by MISSY HARPER
“Well, that may be what these sorry cow pokes are gonna do, but not me.” Tanner said as he stood up, ran his fingers through his long black hair and placed his hat on his head.
“You got a date, handsome?” Ethan teased him. Tanner hadn’t really dated anyone since his wife had left him five years ago.
“Nope, but between my sister and your brother, I intend to get something decent for supper.” Tanner informed him in that matter of fact way he approached almost everything.
“Whoa, what the hell does my brother have to do with the Runt?” Ethan asked in the possessive, protective tone he’d always used when it came to Rylee.
“She works for him, idiot! I reckon between the two of em we can expect to get some decent food, and most likely free to boot.” Tanner grinned his sly smile. “So, you comin with me or are you eatin Bologna sandwiches with these two?” Tanner said, nodding his head toward his brother and father.
“You guys aren’t comin?” Ethan turned back toward Thor and Oliver, just in time to see half a sandwich disappear into Oliver’s mouth. Thor gave Tanner a warning with his eyes that Ethan didn’t understand. He let it go, knowing he’d been gone a while and would soon learn what all the little unspoken communication was about.
“Guess that means you’ve found yourself a date after all, Good Lookin.” Ethan teased, batting his eyes at Tanner.
“Things ain’t changed that much around here.” Tanner grumbled as he shoved Ethan toward the door.
“Don’t forget, there are other things around here that haven’t changed much either.” Thor reminded Tanner in reference to his sister’s feelings for Ethan.
Chapter 2
Dinner Theater
Ethan had to admit he was proud of his brother, Nick. He hadn’t been real happy when Nick decided to give up ranching to become a restaurant owner. To tell you the truth, he’d questioned his brother’s sexuality for a time there. I mean what kinda guy goes from ranching to running a restaurant? It was an honest question, one Nick skillfully answered by marrying his smokin hot wife, Cindy.
Nick wasn’t running one of those mom and pop establishments with vinyl covered booths and a juke box in the corner. Nick’s Place was a nice restaurant, one where a cowboy had to wear his nice jeans and clean boots. There were white table cloths on the tables with a candle, some sort of oil bottle and some fancy salt and pepper shakers decorating the center of each. The lighting was kept low, giving the place a bit of a romantic feeling. There was also some kinda soft music being played on a big piano, over on a raised platform to one side of the place. That some how made a man want to eat something more than burgers and beans. Definitely too classy a place for a man to eat with his hat on.
The floors were brick and there was a huge, stone fireplace along one wall that helped keep the place warm. A sweet little hostess had showed them to a table right near that fireplace and handed them some really expensive looking menus before assuring them their server would be right with them. Ethan flirted with the hostess, winking at her as she left the table. Tanner shook his head, same old Ethan.
“Well, I think I have to say my brother’s got himself a nice little place here.” Ethan said as he looked around, noticing for the first time the wide doorway leading to some type of bar. This wasn’t your average bar though. This bar was high with tall chairs around it, and the bar back wasn’t covered with whiskey or wine. Instead, it held a huge brick oven cut right into the wall, and it looked as if some really delicious pizza was being cooked up right there in front of them.
“You decide what you want?” Tanner asked his oldest friend.
“Yep. It’s standin right there at the end of that pizza bar.” Ethan nodded his head over the top of his menu.
“That ain’t an it, man. That’s a she and I know for a fact she’s not on the menu.” Tanner corrected him without even looking up to note whom he was referring to because he already knew. This particular she had that effect on every man that laid eyes on her. Ethan stopped and looked at his friend when he recognized the tone in his voice.
“Sorry, Tan. Didn’t realize you had a claim on that one.”
“Hell no!” Tanner said, cutting him off. “And I pity the man that ever does.” Ethan’s grin spread across his face when he heard the news.
“Yeah, I bet. She’s darn sure pretty enough to cause a man plenty of problems, but it’s that sophisticated air about her that’ll make it all worth my while. I bet she’s wild behind closed doors.” Ethan said with a predatory male grin on his face.
