Redeeming the Texas Rancher

by Sands, Charlene

  He squeezed his eyes closed for a second, then moved his rough palm over her breast. “Perfect,” he said weighing the globe, his fingers strumming over her.

  The pool between her legs grew heavier. She wanted to die from happiness.

  Cole’s mouth soon replaced his hand and he suckled her, his tongue doing wondrous things to the ripe tip.

  From out in the yard, Jerome’s voice carried into the house. He was saying something to Sam.

  Cole’s eyes rounded. It was as if it had just dawned on him what he was doing, in mid-afternoon, in broad daylight, where any one of the boys could walk into the house at any given moment.

  He jumped off her like she was on fire, grabbed her blouse and handed it to her with as much decorum as he could muster. “Put it on.”

  She rose up from the sofa and he glanced at her, half naked, her long thick hair in disarray. He began shaking his head, fast and furiously. “Sorry, Day. I’m so sorry.”

  “Cole?”

  “Just get dressed for God’s sake, Dakota May,” he pleaded.

  He pushed a hand through his hair, the same hand that had caressed her breast a second ago. “We’ll talk later,” he said. “I’ve gotta get outside.”

  He strode away and the back door slammed shut. She heard the sound of the latch locking—a way for Cole to give her time to dress.

  Day sat there dumbfounded, her body a mass of trembles, but there was a hum inside her that wouldn’t be brought down from embarrassment or pain or anger.

  Cole had left his mark on her.

  That something she’d seen in his eyes wasn’t a fluke.

  It was real and powerful and earth-shattering.

  And she dared him to say otherwise.

  Chapter Three

  “Sonofabitch!” Cole took up the sledgehammer and came down on the battered stable stall with all of his strength. Again and again, he struck wood until his arms burned and his legs ached, but no amount of thrashing and power workout could do the trick. Calling himself every kind of fool, the image of Day lying across his sofa, wearing that black lacy thing, all gorgeous and worked up, wouldn’t leave his head.

  She was forbidden to him, damn it. As off limits as they come. She was…his friend.

  And he’d blown it with her. The real kicker was, his restraint was at an all-time low. He couldn’t have let her walk out of that room, not after that hug. Not after having her body pressed against his. Not after breathing in her intoxicating scent.

  Seeing her give Brett Collier one tiny hug had Cole tossing out his well-honed rules, wrecking his willpower in a fit of green as grass jealousy.

  He glanced over at Brett, gloved up, clearing away the remnants of five stable stalls, tossing the wood into the back of his truck. He hadn’t said a word when Cole came up to him, grabbed the sledgehammer out of his hands and told him to start the cleanup.

  Brett had walked away whistling a cheery tune that was still gnawing into his head and now Cole was back in the stable, staring at the sledgehammer he gripped in his hand. “You firing me or just getting something off your chest?”

  Cole shot him a hard look and shrugged. “I’m done now. Here, take the sledgehammer back. It wasn’t working anyway.”

  Brett’s lips twitched. “Yeah, I know. Female trouble is hard to work off.”

  “I don’t have female…” The screen door swung open and Day walked out. Cole’s heart tightened in his chest and a big swallow caught in his throat. She’d trussed her hair back into a braid, tucked in her red chambray blouse and the look on her face wasn’t all that different from the way she’d been looking at him earlier, all dewy-eyed and lovely.

  Dangerous.

  Brett caught him gawking and smiled. “No female trouble, huh?”

  “Nothing that I can’t handle—that’s for sure.” He gave Brett his full attention.

  Brett eyed him right back. “Then you’re a smarter man than I am. I don’t get women at all. I mean, I get women, but I don’t understand them.”

  “Yeah, well, just so you know, Dakota isn’t someone for you to get.” Cole stared him down. “Not if you ever want to work here again.”

  “There’s no need to warn me off,” Brett said. “She’s not interested in me. We’re friends.”

  Yeah, he and Day were friends too, and look what had just happened between the two of them on the sofa.

