“Ladies, judging by the way Anders Wolf just parked illegally and jaywalked in front of Shane Highwater with a flash of that famous dimpled smile and straight white teeth Axel’s rodeo earnings no doubt paid for, Tinsley Underhill is already spoken for.”
“He does look so handsome,” one lady commented. “Just like his daddy before…well,” she sniffed and coughed and looked away. “Before.”
“Oh look, Anders is practically running,” another woman commented. “And nearly dented the bumper of Gage Granger’s jeep trying to beat it across the street.”
“We have a crosswalk,” another woman sniffed.
“He’s carrying flowers—lilacs and white hydrangeas. Interesting choice.” Minna looked at Tinsley, as if she were responsible for the flower selection, and she felt that assessment down to her boots.
Flowers? Anders had brought her flowers after disappearing for a day and a half and giving her the space she’d wanted and then, ridiculously, had chafed about.
She should be the one apologizing and bearing gifts. And she had to convince him not to quit riding. Although part of her wanted him to. She’d gotten a thrill watching him on the back of a bull before, but now that he was hers, she felt a little sick thinking about what could go wrong.
He is not yours.
Sheesh. She was being brainwashed by Catalina and Cruz.
And why did the type of flowers matter?
“It’s probably what the florist had available,” Tinsley said, determined to not get caught up in Minna and her posse’s speculation.
The noise Minna made was as impressive as it was dismissive.
“Are you going to pour this mystery wine or just clutch it?” Minna asked. “No need to feign disinterest in Anders. You could do a lot worse. Hard workers. All of them. Intense too. Never saw a man more in love with his wife than their daddy with Elizabeta. She fell apart when they lost their little boy, and he never recovered from losing her a few months later. That’s a Wolf trait. Those men fall in love once, and it’s to their bones. Romantic, but not practical.”
Minna held out her glass and looked pointedly at the wine and then at Tinsley. “So my question to you, miss, is what do you intend to do about it?”
“I…ahhh…ummmm…”
What could she say? He didn’t love her. He only wanted to marry her because of the baby. But she could hardly claim that they weren’t…yuck, she hated using the word involved. It sounded like a business deal.
Tinsley chewed on her lower lip.
She couldn’t keep the baby a secret forever. She just hadn’t really counted on such an avid audience.
“You might want to close your mouth, dear,” Minna advised just as Anders opened the door back with a little too much force.
“Hey, Tinz.” He stopped, his eyes rounded and his mouth formed an O in comic dismay. “I thought you were opening this weekend.”
“I scheduled a special tasting for Minna and her friends.”
“Ma’am.” Anders swept his hat from his head and all but bowed. Tinsley was charmed, and she had to dig deep to keep anything from showing on her face. He’d taken off without saying goodbye, she reminded herself.
Get used to that.
He was going to end up hating her.
Anders greeted each woman by name and said something personal or asked about a family member. It was clear they were thrilled to see him. They all knew about his career and how well he was doing.
Tinsley poured Catalina’s Oregon Pinot Noir.
“Cup the bowl of the glass with your hands to give it a hint of warmth,” she advised. “And then you want to swirl the wine in your glass to bathe it in oxygen.”
She could feel Anders staring at her, and she tried—really tried—to ignore him, but she could have more easily ignored a square of rich, dark chocolate oozing with warmed caramel with a dash of Himalayan sea salt on tip waved under her nose.
“Now inhale. On the nose, you catch a hint of strawberry and fresh red cherries,” Tinsley said softly.
Catalina had run her through tasting the wines several times, even teaching her how to subtly spit so that she could taste what was going on with the wine without drinking, and Tinsley had memorized the tasting notes and the virtues of each of the wines Verflucht offered. She’d made a notebook with information so that she could train the two or three tasting room staff employees she hoped to hire within the next couple of weeks.
