The Rancher's Second Chance

by Victoria James

  “You should. You are a young man, and young men have…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes shifted to the left. “Certain urges.”

  Holy hell. He couldn’t believe where this conversation was going. It was way too early in the morning for this. There was no time of day that would be appropriate for this. He hurried up, his fork scraping against the plate as he piled up the remaining eggs. “I have no problem getting my ‘urges’ taken care of. It doesn’t mean I need to find love.”

  “Cole William Forrester, your mama would not have approved of you paying for sex.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut. He needed to erase those words from his mind.

  “Who’s paying for sex?”

  Cole’s head shot up, and he glared at Gage as he sauntered into the kitchen.

  “Come and sit down, darling, I’ll fix you up a plate,” Mrs. H said, pushing her chair back with her knees.

  “Thanks,” Gage said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek as she jostled over to the stove. He entertained the idea of telling Gage it was time he found his own damn place to eat. He couldn’t, obviously, but right now he was tempted. Gage had been like part of the family ever since he’d started working at Tall Pines when he was sixteen. He had no family to speak of and whenever any of them would ask him about it, he’d shut down and not say a thing. The closest Cole had ever gotten him to open up was one night after Sarah died. Cole had been determined to drink enough that he could forget Sarah was dead, and his buddy stood by him and matched him, drink for drink.

  During that night, both of them spoke about the past and feelings and things neither of them would ever contemplate sober. Mrs. H and his sister found them passed out the next morning. He’d been sprawled out on the sofa and Gage had been lying on the coffee table. That was the last time either of them got drunk in the house. The lectures they endured about alcohol poisoning the next morning were worse than the hangovers.

  “So, what’s this about paying for sex?” Gage asked, digging right into the food on his plate once Mrs. H had settled into her seat.

  Cole dragged his hands down his face. “No one is paying for sex.”

  “I was just telling Cole here that it’s time he found himself a woman.”

  “Agreed,” his friend said, his mouth full of food. “Listen, buddy, you don’t have to pay for it. I’m sure I can find some woman, somewhere who’d be willing—”

  “Shut up.”

  “You gotta get a life and stop hanging around Mrs. H all the time.” He looked up at her and grinned. “No offense.”

  “None taken, my dear,” she said, patting his hand.

  He shoved his plate of food aside. “Thanks, but I had a good woman once. Not looking to replace her.”

  Gage leaned back in his chair. “Of course you can’t replace her. No one is talking about finding another Sarah. What about Hot Mel?”

  “Her name is not Hot Mel,” Cole said. He didn’t like that one bit. Hot Mel.

  “Well, she’s hot and her name is Mel.”

  “She’s not my type. Too high maintenance.” That was one of the reasons he couldn’t entertain going out with her. He’d thought up that reason at 2:01 a.m. It was a good one. He knew from Cori that her family was extremely wealthy, extremely highbrow type of people. Nothing like his family. They may have had money, their business was extremely profitable, but there wasn’t one day that went by that was without hard labor. Right from when they were old enough to help out, their father had them out there like any other cowboy the family employed. Even their mother, who’d been petite, had had the kind of strength that could rival someone twice her size. And that’s what you needed out here. Strength.

  “She’s not,” Mrs. H said. “I’d say spirited.”

  He quickly scrambled for a rebuttal. “Spoiled.”

  “Now I never had you pegged as the judgmental type, Cole. You might be surprised by her. Not everything is as it seems.”

  “Did she or did she not go to private school with Cori?”

  Mrs. Harris gave him a terse nod. “Correct, but so did your sister. You wouldn’t ever say that Cori is high maintenance or spoiled.”

  “True. But the only reason Cori went to that stupid school was because our parents decided she needed a better education because of her learning disability. Not for prestige. And she didn’t board there; she came home every day.”

  She crossed her arms. “Well still…”

  “Melanie comes from old money. She wouldn’t know the first thing about life out here.”

  Gage coughed. “This isn’t the Outback. It’s a ranch half an hour outside Passion Creek.”