“You have no idea what you’re gettin into with that one. Best to just leave it alone.” Tanner mumbled while he looked over the menu. Sensing Tanner didn’t like the topic of conversation, and still not too sure there wasn’t something between Tanner and the hot blonde, Ethan changed the subject.
“So, where’s my sorry brother anyway?” Ethan joked as he looked around the restaurant, but never too far from the blonde standing at the end of the pizza bar.
“He’s probably not here. He doesn’t usually work evenings if Rylee’s here, unless it’s the weekend.” Tanner said very matter of fact.
“Lazy ass Bastard! Leavin the Runt to do all the work like that.” Ethan fumed. “He has no business leavin her here by herself, anytime! I’ll handle him, Tan. He’s not gonna be abusin her like that just cause we’re like family and all.” Ethan assured his friend. “How long’s this been goin on?” Ethan questioned.
“About four years.” Tanner answered slowly, looking up at him from over the top of his own menu. A curious look creased his face while Ethan snorted and shook his head.
“Ethan, Rylee’s shit list ain’t a place you want to be. Believe me! I’ve been on it enough to testify to it’s level of discomfort… and what the hell you keep starin at back there?” Tanner asked as he turned to look in the direction Ethan’s gaze had gravitated toward again. Tanner shook his head and let out a little snort. “Like I said, man, Rylee’s shit list ain’t a place you want to find yourself. You’re playin with fire, my friend.”
Ethan watched as the blonde stood at the end of the bar with her back to them. Her hair was up in one of those fancy twisty hair do’s, showing off a long slender neck that was just beggin to be nibbled and licked. She wore a black dress that had obviously been designed for her. There was no other explanation for why that dress fit her curves so well. Strapy high heels, that showed off her pretty little toes, finished off her long, toned legs. Ethan intended to make it his mission to suck on each one of those little toes. And what he could do with those legs! Well, it was probably best not to think about that at the moment. After all, this was his brother’s classy restaurant, and there was no sense embarrassing himself.
“Fire, Ethan. More fire than even you can handle.” Tanner warned his friend, hoping he’d take his advice.
“Heck, Tan. If I can ride a two thousand pound bull for eight seconds every night, surely I can handle that little filly.” Ethan flashed the trademark grin that had helped to make him a very wealthy man. It probably hadn’t hurt him where the buckle bunnies were concerned either. The stories about Ethan and his Bunnies were legendary!
“You sound like Rory.” Tanner complained. Two years ago, Rory, the youngest Van der Brook brother, had joined Ethan in the PBR and was doing what he loved. Riding those stupid bulls, as Rylee so eloquently put it.
“Hey, man, the kid’s good.” Ethan admitted. “With me gone I wouldn’t be surprised if he went all the way.” Ethan confided in his friend.
“You serious? You think he’s that good?” Tanner questioned.
“Most definitely, the boy’s got talent! He’s been chasin my ass for the past two years. I look for him to take the championship this year.” Ethan grinned at his friend and cocked his head to the side. “They don’t give those Rookie of the Year buckles to the slouches you know.”
“I know he’s good, and I’m real proud of him, its just that I worry something’s gonna happen to him. It’s not exactly the safest p
rofession, you know. It would kill momma if we lost him! And Rylee… hell, she’d probably raise him from the dead just so she could beat the life out of em again.” Tanner grumbled.
“Same ole Rylee, huh?” Ethan chuckled as he remembered the feisty little Runt. Tanner slowly shook his head and looked off to the side.
“In that aspect.” He grumbled.
“So where is that little hell cat anyway?”
“Ah, I’m sure she’ll be around soon.” Tanner grumbled as he focused back on his menu.
Ethan looked back at the blonde and saw the cute little hostess lean in to speak to her. The blonde nodded, turned and seemed to head straight toward their table with the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. It was dark in the room, but something about that smile was familiar. Her eyes seemed to be avoiding him, but were completely focused on Tanner. Lying, lucky Bastard!