“Now take a small sip and swish it around your mouth,” Tinsley said. She knew not to ask them what they tasted. “Wine” had been the answer before, but the way most of the women were staring at her and Anders, who’d positioned himself opposite from her across the round table, she was afraid they were more focused on the possibility of a romance than the wine.
Anders held the flowers like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to arrive in a room full of octogenarians and beyond with a massive bouquet. Did anything throw him off his game?
Well her baby announcement had, and instead of feeling angry and humiliated about the memory, she had to stifle the urge to laugh. Too bad no one had caught her dumping whiskey on his head with their cell phone. August could hang side-by-side pictures in his whiskey bar.
“You might taste some early season raspberry, a touch of pipe tobacco and then a bit of spice on the finish.”
The women swished and swallowed and nodded.
“Anders Wolf, when are you going to give her the flowers and ask for forgiveness?” Minna put her empty glass down.
“Thought I’d let my girl finish her job first, ma’am.” He smiled. “Didn’t want to interrupt your tasting experience.”
“Which you did by barging in,” Minna said.
“Noted, ma’am. I admit, I was too excited to wait to see Tinsley.” Anders grinned in such an engaging, aw-shucks, how can I help myself way that she found herself staring at him smiling like a besotted idiot.
She scrunched her face to rearrange her features, but judging by his answering smile, it wasn’t in time.
“But I do need to be doing some measuring, ladies,” he said suddenly as if remembering.
“For a tux,” one sighed.
Tinsley nearly dropped the bottle.
“Hopefully, soon she’ll make an honest man out of me.” He winked at her, and she had an impulse to bean him over the head with the bottle—not an auspicious start to what wasn’t even really an official first day.
“Not quite that romantic. I am measuring for a pizza oven. Tinsley wants one for the tasting room and wine bar guests, and I’m going to build it for her.”
That met with a lot of murmurs of approval.
“You?” She couldn’t help her outburst.
“Yup. I Googled directions.”
“I love a man who’s good with his hands.” One of Minna’s friends sighed.
“And one who can follow directions is even rarer,” Minna said, sitting forward and giving Anders a stern look.
He didn’t even flinch.
“Can you show me where you want the pizza oven?” he asked so earnestly that Tinsley almost believed he really wanted to design one for the tasting room.
“Out on the patio. You should see how much Catalina and I got done.”
“I heard.”
She winced a little and then realized that he didn’t sound judgmental and there was no censure on his face.
“Would you mind if I steal your host for a few minutes, ladies?” he asked, all sweetness and light.
“Take your time.” A couple of the women waved him on as if they were in charge.
“Anders, I’m in the middle of a tasting,” she said, keeping her voice low and her face serene.
Someday that Oscar will be mine.
“Two minutes,” he said appealingly, and she could feel her resistance untether.
“That’s all you got?” Minna demanded. “I’m deeply disappointed, Anders Wolf.”
“Well, he is a bull rider, Minna. Maybe he’s speedy at ever
ything,” another woman chimed in.
Anders turned bright red, and Tinsley laughed.
“I’ll show you the patio,” she said, tucking Catalina’s pinot against her body and taking his arm. “And perhaps rescue your reputation.”
“You’re supposed to be in Tulsa. You’re usually scheduled to show up at different sponsor events on Thursdays,” she said. “You’re cutting it crazy close, Anders.”
“You didn’t think I’d leave without saying goodbye to my girl.” He handed her the flowers and lightly kissed her cheek. Then he rolled back the door to the outside and did a double take.
“Seriously, you and Catalina did this?”
“There were a lot of minions.” Tinsley surveyed the patio with pride.
“I missed you,” he said.
“You did? But you left.”
And he was leaving again.
“I was pushing you too hard,” he said. “I don’t want be a jerk, Tinz, one of those guys who always has to get their way. I’m not like that. I just…this is all new to me, and I’m trying too hard, but keep effing up—” He broke off as she pressed her finger to his lips.
