Their Rancher Protector

by Sasha Summers

  “Maybe in a couple of days, Cassie. Once Skylar and the girls get their bearings. I feel responsible for them.”

  “That’s a lot of responsibility.” Cassie glanced toward the storefront.

  Kyle nodded, then shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t mind.”

  Cassie studied him for a long time. Her brows slowly rose and her eyes went owl-like until she said, “Kyle Mitchell, have you found your lobster?”

  “My what now?” he asked, beyond confused.

  “Your soul mate.” Cassie rolled her eyes.

  Kyle chuckled. “I’ve never heard it put that way before, Cassie.”

  “That was a dodge, plain and simple.” She was smiling now. “You’ve got it bad.”

  “The only thing I’ve got is a lunch date with my mother at the King Frosty and a triple-bacon cheeseburger.” He sighed, knowing what he had to say next would only fuel Cassie’s line of thinking. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t share your lobster theory with anyone. Like you said, no one can have secrets here and I don’t want people talking—making Skylar feel awkward or uncomfortable or having people imply that there’s anything untoward going on here.” He frowned. “There isn’t.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, placing one hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I was teasing. Of course I’d never spread rumors—not about you anyway. You’re too important.” She patted his arm. “As your first wife, I feel duty bound to protect your good name.”

  He had to chuckle. “I can’t believe you brought up the whole wedding thing.”

  “Backyard weddings are the best, even when you’ve got a rag-doll bridesmaid and a dog...”

  “Zeus,” he said.

  “Zeus for a groomsman. Buzz married us, remember? That was when Buzz still thought he wanted to be a pastor so he’d get to tell people what to do and eat a lot of home cooking and everyone had to be nice to him.”

  “I remember.” It was a hazy memory, but a good one.

  “Well, I’ll let you get to your shopping. If you have time, take Skylar by the clinic before you leave.” She shrugged. “Buzz is anxious to meet her and put her to work.”

  Kyle nodded, gave her a one-armed hug, and entered the resale shop. A quick scan and he found Skylar, bouncing in place to keep Greer happy, while reading over the tag on a small plastic bed.

  “Kyle?” A man’s voice snagged his attention. “Good to see you, man.”

  Kyle turned. “Dean.” He shook the man’s hand. “Running the place now?”

  Dean Hodges was one of those all-around solid guys who no one ever had anything negative to say about. He and Kyle had played football together in high school but, once Kyle had left, they hadn’t kept in touch.

  Dean nodded. “Dad passed last winter and left the place to me.” He shrugged. “Family business.”

  “Sorry about your dad.” He’d missed a hell of a lot. Next time he had his mother alone, he needed to get the lowdown on things so he’d be prepared.

  “Thanks.” He smiled. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m with them.” He pointed at Skylar and the girls. “Looks like the girls might have found a few things.” Mya and Brynn were having a good time on two beds—Mya-and Brynn-sized beds. Just what they needed.

  “They yours?” Dean asked. “They sure are cute. Congratulations, Kyle. Family is everything.”

  “No. No. They’re just friends.” He nodded. “But you’re right. Family is everything. It was good to see you.”

  Upon closer inspection, Kyle realized they weren’t just beds. One looked like a race car and the other a fire truck—and the girls were already climbing in and out, pretending to drive, and having a good old time.

  “We getting these?” he asked, smiling at the level of imagination unfolding before him.

  Skylar scanned the price tag again. “I don’t think so. It can’t hurt to let them play for a bit.” She glanced at him, then back at the label. “Where’s Cassie? I’m sorry. If I’d known... I feel a little awkward—like we were intruding.”

  “You weren’t.” He resisted the urge to turn her, so she’d have to look at him. “The thing about Cassie? She likes to tease. Our wedding was back in...second grade?” Was it his imagination or did Skylar look relieved? “I was wearing my astronaut costume from Halloween, if I recall correctly. She wore her mother’s robe—and got into a heap of trouble for it, too.” He chuckled. “She and Buzz, my brother John and I were a motley crew. Riding bikes all over. Catching grasshoppers. Being kids.” He was studying her face. “We are all still friends.”