  He looked up to find Day breezing past him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm as she walked by. And damn if a hot burn didn’t crawl up his face from her sweet touch and friendly smile.

  “Hi, boys.”

  Brett nodded. “Hey.”

  “Brett, whenever you’re ready to go over your invoice, I’ll be in the office.”

  She kept on walking until she reached the end of the barn, without giving either one of them another glance.

  “I’ll be in shortly,” Brett called to her. And after she was out of earshot, Brett stood to his full height, looking him straight in the eyes. “Something put her in a good mood.”

  Cole winced. He’d felt damn good too, until he’d come to his senses. “Drop the subject and I won’t fire you.”

  Brett chuckled, took up the sledgehammer again and nodded. “You got yourself a deal.”

  Cole marched straight into the house, bypassed the kitchen and parlor, striding to the very last room at the end of the hall: his personal study. In there, his father’s timeless wood mahogany desk took up most of the space. Framed photos of the Circle R Ranch from a black and white era lined the walls, along with a picture of his mom and dad from their younger years. They looked happy, their smiling faces a good warm memory of the life they’d once had.

  He sat down at the desk that he’d claimed as his own, grabbed the small desk key that was latched to his keychain, and unlocked the bottom drawer. He pulled out a folder marked S.M. and opened it, pulling out a ledger and perusing the figures written down. Then he took out his checkbook and wrote out the same check he’d been writing for the past twelve years.

  It was guilt money, his mother said. She never was one to hold her tongue when she disagreed with him, yet she’d kept the secret and supported his decision, understanding that he had to do this. The loss was too great for him to go about living a good life, while Sarah had suffered so.

  He’d made himself a solemn vow to never do anything impetuous like that again. He would never act selfishly and never allow his impatience to interfere with his good judgment. He certainly wouldn’t allow himself the luxury of falling in love and hurting another human being. Now, the women in his life were friends and lovers, but never anything more.

  After that incident with Dakota earlier in the day, he had a need to come in here today. To write that check. The reminder was necessary. Day couldn’t be anything more than a friend. She meant too much to him to play fast and loose, because he wasn’t going to get involved with her. Hell no.

  His mother would have his head.

  Her mother would have his head.

  But more importantly, he would never forgive himself if he ever hurt her.

  He bent to his task and addressed the envelope he had memorized in his head and inserted the note he always included in with the check.

  Hope you are well.

  Love, Colby

  Then he sealed the envelope and stamped it.

  As he was closing the folder a photograph slipped out and he stared at the picture sitting at an odd angle across his desk. His breath caught, a noisy gasp that broke the silence in the room. There a sweet-eyed, lovely eighteen-year-old Sarah Mulrooney looked up at him. He smiled for a second and in that brief moment he remembered her the way she’d been: dedicated, hardworking, a pre-Olympian gymnast with a bright future. She’d come to Hope Wells that summer to visit her grandmother and he’d fallen hard for her, instantly and overwhelmingly.

  And during that short time, she’d become his friend, his love and his secret wife.

  *

  Day was just closing up the ranch office
and putting away her files when Cole walked in. The sight of him made her head swim and her smile radiated from every cell in her body. Memories of his touch lit a sizzling spark inside that would never be put out.

  “Day, do you have a minute?” He stood at the doorway, his face marred with indecision.

  “Actually, I don’t. I’m running late, Cole. I still have to go home and shower and get over to Barely There by six o’clock.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, ignoring his serious tone. He’d been avoiding her at every turn today. And now that it was quitting time, he wanted to talk. No way. He wasn’t going to put a damper of her jubilant feelings. She wouldn’t let his sour puss ruin her evening. “I’ve gotta run. My other job awaits.” She grabbed her purse and moved to the doorway, stopping to face him, looking straight into his eyes. “We’re having a sale on baby doll nighties today.”

  Cole took a swallow and nodded.

  “I might buy one or two for myself,” she added.

