A Home with the Rancher

by April Arrington

  She lifted her chin from her chest, her ivory cheeks flushing. “Did you find all of the horses?”

  “All but one.” He hammered the nail until it hit home then added another for extra insurance. “Bullet’s still gallivanting around the mountains. He gets bored quick. I’d bet my last dime he’s the one that kicked out this loose fence.”

  He tossed two more nails in his palm then moved to the other end of the beam, his thigh pressing against Dani’s as he squatted again. His quad tightened, a pleasurable sensation moving through him, and he shifted closer.

  “And are you?” she asked.

  “Am I what?”

  “Betting your last dime?”

  He froze. “I’m making do.”

  Jim Reid flashed through his mind, the older man’s wrinkle-free suit and smug smile facing him from behind a mahogany desk. I told you to sell four years ago, Mac. A savvy businessman would have had trouble propping that place back on its feet, much less a widower with three children. Now, you’ll be lucky to walk out of there with a shirt on your back.

  Mac gritted his teeth, positioned the nail tight with his fingertips then hammered. “I always make do.”

  “But without customers...” Her soft voice firmed. “Today was my fault. I caused you to lose six paying guests. But there weren’t many more than that to begin with and there hasn’t been since I’ve been here.” Her hands shifted on the beam, knuckles whitening as her grip tightened. “I know someone who could help you. Someone who could turn this place around, keep it from shutting down and make you more money than you’d ever be able to spend.”

  “Someone in New York?” He hammered harder, cutting glances at her shapely arms. At the way the pounds of the hammer shook them.

  “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around the fence and raised her voice over the pounding. “I know you’re against it, but maybe it’s time to reconsider selling.”

  “Why? So some fool can traipse in here and deform the place? Turn it into one of those dime-a-dozen tourist traps?” He slammed the nail home then threw the hammer into the grass. “What the hell would some stranger know about how my parents worked their fingers to the bone raising this ranch from nothing but rock and soil? What would they know about protecting the serenity and dignity of these mountains? About what this valley needs to breathe? To thrive?”

  She hugged the fence closer, a wary expression crossing her delicate features.

  “I won’t sell out—no matter how much I stand to make—and I don’t want to hand this place over to someone else.”

  Voice shaking, she asked, “Then what do you want, Mac?”

  He dug his fists into his knees. “I just want to be able to pay my bills long enough to pass this land on to my kids. I want the time to help them enjoy it. I want to be able to talk to them without having to walk away midsentence. Look them in the face instead of over my shoulder—” His voice cracked and he swallowed hard, choking back the emotions strangling him. “I could’ve left Elk Valley years ago like my brother. Could’ve just shoved this place off to some developer and hauled ass. But I didn’t. I stayed and worked. And I’ll continue to do so until those greedy bastards come in here and force me out.”

  Her chin trembled and those blue eyes of hers, wounded, glistened up at him, a tear clinging to her thick lashes. That tiny drop kicked him hard in the gut and the fight bled right out of him.

  “Please don’t look at me like that.”

  A puzzled light entered her eyes.

  “Like you feel sorry for me.” He cleared his throat, softening his gruff voice and leaning closer. “Like I disappointed you. I didn’t mean to go off on you like that.”

  She smiled, small and sad, then slowly unwound her arms from the fence. Her soft palm cupped his jaw. “It’d be hard for a man like you to disappoint me. Or any woman, for that matter. And to be honest...” Her voice faded to a whisper, flush deepening, as her attention drifted to his mouth. “Sorry isn’t exactly what I’m feeling right now.”

  Heaven help him, her sweet words were so soothing and solid. He wanted to lean on them. Lean on her.

  The sun dipped, the last rays of light pooling softly over the gentle curve of her cheek and pink, parted lips. Everything about her pulling him in.

  Mac dipped his head and kissed her. Right there in the middle of the valley.

