Restless Rancher

by Jennifer Ryan

  Sonya turned and spotted him staring at her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” One side of her ruby-red lips dipped into a lopsided frown. “I don’t know how long I can stay. I’m working on a big project.” She nodded. “We’ll see. Go with the guards. I need to book a flight. I’ll be there soon. I love you, Mama.”

  Sonya closed the distance between them. He stayed in his spot and let her come to him. Why? He didn’t really know, but he wanted her to want to be near him. He wanted her to think of him as a friend, someone she could count on. And a hell of a lot more.

  “Sorry about all that.”

  “You just fended off my father with a shotgun and you’re sorry about taking a phone call from your mom? Don’t be. Is she okay?”

  “She will be. It’ll take time. Sadly this has happened so many times, she’s learned to cope in a bizarre way that I don’t get but works for her. I want to rage and kill them for what they did.” She sucked in a breath, trying to dispel the fresh wave of anger that tightened all her muscles. If she held the phone any tighter, it would shatter in her hand. “She’ll go quiet for a while. She’ll find solace focusing on simple things like a beautiful sunset or the flowers in the garden. She won’t let herself think about what happened. She’ll romanticize her job and . . .” She caught herself.

  “I’m not judging, sweetheart. I’m trying to understand.”

  Sonya raked her fingers over her head, pulling even more strands from the ponytail. “I don’t even understand how she can be so innocently sweet and childlike after the cruelty she’s suffered.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She threw up her hands and let them fall. “You don’t think women become prostitutes because they came from happy loving homes, do you?”

  He didn’t answer the rhetorical question. “I never thought about it.”

  “Men don’t think about how women ended up twirling around a pole or giving ten-dollar blow jobs in the front seat of a car. They just see them as an itch scratcher. Someone there to give them what they want. Like they aren’t people with feelings and dreams.”

  She didn’t imply it, or say it outright, but he didn’t like even the implication that she lumped him in that group. “Not all men are like that. I’m not. I’ve never even been to a strip club or paid for sex.”

  For a split second, disbelief filled her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “I’m sorry. As you can see, dealing with my mother riles me up, and I’m taking my anger out on you.”

  If it helped her, he could take it and a hell of a lot more because this had nothing to do with him and he wanted her to feel better and put this ugly business behind her. But she wouldn’t because it was too personal and heartbreaking to know your mother hurt and you weren’t there to help. “Who are Roger and Fred? And what did they do to your mom?”

  She exhaled so hard he pictured a cartoon bull blasting out a breath in a huge cloud and kicking up dust.

  “They’re my mother’s uncles. You think your father is bad, you have no idea how cruel people can be.”

  That thought kicked in all his protective instincts. He wanted to keep her away from them and any kind of danger. “What did they do?” He softened his tone, hoping it encouraged her to open up.

  “What they’ve done my mom’s whole life. Beat her and took what they wanted from her.”

  “When the cops pick them up, they’ll get what’s coming.”

  Sonya narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “She won’t call the cops.”

  “Do it for her.” He gave the order this time. “They can’t get away with hurting her.”

  “They always do, because she can’t bring herself to face what they’ve done, to let everyone know the depths of how they destroyed her.” Sonya brushed her hand over her head, pulling the rubber band free and releasing her disheveled hair. She shook it out, but she didn’t shake off her anger. “I’ve tried to protect her since we moved to the Ranch, but just when I think they’ve given up and will leave her alone, they come back and pick at her soul like vultures feasting on carrion.” She sat on the step and tapped at her cell screen. “She gave them five thousand dollars,” she mumbled under her breath. “They deserve five thousand bullets.”

  Unsure what to do now that she’d shut him out, he sat behind her, pulled her up so she sat on his thighs, wrapped his arms around her, and held her close to his chest, his cheek pressed to her head. Her whole body went rigid at the surprise of him taking her into his arms, but she settled in and crossed her arms over his, her hands holding on to him as tightly as he held her.

