Redeeming the Texas Rancher

by Sands, Charlene

“I thought you were Switzerland.”

  “It’s my birthday; indulge me. Unless you’re chicken.”

  He was daring her and she rarely backed down from a dare.

  “Quick,” he rasped.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She stepped over to him and very delicately wrapped her arms around his neck. He let the sledgehammer drop and pulled her in tight until their bodies brushed.

  “Now, that’s a real hug,” he whispered. “Wait for it.”

  “Collier, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cole’s voice boomed as he stepped out of the sunlight and into the shadows of the barn.

  Day backed away immediately.

  Just then, Ella showed up, five steps behind Cole and her gaze flew to Brett. He tried to convey something with his eyes, but she turned away immediately.

  Brett winced and gave his head a shake.

  “Well?” Cole asked again.

  “I’m starting the demo, right on schedule.”

  Steam might’ve spouted from Cole’s head as he shifted his glare to Day. “Dakota, what’s going on here?”

  “Nothing much,” she said casually. Getting a rise outta him was one thing, but having him reprimand her like a child was something else entirely.

  “She was giving me a birthday hug, is all,” Brett explained, his gaze drifting over to Ella. She refused to look at him.

  “A birthday hug?” Cole glared at her. “Since when do you give birthday hugs?”

  “Since forever, Cole. Just ask Jerome and the boys. I used to give you one…well, that was a few years back now.” Before adulthood when Cole became so doggone standoffish.

  “Sorry, Cole,” Brett said. “Day was just being—”

  “Don’t say neighborly,” Cole barked.

  “I was going to say nice. Day’s a friend and she wanted to acknowledge my birthday. Won’t happen again.”

  “Well, not until next year,” Day said, sweet enough to ruffle Cole’s feathers. He was being a grouch about this whole situation. What’s one birthday hug when he’s about ready to take Ella out for a horseback ride? She’d come once before and Cole had invited her back. And it had hurt so much seeing the two of them ride out together.

  “Maybe today’s not the best day for us to go riding,” Ella said quietly.

  Brett’s head snapped up and he pinned Ella with a stare. “You’re going riding?”

  She nodded. “Cole’s giving me lessons.”

  Brett arched a brow, as if to say “in what?” But he didn’t voice his thoughts.

  “Don’t be silly,” Cole said to Ella. You came out here to ride. I’ve got the time. We’re going. I just came in here to pick up our tack.”

  Cole strode by them, grabbed a saddle and the rest of the tack and walked out of the stable.

  “I’ll get your gear,” she said to Ella. “I’ve got a nice saddle for you, one that isn’t too tough on the hide.”

  “Thanks. Last time I went out, I was sore for days afterward.”

  “You get used to it,” she said. “You like riding?”

  “It’s something to do on my day off and Cole’s been nice about letting me come out.”

  “That’s Cole, Mr. Nice Guy.” Dakota smiled.

  She walked over to grab her favorite saddle, the one she liked to use, the one that was worn in enough to be kinder on the rear end, and when she turned around, Ella was there. “Let me help. Please.”

  “Here, take the blanket and the tack.” She handed them over and Ella adjusted them into her arms.

  “You know, Cole’s not interested in me, Dakota,” she said softly. “We’re just friends.”

  “I don’t need to know that. He’s my boss.”

  “He’s more than that, I think, but okay.”

  As they headed toward the barn door, Brett picked up his sledgehammer again and came down on the weathered wood like a wrecking ball. Ella gave him a glance, and it seemed her breath caught in her throat. Yeah, Brett had that effect on most women—all brawn, tight muscles and chiseled features. Just before exiting the barn, Ella stopped and swiveled around. “Happy Birthday, Brett.”

  His head came up and he smiled at her, that killer smile, and then hoisted the sledgehammer over his head again. He was wise not to irritate Cole further by asking Ella for a birthday hug, though everything in his body language said that’s exactly what he wanted. Instead he went back to work, focusing on the stall he would eventually reconstruct.