  “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”

  Mrs. Harris pursed her lips. “Cole—”

  “No. Not interested in those kinds of people. I don’t need a socialite in my life.”

  His friend leaned forward, poking his fork in Cole’s direction. “I never knew you were such a prick.”

  “You took the words right out of my mouth, Gage!” Mrs. H said, standing and tossing her napkin on the table. She glared down at him, hands on her wide hips.

  He couldn’t believe this. He looked up at Mrs. H. “Prick? Really? That’s what you were thinking?”

  She frowned and puffed up like a rooster. “Precisely what I was thinking.”

  “Good morning,” Melanie called out as she entered the room. Everyone turned to her, Mrs. H suddenly beaming as she jostled over.

  This morning Melanie’s dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and though he thought it looked gorgeous down around her shoulders, this seemed to make her features more prominent, their delicate perfection more noticeable. But he shouldn’t be observing any of this.

  Cole mumbled out a greeting and then glowered into his coffee mug. He did look up, though, to witness Gage ambling over to her. God, his friend could lay it on thick. His arm was stretched out, braced against the counter as he mumbled something probably completely inappropriate. Melanie’s laughter filled the room along with Gage’s deep voice. Gage was doing his best to play the part of the charming cowboy. Mrs. H and his friend fussed over her, pouring coffee and fixing up a plate of food. Her warm laughter stirred something deep inside him that he couldn’t ignore. “I feel kind of silly. There’s hardly any snow out there,” Melanie said with a shake of her head, somehow managing to emerge from Gage’s little trap. She focused on the window behind him. Cole frowned slightly when he realized she was avoiding eye contact with him.

  “Better safe than sorry,” Mrs. H said, patting her hand. “Besides, it was wonderful having a guest.”

  “You’re so sweet, Mrs. H,” Melanie said taking a long drink of orange juice. When she licked the moisture from her lips, Cole shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She settled in the chair beside Gage, opposite him. She was wearing one of Cori’s sweaters, and he swore Mrs. H was responsible for this outfit too. It was a clingy, scoop-neck, soft-looking sweater, and the way Mel filled it out made him want to reach out an—

  “So, anything I can help you with today? I’ve got all morning free if you need an extra pair of hands for your wedding-planning tasks,” Gage said, leaning closer to her. Cole ground his back teeth until they hurt. He knew exactly where Gage would like to be putting his hands. Cole was hoping his friend would start eating soon, his table manners were atrocious, certainly off-putting to someone like Melanie. She was completely unaware of his friend’s motives, so she just smiled at him.

  “I’m sure I’ll manage. I just need to take a look at a few things in the dining room,” she said, chewing on a forkful of eggs. “I should be out of your hair in less than two hours.”

  “Melanie, you are welcome to stay as long as you need. Saturdays are pretty slow around here,” Mrs. Harris said, picking up his plate even though there was still food left on it. “Maybe you’ll be able to stay for lunch, too. I’m planning on making some warm beef sandwiches with last night’s leftovers.”

  Cole could not believe this. Mrs. Harris was like some ma
stermind matchmaker.

  “That does sound delicious, but I do have appointments lined up this afternoon and I really need to get back into town.”

  The vibrating of his phone sent everyone looking in his direction, assuming there might be news about Cori. His heart hammered as he glanced down at the display.

  “Sorry, not Adam.” He knew that’s what they were anticipating. “But I do need to take this call,” he said, rising. The client calling was the person who could facilitate making one of Sarah’s visions a reality. And the thought of that, of Sarah, of their shared dreams, reminded him of his other life. Everyone thought he needed another woman in his life and they were wrong. He had moved on with his life; he wasn’t depressed. He was living just fine. There was nothing wrong with being alone.

  He ignored the feeling of pleasure that ran through him when he heard Melanie’s laughter ring through the kitchen again as he walked out. His friend was intent on charming her. He should just let him. Cole was more than content expanding the family business and fulfilling one of Sarah’s dreams. This deal he’d been working on for the last six months could actually be happening. By the time his sister’s wedding arrived, he could be the sole beef supplier to Anderson Food Group.

