The Rancher Wore Suits

by Rita Herron

  “I’m so sorry,” Jessica said softly. “I know what it feels like to lose a baby.”

  “You lost a child?” Mrs. Montgomery’s voice quivered.

  Jessica nodded, a silent connection forming between her and the older woman. “Yes, last year.” She cleared her throat, the burden of her secret lifting slightly. “Then I had to have surgery, so I can’t ever have children.”

  Mrs. Montgomery’s sympathetic gaze met Jessica’s. “I’m so sorry, dear, and you’re so young.” She gestured toward the children gathering on the ground to hear the band. “But now I understand why you’re so devoted to these children.”

  Jessica bit down on her lip, grateful to have someone who truly understood what she’d gone through. “I love them as if they were my own.”

  The two women sat in companionable silence as the band began to play a peppy country tune and people flocked to dance.

  Mindy, a ten-year-old with leg braces, bounced up and down in her chair with the music. Dex noticed it at the same time as Jessica, walked over and bowed to the girl, holding out his hand.

  Mindy pointed to her braces, but Dex simply shrugged, picked up the girl and planted her feet on top of his, obviously bracing her so she didn’t have to put weight on her legs. Dex placed his hand on the young girl’s back to support her. “Now, you settle those feet on top of mine, hold on, and I’ll move us along.”

  Mindy obeyed, her pale face radiant as he danced them around the yard.

  “I just can’t believe how relaxed Dex has been all day,” his grandmother said. “I’ve seen such a difference in him since he took that trip to Chicago.”

  “I know, so have I.” He was a completely different man. Not that he’d ever been unkind or unlikable, just all business. He certainly had never noticed her. Jessica watched Dex dance Mindy around and swayed with the graceful sounds herself, knowing she couldn’t fight it any longer.

  She was in love with Dex.

  She hadn’t wanted to fall in love with him, but she could no longer deny her feelings.

  What was she going to do about it?

  TY HAD WATCHED Jessica with the children all day and had fallen more and more under her spell. Yes, he had to admit he was fantasizing about taking her back to Montana. At least for a visit.

  Which proved he was a first-class fool.

  But for now, he’d have to be satisfied simply holding her in his arms, savoring the moment.

  Because it would soon be over.

  He stopped in front of her, bent and kissed his grandmother, then bowed to Jessica in a dramatic gesture, not surprised when she laughed.

  “I don’t know when I’ve ever seen two such beautiful ladiitting side by side.”

  His grandmother blushed. “You are too much, Dexter. Those children are having the time of their lives.” She squeezed his hand between her own. “You did a good thing here, son. I’m proud of you.”

  Emotions swelled in Ty’s chest, robbing him of words.

  “I can’t help but wonder what we’ve been missing all these years…” she choked.

  The sentence trailed off and Ty wondered if she was thinking about pushing his father out of their lives, about not seeing Dex and him grow up together.

  Then she patted Jessica’s hand and the moment was lost. “This lady deserves a lot of credit, too.”

  “That she does,” Ty agreed. One of the little girls waved at Ty, blushing when he blew her a kiss.

  His grandmother laughed. “Why, son, you get more handsome and charming every day—you’ve got all the young ladies eating out of your hand.”

  All but the one he wanted, Ty thought, his gaze straying to Jessica. Though still wary, those grass-green gorgeous eyes sparkled with fun, with a teasing glint of sexuality, and with affection.

  “I’ve danced with all the other single ladies already.” He gestured toward the young girls. “How about this one, Dr. Stovall?”

  She laughed, obviously remembering the first time they’d met when she’d insisted on the title. “I suppose I could dance with the man who organized this wonderful affair.”

  He held out his hand and she fell into his arms, her scent intoxicating. The band belted out “Georgia On My Mind,” as Ty led her across the grounds, the scents of wildflowers, his grandmother’s roses and Jessica’s sweet scent floating around him. When he returned to Montana, would he be thinking about Georgia and the woman he’d left behind?

  She traced a hand along his neck, then down to his collar and settled it on his shoulder. A shiver trembled through him.

  “Dex, I can’t tell you how much this day meant to the kids…and to me.”

  Ty thumbed her hair behind her ear, aching to kiss the tender spot. But there were still kids everywhere. “I know. But I don’t want your gratitude, Jess.”

  Their gazes locked and he saw the moment she understood his implication. He danced her underneath the shadows of a live oak, grateful the Spanish moss draping the leaves offered them privacy. Moonlight dappled her face, shimmering off her rich auburn hair. Darkness surrounded them, the house a shield from the other guests.

  Her voice came out a husky whisper, matching the heat flaring in her eyes, “What do you want, Dex?”

  He tried to forget the guilt nagging at him, and pulled her closer, sucking in a sharp breath as her breasts pressed into his chest and her thighs brushed his legs. He framed her face with his hands, his breath hot, his voice an urgent whisper, “I want you, Sugar.”

  DEX’S HUSKY VOICE calling her Sounded like music to her ears. Jessica wanted him desperately, but she could not make love to him with half the hospital staff, guests, children and his family nearby.

  “Everyone’s leaving,” Dex said as if he’d read her mind.

