“But we started the adoption paperwork and got our marriage license, so I think she feels Parker is safe.” Colt held four glasses easily with his long fingers and ate up the distance back to the table.
“You want to know about our dad?” Luke had to stand in front of Colt to stop his progress.
“No.”
“Mom?”
“No point, but”—he didn’t break eye contact—“Talon wants me to talk to her at some point.”
He sounded as thrilled as if Talon wanted him to get a rectal exam.
“My mom, our mom, would love that,” Luke said, shocked he was standing up for his mom who had caused him such angst and guilt over the years. “She’d like to explain. Tell you her story.”
Colt shrugged off the offer of information, or family, and neatly shone the spotlight on Luke. “Not sure of your feelings and not asking, but Talon thinks her friend’s in deep with you. She’s worried.”
Luke sucked in a breath. That had definitely been a warning, and he felt it like Colt’s fist to his ribs two days ago.
“Hopes you might settle in Marietta.”
“I never said—” Luke broke off, shocked by the realization that in some part of his brain the idea was not completely impossible. But still foreign.
They jostled through more locals towards their table.
“How did you do it?” he asked Colt, feeling lost for the first time in his life. “Just jump in. Commit. Stay. Change the whole course of your life.”
Golden brown eyes, so much like his own weighed him, and Luke felt like Colt saw it all. Everything Luke usually hid, pride, competitive streak, loneliness, resentment, restlessness that grew annually and he had no idea what to do with it. Luke waited, breath held like there really was some answer he could understand, use.
For the first time he thought he saw a ghost of a grin touch down briefly on Colt’s mouth.
“I’m not stupid.”
The three words hit like bullets.
The tall, icy glasses of lemonade chilled Luke’s hands. Colt’s words chilled his heart, but made him hyperaware of everything. The warm-up band finishing their tuning, sound check, and setup, people talking, flowing around them like bubbles around rocks in the Marietta River. Colt’s eyes, eerily the same color as Luke’s, the face so similar to his own. It was like staring in a damn mirror only he wasn’t speaking the words.
“In Syria,” Colt said, and a little of Luke’s lemonade spilled as the casual statement sounded so exotic in the downtown park of a historical, but small, Montana town. A peek into his brother’s past. His heart. “There’s been a long drought. Years. It’s quite desperate now, which is a partial reason for the unrest. Wells have dried up. Water diviners are called in and they walk the property drowsing with their angle rods visualizing the water they want to find. It’s science and magic.” He began to walk again.
“What’s that mean?” Luke demanded, completely mystified. It was something his mom or Kane would have pulled out their asses that he was supposed to divine like some damn runes. Genes were a bitch. And why the hell was he falling for a geneticist?
Luke stopped in his tracks. Lemonade sloshed over his hands. Falling for Tanner. Fell for Tanner. Had fallen for Tanner.
“You look at Tanner the same way the water diviners look when they’ve found the spring.”
*
Life was pretty perfect Luke was thinking after dinner as he and Tanner danced to another almost rock-laced country anthem by Tory Dixon of the band Bourbon and Boots. Tanner was flushed and her body was warm and pliant. Her smile was brighter than the moon that had risen to cast a glow to rival the golden glow of lights strung throughout the trees.
“I have a feeling we’re going to be shutting this place down.” Luke teased Tanner.
“I love dancing,” she said. “But I never get asked.”
“Why the hell not?” He demanded, pissed the cowboys and other men in this town were so stupid.
Although her voice had been matter of fact, he could see a little hurt in her eyes. Not that he was going to give her up for some other stupid cowboy to lead across the makeshift dance floor.
“Well, first there was my sister, Tucker.”
He winced guiltily. It was the first time she’d actually said her twin’s name so he could no longer claim the excuse he hadn’t known. Not that he would have but still a small escape hatch closed. He had to tell her. But, damn, Tucker had nothing, absolutely nothing on Tanner.
