Hot Holiday Rancher

by Catherine Mann

  That second’s distraction was all it took for Zoe and Nathan to tackle Tatiana while Jesse pushed the two sisters out of the way of any potential gunfire. A single shot went wild and shattered the stained glass.

  Then silence.

  Sulfur from the gunfire tinged the air.

  Adrenaline burned through Ryder as he braced a hand against the wall to keep from sinking to his knees in relief. Angela was safe. Thank God, she was safe. Only a couple of strides away.

  “My daughter,” Tatiana whimpered as Zoe handcuffed her, reading Tatiana her rights. Glass crunched under their feet on the way out, Tatiana’s sobs growing fainter.

  But Ryder didn’t have the least bit of sympathy for her and didn’t intend to waste so much as a single thought for her. His focus was on Angela, barely registering Nathan and Jesse helping Esme to her feet.

  Ryder reached for Angela, hauling her close, his heart slamming against his rib cage. “Thank God you’re all right. I was so damn scared when I couldn’t reach you.”

  The memory of that interminable drive to the club sucker punched him all over again. He knew with certainty he loved this woman deeply.

  “How did you know where to find me? Find us?” Angela looked over at Esme deep in conversation with Nathan Battle. Her sister’s arms moved in sweeping gestures, no doubt recounting the story of how they’d wound up at gunpoint. A story he, too, wanted to hear.

  An unexpected distance gaped between Esme and Jesse. Maybe they hadn’t been as close as everyone thought and it had only been a fling.

  Ryder buried his face against the top of Angela’s head and breathed in the scent of her shampoo, like an exotic flower. “You left your note with the address and time at your place.”

  “I’m so glad you made it in time,” she whispered, trembling in his arms. “I really believe she would have killed my sister and me.”

  And if Melinda hadn’t discovered that little scrap of paper, he could have lost Angela forever, a blow his heart couldn’t have withstood. How could he have let her get away before? Their broken engagement was the biggest mistake of his life.

  One he didn’t intend to repeat. He would do whatever it took to win her back. To build a life with her. A strong partner, his lover, his love.

  With Angela’s help, he would need to tread gently with Maya about her birth mother and what had happened over the past months, culminating in the most horrifying night of his life.

  Unwinding the events of the last few hours would take patience and finesse. Traits he deeply admired in the woman he loved. The one who made his life so much better.

  His eyes held hers. Throat bobbing, he strung together words. Knowing it would never be enough to explain how he felt about her.

  “Angela, you have to know I love you. I’ve known love before and this is the real thing. Something worth cherishing. And I’ll be damned if I’ll throw that away again. We’re the forever deal. And whatever I need to do to convince you to marry me—”

  She pressed her fingers to his mouth, her eyes on him. “Ryder, stop.” She eased her hand away. “You don’t have to convince me. I love you, too. I want nothing more than to be your wife.”

  A swell of relief filled him. Along with gratitude for this second chance with Angela.

  He pulled out the engagement ring he’d given Angela, a ring he’d kept with him since the day she’d taken it off. “I’ve kept this with me even though I was the one who called off our engagement. I couldn’t seem to let it go, to let you go.”

  “And now you never have to.” She smiled up at him, her hand outstretched for him to slide the ring back in place.

  Where it would stay for a lifetime.

  * * *

  A week later, Esme stood in the middle of what she’d once thought would be her dream come true—a holiday party held at the beautifully renovated building for the Houston branch of the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. At the very least, she should be celebrating having survived Tatiana’s attack.

  She truly was grateful for her family’s safety, her father’s cleared name. Still, the revelry echoed hollowly around her without Jesse by her side. But she hadn’t heard even a word from him since Tatiana held her and Angela hostage.

