Home on the Ranch: The Montana Cowboy's Triplets

by Allison B. Collins

  “Why’d you stop?” she asked, making her words very saucy.

  He half turned, put a finger in the air. “Be right back,” he said, and plopped on the floor.

  What on earth?

  One boot went flying over the bed to land on the other side. Then the next was tossed backward toward the windows.

  He popped back up to his feet and assumed what she thought he thought she would think was a sexy pose. She grinned and went back to enjoying the show.

  Sliding his jeans down farther revealed bright white briefs, then muscled legs, until he finally stepped out of them. Hands on hips, he looked at her, his mouth quirked. He shoved the covers back and got into bed then slid her toward him. He grabbed the blankets up to cover them both. “It’s frickin’ cold in here. Why didn’t you build a fire?”

  “Because someone had me boiling mad. And then verra turned on.”

  He grinned. “I turned you on?”

  “Yes, you bam—”

  He laid a finger on her lips. “Hey, no name-calling in the bedroom.”

  “What if I want to call you stud muffin?”

  He tilted his head, looked up. “I suppose that would do.”

  “How about hot cowboy?”

  He pursed his lips. “That would work.”

  She laughed. “Ye’re a goofy man, Hunter Sullivan. I like you very much.”

  “That’s a good thing, because I like you very much, Mackenzie Campbell.” He kissed her then, and she forgot about playing games.

  Cocooned beneath the blankets, she got lost in him. He’d antagonized her, bossed her around, teased her, charmed her and now seduced her. He was a complex man, and she’d grown to care about him in such a short time.

  She’d told him she liked him, but if she admitted it to herself, deep inside her heart, she more than liked him. She already loved his sons.

  But what did she know about love? Her parents had never really seemed to be in love.

  He rolled her over onto her back and kissed her until she was near dizzy with want.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said.

  “I dinna ken what to say when you tell me that,” she said.

  “Why? You are beautiful.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m a plain country girl. Not pretty like Carley.”

  “Stop,” he said. “You are beautiful. You have more depth than any ten Carleys. You’re brave, bold, beautiful and don’t take my shit.”

  “I’m no’ very experienced with men,” she whispered. Heat bloomed in her cheeks, and she just knew she looked bright red.

  “So the men you’ve been around are morons and didn’t see the real you.”

  She bit her lip and looked away. “Well...”

  “How many men have there been?”

  “That’s kind of rude to ask, isn’t it?” She shut her eyes. “Just one.”

  “Yeah?”

  “A few years ago, not long after I moved to America. Wooed me on a dare, but I didn’t realize until it was too late.” She shook her head, wanted to crawl into a hole. She’d never been so embarrassed before.

  “Why now?” he asked, his voice husky.

  She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “Wha’?”

  “You’ve waited, not wanting to be with another man all these years. We don’t have to do anything. We can just lie here—and cuddle,” he said.

  “No, I don’t think so. Not when you’ve got me right where you want me. And I, you.” She smiled.

  “Then why? Why do you want this, between us?”

  “Because I’ve never trusted any man like I trust you.”

  Chapter 16

  Hours later, and Mackenzie’s words about trusting him still rang in Hunter’s head. They’d spent hours in her bed, and it had been amazing. Powerful.

  He opened the refrigerator door, looked inside for something to cook for dinner, but wasn’t seeing food. Images of Mackenzie laughing, then lost in passion, flooded his head.

  He’d dated a few women since his divorce, but even though he had a reputation that said otherwise, he’d been very discreet and choosy about actually taking a relationship this far. And he’d felt nothing close to what he felt for Mackenzie with anyone else.

  And just what was that? Was it enough to sustain a long-distance relationship?

  He had to be sure, because it wasn’t just him now. He had three kids who came first, and he wasn’t about to start a relationship that would end up hurting them.

  He shut the fridge door, opened the freezer, hoping he still had a frozen casserole or something from Mrs. Green.

  Of course the sticking point was whether Mackenzie even wanted a relationship with him. Her home base was in LA, and she traveled all over working as a stuntwoman. Would she want to settle down on a ranch in Montana?

  It scared him that she had such a dangerous job. Her antics that day rescuing the cat had worried him. He had faith she knew how to do her job, but that was after rehearsing with a coordinator, making sure there were safeguards in place. Anything could have happened earlier—a weak tree limb, the cat attacking her and making her slip. She could have broken her neck. Sure she was cautious, but things could go wrong. She’d admitted it had when she was caught in a fire and gotten burned.

  Thumps above his head startled Hunter, and he grabbed the frozen hamburger patties he’d been staring at for the last few minutes. Simple, easy, fast.

  Luke had dropped the boys off earlier, and they couldn’t stop talking about the cat. It was fine, and a neighbor was grateful their kitty had been found safe.

  Hunter set the patties to thawing and headed upstairs to check on the boys. They’d spread all their pillows around the floor and tied their sheets together, hanging them from the safety rail on Tripp’s bunk bed.

  “What are you boys doing?”