  They walked out of the shadows into the cool sunshine and Cole was there, arms free. “Here, let me have that, Day.”

  As he reached for the saddle, his hand brushed over hers. The slight slide of his fingers set off Fourth of July sparks inside her body. Whenever he touched her, it was so unexpected and thrilling. This time he didn’t flinch or move away as he’d done in the past. They stayed locked that way, Cole’s eyes boring into hers. In that split second she saw something wondrous there, something meaningful, but Cole remembered Ella was standing beside him and the magic was lost.

  Split seconds were not enough. Not anymore. Not for Day.

  “Have a good ride, Ella. It’s not too cool for a fall day,” she said. “I’d better get back to work.”

  “Thanks,” Ella said, her eyes all too observant for Day’s liking.

  Cole merely nodded. “C’mon. I’ll show you how to saddle up a horse.”

  “Sure,” Ella said.

  Day marched back into the barn and approached Brett. “Collier, from now on, you’re Switzerland. Got that? There’ll be no more tests. I don’t need them and I won’t be responsible for you losing your job.”

  “You think Cole will fire me? Why?”

  “He can be a hard-ass at times.”

  “So you’re admitting he was jealous.”

  “I’m not admitting anything of the sort.”

  “Oh man, May Day. You’re not seeing the forest for the trees.”

  “Well, if I’m not, you’re certainly not either.”

  Brett’s shoulder lifted in a shrug. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

  Day left the barn and strode into the office beside the bunkhouse. Lifting her cell phone out of her back pocket, she plopped into a seat at the desk and punched in the number on her auto dial. “Hi, Mr. Jasper,” she said kindly. “It’s me: Dakota Jennings. How’re you doing today?”

  *

  Day breezed into the kitchen at lunchtime, and slammed the door behind her. “Sorry, I’m late,” she said to Cole. “I lost track of time.”

  Cole gave her a nod, leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, one boot crossed over the other, and went back to sipping iced tea. “Busy, were you?”

  “Yeah, I got caught up on the inventory figures.” She plopped her bag on the long kitchen table and walked over to the sink. “But I got it all sorted out.”

  She turned on the faucet and as water spurted out, she grabbed the foaming bottle soap she kept by the window. It was lavender vanilla, the tomboy in her scoffing at the delicate fragrance, but her mama always told her a lady should smell like a lady, and Day liked the light bright scent. Her mama’s drilling had paid off, at least that much.

  Cole stood a few feet away and she felt his gaze on her as she soaped up her hands and as far up her arms as her red flannel shirt would allow, then dried them on a paper towel.

  “Did you eat yet?” she asked.

  “Not yet.”

  “Want to share a PB and J?” She sat down next to her bag and started removing the items. “I’ve got chocolate chip cookies too and an apple.” She uncapped her vitamin water and took a sip.

  He opened the fridge and pulled out a covered dish. “Em made me a steak sandwich yesterday before she left. How about we half and half it?”

  “Sounds good. I can’t refuse half of one of Emma’s sandwiches. I bet she used her special dressing too.”

  “She did. Wish I could keep that woman on full time.” He brought the dish over and took a seat at the head of the table adjacent to her.


  “If you did, you’d be round as a beach ball.”

  He chuckled and that kissable dimple came out again, searing Day’s heart. “True. I have no willpower when it comes to her cooking.”

  Maybe that’s what Day was missing: gourmet cooking habits. The way to a man’s heart and all… Never mind, she was through dwelling and on her way to getting over Cole. But she didn’t mind teasing him about his appetite. His housekeeper came three times a week to cook and clean for Cole. The other days, he roughed it.

  “I’ll take one of those cookies, if you don’t mind.”

  “I packed a few extra for you. I know your weakness.”

  He arched a brow. “Maybe you do,” he replied.

  She picked up half of her sandwich and he used a knife to split his sandwich in half as well and they traded. “Somehow, I think I’m getting the better end of the deal,” she said.

  “I don’t know—I’m a fan of your peanut butter sandwiches.” He took a big bite and his jaw worked at chewing. “It’s something I never tire of.”

