Roping the Rancher (Harlequin American Romance)

by Benson, Julie

  He’d screwed up when he’d learned of his deployment by not laying everything out with Jess. He’d talked to her, but they never really had a heart-to-heart, compromise and work it out discussion. He may not be Albert Einstein, but he was smart enough to learn from his mistakes. He knew that, but he wasn’t quite sure how to start. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier.”

  “That’s not what you want to talk to me about. I know something’s up because you’re acting like you do whenever you’ve got something to discuss that you don’t want to talk about.”

  “How did you get to be so smart?”

  “Good genes.” She grinned, looking so much like her mother. He and Lynn may have failed at marriage, but they’d created something incredible in this amazing young woman.

  “I’m in love with Stacy.”

  “I know. You have that same look in your eyes that Uncle Reed does when he looks at Avery. The question is what are you going to do about it?”

  His daughter’s words nearly knocked him over. She’d grown up so fast. He’d been right when he told Stacy earlier that teenagers really weren’t kids anymore. “I want to ask her to marry me, but before I do, I want to make sure you’re okay with it.”

  “What if I said I’m not?”

  “Then I wouldn’t ask her to marry me, but I won’t stop seeing her.” He searched his daughter’s young face, trying to read her thoughts and then decided to quit guessing. “Are you saying you’re not okay with it?”

  “She’s cool. I like how she makes you happy.” Jess’s brows furrowed in thought. He braced himself. Experience taught him her looking like that or thinking that hard never led to something he wanted to hear. “What will that make Ryan? My stepuncle? That borders on creepy.”

  “You may not have to worry about that. Stacy may turn me down.”

  His daughter laughed until her eyes watered. “Really, Dad? Come on. The woman ran into a burning barn to save you.”

  Maybe there was hope for him.

  * * *

  STACY SAT IN the unforgiving plastic chairs connected like train cars in the Denver airport and realized she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.

  She was leaving behind everyone who filled her life with light. Ryan, Jess and, most importantly, Colt. She’d finally found a man she wanted to share her life with, one who’d stood beside her, one who hadn’t bailed on her when she needed him or told her she was more trouble than she was worth, and what was she doing? Walking away from him, and for what? A needy, self-centered mother and a career that made a roller-coaster ride look like a smooth experience.

  Hardly a fair trade.

  Nannette’s words hammered in Stacy’s mind. You’re not your mother’s keeper. You have the right to live your own life.

  As a child she’d lacked the power to do anything about Andrea relying on her as a confidant and a source of financial support. At some point that was no longer true. Since then, by allowing the unhealthy patterns she and Andrea had settled into to continue, Stacy had become part of the problem.

  But no more.

  She refused to sacrifice her life for her mother any longer. She’d tell Andrea she’d always be there for her, but she wouldn’t continue to rescue her. Stacy vowed she’d get her through this rough time with Grant, but then her mother was going to have to learn to stand on her own two feet, to call her own repairmen and live within her own means.

  I deserve that.

  Nannette had been right. Everyone’s life was tough. The giant weight that had been resting on Stacy’s chest tumbled off.

  Colt had shown her what life could be like, and she intended to do whatever she could to hold on to that. Nothing in her life meant anything if she wasn’t with him.

  She couldn’t leave with things unsettled between them, without telling him how much she loved him. She wanted him in her life. However she could have him. Her hand shaking, she clutched her cell phone and called the man she loved.

  When he answered, she plunged forward before she lost her courage. She stared at the floor as she struggled to control her racing thoughts. “I should have said this earlier, but I was afraid to. I’d like us to keep seeing each other even though I’m moving back to California. Once I help my mom through this latest crisis then I can think about the future. I know this is a lot to ask of you because I travel so much for my job and long-distance relationships are hard. I know this isn’t the kind of thing people usually discuss over the phone, but—”

  “I want to talk about it, too, but do you mind if I sit down?”

  Worn, scuffed cowboy boots materialized in her line of vision and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. They looked like Colt’s, but weren’t men in Colorado required by law to own a pair of dog-eared cowboy boots? Her gaze traveled upward until she reached his magnificent face.

  This couldn’t be real. She was missing him so much she’d started hallucinating. “Am I seeing things or are you really here?”

  He shoved his cell phone in his back pocket and then pried hers out of her hand, ended the call and dropped it in her purse. “I’m here. I want to correct a mistake I made earlier.” He folded his long muscular frame into the plastic seat beside her. “I never should’ve let you leave. I love you.”

  Joy, full and overpowering, exploded inside her. “Only ticketed passengers are allowed at the gate.”

  A bewildered look crossed his handsome features. “Not exactly the response I expected after my declaration of love.”

  Finally coming out of her fog, she said, “I love you, too.”