“Then because my injury took so long to heal, I was gone so long, I think people just think of me as this broken girl, and then because of all my schooling…” She shrugged, but didn’t meet his eyes. “Might get a little intimidating as a lot of the ranch hands haven’t done much college if any.
He caught her by her shoulders and pulled her into his body. She melted into him, and Luke wondered, almost dizzily, how he was going to let her go. She was everything he’d ever wanted, even when he’d been telling himself over and over he didn’t want anything. Smart. Kind. Funny. A ranch girl, and so sexually responsive he felt like he’d somehow been sucked into a fantasy universe. Marietta was the last place he would have looked for happiness. He had his mother to thank for that, like so many other things she’d done that had irritated him at the time but had made him stronger, prepared for anything life threw at him.
He wanted to know everything about Tanner. Now. He kicked himself. He should know. How badly she’d been hurt. If anything still bothered her. And if he were being honest, he was beginning to wonder what more she wanted from life. Was there a place in it for a man like him?
That should have sent sirens screaming in his brain. Other than Kane, Luke was the last man he’d pick to go all family-man. But these past couple of days with Tanner had shown him a glimpse of a life he’d never thought he’d have much less wanted.
Colt’s words came back to him. His challenging “I’m not stupid.”
No. Colt wasn’t.
But was Luke?
Probably. Stupid enough to want something he couldn’t have.
The song changed to a soft, slow dreamy Miranda Lambert song, “Love is Looking for You Now”, and Luke took the opportunity to pull Tanner all the way into his body, savoring the fit of her hips against his, the way her small waist fit in the span of his hands as he allowed himself the opportunity of touching her, savoring her warmth and floral fragrance. She’d worn a turquoise, strappy sundress so he let his fingers play on the long, slim, pale line of her back, wishing he could kiss each one of her freckles.
He nuzzled her neck, pressing a row of kisses up toward her ear. He felt the key to his brother’s suite at the Graff in his back pocket. Kane had given it to him before dinner saying Luke might as well take advantage of the comfort and privacy and luxury. He’d declined repeatedly, but Kane would be Kane, forcing his will on Luke, convinced his ideas were always better. Luke always resisted, but maybe tonight he wouldn’t.
He bet Tanner had never stayed the night in a five-star hotel. Hell, he hadn’t except on a couple of trips with Kane, and while Luke had thought it a huge waste of money each time, he had enjoyed the over the top luxury and comfort.
“You smell like heaven and feel even better,” he whispered in her ear. “And thank you for wearing your hair down.” He allowed his fingers to briefly tangle in her cloud of silky curls.
Yes, he definitely wanted to see her beautiful hair and luminous body spread out on the no doubt, decadent thread count of the Graff sheets. To hell with sleep. He wanted to explore this woman all night, and for the next fifty years, if that was what he had left.
The thought should have freaked him out. Instead he felt certain, settled for the first time in his life. Not feeling the need to defend or be secretive in order to protect his choices. He remembered how Colt had spoken about Talon. Protective. Sure.
“I know I said we’d dance all night long,” he murmured against her unglossed lips that parted almost instinctively to let him inside. �
��But my brother has offered to give up his suite at the Graff for us tonight if you’d like to join me.”
“For real?” Her eyes, round with surprise, sparkled. “I’ve only been in the lobby when I was volunteering as a Christmas elf last year. The hotel was rescued and refurbished and the lobby is beautiful. I can’t imagine what the rooms look like.”
He pulled out the key. “I can show you if you want. We can even be completely decadent and selfish heathens and order champagne and bill it to his room, which he definitely owes me for being such a pain in the ass little brother as he supposedly grew up.”
“We couldn’t,” Tanner said, but the mischievous glint, coupled with the curiosity and longing in her expression, sealed the deal for Luke. He was for once going to take something Kane had freely offered.
“We could.” He kissed her lips and felt like he was coming home so he deepened the kiss. “And we should.”
He pulled her closer and let the music work its magic.
He totally missed the “could I cut in,” until Tanner slid out of his arms and he found himself facing a smiling Tucker McTavish, her green eyes sparkling and red lips curved in a devilish smile.
