Kate wanted to hug him so much that she could hardly stand it, her senses overdosing on the scent of him, on his closeness. "Providing, of course," she said solemnly, "that she had hands."
He flashed her an amused look, the creases around his eyes crinkling, the intimate glimmer setting off sensations in her midriff that made her pulse skip and falter. He held her gaze, that almost-smile in his eyes, then lightly touched the small gold stud she wore in her ear. The movement exposed the adhesive bandage on his hand, and she turned her head ever so slightly, brushing her mouth against it.
The phone rang, and he clenched his jaw and angled his head in annoyance. Releasing a heavy sigh, he turned and set his mug on the counter, then answered it. The conversation was brief and curt, and he replaced the receiver with more force than necessary. He turned back to her, his expression tight and shuttered. "We'll be moving some cattle today, but we should be back by late afternoon. Cyrus will know where we are if you need anything."
Feeling almost bereft from his withdrawal, Kate followed him into the utility room, leaning against the door frame as he stuffed a pair of gloves in his back pocket, then pulled on his boots. He lifted his hat off the hook and settled it on his head, and Kate could tell he was still irritated by the interruption.
Unable to let him go with all those old defenses erected, she crossed to him and straightened his collar, then smoothed it down over his collarbone. She glanced up at him, giving him a teasing smile. "I guess this means you aren't going to kiss me goodbye like you did yesterday morning."
He stared at her, then a glimmer of amusement appeared in his eyes, and he gave her a lopsided smile. "I don't think my jeans could handle the strain two mornings in a row."
His response both surprised and delighted her, and Kate reached up and kissed him soundly. After having spent two very intimate and sexual nights with him, she had discovered another aspect of Tanner's reserve – another aspect that made her ache for the harsh, bleak childhood he'd had. He had been so deprived of any kind of physical association that now he had this deep need to touch and be touched – it was as if, after that first complete and explosive consummation, he was starved for that kind of intimacy from her. But he was very, very reserved about how he responded verbally. He was also reserved about his own body, almost as if he'd been brought up being ashamed of it, as if he placed no worth on it. Kate had wanted to cry when she had realized that, but she had gone slowly and carefully and very, very gently. And he had responded with such a fervor of need.
His frankness now was a giant step for him, and she rewarded him with a hard hug. "Well," she responded, her voice catching on laughter, "I guess we can't have that."
There was the slam of a vehicle door outside, and Tanner ran his hand up her back, then reluctantly eased his hold. "I've got to go, Kate," he said, his tone husky with regret.
Wanting to get another smile out of him before he left, Kate gave him a light kiss, smiling as she whispered against his mouth, "Try to take good care of those blue jeans, McCall. They're particular favorites of mine."
He laughed against her mouth and gave her a quick, hard hug. "I'll keep that in mind."
Sighing her own reluctance, Kate let him go, taking some satisfaction in the fact that when he gave her one final look from the door, there was a hell of a lot more in his eyes than just amusement.
Feeling light and effervescent inside, Kate entered the kitchen, her bubble bursting abruptly when a loud crash came from Burt's room. Alarmed, she dashed into his room, closing her eyes in relief when she realized he'd knocked over the lamp on his bedside table, which in turn had knocked the thermal water jug onto the floor. Nothing serious, except that he looked like he was fit to be tied.
The boys came scrambling into the room right behind her, their eyes wide with alarm. "What happened? Did Burt hurt himself?"
Kicking the lid of the jug out of the way, Kate set the lamp back in place. "No, he's fine." She glanced at Mark. "Would you get a towel from the laundry so we can wipe this up? And, Scotty, take the jug to the kitchen, please." She turned to look at Burt, her mood somber. God, it had to be so frustrating for him. She took both of his hands to stop their agitated fumbling. "It's okay," she said, her tone calm. "It was only a jug of water."
His mouth trembled, but he used anger as a vent. "Damned table. I need a damned ladder to get to it. Damned thing."
Lord, but she did like the cantankerous spirit of this old man. Smiling a little, she gave his hands a small shake. "There, now. Are you all damned out?"
