Cowboy Strong (Cowboy Up Book 5)

by Allison Merritt

  “Hello, I’m Danny’s buddy, Tucker O’Connell.”

  The other man let go of his hand and moved to the side to let Tucker in, then motioned for him to enter the room off the entry. “Come in. I’m Paul Dawson. It’s good to finally meet you. Danny should be down in a second.”

  “Nice to meet you, too.” Tucker nodded and glanced around the living room. The space wasn’t huge, but it was nicely furnished.

  “Can I get you anything? Coffee, a Coke or a beer?”

  He looked at his friend’s partner and grinned. “I might have a reputation as being a partier, but it’s a little early for beer. Coke would be great. Thank you.”

  With a nod, Paul left, heading presumably for the kitchen. Tucker stuffed his hands into the pockets of his Wranglers. Dark brown leather furniture sat in a grouping facing an expensive-looking entertainment unit. He was admiring the painting of a herd of galloping mustangs on the wall between the front windows when Danny entered.

  “That’s one of Paul’s paintings. His work is famous all over the world.”

  Tucker turned around as Danny walked toward him. He was tall, dark, and he supposed handsome. At least all the chicks had thought so when they were in school. Dressed in Wranglers, western shirt, and boots, he moved with the subtle grace of the cowboy he was.

  Tucker faced his friend. “He’s good. Where’d you meet?”

  Until last week, Danny had managed the two-thousand-acre ranch his wife and her sister had inherited. A job Tucker doubted allowed for much opportunity to meet world famous painters.

  He shrugged as his gaze slid away from Tucker’s. “We met in Austin. I’d go there every few months to--well…” With a sigh, he looked at Tucker again. “When I’d hook up with men.”

  “Ah.” Tucker shifted his shoulders under his T-shirt. He wasn’t homophobic in the least. Danny wasn’t his only gay friend, but the thought of getting it on with a guy always made him a little uncomfortable. “So, he was one of your…”

  “Hook ups? Yes. But we fell in love.” As a smile spread across his face, he seemed to glow. Tucker had never seen his friend appear so happy. “For the first time in my life I’m truly in love.”

  How could anyone begrudge his friend that? “I’m happy for you, buddy.”

  With a sheepish nod, he motioned for Tucker to sit in a soft leather armchair, while he sat on the couch. Paul brought in three bottles of Coke, handed one to Tucker, another to Danny. Tucker didn’t miss the way the two men looked at each other. Paul took a seat next to Danny, who laid his hand on the other man’s leg.

  Although, he was glad for his friend, seeing the obvious affection between the two men brought a horrible realization to his mind. He’d never seen Danny look or touch Lorelei with such casual affection. The thought irritated him. Lorelei was one of the sweetest, most beautiful women he’d ever known. Where did all of this leave her?

  “How’re Lorelei and Jenna?” Despite being Danny’s best man at his wedding, he’d tried to talk him out of marrying his long-time girlfriend when she’d graduated from medical school, but Danny had convinced him he loved her, and Tucker doubted his suspicions about his friend’s sexual orientation. There hadn’t been a question of her not loving him. Not for the first time since he’d heard about their split, he wondered how she’d been managing and kicked himself for not checking up on her.

  “They’re good. They are the reason I asked you here.” Danny set his bottle on the end table and leaned over his long legs. “Lorelei signed the divorce papers yesterday. Paul and I are taking Jenna to Disneyland and to Paul’s parents’ winery in Northern California for our wedding. We’ll be gone for three weeks. I have joint custody, but after we come home, Paul and I are going to France for a couple of weeks. After that, we will be gone a lot. Paul’s painting takes him around the world, and I’m doing more freelance writing for ranching and farming magazines.”

  “What about Jenna?” Tucker couldn’t help the narrowed-eyed scrutiny he gave his friend. He loved Jenna like a niece and knowing she’d be hurt by Danny angered him. “She’ll be devastated by your leaving?”