  As his mouth moved over hers, the sky slowly darkened and the humid air of the day gave way to a refreshing night breeze. The taste of her, sweet and clean, washed over him, coaxing his arms around her, one hand splaying low over her back and the other caressing the nape of her neck. He dove deeper, nudging her lips further apart with his, then swept his tongue in to savor her.

  God, it’d been so long since he’d held a woman. Kissed her.

  Dani met each of his movements with her own, angling her head, slim fingers kneading his shoulders and chest as she pressed closer, causing his blood to rush.

  He struggled to slow down and keep his hands from roaming further. He’d forgotten how exciting it was to be touched and tempted. And he wished he was free to explore more. Wished he could stretch out and hold her against him. Wished he wasn’t—

  He jerked his mouth from hers, his heart thudding against his ribs. “Dani, I...” Breathing hard, he released her gently then glanced around. The dim lights of the lodge didn’t reach the empty expanse of land around them and, thankfully, the kids were still inside. “I didn’t intend to do that. I was out of line. I promised I’d keep this strictly business.”

  She blinked then drew back, her expression dazed as her fingertips touched the moist, reddened curve of her bottom lip. “But it felt...”

  Fantastic.

  The thought hit Mac the same time the unspoken sentiment gleamed in her eyes. But so did the reality of what he was doing: taking advantage of an employee. Sacrificing time he should be spending with his kids in favor of holding a woman.

  But not just any woman—Dani. Beautiful and strong. Prideful but giving. Honest and hard-working. The only woman in the past four years who’d slipped under his skin and pulled his focus from his family.

  His chest tightened. “I should go in.” He forced himself to his feet then helped her up. “I need to get a head start on cleaning the rooms in the lodge so I’ll have some time with Jaxon and the girls tonight.”

  She gripped his wrists, stopping his hands from leaving her altogether. “Why don’t you let me do that? It’s my fault your guests left. And tomorrow, why don’t you take the day off? With Cal and Tim’s help, I can manage things around here and I promise not to cause any more trouble. That way, you can spend tonight and tomorrow with your children.”

  Mac hesitated, her concerned expression making him want to tug her close and cover her mouth with his again. Instead, he sighed and shook his head. “That’s nice of you to offer but I can’t afford to take a day off.”

  Her lips twisted. “Thanks to me, you have six fewer guests so there’s a lot less work to worry about. Go ahead and take the day. I can manage.” She released him, averting her eyes and mumbling, “I owe you that, at least.”

  He grinned, not doubting for a second that Dani could hold her own, even when things didn’t go as planned. But he hated the thought of her feeling indebted to him.

  And he had a nagging need to touch her silky skin just once more.

  “Hey.” He nudged her chin up with a knuckle then drifted the back of his hand across her smooth cheek. It was soft and warm. Like the rest of her. “You don’t owe me anything,” he whispered. “But I will take you up on your offer. I could take Jaxon hiking in the morning. That’d give me some time alone with him, if you wouldn’t mind watching the girls for the first half of the day?”

  Dani nodded, her attention drifting back to his mouth.

  He smiled. An excited relief at the prospect of an unimpeded day with his children mingled with t
he intoxicating buzz of attraction in his veins. “Thank you.”

  She didn’t smile back and he could barely make out her low words as she walked away, her slender figure fading across the darkened field.

  “Don’t thank me yet.”

  Chapter Five

  Sorry isn’t exactly what I’m feeling right now.

  Dani hefted a potted azalea out of the truck bed and set it on the ground in front of the stable, trying her best to figure out what she did feel after that spectacular kiss from Mac last night.

  Sympathy? Of course. That was no surprise. She knew firsthand what it was like to be brushed aside as though hard work didn’t matter, and she’d sympathize with anyone fighting to succeed professionally. But losing Elk Valley Ranch wasn’t just a professional concern for Mac—it was personal, too.

  And the feeling that sprang up when he’d kissed her hadn’t just been professional, it had been...