  Chapter Three

  An hour later, Cole was feeling pretty damn good. He received word from Adam that Cori’s surgery had been a success; she was conscious and now recovering. He’d also just scheduled a meeting with Anderson Food Group for next week. The day couldn’t get any better than this. His little sister was going to be okay, and he was on his way to fulfilling one of Sarah’s dreams of having their product be highly accessible to the general public. Sarah believed in their product and wanted their distribution to grow.

  He strode out of the barn, leaving behind the sounds of the cowboys talking, hay rustling, and all the other noises that were as familiar to him as the ranch around him. He slapped his leather gloves against his thigh as he walked on the gravel path toward the main ranch house, away from the small log house that served as his office. It had taken some getting used to after his parents died; he’d always associated that office with his father. But Sarah had been by his side and they had taken over the dream. The Tall Pines Ranch had a reputation as one of the finest, organic, grass-fed beef providers in the country. But he knew he couldn’t take that for granted. He needed to be open to new business opportunities, which was why this deal with Anderson Food Group was so important—it guaranteed business, exposure, and accomplishing Sarah’s vision for the ranch.

  The air was cold, dense with impending snow. He slowed for a second, his footstep faltering at the sight of Melanie’s Volkswagen still parked in the drive. Melanie. He wasn’t going to analyze the tightening in his chest. Or the fact that he was relieved that she was still here. Or that he took the porch steps two at a time.

  After dropping his coat and gloves on the bench in the foyer, he strode down the hall toward the dining room. Soft, feminine laughter propelled him faster. He had a feeling he’d find Gage here.

  Cole stopped beside Gage in the door frame of the dining room and scowled as his friend stood there, taking a nice long look at Melanie. She was standing on the dining room table trying to attach some weird floral things around the chandelier. She was also unknowingly providing them with a delectable view of her very cute bottom in tight jeans.

  His friend turned to look at him. “So, how did it go?”

  Cole forced himself to concentrate on the news he had and not the gorgeous woman across the room. Gage was the only person he’d told about the possible business deal with Anderson Food Group, and he knew exactly why this was so important to him. “We have a meeting scheduled for next week, but so far everything is pointing to this going forward. Apparently, the owner wants me to meet with his future son-in-law who will be taking over the company when he retires in a few years. He kept stressing they were a family business, just like us, despite their size.”

  Gage was nodding. “That’s great, man. I hope this works out for you.”

  “It has, too,” Cole said.

  Gage looked uncomfortable for a minute. “You know, if it doesn’t, that’s okay, too.”

  “I haven’t worked my butt off trying to keep this ranch going after my parents died. Cori followed her own path, becoming a veterinarian. Sarah’s gone. This is supposed to be a family business, and hell, there’s no family left. You know what this industry is like. If I don’t push ahead, this place will die.”

  “Uh, yeah, or you will if you keep going at this pace, and you’ll take me along with you. This is the first time in what, a year, that I’ve been inside on a Saturday morning.”

  He was right. Of course, the only reason they were inside was because of Melanie.

  “What about Cori?”

  “She’s recovering well.”

  Gage broke out into a wide grin. “Well, that is good news.” His friend immediately went back to focusing on the dining room. Cole frowned, following his gaze. Gage shot him a look from the corner of his eye. “That is one woman who just gets hotter every time I see her.”

  “You saw her at breakfast. She’s even hotter since then?”

  Gage nodded slowly. “Damn straight.”

  “She’s Cori’s best friend.”

  Gage shrugged. “So?”

  “She’s too young for you.”

  “Please, thirty-three is hardly old.”

  “You’re not her type.”

  “How do you know what her type is?”

  Cole ground his teeth together. He didn’t. He didn’t know anything about the kind of guys Melanie dated. And he also didn’t know why this should bother him. Hadn’t he just told himself he was going to let Gage have her if he wanted her? “She wouldn’t go out with a cowboy. The way you smell after a day’s work would send her running in the other direction. She’s a high-maintenance, designer-clothes-wearing, trust-fund kid.”

