Reunited with the Rancher

by Sara Orwig

  “Ah, you know me too well. All the mystery is gone.”

  “There’s plenty of mystery about you—I’m surprised you haven’t fallen in love with Natalie Valentine. She is so sweet and has a wonderful family. And you love that dog.”

  He came back to put his hands on her shoulders and she wondered what chord she had struck. Was he falling in love with Natalie? She gazed into his seductive hazel eyes.

  “I’ll tell you what, darlin’. I don’t fall in love with someone because of their dog. Or their kids—and those are adorable kids. Natalie is beautiful, but she’s Jeremy’s widow and she still loves him. And he was my buddy.”

  “You’re a good guy, Tom,” she said, turning back to her task.

  When they were done putting things away in the kitchen, she turned to him. “I’m going upstairs to shower—alone. I’ll meet you on the porch. The first one done can get drinks. See you in thirty minutes.”

  “Fine. I’ll go upstairs and shower, too.” At the head of the stairs he turned to her. “The invitation is still open.”

  “I’ll have to admit, I’m tempted—”

  “Oh, darlin’,” he said, holding his arms out. “Come join me. We’ll have a shower you’ll never forget.” She laughed and he laughed with her. “See, I told you I can be fun in the shower,” he said. “We’re not even there yet and I have you laughing.”

  “You are fun, you devil,” she said, squeezing his jaw and looking into his mischievous eyes. “As fun as you are, I’m going to shower all by myself and then enjoy sitting with you on the porch,” she said.

  He placed his arms casually on her shoulders. “We can still enjoy each other’s company. It’s been a good day.”

  “It has. The Valentines are wonderful.”

  “Yes, they are, but the good time today wasn’t just because of the Valentines. You and I can laugh and enjoy each other. We haven’t totally lost it,” he said with so much confidence she felt a thrill.

  “I know we can as long as we stay away from real life and the serious stuff.”

  “I’ll settle for what we can get. We can do a lot of things together,” he said, his voice changing, becoming deeper while his hands slid down to rub her bare arms lightly.

  “I know we can.”

  Her heartbeat raced as his gaze lowered to her mouth. Her lips parted.

  “Tom,” she whispered, his name an invitation. She might have huge regrets very soon, but at this moment she wanted to kiss him. What would one kiss hurt?

  When his mouth covered hers, she opened to him and felt on fire. Their tongues mingled as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tightly against him. She hugged him around his waist and ran one hand over his muscled back.

  She had no idea how long they kissed, but when she felt his hand on her breast, she placed her hand over his. “Wait,” she whispered, looking up at him. “I want to shower and sit on the porch and talk and maybe kiss again—okay?”

  He inhaled deeply and nodded. “Okay.” He caressed her nape and tugged lightly on her braid. “Take your hair down.”

  “I will. I’ll see you on the porch.” She walked away, hearing his boots as he went into the room where he kept his things. Now what would she agree to after her shower? She better think before she brought pain and regret crashing back down on them.

  * * *

  When she came down, he was already on the porch. She wore navy capri pants, flip-flops, a pale blue sleeveless cotton blouse and a clip in her hair to hold it behind her head. The minute he saw her, Tom stood up. His gaze drifted over her from her head to her toes, making her tingle. She took in tight jeans, his black boots and short-sleeved navy T-shirt. To her, he was still the most handsome man she knew. And definitely the sexiest. She strolled to the empty chair beside him and picked up the drink he’d prepared for her.

  He stepped closer and smiled at her, making her heart race as she gazed into his eyes. “You look as good as a million dollars.”

  “Thank you. You look rather good yourself.” She didn’t want to admit how appealing he did look to her.

  “Let’s fix this,” he said, reaching over to take the clip out of her hair and placing it on the table. She smiled at him as she shook her head, letting her hair fan out over her shoulders.

  As they rocked and talked, she felt as if she was standing on the edge of a high cliff and a misstep could mean ruin. She thought about what she should do and what she wanted to do. She wanted to be in his arms, making love again. How much would that hurt later? It wouldn’t change anything. It just might mean more heartache.

  “Think you’ll stay in Royal or move to Dallas after our divorce?” he asked after a long silence.

  “Right now, after a fun day together, I don’t want to think about the divorce.” She gazed into the darkness and sipped her tea. “I’ll probably stay in this area unless some opportunity with my photography comes up and causes me to move on. We’ll cross paths, I’m sure.”

  With his feet propped on another chair, Tom was silent. While he sipped his beer, he idly rubbed one knee and she remembered how he ran and played with the kids. She also remembered how badly his knee was hurt in the bus wreck and the big scar he still carried.

  “Does your knee hurt?”

  He looked around. “Not really. I guess rubbing it sometimes has gotten to be a habit from when it did hurt.”

  “That’s good. It used to bother you some after a long day like today,” she said.

  “I don’t think about it much any longer. We’ll both carry that night with us in our memories forever, but the pain isn’t as constant as it was.”

  “I agree. I’m sorry that you got hurt so badly. I was scared I’d lose you both,” she said, thinking about all they had been through.

  “I’m sorry I made it and Ryan didn’t,” he said quietly.

