Chapter 6
Tanner rodein from the western fence line, his mind on Amanda as usual. It had been a week and a half since their kiss and he couldn’t stop thinking about it, or rather her. Even his dreams were filled with pushing her against the fence before undressing her and entering her right there where they stood. That’s when his practical mind interrupted and told him it was hotter and dirtier than the picked over bones of a dead burro in August and there was no way that could happen. Waking up frustrated, he had to take care of things for himself, which just pissed him off.
Amanda was a Hayden, and as much as his mind knew that, his body didn’t give a shit. Her sunny disposition was beginning to wear him down. Even now, he couldn’t wait to get Dad his lunch, just so he could see her. He was pathetic.
Riding up to the stables, he jumped down from Fury’s back and gave him some much needed water. Tying the reins, he quickly headed for the house. He wasn’t sure if it was her doing, or he was making more out of the touches she gave him, or reading into how her rounded ass brushed his own as she moved past him in the kitchen. But like a dog in heat, he was anxious to find out. That she had called him and asked him to come a little early because she had a surprise, was like lighting kindling in a drought for him.
He stopped before opening the door. What the hell was wrong with him? It wasn’t like she was going to ask him to meet her in his office for a quick tumble.
Even as he recognized his own weakness, he reached for the door. Stepping inside the air-conditioned entryway cooled his head as he dropped his hat on the front table and slowed his walk, breathing in the light scent of vanilla that let him know she was in his house.
“Oh, I think I heard the front door. Are you ready?” Her voice was louder than usual.
He heard a grunt which could only be his dad. Suddenly, the idea that the surprise had to do with his father registered and a different kind of excitement filled him. Striding quickly into the kitchen, he continued into the den to find his father sitting in his usual spot before lunch. “I came as quickly as I could.”
Amanda in her scrubs, rose from the chair she’d been sitting in at the table. “You mean as quickly as you safely could.”
Surprised by how on target she was, he frowned. “Yeah, that.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. We know. And now your father would like to show you something, but you have to promise not to move from where you’re standing, no matter what.”
His whole body rebelled at the command, but he forced himself to nod.
“Good.” She moved to the two parallel bars that he had ordered before Dad came home.
As far as he knew, they were just gathering dust. Immediately, his guard went up.
“Okay, Jeremiah. Show Tanner you plan to ride Maximus again one day.”
Dad gave him a lopsided grin then put both his hands on the wheels of the wheelchair and rolled himself to the bars.
He stood in shock. Dad always used just his good arm. When had he learned to use the other to wheel himself?
Dad set himself up between the bars and rose on unsteady legs, but Amanda was there, not touching him, but ready if he fell.
It was all Tanner could do to not rush over and help, but Amanda hadn’t only been helping Dad over the last week. She’d been educating him as well, and explaining what he needed to do and not do. Or rather, she and the psychologist. So he forced himself to remain where he was, even as his father gripped the bars.
When Dad took his first step, he felt such a surge of pride that his eyes itched. Then there was another step before Dad backed up and sat again with Amanda’s help.
“What the hell! I’m blown away.” He clapped. “You’ve obviously been doing a lot of work while I’ve been out with the cattle.”
“I have.” His father grinned, not a sly smile, but a real one. “Betta watch yer step boy.”
He swallowed hard at the phrase Dad had uttered almost on a daily basis before the stroke. “I always do with you.” His throat closed as his father wheeled away from the parallel bars and rolled up to the table. “Weres my foo? I’m ungry.”
He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Gotta make it.” He spun on his heel before his father saw the tears in his eyes.
As he fixed the chicken salad sandwich from the leftover chicken the night before, he tried to wrap his mind around what his dad had accomplished. The psychologist was really helping. Did that mean he might have his father back soon? He wanted to go right back in the den and ask Dad for advice on a snag they encountered inspecting the beams for the new roof on the birthing enclosure, but he forced himself to finish making lunch.
Amanda had just told him two days ago that the worse thing he could do is try to rush his father’s recovery. Still, the possibilities of how his dad could help him flooded his brain, and he almost put ketchup on the sandwich. He lifted the bottle up just in time, leaving a red drop on the counter. Hell, he needed to slow down. Wiping up the mess, he switched out the bottle for the low-fat mayonnaise and finished the sandwich, cutting it in two like Dad liked.
He added a glass of lemonade to the tray and started for the den, wondering why it was so quiet in there. As he crossed the threshold, he halted, his father’s chin was on his chest. He’d fallen asleep. Startled, he looked to Amanda, who motioned for him to go back in the kitchen with her hand.
