“Of course I like them.”
“Good. Because there’s more.”
“More what?”
He took her by the hand and pulled her toward his wagon. They circled around back and he heard her gasp. “Oh, William!” She stared at the back of the wagon, which was filled with wildflowers. Heavens, how long did it take you to gather all these?”
He shrugged. “Shufflin’ the cargo to make room for extra water was a bigger challenge. But you are more than worth it.”
His chest felt warm and tight when she squeezed his hand. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say they’ve made you happy and I’ll be fine as cream gravy.”
Instead, she threw her arms around his neck. He wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but soon their lips met in an electric rush. William thought he knew how badly he’d missed this, but now he realized he’d been literally starved for Kate’s touch. The kiss shot heat through his gut and stirred a pulse of longing through his groin. Her scent intoxicated his already muddled brain, and his hands ached to roam her slender curves. The very thought of her silken flesh beneath him stiffened his cock further, but he gripped her shoulders firmly to stifle the temptation. His tongue found hers and awakened sensitive nerves along his spine, making him shiver despite the taxing heat of the day. He moaned against her lips, wanting so much more of her. With some effort he pulled away, and smiled at her expression of obvious protest.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said. “But we shouldn’t be doin’ this. Your pa’s probably watchin’.”
Her eyes widened as if she’d forgotten they were in view of the house. She glanced over his shoulder and swallowed.
“Don’t tell me,” he said. “Your pa’s behind me right now with a shotgun pointed at my back?” He was only half joking.
She shook her head. “He’s not watching. Besides, I think he’s warming up to you.”
He arched a brow. “Really? You mean he’s stopped mutterin’ about that ‘no-good rancher upstart?’”
“Not exactly. But he says it less often and with a lot less vinegar.”
“Seems I can wear him down by my absence.” He stroked a finger along her cheek. “Too bad that’s not what I had in mind.”
She licked her lips, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from risking another passionate kiss. Even if her pa wasn’t staring daggers through the window, he would barely be able to walk if his cock grew any harder. As it was, when she turned away to head toward the house he had to adjust the erection pushing against the seam of his trousers.
“Would you like to come in?” she said.
“I wish I could, but I can’t stay.”
“Oh.”
He heard the clear disappointment. “Another time soon, I promise.” He ducked around the brim of her bonnet to place a kiss on her forehead. “Assumin’ your pa will let me through the door. Has everythin’ been okay here?”
She shrugged, but without conviction. “Just the usual chores and tending to Pa. Went on a couple hoss doc calls. That’s where I just came from, actually.”
“Clyde’s doing better?”
She smiled. “Much. Thanks again for letting him stay at your place that first week.”
“You’re welcome. Though I don’t figure he was too grateful.”
“Bosh. Mainly I think he was afraid to stick around long enough to realize he likes you.”
William took her hand and stroked the back of it with his calloused thumb, marveling at her delicate, silken skin. “I’m sorry to leave so fast, but I need to get back. I barely rode in afore comin’ out here. Jack will like to about have a fit if I don’t help get things situated at the ranch.”
She smiled, almost too bright. “You better not keep him waiting. I’m flattered that you came to see me so soon, though.” She hesitated. “How is Jack?”
“He misses you.”
Her sensual blue eyes widened. “He told you that?”
“Not in those words. But he mentioned you hadn’t been around to visit him, with a rather annoyed tone.”
“Tell him I’m sorry. I’ve had my hands full. Plus, I just didn’t feel right riding out there with you away.”
William eyed her carefully. “You know you’re welcome at the ranch anytime.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “And I do care for Jack a lot. I thought about him almost as much as I did you.” His stomach twinged when she hesitated, as though deciding whether to confess something. What? That she loved Jack and not him?
She licked her lips. “Please don’t tell Jack this, but I don’t trust myself to be there alone with him and have nothing happen between us.”
He frowned. Guess his sudden fear wasn’t far off the mark. “You made it very clear that you want things kept respectable, and Jack knows it as well as I do. He wouldn’t push you for more than you wanted. You can trust him.”
“But do I trust myself? I have to stick to those rules, too.” She smoothed her skirt and stared at the dirt. “And I’m not always certain I can.”
His stomach clenched at the admission.
“Can I confess something else, between you and me?”
He had to clear his throat to push words past sudden dryness. “Of course.”
The demure look she cast from beneath long lashes made him long to taste her again, to kiss her long and hard so she would forget she was about to choose Jack over him. “I didn’t want to risk something happening with Jack, in part because I want to act less shameful around you two. I’ve caused trouble enough with that.”
“Partly,” he said.
She nodded and took a deep breath. “But mostly I didn’t want to be tempted because I’d feel I was being unfaithful to you.”
He gave a small laugh. “I have a confession then, too.”
She stiffened. “What’s that?”
“He offered me his company a couple of times, but I didn’t take him up on it because I wanted to stay true to you, too.” A sigh escaped her lips as he went on. “I know it sounds crazy, considerin’ what we’ve all done. I know I’m feelin’ somethin’ new for Jack, and I admit that it’s somethin’ I want to explore. But I want to explore it with you involved. If that’s all right.”
