by Jill Shalvis
He was amazingly successful, but he'd maxed out at his own place, and Ben's dream was just out of reach.
More land was crucial. Crucial to his promise to Ben, crucial to making sure he couldn't ever feel claustrophobic again.
Yet how was he supposed to wrangle his dream land away from these women who also needed it? It was all they had, and was he really cruel and selfish enough to get it away from them?
He stood there, wrestling with his deeply woven morals and innate courtesy, as they both reared up and bit him. Across the room, his gaze met Zoe's, and that strange electric current shot through him, the same one that he'd experienced when he'd accidentally touched her at the door. Looking at her only intensified the feeling.
Seemed he'd also been bitten by the lust bug, sharp and relentlessly. But why for the wildcat Zoe and not one of her infinitely more appealing and nicer sisters?
Delia swept across the room as if she'd lived there all her life instead of ten minutes. "Zoe, why don't you do me a favor and check out the bedrooms? Figure out the arrangements, will you?" She turned to Maddie. "Sweetie, maybe we should make sure the kitchen is functioning."
Maddie nodded.
When she was gone, Delia smiled at Ty. "The kitchen, any kitchen, is her favorite place in the world."
"Do you think he cares, Delia?"
Delia lifted a shoulder and sent Zoe a long look. "Hon, you're going to get some sleep and then feel bad about how you're acting."
"And then you'll owe me an apology," Ty added helpfully.
"Don't hold your breath," Zoe muttered, making him laugh, which earned him a glare.
"I'll direct the luggage shuffle with Ty," Delia said, wisely intervening. "Most of our things are coming by professional movers in a couple of days."
Ty turned to follow her outside. At the door he stopped and flicked a glance over his shoulder at Zoe.
She was still standing there watching him, and if looks were any measure, she hadn't taken to him much.
It wasn't often he managed to tick off such a beautiful woman so quickly. His mischievous streak reared and he winked at her.
Her glower deepened, and he laughed for some reason. Things looked bad, they had his land. But Ty just shook his head and went out into the night, looking forward to challenging Zoe.
* * *
"Move out of the way, Slim, it's pouring buckets."
Zoe stood firm in the doorway of the ranch house as though butterflies hadn't instantly ravaged her stomach at the sound of Ty's unexpected low, husky voice. "Why should I?"
Ty groaned and lifted his drenched head, shoving back his dark hair. His eyes, the color of the storm wreaking havoc behind him, pierced her. "Because if you don't," he said with silky promise, "I'm going to drag you out here so you can see for yourself how icy it is."
Though she didn't know the man well, she already knew better than to challenge one of his dares, for it appeared he never spoke idly. He would do as he threatened without qualm. "Fine."
With resentment, and a good amount of something she didn't want to analyze, something that made her insides tingle and her head light, she moved back to let him in.
His big body brushed hers purposely, a body she knew from sneaking glances to be hard and toned and powerfully built. And wet. He dripped on her clean sweater, the one she'd just changed into after scrubbing the inside of the house all day.
Actually, she'd been scrubbing for three days, and was exhausted, though in truth, most of that exhaustion came from worry. What would they do? For in the light of day, Triple M, deserted and financially stuck, was no more a ranch than their apartment had been. She'd been reading ranching books until late at night, but all the knowledge in the world wouldn't help without money.
"Wipe your feet," she said, even as he did it on his own. "And dry off, would ya?"
"Nice to see you, too." As he slipped out of his soaked jacket, his hard mouth softened and he shot her a grin she knew most would consider irresistible.
Zoe didn't consider anything about Ty Jackson irresistible. She would have said … cocky. Trouble-causing. Wild.
Which didn't explain why his crooked smile wormed its way directly to the part of her that was barely controlling her temper, and shattered it. That she was so mad at him had nothing at all to do with how she'd caught him flirting outrageously with one of his ranch hands, who just happened to be a woman. A tall, leggy blond woman named Shirley who looked like a Barbie doll.