  A harp played Christmas songs as Texas Cattleman’s Club guests from both Houston and Royal filled the room to celebrate the completed renovations. The formal grand opening was scheduled to ring in the New Year, the entire memberships of both chapters invited. Would Jesse attend? Would she have to see him with whatever “perfect” woman he’d chosen? The thought sent her stomach plummeting. Thankfully, so far, he was a no-show tonight.

  The attack had drawn Ryder and Angela closer, though. Angela had gone through so much heartache over the last year that this warmed Esme’s soul for her. They were so rock solid these days. Things had been difficult for Maya, but Ryder’s older two children had been a wall of support, perhaps having gained strength from their own happiness. His son, Xander, who’d mourned the loss of a fiancée two years ago, had even found love again with cowgirl tomboy Frankie Walsh.

  She stepped aside for waitstaff walking by with a silver tray of bacon-wrapped prawns, another carrying flutes. Even the champagne didn’t tempt her. While she was happy for her sister, watching the in-love couple reminded her of a very real absence in her own life. The pain was made more palpable when Cord and Zoe romantically sipped from each other’s champagne flutes.

  The jabs to her heart just kept coming.

  Cupping her crystal glass of sparkling water, she tucked herself farther away from the partiers. She needed to put in an appearance for her family’s sake, but she wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible. She’d even chosen her clothes with just that in mind, settling on a basic black cocktail dress. Her only nod to the party and the season was her red Gucci heels.

  She was still raw inside from Jesse’s rejection, heartbroken in a way that grew more painful every day. She felt adrift. After the vibrant days on Jesse’s ranch, she found city life noisy and crowded. Even her job felt soulless now that she’d moved beyond seeking her daddy’s approval.

  Maybe she should buy a ranch of her own, work in philanthropy like her sister Melinda. Her sister might even welcome her help as Melinda’s pregnancy progressed. She could spend more time with her husband, Slade.

  Esme pressed her palm to her forehead, her thoughts all over the place. She had no idea what to do with her future, couldn’t even think straight. She’d been so hopeful she and Jesse could build a life together. Seeing him walk away after the police hauled off Tatiana had been the worst pain she’d ever endured. He’d meant what he’d said about not wanting her.

  How could things be so awful and perfect at the same time? Her father and Ryder were continuing to strengthen their reconciliation, much to Angela’s joy. Their dad had even managed to repay the investors who’d panicked and lost so much money, an empathetic move that had people wondering if Sterling had become more than an empty suit after all.

  After all the bad blood between the two families, it still felt surreal to Esme that her brother, Roarke, was engaged to Ryder’s older daughter, Annabel.

  Perry Construction CEO Ethan Barringer and his fiancée, Aria, were deep in conversation with Liam Morrow and socialite Chloe Hemsworth, both engaged couples radiating such happiness it made Esme ache all over again. An animated Paisley Ford held court with both of them, no doubt sharing news of the latest wedding fashion from her boutique. Her husband, Lucas, smiled proudly, as supportive of his wife as she was of him.

  It seemed the whole room was full of couples, making her recent breakup all the more difficult to bear.

  Venture capitalist Camden McNeal, his new bride, Vivianne, at his side, had his phone out showing everyone who would look the family photos of the two of them with their toddler daughter. Esme thought of the childcare center in the Royal TCC building
, a benefit the Houston chapter didn’t offer. She would have never thought to miss it before knowing Jesse and hearing his plans and yearning for a family.

  “Can I get you a refill?”

  Her father’s voice startled her from her pity party. She hated feeling so morose but couldn’t seem to shake herself out of it. “Thanks, Dad. I’m good.”

  He adjusted his tie, ever the clotheshorse. “You really did a top-notch job over in Royal on behalf of our chapter.”

  “But I didn’t do anything that secures the presidency for you. It’s still up in the air who’ll lead this chapter.”

  “I can’t deny that I would like the position, but I’m okay with however things shake out.” He reached for his whiskey glass and finished off the last swallow without even a wince. “You made all of us look good in Royal and laid the groundwork for a great relationship between us.”

