by Jill Sanders
Most of the fields were too muddy to ride, but Tyler had chosen a path where the sun had already warmed and hardened the ground. The spot he’d picked for the picnic should be perfectly dry.
“How about a rest?” he said, sliding off the horse. Then he moved over to her and helped her down from the saddle.
Kristen was still smiling, but he was dying to know if she enjoyed horse riding.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I can’t believe I haven’t done this before.” She laughed as his hands dropped from her hips. He noticed that she leaned on Grace for a moment and looked a little unsteady, so he held onto her again.
“It takes some time getting back on your feet. You should do some stretches while I set up our lunch.”
She laughed and nodded.
He took his time laying out the meal they had helped his mother prepare for them. When Kristen walked over and sat next to him, he was glad, since he was pretty sure that she’d almost given him a heart attack walking around the field, doing squats, leg stretches, and other moves that made his body react.
Now she sat next to him, nibbling on the sandwich like it was the finest meal she’d eaten. Her booted feet stretched out in front of her while she took in the meadow.
“I can just imagine it in the spring.” She sighed and took a sip of the wine he’d poured them.
“The spring is nice, but you should see it in the fall.” He looked around and in his mind saw the beautiful fall colors filling the hills. The smell of ripe wheat, grass, leaves falling, and the crisp cool air coming down from the hills, preparing for the winter. “The summers aren’t too bad either.” He smiled. “The warm air rising from the fields, bees buzzing around the colorful flowers everywhere.” He leaned back on his elbow and glanced up at the sky. “There are days where there isn’t a cloud in the sky and at night, the stars.” He glanced over at her. “We would be able to lay here, all night, watching the world spin.”
“You surprise me.” She had sat up slightly, resting her head on her hand. Her green eyes roamed over his face now.
“How so?” He turned slightly toward her, matching her position.
“I believed you to be . . . well, rough. Yet you lay in a field, spouting poetry.”
He laughed. Really laughed. “The hell I do,” he finally said.
“What would you call it?”
“My feelings.” He rolled again, his eyes returning to the sky. “Have you ever felt so strong about a place that you would gladly embarrass yourself, gladly give up everything you own, fight for it, for just the hope of one more day lying in the field on a lazy summer afternoon?”
He could tell she was thinking about it. Then she shook her head slowly.
For some reason, Kristen’s stomach was unsettled. She should be enjoying herself, enjoying the warmth, the sun on her face, lying next to the man who’d pleased her throughout last night. She glanced over and took in every detail of the man from the top of his head to the tip of his strong chin.
There was so much straight in him. He’d taken over his father’s company, rebuilt it from the ground up. She’d seen the numbers. She’d known that the family business was doomed before his father’s death. Even if no one had wanted to admit it, McGowan Enterprises wouldn’t have survived much longer under Tyler’s father’s control.
Now, however, the brothers seemed to have given it a second chance. Even though she hadn’t been here to witness it, she found some satisfaction in knowing that the men could take something broken and turn it around. She’d once dreamed of doing that. Starting her own business, making something out of nothing. But instead she’d fallen into the rut of spending.
Paycheck after paycheck. It had been a game. How much could she afford, what could she buy? What was the next item she could showcase on her body? So much time she’d wasted. So much effort wasted on others’ gain.
No, she’d never felt like Tyler did about a place. Nothing had ever caused her to desire to fight against her own selfish nature. She’d spent a portion of her childhood dreaming of the day she’d be grown-up enough to have everything she’d ever wanted. How was she to know that her dreams would change?
“Who else has made an offer for your company?” she asked.
“Who says anyone has?” he said, crossing his arms behind his head.
“Tyler, who else?”
He sighed. “There have been a few.”
“Who?” She rolled toward him again.
“Mostly local companies, when we first started out, while we were still having . . . problems.”
“No larger companies?”
He shook his head. “Why does this still matter to you? We won’t sell.”
“Doesn’t it bother you? Not knowing?”
He chuckled. “I was never the kind of person who demanded all the answers to everything.”
“I am.” Her chin rose.
“Why?” he questioned.
She shook her head quickly. “There has to be a reason why someone wants to get a hold of it. I mean . . . a reason other than profit and gain. Your company isn’t the biggest or even the most profitable one in Montana. Don’t get me wrong,” she said when his eyes turned sharply toward her. “It’s a good company and you’re quickly on the right path to becoming one of the best, if all keeps going in the direction it’s going.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence,” he said dryly.
“I’ve looked at your books,” she said. “I’ve looked at other books too. Books from companies who were worth double, even triple what yours is. None of them even gave JB a reason to pause. Sending me out here was just business. But keeping me out here indefinitely? First doubling their offer, then doubling that one?” She shook her head. “Not for what you have. It’s not smart business.”
“Thanks,” he said again.
Her eyes moved to his. “I’m missing something. It’s a puzzle and I have to solve it. Sooner or later, I’ll find out what is behind all this. Why JB is so gung ho about getting their hands on it.”