  “Tom, don’t ever apologize because you survived,” she said, turning to stare at him. “I didn’t want to lose either one of you,” she said. “I was terrified when they told me you were on the critical list along with Ryan. I called your brother and that’s why you were on so many prayer lists, because he got the word out. Don’t ever apologize for surviving.”

  “I figured you wished I had died instead of Ryan,” Tom replied. Stunned, she stared at him in the darkness while she clutched his hand.

  Nine

  “If one of us could have lived and one couldn’t, I would rather it had been Ryan, too,” Tom continued.

  Shocked, she shook her head. “Tom, I never felt that way,” she said, staring at him in the dark. “That’s dreadful. I never for one second wanted to lose you.”

  He didn’t answer and she wondered if he doubted her. “It has never occurred to me you could have thought I wished it had been you. I loved you. I loved you so much.” When he still didn’t answer her, she hurt to think he had been carrying that idea around all this time. “I was so scared you wouldn’t make it. I stayed awake all through that first night praying for you and Ryan.”

  Setting her glass of tea aside, she got up and stepped over to sit in his lap. She framed his face with her hands so she could look into his eyes even though it was dark on the porch. “I never wished you had died instead of Ryan. Not for one part of a second. Oh, how I loved you.”

  His arms tightened around her and he shifted, cradling her against his shoulder as he leaned over to kiss her, a possessive kiss that made her insides seize up. She kissed him back as if she could erase all the heartaches and differences with their kiss. She leaned away again and cupped his chin in her hand.

  “Don’t ever think or say that again. With my whole heart I wanted you and Ryan, both of you, to survive.” Holding him tightly, she resumed their kiss.

  Minutes later, she raised her head. “Tom, I never for one second wanted you to die,” she said.

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nbsp; He gazed intently at her and started to say something, but she stood, taking his hand. She pulled lightly and he came to his feet to sweep her into his arms.

  If she couldn’t convince him with words, she wanted to show him with her loving, with kisses and caresses to give him all the sensual pleasure possible. As if he knew what she wanted, he carried her inside. Holding her close, he climbed the staircase and switched on the light in the upstairs hall.

  In her bedroom beside the new bed, he stood her on her feet and kissed her. The instant his mouth covered hers, she trembled with desire. She stepped back to take off her blouse, moving slowly while he watched her. When she had her blouse off, she stepped forward to pull off his shirt and rake her hands over his chest and shower kisses there, running her tongue over the flat, hard nipples, tangling her fingers in his thick chest curls.

  He caressed her breasts, cupping them and stroking her nipples lightly with his thumbs while she peeled away her capri pants. She unfastened and pulled off his belt as they kissed. Then she unfastened his jeans and pushed them down his legs.

  Tom paused to kick off his boots and pull off the rest of his clothes and her lace panties. He placed his hands on her hips and stepped back to look at her. “You’re beautiful. I’ve dreamed about you and spent hours remembering.” His fingers again drifted over her breast, a faint brush of his hand that was as electrifying as his hungry gaze.

  His look was as sexy and stimulating as his touch, making her quiver. She twisted and turned, rubbing her warm, naked body against him, all the while caressing him, touching him, stroking his thick manhood.

  “Ah, Em, this is good with you, so good.” He leaned down to take her nipple in his mouth and circle the tip with his tongue. Intense sensation shot through her from each hot brush of his tongue and she gasped with pleasure.

  “Tom, my love,” she whispered. Her fingers trailed over his scars, some new, most old and familiar. She followed with her tongue.

  Reaching for her, he watched her expression as he cupped her breasts again.

  She clung to his shoulders, closing her eyes and drowning in sensation. “I want to take all night to give you pleasure, to show you how wrong you were.”

  He kissed her fiercely, holding her tightly as if it might be their last kiss, and she clung to him.

  When he released her, he gazed into her eyes. “Tonight is for memories of the good times, for a day well spent, to celebrate being alive.”

  Emily tangled her fingers in his chest hair as she kissed him. He stood with his eyes closed as she knelt to lick and kiss and stroke him, until he picked her up and placed her on the bed. He propped himself up on an elbow beside her, watching her, and then leaned down to shower kisses and caresses over every inch of her.

  He pushed her over onto her stomach, his tongue trailing down her spine, over her smooth, round bottom, lower between her legs and then over the backs of her legs while his hands were everywhere caressing her.

  She moaned softly, her hands knotted in the sheets on the bed. She turned to face him, her gaze raking over his muscled body and thick manhood. He stretched out beside her to pull her into his arms and kiss her hard while his hand was warm between her legs, rubbing her, driving her to new heights. She arched against him and ran her hand over his legs, over his thick rod that was hot and hard and ready for her.

  With a murmur deep in his throat, he stepped off the bed and picked her up. They looked into each other’s eyes while he pulled her up onto her toes. He looked fierce, desire blazing in his expression.

  As he kissed her, he braced himself. She locked her long legs around his waist and he lowered her onto his thick shaft.

  Gasping with pleasure, she dug her nails into his muscled shoulders and then wrapped her arms around him, clinging tightly to him She wanted his lovemaking to drive her to oblivion, to make love until pain and hurt and loss were mere shadows that couldn’t affect her.