He glared at her, his eyes fierce. "Don't you take that tone with me, missy. Just remember who signs your checks."
She gave him a level look and answered, her tone pointed. "Tanner signs my checks." Which wasn't exactly true. Because she didn't want to open a bank account, he paid her in cash. But Burt didn't know that.
His chin set at a pugnacious angle, he stared at her, at a total loss for words. She watched him, admiring the fight in him. Alter a moment she saw a familiar glint appear in his eyes. "I should have known you were trouble, with all that whiskey hair and them damn green eyes."
Amused by his tenacity, Kate brushed back the wisp of hair on top of his head. Deciding now was as good a time as any to plant an idea, she stared at him. "Now watch it, Burton. If you weren't such a stubborn, bullheaded man and would ask for a little help now and again, you wouldn't get yourself into these wrecks. And if you don't like your situation, you better start thinking about changing it. Like going back to the hospital for some physical therapy."
He narrowed his eyes at her, a conniving gleam appearing in them. "That's what we hired you for."
Releasing her hold on his hands, she adjusted the pillows under his head, her amusement intensifying. You had to get up very early in the morning to keep ahead of Burton Shaw. She kept her tone crisp. "No, you didn't. You hired me to look after you. The few exercises I do with you are to keep your muscles from cramping. I'm not trained to do therapy, and I have no idea what they do to get a stroke victim back on his feet."
His tone was blunt. "You think they could get me back on my feet?"
She looked at him, surprised by his response. "With work, yes, I do – at least with a walker. But the longer you lie here, the more your muscles are going to deteriorate."
He stared at her. "You think I could get myself back on a horse?"
She grinned at him. "Providing it's not a bucking bronc or a steeplechaser, it's a possibility." She gave him a long look, doing a little conniving herself. "Depending on how much you really want to get back on one."
Scotty came in, carefully carrying a full jug of water. Mark came in right behind him. "We got you some more cold water, Burt. We even put some ice in it."
Kate took the towel from Mark, then crouched down and began wiping up the water. "You boys had better go down and make sure Bess has been fed and watered. Most of the men left this morning, so Cyrus might not have had time to do it."
The boys left, and Kate finished wiping up the floor. Wadding up the towel, she rose, glancing at Burt. "Are you ready for some breakfast, or do you want to go back to sleep?"
He fixed his sharp blue eyes on her, his expression as innocent as a babe's. "Tanner's looking a mite more relaxed the past couple of days," he said, his tone a little too guileless. "Like somebody took a burr out from under his saddle."
Kate shot him a startled look, then began tidying his bedside table, feeling a fine flush creep up her neck. It took her a second to think of an appropriate response. "I suspect it's because it's finally quit raining. It was beginning to get on everyone's nerves."
He eyed her with that same sly look. "I expect sunshine will do that all right – ease a man's nerves."
Kate wasn't sure she trusted that glint in his eyes. She gave him a dubious glance, then picked up the wet towel and an empty glass. "Breakfast, then?"
He tipped his head in assent, then gave her another sly look. Kate gave him another skeptical one, then turned. She was t
wo feet from the door when he began humming "You Are My Sunshine" in a surprisingly strong voice.
Kate nearly dropped the glass. Not sure whether to laugh or strangle him, she left the room. There was certainly nothing wrong with Burt Shaw's eyes.
* * *
Chapter 10
«^»
Kate sat on the back step, her arms crisscrossed on her thighs, the wind in her hair, watching the boys romp with the puppies and Bess, making sure they didn't wake up Burt, who was napping in a new chaise longue under the big old poplar, the spare sheepskin beneath him. It had been ten days since her trip to Pincher Creek, ten days since that first unbelievable night with Tanner. Ten days of sunshine and brightness and spring. Not since childhood could she remember feeling so happy inside.
It wasn't as if it was perfect. It wasn't. She'd had nightmares two nights in a row over something dark and sinister. And there were times when she got such anxiety attacks about her dwindling time on the Circle S that her heart felt as if it might explode. And she and Tanner didn't have enough time alone together – not nearly enough time.