She walked directly to their table, stopping beside Tanner’s chair to run her fingers through his long black hair as she looked down at him affectionately. Ethan couldn’t help but watch with envy as the strands of Tanner’s hair slipped through her delicate fingers. Tanner smiled but didn’t immediately look up to greet her.
“Book Club tonight?” Her voice was sweet and tender and oh, so familiar.
“Yep. What’s good tonight?” Tanner asked, finally glancing up into her face with a warm smile.
“I already ordered you the fish, and a big juicy steak for you, Ethan.” She answered, bringing her hand to rest on Tanner’s wide shoulder and looking over at Ethan for the first time.
“Medium rare, right?” She asked with a grin.
“Yeah… yes, ma’am.” He stumbled over his words when he answered.
She was even more stunning up close. No, whatever the word was to describe something that was beyond stunning, that’s what she was! No woman had ever had him at a loss for words, but she’d reduced him to a simple, stuttered yes, ma’am, with nothing more than a smile and a question about how he liked his steak.
Her face was shadowed, but he could see enough of it to know it was perfection, and the front of her was just as perfect as the back had been. God help him, he’d never believed in love at first sight, but that was before he’d met this beautiful creature. Usually, he just wanted a quick ride from a woman, and then he was off to the next warm, willing woman. Not with this one. He’d be willing to give this woman anything she wanted just for the chance to look at her a little longer, even if she never did allow him to suck on her pretty little toes.
“I thought I remembered correctly. It’s good to have you home.” He heard her words and they dragged him back to the present, and the fact he was openly staring at her. Her voice was so familiar. So was the smile, and obviously he’d shared a meal with her before, because she knew how he liked his steaks cooked. That information in itself ought to seriously narrow down the list of possibilities. He seldom took the time to wine and dine a woman, which suddenly made him feel sort of like a jerk.
He didn’t think he’d ever been drunk enough to not remember a beauty such as this, but he just couldn’t quite put his finger on where he might have met her. Just as he was about to break down and ask how he knew her, a waiter walked by with one of those desserts thats on fire, and the flames lit up her face. Recognition slammed into him like a bull stomping on his gut. There was only one person in the world who had those blue tiger striped eyes.
Ethan bolted up out of his chair and whipped his jacket off the back of it. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he glared at his best friend.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Ethan said to Tanner through clenched teeth as he wrapped his jacket tightly around Rylee’s shoulders and dragged her toward a hallway that housed the bathrooms and what appeared to be an office. He shoved Rylee’s back against the wall and pinned her there with his thumbs digging into her shoulders.
“What the hell’s wrong with you, Rylee?” He glared down at her with angry, dark blue eyes.
Rylee looked up into his irritated stare and realized he was everything she remembered and so much more! He was still tall, with the blackest hair and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. He was still broad across the chest and thick through the shoulders. The years of conditioning himself to withstand riding bulls had made his body hard and muscled. She quickly discovered he was more beautiful now than he ever had been as a boy, and much more beautiful than any magazine picture she’d seen of him since. But some things hadn’t changed a bit.
He still smelled like leather, soap and a hard working man. Those were the smells she’d always associated with Ethan, and it made her belly flutter to realize she had remembered such a thing for over ten years. Ethan was also still stubbornly protective of her. Unfortunately, there was one other thing that hadn’t changed… how she felt about him.
All of her time spent trying to forget him, or stop feeling anything at all for him, was all for nothing. She loved him as much in this moment as she had when she was ten years old. Her mind flashed back to the way he had ogled her as she approached the table, and she knew all of the rumors about him were true. She may love Ethan, but Ethan loved all women, and always would. That was one more thing that hadn’t changed about him. It was the one thing she should keep first and foremost in her mind. She knew it would not be wise to fall prey to Ethan’s temporary affections. Her heart would never recover.
Rylee stared back at the man she had always loved and allowed herself one, big, deep breath of his wonderful sent. She would deal with him tonight and then walk away, never allowing herself to be found this close to him again. She swallowed deeply, savoring the smell of him and his touch as she tried to remain calm and not cause more of a scene than they were already causing.
