Home on the Ranch: Texas Wedding

Ash was amazed at how quickly she pulled herself together. The way those blue eyes turned on Fisher as she teased, “Gosh, thanks. You know how to make a girl feel special.”

“You’re fine,” Fisher said, surveying the damage at her feet. “Beer down, huh? I’ll get the broom.” He shook his head. “Now you’ve met another member of the Boone family. There’s a lot of us but this one is special. Ash, this is my twin sister, Renata Boone.”

Renata Boone. Twin sister? That answered a few questions he had...

Well, shit.

He’d slept with Fisher’s twin? Men tended not to take kindly to their sister’s flings. Not that he was a fling, exactly. It hadn’t been a fling for him, anyway. Not that he knew what she was—or rather, what she had been—to him. And he didn’t like it. He swallowed, doing his damnedest not to stare at her.

“Big sister,” Renata shot back, taking pains to avoid eye contact with Ash.

“Whatever makes you feel better,” Fisher said as he disappeared inside to get the broom.

Then those blue eyes fastened on him. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s good to see you, too.” He smiled.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a lovely shade of red.

His hand ached to take hers. Instead, he flexed it, resting it on the railing and holding himself in place across the deck. Too far to touch her. He cleared his throat. “I’m the new teaching physician at the vet hospital.”

“You are?” She blew out a deep breath. “You... You’re Dr. Carmichael?”

He nodded, wishing he could get a read on her reaction.

“But...” She shook her head, her gaze searching his. “You said you were here for one night.”

She was upset he was staying. He was upset she was Fisher’s twin. And there was nothing they could do to make this less awkward. He’d hoped like hell he wouldn’t run into her again, hadn’t wanted to. Their time together had shaken him up—scared him. She made him feel...feel. If they ran into each other again, and he’d assumed that would be a big if, he’d figured he’d deal with it.

Wrong.

He wasn’t equipped to deal with this. Her. Here. Now. The woman he dreamed about was staring at him with all the horror and confusion he was feeling. “My plans changed.”

“So...you’re staying? In Stonewall Crossing?” Her blue gaze searched his. “That won’t change?”

No, it wouldn’t. Of all the offers he’d received, this was the best. And Curtis? This place was kid friendly—a place Shanna had wanted for their son. He’d made peace with that. Now he was going to let his reaction to Renata Boone challenge that?

No. He was a grown man, for crying out loud. He’d get over whatever it was that she stirred inside him. Even if, looking at her now, that bone-deep want gripped him. Dammit. He’d have to be careful until he was over this. It wouldn’t do to remember the brush of her lips on his neck or the hitch in her breath when he’d touched her the right way. His lungs ached for air and his fingernails gouged the deck railing. Dammit. Stop. It. Now. But he couldn’t. Couldn’t forget. Couldn’t think. Or breathe. Or break the hold of the blue eyes he’d dreamed about.

“We’ll get these steaks flipped.” Fisher emerged, making them both jump. He offered the broom to Renata before turning his attention to the grill. “Almost done. You’re not on some fancy diet or something, are you, Ash? Vegan, gluten-free, something or other?”

Fisher was expecting an answer. And openly staring at Renata probably wasn’t the best idea, either. “No. I’m a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.” He did his best to laugh.

Renata didn’t move. Those big blue eyes were fixed firmly on him. He was moving before he realized it, taking the broom from her. The burn of her fingers against his was a sweet reminder of the very thing he needed not to be thinking about right now. He frowned, sweeping the splintered glass into a pile.

“Earth to Renata?” Fisher turned. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

No, she wasn’t. But only Ash knew why.

“Uh-huh. You’re never this quiet.” Fisher looked at Ash and shrugged. “Renata’s a bigwig in town. The head of the Tourism Department—making people welcome is part of her job. She’s a talker. Normally. Off to a rocky start, sis. First you drop his beer, then you don’t say two words to him. Not very welcoming.”

Her mouth fell open. “I didn’t realize I was here on the clock, little brother. I thought I was here to have dinner with my family.” She glanced at him then. “I am sorry for dropping your beer, Dr. Carmichael. And, of course, welcome to Stonewall Crossing. It’s a great little town to call home.”

“Ash, please.” The knot in his throat didn’t budge. The sooner his son arrived, the sooner Ash would feel more grounded—and less distracted. “I’m happy to be here,” he said, toasting them with the refill Fisher had provided. “And thanks for dinner.”

Fisher nodded. “Where are you staying?”