“Well, look at you, Luke Wilder. You don’t mind if I cut in, sis?” Tucker kissed Tanner on her cheek and then did a full body press to him so he could feel her curves, barely contained in a black and white sparkly dress that looked like it had been sprayed on her body.
He was so shocked he could only stare at her for a moment.
“You’re supposed to say this is an unexpected pleasure, Tucker.” She pouted beautifully and curved one hand possessively in his hair at his nape and the other around his waist.
Totally unexpected.
“And you’re supposed to dance with me.”
“I was dancing with Tanner.”
“So I saw.” She smiled up at him, dazzling. “And now you’ve got me.” She looked up at him through her long black lashes. “In your arms again.”
The “again” dropped like a bomb.
“Tucker, it was rude to cut in on me and your sister.”
“I know about your IBR gig and I’m so proud of you, Luke, but really no one expects you to dance with Tanner all night. Besides it might injure her. The doctors said she would never fully recover from her accident. Besides, I saw you and I gotta say, Luke, the years have not only been kind they’ve truly gifted you. I don’t remember all these muscles.” Her hand slid down his back confidently.
“Tanner said she loved to dance.” He was distracted by her last comment.
Had Tanner been hurting but hadn’t wanted to let him know?
Tucker laid her head against his chest. “I heard you’re in first place.”
He tried to put some distance between them.
“Luke, you’re not still mad about Cody, are you?”
“Cody?” Oh, yeah. The cowboy she’d cheated with. “No. That was years ago.”
When the hell would the song end?
“Then dance, Luke Wilder. I haven’t been home in a while and everyone is staring, and I don’t want them to think something’s wrong.”
Shit. People were staring. He didn’t want to be rude, but he also didn’t like how she was touching him like nearly five years hadn’t passed.
“No one’s watching,” he said easily. “And I’m just another cowboy.”
That had hurt a long time ago, but now he wondered what he’d ever saw in Tucker. Yes, she was beautiful and her sex appeal consumed like a tidal wave, and she was funny, but she wasn’t Tanner. And holding her like this felt all kinds of wrong.
“You were never just another cowboy, Luke Wilder. And that was the problem.”
“Long time ago, Tucker. Water under the bridge.”
“Not that long ago, and I’m in town the rest of the rodeo, maybe longer so we could…”
“No.” He held her away from him, hands firm on her upper arms. Aware the music still played, he gently kissed her check. “No,” he said again. “Absolutely not.”
“As usual, my timing is perfect. I’m free to dance when the prettiest girl arrives to the dance,” Kane said, coming up behind him, and Luke had never been so happy to see his brother. “This one can’t dance, am I right?” Kane inserted himself between him and Tucker, grinning his famous “I can sell thousands of products” grin.
“Kane Wilder.” He introduced himself to Tucker, whose narrowed, sparkling glare swung away from Luke and softened on Kane. “The better dancer.”
“And better cowboy,” Tucker said, smiling as he put his hand around her waist and swung her away.
“Damn straight,” Kane said, laughing. “See you around, big brother.”
Luke didn’t even wait to hear Kane’s taunt. He had a cowgirl to find and a lot of explaining to do.
Chapter Thirteen
“Hey, sis, surprised to see me.” Tucker jumped over a stack of hay bales and sat down next to Tanner who was sitting on the grass, facing the courthouse and leaning against the hay bales. The band was playing a Rascal Flatts song and Tucker tapped her foot to the beat.
“No text. No calls. Yeah, I’m surprised.”
Tucker handed Tanner a glass of lemonade.
“Thanks,” she said, looking her sister over. Her heart pinched a little and she mentally kicked herself. She always felt small that she envied her sister her beauty, her figure, her confidence in the world. She and Luke had looked movie star beautiful together. His fluid body and easy dancing had been well-matched by Tucker’s grace, natural sensuality. And the way he had stared at her.