  Skylar’s posture eased and, for a second, her gaze met his. “You might think you’re just friends but I’m pretty sure she’d be happy with more.”

  Even if that was true, he wasn’t interested. “Cassie is...well, she’s Cassie. Friends only.”

  “Beep beep,” Brynn said, the steering wheel on the car bed squeaking loudly.

  “Watch out, Brynn, don’t run me over.” He jumped out of the way, in front of Mya.

  “Fire truck,” Mya announced, patting the bright red plastic bed. “Mine?”

  He knew Skylar was struggling with buying the beds. And, from the price on the tag, he suspected it was tied to spending money. But the way Mya’s face lit up plus the fact that she used her words made it damn near impossible to refuse the little girl. For him anyway.

  He nodded. “Yep.”

  “Kyle,” Skylar murmured, grabbing his arm.

  “My mother wanted to get the girls a welcome present. She insisted,” he said—which was partly true. His mother said to make sure the girls had everything they needed. If his mother was here, and saw Mya’s face, he felt confident she’d see things his way: Mya needed her red fire truck bed.

  “Kyle,” Skylar tried again. “It’s too much.”

  “A gift. With no strings.” He swallowed, seeing the mix of uncertainty and irritation on her face. “If you really feel that strongly about it, I won’t push.”

  But Mya was running her hand along the edge of the bed and smiling from ear to ear—if he had to disappoint her, he’d be devastated.

  Skylar sighed, admitting defeat. “This is it, Kyle. No more presents or surprises or doing generous things. Okay?”

  “Okay.” He gave Mya a wink and a grin. “I’ll try to be selfish and demanding from now on.”

  Skylar laughed. “I don’t think you could be either of those things—even if you wanted to.”

  He liked hearing her say that. “No? Maybe not.” He waved back at Brynn, as she honked her horn and spun the steering wheel on her bed car. “I like making them smile. Is that such a bad thing?”

  “No.” It was a whisper. “I understand. There is nothing sweeter than their smiles.”

  Except maybe yours. His chest was heavy and warm. “Anything else?” he asked, turning to check out the rest of the inventory—and give him a minute to calm down.

  When everything was said and done, the girls had their beds and a wooden chest of drawers Skylar would sand down and repaint. Dean gave them a steep discount and helped him carry everything out and load it into his truck bed.

  “You have fun and drive carefully,” Dean said to Mya and Brynn.

  “Thanks again,” Kyle said, shaking Dean’s hand.

  “Welcome to Granite Falls, Miss Davis.” Dean was all smiles for Skylar. “I hope to see you around. If there’s anything you’re looking for, for the girls, let me know and I’ll keep an eye out.”

  Kyle had no right to get bent out of shape over Dean Hodges’s being neighborly. Skylar was beautiful. And single. Why wouldn’t Dean notice? Kyle frowned, letting Skylar and Dean chat while he turned to double-check the ties holding the beds securely in place.

  “All set?” she asked, opening the back door and letting the girls climb up.

  “Yep.” He held his hands out for Greer, cradling the baby c
lose while Skylar buckled in the other two. “Happy?”

  She turned and stared up at him. “Yes.” Her smile damn near blocked out the sun.

  He wished he had it in him to resist the pull of those eyes. It’d make things easier if the hum and tug of energy didn’t start the moment her eyes locked with his. As it was, he had no choice. Skylar had a hold on him. The real problem was, he didn’t mind.

  Chapter Ten

  Skylar shaded her eyes, watching as Jet trotted ahead of them on the trail that led to the main Mitchell house. It was a short walk from the dogtrot house that they called—for now—their own. The closer they got to the main house, the louder the buzz became. Skylar drew in a deep breath. It was a birthday party and birthday parties meant people and music and being social. It was the social part that they were all still adjusting to.

  “What’s happening, Momma?” Brynn asked, her pace slowing as the Mitchell backyard came into view.

  Balloons, streamers, and festive banners were strung along the roofline of the large wraparound porch. Tables covered in plastic tablecloths with cute little cowboys, horses, cacti, and horseshoes. Folding chairs were grouped around the large fenced backyard, chairs occupied by a sea of strange faces.