  He didn’t say anything. He just hugged her, because he didn’t think anyone had ever held her through the bad times.

  Her I-can-do-it attitude and tough-girl exterior made people think she didn’t need it. The hard shell on the outside hid her soft center. But this thing with her mother put a crack in it. And he looked deeper. The way she’d done with him.

  And so he gave back to her what she’d shown him. Kindness and empathy and a hug he meant.

  The quiet night surrounded them. House lights behind them. The stars above them. No words, just two people living with the consequences of their pasts, sharing a closeness he’d never felt with anyone.

  This might possibly be the most intimate thing he’d ever shared with a woman.

  Certainly the most honest thing he’d ever experienced.

  Sonya wiped the silent tears from her face. He rubbed his cheek against her head to let her know he was there. She snuggled back into him and relaxed in his arms. “I need to book my flight.”

  He pressed the side of his face to her soft hair. “I know you have to go, but I don’t want you to.”

  Her breath caught for a second before she exhaled and settled into him again.

  “If you want me to go with you, I will.”

  “Why?” Surprise and wonder and suspicion filled that one little word.

  “Because I want to be with you.” The honest confession didn’t faze him the way he thought it might. The words were out there. He didn’t want to take them back. He didn’t usually show his cards this openly to a woman. Then again, Sonya wasn’t just any woman. She’d shown him strength and compassion and he wanted to give it back to her. “You probably don’t need my help with your mother.” Lord knows she’d put everything to rights. “But I could be there for you.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, closed it, took a breath, then found her words. “I appreciate the offer.” She tightened her hold on his arms. “And this. More than you can possibly know. But I’ll deal with my mom.” She turned her head and rubbed her cheek against his. “I’ll be back soon.”

  He slid his hand away from her belly and moved it up along her neck and jaw. He brushed his thumb over her soft skin and stared into her fathomless hazel eyes. “Maybe this will make you hurry back.” He leaned in, his gaze locked with hers, and brushed his lips against hers. When he settled his mouth over hers, her eyelids slowly fell, and she pressed into him. He drew back. She sucked in a surprised gasp that he’d leave her, but he kissed her again. He closed his eyes, savored the sensations rushing through him: warmth, pleasure to wallow in, and a sense of peace that everything would be all right. He hadn’t felt that way in a long time.

  His body begged him to dive in and take more. Something else inside him told him to savor the quiet intensity of the moment. So he did, keeping the soft, light, undemanding kisses an exploration of her and the way she made him feel.

  When his body couldn’t take any more restraint without the release it demanded, he kissed her one last time, his mouth pressed to hers, his hand on her cheek, holding her to him. He ended the kiss and laid his forehead to hers but didn’t open his eyes. “Damn, sweetheart. I really don’t want you to go.”

  “You gave me a hell of a reason to stay.”

  He opened his eyes and leaned back a few inches so he could see her clearly. “I can live with that for now.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek.

  She leaned into h
is touch. “I don’t know how long I’m meant to be here.”

  He appreciated her honesty and marveled at the thought that maybe she was meant to stay. He’d fallen and settled into a hole of despair because he didn’t see a way out or a reason to claw his way up to something better.

  Roxy offered him a hand up. Sonya gave him a reason to want to be his best.

  “We were ordered to work together. I never anticipated or expected that we’d actually work together.” When nothing much else did in his life, they made sense. “I’ve been so angry about what happened in the past, I haven’t thought about the future. I’m thinking about it now. What this place could be. What’s been missing in my life.” He tightened his arm around her to let her know he meant her, even if he couldn’t come right out and say it.

  “Because of school, work, my own hang-ups, it’s been a while since I allowed anyone in. Once this place is up and running, my responsibility will be to solely oversee Roxy’s interests and the financial aspect of the business.”

  “You’ll go from renovation to spreadsheets.”