“I could ask you the same question, since I’m not the one dragging a woman across my restaurant wrapped in his jacket, Ethan.” Rylee answered with a raised brow and a bite me expression on her face.
“Don’t play with me Rylee! You know what I’m talking about. What the hell are you doing dressed like that?” He narrowed his eyes at her and tightened his grip on her shoulders.
“I’m dressed this way because I’m working tonight, Ethan. This isn’t exactly the kind of place where I can come to worked dressed in blue jeans and cowboy boots.”
“Rylee, I’m warnin you! I’m about two seconds from turning you around and spankin your ass right here against this wall, little girl!” He eyed her hard. “You had better start talkin!” He demanded.
“Ethan, I’m not really sure what it is that has you so upset, but I assure you, no one is going to spank me here or any place else. So, why don’t we start by you telling me what it is that’s bothering you so much.”
“What’s bothering me so much?” Ethan’s eyebrows shot up as he asked the question. Rylee simply gazed up at him and shook her head yes.
“Are you kidding me, Rylee? How the hell did you get out of the house with that dress on anyway? And where do you get off wearin those come get you some shoes?” He demanded as he stepped closer to her. “I can’t believe your daddy let you out of the house dressed like that!” He uttered in disgust, planning to have a long, hard talk with Thor first thing in the morning.
“My daddy doesn’t concern himself much with my wardrobe these days, Ethan.”
“Well, he should!” Ethan snapped.
“What a hypocrite!” Rylee accused as Ethan’s hands further tightened on her shoulders.
“You damn sure didn’t mind the view as I approached the table, just five minutes ago.” She narrowed her eyes at him. She’d had about enough of his caveman behavior.
“That’s right, Runt! You even had me wantin to… well, thinkin things I shouldn’t with you dressed like that! I ain’t gonna have you dressin like a woman when you should still be shakin your pom-pom’s at cheerleader practice. It’s gonna lead to nothing but trouble for you, and I’m not gonna stand for it! Do you understand me, Rylee?”
“No. I don’t understand you, Ethan.” Ryl
ee began to laugh. “You have been gone a long time haven’t you, cowboy? I haven’t shook pom-pom’s in almost five years, Ethan.”
“What the hell are you talkin about?” He demanded giving her a little shake. Her anger rose up quickly but, before she could strike, she remembered this was the one and only time she’d ever allow herself to be this close to him. She swallowed her anger and softened her expression.
“Ethan…” She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. He was so warm, and she could feel the stubble of his beard beneath her hand, further proving he was a man now and not the boy she’d fallen in love with so long ago.
“The world didn’t stop turning while you were gone. I grew up while you were riding those stupid bulls.” She smiled teasingly at him. “I’m not a little girl anymore. I’ll be twenty four years old in a few months. I’m plenty old enough to wear this dress, and any shoes I choose. And Ethan, I’m perfectly capable of dealing with whatever may come along with wearing them.”
“Rylee…” Ethan’s voice trailed off as he brought his fingers up to her cheek, touching it gently, the shock evident on his face. This woman before him was his little Runt. How could this have happened? Where had the time gone?
It was the first time he’d ever actually viewed her as a woman, and it packed more of a punch than he could have ever expected. He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to return to the awkward kid he remembered, or if he wanted to take the woman standing before him and make her his. It was a terrifying moment for him. He’d never even considered such a thing… just the opposite in fact!
Rylee looked into his eyes and saw the desire and recognition that lit them. She knew his desire was nothing but extreme danger to her own heart. The part of her that had loved him for so long wanted to reach out to it, foster it and hold on with everything she had. However, she already knew no woman would ever hold Ethan Hawkins… not for long anyway.
“You know what else, Ethan?” She asked in a sweet voice as he gently caressed her cheek, trying to wrap his brain around Rylee being a woman now. How she’d dreamed of his touch! It was a thousand times better than it had been in any of her fantasies, but she knew she had to put a stop to it now and never allow it to happen again. She knew herself well enough to know she’d never withstand it twice. Succumbing to it would make her just another fool he’d walked away from. She’d end up just like every other woman to him, and that was unacceptable.