  “Playing stuntman!” Cody shouted from the top of the bunk.

  “Cut it out, guys. Come on down and clean this up. Dinner’s ready soon.”

  Great, now he had to worry about his boys emulating Mackenzie and getting hurt.

  Mackenzie was in the kitchen slicing the buns he’d left on the counter. She’d showered, and her hair was still damp. She was fresh-faced and beaming.

  “What’re the boys up to?” she asked.

  “Playing stuntman.”

  The hand holding the knife paused, and she looked up at him. “What did they do?”

  “Tied sheets to the bunk railing and were going to climb up. Like you did today with the tree.” He tried to keep his tone neutral, but even he heard the note of worry and accusation.

  Her face paled, and she set the knife down very carefully. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know why you did it. You have a soft heart and couldn’t stand to let the cat be lost. But my kids are impressionable And they adore you. They see you doing heroic things, and doing them perfectly, and they want to copy you, be like you.”

  She backed up till she hit the fridge. “I’ll talk to them—”

  “No. I’ll do it. They’re my kids.”

  Edging sideways till she made it around the island, she looked at her watch. “I have to go.”

  “Where?”

  She hesitated. “Tom called for a meeting.”

  He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Now? It’s eight o’clock.”

  “Last-minute changes for tomorrow.”

  “I’ll run you up to the lodge.”

  She flung a hand up. “No.”

  “You can’t walk up there alone. At night.”

  “He’s sending someone to pick me up. I’m going to wait outside.”

  She wouldn’t meet his eyes, and he had a strange feeling she was lying. “I can run you up there.”

  She shook her head, her curls bouncing. “See you later.”

&nb
sp; “Don’t you want a burger?”

  “Not hungry. I can get something at the lodge. Good night.” And she hurried toward her room.

  He knew he’d hurt her feelings, but he couldn’t help it. The words had just poured out, and he hadn’t been able to block them.

  They’d been so happy earlier in each other’s arms.

  And he’d gone and screwed it up.

  * * *

  Mackenzie made it to the lodge, frozen, hungry, tired, angry and incredibly sad. She hated lying, but she didn’t think Hunter would have let her leave the cabin otherwise.

  The dining room was still open, and she was one of the last people to have dinner. She’d been seated by the fireplace and was grateful for the heat. Dawdling over her meal, she wanted to stay away from the cabin as long as she could. If there’d been any rooms available in the lodge, she’d have begged for one.

  “Mackenzie,” a voice behind her said.

  She looked around and saw Kelsey walking toward her. “Hello. What are you doing up here?”

  “Nash is in a meeting and I came up to see my mother. Are you here alone?”

  “Yes,” Mackenzie said, and pushed the rest of her stew away.

  Kelsey pulled the other chair out and plopped down. “Whew. I swear my mother must be right and we’re having a boy. And he’s going to be a linebacker for the NFL.” She rubbed her belly and leaned back in the chair.

  “You don’t know what you’re having?”

  “No, we decided to be surprised.” She took a roll out of the basket and split it in half. “So what’s wrong?”

  Mackenzie looked at her. “What?”

  “You’re up here, alone, picking at your food and looking like you lost your best friend.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “No, it’s something. You can talk to me, you know.” Kelsey patted Mackenzie’s hand.

  She hesitated, not wanting to burden Hunter’s sister-in-law, then found herself spilling the story in a flood of words. Except for the way she and Hunter had spent the afternoon.

  Kelsey listened, her eyes wide.

  “And now Hunter hates me because his boys are trying to copy me.”

  “First, he doesn’t hate you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. That is definitely not hate. Second, he’s scared to death about being a full-time father now.”

  Mackenzie nodded. “We talked about that.”

  Kelsey’s eyebrows popped up her forehead. “You did? That’s progress. You know, Hunter was my first friend when we came here last summer.”

  “He was?”

  “Yup. Nash had been injured in Afghanistan, lost his unit and was angry, bitter and bit the head off everyone who came close. Including me. Hunter befriended me, charmed my daughter and made us feel welcome. That’s his way. Then his world turned upside down when his ex passed away, and he suddenly became the only parent all at once. He loves his boys, has always been a good dad. But a few months ago, he had to grow up and become the responsible one. And it’s scared him.”

  “And then I come along and upset the world he’s created for his boys.”

  “I don’t think it’s that so much as they’re active, always trying something new. As much as he wants to, he can’t wrap them up in cotton to keep them safe. A lot of things can happen on a ranch, and that’s one of the reasons he’s started showing them the ropes of life here. So they can see the dangers, and learn to be safe.”

  “Then I show them something new and different, and they want to try that.”

  “You’re not to blame. If he’d gotten to be friends with the male stunt double, the boys would have wanted to do the same thing.”

  Mackenzie’s thoughts flashed to her and Hunter that afternoon in bed.

  “What are you thinking about? Your face just got redder than an apple.” Kelsey held a hand up. “Wait. Something happened between you two, didn’t it? Is that why you’re so upset?”