  “Eating?”

  “Sharing our lunches.”

  She sighed. “We’ve been doing it most of our lives.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Here, take all three cookies.” She pushed the baggie toward him.

  “You’re not having one?”

  “Nope. Not today. My pants are getting too tight. Gotta watch it.”

  A gleam in his eyes, Cole slid a glance at her bottom. He was about to comment, his mouth opening, but instead, he brought the glass to his lips and sipped his tea, effectively shutting down what he was about to say.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothin’.”

  “You think I’m putting on weight?”

  It was a loaded question and Cole pretty much dropped his jaw. “God no,” he rushed out. “I think you’re damn near perfect.”

  The words hung in the air and Day blinked. But Cole was busy staring down the cookies on the table, refusing eye contact. He’d stunned her, is what he did, but she couldn’t hold too much stock in it since she sort of boxed him into a corner. What fool man would actually tell a woman she was gaining weight? “Thanks for saying that.”

  He grunted and got busy finishing his sandwich.

  While Day got a jolt of the warm and fuzzies.

  Minutes later, after recovering, Day took up a pen and pad of paper and put the words Maddie’s Shower on the top sheet. “So, are you ready to discuss the shower?” she asked him.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “I was originally thinking to have the shower out back in the yard. But the weather is unpredictable this time of year.”

  “Agreed.”

  “So, would you mind if we had it in your front room?”

  “No, but how many people are we talking about?”

  “About twenty-five.”

  Cole’s brows gathered. “That many?”

  Day rose from her seat, taking her pad with her. “Let’s go check it out and see what we can do.”

  Cole followed her into the living space just off the entry. The room flowed into a formal dining area that was almost never used anymore. Most of the maple furniture had been his parents’, and there was a whole lot of it crammed in those two rooms.

  “How would you feel if we removed most of this furniture?”

  Cole looked around. “I’d say amen to that.”

  “We can store it in the bunkhouse and garage.”

  “Or, I can donate it.”

  “How would your mama feel about that, Cole? This is mostly her stuff.”

  “When she moved, she told me to do what I saw fit with it. The pieces she wanted to keep, she took with her and I just haven’t bothered updating it. I’m not good with that stuff.”

  “Well, if you ever need help changing things out, I’m willing. This is a great big room, and there’s so much you can do with it.”

  “Okay, maybe one day.”

  Did she really just offer to do that? Why was she always forgetting her head? One of these days, she’d wise up and keep her mouth shut. The goal here was to separate herself from Cole, not keep injecting herself into his life.

  “Let’s concentrate on the shower for now,” she said. “Do you mind if we hang up some decorations, maybe a clothesline of baby clothes to go from wall to wall? Jillian mentioned a candy table too. And do you mind—”

  “I don’t mind any of that, Day. ’Cause I have no idea what you’re talking about anyway. I trust you not to destroy my house.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Okay, got it. Sorry.”

  “No need to be sorry. Just mark up what furniture you want moved and I’ll see to it.”

  “Great, thanks, Cole. Oh, and what about our date?”

  “Our date?” He glanced at her jeans again and his gaze traveled up past her waist, to her chest until finally meeting her eyes. “We have a date?”

  Good gosh, he almost sounded hopeful, or was she imagining that? Having him checking her out was messing with her mind. That coupled with his damn near perfect comment was so not good. She pulled at her long braid and tossed it to one side. “We’re talking about the shower. When would be good for you? Jillian doesn’t want this to disrupt your life too much.”

  “Oh, yeah. Right. Sundays are best. I don’t have anything coming up so whenever it works for her, is fine with me.”

  Day made some notes. “Okay that’s good. Remember, this is a surprise, so we have to be careful. I’m sure you’ll come up with a good ailment for Snow or one of the other animals on the ranch to make sure Maddie comes out here. And Trey will be in on it, too.”

  “Are we good now?”

  “Yes, for now. Cole, thanks again for agreeing to this, although, you look like you’d rather have a root canal than plan a baby shower. Well, I’ve gotta dash. I told Brett I’d go over his invoice with him after lunch.”