  The two clubs had worked together to draw up nomination papers for board positions and officers, creating the new club’s rules and regulations.

  His praise meant a lot to her. “Thanks, Dad. I’m glad you’re pleased. But I’m not sure what I did.”

  “Houston and Royal are two very different towns. Forging a strong tie could have been rocky. But you’ve helped all of us—in both cities—form new business connections and new friendships.”

  Uncomfortable with praise she wasn’t sure she’d earned, she shook her head emphatically. Pieces of her upswept hair loosened, tumbling in front of her eyes. Coming undone, for a change, gave her strange comfort. “It wasn’t as difficult as you make it sound. We aren’t really that different, Dad.”

  “If you believe that, then what’s kept you from going back to Royal and that man you’re obviously so taken with?”

  She stared at him incredulously, surprised he’d noticed. She found herself aching to confide in her father, even knowing he couldn’t fix this for her. “Dad, he doesn’t want me.”

  “Huh, could have fooled me. Whenever he looked your way, he seemed besotted.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “And even if he’s on the fence about committing, when did a child of mine ever back down without a fight?”

  She stared back into her father’s eyes, the same color as hers, and let his words sink in, really sink in. About Royal and Houston being similar. About fighting for what she wanted.

  He continued, “I made the mistake of paying more attention to business than to my marriage and I paid the price for that. So have you kids. Learn from my mistakes.”

  The rare glimpse of vulnerability in her father touched her heart and pushed aside barriers of her own making. She’d enjoyed her time at Jesse’s ranch, working alongside him, riding to check the cattle, watching sunsets together on his porch.

  Dreams spun into possibility. Esme Perry—a wife, a mother, an entrepreneur. Maybe she could have the best of both worlds by working remotely. Why had she gotten it into her head that she had to wait to establish her career before even considering motherhood? They could also share in the Texas Cattleman’s Club world and she would still be connected to her family.

  She arched up on her toes to kiss her dad on the cheek, a plan to woo Jesse already forming in her mind. “Thanks, Dad. Do you mind if I borrow that old truck of yours I used to learn to drive? I think my Christmas plans just changed.”

  “Sure,” he answered without hesitation. “Just remember, even restored, that sucker’s got a tricky clutch.”

  With a final look at the room full of her family and friends, at the stunning renovations now complete and the club ready to launch, Esme felt her world settle into place. She would always enjoy Houston, but her heart was in Royal now.

  She had fallen head over heels in love with Jesse Stevens. And damn straight, Perrys fought for what they wanted.

  The night was still young. If she made good time, she could be in Royal to celebrate Christmas Eve with Jesse.

  * * *

  Jesse was decidedly lacking in the holiday spirit, in spite of his decked-out house. The decorations only served as a reminder of all he’d left behind in Houston and how he would be spending Christmas Eve alone. He’d called his sister, exchanged holiday greetings, but then she was off to enjoy her vacation.

  Why in the hell he’d thought coming to the stables would be better was beyond him. Esme had permeated every part of his world until there was nowhere to step without thinking of her, wanting her. Ghosts of their time together whispered from every corner of his ranch. And he had no idea how to find peace with her absence.

  The familiar scents and sounds of his stable at night did little to soothe his restless spirit. He just kept thinking of how he would want to share the moment with Esme.

  He stroked Duke’s nose, wishing those wise brown eyes could offer him some wisdom. “Well, boy, I’ve made a mess of things, haven’t I?”

  The horse whinnied in response, shaking his mane. When he was a kid, he used to do this with Apollo. Tell his horse his secrets, dreams, regrets. The act steadied him. At least, a bit.

  “I’m already regretting my decision to let her go.” He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t eat. His life was empty without her. “This ranch means nothing to me without her.”

  Never had he imagined a moment where the ranch felt like it wasn’t enough for him. Sure, he appreciated his horses, his house, the rolling grounds. But he couldn’t help but notice its expanse. How big it was. How empty it was.