“I’m beginning to believe you won’t be leaving Montana without an answer.” He smiled at her.
She smiled and nodded.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Enough business talk.” Tyler rolled over until he held Kristen in his arms. “I didn’t bring you out here so we can talk business.” His mouth moved down until it covered hers. He felt her respond to him and wondered if it was warm enough to peel those clothes off her and make love to her right there in the field. Then he felt her shiver and knew it wasn’t.
Still, that didn’t mean they couldn’t have some fun. Her body fit nicely under his. Her softness was something he knew he could take years exploring. Desiring.
His hands moved over her clothes, then slowly inched under her clothes. When she tried to pull his shirt off him, he gripped her wrists and held them by her side. Then used his mouth to roam her exposed skin just above her belly button. Again, he felt her shiver. This time, he knew it was from desire.
Her jean clad knees spread, so he could settle between them. He’d unbuttoned her jeans, and tugged them until they lay just below her hips. He ran his mouth and fingers over the softness he’d exposed. Enjoying the way her breath would hitch when he hit a certain spot.
“Ticklish?” he asked against her skin.
“No,” she said, holding her breath.
“Not even here?” he asked, using a fingertip to lightly brush the spot.
Her hand came up and covered his, then surprised him by moving it to where she wanted him to touch her. “Try here,” she said. When he looked up, he could see her eyes laughing and knew she was most certainly ticklish. Still, he took his time, exploring the rest of her skin. Covering her body with kisses until he felt his own jeans grow uncomfortably tight.
He felt a chill down his spine. Slowly, he stilled his hands and mouth. Then rolled aside and gathered her to his chest. His fingers tangled in her hair as their breathing labored in the silence.
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“We should get going. The sun sets early still.” He sat up and she followed him.
He helped her back up on her horse after gathering the mess from their picnic. As they rode, they talked about the fields, the land surrounding his parents’ place.
“How much land is there?” she asked after the horses jumped a small creek.
“A few hundred acres.” He sighed. “Split into four since my father’s passing.”
“You? You own this land?”
“No, when we crossed the creek, we’re back on my mother’s land. But we had a nice lunch where I plan on building my future home.”
She pulled her horse to a stop. “You’re going to build your own home?”
“Why not? My father did with the help of his father.”
“Your father built your family home?”
He nodded. “With the help of a group of friends and workers.”
“It must be great, knowing where you’re going. What you want.”
He thought he heard the sadness in her voice, but she’d turned away from him and was looking behind them, and he couldn’t be sure.
“I didn’t always want to build here.” He glanced back toward his land. “Not until recently.”
They were silent as they walked the horses.
“Does it bother you that much?” he asked.
“What?”
“Not having answers.” When she shook her head as if she didn’t understand, he continued. “Does it bother you so much that you’d give up your job?”
She chuckled. “I wouldn’t give up my job because I didn’t know answers; I’d give it up if I found them out and didn’t like them.”
She steered the horse and sent it off back toward the barn at a trot.
“You’re getting the hang of this.” He laughed, trying to catch up with her.
He let her beat him back to the barn, even though his horse was bigger and faster. They were both breathless and he could tell she was very happy to be out of the saddle. He taught her how to brush the horses and feed them. His mother invited them to stick around for dinner, and he knew better than to reject his mother’s offer.
He watched Kristen stand in the large kitchen and help his mother chop vegetables as they both drank wine.
His brothers grabbed him, turned on the television in the next room, and started arguing about the game.
Still, he watched and listened to the voices in the next room, trying to hear what his mother was saying to Kristen. What they were talking about.
“You’re not even paying attention.” Trey slugged him on the shoulder.
“Sure I am.” Tyler turned his mind back to the game.
Trent laughed. “Denver just scored and you didn’t even make a peep.”
He sat forward and tried to focus again.
“He’s too busy eavesdropping,” Trent said a little loudly.
“Shut up,” Tyler hissed and glanced toward the kitchen. His mother and Kristen laughed over the noises of cooking.
“He’s got it bad.” Trey chuckled.
“I’ve never seen him looking the way he does now. All . . . smitten,” Trent joked.
“Shut up, the both of you,” Tyler hissed again and tossed a sofa pillow at both of their heads.
This time when he looked, Kristen was smiling back at him. He turned quickly back to the TV and his brothers. “Will you two shut up?”
“You think she doesn’t already know this?” Trey joked, the game all but forgotten for the moment.
“What?” This got his attention. “She knows what?”
“That you have it bad for her,” Trent replied.
“I don’t . . .” His brothers’ laughter stopped him. When he reached back to grab another pillow, he came up short, since there wasn’t another small pillow within reach.
“He’s in denial.” Trent sighed and leaned back on the pillows. Making a point to arrange them for show.
“Denial of what?” Tyler asked, wishing he had more pillows.
“He doesn’t know,” Trey said. His brothers’ smiles grew.