His heart filled with love for his dad at the realization of how much effort walking had been for him.
Amanda didn’t lower her voice. “Now, Jeremiah, I think we should decide on your next goal. Dr. Navarro said you always have to have a goal if you want to make progress, right?”
He heard a weak grunt.
She chuckled, the sound filling him with contentment. “Maybe we need to work on getting rid of your grunting. You’re definitely not a pig with how little you eat. More like a cardinal bird.”
“Teet, teet.” His father’s voice sounded louder. He must be waking up.
“Tanner, I think your father is getting hungry. He’s tweeting like a bird. Either that or a broken alarm clock. I’m not really sure.”
As he strode back into the room, Dad stuck his tongue out at Amanda.
“Dad!” He set the tray down on the table. “You always told us never to do that.”
His father just shrugged. Then with both hands, lifted half the sandwich and took a bite.
Amanda left the room to have her own lunch. He never saw anything in the fridge that she brought from home, so he had no idea what she ate. Maybe one of those protein shakes or something. He grimaced at the thought as he took her seat.
“Wuts wrong?”
At his dad’s question, he shrugged, purposefully mimicking his father. “Just thinking about what to make for dinner. Brody’s going to a wildlife exhibition to talk to the game rangers, so it’s just me tonight.”
“Steak.”
He grinned, beyond pleased that his father was taking an interest in life on the ranch again. “Steak. It would have to be sirloins. The ribeyes are thicker and won’t defrost in time.” Not to mention they were considered off his dad’s new diet.
Dad grunted.
Barely biting back a smile, he raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing you’ll want mashed potatoes and broccoli?”
Dad finished chewing and took a sip of lemonade, still using the straw, but his hands were steadier. “Peas.”
There were peas in the freezer. “I can do that. Anything else?” It was the first time Dad had requested a specific meal.
“Bed.” Dad shook his head. “B-r-ed.”
“What kind? I’ve got sourdough or rye. Or I can make biscuits.”
“Bikets.”
This time he did smile. “Sounds good to me.” He rose to pull out the steaks. “Is that it?”
Dad shook his head. “Mandy.”
His heart stuttered at Amanda’s nickname. “Do you mean Amanda?”
His father nodded before taking a big bite of his sandwich.
“You want Amanda to stay for dinner?”
His father nodded again.
“Well, I can ask, but I make no promises. She usually has things to do in the evenings.” Actually, it seemed like every evening she had some event to attend whether it was barrel racing practice, a baseball game, dinner with friends, a balloon ride, and who knew what else.
Suddenly irritated, he headed out of the room. It seemed that everyone had a life beyond the ranch. His step slowed as he entered the kitchen. That may be true, but he loved Rocky Road. The thought of getting dressed and going out held no appeal to him at all.
“How’s he doing?” Amanda sat at the kitchen island typing notes on her laptop.
He found himself smiling again. “He’s doing great.” He moved to the fridge and opened the freezer. “He wants steak for dinner. First time he’s made a meal request.”
She stopped typing. “Oh, that is good.”
He took the steaks out and set them on a plate to defrost. “Yeah. He had another request.”
She gave him a sly smile. “Let me guess. He doesn’t want you making it.”
“What?” At the light in her blue eyes, he realized she was teasing. “No. As a matter of fact, he thinks I’m an exceptional cook. His other request was that you join us for dinner.”
“Oh.” Her smile faltered.
For some stupid reason, his gut tightened as disappointment filled him. “Don’t worry. I told him you were always busy in the evenings.”
“No, it’s not that at all. I have no plans for tonight.” She squinched up the right side of her face, which was never a good sign. “It’s more of a boundary between work and personal life. To have dinner with a patient mixes that up a bit.”
For some reason her explanation relieved him. “Then call it dinner with me. I’m not your patient. Besides, we need to celebrate my dad standing up and walking for the first time. It wouldn’t have happened without you. You figured him out and used your expertise to bring him this far. I worked with him every day of my life and I know how hard that is. This is as much your accomplishment as his.”
She blushed. “I appreciate your acknowledgement.”
He swallowed hard, not used to admitting when he’d misjudged. “You were right. I asked for the best and I got the best. You know your stuff. In all honesty, I owe you a dinner. So I’m asking you to allow me that privilege. If I bring him to dinner too, then you really haven’t crossed the line.”
Her eyes rounded then a slow smile lifted her lips. “That works for me. What time?”
“I usually feed Dad early when it’s just him and me, but what would be good for you?”
“I’m all for eating early. Would five-thirty work? That would give me a half hour to change and relax.”
