Reunited with the Rancher

by Sara Orwig

  He shifted, coming down to give her a deep kiss that made her heart pound as she clung to him. “Tom, love me. I want you more than you can imagine.”

  He entered her slowly, filling her and almost withdrawing, moving with slow strokes that drove her wild as she tugged at him. She locked her long legs around his waist, clinging to him, wanting to consume him and for both of them to reach ecstasy and release.

  He kissed her as he took his time, driving her wild with need. And then he thrust deep and faster, pumping and taking her with him as tension built until she climaxed, bursting with release, rapture, crying out.

  “I love you,” she gasped without thought.

  Tension gathered swiftly again, built, and she achieved another orgasm. Tom kept up his relentless thrusts, and in minutes, his shuddering release came as she gasped and cried out with another. They clung tightly to each other and gradually her breathing slowed to normal. Then they were finally still, locked in each other’s arms.

  He showered light kisses on her temple, her ear, her cheek while he finger-combed her long hair away from her face.

  Shifting, he held her close and kept her with him as he rolled to his side and faced her, all the while continuing to brush light kisses on her body and lips.

  She knew when she let him go and the idyll ended, their problems would emerge, as omnipresent as ever. The problems they had between them would last a lifetime. Nothing could take them away. The moments of lovemaking only briefly blocked everything else out.

  Feeling sadness seep back, she held Tom. She couldn’t give him more children and he didn’t want to stay married.

  “You have to be the sexiest man ever.”

  One corner of his mouth rose in a slight smile. “I don’t think you have a lot of experience to compare, but I’m glad you think that,” he said gently. “Em, there aren’t words for how much I wanted to make love to you.”

  “We didn’t solve anything tonight,” she said, voicing aloud her thoughts. “I don’t care. I wanted you to kiss me. I wanted to make love.” He was damp with sweat, his hair a tangle. She wound her fingers in it, running them down over the stubble on his jaw. Then her fingers played over the red lightning bolt tattoo on his right shoulder. She stroked his back, sliding her hand over his butt, down to the back of his thigh.

  His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer against him. “You’re right. It didn’t change anything, but I wanted to hold you and kiss you again. Let me stay here with you a bit. You have the rest of your life to get away from me,” he said. And that hurt. Reality was coming back and she couldn’t stop it.

  “Sure, Tom,” she said, holding him, staying in his arms as they remained quiet. She couldn’t have regrets for their lovemaking.

  She finally shifted slightly. “You can stay here in my bed tonight.”

  Turning, he drew her against his side. “This seems right in so many ways.”

  She kissed his shoulder lightly in agreement and felt a pang, wishing they could go back to where they could love each other freely. Where they could feel they were doing right by the other person and their marriage was good. For tonight it was an illusion and she could pretend, but tomorrow, she would have to live with the truth.

  He held her close and she clung to him, her arm wrapped around his narrow waist. She wished she could go back a couple of years and have a second chance, because she could see how she had driven Tom away. She ran her finger along his jaw and tried to think about the present, tonight, about loving him and having him in her arms, and forget everything else for now. Tomorrow the problems would all be right there for her to live with and try to cope.

  * * *

  With morning he drew her into his arms to kiss her awake. It was two hours later before they showered together and more than another hour before they went their separate ways to dress.

  After breakfast they mopped up where the rain came in last night.

  “You have a working alarm system now, in the house and in the yard.”

  “You’ve put motion-detector lights all over the place. The door locks all work. If you need to go to the ranch even for just a few days, go ahead.”

  “If I have to go, I’ll tell you. Otherwise, I’m here for a while longer.” He turned to face her. “I’ll work outside now, so if you want me, I’ll be on the east side of the house.”

  “I’ll paint inside,” she said and left him.

  As Emily painted, she thought about living with Tom.

  How would she cope when he walked out of her life? Would they say goodbye and never see each other again? Maybe she would see him at the Texas Cattleman’s Club. But if she didn’t like living in the old house she had inherited, she would move to Dallas. She would move if she got enough clients and business from the area. If she lived there, she didn’t think she would ever see Tom. There were questions about her future that she couldn’t answer.