“I was a bitch,” she said. “I hate that I was mean. I don’t want to be like that either.” She searched his eyes and gave him more. “My mom was like that. Cold. Critical. I don’t want to ever be like that.”
They stared at each other. His eyes were so blue, and the way the late morning sun slanted across the patio threw the hollows under his cheekbones into stark relief. She tangled her fingers with his before she realized she was doing it.
“Baby, I’m sorry,” he said, bringing their joined hands up to his mouth and kissing her knuckles.
“I’m sorry too,” she said quickly and tried to pull her hand away, a bit embarrassed by her spontaneous show of affection.
They weren’t a couple.
But man oh man, he was beautiful, and when he wasn’t bossing her and when he was looking at her as if she could fly, she almost felt like anything was possible.
“I wish I hadn’t left.” He murmured the words and brushed his lips back and forth along her ear. Her breath caught, and she shivered even though it was in the mid-seventies. “I wasted a day I could have spent with you.”
“Why did you?” she asked, wondering if he’d give her the truth.
“I needed to get my head on straight,” he said. “I’ve been discussing some investment and business opportunities with Kane Wilder.”
Tinsley felt like she’d swallowed a block of ice.
“Why?” she whispered.
“I can’t ride forever. Don’t want to think like that, but…”
“Then don’t,” she said quickly, putting one hand on his chest. “You have time. You don’t need to decide anything now.”
He covered her hand with his.
“I want to kiss you.”
“Anders.” Her breathy objection was no objection. “It’s a seven-hour drive.”
“I got a brother with a plane and a bored pilot, so I just had to ask my spoiled brat of a brother if he’d do his equally spoiled brother a solid.” His mouth was so close she just had to tilt her head and stand on her tiptoes.
She breathed him in, and her heart flipped over. Anders might come home more often.
Home.
The word sounded so right and alien at the same time.
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
“I’m going to kiss you back.”
And then Tinsley was in his arms. Her fingers curled in his hair and before she could think about the ramifications of kissing him, her lips met his. She’d always loved kissing him—the way he tasted, felt and the way his mouth moved over hers so expertly. He kissed her lips again then her cheek and slowly down the side of her neck. She tilted her head to give him better access.
“Stay safe,” she whispered. Her hands rested on his shoulders. She knew they had things to say. Apologies. Promises. Explanations. So much. But with the sun warming her shoulders and his hands and mouth bringing her to life all she wanted to do was feel.
“Intend to. I’ll be back Sunday morning.”
“Really?” The flush of pleasure that moved through her should have scared the snot out of her. Instead she deepened the kiss and slid her hand from his shoulder into his back pocket and squeezed his tight ass.
He murmured his pleasure and pulled her closer so she could feel the hard length of his reaction. She sighed into his mouth, forgetting her rules and her concerns. She looked around for a place to put down the wine and the flowers so she could hold on to him with both hands, because what he was doing felt sinfully delicious and she didn’t want to miss a second.
“Anders Wolf, what you are measuring has nothing to do with a pizza oven.” Minna’s acerbic voice made both of them jump.
She held out her hand and Tinsley blinked at her, confused.
“I’ll take that bottle of wine, dear. It was our favorite, and my friends and I are going to finish it off. August can put it on my tab.”
“Your tab?” Tinsley struggled to get her mind back on work and off of the cowboy whose kiss and touch had lit a fire even Minna’s unexpected interruption had barely banked.
“The tab I am starting. I’ve decided I like the idea of having a tasting room in town. I like you. And I like wine, and if August has any objections to me running a tab and becoming the first member of his wine club he can drive out to the house and discuss it with me personally.”
Anders stifled a laugh, and Minna’s gaze swung to him.
“You have something to say, young man?”
“Actually, ma’am,” Anders said, “I’d like to treat you and your friends to that bottle of wine and another if you have a designated driver.”
“My grandson is leaving the paper at noon to take his lunch and drive us all home. Thank you, Anders, for your kind offer. Now carry on.” Minna’s eyes twinkled, and she snagged the wine from Tinsley’s fingers and all but marched back into the tasting room.