  “Numbers make sense. I’m not sure we do. I still have obligations back home.”

  “So does Roxy, but she lives here with Noah. I’m not asking you to move in,” he quickly added, “but stay. Spend time with your sister. Give us a chance to see if this adds up the way one and one makes two do.”

  A soft smile tilted her rosy lips. “Well, I still need to finish the house and stables, get some animals roaming on this patch of weeds, and see that you’re a rancher worth betting on.”

  “So Roxy gets her money back, or you know that I’m more than the drunk you tried to drown the day you arrived?”

  She smiled. “You deserved that.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “You’re not a drunk. I’ve seen true alcoholics. They need a drink. You just wanted an escape.”

  “Now I don’t need one.” He kissed her softly. “You woke me up yesterday in more ways than one.”

  She tilted her forehead back to his. “It’s not fair what your father did to you.”

  “If he hadn’t, I might not have met you.”

  Sonya leaned back and stared at him. “I don’t know. Roxy still would have moved here. I’d come to visit. You’re Noah’s best friend. Eventually we would have met.”

  “But would I have gotten to know you the way I have working here with you? Would I have seen the way you issue orders like a drill sergeant? Would I know that you make lists for everything? Maybe you’d still laugh with me, but would we have gotten this close this fast because of all the memories I’ve shared with you, all the raw stuff you’ve seen me go through here? Would you have seen the real me you saw when I lost it over this place or when I found my mother’s letter? Would I have let you see deeper, or simply tried to impress you with only what I wanted you to see?” He didn’t think so.

  “The attraction has been there from the start, despite how hard we both try to ignore it because we have a job to do. I’m connected to Roxy. You’re now connected to her because of the partnership, but also because she’s your best friend’s girlfriend. That complicates things.”

  He agreed. “But it doesn’t make them impossible.”

  “No, but it does mean we go in with our eyes open and understand that things could get messy if this ends badly.”

  “I’m tired of my complicated and messy life. This is the first time I’ve felt like something could be simple and easy.”

  “Because of Roxy and the business, it’s not simple.” She pressed her fingers to his lips when he tried to protest. “But it does feel easy for me, too. You were such a wreck when I arrived—”

  “Thanks.” The small word held every ounce of sarcasm inside him.

  She touched his face the way he’d held hers earlier. “You’re a gorgeous guy.”

  He smiled at that, because somehow she’d seen past his drunk-ass haggard appearance and seen what he’d look like clean, sober, composed, and working hard to turn his dream into reality.

  “But let’s face it, Austin, you were broken and vulnerable and disillusioned. I’ve seen you come out of it and believe the future you want for yourself and this place is possible. I’ve seen you work harder than everyone on-site to make it happen. And because you put that first over flirting with me, I could be myself. You could have any woman you want. Me included, I’m embarrassed and crazy to admit to your face, because I’m not usually so forward or easy. I’ve never been attracted to someone the way I am to you.”

  Stunned, he stared into her earnest and, yes, embarrassed gaze, and took in her pretty pink cheeks. “I thought you might be interested, but I had no idea . . .”

  “I was sure I made a fool of myself gawking at you all the time.”

  “You’re so beautiful. You killed me this morning when you were doing yoga, bending over and stretching and looking so damn sexy I want to jump you.”

  She smiled and pressed her forehead to his chin. “That’s just it. We’ve let this thing simmer.” She leaned back and stared up at him. “I’m afraid if we leap, we’ll screw it up by going too fast.”

  He had a hard time not picking her up and taking her to the nearest comfortable spot and laying her out beneath him so he could make love to her the rest of the night. Knowing she was willing and wanted it as much as he did didn’t help one damn bit. But . . . “I agree. We should take our time.” He couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth, but he meant them. He’d been flying by the seat of his pants this past year. Now he had a chance at being with someone who not only made him want her more than he’d ever wanted a woman, but who also challenged and supported him.

  “You’re okay with taking things slow?”