  A glance across the lawn told her he was right. So they wouldn’t be rude if they left. Excitement skittered through her at the silent yearning in his eyes. But on the heels of desire rode fear. Could she really give herself to Dex and walk away afterward?

  Chapter Fifteen

  The minute they stepped into Jessica’s house, Ty’s mouth found hers, covering her lips with his. Jessica threaded her fingers through his thick hair, her breath catching as he undid each of her buttons and opened the front clasp of her bra so her aching breasts spilled into his hands. His tongue and mouth were everywhere, dropping kisses down her neck, behind her ear, probing the sensitive skin of her cleavage. Jessica arched into him, her breath catching.

  She wanted him, wanted him desperately. Just one time.

  Sensations flooded her like fire as she gave in to the moment. With a low sigh, she threaded her hands through his hair and savored his kisses, his touches. He walked her backwards, his knee parting her legs as they bumped into the sofa. But the sofa table shook and photos crashed to the floor, the only picture she’d kept of Jack landing beside them to stare up at her.

  Jessica’s stomach convulsed. She gripped Dex’s hands, knowing she couldn’t go through with this. She was not a one-night-stand kind of girl and if she made love with Dex, she knew there was no going back. She was in love with him.

  She had to break it off.

  “Dex…” A tear rolled down her cheek in spite of her efforts to stop it, “Please, we have to stop.”

  He pulled away gently, cupping her face and looking into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  Jessica closed her eyes, battling tears and emotions she didn’t want to share. “Nothing…I just can’t do this.”

  He didn’t argue. Quietly, he dropped his hands, tenderly rebuttoned her blouse, then pushed himself up and sat down beside her on the sofa. When she would have jumped up and run away to the farthest side of the room, he clasped her hands and held them between both of his big hands, then placed them on his knee.

  Jessica stared at their joined hands, her heart pounding, her chest aching.

  “Talk to me, Jessica. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  She struggled for courage to make the words come out. “I…I can’t just sleep with
someone, Dex. Not without a relationship. I…I’m sorry.”

  He clamped down on his lip with his teeth, his gaze dark. “Is that what you think I want?”

  She saw hurt flicker in his eyes. “I don’t know. But I have to be honest.”

  Emotions tightened his face, one’t understand. “I like you, Jessica. I really do.”

  “I like you, too, Dex.”

  “And I don’t want to hurt you.” His voice sounded gruff. “I want you to believe that.”

  “I do.” She squeezed his hand, her pulse racing. But he would anyway. Because he would want things she couldn’t give him.

  He saw the picture of the man on the floor, the cracked frame. Jessica snatched it up and stuffed it in a drawer in the end table.

  “I don’t know what he did to you, Jessica, but you have to let go of the hurt. Every man is not like your ex-husband.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. “I know.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “But it’s so hard.”

  “I understand that, too.” And he looked as if he did. As if he’d been hurt once upon a time, too. But she couldn’t imagine anyone hurting Dexter Montgomery.

  “But it wouldn’t work, Dex,” Jessica said quietly. “Remember your own rule about not mixing business with pleasure.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” He raised his gaze to meet hers as if he wanted to say more, his eyes stormy and tormented, but he didn’t.

  An ache filled her soul, threatening to tear her in two as she struggled not to fall into his warm embrace. His chest fell and rose with the steadiness of his breathing; hers trembled with every painful breath. Dex was a man to count on, a man who would never go back on his word, a man who always got what he went after. And he’d been nothing but honest with her.

  If she told him her painful secret, he might say it didn’t matter, a little voice inside her head whispered.

  Jack had said the same thing in the beginning.

  But he’d changed his mind later.

  Dex might, too.

  She couldn’t bear to take a chance and spill her heart only to be hurt all over again.

  GUILT PRESSED against Ty’s chest as he watched Jessica fighting for composure, his body stirring at the sight of her lush curves and that vulnerable lip trembling. He hated the lies, the secrets, the pain in her eyes, and the hurt he knew he would inflict when she found out he’d deceived her.

  And he hated the fact that she might be in love with Dex. That he, Ty, had nothing to offer but himself and the ranch. No fancy life.

  Jessica was right to have stopped them. He should have more control himself. He’d planned to, but when she’d looked at him with that naked longing, calm, practical Ty Cooper had lost all common sense. It had never happened to him before.

  He’d carried the pain of Paula’s rejection for years. He couldn’t move forward in his life with anyone until he let go of that. And after meeting Jessica, he knew he wanted to move forward. But he would have to do it back in Montana, where he belonged.

  Maybe it would be better if he left town and she never w he had deceived her.

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, one by one. “You’re right, Jessica. Making love would have been a big mistake.

  “I had a good time tonight.” With one last glimpse of her precious face, he gave her a smile. “Just promise me that no matter what happens between us, you’ll remember that kiss. And that I never wanted to hurt you.”

  She frowned, obviously puzzled at his statement. But she nodded and he walked to the door. An oval mirror hung opposite the doorway and he stared at himself in the mirror, not liking what he saw.

  A man who had lied to a decent woman. A man who had almost seduced her because of his own selfish needs.