  Mya let go of Skylar’s hand and stood behind her legs.

  Skylar crouched to look her girls in the eye. “It’s Weston’s birthday today. He is two years old. And since it’s his birthday, remember? He’s having a party. And we’re invited, too.” She nodded at the brightly wrapped box Brynn held, smoothing the front of Mya’s blue dress. “That’s why we bought him that present, remember?”

  “For color practice?” Brynn asked.

  Skylar chuckled. “That’s part of it.”

  “He needs help, Momma.” Brynn peered around her shoulder. “That’s lots of peoples.”

  Skylar glanced back over her shoulder, too. “There’s Lizzie and Miss Jan and Hayden—”

  “Kyle!” Brynn called out, waving her arm.

  Kyle, who’d been talking with a group of unfamiliar people, turned and waved back. In his starched blue button-down, creased jeans, and tan cowboy hat—he was hard to miss. So handsome. With a grin, he said something to the group, and jogged across the backyard to the fence and through the gate—sending Skylar’s heart into overdrive.

  “Look at you all.” Kyle pressed a hand to his heart. “Prettiest things in the whole state. And Texas is one big state.”

  Brynn spun. “Our dresses match. Momma said today is a special ’casion.” She tugged on Mya until Mya spun, too.

  Kyle nodded and knelt, still smiling. “Pretty,” he said, making the sign for beautiful.

  There was something endearing about the way Kyle focused on his finger placement, the angle of his hand and arm, and the deliberate motions he used. From the looks of it, Mya was pretty enchanted, too. She emerged fully from behind Skylar’s legs, walked straight over to Kyle and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  The look on his face was almost Skylar’s undoing. His surprise quickly shifted into something infinitely sweeter. Kyle understood that Mya’s hug was a gift to be cherished. He wrapped his arms around Mya with a tender reverence, tearing at the restraints Skylar had placed on her heart.

  Kyle Mitchell was a good man and he loved her girls. That should be more than enough for her. Even if she allowed herself to entertain the idea of giving in to her barely controlled attraction for Kyle, she knew the truth. Any relationship between them would be built upon the promise he’d made Chad—out of obligation, not love. If she ever opened her heart to another man it would be knowing he loved her—not because he loved the girls with all his heart or that he felt bound by duty.

  Right about then, Kyle’s eyes opened and searched her out. Every rational argument she’d made not five seconds before evaporated. It wasn’t just that Kyle wanted to share this with her, it was that he made no effort to hide his feelings. The rigid line of his jaw. The slight tightening of his mouth. The flare of his nostrils.

  “Mya loves Kyle, Momma,” Brynn whispered—not that four-year-olds ever really whispered.

  “I know.” Skylar hated the waver in her voice.

  A waver Kyle heard. His attention sharpened, narrowing in on her face, searching her features... For what?

  “And me and Greer and Jet love Kyle, too. We all do, right, Momma?” Brynn gushed, smiling at up at her. “You, too?”

  There was no right answer to this question. None. Not answering it was her only option.

  “That makes me the luckiest man alive, Brynn.” Kyle winked at her. “To have all that love. I’m not sure I deserve it.”

  Skylar avoided his gaze—desperate to ease the frantic thump of her heart. And the rapid emptying of her lungs... What was happening? Why did he have such a hold on her? And how could she make it stop?

  “It’s ’cuz you’re nice,” Brynn said, as if that was the only reason they needed to be so fond of their big, burly, gorgeous, tenderhearted neighbor. “Isn’t he?” Brynn asked, looking at Skylar. “Isn’t he, Momma?” This time, it was clear Skylar would have to answer.

  Thankfully, this was a question she could answer. “He is very nice,” Skylar agreed, hoping she sounded more herself this time.

  “I think so, too.” Jan’s voice was unexpected—not that she’d been hiding.

  No, Skylar had been too caught up in Kyle and Mya and Brynn and all the heartfelt tugs and warmth and longing rising up and pulling her under to notice that they weren’t alone. Not even close. Jan and Hayden and Cassie all stood at the gate, watching the exchange with varying expressions.