“Five-thirty it is.” His mood brightened considerably at having a guest for dinner. And why wouldn’t it? It had been months since he’d cooked for anyone besides family. “Just so you know, I don’t do any of that fancy cooking. Just simple ranch stuff with a few spices my mom liked.”
She held up an empty wrapper of a protein bar. “Anything is better than this.”
He frowned as he opened a cabinet and took out the biscuit flour his mother had always used and set it on the counter. “Is that what you eat for lunch every day?”
She nodded. “It’s quick and filling, but not exactly interesting.”
He held his hand up. “I promise your dinner will be better than that thing.”
She chuckled even as she tried to look behind him at the box he’d taken out. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
Smiling, he headed back into the den to give Dad the good news, but he found his father sound asleep in his chair, the sandwich completely gone.
For the first time in a long time, he felt happiness. He didn’t want to examine the feeling too much. Instead, he wheeled his father back from the table and lifted the tray. Could things really be turning around for them all?”
As he returned to the kitchen, Amanda closed her laptop and put it away. “Is he asleep?”
“Yes. But look.” He held up the empty plate.
“Oh, that’s good. He did work hard today. I think I’ve found the right amount of work for him. Dr. Navarro is very good. Without her, I don’t think he would have made any effort at all, but it’s like he has a new lease on life.”
She slid off the stool. “I have to go to my car, but I’ll be right back. He should be asleep at least an hour.”
He watched her walk out of the house. Had he and his father really just asked a Hayden to stay for dinner? As he loaded the dishwasher, he couldn’t believe it. Then again, Dad didn’t know Amanda was a Hayden.
But he did. And for some reason, it didn’t seem to matter. He was as excited about cooking her dinner as he’d been on his first date at the ripe age of fourteen. He shook his head at himself. He was either an idiot or very lucky. He wasn’t quite sure which. All he knew was he’d be sitting at the table with a very pretty woman who could ride a horse with the best of them and still kiss like there was no reason to stop.
He closed the dishwasher and wiped his hands on the kitchen towel, suddenly stopping in midmotion. “Hell.” He was going to kiss her again tonight and the only thing that could stop that from taking place was her.
After hanging the towel on the hook, he headed for the door, grabbing his hat as he went. He opened it to find Amanda just three feet away, and he halted.
She stopped too. “Oh, sorry. Just needed to get a change of clothes for tonight.” Giving him a wink, she brushed past him and into the house.
He closed the door and walked toward the stable whistling.
Amanda wheeled a sleeping Jeremiah into his bedroom where Isaac waited for him. She kept her voice low. “I’m afraid we may have worked him a little hard today. That and the dinner he almost finished tonight did him in.”
Isaac put down the book he was reading. “Not to worry.” He kept his voice low as well. “I’ll get him washed up and in bed before he realizes it.”
She smiled. “Thanks.” As she strode back into the kitchen, her boot heels made noise on the travertine and she quickly switched to walking on tiptoe. Tanner was wiping the counter down after having cleaned up. She had to admit it was a treat to have such an amazing dinner made by a man and then not have to help with clean up. It was odd how different the Dunn brothers operated after losing their mom compared to how her own brothers operated after her parents divorced. Was it because her family had more money or because they had her as an older sister? It wasn’t as if she’d done much cooking, so she had to chalk it up to her father hiring a cook.
She hopped up on a stool at the island, knowing she should be leaving soon, but not really in any hurry to go home. “That was really good. Thank you again.”
Tanner hung the dishtowel on the hook and set his palms on the counter. “It was Dad’s idea, but I’m glad you stayed. It was a great way to celebrate. Maybe you can bribe him with staying for dinner next time he balks at doing something.”
She liked that idea more than she should. Still, she rolled her eyes. “That won’t work. You told me he’s only motivated by completing something he starts.”
“True.” He turned pensive. “But that was before the stroke. There seems to be a lot that has changed in him, including his personality.”
Now that was intriguing. “In what way?”
“This may sound stupid, but he’s nicer than he was before. He’s more like the dad he was before Mom passed. I thought people with strokes often turn…well…meaner.”
She shook her head. “There’s no one way. Actually, I don’t think the stroke is what changed your father. I believe he was the same, though I can’t be sure, but with Dr. Navarro’s help, he’s finding himself again. Did he ever go to grief counseling after your mom died?”
His eyes rounded. “Dad? Hell no. He’s a ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get on with life’ kind of person.”
She nodded, having met way too many people in the town of Four Peaks who were exactly like that. “Well, whatever it is, I’m thrilled he’s doing so well.”