  He had always known who he was…at least back in Montana. But he didn’t quite know the man looking back at him now. Impersonating a Montgomery had messed with his mind.

  The old Ty never could have lied to a woman he’d wanted to take to his bed.

  What had become of him. Had he become more like the Montgomerys? Some combination of the two?

  All he knew was that he wanted Jessica.

  He hated the fact that he had deceived her.

  And he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would have to return to the Circle C without her.

  AN UNEASY FEELING clawed at Ty’s gut the entire drive back home.

  The Montgomery estate wasn’t home, he thought, catching himself. He didn’t take the time to ponder the slip though; he was too worried about Jessica. And himself and this whole danged mess. It had been a mistake to come here, pure and simple. He didn’t feel closer to his family—except for Grandmother Montgomery—and he was also confused about himself.

  He’d never questioned himself or his actions before.

  He didn’t want to hurt Jessica. He wanted to protect her, to make her laugh, to see her happy.

  He wanted to love her.

  But he couldn’t. He didn’t have the right. And if he did, she’d end up hurting him when she discovered the truth.

  He raked a hand through his hair, parked the car and hurried inside. Hell, he had to talk to Dex. They had to figure out a way to break the truth to the Montgomerys and to Jessica without making them hate them both.

  The house was quiet as he entered. His grandfather must be in his office. Grandmother Montgomery might be out in the greenhouse, but he didn’t want to face her right now, not with guilt pounding at him. He climbed the steps, not surprised George had turned down his bed for him.

  But something else was sitting in the middle of his bed—a gold-embossed box.

  Odd. Had George put it there? Or had his grandparents?

  He walked to the bed, sat down and opened the box, his heart racing when he saw the contents.

  Letters. Dozens of letters, handwritten in a woman’s writing. He flipped the first letter over and emotions flooded him. They were letters his mother had written to his father years ago. His hand trembled as he opened the first one and began to read.

  Dear Charles,

  It was so wonderful to see you again after all these years. All the memories of us playing together when we were children rushed back to me. I remember how upset I was the day you moved away. I ran out to that oak tree by the stream and cried for hours. Then I collected rocks and took them to your old house and threw them at the brick.

  I wrote you letters every day, and it broke my heart when you never answered me. I thought you’d gone off and found some city girl and had forgotten me. I never dreamed that your parents hadn’t given you my letters, or that you thought I had forgotten you.

  Thank goodness all that is in the past now. I’m just so happy we finally found each other again. This time our relationship will last forever.

  I love you, Charles. I always will. Maybe one day our parents will understand that and we can be together.

  Love always, Tara

  Ty’s fist clenched the paper, perspiration trickling down his cheek as he laid it down and opened the next one. Another love letter. Several more followed, each filled with love and hopes that the family would one day understand how much Tara and Charles wanted to be together. The tenth one varied slightly.

  Dear Charles,

  I can’t bear for us to be apart any longer. You asked if I would marry you, and you know I want to. I did so want your parents to approve, though, but I guess we both have to accept the fact that they’re never going to want us to be together. Mom and Dad weren’t too happy at first, either, but I think they realize how much I love you, and that it wasn’t your fault your parents turned down their loan. When they get to know you better, they’ll love you, just like I do. And when we have children someday, maybe they’ll bring the family together.

  I’m so proud of you for earning your medical degree and deciding to practice medicine. I know you’re going to be a wonderful doctor. Things have been tight here on the ranch for Mom and Dad. I had an idea to help bring the Circle C into the future.
I’ve researched how cholesterol affects our health, and I thought that if we raise leaner meat, we might sell more. But you’re the doctor, what do you think? It would take some research and we’d have to adjust our breeding, but in the long run it might be worth it.

  Maybe we can talk about it next week when you come to Montana. I can’t wait to see you again. Always know that my heart is with you.

  Love always, Tara

  Ty closed the letter, dropped his head forward and pinched the bridge of his nose to stifle the sting of tears.

  Reading his ’s words brought her voice to life. He wished he could remember her, wished…so many things. And knowing how much his parents had loved each other meant everything to him. She’d thought grandchildren would bring the Coopers and the Montgomerys together. If only she’d known that it would tear them farther apart. And that her boys would be split up, too.

  Ironic. All this time he’d struggled for an answer to improve the Circle C when his mother had thought of it years ago. Only she’d died before she had a chance to implement her ideas.

  Ty placed the letters back inside the box, and fastened the gold latch, a plan forming in his mind. He’d use the Montgomery knowledge and computers to do some research. Maybe if he couldn’t make his mother’s dream about the leaner beef come true. At least he could do that much for her.

  But she’d wanted the Montgomerys to accept her. He’d heard the longing in her letters. And his father had obviously loved his mother or he wouldn’t have kept all these letters. It would have destroyed both his parents to know he and Dex had been separated.

  Could he make the second part of her dream come true, too? Could he convince the Montgomerys to accept her and the fact that she had really loved their son? Could he and Dex, her sons, finally bring the family together the way she had always wanted?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ty spent the next two days trying to iron out all the details of the hospital funding. And trying not to think about Jessica. She seemed to be avoiding him again, which was good.