The Rancher and The City Girl (Tempting the Rancher 1)

w a kiss, and scooted her way toward a group of friends she said were in her quilting circle.

“It’s the first time she’s been out of the house since the surgery,” Charlotte said to Tripp as she took a seat behind the table. “She refused a pain pill, but downed a shot of whiskey before I could take it away. Figured she deserved some fun.”

He chuckled. Sounded like Gram. “You’re doing a good thing for her.”

Charlotte just shrugged like it was nothing. “She’s my grandmother.”

For a woman bent on leaving as soon as she could, she sure did have a sense of kindness and responsibility. Love for her family. He wanted to pull up a chair and chat with her more, but several voices rang out, all of which were calling his name. He glanced over his shoulder to see Bo and Cash talking with several ladies. Including Tammy and Lucy. Jesus help him.

Bo waved him over.

“I’ve got to go check on the nuts and a few other things, but I’ll be back for you,” he said, and he meant it.

“Oh! That reminds me,” Charlotte said, and pulled a big bag of peanuts out of her purse. “Here, these are for you.”

“Ah…thanks. May I ask the sentiment?”

She frowned. “It’s a nut fry. I wanted to contribute.”

Tripp laughed. Hard. “Oh, darlin’, we’ll get that city out of you in no time.”

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“This here is a nut fry…thrown by cattle ranchers.”

“Yeah?”

“Ever hear of Rocky Mountain oysters?” he tried again.

Her eyes went wide. “Aren’t those…?”

“Deep-fried bull testicles. Literally, their nuts.”

“Oh. My. God.” She looked around, and Tripp knew what she was seeing. People happily munching on plates of Rocky Mountain oysters.

“I’m such an idiot,” she mumbled.

“You are no such thing,” he said, and tapped her under the chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. “You’re incredibly smart and beautiful. And don’t take this as crass, but I’ll be back with a bag of nuts for you.”

“Ha ha,” she said, but Tripp heard her giggle as he walked away. Which he hated doing, but had no choice since he was a host of sorts. He met up with Bo and Cash. Tammy was eyeing him, and so was Lucy.

“This is so wonderful, Tripp. Every year putting this on…” She glanced around him, scanning the crowd. “You get to cut loose tonight? I don’t see Gracie running around anywhere.”

“She’s at a friend’s tonight.”

“Too bad,” Lucy said with nothing genuine in her voice.

But he wasn’t interested in talking about his daughter with these women. Not because he wasn’t proud—he was proud as hell of her—but because she was special. Far more special than any woman using her absence as an excuse to hook up.

“Glad you ladies could make it. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta check with the cook.”

“Save me a dance later,” Lucy called after him. Tripp glanced at Charlotte as he walked past her to the fryer and realized that he was only interested in getting on her dance card.

She was chatting with a few people about the pears, and he smiled. She was doing a good job. He ran into Gram on the way to the fryer.

“Tripp, I was just talking about you,” Mrs. Gram said, gesturing to her friends. She grabbed his arm and wrangled him in. “He is so sweet to help my granddaughter while I recover.”

“She’s doing a good job. Learning the ropes quickly. You may have a farm girl in her yet.”