  Danny stared down at his hands. “I know. Jenna is my daughter, and I’ll miss her. I love her so much it hurts, but I couldn’t take her from Lorelei. Jenna is all she has right now.” He glanced at Paul, who took his hand. “But we need to leave town for a while. My parents haven’t taken my coming out well. They see it as a total affront to them and their raising of me. Hell, Dad had a prayer meeting to pray for my soul.” He gave a bitter laugh. His father was a fundamental preacher, who Danny never got along well with. “Mom tried to have my rights to Jenna taken away because she believes I have some sort of mental disorder. They haven’t been very kind toward Lorelei either. And bless her, she’s been refusing to let Jenna spend much time with them because they have nothing good to say about me. Hopefully, if we leave for a while, my parents will finally let go of their disapproval of me and things will get easier for Lorelei and Jenna.”

  “I’m glad you’re thinking of Lorelei.”

  Danny let go of his lover’s hand and folded them together in front of him. Paul wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “I hurt Lorelei--badly. She loved me. And God knows I tried to love her the way she deserves. But I couldn’t. I lied to her and to myself for years. I do still love her as one would his sister. I hope in time, she can forgive me.” He took a breath and shook his head as if dislodging a thought. “That’s why I want you to manage the ranch. I’ve talked to Jessica and Lorelei, and they both agreed you’re the best person to take over management of the place.”

  “I don’t know.” Tucker may be out of a job since his accident, but overseeing a spread as big as Kentland Ranch was a little daunting. “I never managed anything before, let alone a ranch.”

  “True, but you’ve worked there, you have a degree in ranch management, and you know the Kents. However, the running of the ranch isn’t the only thing. I want you to take care of Lorelei and Jenna for me.” He met Tucker’s gaze again and sat up, squaring his shoulders under his lover’s arm as if a decision had been made. “But there’s more. I want you to show Lorelei just how beautiful she is. I want you to show her the passion I never could give her.”

  Tucker stared at his friend. Surly, he wasn’t interpreting this right. Had Danny just asked him to have sex with his ex-wife? “You want me to what?”

  The side of Danny’s mouth curved up in a lopsided grin. “I know you’ve carried a torch for Lorelei for years. Here’s your chance, Tuck. You have my blessing.” Then his expression turned serious. “I just ask that you don’t hurt her. She’s been through enough already.”

  CHAPTER 2

  “Would you like to have breakfast out here?”

  Lorelei turned and smiled at the late middle-aged housekeeper. “Thank you, Frances. And yes, please. I’m expecting Tucker O’Connell, so you may want to make a little extra.”

  The rosy complexion of the older woman brightened as a smile spread over her round face. “If I remember that boy’s appetite, I’d better make more than just a little more.”

  “True enough.” She smiled and leaned against the porch pillar to sip her coffee as Frances went back inside.

  Looking out over the rich green of her ranch, she’d never imagined living anywhere else, but in times like now, she wished she’d taken a more active role in learning how to run the place. Either she or Jessica understood all of the intricacies of managing a business as big as Kentland, with its fifteen fulltime and ten part-time employees, most of whom rented homes from them, not to mention the care required for the thousand head of cattle and fifty-odd horses. Kentland had been in her family’s possession for nearly a hundred-seventy years, ever since her umpteenth-great-grandfather had been given the land for his bravery during the Mexican-American War in 1848, with the small town of Kentsville soon following. Neither she nor Jessica could ever live with themselves if it were from their neglect they lost the ranch.

  Three ducks caught he
r attention as they flew toward the Brazos River, which bordered the western side of the ranch. The birds landed on the slow-moving water, and she turned to watch them as another worry flooded her mind. Why had she said yes to Danny’s outrageous suggestion of hiring his best friend as her new manager? She’d known Tucker her entire life. His father had been her grandfather’s manager until cancer claimed his life a year after she and Danny married. But Tucker had never shown much interest in the place.

  So, why did he want to take over management now?