All they had together were the nights, and for Kate, those were almost enough. They were the source of that well of contentment deep inside her. She knew with every touch that he found enormous pleasure in her, but what filled up her heart and made her soul sing was how, in a hundred ways, he let her know how much he wanted and needed her. He hadn't said it in words; she didn't want him to. Not yet. There was too much wrong in their lives right now. But she knew, deep down in her heart, that she was a ray of sunshine for him, and that made her happy, down-deep-in-the-soul happy. And God, he was such a rock for her. Such a solid, steady rock.
The sound of a vehicle approaching interrupted her musings, and Kate turned, watching as a black dual-wheeled three-quarter truck with tinted windows, loaded with chrome and lights, appeared over the rise, taking the turnoff for the house. With a brashness and flash that made her smile, the driver whipped the vehicle onto the gravel pad and was out of the truck before the vehicle stopped rocking, a cloud of dust rolling in around him.
He was tall and lanky, with dark, curly hair under his pro-rodeo Stetson, and he moved with the cocky swagger of a man who liked living on the edge. He had sin and danger written all over him, and his grin was enough to stop every heart between the Circle S and Texas. Kate knew who he was before he ever opened his mouth.
He came through the gate, his eyes glinting as he came toward her. "Well, if this isn't enough to blow warts off a hog. Ol' Tanner's been holding out on me." Bracing his foot on the bottom step, he stretched out his hand. "Chase McCall. I'm Tanner's little ol' baby brother."
Taking his hand, she gave him a smile. "Kate Quinn." Scotty and Mark stopped playing and stood staring at this new arrival. She had drilled them about good manners often enough that she didn't dare ignore them now. But in spite of good manners, she couldn't resist letting him know she was on to him. "These are Mark and Scotty, my little ol' sons."
Chase shot her a sharp, almost surprised look, then nodded to the boys, a deep grin creasing his face. Propping her chin in her hand, she studied him as he reached down to scratch Bess's ears. His skin wasn't as dark as Tanner's, and his cheekbones weren't quite as high, and there was, of course, a complete absence of Tanner's native heritage, but the resemblance was startling. Only Chase had had the benefit of a privileged, affluent and indulged childhood; Kate could see it in the way he carried himself, in the way he walked. Bruce McCall's legitimate son.
Kate realized that Chase was assessing her, as well, and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks. The glint in Chase's dark hazel eyes intensified. "So, Kate Quinn. Is my brother around?" He spoke in a lazy, Colorado drawl, and Kate guessed that more than one woman had fallen victim to his smoky, lazy voice. The kind of come-to-bed voice that mothers had nightmares about.
But in spite of his blatant sexuality and unchecked virility, Kate knew she was going to like this man. And it had nothing to do with the husky sensuality in his voice. It had everything to do with the expression in his eyes and the way he said "my brother." He had disclosed more than he realized about how he felt about his older brother. And from the cocky swagger and the aggressive set of his jaw, Kate was willing to bet that there wasn't another man alive or dead whom Chase looked up to.
Experiencing a funny little cramp in her throat, Kate rested her arms on her knees and met his gaze, amused by his blatant use of charm. He was as bad as Cyrus. Restraining a smile, she finally answered, her tone dry. "I expect so. He often is."
Bracing one foot on the riser, Chase draped his arm across his knee, the gleam in his eyes full of hell, his drawl deliberate. "I was hoping for something a little more specific. Like a location, maybe even some directions."
Managing not to laugh, she held his gaze. "You might," she said, her tone pointedly patient, "try the barn." Then, unable to resist, she gave him an impish grin. "That's the big red building at the bottom of the hill."
There was a flash of perfect white teeth, but Chase continued to watch her with an unnerving degree of steadiness, his eyes narrowed, the glint becoming more and more speculative. Finally he spoke, his tone soft and seductive, almost as if he were speculating aloud. "So, Kate Quinn. I guess I'm at a disadvantage here. I wasn't expecting to find a pretty lady sitting on my brother's doorstep, or two small boys playing with his prize pups. Seems like some changes have been taking place."
