Cowboy Flirtation

by Em Petrova

  “Yep.”

  “Too bad. I was eager to have another conversation about the rodeo with him.”

  She turned to her brother, who’d been blessed with the handsome genes. Tall and good-lookin’ enough to know it. Cocky enough to flaunt it. If his career riding broncs took off, he’d have all the buckle bunnies hot on his trail.

  “Did you know Ford was hurt by a bull in the rodeo?”

  Ryan’s brows shot up. “I knew he was a flankman, but that’s all.”

  “Yeah, he got his back broken.” She looked off toward the driveway where the dust left by his truck was finally starting to settle. She had a feeling more than his back had been broken after that event. No man would be so locked up emotionally if he hadn’t taken some hard hit to the region of the heart.

  “Man, that’s harsh. He can still ride, though, and ranch. What else does a man need, really?”

  She pivoted to smile at her brother. “You’re a true Ryan, you know that?”

  He gave her that twist of his lips, a half smile that was the carbon copy of their father’s and the rest of her brothers’. “I’ll take that as a compliment, Suz.”

  She stood talking to him a few more minutes and then brought up the issue of the metal gate in the barn. “It could pose a risk to the kids, and I can’t have that kind of liability. Besides, every time I walk into the barn now, I’ll think of it.”

  “I don’t have a problem helping you change out that gate, but we’ll have to run it past Dad first.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Let’s check out the stock Dalton brought up.”

  They moved toward the barn, and Susannah felt the echoes of what had happened here with Ford just minutes ago. The fierce expression in his eyes had been anything but frightening—he’d sent a wild thrill through her system the minute he’d looked down at her that way.

  Right before he grabbed her and kissed her like a man on a mission.

  Then just as quickly he’d let her go and stared at her with remorse in his eyes.

  She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a chill in the shadows of the barn where before she’d felt only bone-melting—panty-melting—heat. Ford’s arms had felt so right around her. And his hard body had incited images of long, hot Texas nights.

  As Ryan examined the horses and gave his stamp of approval, she only listened with half an ear. Her mind was far off in Paradise Valley where Ford had hightailed it.

  She knew he’d liked kissing her—the bulge of his arousal against her belly had spoken louder than an emcee at the fair. So what had driven him to back off?

  There had to be some mystery here, and the Daltons could tell her, but she wasn’t the type to go poking around for gossip. If Ford wanted her to know what was holding him back emotionally, he’d tell her. And she believed with all her heart there had to be something. The man was made of strong stock, and he wasn’t one to chicken out, even if he had with her just a bit ago.

  Well, she was glad to have his input on the state of the barn and would implement the changes as soon as possible.

  “Do you think we can get this gate switched out before my open house tomorrow?” she asked Ryan.

  He jerked his head in the direction of the house. “Let’s go ask Dad now. If we can’t spare the man power on the gate, maybe you can ask Ford for some help?”

  Oh God, yes.

  Watching his display of muscles as they rippled with each move he made was a recurring fantasy of hers ever since seeing him working that fence post out of the ground.

  Secretly, she hoped her father, brothers and every ranch hand within a mile was busy and she’d need Ford’s help.

  Chapter Five

  “Damn, Ford, where’s your mind at?” Hank’s call raised Ford’s head, and he yanked his arm back just in time. Another second and he’d be nursing another injury. Baling hay was no game for the faint-hearted. It was sweaty, hard work even with the help of the bigger equipment owned by the Daltons. But Ford knew better than to daydream on the job.

  “Sorry, cuz,” he drawled and threw himself double-time into the task.

  Hank didn’t say more, but Ford hated disappointing anyone. He also wanted his family to believe his work was needed around here—the thought of leaving Paradise Valley made him sick at his stomach.

  Sure, he loved the small farm where he and his siblings had been raised, but he didn’t fit in there anymore—hadn’t for a long time. If he was booted off the Daltons’ ranch, he didn’t know what he’d do with himself. Tucking tail and heading home was not an option.

