The Rancher's Redemption

“Might as well keep them here and get them fixed and branded.” Adam wiped the sweat from his brow, and Ben grimaced.

“Dude, you’ve just wiped cow shit all over your face.”

Adam had already worked that out from the smell. “It’s good for the skin.”

“Ha!” Ben grinned at him. “Don’t you have to get back and go pick up Mom?”

“I thought I’d go like this.” Adam looked down at his damp mud-splattered jeans, chaps, and boots.

They walked toward the gate, the calves moving as one to huddle beneath the shelter in the corner of the field.

“If you don’t want her here, that’s one way of making sure she won’t even get in the car with you,” Ben remarked as he padlocked the gate behind them. “Although why you and Daisy are so fired up about it, I don’t know.”

“Probably because I remember what it was like better than you do, and Daisy was abandoned when she was five,” Adam said dryly.

“True.” Ben mounted up on his horse and Adam did the same. “I don’t claim to remember much. I just woke up one day and she was gone.”

Adam adjusted his Stetson to keep out as much of the drizzle as possible. He was grateful for the much-needed rain, but it sure as hell was echoing his dismal mood. He’d unintentionally helped Lizzie climax and immediately been shown the door. Even as he thought about it, his body stirred.

But they hadn’t talked about any of it—the kissing, the “were they in a relationship?” thing, the unexpected surge of desire he had every time Lizzie so much as smiled in his direction. That last one was on him. If Lizzie had wanted more, she could’ve asked. Instead, she’d acted like it was a mortal insult and hustled him out of her apartment.

But then she had a kid, and maybe she’d been thinking more clearly than he was at that moment with all the blood from his brain still residing in his dick. He could’ve said something. He could’ve tried to talk to her about his complicated feelings, but kissing her, being with her, was so new and raw that he was afraid to admit anything out loud in case he messed up. Touching her in the darkness of the hallway, letting her touch him without the complication of words, had seemed way safer.

“Hey, dreamer.”

Adam turned to Ben who was riding alongside him.

“I was just trying to figure out where the main herd is, and how far we’d need to take the new cattle out to join them,” Adam said.

“Sure you were.” Ben rolled his eyes. “Thinking about cattle always makes you look like a man trying to defuse a ticking bomb.”

“Are you still going to help BB Morgan out with that tracking and survivalist course he’s running up at Morgan Ranch?” Adam asked, aware that it was a diversionary tactic, but totally okay with it.

“Yeah, I am, but what’s that got to do with you?”

“I’m just asking.” Adam shrugged. “I’m always interested in what my siblings are up to.”

“And total shit at sharing what you’re doing,” Ben countered.

Adam stared out between his horse’s ears. “I’m not up to anything except working out how to deal with Leanne if she upsets Dad or Daisy while she’s here.”

That had always been his job. Watching out for his siblings, protecting them from the parental arguments, and literally stepping in between his mom and dad if things got too lively. The fact that his brothers weren’t worried about Leanne coming back meant that he must have done a good job back in the day even though he’d hated every second of it.

“Maybe it will all be fine,” Ben said.

“Maybe it will.” Admiring his brother’s positivity, Adam gathered his reins and pointed toward the ranch. “Race you home. Last one in takes care of the horses.”

* * *

“Hi!” Lizzie smiled at the suited businessman occupying one of the outdoor tables at the café. “Welcome to Yvonne’s. What can I get for you?”

“Hey.” He smiled back. “This is a great little place. Kind of a hidden gem.”

“Morgantown? Yes, it is. I love it here.” Lizzie found her pen and notepad. “Can I start you off with a drink while you check out the menu?”