiss and the way she’d melted against him had him walking on a bubble air. Or at least that was the way it felt to him. He knew better than to take her reaction too seriously, not after the pond incident a month ago, but still.

  Plus, there was the moment he’d caught between her and Carter. It had been obvious the two women had shared something, and he was busting with curiosity as to what, though he suspected it had to do with Brian. The significant part was that, of his siblings, Carter was the most private. She came off like an extrovert, and loved to meddle in other people’s lives, but when it came to her private life, she tended to be closed-mouthed. Carter sharing something with Rusty meant a lot to Will.

  That his wife fit in with his family was important to them. Rusty did, and that was when she was holding back. She hadn’t said so, but she was. Imagine how she’d get on when she let down the walls she’d erected around her heart and let him and his family in.

  “Hey, Ruthie,” Autry called out as they joined everyone else in the kitchen. “Come meet Carter.”

  “We met outside,” Rusty said, and the two women shared a smile.

  “In that case, come try some of Mom’s cake,” Jennings said. “Your sweet tooth is going to love it.”

  “I love how everyone offers Rusty stuff,” Will groused as Jennings handed Rusty a plate. “Where’s mine?”

  “You’ve had Mom’s cake before,” Jennings pointed out.

  “And you’ve known Carter all your life,” Autry said. “No need to introduce you.”

  “Plus, she’s cuter than you, Son,” his dad said, grinning around a bite of cake.

  Will laughed and shook his head. “I can’t argue with that. But it wouldn’t hurt to feel special once in a while, too.”

  “You’re special to me,” Rusty said beside him, softly.

  He turned his head to find her watching him with wide eyes, her cheeks a little pink, as though she was surprised she’d said that. Then she seemed to shake herself out of it and smiled. She scooped up a bite of cake.

  “Here,” she offered. “Special cake for a special guy.”

  It was obvious, at least to him, that whatever she’d meant by that first statement, she was rallying to put on a show for his family now. Only he didn’t want to put on a show, because this was all too real to him.

  Will kept his gaze on hers as he ate off her fork, the rich chocolate of the dessert barely registering over the way her pupils dilated slightly and her pink cheeks got pinker and what that did to his own body.

  “Thank you, darlin’.” He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “But your kisses are much sweeter.”

  “Get a room,” Autry interrupted loudly.

  “Autry Hill, I swear.” His mom huffed.

  “Oh, that’s right… you already have a room.” Autry waggled his eyebrows, completely unrepentant.

  Beside him, Rusty laughed. “You’re shameless.” She tossed her napkin at his brother, who caught it and popped it in the trash bin.

  Will had to hold himself back from taking her by the shoulders and making a point. He wanted to say, “See. You belong in this family. You belong to me.”

  Only he couldn’t do that. Rusty might have settled in, but she was still wary, distant. This was still a temporary thing for her. Even on the front porch when she’d pointed out her talk with Carter was none of his business, he could tell she was waiting for him to get angry and argue. The way she’d sort of shrunk in on herself had been a dead giveaway. Hadn’t she figured out that wasn’t his way? When would she learn to trust him? Really trust him?

  Get a grip. It’s been two months since you met the girl. Give her some time.

  But it sure had felt like longer. He felt as though he’d known her his entire life. His life before she showed up at the rodeo in Estes Park had just been… waiting.

  “Hey, where is everyone?” Cash’s voice sounded from the front foyer.

  “Kitchen,” Will called out, along with his mother, brothers, and Car
ter.

  A few seconds later, Sophia rushed in going straight to her grandmother for a hug first then rushed to Rusty followed by Carter. Yet another sign of how well his wife fit into his family, into his life. His heart had been right that night at the bar when he’d kissed her and fallen like a two-ton boulder.

  Cash and Holly appeared more slowly, both smiling widely as they found the entire family gathered in one place.

  Will glanced at Rusty, whose expression clearly said she thought the way they gathered together like this was strange. But strange good or strange bad he couldn’t quite tell.

  “What are you doing here?” Evaline asked around Sophia.

  “We heard Carter was in town,” Cash said.