She nodded. “I feel the exact same way.”
He heaved a sigh of relief. She still cared for him. William doffed his hat with a smile. “Good. Then may I call on you Saturday, Miss Marsh?”
Kate’s stomach fluttered, and she batted her eyelashes. “Why, I’d be delighted, Mr. Tyler.”
He cleared his throat. “When I was up in the city at auction, I found out about a new courtin’ tradition. It’s called datin’.”
She raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“It’s when folks don’t sit around and visit in a lady’s parlor.”
Kate snorted. “That sounds right sensible, since I don’t have a parlor. Where do they sit?”
“They go out.” He hesitated, wondering whether to chase a lost cause her pa would never permit. “I’d like to take you to dinner. In town.”
Her jaw fell. “What, the two of us alone? Would Jack be there?”
The astonishment in her voice sent a chuckle from his throat. “No, just me. Both of us would be harder to explain.”
“You and I alone would be scandal enough.”
“It wouldn’t exactly be the first time you’ve been alone with me.”
Her hand went to her throat. “I know, but there’s a difference between sneaking out to help tame mustangs and going out to dinner together in public.”
She wasn’t quite grasping what he’d intended, but he couldn’t help but play along. “It’s what folks are doin’ now up in the city.”
“This isn’t hardly the city.” She glanced off into space, and he wondered where her thoughts had gone. Still staring off she said, “I think I’ve raised enough brows around here lately.”
“I plan to ask your pa to come along. If you think he’d be up to playin’ chaperone.”
That brought her attention back. “Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Oh. Well, guess there’s only one way to find out.” She gestured to the house. “Good luck when you ask him.”
He shot her a guilty smile. “I’ll ask soon, I promise. But I can’t now. I really do have to get back.” William threw a glance at the back of the wagon and turned back with a shrug. “Maybe I shouldn’t have brought so many flowers. I didn’t think on how you’d manage to fit all of ’em into vases. Should I take these back with me?”
She gathered some up in her arms. “Don’t you do any such thing. I’ll manage just fine, don’t you worry about that.”
To prove her point, she made sure every last blossom came off the wagon before he rode off. She stood outside while he left, waving after. A smile stayed lassoed to his face all the way back, along with an occasional laugh at Kate’s final words. She told him she’d find room for every last flower, even if she had to stuff her mattress full of daisies to do it.
Chapter Ten
“No. Forget it. It’s here or nowhere—and yer lucky I’m givin’ you that much.”
Kate smirked at William’s spot-on impression of her pa and the answer he’d given when William had finally gotten around to asking to take Clyde and Kate out to dinner.
She still couldn’t believe they were here, together, having dinner like a married couple. She’d never had a meal out in a restaurant before, but apparently she was one of a rare few. Maddy’s Hotel and Restaurant was doing a brisk business, with most of the tables seated with travelers and hungry townsfolk. The large, yet simple room was brightly lit, with blue-checkered tablecloths to add cheer. Mealtime sounds filled the air—clinking dinnerware, the hum of conversation, and occasional spurts of laughter. The proprietor herself was quite a showpiece, her arms perpetually laden with plates while she wove expertly through the crowd. Despite her bustled skirt, she never bumped a single table.
Though Kate’s first “restaurant” meal was an experience by itself, she couldn’t help but focus more on her escort than the surroundings. William had shined up mighty nice for the occasion, even more so than he had for the barn dance. She could barely take her eyes off her handsome companion. The fancy new brown Stetson he’d bought in the city hung near the door. His hair shone under the hanging lamps, and the green of his rough cotton straight-necked shirt brought out the color of his eyes until her pulse sped from their brilliance. His black bolo tie was fastened with a silver clasp shaped like a longhorn steer. He wore new black denims to match. Kate was wearing the same blue frock William had seen her in at the barn dance. She hadn’t even fussed as much over her hair this time as she had on that night. Well, that wasn’t true, exactly—she had tried to fuss. Her hair simply hadn’t cooperated. It refused to be tamed into anything near human until she lashed it back into a pair of braids coiled at the nape of her neck.
William shook his head, still chuckling at his imitation of Clyde Marsh while he cut into a chicken-fried steak slathered with gravy. “I still can’t believe your father let you come out with me alone after all the bellowin’ he did when I brought it up. I never thought he’d change his mind.”
She flicked her gaze down to her own plate. “Pa can be a difficult man to understand.”
The food she was trying to swallow had a tough time getting past the lump in her throat. William kept bringing the conversation back to this topic, and she couldn’t blame him. After all, it was a huge about-face to go from having the idea of dinner tossed completely out the door to Kate being allowed on this “date” without a chaperone. At least William’s surprise gave her something to focus on besides the warming, hypnotic effect of his eyes whenever they landed on her. All the other gazes that kept slipping over to their table were distraction enough, as were the murmurs she imagined had her name attached. This had not been a smart idea, for several reasons.
She tried to ignore William’s piercing stare while they chewed.
“Kate,” he said.
She made herself busy poking through her bowl to spear tender bites of carrot.
“Kate?” His voice came louder this time.
