by Lori Wilde
“Nope. That’s it.”
“Great. Thanks.” She spun and nearly smacked head-on into Ashley.
“Ash.” Glancing around, Erin didn’t see Tanner. That didn’t bode well. Had he left? The combination of concern and curiosity was killing her, but Erin was afraid to outright ask if Tanner had ditched her, so instead she said, “What’s up?”
Ashley looked every bit the millennial bride with her signature drink poised in one hand and her cell phone at the ready to post pictures in the other as she said, “I just wanted to tell you that I get it.”
Confused and a little afraid, Erin asked, “You get what?”
“You and Tanner. I get it now.”
“Okay . . . what exactly do you get?”
“He’s hot. He’s charming.” Ashley looked a bit devilish. “And the way he moves on a horse, I can only imagine how well he moves . . . you know . . . in bed.”
Erin nearly choked at that comment. After glancing around to make sure no one else had heard—particularly not their parents or worse, the preacher, Erin focused on setting things straight. “Ashley, it’s not like that.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say. I’m not going to judge you. I can totally see the appeal. Hot muscles. Hot sex.”
Again, Erin cringed at the conversation they were having in a roomful of relatives.
“We’re not having sex.” She leaned in close and kept her voice down to barely a whisper, hoping Ashley would follow suit because her sister kept talking about inappropriate, not to mention untrue, things regarding Tanner.
Ashley frowned at her. “Wait. You’re serious? You’re really not doing it with him?”
“No, I’m not. Tanner and I aren’t . . . you know.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Why the heck not? Have you looked at him?”
“Yes, of course I have.” Erin really didn’t need advice on men from her little sister.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Erin searched for a reason but couldn’t narrow it down to one—there were so many.
Ashley shook her head when Erin couldn’t come up with an answer. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you should go for it. Just, you know, don’t hurt him when you’re done with him. He seems like a nice guy.”
Frowning, Erin knew she should end this ridiculous conversation, but once again her curiosity wouldn’t let it go. “What do you mean? What makes you think I could hurt him?”
“Come on, Erin. There’s no way it could be more than a fling. You two couldn’t be more different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun, right? As long as you both know going in that’s all it can be.”
This discussion was so frustrating on so many levels, it made Erin want to tear her hair out. Or possibly Ashley’s hair. Luckily, they were both saved by their mother waving them down from across the room.
“Looks like Mom is trying to get your attention. You’d better go over.” Without waiting, for fear Ashley would drag her over there with her, Erin spun in the opposite direction.
She was determined to get Tanner’s report on what must have been one hell of an encounter between him and Ashley.
In a rush to find him, Erin took off across the room at the top speed she could manage given the crowd and the shoes pinching her feet. She nearly tripped on her dress again in the process and was forced to stop and inspect for damage.
Cursing her dress, the shoes, and the seamstress who’d obviously measured wrong, Erin lifted her skirt a tad to check the hem.
“Hey. All done with your duties for now?” A male voice that was becoming all too familiar to her had her whipping her gaze back up. Tanner, alone and smiling and looking completely unscathed by the encounter with her sister, stood in front of her.
“What happened with you and Ashley?” Erin demanded.
“We went to the bar, where I ordered her a blue drink. Do you know it’s called the Something Blue? As in something old, something new. It still looks horrible, but at least it makes sense now.”
“Yes, I know.” Erin had helped her sister come up with the name. She should have tasted it first before approving the idea for the sickeningly sweet drink, however. “Go on. What did you two talk about?”
“We talked a little about the ranch. I showed her some pictures of it on her phone.” He lifted a shoulder. “That’s it. Then she left. Why? What did she say to you?”
“Not much.” Just that Erin should have sex with him. She remembered what Ashley had said about Tanner’s skill in riding and . . . other things, which raised another question. “How would she have seen you ride a horse?”
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “Oh wait, there’s a video Ellie posted on the ranch’s Facebook page. I’m in it, riding and roping some calves. Your sister must have found it and watched.”
“Yeah, she must have.” And Erin intended to do the same the moment she got the privacy to do so.
The rest of the conversation with her sister echoed in her head.
Don’t hurt him when you’re done with him.
You two couldn’t be more different.
Erin didn’t want a fling with Tanner. She hadn’t really been the type for that when she was younger and she sure wasn’t now, at almost forty. But Ashley was right that a relationship with him would be doomed to fail, just like his last one had.
Erin didn’t want that either.
The one thing she feared she did want was Tanner, and what the heck was she going to do about that?
Erin shook her head to rid it of those dizzying thoughts. She glanced up and had a moment to observe Tanner unnoticed as he watched the dancers nearby. She realized for the first time how gorgeous his eyes were. And how strong his jawline was. And his cheekbones . . . wow.
She swallowed hard. “I think I need another blue drink.”
“Coming right up.” He smiled until it reached all the way to those eyes a woman could get lost in.
Oh boy, was she in trouble.
Chapter Twelve
Erin paused on the sidewalk in front of her office and turned back to face Tanner. “You didn’t have to walk me all the way to the door.”