  He concentrated on the motions of his job and did it well for the rest of the morning. When lunchtime rolled around, Hank climbed behind the wheel of his truck and the rest of them piled in. Ford, Beck and Case took a seat in the bed. Bumping around through the fields felt like old times, and he felt a wave of happiness rise up.

  In the past year since his accident and then losing his hopes for the future, he’d only felt this pure joy on a few other occasions. One, when he got into the saddle for the first time since his surgery. Again, when Uncle Ted had asked him to stay on in Paradise Valley.

  And when he’d kissed Susannah.

  Having the woman in his arms, tucked so tight against him with her lips moving under his had been the pinnacle of his happiness. Instead of smiling at her and showing her how much he loved touching her, he’d retreated inside himself, burrowed deep under the pain and then driven away as fast as he could.

  “Everyone’s heading up to the Ryans’ for that open house later on,” Beck said.

  Ford jerked from his thoughts.

  Beck eyed him, a half-smile on his features as he bounced against the side of the truck. He gripped the edge to steady himself. “I saw how you lit up when my momma mentioned Susannah yesterday.”

  Ford stared at him.

  “Oh yeah, that girl’s got eyes for our cousin,” Case said.

  “Nothin’s going on,” he grumbled.

  Beck and Case exchanged looks, and Ford was reminded of when they were kids. When one started teasing, they all jumped on the wagon and rode that thing into the ground. Usually, the person being picked on would run and tell Aunt Maggie so she could put a stop to it—or they did it themselves with fists. More than once, Ford had gone home from his stay with the Daltons with a swollen lip.

  He’d like to believe he’d grown up enough that he wouldn’t argue with his cousins over such a stupid taunt, but he felt that familiar anger building inside him.

  “Maybe nothin’s going on yet. But Susannah Ryan can’t take her eyes off you when she’s here,” Beck said.

  “You have to go to the open house and show her your support.” Case’s gaze was steady on Ford. The look made him feel young again, inferior in some way because all these men had wives and homes and had found their paths in life while Ford floundered in shallow water. The deepest he’d gotten since Gabby was when he’d kissed Susannah.

  He pushed out a grunt but didn’t reply.

  “Maybe she needs some help settin’ up. You should drive over and give her a hand.” Beck’s suggestion had Ford’s stomach knotting.

  “Why would I do that? She’s got family to help.”

  “Because she may need you.” Beck cocked a brow. “You know, to help with the horses and such.”

  Uh-huh. Ford knew what his cousin was doing. Who knew he was as much of a matchmaker as Aunt Maggie? The pair should go into business.

  The engine on Hank’s truck whined and sputtered. The truck rolled to a stop in the middle of the field and Hank cut the engine. They guys piled out to see what was going on, but Ford hung back, feeling six guys standing around an open hood was enough.

  “Ford, take a look at this.” Cash waved him over.

  He crowded between his cousins and eyed the belt they were pointing at.

  “Looks about to snap,” he said.

  “Think it’ll get us back to the house?”

  He shrugged. Why were they asking his opinion on the matter
when it was clear the rest had given theirs?

  “You’re the tie-breaker, Ford. Take the chance and make it home in time for lunch—I hear it’s fried chicken—or walk and come back with the part?”

  “Could just call your dad for the part and have him bring it out to us, but why leave the truck here when it could break down three fields closer to home?”

  Hank clapped him on the back, and Ford felt the camaraderie in that brotherly slap. He was trying to bring Ford into their group, make him feel at home and as important as the others.

  Ford gave his oldest cousin a nod and received one in turn.

  After that, they piled back into the truck. This time Beck got inside the cab, leaving Witt jostling around the bed with them. The minute his backside hit the hot metal, he yowled, and they all burst out laughing.

  “Guess my jeans are gettin’ thin in the seat,” Witt said, a grin splitting his face. “Shelby will be thrilled with a reason to head to the city for a shopping trip.”