  John crossed his arms. “She just got here, so there’s no way you heard from us.”

  Cash moved to the island where he’d sited his mother’s cake. “We bumped into Brian.”

  All eyes swung Carter’s way.

  Carter tossed her hands up. “I have to go past his ranch on my way here. It seemed efficient to see him first.”

  Evaline patted her arm.

  “How are things going with ol’ Brian?” Will asked.

  Carter glanced at Rusty, then shrugged. “About how you’d expect I guess.”

  “Oh, so you’re getting married soon then?” Will commented offhandedly.

  He didn’t expect Carter to aim a scowl at Rusty who sort of scooted behind Will’s shoulder even as she shook her head. Will had no trouble interpreting that byplay as evidence that a proposal was exactly what Carter had discussed with Rusty, and Will’s comment made her think Rusty’d spilled to him.

  Apparently, that was obvious to everyone else as well, because the entire room burst with the sound of their questions and congratulations.

  Carter stuttered for a bit, but finally held up both hands. “I haven’t said yes, yet,” she announced.

  Quiet descended over the room. The silence allowing the sounds of the crickets outside to penetrate.

  Again, Carter glared Rusty’s way. “I can’t believe you told—”

  Rusty’s chin came up. “I didn’t—”

  “She didn’t tell me anything.” Will jumped in to defend his wife. “I was teasing. Your reaction made it obvious.”

  “Oh,” Carter huffed. Her cheeks went red. “Sorry, Rusty,” she murmured.

  Rusty’s shoulders relaxed after a second. “It’s okay. I would’ve thought the same thing if I were you.”

  The two women smiled, their expressions tinged with relief and a bit of embarrassment on Carter’s side. Will wrapped an arm around Rusty’s waist and pulled her into his side, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

  She stiffened at first, and even subtly tugged to get him to release her, but he waited her out, and eventually she settled against him. Right where he wanted her.

  “So, he has proposed?” Evaline asked.

  Carter nodded.

  “Then what’s the holdup? Brian’s the best,” Jennings said as he sliced another square of cake for himself.

  Carter grimaced. “It’s complicated with my career. But…” She glanced at Rusty again. “I’m going to see if working mostly remotely from the ranch is possible.”

  “You’d say no because of your career?” Autry asked, his tone obviously indicating his thoughts on that.

  Rusty sucked in a sharp breath, but Will only knew that because of the way he held her.

  Before Carter could respond, Cash jumped in to defend his twin. “Not everyone is into the ranching life, little brother. And Carter’s worked damn hard and spent a lot of money on those degrees. It’d be a shame to waste all that.”

  Their parents nodded in agreement. In his arms, Rusty relaxed again, giving her head a little shake.

  Will leaned forward. “What?”

  She angled her head to glance back at him. “Nothing.”

  He let her turn back to the conversation, but planned to bring it up later, because he had a feeling he knew what she’d been thinking.

  “I’ll tell y’all what I decide when I figure it out myself,” Carter said.

  “Take your time, honey.” Evaline pulled her daughter in for a hug. “But congrats just the same.”

  At the same time, John reached out and squeezed Carter’s arm, giving his own silent support.

  “Is Aunt Carter getting married?” Sophia demanded, looking between the adults with a confused frown.

  “Not yet, munchkin.” Autry ruffled her hair.

  “Good. Then we can tell you our secret now!” Sophia bounced over to her parents. Holly and Cash smiled.

  “News?” Evaline asked. “Have you found out the sex?”

  “Yes, and something else that we hadn’t shared yet,” Cash said.

  “What else—” Evaline cut herself off with a gasp, her eyes wide.

  Everyone else stared, not following.

  “Do you want to tell them Soph?” Cash asked.

  “I’m going to have a brother… and a sister!” Sophia’s blond curls trembled in her excitement as she clapped and hopped up and down.

  “Twins!” Will exclaimed, the first to come out of his shock.

  He let go of Rusty to shake Cash’s hand. “Congrats, man.”

  Everyone else recovered, filling the room with congrats and shared hugs.

  Will pulled Holly, who was glowing with happiness, in for a hug. “That’s fantastic news.”