  “I’m not saying it’ll be easy.” He shifted, rubbing his achingly hard cock against her hip. No way the woman hadn’t noticed that all this time she’d been sitting sideways in his lap. “But it’s been a hell of a night and you’re on your way back to Vegas in the morning.” He tangled his fingers in her hair. “All bets are off when you get back. I can’t tell you what I’ll do when the house is finished and there’s an actual bed in our vicinity.”

  She deserved better than his cot or her air mattress.

  Sonya giggled and he held her closer and whispered in her ear, “I shouldn’t tell you this, but . . .” He pressed a kiss to her soft earlobe. “Wherever you lead, I’ll follow.”

  He wanted her to know that despite her admission that he could seduce her into his bed, she had control of when and if that happened. Not that he wouldn’t tempt her to want to be there sooner rather than later. When they took that next step, it would be because it was right for both of them.

  It wouldn’t be easy. He wasn’t used to denying himself a willing woman. But they both understood what was at stake if they screwed this up. He could take the heat from Roxy and Noah, but he didn’t want to damage Sonya’s relationship with her sister, especially when they’d only had each other growing up at the Wild Rose Ranch where their mothers worked and they looked out for each other.

  He needed to get this ranch up and running so he could make some money of his own and take her on a proper date. She deserved at the very least a night out for all the hard work she’d put in here. He wanted to give her candlelight, good food, wine, and all the romance she deserved.

  Right now, thanks to her inheriting the Wild Rose Ranch from her father, Roxy was footing the bill. He wanted Sonya to know he could take care of her without anyone’s help.

  As much as he wanted to hold Sonya for the rest of the night, he nudged her to stand up, but kept his hands on her hips. “Make your plane reservations. I’ll heat up the pizza and get us something to drink.”

  “I could use a beer, or three.”

  He squeezed her hips. “Coming up.” He stood and stepped up to the wide porch.

  “Shoot.” She frowned at the open doorway.

  “What?”

  “I forgot. I need to put the finish on the living room flo
or.”

  “I’ll take care of it. Book your flight. I’ve got the house covered while you’re gone.”

  “But the cabinet guys and contractors are coming and—”

  “Sonya, the lists and plans you’ve drawn up are so detailed a kindergartener could follow them. Focus on your mother. Everything will be fine.”

  She sighed and studied him. “I hate to leave you in the middle of this mess.”

  “I hate you leaving me at all, but having so much to do will make the time go by faster.”

  “It’s sweet that you’re trying to distract me from being obsessed with the project.”

  “I’m telling you the truth. I already know there’s nothing that will keep you from fixating on work.” He turned to go grab the beers from the cooler and a couple of paper plates from the table she’d set up with snacks, water, plastic cups, and utensils, and other things they used for their camping-style meals since they didn’t have a kitchen anymore.

  “I’ll be thinking about you, too,” she called out.

  He turned and stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest. Some wild possessive thing burst inside him. He wanted to go to her, kiss her, make love to her to show her what she said meant something to him. But he’d just told her they’d take things slow.

  She made it damn hard to keep that promise.

  “Make your reservations, sweetheart.” The words were the exact opposite of what he wanted to say. Not “go away,” but “come here.” Now.

  Now that’s an order he’d follow every damn time if she said it to him.

  She must have read it in his eyes, how close he was to going after her and showing her how much he desperately wanted and needed her. She held up her phone and walked over to the other side of the porch and sat in one of the kitchen table chairs she’d stored there.

  He tried to dial down his hyperawareness of her and focus on what had to be done before he finally got to sleep tonight, but she took up his every thought and his body wanted to act on them.

  They ate together, though she spent most of that time making travel arrangements and updating her lists for the contractor and cabinet and tile guys. She made him a detailed to-do list. Second to the last item was, “Think about Sonya.” He drew lines with arrows pointing in between each of the other items and held it up for her to see he’d be doing a lot of that.