The Rancher's Surprise Baby

by Trish Milburn

  And as if he wasn’t attractive enough, he’d made himself even more so by how much he so obviously cared about his mom. So he was a good-looking, hardworking cowboy who had a great sense of humor and loved his mama. How was she supposed to resist that?

  “Why don’t you knock off early and go hang out with your hunky cowboy?” Devon said as she stepped up to the customer side of the front counter.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Yeah, right. If you continue to stare out that window, your gaze is going to burn a hole in the glass.”

  “Well, that’s an exaggeration.”

  “Barely. Really, I’m good here. You’ve not had any time to be together all week.”

  “It’s not as if we’re a couple.”

  “From my vantage point, you’re well on your way. You just need to indulge in some more kissing sessions.”

  Mandy rolled her eyes. “I shouldn’t have told you about that.”

  “You know you can’t keep something that big from me. Besides, I’ve been told about the hot parking-lot kiss by no less than a half dozen people.”

  “So glad to be the latest entertainment for the town.”

  “It was like the dessert after the meal of watching you two sweat it when Simon said you were going to be charged with vandalism. I’ll forever be sorry I missed it.”

  “I’m surprised someone didn’t take pictures like they did of Greg’s truck covered in streamers.”

  “I’m surprised Greg didn’t record it.”

  “Jeez, that’s exactly what I need, to go viral.”

  Devon smiled. “Seriously, get out of here. If I get busy, I’m sure one of the gals here will help me,” she said loudly enough that the women of the knitting group could hear.

  The ladies all nodded.

  “And while you’re out there, see if there are any unattached hotties who might be interested in a more mature lady,” Franny Stokes said.

  “What happened to the guy you met online?”

  “Turns out he was so boring I started to nod off during dinner.”

  “Bet no one would nod off during dinner with Ben Hartley,” Cora Steenburgen said.

  “Dinner?” said Opal Ritter. “Honey, I’d skip right past dinner with any of those hunky Hartley boys.”

  The older ladies all started laughing, and when Devon gave Mandy a raised-eyebrow, “Can you believe this rowdy bunch?” look, they started laughing, too.

  Mandy nearly refused to leave again, but she stopped herself. The lure of spending more time with Ben won out, so she grabbed her purse and made for the door.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Opal called out.

  “Well, that leaves it wide open,” Cora said.

  The ladies fell into another round of giggles as the door closed behind Mandy.

  Because there was such a good turnout for the street fair, it took longer than she’d planned to reach the farmers’ market tent. But when she came within sight of it, her gaze went immediately to Ben. Her heart rate sped up, and there was no longer any doubt. Despite how whirlwind it all felt, she was falling for him. Was there any chance he might feel the same way?

  She shook her head as she continued toward the tent, reminding herself that she needed to keep her emotions from running away. No good would come from letting herself feel too much when it might not be reciprocated, at least not to the same degree.

  “Hey, you’re back early,” Ben said when he spotted her. His smile knocked a good-size dent in her determination not to get too attached.

  “Yep, told Devon I was blowing the joint. I’d had enough.”

  “Young lady, you did no such thing,” her mother said.

  “Okay, fine, she told me to leave and enjoy myself. She and the knitters are holding down the fort.”

  “Did she now?” Mrs. Hartley said.

  Well, it seemed the intervening hours hadn’t lessened the moms’ combined approval of the idea of her and Ben together. Maybe if she played dumb with them, she could convince herself she wasn’t back here mainly because of one tall, dangerously handsome man.

  “Yeah, there is some food on a stick calling my name. I had a bag of chips for lunch.”

  Mrs. Hartley nudged Ben. “Go get this girl some food.”

  “Yeah,” Mandy’s mom said. “We’ll be fine here. We’ve sold a lot of what we brought anyway.”

  At a quick glance, Mandy noticed the stock was considerably less than when she’d headed to work. And it seemed the other few people who’d taken part in the farmers’ market had done well, too.

  “So it’s been a success?”

  Her mom met her gaze. “More than I ever imagined. You’re going to get your wish.”

  Joy rushed through Mandy. “You’re really going to quit the job in Fredericksburg?”

  Her mom nodded. “As long as nothing drastic happens, I’m going to try things your way.”

  Mandy pulled her mom into a hug. “That makes me so happy.”

  Her mom patted her back before pulling away. “Now, you two go have some fun.”

  “You heard the woman,” Ben said, making an after-you hand gesture. “I’ve seen half a dozen beef kebabs go by, and my stomach is rumbling.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to stand between a man and his beef kebab.”

  They smelled the grilling meat and saw the smoke rising a full block before they reached the land of juicy kebabs. Ben ended up getting two, and she selected one with shrimp instead of beef.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t eat beef,” Ben said.

  “Beef is fine, but I have a deep and abiding love for shrimp.”

  As they made their way down the street, Ben told her how the farmers’ market had enjoyed a brisk business all day, how their moms were already talking about when to have the next one and that several other locals had expressed interest in joining in the future.