"So … did you miss me?" He straightened and sniffed hopefully. "Wait. Is that … God, is that pizza?"
"Yes, and don't even think about it." Slamming the door to shut out the late spring storm, she crossed her arms firmly and once again blocked his way. "We returned the rental car today and brought back supplies. Maddie's whipped up homemade pizza. Her idea of roughing it."
"You should have told me you needed to go into town. I would have taken you on my jet boat down the river. It takes less than half the time."
She gritted her teeth and pretended she had loved that long, bumpy, hot ride because otherwise she might have been tempted to slug him. Triple M had a dock, too, which was an easy walk from the house down a beautiful green hill … but, not surprising, it didn't have a jet boat. "Goodbye, Ty."
His gaze took a leisurely trip down her petite frame, and though those sharp gray eyes heated in a way that made her breath catch in her throat, his smile remained cool and in control. "You think you can stop me from coming in? No one gets between me and pizza."
"Watch it, pal. I know how to block."
Darn his all-too-gorgeous hide, he looked amused. "Why don't you play the nice little hostess for once and pretend you're happy to see me?"
Pretend. She didn't have to pretend, if the way her heart raced was any indication. But since that just irked her all the more, she ground her teeth. "You're not staying."
He crossed his wet arms over his chest, the look on his face reminding her he enjoyed a challenge. "Bet I can convince Maddie and Delia different," he said.
No use arguing the truth. The man standing in front of her could convince a nun he was innocent, something he'd certainly never been. After a mere three days, he'd have to do nothing more than hug each of her sisters, and then he'd be sitting on the floor, joking and laughing with them as he polished off an entire pizza by himself.
No denying how much Delia and Maddie had both taken to him. Actually they'd done more than be taken. In the past nights that he'd come by, ostensibly to check on them, they'd practically adopted him.
No doubt, Ty Jackson was one of a kind. He marched to his own beat, and never did less than exactly as he wanted. And though it made no sense, Zoe resented his sexy hide for all she was worth. Resented the genuine, affectionate way he had of treating her sisters, resented how his smile could turn her inside out, resented everything.
Especially how he wanted their land. Delia and Maddie might have been able to forget that little detail, but she hadn't.
For the first time in her life, she had a home; shabby, yes, but it was a home. And she'd guard it with everything she had.
Ty hung up his jacket, clearly certain he'd be staying. The sleek muscles of his back stretched under his shirt, and for the first time, Zoe realized he must have come straight from work. His boots were dusty. His long, powerful legs were covered in frayed, worn jeans that had seen better days but fit him like a worn, soft glove. While she watched, he shoved up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing deeply tanned forearms, strong, firm, callused hands.
"See anything interesting?"
Her gaze jerked up to his laughing one, and she was thankful the room was dim enough to hide her blush. "Don't count on it. But you're holding up okay for an old man of…" She considered him with a frown, feigning indifference. "Forty."
"Thirty-four," he corrected her. He leaned forward, smelling of rain, wood and one hundred percent delicious masculinity as he tugged a loose lock of her hair. "But I'll be sure to tell that to the geriatric warden tonight when I check in
, thanks."
Muttering to herself, she whirled away.
One of his hands caught her and held firm as steel. "Wait up."
His eyes weren't kind and sweet, the way they were when he looked at Delia and Maddie. They were … hot.
"I'm busy," she managed to say.
"I want to talk to you."
"About the land?"
He didn't answer.
"Talk to Maddie and Delia, though their answer will be the same as mine. No, this place isn't for sale." Even if she had no idea what they were going to do for cash. "No, no, no."
His mouth twitched at her adamant tone. "You keep sweet-talking me like this, and I'm going to get ideas."
"Go get ideas about Shirley." She fairly choked on the name of his enthusiastic blond ranch hand and reminded herself she didn't care about him. Not one little bit
He let out a huge grin. "And jealous, too. That's so sweet." His voice lowered, deepened to a rich honey. "Ready to admit it, Zoe? You're hot for me."
"Ha!" She lifted her chin. "I'm too hot for you. Now, go home. You smell like a cowboy."
