CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

“How’s the salad?” Wes asked from across the table.

“It’s delicious.” She’d found herself picking through her food, not having the appetite that she normally did. She chalked it up to wonky nerves. Since Wes had asked her out, she’d been a bundle of chaos. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone on a date where there wasn’t a cell phone standing between them. Most of the men she’d met over the last several years had been duds, including Brady. Although Wes hadn’t called this a date, it certainly felt like one. He’d picked her up at the ranch, complimented her dress that she’d spent two hours finding to wear, and he even opened the passenger door for her. But she needed to remember that he’d called her an “old friend” that was like taking a cold shower.

The candle in the middle of the table flickered golden light over his features. He’d taken off his hat and hooked it on the unused chair and his hair was thick and wavy. He was clean shaven and looked younger. He’d even worn his best shirt and jeans, another reason this felt like a date. A cowboy only wore his best on Sunday and special occasions.

He reached for his beer, wrapping his long fingers around the bottle, and she couldn’t help but remember how he’d touched her earlier. He’d touched her arm as she’d slid into his truck and that part of her still tingled.

“Is this place new?” she said.

“Eight years.”

“I keep forgetting that I haven’t been here for years.” She stabbed a piece of cucumber and brought it to her mouth.

“A lot has changed over the years, and yet, nothing at all.”

“What are people saying about me being back home? I’m sure the rumor mill is still in working condition.”

“You weren’t in town five minutes before tongues started wagging. News gets around fast here. From what I know, not that I partake in all the tongue wagging, most people think you’re here to take over at Tanner.”

“I’m not. I’m here temporarily.” The words slipped out.

He held up a hand in a defensive gesture. “You don’t have to convince me. I get it.”

Sipping from her glass, the wine slid down and puddled in her stomach. “In theory, what if I decided to stay, what would be my prospects? How would a woman deal in business around here?”

“Well, you have your traditional cavemen who aren’t used to dealing with a woman, but I’d say they’re fair. They’d come around, especially if we’re talking often. They all respect Lucas and that would be the deciding factor.”

“Planting cotton would take time.” She rolled her fingers around the rim of her wine glass. “I researched the details.”

“Everything worthwhile takes time, darlin’.”

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“What’s that?” He cut into his steak.

“Why haven’t you offered to buy the land from Lucas? Our properties connect and aren’t you looking to expand?”

He popped the piece of meat into his mouth, chewed and followed it with a drink of beer. “Lucas had never wanted to sell.”

She sat back in her chair. “How about if I want to sell to you? Would you reconsider?”

He dropped his fork and knife. “It’s crossed my mind, but I won’t do it. A lot of ranchers would see Tanner as prime property, but I’m not looking to step on anyone, especially Lucas…or you.”

“Which side of the fence are you on, Wes? Do you mind doing business with a woman?”

His beautiful blue eyes met hers. “I don’t lean on either side of that fence, sweetheart. We’ve had this conversation before. When it comes to business, a person’s gender isn’t a concern.” He clasped his hands and looked at her over his fingers. “I could be wrong here, but you seem a bit different than the last time we talked about the future of Tanner. Are you starting to rethink things? The country getting into your bloodstream, is it?” He smiled and her body lit up.

She swallowed hard. “I can’t deny that I’ve missed so much. The ranch. The horses. The casual life that I don’t get in the city. Going to work in T-shirt and jeans is a plus. I could even see myself raising a child here.”

He surprised her when he laid his big callused hand on her arm, which made her painfully aware of how much she wanted his touch all over. Although she ached to have him again, to feel him inside of her, she needed to tread carefully. The sex partners she’d had over the last nine years consisted of sex only and her heart wasn’t involved. When it came to Wes, a man she’d loved long ago and was starting to believe she’d never stopped would be like walking through a mine field, and at any second she’d be struck with shrapnel. This was dangerous, and yet she couldn’t fall back.

“Just so you know, it’s not too late to change your mind about your future.”

His words were soaked in kindness. Her mind scrambled to the future he referred to. Was there a chance they could reignite the past? “You believe that?”

“The ranch isn’t sold. It would take months, maybe a year or more to find a buyer. Just be sure selling is what you really want.”

The ranch. Of course, that’s the future he was talking about. “Did you bring me here to try and convince me not to sell?”

“Like I said, I have personal gain in this, but you’re free to make your own decisions.”

What did he mean? She should ask. “Personal gain?”

“I feel like you and me, we’re an unfinished story. After you told me about the baby and Logan, I’m saddled with so many thoughts. How did I not see his evil side?”

“You weren’t his keeper, Wes.”

His eyes were probing. “I keep thinking over every detail as if there’s an answer to all this.” His cell beeped from his pocket.

“Go ahead and grab that. It could be Brie.”

He clicked his phone and immediately his jaw tightened and his tan faded some. He mumbled a string of curses.

“What’s wrong? Is Brie okay?”

“Yeah, Brie is fine, at least for now.” He rubbed the creases from his forehead.

“What’s going on?”

“That was Ashley again.”

“She’s really trying.”

“Yes, she is.” He rubbed his face.

“How can she do that? How can she walk away, and then show up like this demanding to see her? Have you spoken with an attorney?”