She had to admit it. She’d been jealous. An ugly trait, as was the bitter twin envy that had also reared its warty head as she’d watched her sister and Luke move effortlessly around the dance floor, Tucker smiling up into Luke’s handsome face. He hadn’t told her he’d met Tucker before. She swallowed hard, wanting to ask Tucker how she knew Luke but not quite having the nerve.
She took a deep drink of the lemonade hoping its icy sweetness would soothe her aching heart enough to go back to the dance to see if Luke was even looking for her. He must be. He was too polite to abandon her just because Tucker had flirted with him. Tanner was being immature, hiding over here. She used to sit here when she’d been a young girl, wishing the boys would ask her to dance, but they never had so she’d sit behind the hay bales and stare at the courthouse clock and the moon and listen to the music and pretend that was all she wanted from the evening.
Same as it ever was, a Talking Heads lyric rolled through her brain.
She choked.
Tucker laughed. “You didn’t think I’d come here without whiskey. You need to kick it up a bit more.” She slid her arm around Tanner’s shoulders and pulled her tight. “Too much work. You’re too thin, letting daddy’s injuries run you into the ground. You know the work will never be done?”
“I love it though, Tucker. I’m all ranch.”
Tucker scanned her face. “You liked college. You could go back. Be a professor. Teach. Work in a lab in Missoula or even the big city like Seattle or San Francisco. I love California. We could get an apartment together. I bet UCLA has a genetics program. Maybe you could even work on human genes. There must be more money in that.”
“I’m happy here, T. Triple T is my home and my career. I love it. I do.” She took another more cautious sip of the lemonade. “You never were subtle about spiking drinks.”
“I was never subtle about anything.” Tucker scuffed the pointy silver toe of her black boots, decorated with feathers and rhinestones in the grass.
“Why are you here? Because Daddy asked?”
“One reason,” Tucker said evasively, sipping her lemonade.
“He’s been begging you to come home for years. Begging you for visits every month.”
Tanner took another sip and then put it aside. She had to face Luke. And her father. She didn’t often drink whiskey and she’d been too excited and social to eat much dinner so she had to be cautious. Always cautious, she
silently mocked herself unlike her more fun, glamorous sister.
“And the other reason?” She asked really wanting to ask about Luke, but not wanting to provide water or nutrition to the seeds of her jealousy and envy.
Tucker shrugged, not meeting her eyes. “Luke approach you?”
Tanner started, her mouth going dry. Here was her opening.
“I’ve contacted the IBR over the past year about having Triple T bulls considered for the IBR tiers. They’ve been earning higher scores, and stud fees are going up. Luke is an IBR representative. He showed up for the appointment.”
She tried to keep her voice casual, but her stupid complexion gave her away. She could feel her face flush. Tucker looked at her and sighed as if Tanner were a disappointing child.
“You know he’s Sam Wilder’s grandson.”
“Yeah.” She’d speculated but seeing how Sam had slammed the gate on any possible family reunion that had been a definite answer.
“Montana’s not Luke’s territory. You ask why he showed up?”
“No.” Tanner didn’t like the way Tucker’s tone. All know-it-all. Suspicious.
“Ask him.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. He’s the IBR rep.”
“There’s a rumor Whispering Wind’s in trouble. Been in financial trouble for years. Whispering Winds borders our property on one side and suddenly Luke Wilder, who’s never been to Marietta. shows up at our little podunk rodeo for the first time in forever, his mother and brother in tow.”
“I don’t like where you’re going with this, Tucker,” Tanner said. “It’s like some Hollywood drama you’re trying to cast yourself in. Luke’s not like that at all.”
Tucker sighed. “Get real, Tanner.” Her green eyes searched Tanner’s and she felt like pulling away, getting to her feet, and running from the sympathy that radiated from Tucker. “I get it. I do. Luke’s real fine. God.” She closed her eyes and licked her lips. “That man has some serious skills and his stamina, whoa. I couldn’t walk right for a week and so didn’t care, but I think he’s here for more than IBR bulls.”
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