  “Oh, don’t tell Annabelle. She’s been asking me to go for a week. On second thought,” Case said, “tell Annabelle. Then I don’t have to go along and carry all the bags.”

  “Wait till the baby’s actually here,” Witt told him.

  Ford looked between his cousins. “You got one on the way?”

  Case smiled wider. “Didn’t you hear the news? Didn’t mean to leave you out. I just assumed Aunt Maggie had told that branch of the family tree.”

  Ford reached out. “Let me shake the proud daddy’s hand. Congrats.”

  Case squeezed his hand. “Thanks.”

  “You stick around these parts, Ford, and you’ll snag a little country girl for yourself.” Witt’s words had him swinging his head his direction. “It’s true. The pretty ladies seem to flock to Paradise Valley. Didn’t I just see one up here a few days ago?”

  Ford gave a shake of his head. “I know what you’re doin’.”

  “What am I doin’? What did I miss?” Witt looked around himself as if searching for some sign spelling it out.

  Ford chuckled because what else could he do? He couldn’t let on to his family that Susannah’s presence tangled him up like it did. The Dalton ladies would be rushing Susannah out to the nearest boutique to buy her wedding gown while the guys gave him the low-down on married life.

  Thing was, after Gabby, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to get married. A case of extreme disappointment and heartache had successfully doused that fire. If he could live out his life doing work he loved and enjoying the occasional home-cooking of a good woman like his aunt or own mother, what more could he ask for?

  When the truck made it all the way up the driveway without that belt breaking, a cheer went up from all seven men.

  They took turns washing up outdoors and when he spotted some of the little kids playing with buckets and the water hose, he thought back to meeting Susannah’s eyes over that stock tank. How her eyes had lit up and a soft smile had graced her lips.

  How those lips tasted…

  Maybe the guys were right—he should drive up to the Ryan place and see if Susannah needed anything before open house. She’d worked hard to make it perfect and if he could assist in any way, then good.

  Oh yeah, his body told him a few ways he could lend a helping hand.

  * * * * *

  As Susannah circulated through the constant stream of people walking through her family’s barn, she wondered how in the world this day had finally come. She was sore from being on her feet and her smile felt permanently fixed in place.

  She’d spoken with most of the county as well as many who’d traveled a distance to talk to her about helping their autistic children. She’d even met a couple of the kids and shown them around, getting them excited about what would be their futures if their families signed them up.

  In the back of the barn, she and her mother had set up a long table with refreshments, and a glance toward it showed her it was picked clean. Only a few cookies were left on a plate and the punchbowl stood empty with just the ladle left behind like a ship in a dry pond.

  She was parched from talking, but would it be rude to slip into the house for a drink?

  She beelined to the door and came up short when she spotted the big, muscled form of Ford. He leaned casually against the fence, relaxed, his features arranged in a pleasing way as he shot the breeze with her brothers, Ryan and Lee. The three looked so comfortable together that her heart gave a small flip of happiness.

  Then she noticed Lee holding a bottled water and practically ran across the span of yard to him. She ripped the bottle from his hand, twisted off the cap and had it to her lips before he could even turn around, mouth agape.

  “Hey! You always were a thief when it comes to food or drinks, Suz,” Lee said.

  She swallowed half the bottle before she came up for air. “Sorry.” She backhanded the wetness from her mouth. “I was dying of thirst and there’s nothing left in the punchbowl.”

  “I can get you something if you want.” Ford’s offer had her own mouth opening on a dreamy sigh. The man could offer her a dip of water from the horse tank and she’d ooh and ahh over his words. Just listening to that deep drawl and low rumble was a gift.

  She smiled at him. “Thanks, but Lee’s generously given me his water.” She chugged the rest while Ryan laughed and Lee shook his head at her nerve. Ford wasn’t exactly smiling, but he wasn’t frowning either. He actually looked… interested. In her? Or what they’d been discussing before she barged in? She couldn’t guess.

  “You got a great turnout,” Ford said.