  She nudged the potted plant in line with the dozen others then straightened, squinting against the early morning sun and admiring how it glistened over the thick, dewy grass. Admiration. That was what that feeling had been. She admired his work ethic and devotion to his children. Any woman would melt over that.

  Closing her eyes, she stifled a groan. If only that was the main reason she’d melted in his arms last night. No, she’d felt something entirely different the second Mac’s warm mouth had claimed hers—good old-fashioned lust.

  Except it wasn’t just good, it was great. And it wasn’t old-fashioned, either. She’d never felt anything that intense in her past relationships, which had been few and far between. She’d never felt that soft stirring in her chest and persistent tug in her belly before. And she’d definitely never gone to sleep with a man on her mind and woken to the thought of him first thing the next morning.

  That was the most troubling thing about that kiss—wanting more. But the most humiliating part of it was that she’d never actually summoned up the courage to tell him the truth before or after. Something she should have already done.

  Throat tightening, she shoved her hands in her pockets and studied the ants trailing across the dirt. What a mess she gotten herself into. What a big—

  “Having second thoughts?”

  Dani glanced up, the grin on Mac’s handsome face making her catch her breath. Her eyes strayed over his muscular frame as he approached, noting the same hint of heated interest from last night still gleamed in his expression as he watched her. He drew to a halt and his strong hands flexed at his sides. The same ones that had roved eagerly over her neck and back last night, gently touching and holding.

  What a big, beautiful man—

  Oh, boy. She was in more trouble than she’d initially thought.

  “No.” She jerked her hands from her pockets, ripped her attention away from him and focused on Jaxon and the girls as they chased each other on the other side of the field. “I’m happy to help.”

  “So you say.” Mac’s grin grew. He glanced over his shoulder at his kids before leaning in to whisper, “But my girls can be a handful.”

  “Not a problem.” Fixated on the delicious throb of his low voice, she eased nearer and whispered back, “I may have never babysat before, but teenagers half my age do it all the time. So how hard could it be?”

  He laughed, green eyes sparkling down at her. “You’d be surprised.”

  “Even so, I’m well-equipped to handle them.” She smiled and tapped his broad chest with a finger. “I can be a handful myself, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  His laughter faded. He studied her from head to toe, his approving eyes sending exciting shivers over each inch of skin he perused. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”

  She locked her knees against the slight quiver in her thighs, afraid she’d melt into a puddle at his feet. He shifted closer, the front of his T-shirt brushing against hers and the pads of his fingers caressing her elbow.

  “What’re y’all whispering about?”

  They sprang apart.

  Maddie stood a couple of feet behind Mac, frowning, and waiting for an answer. Nadine and Jaxon stood at their sister’s side, nodding at each other with smug grins.

  “Nothing.” Dani stumbled back a few more steps and looked away as Mac dragged a hand over the back of his neck. “We were just...”

  “Discussing how you and Nadine are going to be on your best behavior while Jaxon and I are gone.” Mac squatted in front of Maddie and took her hands in his. “I’ll be back before you know it, then I’ll take you and Nadine up to the creek.”

  “Why can’t we go with you and Jaxon?” Maddie asked.

  “Because we’re hiking to the overlook and it’s a long, dangerous trek up there.” Mac kissed her forehead then stood, motioning toward the azaleas nearby. “And from the looks of things, I think Ms. Dani has something fun planned for you.”

  Dani hesitated as Maddie stared at the plants. “I talked your dad into letting me plant some flowers around the stable this morning and Mr. Tim drove me to a nursery to pick up a few while you had breakfast. They’re azaleas. Do you like them?”

  “I like ’em,” Nadine said, bounding over then dragging a shovel off the truck bed. “Do we get to dig holes for them?”

  “Yes.” Dani laughed and helped her lower the shovel to the ground. “You can dig as many holes as you’d like.” She turned to Maddie. “Maddie, I thought you could help me pack them in with potting soil? Or you could spread the pine straw if you’d prefer?”