  “I’m so glad it’s gone well. I knew it had to have done when Mom said she was going to quit her second job. You have no idea how relieved that makes me.”

  “I guessed by the big hug you gave her.”

  They stopped at the booth of a glassblower and Mandy’s gaze went directly to a beautiful green hanging window ornament in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

  “Oh, isn’t this cute?” Shantele said as she swooped in and ran her manicured nails over the ornament.

  “Yes, it’ll look great in Mandy’s window,” Ben said as he reached past her and nabbed the clover off the hook where it was hanging and handed the artist enough money to pay for it. “Thanks for holding it for us.”

  Holding it for them? What was he...?

  As if Shantele wasn’t there at all, Ben handed Mandy the clover and steered her away from the booth.

  Tears threatened but she hurriedly blinked them away. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” But he had a wicked grin tugging at his lips, lips that she suddenly wanted to kiss in the middle of this crowd.

  “You sure you have room for that in your tiny house?” he asked as he pointed toward the sun-catcher in her hands.

  Mandy gave him a look of faux exasperation. “It’s not that tiny.”

  Between the booths selling lemonade and hot pretzels, the size of the crowd increased, forcing Ben and Mandy to move closer together. When they bumped into each other, Ben’s hand wrapped around hers as if they’d held hands dozens of times before. She didn’t make eye contact with him, afraid she’d look like a lovesick puppy.

  When they made it past the crush of people and entered the section devoted to carnival-type games, he didn’t let go of her hand. She caught the occasional glance sent their way, but she didn’t mind. It felt too good to maintain the simple contact that in some ways was more intimate than their kiss after the movie.


  The sound of children laughing drew her attention to where several kids were throwing water balloons at each other. There evidently were no prizes involved. The kids just used tickets for the chance to throw water balloons and get each other soaking wet.

  “You know, it’s hot enough out here that I’m tempted to do that myself,” she said.

  Ben smiled at her, a devilish glint in his eyes. “I think once you’re an adult, it becomes a wet T-shirt contest.”

  “On second thought...” She watched as one boy was hit by a particularly well-aimed balloon in the middle of his forehead. He sputtered as water ran down his face. “Someday maybe I’ll just have a bunch of kids having water-balloon fights in my front yard.”

  “That will make your mom happy.”

  “Over the moon.”

  “I’m just crossing my fingers Neil and Arden have some kids soon so Mom stops giving me that expectant look.”

  Something about how he said it gave Mandy pause. Should she ask the question that had immediately popped into her head?

  “You don’t want kids?” She supposed it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering his attitude toward marriage.

  He shook his head. “Nope.”

  He gave no explanation, and Mandy couldn’t help the break that formed in her heart. Here was a reason—a big one—why she couldn’t get attached to Ben any more than she already had.

  Mandy hadn’t truly realized how much she had allowed herself to fall for Ben until his words gave a virtual punch to all her hopes and dreams. She knew that was giving their short-lived relationship too much weight, but she couldn’t help how she felt.

  “Why don’t you like kids?”

  “I like them fine as long as they’re not mine.”

  She thought she detected an edge of bitterness underneath his matter-of-fact response. What was that about? But something inside her told her not to ask. Someone would have to be much closer to him than she was—and was ever likely to be—to get that answer.

  It was okay, really it was. The verbal splash of water in the face served to remind her that Ben wasn’t interested in a serious, long-term relationship. She’d gone into things with him knowing that, but how quickly she’d managed to forget.

  “So, deep-fried Oreo?” he asked after he finished his kebabs, totally unaware how a few simple words from him had dampened her mood.

  She pulled together a smile from some hidden reserve. “Sure. You only live once, right?”

  And who knew how many more times she’d have a chance to walk hand in hand with this man who made her heart beat at such an accelerated rhythm?

  Chapter Ten

  Ben took a step back and eyed the finishing touches he’d put on the saddle. Not bad, if he did say so himself. With each one, he was getting a little bit better. If he continued that way, hopefully he could command higher prices at some point. He found he wanted to show Mandy the finished product.

  In the week since the street fair, they’d seen each other every day. For a bit after his admission he didn’t want kids, he’d thought that would be the end of their...whatever it was between them. He’d seen a change on Mandy’s face at that revelation, or at least he thought he had. If there had been any disappointment there, she had covered it quickly and they’d had a good rest of the day. And there was no evidence what he’d said had bothered her during all the rest of the time they’d spent together over the course of the week, definitely not whenever they kissed. And damn, those kisses had gotten hotter and longer each time, their hands exploring more and more. The night before, as they’d said good-night outside La Cantina after having dinner, he’d wanted her like he hadn’t wanted anyone in a very long time. If ever. The woman was like a drug that he’d walked past a million times but didn’t know how addictive it’d be until he got a taste.