Tanner studied her for a moment. “You really do care about him.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Yeah. I know. Crazy, right? It’s my one flaw when it comes to my job. My supervisor is always telling me I get too emotionally invested.”
“I don’t see it as a flaw. I actually think it’s what makes you so successful. Don’t let your supervisor take away your superpower. He’ll be sorry.”
She chuckled to hide the glow of pleasure his compliment gave her. “She. My boss is LaReina and she’s pretty good. She knows when to motivate me and when to back off.”
“Back off?”
“Yes. She can be pushy sometimes, especially when I want time off. I give my job one hundred and ten percent, but when I need a break, I need it. In fact, after I get your father to a good point, I’ll have three months off.”
“What would you do with three months off? I think I would lose my mind.”
She didn’t doubt it. “That’s because your work is your home and hence your life. Mine isn’t.” She scanned the homey kitchen area. “Though, sometimes I miss this. It’s not the same at my father’s and when I get my own place, it still won’t be home.” Now why did she bring up her father and her wish for a real home?
The quiet was interrupted by a yell. “Kent make me!”
Isaac’s voice followed. “Jeremiah, stop. I can make you, but I won’t. You tell me what you want to do.”
Tanner moved out from behind the island. “Would you like to take a walk?”
Though she probably shouldn’t, it took less than a second to slip off the stool. “That would be nice.”
Instead of heading out the front door as usual, he moved into the family room and opened the sliding glass door that led to the backyard and pool area. He held his arm out for her to precede him. “The temperature is half a degree cooler out here.”
She laughed as she stepped outside. It was still very hot outside compared to the air-conditioned house, but the whole area was already in shade as the sun began to set. She walked along the edge of the pool to a covered area with two lounge chairs. She sat back in one. “When was the last time you sat in one of these?”
He lowered himself onto the one next to her, sitting on the side of it as if it would bite. “I don’t think I have, but Brody has.”
She swung her leg over the side and sat up to face him. “Did your father ever come out here and enjoy them?”
“Once. Brody cooked barbeque out here and Dad sat on one to eat dinner.” As if he felt he needed to defend himself, he quickly added to the explanation. “Mom was the one that insisted on the pool and covered space. I do use the pool, when the water isn’t too warm.”
She scrunched her face. “So in the winter?”
He smiled. “Yeah.”
She rose because he was obviously not comfortable, and they continued toward the back of the walled in area where there was an opening. His heels on the concrete assured her that he followed. She stepped past the open wooden door at the back and found herself looking at two of the Four Peaks. They were bathed in a golden glow with just a bit of orange flame starting. Even her dad’s ranch didn’t have such a beautiful view. “Wow, this is spectacular.”
He stepped up next to her. “Yeah. It’s part of why Dad thought we could turn the place into a dude ranch. He figured the pictures Brody could put up on a website would entice people to stay here.”
She turned toward him, surprised. “Your dad wants to make Rocky Road a dude ranch?” The local cattle ranchers laughed at people who did that. She was shocked.
He didn’t look at her, just kept his gaze on the mountains. “Yeah. It’s the only way we’ll be able to save the ranch.” He finally turned his head and met her gaze. “The big cattle ranchers are pricing us out. We don’t have enough land to expand. We are bordered by the conservation land your father put in place and one other piece, whose owners refuse to sell even though they are doing nothing with it.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat at the mention of her father. Was that what started the feud?
Tanner turned back to the mountains. “I searched the internet for other ideas, but I couldn’t come up with anything else, so we either become a dude ranch or sell and leave. I don’t like either prospect, but Dad wants to try the dude ranch.”
Her mind spun with the news. Then she remembered the paperwork he’d been sifting through one afternoon. “That’s what all those plans were?”
He started to walk toward the mountain, his footsteps crunching on the dry desert earth. “Yes. In order to become a dude ranch, we had to request a change in the zoning. I have no idea if it will go through. I don’t want this place to change, but it looks like it’s change or give it up.”
Her heart sank at the tone in his voice. He really didn’t want the change, and she felt for him. It never occurred to her that the Rocky Road was too small to survive. She walked beside him as the possibilities of what a dude ranch could do filled her head. “Wow, your father is brilliant.”
He stopped suddenly and looked at her. “Because he wants to change this place to survive? That’s not brilliant. That’s desperate.”