  Now, looking around her at the house she had inherited, the smell of fresh paint still filling the air, she thought about her future, when she would have to deal with another parting with Tom. This time a permanent one.

  * * *

  Saturday morning sunshine spilled in through the open windows and Tom was eager to wake Emily. Today was their picnic with the Valentines and he was excited. She’d told him to act as her human alarm clock if she slept past six thirty. It was ten seconds past six thirty now.

  He stood beside her bed for seconds, looking at her sleep, her hair spread on the pillow, the sheet down to her waist, her breasts pushing against her T-shirt. He slipped beneath the sheet and pulled her into his arms.

  She stirred, wrapped an arm around his neck and rolled over. He couldn’t resist. He kissed her. He started out in fun, expecting her to wake instantly, the way she usually did. But the minute he was in bed with her and had her in his arms, all playfulness left him and he wanted to make love to her. He knew he was weaving a web of trouble that would ensnare both of them when they moved on in their lives.

  By eleven, after they’d made love, showered, dressed and had breakfast, they were ready to go. Tom was in jeans and a navy T-shirt while she wore capri pants and sandals with a red-white-and-blue-striped cotton blouse. Tom had spent the past half hour packing the truck with provisions for the picnic. Then they locked up the house, setting the new alarm, and left for Royal’s big park by the Texas Cattleman’s Club.

  When they got to the park, Tom noticed Emily’s expression as she gazed out the car window. “Look at all the new trees,” she said. “They’ve replaced a lot of the ones that were destroyed by the tornado.”

  “This is a great park. We could have gone to the Cattleman’s Club, but a lot of people there would have wanted to join us. Another time, that would be fun, but I want you to meet and get to know the Valentines when it’s just us and them.”

  Emily had been chatting, but as he wound slowly alongside a silvery pond toward where he and Natalie had agreed to meet, she became silent, and he knew she was remembering the last time she had been in the park. “This is the way we used to come when we brought Ryan,” she said softly.

  Tom glanced at Emily and pain stabbed him. She had her head turned away from him. He changed course and drove to a deserted parking area. He stopped the car, unfastened his seat belt and placed his hand on her shoulder. He hurt, and his pain was greater because he knew she felt it, too. She put her head in her hands. “I’m sorry.”

  A knot in his throat kept him from answering and tears burned his eyes. He braced for her to tell him to leave her alone as he pulled her into his arms as much as he could in his pickup. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him, which made him feel better because he had expected her to shove him away.

  “I’m sorry, Tom. I thought I could do this without tears. It’s a happy occasion and I’ve looked forward to meeting Natalie and her family a
nd I really mean that—” Emily couldn’t finish. She cried while he held her tightly, stroking her head.

  “This is the first time I’ve been back in the park since Ryan was alive,” she said between pauses to cry. She spoke so softly he could barely hear her. “We all came here together, remember?”

  “I know it, darlin’, and I wondered if this would tear you up. I’ve been here with Natalie and the kids once. This is the main park in Royal and where the Valentines always go. The kids love it here just like Ryan did.”

  “Then it’s a good place to come. I’ll be all right in a minute.”

  “I knew you might have difficulty, and I’m not surprised.” He buried his head against her, holding her tightly while she clung to him and they cried. “It hurts like hell, Em, but we don’t have a choice. I figure there’s a little angel in heaven who loves us as much as we love him.”

  “Why is life—” She couldn’t finish through her tears.

  “So damn hard?” he offered. “I don’t know. There aren’t answers for some questions. When I’m ninety—if I make it that far—I’ll cry for my son. As long as I live, I’ll miss him.”

  “I will, too. Why aren’t we more of a comfort to each other?”

  “I don’t know. I guess because that loss is a mountain of sadness and blame and guilt between us. It hurts, so go ahead and cry,” he said quietly.