  She nodded. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Just give him some time. He’ll calm down. Now come on. Nash and I will drop you off at the cabin.” Kelsey stood up.

  But she still wasn’t ready to see Hunter. “There’s a library here, isn’t there?”

  “Yes, at the other end of the lobby.”

  “I want to drop in and find something to read. Will that be okay?”

  “Sure. We’ll wait for you.”

  “I’m no’ ready to go back just yet. You go ahead. You need your rest to carry that linebacker around every day,” Mackenzie said, pasting a smile on her face.

  “Okay, if you’re sure. Have the concierge call someone to take you to the cabin when you’re ready. I don’t want you wandering out there at night.”

  “Good night. Thanks for the talk.”

  “Anytime. Night,” Kelsey said, and walked out of the dining room.

  Mackenzie paid her check, picked up her tea and walked through the lobby to the door marked Library. She opened it, relieved to see it was empty. She was amazed at the space. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined two of the walls, and a third made of glass looked out on the darkened ranch. A fireplace spanned an adjacent wall. A couple of overstuffed couches and several chairs invited a person to sink down and stay awhile.

  Reading over the titles, she found a mystery and took it down. She grabbed a knitted blanket from the back of one sofa and sank down into the cushions. Curling up, she got cozy with the book.

  She needed to escape for a while, forget about Hunter, stunt work and life in general. And books had always done that for her.

  But she couldn’t quite settle into the story, and finally set the book down. The nagging feeling that she needed to just forget about Hunter and everything between them wouldn’t let her go.

  She needed to keep her head down, concentrate on work. And leave as soon as she could.

  Then figure out how to get on with the rest of her life without him and his boys.

  Chapter 17

  Hunter burst through the lodge doors and headed for his dad’s office. His heart beat so fast he thought it would burst from his chest.

  “Dad, hit the emergency line, we need all hands.”

  “What’s wrong?” his dad asked. “Calm down.”

  “Don’t tell me to calm down. She’s missing!”

  “Who is?”

  “Mackenzie. She didn’t come home last night. She’s not at the movie set. No one has seen her.”

  His dad picked up the phone on his desk.

  Bunny walked into the office. “What’s going on?”

  “We need a search party. Mackenzie is missing. She didn’t come home last night,” Hunter said, frantic.

  Bunny took his hand. “Angus, put the phone down,” she said. “Hunter, calm down. Come with me.”

  She led him out of the office and across the lobby to the library. Putting her finger to her lips, she quietly opened the door.

  He peered in the room. Mackenzie lay curled up on the couch, snuggled into a blanket. Relief hit him so hard his head spun. He’d been frantic, thinking something bad had happened to her.

  Bunny touched his arm, and he nodded and slipped inside. He heard Bunny close the door behind him.

  He walked to the couch and knelt in front of Mackenzie. He almost hated to wake her up. A little crinkle marred her forehead, as if whatever had bothered her the night before still plagued her.

  Guilt pricked him when he realized it was him. Had he hurt her so much the night before she hadn’t felt she could come home? That she needed a time-out from him?

  He laid a hand on her arm, and she jerked awake. Her eyes focused on him, but she didn’t say anything.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, still silent.

  “I saw this morning you hadn’t come back and was worried.”

  “
Are ye goin’ to yell at me again?”

  “I didn’t yell—” He drew a deep breath. “I guess I deserved that. I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For what what?”

  Her forehead crinkled. “What are you sorry about? For last night, or just now?”

  “Last night. I wasn’t yelling now.”

  “Then I’m sorry, too.”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “For disrupting your life, your boys’ lives.”

  “You didn’t disrupt—”

  She raised a red eyebrow at him.

  “Okay. You did disrupt, but in a good way.” He brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “I can’t imagine now not meeting you. Getting to know the incredible woman you are.”

  Her cheeks grew so red he imagined they were scorching her skin.

  “So we’re friends again?” she asked.

  “I’d say more than friends.” He leaned forward, touched his lips to hers.

  She met his mouth, tentative. He didn’t want to scare her away, meant to keep it light. But her lips were addictive, and he wanted more. Cupping her cheeks, he kissed her over and over, showing her how he felt.

  Her breath hitched, and he gathered her closer to his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

  The door behind him opened. “Hunter, you in—oh, sorry.” The door slammed.

  Hunter eased back from her, frustrated they’d been interrupted, frustrated they weren’t somewhere they could take this deeper, but most of all, frustrated that he’d hurt her to begin with after she’d told him she trusted him.

  “Who was that?” she asked.

  “Kade. I forgot we’re helping Nash today.”

  “Oh.”

  “He wants to get the nursery set up as a surprise for Kelsey, so all us brothers are going over there to knock it out.”

  “That’s nice of you guys.”

  He shrugged. “Family.”

  “Do you need extra help? I don’t have to report on set till later today.”

  “Naw, we got it. But thanks. How about I drop you at the cabin on my way? You can take a nap in a proper bed.” He grinned. “Maybe I can join you?”