“What?” he asked, glancing again to the kitchen.
“Leave him alone,” Trent said. “He’ll figure it out soon enough. He’s smarter than you.”
Tyler spent the next few minutes trying to ignore his brothers and focus on the game. But he strained his ears to hear what was being said in the next room.
He knew his mother had a knack for getting to the heart of things and wondered if she’d be able to get something from Kristen. Not that he believed there was anything she was hiding from him. Just that . . . What? She had feelings for him, like his brothers were hinting at?
Which got him thinking about his feelings toward her. Did he have any other than temporary enjoyment?
After last night and today, his answer had changed to a hell yes. Which pleased him and, at the same time, scared him.
“I hear you’ll be staying around here a while longer.” Gail turned toward Kristen after she placed the chicken in the oven. She walked over and took up her glass of wine and sipped it.
“It appears so.” Kristen sighed. “Not that I’m complaining.” She smiled. “I’m beginning to enjoy the country life.” She picked up her own glass and sipped the blackberry wine Gail had poured for her.
“You look happier than when you first arrived.” Gail leaned against the countertop.
“I am happier.” She hadn’t realized that her eyes turned toward Tyler.
“My sons.” Gail’s words caused her attention to move back to the kitchen. “They have a way about them . . .” She shook her head and smiled. “Their father had it too.”
“Tyler talks about him all the time.”
“He would have liked you.” Gail chuckled and Kristen could see the sadness behind the laughter. “He had an appreciation for strong women.”
Kristen smiled. “He married you.”
“Yes, it took me two years to convince him I was the woman for him.”
Kristen laughed. “Two years. You’re a very patient woman.”
“I had three boys. You have to be patient with three boys.”
They both laughed and took another sip of wine.
“When’s dinner going to be ready?” One of the men called from the other room.
Gail smiled at Kristen. “When my driveway is cleared and the wood is chopped.”
They heard three groans from the other room, but immediately, the sound of the television was replaced with sounds of lumber being chopped outside.
Less than an hour later, before sitting down for dinner, Tyler and his brothers argued on how to rebuild the fire in the fireplace. Finally, Gail walked in and tossed a log on the top and within a minute, the thing was going again. Then they all sat at the big dining table, laughing and enjoying the food.
One thing had been made clear to Kristen that evening: she really enjoyed and looked up to Gail.
Later, when Tyler drove her back to her hotel, she asked if he’d come inside, but he shook his head.
“I have an early morning meeting. I’ll need some rest.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “And if I stay, we both know there’ll be no sleep tonight.”
“For just a while then?” she asked, and again he shook his head.
“Go in, get some rest. I’ll see you Monday morning.” He kissed her one more time, this time quickly. Then he climbed out and opened her door for her.
She was a little disappointed, but when she shut her hotel door behind her, she realized that she could use a night alone. Maybe a hot bath . . .
Then she remembered there was only a shower in the bathroom. She settled for standing under the hot spray until the water ran warm, then flipped through the television stations until she found an old movie to watch.
She grabbed some ice cream, climbed into bed, and pouted. Well, not really pouted, but contemplated her future. Even though she’d tried to deny it, she was at a crossroads in life. She’d never been in such a position before.
Reaching over, she grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand and flipped through her contacts. When her mother’s face came up, she smiled and punched call.
“Hey, sweetie.” Just hearing her mother’s voice calmed her.
“Hi, Mom.” She sighed and settled back against the headboard. For the next hour, she enjoyed her mother’s advice and laughter.
“I’d like to meet this young man who has you questioning things.”
“Maybe you will.” She sighed. “Soon.”
“Hilda stopped by the other day.”
Kristen groaned. “I should have been there.”
“You’d be proud of me.”
“Why?”
“I stood up to her.”
“What happened?”
“She came over and I offered her tea.”
Kristen groaned again, interrupting the story since she knew where it was going. “I’d forgotten about Grandmother’s tea set, the one that Hilda had wanted. What happened?” she asked again, biting her lip as she waited.
“I told her she couldn’t have it.” She heard the pride in her mother’s voice.
“What did she do?” she asked, scooping another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
“She threw a fit.” Her mother laughed. “Then, when I tried to take the cup and saucer from her, she shattered them. So, naturally, I took the rest of them into the other room and locked them away. Then I promised her that she’d never be invited inside my house for tea again.”
“I should have been there,” Kristen said again.
“Honey, I’m fifty-six years old. I’m old enough to fight my own battles.”
By the time she hung up the phone, Kristen was feeling like her mother had changed so much.
Over the past few months, her mother had started selling the jewelry she made online, and Kristen was so proud to hear her talk about how many new orders she had coming in. Enough that she was thinking of hiring a part-time worker to help out.
The story about her aunt had her thinking. A lot. She got up, poured herself a glass of wine and took it back to bed with her just as her phone chimed.
Are you asleep yet? Tyler’s text read.