  She looked up at him while tears still ran down her cheeks. Tom pulled out a clean, folded handkerchief and dabbed at her cheeks as they gazed at each other.

  “You’re a comfort to me now. I wish I could be for you, but I can see in your eyes that I’m not.”

  “Shh, Em. There’s a point where it’s just too much pain. Over our baby I should have saved. Guys that should have made it home and didn’t.”

  “You just seem to go somewhere where I can’t reach you.”

  He pulled her close again and held her tightly.

  She stopped sobbing and became quiet. Raising her head, she wiped her eyes. “I’m making us late.”

  “If there is anyone on earth who will understand people stopping to grieve, it’s Natalie. She and Jeremy were so in love. Take your time. The kids will play and Natalie will be fine. I’ll call her. We’re only a minute or two from where we’re going. She’ll understand, believe me.” Tom continued to stroke Emily’s head lightly, wishing he could do more but knowing he couldn’t.

  “I’m sorry Natalie is widowed, but I’m glad we’ll be with someone who will understand if I lose it again. That doesn’t usually happen when I’m out with people, but this is different.”

  “I know it is, and sometimes the memory of losing Ryan just comes at you out of the blue.”

  When she shifted to brush a light kiss on his cheek, he looked down at her. “You’re a great guy, Tom. I’ve been lucky.”

  He frowned, studying her intently. “Thanks, Em. That makes me feel better. We’ve had some rough times and we’ll have more. I want to help, not be part of the problem.”

  She looked straight ahead. “You are a help. We got through the rough times until now, so hopefully, we’ll get through what’s ahead,” she said. Her voice held a sad note, and he wondered if she dreaded the divorce or wished they could go ahead sooner and get it now.

  He put his hand behind her head and pulled her close to kiss her lightly, tenderly, hoping he conveyed the bond he knew they would always have. Even after they divorced and went their separate ways, memories of Ryan would always be there between them.

  She moved away from him and he let her go. “I’m ready. She’ll know I’ve been crying, but you said she would understand.”

  “She definitely will, and I told her this might be tough for you. It was for me the first time I was in the park after the wreck.”

  “Let’s go meet them. I’m pulled together. Thanks for being patient and understanding.”

  “I feel the same as you do, so it’s damn easy to be understanding.”

  He pulled out and returned to the main drive, winding through the park beneath tall oaks until he got to another parking spot near the pond, where a picnic table was already spread.

  “There they are—including their dog,” Tom said. “Miss Molly is a well-trained golden retriever and as long as we’re the only folks out here, she’s okay running free, because she sticks close to the kids. She loves those kids. If other families come out, Natalie has a lead she can put Miss Molly on.

  “I told you about Colby. He’s standoffish, but he’ll warm up. He knows me well now, so he’s usually responsive around me. I try to not push him,” Tom said as he parked. “They’re really great kids.”

  Emily lightly placed her hand on his arm. “You sound happy. You like being with a family and kids. That’s what you need, Tom, your own family, your own kids. The sooner we divorce, the sooner you’ll have that life.”

  Frowning slightly, he parked and studied her. “If you marry again, would you be willing to adopt a child?”

  “I’ve never thought about that. I suppose I would, because the only reason I didn’t want to with us was I wanted another Ryan for you,” she replied. “The only way we could have a child who would be like you would be if you fathered the child. That’s why I held out to not adopt. I kept expecting to get pregnant. If I marry someone else—that wouldn’t matter, so yes, I’d adopt.”

  He had decided long ago they would each be better off if they divorced. Now he knew they would. Emily would have a family and the life she wanted.

  He needed to call Nathan and see if they had found any more clues about Maverick. Because Tom felt more strongly than ever that he needed to get out of Emily’s life.