  Pawing the ground, Duke swung his head toward a mare in the next stall. The Appaloosa mare nickered softly.

  Everyone was partnering up. Horses included, it seemed. “I want what my married friends at the Texas Cattleman’s Club have. A sense of belonging to a family.”

  That hadn’t changed. He just wanted it all with Esme.

  Duke nuzzled Jesse on the shoulder. Those brown eyes stared back at him, catching him up short.

  He knew the horse couldn’t answer. Not really. Still, the flick of Duke’s ear let him know he was listening. Stroking the horse’s neck, he kept replaying the memory in his mind of meeting Esme. Of all that life with her seemed to promise. Of all that he’d thrown away.

  Jesse’s mind circled back around to how this ranch meant nothing without her. How he’d wanted that family with Esme. And everything clicked into place with startling clarity.

  For some lame-ass reason, he’d thought that he could only have his dream family here in Royal.

  As he rocked back on his boot heels, taking in his stable, thinking about his ranch, he also thought about the club here and the branch starting in Houston. And he realized the heart of that organization beat in either location.

  Friends. Family. Community. Home wasn’t about a building, or even a plot of land. It was about loving people and having them return that love.

  It was still a few minutes shy of Christmas Eve, but there was nothing to say he couldn’t make his holiday miracle happen now.

  After shooting off a text with instructions for his foreman, Jesse made fast tracks outside, toward the house. He could be packed and on the road in less than ten minutes, but even that felt like an eternity.

  Ten minutes later, he settled behind the wheel, a thermos of coffee beside him for the nighttime trip to Houston. Only a few hours separated him and Esme.

  Mind made up, he turned the ignition key. He was ready for the journey. He needed to see her. To fight for her. The woman who made every room and space light up with energy and love. He’d been a fool to cast that aside, but he wouldn’t let that get in the way of winning her back and healing her heart.

  Just as he hit the gas, headlights shone in the distance, barreling down the long drive toward him. He scratched his head, frustrated at what might be a delay. He wasn’t expecting anyone.

  The vehicle stopped in front of him, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the bright lights from what appeared to be a restored classic truck with a big red
bow on the grille. He held up a hand, blotting out the glare as the door was flung open and a pair of shapely long legs stepped out.

  A woman wearing sky-high red leather heels.

  Jesse put his truck in Park, a smile building inside and spreading to his face. His heart slugged in his ears, each beat an echo of her name.

  Esme.

  He didn’t know what she was doing in a vintage truck, a magnificent ride that at another time he would have been jonesing to drive. It was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from her Porsche.

  But then, everything about this woman was unpredictable. Perfectly so. He wouldn’t have her any other way.

  He hit the ground running, his strides eating up the space between them as she ran into his arms, leaping into his embrace. He spun her around, his face buried in her hair, the scent and feel of her filling his senses just as she filled his life.

  Easing her to the ground, he sealed his mouth to hers and she met his kiss fully, her hands on either side of his face. No hesitation. He didn’t know why she’d forgiven him. He was just glad to his soul that she had.

  Jesse skimmed a final kiss over her lips before angling back, enjoying the way the stars were reflected in her eyes. “Nice ride.”

  “Turns out I’m a fan of trucks and a certain cowboy.” She tapped his Stetson.

  “And I’m a fan of you.” He ran his hand down her sleek blond hair, burying his fingers in the silken strands. “I was just coming to you, but I’m glad we don’t have to wait any longer. Every day without you has been miserable. I’ve been a brooding mess since you left.”

  “Oh, Jesse,” she sighed, looping her arms around his neck. “I’ve—”

  “Shhh.” He kissed her quiet. “I need to speak first, especially after you took such a leap to drive all the way here. I didn’t mean what I said about wanting someone else to be my wife. I was just afraid I couldn’t make you happy here in Royal. So I want you to know I’m willing to move, like Cord is doing.”