  And then all thought was gone as she rode him. He thrust hard and fast, driving her to a brink and then over. She cried out with ecstasy before kissing him again, a kiss of love, of longing and of rapture.

  Time and hurt didn’t exist. She was wrapped in his arms, one with him, and for this moment it felt as if she was enveloped in his love once again.

  When she finally slid down to stand, she gazed into his eyes that looked filled with love. For this moment they had recaptured the past. Gently, he picked her up to place her on the bed and stretched out beside her. She lay in his arms, exhausted, pressed against his hard length. Tom held her close against him, slowly combing his fingers through her hair. “This is good, Em,” he said in a raspy tone.

  She placed her hand on his cheek. They lay quietly, holding each other, touching, stroking each other gently, and she wished the night would stretch into eternity.

  “We’re way ahead of the schedule for fixing the house, aren’t we?” he asked, his deep voice soft in the silent night.

  “Yes, thanks to you and your dynamo energy.”

  “How about going to the ranch for a few days to get a break? You’ve already blocked off time from your photography. Honestly, I can use a little time on the ranch. Would you do that? A little break won’t hurt.”

  She gazed at him as she thought it over. “Just a few days?”

  “Sure. Just a break. I think we’ve earned one. I’ve hired a company to get these hardwood floors back in shape for you.”

  “Tom—you didn’t tell me. Are they putting in new floors?”

  “No. It’s a cleanup and polish, that sort of thing. If you want something more, though, now is the time to say so.”

  “No, that will be wonderful. That’s all I intended to do. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Let’s go to the ranch tomorrow and I’ll call and tell them to come do the floors. I know the guy that owns the company, and we can trust him with the house key.”

  She laughed. “Sure. What’s to steal here?” she asked, looking around at an empty room. “Very well. Yes, I’ll go to the ranch—what? A week, four days, two days?”

  “How is four days?”

  “Four days it is. Thanks. I’ll make arrangements and we’ll go after lunch.

  “Where are we staying?”

  He leaned close. “Let’s try the main house together. Our house. I can stay in a separate bedroom if you want, but four days—let’s try, Em.”

  “You can always get your way with me. You know all you have to do is look at me, touch me or even just stand close and I’m putty.”

  “Very sexy putty, I’d say.”

  “Don’t try to butter me up now,” she said, smiling at him.

  “Ah, butter. That’s something we haven’t tried. Maybe I will butter you up one night.”

  She laughed and hugged him. “Why can’t it stay this way?”

  “I can’t answer that one.”

  * * *

  The next afternoon, they were packed, had the house locked up and were in the car by two o’clock. On the ride back to the ranch, they reminisced about their high school days and dating. Emily wondered if they could maintain their relaxed, friendly attitude on the ranch, where so many painful memories came up day after day.

  She would soon know. They moved into the big house and she had a chill run down her spine because she had a feeling they were making a big mistake by coming back when they didn’t have to. Standing in the entryway beneath the Waterford crystal chandelier, she looked around.

  “Tom, I’ll take the guest bedroom on the far west side.”

  “Good idea. I’ll take the one next to it unless you’ll just let me move in with you from the start.”

  She laughed. “Let’s see how we’re doing by nightfall. We don’t have a good track record in this house.”

  He took her hand and stepped close in front of her. With his
other hand he caressed her nape lightly. “We had the best track record possible until that bus wreck. That’s when it all went to hell. But we’ve been doing pretty well together in town these past weeks.”

  She nodded but still had the feeling of foreboding.

  “I need to go see Gus and check on some things. I’m sure you can entertain yourself, and if nothing else, just take a four-day vacation.”

  “That sounds awesome,” she said, smiling at him. “You get going and my vacation will start. I may go swim.”

  “Better check the pool over first for critters. No one has been here except a skeleton garden and cleaning staff.”

  “Oh, yes. I look before I jump in.”

  “So you do.” He smiled at her. “See, we’re doing pretty well. Kiss me and we’ll see if we are still speaking to each other.”

  She laughed, but she really didn’t feel lighthearted. He stepped close to embrace and kiss her, startling her for one second, and then she held him and returned his kiss, wondering if he would still want to kiss her in four days.

  In minutes, he picked her up and carried her to a downstairs bedroom, setting her down only to yank the covers off the bed.

  “Tom—” she protested.

  “We’re alone. What I’m going to do can wait. This can’t,” he rasped. In seconds, their clothing was gone and he picked her up as he kissed her. She locked her legs around him and he spread his feet apart, letting her slide down on his thick rod while they kissed.

  Emily held him tightly, moving on him, her cries of ecstasy smothered by his kisses. She moved fast with him as he thrust deeply and groaned when he reached a shuddering climax.

  She finally sagged against him, placing her head on his shoulder as he placed her in bed and then stretched out beside her.

  “You are fantastic and leave me frazzled and in paradise at the same time.”

  She smiled. “You’re never frazzled. We’ll shower soon, but for a minute I want you close to me. This is a good way to start our current life here.”

  They talked softly, stroking each other, and he seemed to enjoy the moment as much as she did until he finally rolled over.