  Eight

  Emily got out when Tom did and they both gathered all they picnic supplies they could handle. Tom carried a big cooler loaded with ice and bottled drinks. He slung a tote bag on his shoulder, with pinwheels and kites sticking out of it. Emily carried a big sack with two beach balls. Two little wooden flutes were in the bottom of the sack. Tom also had an electronic toy for Colby and a little box containing a tiara, a feather boa, bangles and a beaded purse for Lexie to play dress-up. Before he picked up the cooler, he waved and Natalie waved back.

  Miss Molly saw them and came bounding over. She went to Tom, but was too well behaved to jump all over him. He put down everything he carried to pet her and scratch her ears. It was obvious the dog loved him and it was mutual. She looked at Emily, who held her hand out, and Tom stepped closer to her. “Here’s Miss Molly. She’s friendly and has been through obedience school, so she’s well trained.”

  Miss Molly sniffed Emily’s hand and looked up expectantly. Tom took a doggie treat from his pocket and handed it to Emily. “Give her this and she will love you forever.”

  “That’s a bribe.”

  “And it works beautifully. Try,” he said.

  She held out the treat, which Miss Molly politely took and ate, wagging her tail. She moved closer and looked up at Emily expectantly.

  “See, you have a friend now,” Tom said, picking things up to carry to the picnic spot.

  Emily smiled as she petted Miss Molly and retrieved what she had been carrying. Miss Molly ran to catch up with Tom and walk beside him, moving around to his left side.

  Natalie was sitting at the picnic table with a little redheaded girl on her lap. “Lexie is a little doll,” Tom said. “At two, Lexie is too young for outdoor games, so I brought some toys and musical instruments. And I have two beach balls and two kites, but we’ll need more wind than this. I have some pinwheels, too.”

  “You’re a walking toy store. No wonder they’re excited to see you.”

  As they drew close, Natalie set Lexie on the ground. The minute her feet touched the grass, she ran with her arms out. Tom put down his things and scooped her up, laughing as he said hello. He looked around and w
alked over to pick up Colby with the other arm. “Hi, Colby,” he said easily. “Isn’t this fun? We’re at the park and I brought some toys and some things to do.” The children were both talking to him and he laughed, setting them on their feet.

  “Wait a minute. I need to mind my manners. We have someone new with us. Emily, meet Lexie and Colby. This is my wife, Miss Emily to you two.” He looked at Emily. “Lexie’s still a toddler, so no telling what you’ll be called.”

  “Whatever she settles on, it’ll be fine.”

  Emily greeted them with a smile while they politely said hello. She barely heard Colby, who shyly looked away.

  “We’ll get to what I brought, but first, I want to talk to your mama,” Tom told them.

  As they approached the picnic table, which already had a red-and-white-checkered plastic tablecloth covering it, Emily saw Natalie Valentine turn and come forward to greet them, smiling.

  “Emily, I’m Natalie. I’m glad to finally meet you.”

  “I’m glad to meet you,” Emily answered politely, amazed Tom hadn’t fallen in love with Natalie, who was pretty with huge green eyes.

  Natalie held out her hands. “Let me carry something.”

  “Here’s a cake you can carry,” Emily said, handing a covered pan to the other woman.

  “Lexie woke up an hour earlier than usual this morning because she was so excited about the picnic today. The kids love to see Tom. He’s wonderful with them and he’s good to share his time. Jeremy picked the right guy to be friends with, and I know why.”

  “He’s good with kids,” Emily said, watching him hunker down to let Lexie and Colby look in the sack he’d brought and pull something out. They each got a pinwheel and stepped away to swing them through the air and make them spin. It was obvious they had played with them before.

  “Tom has been a lifesaver for us,” Natalie continued. “Last month he installed two new motion-detector lights outside at the B and B. And then I had an appointment to take Colby to the dentist and Miss Molly had an appointment at the groomer at the same time—both hard to change—so Tom took Lexie with him to get Miss Molly to be groomed while I took Colby to the dentist. He even took Lexie to the pediatrician when she had to get a tetanus shot because she cut her foot on a rusty piece of metal. He held her hand while she got her shot, took her for ice cream and then to the bookstore.”