"I am a cowboy." His eyes glittered knowingly, as if he could see right through her facade to the secret part of her she liked to keep hidden. "And I want to talk to all three of you," he said.
And what Ty wanted, he got. No use trying to fight it, he'd probably just toss her over his shoulder and cart her into the kitchen, where even now she could hear her sisters' voices.
It was pointless to fight with him. So she shrugged in acquiescence and sashayed away. Ty watched, a slow, appreciative smile crossing his face now that she had her back to him. God, she was so easy to bait, and he loved to see her flash all that fire she struggled to contain.
She was something; that compact, hot little body of hers spitting all that attitude, her wild hair falling around her shoulders. A strand slipped in her face, which she tugged at with a low sound of annoyance.
Oh yeah, she was riled up good now.
And while there were other things he might love to do to her as well as tease, Zoe Martin was off-limits. They'd both set those limits three days ago. He'd done so because, despite her innocence in the whole thing, he resented like crazy that she was holding Ben's dream. He was far less certain why she held back from their obvious, unfortunate attraction, though he got a feeling it was because she'd been hurt and betrayed far too much in her short life. It did disturb him to watch her hide her natural sensuality and passion, especially when he knew that sensuality and passion were directed at him.
She concealed them behind a wall of indifference that exasperated him. Which was why he so enjoyed the bickering; it pulled her out of her shell and revealed the true Zoe.
But she was a weakness, one he didn't have time for.
He'd come to a decision. One that would solve this problem once and for all. He was going to do exactly as Constance had asked. He would manage this place for them. It meant getting the ranch running from nothing. It would take money, hard work and grit, none of which he was even sure they had.
Truth was, he was banking on them not having it. As soon as they saw how much was involved, he figured the city girls would be happy to sell—to him—and head back to Los Angeles.
Nobody would get hurt; they'd go home and he would fulfill his promise to his brother. Perfect. Hoping it worked, Ty followed the tantalizing scent of food, and the equally tantalizing scent of Zoe Martin.
* * *
"Go ahead, Ty, you take that last piece." Maddie held out the pan and smiled at him. He smiled back because it had taken her these entire three days just to feel comfortable enough to speak easily to him, and he felt relieved she'd decided to trust him.
Relieved and guilty, because he didn't deserve their trust when he wanted them to leave so badly.
The mouth-watering aroma of melted cheese and sausage continued to call to him. But he'd had four pieces already, and he hadn't come to eat them out of house and home.
"You know you want it," Delia teased him.
They'd had an instant connection, he and Delia. A brother-sister connection that had them immediately bonded. And now he'd bonded with Maddie as well, their relationship was softer, more gentle than the teasing one he and Delia shared.
He wanted to resent these women, and did. But some of that resentment was fading, no matter how he struggled to hold on to it.
God, he missed Ben. He supposed that would never change. But how to keep his dream alive without hurting these women?
Maddie was a haunting beauty, with huge wide eyes that just made a man want to drown in them and offer to slay dragons. Those eyes held secrets, painful ones, and he wondered at them. Delia was tall and slender, a glamour girl. Intelligent, too, with a wicked sense of humor he got a kick out of. And in her eyes was a need to belong. Well, she belonged now, to the ranch he wanted for himself.
Then there was Zoe. She was different from her sisters, far different. He wasn't satisfied by anything so simple as friendship, and he didn't understand it.
"Eat," Maddie said to him again, gesturing with the box. "You've lost weight."
Zoe snorted.
He ignored Zoe and winked at Maddie. She held the pan patiently.
His stomach growled.
Oh, what the hell. He took the piece, studying the third sister, the one who didn't easily fit into any simple category.
Did she feel the same way about him? Hard to tell since she hid everything going on inside that head behind a screen of grumpy indifference.
She wiggled uncomfortably under his scrutiny, then finally swallowed a bit of pizza before demanding, "What are you looking at?"
"You."
She flushed, fidgeted some more, giving herself away. "Why?"