  At the sound of a vehicle on the driveway, she set her cup on the table Frances was setting with plates for breakfast and went around the side of the house. A Silverado pickup parked in front of the garage. As Tucker O’Connell stepped out of the truck, the morning sun tangled in his auburn curls, causing the strands to sparkle like a flame. When they’d been teenagers, she’d teased him most women would kill for his hair. He extinguished the illusion of fire by setting a black Stetson upon his head. His hair wasn’t the only thing most women would murder for. Hidden behind one of the pillars, he couldn’t see her as he walked up the path to the steps. She couldn’t help but admire him. His dark blue and white plaid western shirt strained under the breadth of his muscular shoulders. The faded jeans fitted his long legs like a second skin. Worn boots and a big sliver rodeo buckle completed his look.

  When he reached the porch, she stepped out of the shadows and smiled. “Hi, Tucker.”

  He stopped, his olive gaze passing over her as he removed his hat. “Ah, Lorelei, good morning. I didn’t see you there.” Before she registered his moving, he pulled her into his strong embrace and held her close. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. How are you?”

  She rested her head on his chest as he held her, with his chin resting on top of her head. He smelled of leather, spice and something darkly delicious she assumed was all him. She relished the startling feel of him against her and the warmth of his body despite the heat of the June day. Without thinking too much about her actions, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on.

  “I’m okay.” Her voice sounded muffled in his shirt, and she tilted her head to look up at him. Her heart sped up at the warmth in his eyes as he met hers. “What can I do but move on?”

  She started at him for a moment until the meaning of the bulge pressing into her stomach shocked her brain back to life. Heat burned her cheeks as she moved out of his embrace. What the heck just happened? She and Tucker had been friends since they were both in diapers, but she’d never been physically attracted to him. Was he interested in her? Or was this only simple heterosexual biology kicking in on his part?

  Trying desperately to get her equilibrium back, she cleared her throat. “How are you? I haven’t seen you since the accident. Damned scary.”

  “It was.” His voice came out a little rough and he rubbed his chin as he turned away from her. Pink tinged his clean-shaven cheeks. “I’m good. I got a clean bill of health last month. Although I’ll never ride rodeo again, I can still sit a horse.” A grin lifted the corners of his full lips and a dimple appeared in his right cheek. “I guess I’m reinventing myself. I never dreamed I’d be thinking of managing a ranch.”

  Her answering smile felt stiff and slippery. “I never thought I’d be a divorced mother, so yeah, reinvention.” Before he could respond, she motioned behind her. “Would you like some breakfast? Frances is setting it up on side porch.”

  “Sure.” He gave her another one of his world-famous, woman-killer smiles. “I couldn’t ever pass up Aunt Frances’s cooking.” Frances was his father’s younger sister and had taken over as housekeeper and cook when his mother retired three years ago.

  She laughed and led the way around the corner of the house. “It’s truly amazing I don’t weigh a ton.”

  They reached the round glass-topped table as Frances appeared at the French doors into the kitchen. She let out a girl-like squeal and came through the door to hug Tucker. He towered over the older woman. After they exchanged greetings and she scolded him for not visiting her sooner, she brought out a platter of bacon, scrambled eggs and fresh baked buttermilk biscuits.

  “Wow, Frances, this looks amazing. Thank you,” Lorelei said and motioned for Tucker to have a seat. He waited until she sat before sitting in the chair across from her.

  “You both enjoy.” Frances smiled and patted Lorelei on the shoulder. “Holler if you need anything.” She took one more look around the table. “Oh, I’ll bring out more coffee.” She turned and went back inside and returned a moment later with a carafe.

  He set his hat on an empty chair and pushed his unruly hair off his forehead as a breeze ruffled the cinnamon locks, then reached for the platter of eggs. “How’s Jenna doing?”

  “She’s fine. Of course for the first few weeks after Danny came out, she sensed the tension between us, then he moved in with Paul.” Lorelei took a biscuit and smothered it with butter. “Now, things seem normal to her. She loves Paul, and he’s great with her.” She smiled at the thought of Danny’s partner. “Actually, I like Paul. He’s a nice guy. A bit more metropolitan than I’d ever think of being Danny’s type.”

  He laughed. “I can’t disagree there.”

