Kiss Me (Fool's Gold 17)

“That’s not part of the job.”

“Then it should be.”

He hadn’t thought of it that way. “Maybe you’re right.”

She touched her chest. “Be still, my heart.”

* * *

PHOEBE FELT LIKE a character in a musical. Everything in her day made her want to break into song. Zane liked her. At least Chase thought he did, and she was gone enough on the man to be willing to accept the gospel truth from a seventeen-year-old.

That being the case, when she walked into the clearing before dinner and saw Zane sitting in a camp chair with an empty seat so conveniently next to him, she gathered her courage and walked straight toward it.

“Hi,” she said as she sat next to him.

Zane nodded.

Trying not to be discouraged—just because she knew he liked her didn’t mean that he knew she knew—she offered a bright smile.

“Things went well today.”

“Uh-huh.”

Okay, so maybe Chase was right. Maybe Zane wasn’t that great around women. Maybe he was shy.

She squirmed slightly, not sure she could reconcile “shy” with the intense passion she’d felt during their kisses. But if not shy, then what?

Uninterested in her was the most logical explanation, but she didn’t want to go there.

She nodded toward the small group by the campfire. “I’ve noticed C.J. spending more time with Lucy and Tommy. At first I thought she didn’t really like kids, which is weird for someone who’s a foster parent. But I guess strange things like that happen. Anyway, it’s better now, don’t you think?”

Zane pulled off his hat and ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair. Then he stared at her.

“C.J. braided Lucy’s hair this morning.”

Phoebe beamed. “I noticed that, too. Didn’t it just give you a lump in your throat?” She fingered her own hair. “When I was little, I would have loved a braid like that. With a ribbon on the end.” She stared at the fire. “A green ribbon.”

But ribbons and braids hadn’t been a part of her life, and now that she could do that sort of thing herself, it wasn’t that important. But the memory would have been nice.

She leaned close to Zane. “Martin ate chicken at lunch. When Andrea went off to chant to the trees or something, he took a piece of fried chicken. I was so proud.”

“Andrea can’t be an easy woman to live with.”

Phoebe glanced at the woman in question. She was hovering by Cookie, no doubt asking questions about the meal.

Zane followed her gaze and sighed. “I’d best take care of that before the old man gets violent.”

With that he rose and crossed to the cook fire.

Phoebe watched him go. Once she was able to pull her attention away from the fine shape of his butt and his long-legged walk, she sagged back in her chair.

They’d been talking. Sort of. Zane had actually been chatty, in his taciturn, cowboy kind of way. But she hadn’t been able to figure out what he was thinking. Did he really like her, or was Chase just saying what she wanted to hear? If only she could get someone else’s opinion on that.

She thought of Maya, but dismissed the idea immediately. Her friend was already suspicious, and confirming her affection for Zane would mean opening herself up to friendly teasing for the rest of the trip. She loved Maya and normally wouldn’t have minded, but her feelings for him were too tender to appreciate mocking, however gently meant. She only knew one other source of information.

The cattle had stopped in an open field for the night. Phoebe found Manny right away and crossed to stand next to him.

He acknowledged her with a soft head bump, followed by a brush with his shoulder. Unfortunately the latter sent her staggering back a couple of feet, but she knew he meant well. She scratched his ears.

“It’s Zane,” she said softly, knowing her voice could carry in the early evening. “Chase said he likes me, but I’m not sure. What do you think?”

Manny raised his head and gazed at her soulfully.

Phoebe bit her lower lip. “Okay. Was that a yes or a no?” She sighed. “Wait. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to get my hopes up. It’s just...” She paused, not sure how to explain her feelings to herself, let alone a steer.

“Something happens when we’re together. I like how I feel when I’m around him. He’s so tough and strong and together, and yet I feel there’s something underneath all that I connect with. Is that too crazy?”

She smiled, knowing Maya would point out it wasn’t much stranger than talking to a steer in the first place.

“The thing is, everyone else belongs. Martin and Andrea, C.J. and Thad. The kids have each other, Maya has Chase. Eddie and Gladys are almost like family to each other.” She glanced around at the herd. “You have your friends here. Sometimes I don’t feel like I have anyone. And I know this is really weird, but I sense the same thing about Zane. Sure, he’s got the ranch and everything, but that’s not always enough. It’s like there’s this empty place inside, and when I’m with him, it gets filled up.”

She leaned against Manny and rested her head on his back. He was warm, if a little dusty, and she could hear the faint beating of his heart.

“You’re a great listener,” she murmured.

Manny munched on grass while she contemplated her next move.

“So what are the odds of you letting me ride you?” she asked.