  “He has his moments,” Hayden said. But Hayden wasn’t looking at Kyle or the girls or his mother. He was looking at Skylar like she was a puzzle he had yet to figure out.

  “Says my big brother.” Kyle stood, lifting Mya up into his arms as he did so. Mya seemed unperturbed, resting easy in his hold—as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Brynn deserted her, too, skipping across the grass to take Kyle’s free hand in hers.

  As sweet a picture as the three of them made, she knew letting this go on would be bad for all of them. The more attached they got, the harder it would be to go their separate ways. She couldn’t expect Kyle to put his life on hold to be a stand-in father to her daughters. He should have a family of his own. His new life—the fresh start—should be unencumbered by his past. He’d done what he promised Chad, now it was okay to move on. I guess I need to say as much.

  “Matching dresses,” Cassie said. “You three are the cutest.”

  “They are,” Kyle agreed so quickly the other three adults looked all the more curious.

  “Come on in,” Hayden said as he waved them inside the gate.

  Jet trotted past the people and headed straight to Sierra and Charley, sprawled out on a relatively deserted part of the porch. Even Jet had made himself at home here.

  “For Weston.” Brynn held up the present to Hayden. “To learn to color.”

  “He does need help with that.” Hayden took the box and smiled.

  “Yep.” Brynn nodded. “He does.” The seriousness of her delivery earned a chuckle from both Hayden and Kyle.

  “She is just precious,” Jan said, hooking arms with Skylar. “And so are you.” She stooped, smiling at Greer, strapped into place against Skylar’s chest. “Don’t feel like you have to keep her all day. I know there are plenty of hands that would be happy to hold her and give your back a break.”

  Greer squealed, stretching out her legs and flapping her arms.

  “I’m betting she’s agreeing,” Kyle said, watching the exchange.

  “We’ll see.” Skylar dodged, all too aware of the looks she and her girls were getting now that they were mingling amongst the guests. Not just looks, but talk, too—from the looks of it. “We probably won’t stay too long,” Skylar hurried to add. �
�Greer gets tired out and the girls still aren’t used to so much...going on.”

  Jan’s smile faltered but she recovered quickly. “Whatever you think. A momma always knows what her babies need.”

  Skylar shot her a grateful smile, took one of Greer’s tiny hands in hers, and braced herself to meet what appeared to be the rest of Granite Falls.

  Within forty minutes, Skylar had met so many people she was worried she’d forget who was who. There was the Mitchell Ranch foreman, Bobby, and his wife, Eileen. Buzz and Cassie were there. Dean from the resale shop with his mother, Penny. Then there were the newcomers. Trace Dawson, the local game warden, was gruff and stern, barely giving her a nod before hurrying away from the children. Twins Angus and Dougal McCarrick owned McCarrick Cutting Horses and had plenty of stories about their rodeo days with the Mitchell boys.

  After that, names and faces blurred together.

  It was almost a relief to excuse herself to change Greer’s diaper. Jan and Kyle assured her they’d keep an eye on the girls but she still hurried.

  “You look a little shell-shocked,” Lizzie said. “It’s a lot.”

  “It seems like you’re a close-knit community. Not so different from base housing. Military wives tend to bond.” Until I dropped off the face of the earth, that is. Once that happened, it was easy to lose track of one another.

  “I can imagine.” Lizzie nodded. “Granite Falls is a special place, I think. The people here are decent, hardworking, put-down-roots, neighborly types. Sometimes a little too neighborly, I suppose.” She grinned. “Don’t let the nosiness throw you off. People are curious, but no one means anything by it. It wasn’t that long ago I was in your shoes.”

  Skylar nodded but didn’t say much as she finished cleaning up Greer and slid her bloomers back into place.

  “Is this the place to be?” Cassie asked as she came into the nursery. “It is less crowded. What a great party, Lizzie. Little Weston is loved by everyone.”

  Skylar still hadn’t made up her mind about Cassie. Was the woman truly this upbeat and together or was this all a front? Or am I just being paranoid because she’s gorgeous and childless and has a history with Kyle—making her a much better match for him?