  His warm, callused hands cupped her face. He felt real. Solid. Tears filled her eyes as he lightly kissed her. Then he slid out of his chair, the plastic scrunching and creaking with his movement, and he knelt in front of her. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Other than with Jess and my brother, I haven’t had a lot of luck with family. My father was an abusive bastard who drank himself into an early grave. My mother died when I was twelve, and you know about my marriage, but Stacy, I love you with all my heart. Marry me.”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Colt stood, scooped her into his arms and swung her around as he let out a whoop of joy. Applause erupted around them. She blushed, noticing that they’d drawn a crowd.

  “But how do we make things work, practically speaking? I don’t know how to do anything but act. Sure, Griffin and Maggie are keeping their careers going, but she’s a director and has more control over the projects she does than I do.”

  “If you can put the breaks on the train you’ve got barreling down the tracks we can talk about it.”

  “When I get super nervous I tend to talk a lot.”

  “I noticed.” He set her back on the floor and his knuckles brushed her cheek. “We won’t starve if you don’t work.”

  “I won’t let you support me.”

  “I’ll do whatever I have to for you to be a part of my life. If that means you going where you need to in order to film a movie, then that’s what we’ll do, and I’ll be here waiting for you. I’ll console myself with thinking about how good getting back together will be.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “We’ll work it out because we’re family.”

  The realization that that’s what she, Colt, Ryan and Jess were rippled through her, filling all the empty spots in her heart. She finally had what she’d always longed for. “We are, aren’t we?” She smiled, but then asked, “Wait a minute. You never answered my question about what you’re doing here at the gate.”

  He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a boarding pass and held the paper out to her. Los Angeles. Her flight number. She read the information twice, but still refused to believe it. “You’re coming to L.A.?”

  “You said you couldn’t cope with your mother’s problems on
your own. We’ll handle the situation together, and then I’m making sure you come back home with me.”

  Back home. She liked the sound of that.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE TEXAS WILDCATTER’S BABY by Cathy Gillen Thacker.

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin American Romance story.

  You love small towns and cowboys! Harlequin American Romance stories are heartwarming contemporary tales of everyday women finding love, becoming part of a family or community—or maybe starting a family of her own.

  Enjoy four new stories from Harlequin American Romance every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Other ways to keep in touch:

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Chapter One

  Whoever would have thought, Ginger Rollins wondered, that a tiny plus sign would have the power to forever change her life? But there it was. Bold as ever in the window of the testing device.

  She sighed and stood, her knees wobbling as she paced the length of the nondescript hotel room she currently called home. Barely able to wrap her mind around the stunning news—she thought back to the rowdy town hall meeting in Summit, Texas, just six weeks ago. Where she’d locked eyes—and disputed ideas—with one tall, sexy, indomitable Texan.

  If only her passionate arguing with Rand McCabe had ended there.

  But no, as per usual whenever they met up, the two of them hadn’t been able to call it quits when the meeting ended, and instead had taken their verbal clashing down the street to the establishment that stayed open the latest in that small mountain town. Equal parts pub, dance hall and pool parlor, the cavernous tavern was packed to the rafters with a singles-only event meant to take away the annual sting of Valentine’s Day for the romantically unattached.

  The band was loud, the company lively, the margaritas so strong you had to surrender your car keys and sign a pledge promising not to drink and drive to even get one.

  If only, Ginger thought, she had stopped there, said a cool but firm good-night to Rand, and stuck to her usual ginger ale. Instead she had risen to the challenge of the ruggedly handsome environmentalist, and taken a seat beside him at the bar, where their disagreement had turned to laughter, their animosity to shameless flirting. Along with a host of others, they had closed the place down and taken the party bus back to her room at the Summit Inn.

  The next thing Ginger knew sunlight had been streaming through the blinds. Her body still humming with the bone-deep satisfaction that was every bit as familiar to her as he was, she’d opened her eyes and groaned, aware it had happened. Again.

  Only this time she had a scarlet heart with a broken arrow tattooed just below her shoulder. Rand had an exploding heart inked on his upper arm. And both of them were as naked as the day they were born. Ginger had moaned in dismay, because once again she’d felt way too exposed and vulnerable. “I don’t believe this,” she’d whispered to herself. When would she ever learn?

  “Can’t say I mind,” a low masculine voice had drawled back.

  Ginger winced. “Of course you don’t mind,” she’d muttered. He’d had a great time.

  They both had.

  “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better Valentine’s Day,” he’d added.

  As confident—and determined—as ever, Rand had turned his ruggedly handsome face and warm, strong body to hers. The stubble of morning beard, a shade darker than his rumpled mahogany hair, had lined his jaw. A sexy smile turned up the corners of his lips. But it was the compelling masculine intensity of his midnight-blue eyes when he’d admired her tousled hair and kiss-swollen lips that had really left her enthralled.

  Damn him for reminding her just how right they were together. In bed anyway....

  Ginger knew she should have said no when Rand’s grin broadened and he’d reached for her again. Instead she’d given in to overwhelming desire and said yes to making love one last time.