He simply grinned and continued eating, undisturbed, relaxing now that he knew the truth … she was secretly crazy about him.
A comfortable silence filled the room as they ate. They were all sitting on the freshly cleaned living room floor, before a warm, crackling fire, eating picnic-style.
That they didn't have four chairs in the kitchen wasn't the point. The sisters just loved being together, and they were willing to share that with him—and he wanted their one and only possession for himself.
"I didn't come to eat," he said quietly, putting down his pizza.
"Really," Zoe said dryly, brushing off her hands. "I never would have guessed." Her eyes sharpened on him. "You being here wouldn't by any chance have anything to do with you wanting this land, would it?"
* * *
Chapter 3
« ^ »
"Zoe, be nice," Maddie said lightly. She swiveled her head, her short, dark hair flying around her face, her dark, deep eyes warm with affection as she spoke to Ty. "She's a bully today because that jerk at the bank in Lewiston didn't hire her." She looked at Zoe again and reached for her sister's hand. "He just didn't recognize a treasure when he found one, that's all."
Zoe swallowed, closed her eyes for a long heartbeat, clearly touched, and just as clearly uncomfortable with Maddie's easy love.
Ty's curiosity upped a notch, so did a strange sense of protectiveness. The drive to Lewiston was long and never easy in the best of times. "Why did you want a job there? It's too far for you to drive it every day."
Zoe recovered from Maddie's affection in the blink of an eye and looked at him as if he were something she'd scraped off the bottom of her shoe. "It's funny how expensive this habit of eating is."
"I wish you wouldn't, Zoe," Delia said quietly. "We'll find a way. We'll sell something, or get a loan."
"Delia's right," Maddie insisted. "We'll make it work together or not at all."
Ty watched the three of them, felt their closeness as a tangible thing.
And it was, he reminded himself. These women were family. They were closer than family, for they'd chosen to be related. He'd chosen to be unrelated to the family he had left. It'd been for a good reason, that reason being survival basically, but the fact remained. He ha
d no one.
God, he missed Ben.
Drawing in a deep breath, he realized the truth he'd only guessed at before. These women couldn't afford to get the ranch going, but they were too stubborn to give up. They might never leave and sell him the land. There was only one thing to do.
"I came here tonight to talk to all of you," he said. Zoe frowned, Maddie's brow wrinkled in worry. Delia sat calmly, waiting. Typical, he thought. The pessimist, the worrier, the cool one. Already, they were worming their way into his affections. He couldn't stand the thought of any of them being hurt.
That it was him trying to hurt them was unbearable. "I'd like to be your partner," he said.
That was met with stunned silence.
"You're already manager," Zoe said suspiciously.
And how she hated that. "This would be different. I'd be an equal partner. I'd share the losses."
"And the profits," she pointed out.
"Well, yes."
They all stared at him, three pairs of wide eyes, as if he'd lost his marbles.
"Hey, this is a good thing, ladies," he said, smiling into their pensive silence. "You want a ranch. You don't have the needed capital. I do. It would give you money to survive on until you got your stock built up through purchases and breeding."
"Wait a minute. Did you say breeding?" Delia carefully set down her drink. "Here?"
She said breeding as if it were a four-letter word, and it made Ty laugh. Delia was a city girl, born and bred. Los Angeles was her playground. Hell, she probably did think breeding was a bad word.
Once upon a time he had felt stifled in a city, claustrophobic. Chicago was a place where one couldn't even turn around without bumping elbows with a neighbor, and he had resented that. Ben had, too, and for as long as he could remember, Ty had wanted out.
He needed open space. Fresh air. His own land, lots of it.
What he needed was their land.
"And you have enough money just lying around that you could lend it to us," Zoe said, with serious doubt.
"Yes." He hadn't gotten it by inheritance, that much was certain. His mother had been a whore, his father a career criminal. He didn't have any relatives who would leave him a time bomb, much less something of value. He'd simply been very successful at raising and training horses, investing his profits wisely, making the most of what he'd earned.