  “You don’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I do. It’s part of my job, Cole. I take care of the invoices.”

  “Shit, Dakota. What is it with you and Brett?”

  Day blinked at his harsh tone.

  “I mean he’s bringing you to work in the morning and then I catch you hugging him like your life depended on it.”

  “My life? Cole, are you kidding me? It’s his birthday. He’s a friend. I gave him a hug.”

  “You didn’t give me a damn hug on my birthday,” he barked.

  Her fists jammed onto her hips. Maybe he should’ve asked Ella for a birthday hug while they were out riding this morning. “Is that what this is all about?”

  “No. Yes. Damn it, I don’t know.”

  She stared into his eyes, and there it was again. That something that kept her up nights. “Okay, I’ll give you a belated birthday hug.” Anything to get out of this conversation and back to sanity.

  She stepped toward him, her heart pounding louder than the confusion in her head, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He stood stock-still, not even a muscle twitching in his jaw, and she breathed him in, that strong scent of man and earth and a bit of lime. His arms wound around her, and the brush of their jeans, limb to limb, the touch of her breasts to his chest, stole the breath from her lungs. He held her tight for a second or two, his nose dipping into her hair, his breath warming her throat, and she knew enough to take a step back. This couldn’t be good. End of hug.

  “There,” she breathed out, trying to sound triumphant. She’d given him a birthday hug.

  Cole reached out and took her braid in his hand. In a quick move, he wound it around his wrist like a hemp rope, the look in his eyes hot enough to brand cattle as he gave her hair a tug. The surprise, more than the tug pulled her forward and Cole caught her in his arms.

  “Oh,” she sighed, quietly stunned.

  One of his hands at her back tucked her close, while the other cradled her chin and positioned her mouth. “Day,” he rasped, the quiet plea echoing in her ears. His head at a tilt, he stared at her mouth and
she parted her lips. Oh God, was this really happening?

  His mouth touched hers, his lips firm and demanding and her every fantasy was unfolding right before her eyes. She savored the kiss and reached up to palm his face, the scruff on his jaw tickling a bit. She wanted to cry from the beauty of it all, the way she felt giving him what was in her heart. This was her Cole, the man she’d waited a lifetime for. Her breaths were ragged as she kissed him back, the shields she’d put up breaking down into a crumble of raw emotion.

  His control seemingly snapped. Cole parted his lips and drove his tongue into her mouth. A groan pressed from deep in his chest as their mouths mated and played, doing an erotic dance. Moisture pooled at her thighs, Cole being the only man to elicit such a quick, automatic response from her. She burned inside for him and a squeaky whimper emerged from her throat. Cole swallowed the sound with another kiss and then his hand toyed with her hair, loosening the braid and spreading the tresses out. His lips broke contact long enough to nuzzle her neck and he sucked in her scent while their bodies collided, her hips nestling into his strong thighs.

  He ran his hands all the way down her back, weaving through the long strands. As he reached the curve of her backside, warmth hit her butt cheeks as each one of his hands squeezed tight. She gasped. The pleasure was alive, making every nerve cell jump. She was pulled closer, his hands levers to position her to just the right juncture of his body. Even between their clothes, the depth of his erection wasn’t to be missed. It was sheer heaven feeling his desire, knowing he wanted her this way, the way she’d always wanted him.

  “Cole,” she whispered, a plea tearing from her throat.

  His hands on her ass, he hoisted her up and her legs automatically came around his hips. The grind of his body crushed to hers sent beautiful shock waves. She hugged his neck as he walked her over to the sofa, her heart beating out of control.

  As he laid her down, he came over her, one knee on the sofa, his eyes glazed with passion.

  Transfixed, she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. Cole swallowed hard and then helped her push the blouse off her shoulders, until she was bared to him but for the lacy black bra she wore, compliments of Barely There.

  “Shit,” Cole said, eyeing her breasts.

  She smiled then, took his hand and laid it on her left breast, over her heart.