Texas Forever (The Tylers of Texas 6)

“Hear what?” Luke released the foal he’d been trimming.

“Thank you for your discretion,” she said.

Straightening, he faced her. “I don’t know if I’d call it that. But in working as many ranches as I’ve done, there’s not much I haven’t seen or heard. I’ve learned to keep my eyes, my ears, and my mouth firmly shut.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” She walked back to the fence and put a boot on the lower rail to climb up, but the warning look in his eyes stopped her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Another good idea,” he said. “I don’t need your jealous boyfriend making trouble for either of us. You’re welcome to watch me work, but when you do, you’d better have somebody with you—your dad, the foreman, anybody,

so there won’t be any questions to ask. Understand?”

Her blue eyes widened. Her booted foot slipped off the rail and struck the ground in a puff of dust. “I can’t believe what I just heard!” she said. “You’re as bad as Kyle is. What do you think I’m going to do, seduce you and cause you to lose your job? Do you think you’re that irresistible, or that I’m that stupid?”

“I know you’re not stupid, Erin,” he said. “I’ve just learned it’s better to be safe than sorry. Come back when you don’t have to come alone.”

“Good grief, this is the twenty-first century!” With a huff of indignation, Erin wheeled and stalked back toward the house.

Luke stood watching her walk away. Despite his best intentions, he couldn’t help admiring the curve of her waist and the sway of her sweet little rump. Too bad. He’d enjoyed her company. But he could spot trouble coming a mile away, and Erin Tyler was trouble.

With a half-muttered oath, he picked up the soft nylon lariat, looped another foal, and started on its hooves.

* * *

Kyle drove the back road with talk radio on full blast and the SUV’s big tires kicking up a plume of dust. His stomach roiled with humiliation as he relived the scene with Erin.

Why had he listened to his father? Don’t let her push you around, Hunter had said. Be a man. Go after her. Show her you mean business.

Today, Kyle had done his best to take his father’s advice. He’d tried being manly and masterful, but Erin hadn’t cooperated. When he’d kissed her and made a grab for her breast—something he’d never done before—she’d shoved him so hard that he’d crashed against the side of the SUV and almost gone down.

Be a man. Hellfire, he’d never felt less manly in his life.

What was wrong with Erin? They’d been dating more than a year. She’d never wanted to move their physical relationship beyond a little front-seat necking, but Kyle had respected that. Erin was a classy girl—a girl who would inherit a ranch one day. Given what was at stake, he could afford to bide his time and find other ways to satisfy his needs.

Still, he’d taken it for granted that she loved him. He’d even proposed, and she hadn’t exactly said no. Was she one of those frigid girls who didn’t want to be touched? Or had today’s reaction had something to do with that new hired man—that farrier?

A dozen yards ahead, a jackrabbit streaked through the dry brush and into the road. Kyle hit the gas, wanting to slake his anger by crushing the animal under his wheels. But the rabbit bounded out of the way, escaping the SUV’s oversized tires by a whisker’s breadth.

Still in a black mood, he parked in front of the house and stormed inside. His mother was arranging store-bought flowers in a vase on the sideboard. She seemed to spend most of her time fussing, cleaning, and arranging, as if making things look pretty could cover up the ugliness that seemed to hang like a dusty curtain over everything in their boxy, tract-style house, including the family. The only thing that kept him here was the expectation of marrying Erin and moving into that big, fancy home on the Rimrock.

“Back so soon, Kyle?” she asked. “I thought you were going to spend time with Erin.”

“Erin was busy.”

“Are you going to the funeral tomorrow? I’m sure she’ll expect you there.”

“Maybe. It’s not like I knew the old goat.”

“Kyle! You mustn’t talk that way about someone who’s died.” She paused, brightening. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I go to the funeral with you? It would be the neighborly thing to do, paying our respects and all.”

Kyle turned away and headed up the stairs, pretending he hadn’t heard. Showing up at the funeral with his mother wouldn’t just be embarrassing. It would be like having a ball and chain clamped around his ankle, having to escort her around, go where she wanted to go, and leave when she wanted to leave. Maybe he should stay away just to make Erin wonder if he was still mad at her. That might make her think twice about shoving him away the next time.

He’d reached the top of the stairs when she spoke again. “Kyle.”

This time her voice was too demanding to ignore. He stopped and turned around.

“Let me know about the funeral,” she said. “By the way, how is that computer course coming along?”