“Carry on?” Tinsley repeated.
“I and the rest of the town have learned that it’s best to not disappoint Minna,” Anders said. “And I definitely want to remind you what you’ll be missing while I’m away.”
*
Anders waved goodbye to August’s pilot, who had his own car parked at the Gillespie County Airport. He winced at the pain that clawed up his left side, from his hip to his shoulder, when he climbed in his truck. The ibuprofen hadn’t done jack to cut the pain, but since he knew he’d be driving, he hadn’t dared accept more than that. Although he had allowed himself one shot of whiskey the minute he’d climbed on board.
Stupid fall. He’d ridden Brawler in Tucson last year and he’d pulled the same acrobatic handstand move—left twist and head toss back like he was in a Beyoncé video. Anders hadn’t been prepared. Why? He hadn’t reviewed Brawler’s rides. Why? Looking at engagement rings online on Blue Diamond and Tiffany’s. And then he’d researched more about breeding bucking bull operations. He’d talked to the stock contractors more about how they’d set up their breeding programs than about the actual bulls he was about to climb on the back of and risk his life riding.
Distractions were beyond dumb.
He’d known that before high school.
Worse, he’d been in first place. By five points. Not all that common. All he’d had to do was stick the ride. But no!
He’d lost his focus. Lost his seat. Lost the buckle. Lost the prize money. And his pride had taken as hard a hit as the left side of his body.
He was damn lucky that when he’d hit, he’d instinctively tucked, rolled and hopped to his feet. He’d been over the fence before his brain had registered the pain, and Brawler had continued strutting around tossing his head in a victory dance while the crowd, after a collective shocked groan, had been silent.
Not what he was used to. And pulling such a rookie move burned.
He was lucky his body and his pride were the only things bruised.
&n
bsp; And that was why I didn’t want a relationship.
He still didn’t. Messed with his head. And his scores. And financial goals.
The turn-off for the ranch was in a few more miles. Going home made the most sense. It was late. But he had a key to Tinsley’s.
He could sleep on the couch and talk to her in the morning before work. He knew he should be pulling in more hours on the ranch since he was home. He wasn’t going to slack off just because he’d been an idiot and was banged up. He’d even forced his screaming body to stand on his balance ball for an hour of the flight. It had been beyond difficult, but he’d wanted to remind himself that he needed to maintain focus always.
Ranch or home? Tinsley wasn’t expecting him, and he didn’t want to scare her, but he had to come to some sort of agreement or truce with her. He had to figure out why she erected so many walls. Was it about him or something or someone else?
He swore under his breath and turned up the radio. He knew so little about her. His fault. He hadn’t bothered. She’d been beautiful and sexy and a lot of fun. That had been all he’d ever looked for in a woman, yet in a wife, he wanted so much more. But the things he thought he’d wanted, well, he wasn’t sure what those were anymore.
Tinsley and the baby had tied him and his brain up in knots.
And until he figured it out, he’d be risking life and limb and taking more falls off rank bulls. It was too close to the long break before the finals. He couldn’t eff up like tonight and expect to stay on top of the leaderboard. His sponsors didn’t want a mediocre bull rider selling their crap, and the AEBR management team wouldn’t put him on promotional material if he wasn’t reliable in one of the top spots.
The rumors that Kane might retire this year had blown up, and Anders, three years younger and a whole lot hungrier, was next in the line of succession.
He actually stopped his truck in the middle of the road. It was near midnight. Home or Tinsley? Another twenty-minute drive held little appeal, but neither did the couch. Anders tapped his fingers on his steering wheel.
Damn.
Women.
He drove into Last Stand. Killed the headlights before he pulled into a parking spot up front. He grabbed his duffel bag, locked his truck and quietly unlocked the tasting room door, kicked off his boots to make less noise.
A Baby for the Texas Cowboy Page 14