“Sure I did. Believe it or not, I’m a gentleman. Sometimes.” He grinned.
He’d ridden with her to the wedding in her vehicle, while his truck had been parked at her office. He might have had to ride shotgun while she drove, but he still had his man card and he was walking her to the door whether she liked it or not.
“Well, thank you.” She broke eye contact before saying, “I had a really nice time.”
“Me too.” Nice seemed like a poor description for the surprisingly enjoyable time they’d spent together, but Tanner wasn’t prepared to offer a better word. Remembering his new fashion accessory, he reached for the pink fabric in his jacket pocket. “I should give you this—”
She dismissed his offer with the wave of her hand. “Keep it. I mean, if you want to.”
“I think I will. Thanks.” Why, he didn’t know. He’d never have need of a pink pocket square again, but for some reason he didn’t want to give it up. “So, I guess I should get going.”
“Early day in the morning, roping and riding and brush hogging?” She smiled.
“Yeah, something like that.” He returned her smile and then realized she had her keys out, as if she was about to go into the office. “You’re not going inside to work now, are you?”
“No. I’m just going to grab my laptop from my desk.”
“So you can work at home,” he guessed.
“No . . . maybe. I’ll see.” She laughed. “Well, I should let you go. Long way back to the ranch.”
“Yeah.” And not just in miles. The city and the ranch were worlds apart. He should keep reminding himself of that.
“Thank you for agreeing to go with me today. I appreciate it so much. And I really did have a nice time.”
Nice. There was that word again. Tonight had been many things for Tanner, including nice, but most of all
confusing.
“You’re welcome. Anytime. Just give me a call next time you need a stand-in for a date and I’m there.” Yeah, that sounded real smooth.
Loser. He nearly rolled his eyes at himself.
“Okay, thanks.” She smiled but remained standing with her keys in hand. Waiting for him to leave, he supposed.
He needed to take the hint and go. “Um, so, good night.”
“Good night, Tanner.”
Before he could stop himself, he leaned in. It felt like a natural end to the night. He meant it to be a friendly peck. The equivalent of a handshake. Nothing more. Certainly nothing like the heated lip-lock he’d planted on her during the reception to make her ex jealous.
Only his mouth didn’t hit her cheek. Instead, he pressed it to hers and the results weren’t casual or friendly. It made him want to back her into that office, lift up that pretty pink dress, and take her on the desk.
He realized his mistake only after it was too late. Having her lips against his made him want more than he could safely have with Erin, which was exactly why he pulled back.
“Good night.” Allowing for no more small talk, no more awkward pauses, he turned and strode fast toward his truck before he changed his mind.
Tanner’s mind spun the whole drive back to the ranch.
She was a city girl. They were complete opposites. He’d been down this road before. He might have downplayed it for Erin when she’d asked, but the end of the relationship with Jill had been a wreck he feared he was still recovering from.
So why couldn’t he stop thinking about Erin? About how the thought of seeing her again had his heart speeding. About how much it was going to suck when Brady’s wedding was over and Tanner wouldn’t see Erin again.
He’d given himself a headache by the time he pulled onto the ranch, where the fact that he had incredibly bad luck and worse timing was confirmed. Brady was pulling out just as Tanner was pulling in.
His boss flashed his lights and slowed to a stop. Tanner had no choice but to stop as well.
Brady leaned his arm on the open window. “You’re home early. How was the wedding?”
“Free food. Free booze. It was good.” Tanner kept his description short, hoping Brady would let it go at that.
“So, you going to see her again?” Brady asked.
“Yup, reckon I will. At your wedding.”
Brady chuckled. “Stubborn as ever, you are.”
“Nope.” Tanner swung his head from side to side. “Just smart enough to know what’s what.”
“And what is what? Eh?”
“You don’t put a plow horse in the pasture with a Thoroughbred.”
Brady drew back. “Wow. That sentence could have come right out of my daddy’s mouth.”
“It did. Doesn’t make it any less true.” Tanner should have the sentiment burned into the wall above his bed so he wouldn’t forget it. One night and a couple of kisses with Erin already had him forgetting things he shouldn’t. “See you in the morning, boss.”
After saying good night, Tanner hit the gas, heading for the bunkhouse before he had to answer any more questions.
The moment he walked in, he realized the questions weren’t over yet. It was early on a Sunday night, so Randy was there and still awake . . . and curious.
“Where were you?”
“Out.”
The kid frowned at Tanner’s jacket. “What’s that pink thing in your pocket?”
Crap. Tanner had forgotten about that.
“Nothing.” He whipped out the offending swath of fabric and shoved it out of sight into the back pocket of his jeans. “Don’t stay up too late. We need to finish that fencing in the morning.”
“I know. We gotta get all our work done here because we’ll be gone moving the herd in a couple of days. I know you don’t believe it, but I do listen.”
“Sometimes.” With that last word, Tanner made a beeline for his bedroom to be alone. Women made life too complicated. Even a woman he wasn’t dating.
Yet.
That thought had him stumbling on his booted feet. Did he want to date Erin?
Deep down, beneath the hard-earned knowledge and logic, in the place where raw feelings and desires lived, it seemed he did.