Determined not to squirm under his scrutiny, Kate let her gaze drift to the boys, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Clearing away the nervous catch in her voice, she responded, hoping she wouldn't do something foolish, like blush. "Tanner hired me to look after Burt when they brought him home from the hospital. I've been here not quite a month."
He continued to watch her, amusement flirting around his mouth. "Seems like a plausible explanation. If I was looking for plausible." Kate shot him a startled look, and he grinned at her, tipping his hat lower over his eyes. "Bet you set ol' Tanner back a space or two."
Kate was scrambling for some kind of response when she heard the distinctive sound of a horse approaching, and Tanner, astride the bay gelding, appeared on the path leading up from the barn. He rode toward them at an easy lope, and Chase straightened, his hands on his hips as he watched his brother approach.
Tanner reined in the horse and dismounted on the other side of the fence, wrapping the reins around the top rail. Sweeping off his hat, he wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt, resettling his hat as he came through the gate.
Chase straightened, a wide, wicked grin appearing. "Well, hell. Things are looking up around here. A personal welcome from the boss." Chase folded his arms and stared at his brother, his grin deepening. "You wouldn't be checking up on me, would you?"
Amusement deepening the creases around his eyes, Tanner gave his brother a warped grin, but there was something in his eyes that was oddly sober, and Kate frowned. He had his doubts about Chase being there – and she had a strange feeling that his uncertainty had something to do with her. It was almost as though he expected Chase to ride in and sweep her off her feet. Not sure whether to be amused or insulted, Kate stared back at him, deliberately running her finger slowly up and down the deep V of her blouse. He held her gaze for an instant, then raised one eyebrow, genuine amusement flickering in his eyes. Chase, realizing something was going on behind him, turned and looked at her, and Kate gave him a wide-eyed innocent look, serenely fingering the point of her collar. Watching her play out her little game, Tanner shook his head, the twinkle in his eyes intensifying. Reaching the step, he took Chase's outstretched hand, his tone underscored with amusement when he greeted his brother. "I don't recall anyone being too successful in checking up on you, Chase. Always struck me as a monumental waste of time."
Chase grinned and firmly gripped his brother's hand, then clapped Tanner on the shoulder. "Things change, big brother. Things change." His expression sobering, he met his brother's gaze. "I just heard about
Burt. And I figured I'd better get my butt up here."
One of the dogs started barking, and a cranky voice interrupted from under the tree. "It took you long enough. A two-legged steer could have crawled up here faster." Burt swung his eyes to her. "And don't you start on them boys for making the dog bark. That Mac hasn't got an ounce of sense."
Knowing exactly what he was up to, Kate met his fierce gaze with a level look. "That kind of tone won't get you a piece of fresh peach pie, Burt," she said, her own tone mildly chastising.
He stuck his chin out at her and glared. There was a deep chuckle behind Tanner, and Chase brushed by. "Well, you old dog. How the hell are you? I thought there was nothing here but a wadded-up blanket."
There was a bright glint in Burt's eyes, but he managed to maintain his glower. "Might as well be a blanket for all the good it does me." He stretched out his bony hand, a telltale glitter suddenly appearing in his eyes. "You're a sight for sore eyes, boy. A sight for sore eyes."
Taking the old man's hand, Chase crouched down beside him, and Kate glanced up at Tanner, watching his face. He stood with one foot on the bottom stair, his forearm resting on the banister of the steps, his hat low over his eyes. Kate's own throat closed up when she saw his jaw tense and the muscles in his throat contract. Shifting closer to the railing, she reached down and laced her fingers through the backs of his. She saw him swallow again; then he tightened his fingers around hers, his grip almost painful as he rubbed her thumb. He didn't say anything; he just continued to watch the two men under the tree, and Kate knew he was struggling with something very big.
* * *
It wasn't until later that night, after she'd got Burt settled and the boys into bed, that Kate found herself alone with Chase. He and Tanner had spent the day together, then had left again after supper to check one of the pastures that had been flooded during the rains. When she came downstairs after tucking the boys in, she found him seated at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee by his elbow, a newspaper spread out in front of him. He looked up, humor glinting in his eyes. "Damn, don't you make any noise? I thought you'd gone to bed."
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