  Cole’s face pulled tight and he shook his head. She couldn’t leave him looking so down. “You need to smile more, Cole. You’re always so doggone serious.” With that, she rose up on tiptoes and brushed a quick kiss to his cheek. The feel of his skin on her lips brought her a measure of heaven, but she backed off quickly. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

  “Day?” he pressed. “I mean it. We have to talk.”

  “Cole, I really have to go. If what you have to say is so darn important, come over after I get off work tonight.”

  She flashed him a smile knowing full well he would never stop by her place late at night. It wasn’t even an option, but she didn’t mind putting that thought in his head anyway. She strode past him and was out of the barn and off his property in less than three minutes.

  When she arrived at Barely There, her sense of jubilance ebbed some. No matter how hard she tried to keep upbeat, especially after what had happened this afternoon with Cole, she couldn’t forget the dire look on his face as she left him standing in the barn. What she didn’t get was why he tried so damn hard to keep his distance from her. She’d been willing today, so willing. He had to know that. She would’ve given him everything if he’d only asked. How could she not wonder what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been interrupted?

  As she made her way through the rear entrance of Barely There, Jillian greeted her. “Hi, Day.”

  “I hope I’m not late.”

  “Nope, you’re right on time and I’m about to head home to my crew. Monte’s cooking for us tonight.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “Yeah, he’s pretty smitten with little Beau. Grandfather-hood looks good on him. He’s been a great help with picking up Beau from school and all.”

  “Yeah, I’m so glad the adoption worked out for you and Jack.”

  “It’s the best. We’re a family and I never thought I’d be so lucky.”

  Day sighed and nodded. “You three are lucky to have found each other.”

  Jillian tilted her head and her smile was just short of sympathetic. “Cole again?”

  “Something happened today. It was positive, a move in the right direction, but I’m just wondering why on earth he’s fighting it so hard.”

  “Hmm. I can’t say I understand the underpinnings of the male mind, Day.”

  She laughed. “You’re right. I think it’s best not to think too hard on it. But we did come up with some ideas for the surprise baby shower today. Cole’s all in.”

  Jillian chuckled, bobbing her head a bit. “We really didn’t give him much choice, did we?”

  “Not really. Hey, how’s the sale going?”

  “Pretty well, considering that we are having a clearance sale on silky lingerie as we approach winter, but the stock is moving. And we’ve had a steady stream of customers all day. Listen, if it slows down, you can quit early and close up the shop.”

  “Okay. Sounds good.”

  “Well, I’d better run. I don’t want to miss Monte’s chicken and dumplings.”

  “Tell Monte and Jack I said hello and kiss Beau for me.”

  “I will.”

  After Jillian left, Day went about straightening the shelves and checking the inventory. Jillian told her she’d been a godsend in that department, and Day credited her skills to being in charge of the Circle R’s inventory for the past three years. She’d actually gotten a pretty good skill set from overseeing the ranch and that experience had translated to understanding Jillian’s business a little bit better.

  She was beginning to really enjoy being a saleswoman. It got her talking to people, not just horses and stubborn mules named Colby. She chuckled and moved over to the sales rack, attracted by a snowy white baby doll outfit hanging on the rounder. After admiring it for a few moments, she set it back down. It was too pristine and probably more fitting for a wedding night.

  She wove her way through the satin hangers until she found a soft pink shimmery set of baby dolls with a deep scalloped neckline and matching panties. The outfit called to her and when she didn’t gasp at the sale price, she decided to treat herself. With her employee discount of twenty percent, it would be a welcome addition to her waning wardrobe. “Sold.”

  She rang it up at the counter and put it into a Barely There gift bag. Might as well go all out and enjoy her purchase.

  A customer walked in wearing a nurse’s uniform and Day set her package aside to greet her. “Welcome to Barely There,” she said. “I’m Dakota. Please let me know if I can help with anything.”

  The woman smiled. “I’m just looking. I’m on a break and have to get back to the hospital soon.”