“Apparently she’s married now and feels like she’s ready to take on the role of being mom. When I realized she wouldn’t take no for an answer, I did seek advice from my attorney, and he tells me the law isn’t clear cut when it comes to cases like this. Without evidence that Ashley was harmful to Brie, the court might rule in her favor, giving her visitation rights, or more if she found the right attorney.”

“Was she harmful to Brie?”

“No, although she’d only been around for the first few months, she’d been nurturing and then up and left.”

“What does your attorney suggest?”

“That I allow her to see Brie, to smooth this out outside of court. He feels it’s too risky to allow a judge to decide what happens.” Wes’s expression darkened.

“Oh, this must weigh heavily on your shoulders.”

“It is when I’ve been here day in and day out for my little girl. At one time, I did live a wild lifestyle. I was young and stupid and was thinking with the wrong parts, but Ashley knows that once she got pregnant, I wanted to be there for her and the baby. Even after she left, I always put Brie first.” He waved to the waitress to bring another beer.

“In all honesty, I’ve always believed that you and your brothers got your reputation for being wild dishonestly. I mean, sure, you weren’t living the life of a saint, but just because a cowboy has his choice of women doesn’t mean he’s partaking. I remember how the buckle bunnies chased after you, even while we were together. Thank goodness I wasn’t the jealous type.”

“I quit the rodeo to be with Brie, and whether you believe it or not, once I met you I didn’t have an eye for anyone but you.”

Taking a sip of her wine, she smiled. “Ashley was a buckle bunny. In fact, she was one of them that had you sign her breasts several times at an event.”

He blinked. “I’ve had my fill of those women and although you probably won’t see it this way, but you had a hand in showing me what I wanted.”

“Then where does Ashley come into play?” She tapped the glass with her short nail.

“I was on a downward spiral and she got pregnant.”

“Sounds familiar.” She lowered her gaze.

“Two completely different scenarios, sweetheart. I used a condom with her and she was on the pill…until she decided to quit taking it.”

“Am I to believe you’re ready to settle down?”

“With the right woman, yes.”

“Where’s the line then?”

“Line?”

“The line of single women looking for a cowboy such as yourself. There’s a line somewhere. I’m sure of it.” She looked over her shoulder.

He snorted and met her gaze, and not smiling. “The only one I see is you.”

“I’m not that same woman that I was when you knew me. I’ve learned from the hard knocks.”

The waitress brought his beer and he drank half of it in one gulp. “The thing about hindsight, we never know what we have until it’s gone.” His blue gaze held hers for three heartbeats.

Silence fell between them like a comfortable blanket.

She took another sip of her wine and looked up to find his gaze still on her. Placing her glass on the table, she sighed. “What are we doing here, Wes?”

“We’re having dinner. Why haven’t you settled down? You’re a beautiful, smart, engaging woman. A catch in most men’s standards.”

She swallowed. “I-I just haven’t been in the mindset to settle down.”

“Did the event with Logan keep you from happiness?” His gaze burrowed into her.

“I’m not unhappy.”

“Really? Your eyes tell me a different story. I know you, whether you choose to admit it or not. Dreams don’t just fizzle and disappear, even if we push them as far away as possible. Just like you say you want children, but I know you also want a lover, a confidant, someone who understands you.”

She chuckled. “Those conversations we had under the moon in the back of your truck are just that, conversations. We all have dreams and some don’t pan out the way we’d like,” she replied too defensively.

“Shrug those dreams off as merely conversations all you want, but why are you running from the truth? Don’t chalk all your dreams up to small talk.”

“I was hurt and lost when I left Colton, but it’s not the memory of Logan’s drunken outrage that lingers. It was you who truly kept me away, Wes. For me to be near you, I knew I needed to tell you the truth and hurting you was something I wanted to prevent…and seeing pity in your eyes when you look at me. I don’t want that from you. I had many things I wanted to do at Tanner Ranch. I lost a lot of things by keeping a secret.”

“Consider staying. Consider doing all those important things now.”

“What if I fail at the ranch business? I know some, but there’s so much I am unsure about.”

“Sweetheart, I guarantee you that you won’t fail. I’m here and if it takes every breath I have in my body, we’ll get Tanner back on its own two feet.”

“How can you make promises like that?”

“Because I want you to marry me. We’ll have that child you want.”

 

*****

“What?” Sammie looked like she’d hit an unforeseen force.

 “You heard me right, darlin’. Let’s get married. There’s nothing keeping us apart now.” He could see the truth flickering in her baby blues. He wasn’t sure why that made him happy, but he had a good idea. He wanted her to stay. Over the years, he would have given anything to have her here, and now that she was he couldn’t imagine her leaving again.

He watched her closely as she reached for her wine glass and sipped the dark liquid.

This was his opportunity for a chance with her, and although up until this very moment he hadn’t settled himself into believing it possible. But he’d thrown caution to the wind and took that second chance. He wasn’t about to blow the chance of a lifetime.

“So, you brought me here to talk me into staying.”

“No, not really it’s just heading in that direction.

She played with the stem of her glass. “And what a path it is. I don’t think you thought about that proposal before you asked.”

“Does a man always have to plan every move?”

The corner of her mouth trembled. “When it comes to marriage and family, yes, he should.”

“I’d like to pick up where we left off. Tell me you don’t.”