  But it wasn’t just physical. Damn if he didn’t like everything about her. He felt as if he’d spent a lot of time missing out by not looking at Mandy in that way. He knew he was treading dangerously close to a line he’d told himself he’d never cross, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her. It wouldn’t be wise to fall for her, knowing that she wanted a family, but he worried he was already halfway there. Maybe even more than that. There had to be some point of no return he couldn’t go past, but he hadn’t a clue how to identify that point. Why couldn’t two people just have fun together without things getting too complicated? Damn feelings.

  The door to the shop opened and there stood the woman who’d just been occupying his thoughts. And to make his fantasies start running around in his head like a pack of wild dogs, she was wearing a pair of pink shorts that showed off her legs really well.

  “Hey,” she said, giving him one of her infectious smiles.

  “Hey, yourself. Didn’t know you were coming by.”

  “Neither did I, but Mom asked me to bring over some samples of new things she’s trying for your mom’s opinion. Personally, I think it was a thinly veiled attempt to make sure you and I crossed paths today.”

  He shook his head. “They’re very determined, aren’t they?”

  “That’s one word for it.”

  “Can’t say I mind you being here, though.”

  “That right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He rounded the worktable and pulled her into his arms. “And I think maybe it was your idea to come over here because you missed me so much.”

  She gave a little snort. “Now you’re sounding like Greg.”

  “Ouch.”

  “You deserve it for that comment.”

  “I think we should stop talking,” he said before lowering his mouth to hers.

  He wondered if she’d sampled some of her mom’s cooking because she tasted sweet, fruity. He deepened the kiss and pressed her more firmly against him. She moaned and that simple sound lit a fire in him. His hands found their way to her waist, then underneath her shirt to her warm, soft skin. Damn, she felt good. He wanted to strip her naked and make love to her right there in the middle of his shop, and by the way she was responding to him with moans and her fingers digging into his back, she was evidently on the same page.

  The mental image of her naked, sitting on the workbench in front of him, made him growl. It felt as if they were two wildfires meeting up and exploding into an inferno.

  When Mandy suddenly pulled away, he damn near stumbled he was so surprised. One moment she was totally into the kissing, the hands roaming, and the next she was widening the space between them. When she glanced toward the door, it hit him that Mandy possessed more common sense than he did. Of course they couldn’t do anything here where anyone could walk in without warning. Angel would rip him bald if Julia wandered out here as she did sometimes and found her uncle naked with a woman. And he wouldn’t blame Angel.

  Still, he couldn’t just turn off his desire, not when touching Mandy had his entire body revved up like a hot rod’s engine. But when he spotted the color in her cheeks and the way she wouldn’t meet his eyes, he also wanted to smack himself. She deserved better than being taken in a dusty workshop. She was the kind of woman who deserved romance, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who was into romancing. It led to the sort of commitment he wasn’t willing to give.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Mandy waved off his apology. “No. It was... I didn’t mind. It’s just that—”

  “Someone might walk in.”

  “Uh...yeah.” She glanced toward the door again. “I better go.”

  “You don’t have to.” He didn’t want her to, even though keeping his hands off her would no doubt prove a challenge within the small confines of his work area.

  “Things to do. I’ll see you later.” She left before he could think of something else to say.

  And still without looking at him.

  * * *

 
MANDY SAT ON her front porch listening to the wind in the trees and the rumble of thunder in the distance. She’d come out here to try to calm down, to think of something other than how close she’d been to giving in to what she and Ben both obviously wanted. She’d experienced desire before, but never in her life had it felt so carnal, so bordering on conflagration.

  Ben had thought she’d pulled away simply because she was afraid someone might catch them. That was only partly true, and she couldn’t help the hurt that he didn’t realize the main reason. She was falling in love with him, a man with whom she couldn’t have the life she’d always envisioned. She’d say it was the worst decision of her life, but it hadn’t been a decision at all. It was as if her heart and body had run off and left her brain in the dust.

  Things would be so much easier if what she was feeling was desire alone. There was a cure for that. But when things like love got tangled up with that desire? Well, that made her life a lot more complicated. Should she ease away from spending any time with Ben so he’d move on? Would she break her own heart in the process? Probably. But ending things before they progressed any further might prevent that break from turning into a complete shattering.

  She took a drink from her wineglass and glanced at the concrete frog.

  “Why couldn’t you have turned into a prince before I got myself into this mess?”

  Damn frog didn’t respond. He just sat there staring out toward the creek as usual.

  She finished her wine at the moment she heard the rain moving her way. With a sigh, she realized no matter how long she sat out here, she wasn’t going to discover a perfect answer to her predicament. And she’d just get wet. As she stood, however, her ears detected another sound, one not made by Mother Nature. The headlights piercing the darkness made her heart leap. She knew the sound of that engine. Despite the fact raindrops had begun to fall, she remained rooted to the spot as Ben parked and stepped out of his truck. As he stalked toward her without hesitation. When he got close enough, she saw the determination on his face. Before she could form a single word, he’d erased the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.