Not liking the conclusion he’d just come to, Tanner blew out a breath.
Thank goodness he’d be heading out in a few days. He could use the time away moving the herd to the summer pasture. A couple of long days in the saddle and short nights spent sleeping on the ground were exactly what he needed to get his head back on straight.
There was no danger he’d run into Erin on the trail the way there was here on the ranch. That would give him the time and space he needed to think.
If he came back and still felt this way—and he hoped to God he wouldn’t—he’d worry about it then.
Chapter Thirteen
“So . . . have you been talking to your cowboy?” Jessica asked.
“No. I’ve been a little busy. You know, planning the rehearsal dinner and the wedding that are both this weekend.”
But Jessica’s nosy inquiry raised a good point that Erin had been wondering about herself. Why hadn’t she heard from Tanner since her sister’s wedding?
Not that she’d expected a lot, but she figured she’d get at least a text. But nope. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
That was the difference between men and women. Whether you called it protocol or simply good manners, a woman would have sent a follow-up. Something simple like had a great time, thanks again.
Although she was just as guilty as he was. She hadn’t sent a text to him either and she really should have. She’d wanted to. Heck, she’d had her cell in her hand a couple of times, contemplating whether she should text him and say thanks again. She hadn’t.
Erin hated to admit why.
That evening with Tanner had stopped feeling like a favor and started feeling like a date the moment he’d kissed her. And she’d liked the feeling. Too much.
Way too much, considering even her sister saw how different she and Tanner were. How impossible a relationship between them would be.
“And he’s not my cowboy,” Erin added, as much for her own benefit as for her assistant’s.
Jessica raised one brow. “Okay. If you say so.”
Erin realized her denial had come a bit late to be completely believable, but she did have a lot on her mind. Like the wedding this weekend, where she’d definitely be seeing Tanner again. She’d seen his name on the guest list.
Then there was the meeting today with Brady and Ellie at the ranch—she could possibly run into him there, too.
Speaking of the meeting, she needed to get going. “I have to run. I might not be back before you leave for the day.”
“That’s fine. It’s pretty quiet here at the beginning of the week. It’s closer to the weekend things start to get crazy.”
Wasn’t that the truth? Weekends, when the rest of the normal working world rested, party planners were busier than ever. There was a whole weekend world of leisure activities Erin was missing out on.
Funny. She’d never craved a normal schedule or a normal life before.
Erin refused to ponder why she was now. It definitely had nothing to do with a certain sexy cowboy who had her walking a bit faster toward her car just at the thought of running into him.
She might have driven a tad bit faster than usual, or maybe it was just that traffic was light this time of day, but she made it to the ranch in record time. She had to slow on the gravel drive, but that was okay. It gave her the opportunity to look around her to see who might be working nearby.
A man in a cowboy hat walking toward the house caught her eye.
Gravel be damned. Erin hit the accelerator. That sent a spray of rocks shooting out behind her.
Cringing, she eased off the gas pedal a bit and navigated toward the house.
Closer inspection told her this cowboy wasn’t the one she’d been hoping to see, and her soaring mood came back
to earth.
Unaware of her disappointment, he strode over. He even opened the driver’s side door and tipped his hat. “Ma’am, g’afternoon.”
“Good afternoon to you, too.”
“Anything I can help you carry in?” he asked.
“No, not today, but thank you.” Was politeness bred into these men genetically? Not to mention good looks.
“Sure. Anytime.” He grinned. “I’m Randy, by the way.”
“Erin.”
Randy nodded. “The wedding planner.”
“That’s me. Why, what have you heard?” She was only half-joking, but his eyes widened as her jest obviously fell flat.
“Nothing. I swear.”
She smiled to ease his discomfort. “I was just kidding.”
“Oh. Okay. Gotcha.” He returned her smile. “So, I guess I’ll be seeing you Saturday. At the wedding.”
“You guess right.” Erin remembered seeing a Randy on the guest list, and that he had been assigned to sit at the table with Tanner when she’d gone over the place cards. Hoping to sound casual and smooth, Erin took the opportunity to say, “I’ll see you and Tanner both on Saturday. So, where is he today anyway?”
Randy’s eyes brightened. “Well, he don’t tell me nothing usually about where he goes, but I can guess. I think he’s got himself a girl in town.”
She felt her stomach drop. “Really. Why do you say that?”
“Well a coupla Sundays ago, he took off early and got all dressed up in a jacket with his good boots and hat on. Even had a little pink hankie in his pocket. No man is doing that except for a girl.”
Erin’s lips twitched. Randy was talking about Tanner’s date with her. “You’re probably right about that.”
Randy continued, “And today he asked to get off early and he was wearing his good clothes again. He even washed his truck. Gotta be that he’s seeing her.”
That information didn’t sit so well with Erin. Unless Tanner had driven in to Austin to surprise her—which she really didn’t think he would do, given they hadn’t spoken or texted since the wedding—he had to be seeing someone else.
That information hit her harder than it should. He wasn’t her cowboy, even if Jessica did call him that. He was free to see whomever he liked.