  Danny was a cowboy. He’d ridden in his share of junior rodeos with Tucker. She and Jessica would cheer them both in their respected events. Tucker may have made a career riding bulls, but Danny had won his share of trophies and buckles in roping events as a teenager.

  “Did you know Paul is an artist and apparently studied in Paris?” She let out a snort. “The only Paris Danny has ever seen was Paris, Texas, to visit family.”

  Tucker swallowed his bite of egg and laid down his fork. “Yeah, I saw his paintings. So, it sounds like you’re coming to terms with things?”

  She hadn’t thought about it before, but now, she did, and for the first time in months, a weight lifted from her heart. The dread she’d felt while signing the divorce papers was completely gone. Tucker watched her with an intensity going beyond friendship. As she thought about the embarrassing way their hug had ended, a jolt went through her. Tucker was attracted to her. But more than a little disconcerting was the way she wondered about what he looked like under those skin tight jeans and soft cotton shirt.

  When she found her voice, she spoke a new truth. “Yes, I guess I am. Danny broke my heart, but I’m getting better. Honestly, I think his being gay makes accepting his leaving me easier.” She thought about all the nights she’d cried herself to sleep thinking she was a failure as a woman and let out a laugh. “Granted, nothing makes you feel more inadequate as a woman, but it does make sense out of other things.” She shook her head, mortified she’d said way too much and simply added, “Danny deserves to be happy.”

  He watched her over his coffee cup, then lowered it. “So do you.”

  * * * *

  Tucker hadn’t been prepared for the insane emotions Lorelei stirred in him again. All night Danny’s crazy suggestion had boiled in his mind and blood keeping him awake most of the night. Now, with the sun glowing through her long gold hair, she looked even more angelic than he remembered. Her blue eyes held a depth and knowledge of pain he wished he could remove. When he’d hugged her, he hadn’t expected her to feel so alive and vulnerable in his arms. All he wanted to do was wrap her up and protect her from everything. But he couldn’t deny he wanted her.

  She shrugged and looked down at the biscuit she crumbled on her plate. “I am. I only wish I knew what to do next.”

  “You start over.” And how the hell do you do that? He’d been trying for months to figure out what he was going to do.

  She laughed and picked up her coffee. “Is this why you’re here? Is this you starting over? If I remember correctly, you wanted nothing to do with Kentland.”

  He shrugged and leaned back in his chair as he smirked. “I was just wondering the same thing. Maybe it is. I’ll admit I didn’t want to spend my life working on Kentland, but it had nothing to do with the ranch.�
��

  It had everything to do with you being in love with my best friend.

  She dropped her gaze to her plate. “What have you been doing since the accident?”

  “I’ve been staying with an old rodeo buddy up in Palo Pinto County.” At her open expression, he added, “Justin gave up rodeo a couple years ago after meeting his wife. I helped him around his ranch.”

  “Where are you staying now?”

  “With Tonya,” he said, referring to his older sister. “I was hoping I could move into the bunkhouse, but I see it’s gone. When was it torn down?”

  She pushed her plate away with most of her breakfast uneaten. “Last summer. When the tornado came through, it took off most of the roof, and Danny didn’t see the sense in repairing it. We’d just built the new townhouses in town, and most of the hands preferred them over the old apartments.”

  “The complex where Danny lives? I thought they were new.”

  “Yeah. We had them built because the bunkhouse wasn’t viable anymore. More of our fulltime hands have families. Granted a lot of them have their own places, but there still are a few who prefer to rent from us.”

  “Is one of the townhomes available?” He’d rather live on the ranch if he was managing it. For the first time in his life, he wished the home he’d grown up in was still standing, but the old manager’s house had been blown away years ago by a twister. He found it more than a little ironic the neighboring bunkhouse would suffer the same fate.

  “Unfortunately, no.” She puckered her brow as if deep in thought.

  He nodded. “Do you know of anywhere else?” He honestly doubted it. Kentsville wasn’t a booming metropolis. “I can’t sleep on my sister’s couch much longer.”

  She laughed and sat back in the chair, folding her arms under her breasts. The way they swelled under her thin, cotton blouse had him shifting in his chair.