  Gage rubbed his chin. “Sounds like you’ve been thinking about this a lot.”

  “I haven’t thought about it once.”

  “I think you need to ask Melanie out or something.”

  He frowned, rolling his shoulders, willing himself to relax a little. “What, to the spring dance? This isn’t high school. I don’t ask women out.”

  “Uh-huh. Exactly what I thought,” Gage said, rolling back on his heels. “All this crap about being ready to move on with your life, it’s all a joke. You have no intention of moving on.”

  Cole knew where this was going, where conversations like this always went, except neither of them were drinking and it was broad daylight. He needed to shut this down, fast. “I have moved on. Am I drunk? Do I show up for work? Do I laugh?”

  Gage slowly turned to look at him. He actually looked like he was staring at an alien. “Laugh? Buddy, you don’t even smile.”

  “I’m smiling now,” Cole said, forcing his lips upward.

  “That’s not a smile. You look like the beast in that movie when he tries to smile. It’s been five years, man…”

  Cole sighed. Everyone had been saying that lately, like five years meant something significant. Like all of a sudden at the five-year mark of losing the only woman he’d ever loved he should be looking for a new wife. He didn’t need another wife. He didn’t need to love like that again. Yeah, he could be with women, but he didn’t need a relationship. It didn’t mean he wasn’t over Sarah. He was.

  “So? If I’m interested in someone, I’ll pursue it. So far, no one’s interested me.”

  “Because you haven’t moved on. Because you still go up to that shack in the mountains you forced me to build with you.”

  “I didn’t force you.”

  “You did. And because I felt sorry for you, I helped you build that backwoods-mountain-man cabin. I didn’t think that five years later you’d still be going up there by yourself.”

  Cole frowned, staring straight ahead. Gage would never be able to understand the loss he’d felt. He was an eternal bachelor w
ho avoided commitment at all cost. “Nice friend.”

  “Hey, I’m the best damn friend you’ve ever had. Who else would clean up your vomit?”

  “Okay, this is getting a little intense for the morning,” Cole said, clearing his throat. Gage was right. He was the best damn friend a guy could ever ask for.

  “Can one of you guys help me over here?” They both turned to Melanie who was standing with her hands on her hips, perched on the dining room table. Cole opened his mouth, but Gage had already scurried over to the woman.

  “What can I do for ya’ darlin’?”

  Cole rolled his eyes. His friend was laying it on as thick as the butter on Mrs. H’s biscuits. Melanie didn’t seem to mind; she let out a soft laugh that he found inexplicably appealing. Cole stood watching as his friend hopped up onto the table and basically became the wedding planner’s assistant. He didn’t know why this bothered him. His friend, whom he’d never even seen anywhere near a flower before, was now helping her tuck some roses around the candelabra and offering his opinion on their placement.

  Melanie took a step back a moment later and stared up at the chandelier. “That’s perfect; thank you, Gage.”

  “My pleasure,” his friend said in that stupid voice again. He jumped off the table and then held out his hand for Melanie. She took it, but instead of just helping her down, he watched incredulously as his friend put his hands on her waist and lifted her down.

  Cole walked over to them. Enough was enough. They had work to get done today, and just because Gage thought he could put the moves on Melanie didn’t mean he needed to witness it.

  “Are you done, Gage, or do you want to tuck some flowers in your hair?”

  His friend ignored him. “Anything else you need help with, Mel?”

  “I do need to get up to the chapel. That’s really important. I have some measurements that need to be confirmed.”

  “I can take you.”

  “No you can’t,” Cole snapped before he could stop himself. He caught the gleam in his friend’s eyes.

  “Sure I can.”

  “No, you’re busy. I’ll take Melanie.” He couldn’t believe he’d just said that out loud. And by the looks of things, neither could they. He was doing it because she was Cori’s friend and he was trying to save her from Gage. That was all.