She stuffed a forkful of vegetables in her mouth to avoid answering. “Mm?”
“Your pa did let you come out with me, right?”
She tried to go for another mouthful, but he reached out and put a hand on her wrist. “Right?”
With a sigh, she shrugged. She couldn’t keep up an outright lie. Not with William. He was the man she would lie for, not to.
His brow knit. “He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”
She shook her head. “He thinks I’m on an animal doctoring call.”
William groaned. “So that’s why you insisted that the ‘two of you’ would meet me at the ranch, rather than lettin’ me pick you up at your place.”
“That’s not the only reason,” she said. “It would have been out of your way to go out to my place and then double back.”
He put a hand to his forehead. “I should have known when you showed up by yourself.”
She remained silent, fixing her gaze up at the ornate gas light chandeliers with fancy brass fixtures hanging from two spots on the ceiling.
His voice dropped to a whispered hiss that brought her gaze back. “Are you insane? He’s sore as a hornet with me already. If he finds out, he’ll have me tarred and feathered.”
She cut him off. “He won’t find out.”
William glanced around at the many gazes still regarding the pair of them with far too much interest. “Oh, really? What possible chance do you think there is that this bit of gossip won’t get back to him?”
She huffed and tugged the bodice of her blue dress. “Fine. So he’ll hear about it. I’ll deal with him when he does.”
“If you’ll recall, the last time he heard gossip about us he decided to come deal with me.”
A stab of guilt hit its mark. “I know.”
His voice raised a hair, though she could tell he was struggling to keep it low enough to where their rapt audience wouldn’t know something was amiss. “What were you thinkin’?”
Good question. What had she been thinking? She had thought plenty before taking the leap, but maybe she’d stopped five minutes short of the smart choice. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I just didn’t want to wait two more months before hearing from you again. I thought I’d try this dating thing of yours rather than have you forget about me.”
Now it was his turn to look guilty. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy, Kate. I’ve tried to keep in touch. Things are really takin’ off at the ranch. Jack and I have been workin’ double hard. It’s for your benefit, too, you know. I’d hoped you’d understand.”
“I do understand.” She chased a pearl onion around with her fork, gave up, and laid the flatware down on her bowl. “But that doesn’t make it any easier to go without seeing you for so long.”
He sighed and offered a smile. “It isn’t easy for me, either. I’ve really been lookin’ forward to tonight. By the way, Jack’s about ready to bust a gut if he doesn’t get to see his best girl soon.”
“I’m sorry he couldn’t be here.”
“You twig why we couldn’t do that, right?”
She laughed. “Two single gentlemen escorting me alone to dinner? Yes, I quite understand.”
William sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Still, I think I’ll leave fancy trends to the city folk for a while. Next time, I’ll visit you at your Pa’s.”
“Agreed.” She reached up to finger the flower petals nestling against your shoulder. “But I rather like some of the trends you discovered. Like these.”
He nodded. “I found out corsage bouquets are popular nowadays when escortin’ a lady out for a date.”
“It’s a lovely idea.” She eyed the delicate cluster of tiny flowers and smiled. “Although I should feel guilty that you have been severely depleting the flower supply around here on my account.”
“A willin’ sacrifice on their part, for one s
o lovely.”
She felt her cheeks flush. “And here I thought you’d spent all your time in the city at a dusty auction talking bull prices. Instead, I find out you were studying up on city courting practices.”
“A few of the men brought lady folk along on dates.”
She wrinkled her nose. “To a cattle auction?”
He shrugged. “Dates happen at all sorts of places. Not that there’s much to do here in Tanner’s Grove. Guess some gals like the excitement of all that livestock and hard biddin’.”
“Hm. I suppose I could see the attraction.” She glanced around the room and frowned. “And at auction it’d be easier to blend in without drawing quite so much attention.”
“In the city, courtin’ couples out together alone isn’t worth attention these days.” He shot a look at a pair of eyes Kate had been doing her best to ignore. “Speakin’ of attention, Caleb Tanner hasn’t scraped his eyes off you since we came in.”
She bristled at hearing the name. “You know him?”
“Mostly by reputation. He and his family tried to buy me out a few years back, too.”
“They wanted your ranch?”
He snorted. “The way they put it was they were generously offerin’ to help get me out from under the burden.” He sighed. “Until this past year, there were times I wondered whether I should have taken ’em up on it.”
“But you didn’t, and you’re turning things around.” She smiled. “Your uncle would be proud.”
“In any case, I’m not sure I care for the way Caleb’s starin’ at you.”
She glanced sidelong. Caleb Tanner’s crisp white shirt and slicked-back hair couldn’t quite manage to refine him into a clean, proper man. There was just something inherently unkempt about him, like a dog with severe mange that still tried to groom its fur. She turned away from the almost mocking expression he shot her and sipped the coffee that was brewed a bit strong for her taste. “He and I have had dealings of our own, too.”
William’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of dealin’s?”
“Remember the day you and I first met, when I was a girl?” William nodded. “Turns out Mr. Tanner was the one who was chasing me.”
To Tame a Wild Mustang Page 15