  Maddie stood still for a moment, winding her pink hair ribbon around her pointer finger, then walked slowly toward the plants. She touched one of the delicate petals and grinned. “I like the pink ones.”

  Dani smiled and blew out a small breath. “I thought you might. I picked those out just for you.”

  Maddie’s smile grew bigger. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Sounds like you have everything well in hand.” Mac winked.

  She nodded, pleasure stirring in her veins while she tried not to stare at his handsome face too long. “You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

  Mac kissed Nadine on the cheek then nudged Jaxon toward the hiking path. “Come on. Let’s get going.”

  “Bye, Ms. Dani,” Jaxon called out, striding away with his father.

  Dani waved back then pulled her attention from Mac’s powerful frame and caught Maddie’s eyes on her. Great. It was bad enough she’d lied to Mac, but admiring his physique in front of his children elevated her misdeeds to another level.

  Nervously, she clapped her hands then rubbed them together briskly. “So. Why don’t we get started?”

  One hour later, Dani knelt beside a freshly planted azalea and admired Maddie and Nadine’s handiwork. “Nadine, you judged the depth of this hole just right. And, Maddie, you spread the pine straw perfectly.”

  “Thanks!”

  Whether out of habit or coincidence, the girls chimed their response in unison then plopped onto their butts beside the plant and giggled at each other. Their snaggletooth grins and shared amusement made Dani chuckle. The morning task may have started out rocky but it had quickly become fun for all of them.

  She patted the thick stack of straw then sat beside them, then tilted her head back and looked up at the sky. A heavy cluster of clouds covered the sun and a steady breeze swept across the valley. The air was still sticky and humid but the rush of wind against sweat-slicked skin was a blessed relief.

  “Looks like one of those summer storms your father talks about might show up soon.” Dani smiled. Sweat rolled down her back, tickling her skin. She scratched at it. “A nice, heavy rain right after we finish planting is exactly what these flowers need.”

  A hand caught hold of hers in midscratch and tugged. “You paint your nails?” Maddie asked, tilting Dani’s fingers this way and that against her bare knee.
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br />   “Yes, though they look worse for the wear right now,” Dani answered. She frowned at the chipped polish then lifted her other hand toward Maddie, fingers spread. “These are in better shape.” She laughed. “Most likely because I tend to shovel manure with my right hand more than my left.”

  Maddie glanced up at her beneath her lashes, nibbling on her lower lip, then smoothed her fingertips over the intact nail polish of Dani’s pointer finger. “It’s pink,” she whispered. “Like my mama’s.”

  Dani stilled. She cast a quick glance at Nadine who sat quietly at her sister’s side, staring at the nail, too. Their smiles had faded. “Did she ever paint yours?” she asked Maddie softly.

  “I don’t remember.” Maddie released Dani’s hand then grabbed her long, hair ribbon and rubbed the silky material between her fingers. “But she liked pink.” She looked up and smiled. A real one. “Just like me. I know because this was hers, too,” she added, tugging on her ribbon. “Dad gave it to me. And he gave us lots of her nail polish and most of it’s pink.” She turned to her sister. “Isn’t that right?”

  Nadine nodded. “Yeah. But she had others. Like red and—”

  “But pink was her favorite. She always had it on in her pictures.” Maddie spun back to Dani. “And she liked roasting marshmallows. I know that, too, because my dad told me that was her favorite thing to do when they went camping.” She twisted her hands in her lap, her words strained. “He misses her you know? He says so all the time.”

  Nadine drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. “I wish we remembered her better.”

  Dani’s throat tightened. “I know what you mean. I lost my mother a long time ago, so I don’t remember everything about her.” She glanced at Maddie. “But talking about what I do remember always helps.”

  Maddie smiled a little. “Dad said she used to braid our hair every night.”

  Nadine held up a tangled section of her hair and laughed. “So we wouldn’t have so many of these.”