  “Look all you like,” she replied, “but let me point you toward our sales rack. We’re having a clearance sale.”

  She led the woman to the clearance rounder and left her to peruse on her own. There was nothing about Day that was high pressure. She treated the customers the way she liked to be treated. And darn if the woman didn’t come up to the counter five minutes later with two items she wanted to purchase.

  After Day rang it up and walked the nurse out, she finished her duties for the evening and closed the doors of the shop right on time. With a deep sense of satisfaction a smile graced her face on the drive home and stayed there as she entered her little home. As far as days went, she’d had a pretty good one.

  She undressed quickly, got into her jammies and didn’t hesitate to turn on the television. She was in the mood for romance via a movie channel that specialized in happily ever after. She clicked on her DVR list and found Devoted Only Apply, starring a hunky actor and an equally perky actress and she snuggled down in her warm, comfy bed.

  Her doorbell rang.

  She glanced at the clock. It was nine-thirty. Who would come calling at this hour? Unless Brett had misplaced his house key again. Her neighbor was forgetful and had insisted she keep his house key for those times when he locked himself out. She put on her robe and walked to the door. “Did you lock yourself out again?”

  She closed one eye and glanced through the peephole, her hand on the doorknob. She got an eyeful of the guy standing behind the door. And it wasn’t Brett.

  *

  Day hesitated a moment, chewing on her lip as she opened the door. “Cole?”

  “Disappointed?” he asked, taking in her bedtime clothes.

  “What?” She shook her head.

  “You were expecting your friendly neighbor?”

  That again. “Heavens no. I wasn’t expecting anyone. What are you doing here? Is there a problem at the ranch?”

  “No. No problem at the ranch. Never mind.” He gave her attire a quick up and down glance. “I should go…you’re ready for bed.” He turned to leave.

  “You came here for a reason, Cole,” she challenged.

  He pivoted on his heels to face her. “You invited me, but it appears you forgot.”

  “I invited…oh, yes I guess I did. I just never figured you’d take me up on it.” />
  He rubbed the back of his neck, a move that always got her juices flowing. It was the way his hand grazed the skin, pulling it tight, his masculine confidence diminished, making him appear vulnerable and downright appealing. She was the most drawn to him when he let down his guard, when he was uncomfortable in his own skin.

  “I should go,” he repeated, but his boots were planted, his hat held at his thigh and he was staring into her eyes.

  “Don’t,” she said. “Come in. Give me a minute to get dressed.”

  She moved away from the door, and it took him a moment before deciding to walk over the threshold.

  “I’ll be just a few seconds. Make yourself comfortable,” she said closing the door behind him.

  He scoffed at that as she exited the room, as if nothing about this encounter would be comfortable.

  She donned her jeans and tossed on a big gray sweatshirt. Barefooted she walked down the hallway and stopped when she spotted Cole hovering over the Barely There bag she’d left on the sofa. His curiosity getting the better of him, he lifted out the soft pink lingerie, his fingers brushing over the silky material. She moved quietly into the room, stopping a few feet away.

  “Do you like it?” she asked quietly.

  “What’s not to like,” he replied in a hushed tone. Transfixed on the baby dolls, he took a deep swallow and let the garment slip from his fingers to fall back into the bag. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have been so nosy.”

  “I don’t mind, Cole.”

  He backtracked several steps, putting distance between them. “Well, you should mind. I shouldn’t be looking at your intimates like that. I shouldn’t be kissing you and God, Dakota, touching you the way I did today. I’m here to apologize. I’m sorry…I sort of lost my head today.”

  “That’s funny, Cole. Because the way I see it, you finally got a hefty dose of clarity today. You saw what you wanted and you grabbed for it. I’m not sorry, not about any of it.”

  “Day, please.” His eyes slammed shut and Day saw his struggle. He was fighting for composure, to make his point and get the hell out of here. When his eyes opened again he met her with firm resolve. “Just accept my apology and my vow that nothing like that will ever happen between us again.”