  “It is wonderful news.” Rusty joined them, giving Holly a hug as well.

  Holly grimaced. “We’re thrilled, of course. We knew at the first appointment, but wanted to wait until we were pretty far along to share that part, just in case. But now it feels more real. Two at once…” She gave a bit of a shell-shocked laugh. “I’m terrified.”

  He laughed. “I get that. But you have us.”

  Rusty turned her head sharply, giving him a searching look. Will raised his eyebrows in question, but she shook her head at him.

  Holly didn’t seem to notice. “I know,” she said. “The family’s support is the only thing keeping me sane right now.”

  Cash wrapped an arm around Holly, giving her a supportive squeeze. “Mom and Dad are experts at twins. We’ll have plenty of help.”

  Again, Will got the feeling Rusty was watching all of this with a giant question mark hovering over her head. He was sure no one else caught that, but the vibe she gave off had him wondering.

  The next day was Saturday, but a ranch didn’t sleep in on weekends, so they didn’t linger much longer, everyone heading to their respective rooms. Carter wasn’t heading back to Austin until Monday, and Cash and Holly agreed to stay the weekend as well. So they’d spend more time together tomorrow.

  In their room, Will waited until he and Rusty had both finished getting ready and lay in bed. “What were you thinking when Cash and Holly announced the twins?”

  She glanced up from her e-reader—her nightly excuse to ignore him. “I’m thrilled for them,” she said as though that should’ve been obvious.

  “No. I mean you looked surprised about what I said concerning helping them out.”

  “Oh. I wasn’t… surprised… exactly. More like your family is a total mystery to me.”

  “How’s that?”

  Breath hissed through her teeth and she didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Your family is like the Cleavers. No one is that perfect.”

  She’d said that before. “Of course, we’re not perfect. But we care about each other. Something I think you’ve never learned about.”

  “I care about people,” she snapped.

  “That’s not what I’m saying. Why are you getting mad at me?” he prodded.

  She tossed him an annoyed frown. “I’m not.”

  “Yes, you are.” He called her bluff.

  “Lord, you’re annoying,” she muttered.

  Will chuckled. “Why? Because I see things you don’t want me to.”

  Wrong thing to say. Her lips went flat. “Because you think you d
o. But you don’t know me, Williams Hill.”

  No way was he letting her get away with putting that kind of wall between them. He might not be making much forward progress, but he’d be damned if they went backward. “Yes. I do.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’ve barely known me even two months. How could you?”

  “Maybe because I pay attention,” he insisted.

  “Ha.”

  Will reached over to gently take her by the chin, turning her head to face him. “I pay attention because I want to pay attention, Rusty. Haven’t you thought of that?”

  She still didn’t believe him. He could tell by the way she pulled out of his grip and tipped her chin up higher, facing him down.

  “Nope,” she said.

  Will had no clue how to respond to that sort of stubborn refusal to listen, to see he meant what he said.

  “I guess I can’t argue with someone who doesn’t want to hear it.” He flipped over to his side, putting his back to her. At a complete loss, his only option was to get over his own annoyance, regroup, and try a different tack tomorrow. “Good night, Rusty.”

  Or was it time to call uncle? His heart ached at the mere thought of letting her go.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rusty stared at Will’s back for a long couple of minutes with no idea how to respond. With a sigh, she turned off the bedside light and laid down. But she couldn’t seem to get past the fact that the most open, easygoing man in the world was pissed at her.

  Sure, she was always shoving him away, but he’d never once gotten angry or upset about it. At least… not like this.

  She swallowed around the lump that formed in her throat. Will had turned his back on her. She’d never thought she’d annoy him enough to do that. Worse, part of her longed to hear what he had to say. That he wanted to pay attention to her. Did that mean he wanted more than this sham of a marriage?

  She gave herself a shake, trying to return to reality where things like that only happened to fairy-tale princesses. Still, she hated they were going to bed with him mad at her. Not that he’d sounded mad, but this was Will. Despite her own scoffing a moment ago, she knew this man. He was ticked.

  “Like what?” The words popped out of her mouth before she consciously decided to voice them.