  To her relief, their coordinating tattoos hadn’t been real. But apparently the consequences of their actions had been. And now, Ginger thought, on a fresh wave of emotion, she had to decide what to do before any more precious time elapsed.

  * * *

  RAND MCCABE HAD collected eleven of the twelve soil samples he needed from in and around the Summit Creek bed when the pickup stopped just south of him. The door opened and an achingly familiar woman, with a mane of long copper-colored hair, stepped out into the warm spring sunshine.

  A real looker, Ginger Rollins was dressed much like the last time he had seen her, in formfitting jeans, white T-shirt and button-up Western vest. Her leather boots were thick and sturdy, meant for traversing hard-scrabble ground. Her stone suede hat had a rolled brim that spoke volumes about her sassy attitude.

  And while Rand could not help but admire the sultry curves on her tall, statuesque frame, it was her pretty face, the pert, straight nose and soft, sensual lips that had haunted his dreams.

  One more night together shouldn’t have made all the difference.

  But it had.

  Perhaps that’s why it bothered him more than usual that she’d been steadily avoiding his calls, texts and emails for the past six weeks, as was always the case after they hooked up....

  His gut clenching with a mixture of impatience and anticipation, he watched Ginger stride toward him, her long legs eating up the ground. Slender shoulders squared, her chin held high, she moved with a smooth, effortless grace that made his heart jackhammer in his chest. Unfortunately there was no way of telling what she was thinking or feeling, given the sunglasses shading her dark green eyes. Figuring it best that he be standing when they faced off, Rand straightened to his full height. He set the soil sample in the bed of his truck. Inched off his leather gloves. Waited.

  Her purposeful steps stopped just in front of him. Keenly aware that she owed him a big apology, for her usual lack of post-hooking-up etiquette, he looked at her expectantly.

  Several long moments passed. Then she stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and squared her shoulders again. Another beat of silence. Finally she said, “There’s no other way to put this, so I’m just going to spit it out. I’m pregnant.”

  Pregnant. The word rolled around in his brain, refusing to compute. She was pregnant?

  Ginger offered a weak smile, but did not take off her sunglasses. The silence between them stretched. Within him, anger and irritation surged. After weeks of ignoring him, now this? He took off his sunglasses, so she could see his eyes.

  “Is this an April Fool’s joke?” he demanded. Yet another way to torment him? If so, he wasn’t laughing.

  Every inch of her five-foot-eight-inch frame tensed. She let out a long, slow breath that first lifted then lowered her full shapely breasts. “Believe me, McCabe, I was as caught off-guard as you are.”

  He stared at her, still considering what to do and say next that wouldn’t make the situation even more volatile.

  Finally she took off her sunglasses.

  To his surprise, she looked calm. Every emotional defense she had firmly in place. As though this whole speech was something she had rehearsed.

  “Anyway.” Ginger paused, appearing not to share the complex feelings roiling around inside him. “I thought I should tell you. Probably in person.” She took another deep breath, suddenly looking oddly vulnerable. “So...” She gestured broadly, then started to pivot away from him.

  Not about to let her run away from him again, especially now, he stopped her exodus with a light hand to her shoulder. Turned her slowly back to face him. “You’re sure?” he asked quietly, searching her eyes, aware a sort of
happy acceptance was beginning to crowd out the shock within him.

  “Yes,” she said softly, meeting his gaze for one long, telling moment that had them both—however briefly—on the same page. “When I first saw the plus sign in the indicator window, I was hoping it was a glitch in the home pregnancy test. Which is why—” She rummaged around in her back pocket, finally producing a folded piece of paper. “I saw a doctor over in Marfa and had a blood test and physical exam.”

  Her fingers brushed his briefly as she gave him the paper. It had her name and confidential patient information, all right, as well as lab results and the word “Positive.” Under diagnosis, he saw “Pregnancy” listed, along with a projected due date of November sixth.

  Their eyes met once again. Emotion shimmered between them as another long, awkward silence fell. He wasn’t sure what she expected of him. Wasn’t entirely sure what he felt, either. Except for the tiny hint of joy.

  She assessed him with a long, level look and blurted, “Aren’t you going to ask me if the baby is yours?”

  Rand knew that would have been the logical response if their latest one-night stand had been with two people who were accustomed to having one-night stands. Neither of them was. That made her habitual running away from him—from the passion they shared—all the harder to understand and accept, given that their intermittent lovemaking had been ongoing for more than a year now.

  “No.”

  Her green eyes glimmered with barely suppressed emotion. “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t have to, Ginger,” he said. “I know it is.”

  Seeming vaguely insulted by his confidence, she squinted at him, then retorted, “How?”

  Aggravated to find her still wanting to downplay what they’d experienced, which had been pretty spectacular, he returned, just as contentiously, “Because it was apparent from the very first time we ever went to bed together that you knew nothing about having a fling, and even less about turning an ongoing series of flings into a relationship.”