  She met his stare, thinking only of his lips and how incredibly soft they’d felt on hers. That had been a shock—he looked hard all over and she’d never guessed a man with all the strength of steel could be so tender.

  What she wouldn’t give for another one of those kisses, the pressure of his hands on her hips oh, so good.

  Heat coursed through her belly—and lower.

  She started to reply, when someone called her name from inside the barn. She handed Lee the empty plastic bottle and hurried in. For the next hour, she got to know a young boy named Andrew who had problems with social interactions. But by the time she’d introduced him to a horse brush and the Dalton’s mare called Sandy, he was smitten and she’d signed up her fifth client.

  When she saw the family off to their vehicle, she noticed she was alone in the yard. Everyone else seemed to have gone home.

  “Your open house was a success.” The voice had her stomach flipping and her pulse picking up.

  She turned to see Ford. He must be on his way out too—he was standing by his truck.

  She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’ve never been so happy—or tired.”

  He smiled, causing her heart to beat in triplets. “It was a great day for you and your program. Get some new clients?”

  “Yes.” She threw her arms out to the sides and looked to the heavens to say thanks. “Yes! And I’m so thrilled.”

  “You should be pleased with yourself. You worked hard, Susannah.”

  The way he spoke her name had liquid warmth flowing low in her belly and then lower.

  “I have so much to clean up now.”

  “I’ll help.”

  She smiled at his offer. “I think it can wait till morning.” The daylight was fading, and stars popped out in the deep denim blue of the sky.

  “All right then.” Ford reached for his door handle.

  She stopped him. “I’d like to take a ride. Look at the stars.”

  He kept his grip on the handle but might have turned to stone, he was so still. Slowly, he turned his head to look at her. “You want to go look at the stars?”

  “Why not?” She did a spin, feeling too filled with excitement to even stand still. “I’m on a high—too hyped to settle down. It’s a beautiful night and I can’t think of a better way to end the day.”

  Ford’s low chuckle took her by surprise.

  She faced him, breathing
fast. “Take me somewhere.”

  The corner of his lips quirked. “Where?”

  “Anywhere.”

  “Get in.”

  At his offer, a grin stole over her face. “I can run inside and grab a blanket.”

  “No need. I’ve got one already.” He tipped his head toward the truck.

  It didn’t bother her that he wasn’t affecting some country boy manners of opening the door for her. This wasn’t a date, after all, and she wasn’t that kind of woman. Sure, she liked being pampered sometimes, but she was happiest when being treated equally.

  She got into the passenger’s seat and Ford started the truck. The radio was tuned to country music, and he shot her a sideways glance. “Feel free to change the station if you want.”

  “This is perfect.”

  And it was. Riding down the driveway to the main road while listening to Blake Shelton singing about the country life.

  “I still can’t get over how many people came to the open house. Talking to those people—I knew a program like this could benefit, but it’s easy to second-guess your ideas. Now I see a real need,” she said, looking out the window at the stars growing brighter as the sun faded away.

  “People rally in support. That’s what I love about this area.”

  “Isn’t it the same around your home?”

  He was silent for a moment, thoughtful, his jaw set at an angle. “Is it odd to say I think of Paradise Valley as my home? Even though it’s never been offered to me as a home, nothing could feel the same.” His throat worked as he swallowed.

  “I understand completely. This whole area has a way of taking you under a spell.”

  He looked at her then, eyes dark with the shadows moving through the truck as they drove. “It does put you under a spell.” His throaty tone made her wonder if he was talking about something besides the land.

  The song changed to a ballad, and Ford drove off the main road onto a dirt one. When he pulled off into a flat spot of field and cut the engine, he turned to her. “Is this a good place to star-gaze?”

  She nodded.

  He threw her a smile and got out. For a moment, she couldn’t move or breathe, wondering what was about to happen. The man had her thinking about things she’d never thought about before. She’d always been focused on getting her life in order and men had been way down the totem pole of things to do. But when she looked at Ford, she could picture things… things like marriage and a family.