“Yes, well, maybe. But just think of all you could offer and how much you can educate the average person who never had a chance to grow up in a small town like ours.” Ideas began popping in her head like popcorn on movie night. “Besides horseback riding, you could offer hiking, archery, barrel racing, roping, traps, target practice, hayrides, in addition to educational activities like gun safety, lectures on the flora and fauna, even snakes.” She grinned, becoming energized at all the options. “At night there could be campfires, singing, making s’mores, plus I’m sure one of the girls in town would be willing to teach some line dancing. Heck, you could even have Town Nights.”
He halted, his brows raised as he stared at her in surprise. “Town Nights. You know we’ll be a laughing stock in town for having a dude ranch, right?”
She waved off his comment. “Maybe at first. But on Town Nights you could have a local band and invite people for a special price. You could even do haunted hayrides. We don’t have any of those. Oh, and just think of how your ranch alone could put Four Peaks on the tourism map. Right now, all we have is Pioneer Days, but your place could be open all year!”
He groaned, shaking his head. “And when do we do our work? We do have cattle to raise and bring to market.”
“You really haven’t looked into this have you?”
At the shake of his head, she held her hands out to the sides. “That’s the beauty of a dude ranch, the paying guests help with the work.”
“Whoa, they don’t know a thing about cattle ranching.”
She laughed, too excited by the project his family was about to embark on to contain her enthusiasm. “They don’t have to. How would you like twenty extra people loading hay into the barn? Need the horse stalls mucked out? Teenagers would be great at it. Have a loose heifer? Bring along three dads who want to feel like they’re real cowboys. Seriously, Tanner, this is a fantastic opportunity not only for the Rocky Road Ranch, but Four Peaks as well.” She smiled at him, unable to stop. It was phenomenal.
“I didn’t realize.” He stared at her in a daze, obviously seeing the positives of his father’s idea for the first time.
She took his hand in hers and pulled him forward as they walked around the outside of the house. “Do you see the possibilities?”
“I guess.” His voice was quiet. “It’s a whole new staff and schedule and paperwork. Not to mention the budgets and books.”
She stepped in front of him, halting their progress, his hand still in hers. “If you’re looking for backers, I’d love to invest some money.”
His left eyebrow lifted. “You would? Don’t you think your father would have something to say about that. Besides, the Town Council still needs to approve the rezoning, and that’s not a done deal. It’s not like they’ve voted in our favor in the past.”
She stared at him. What else had the Dunn’s requested? Had it been when her dad was on the Town Council? It seemed she would have to ask her father how the feud had started after all. She’d lived her life in ignorance, trusting him, but after getting to know three of the four Dunn men, she had to wonder. “Well, if they vote in favor, I will be the first to invest. I also know some pretty wealthy people in Phoenix who would see the advantage of this place. You say you are too small to compete, but being small is a great place to use for a dude ranch.”
Smiling, she tried to will him to see the vision she saw. Come on, Tanner. Look beyond what you know to what could be. She waited, hoping to see something in the rosy light of the setting sun, darkness descending quickly. Letting go of his hand, she put her hands on either side of his face. “Imagine nine-and-ten-year-old boys and girls on top of horses, excited to ride out to see the calves that have been born and help feed those with no mama. See parents sitting beside their kids as they chow down on barbeque ribs while an old timer from town tells them what life used to be like on a ranch before ATVs.”
He stared at her as if he wanted to believe, when suddenly his eyes widened.
“See it?”
His lips lifted into a slow smile. “I do. I see it. We can focus on the past so it’s not forgotten.”
“Yes! And next time they have steak for dinner, they’ll know where it came from.”
Before she realized what he was about, his arms came around her and his lips pressed against hers. She opened her mouth, her excitement at the ranch’s future quickly morphing into another excitement altogether.
There was something about Tanner Dunn that called to her. She wasn’t sure if it was his command of the ranch or the command he had over her sex drive, but kissing him felt so right. No. More than right. Heavenly.
He backed her up as if he couldn’t get close enough. When her back came in contact with the outside wall of the house, a flare of desire shot straight to her core. Claude tried doing something similar with her once, but it was pure play acting. Tanner’s need for her was as real as her need for him.
She grabbed his butt and pulled him closer, letting him know she wanted him.
His mouth left hers and he looked at her as if trying to understand why they were so attracted to each other, but she didn’t want to understand.
She yanked his checkered shirt out from the back of his jeans and ran her hands up his back. “Kiss me.” Though she’d meant the words to come out as a demand, they were barely above a whisper.
The man must have excellent hearing because his mouth descended onto hers with a fury, his tongue taking over.
Her heart raced as heat filled her and need raced to the juncture of her thighs. She slipped her hands inside his jeans, loving the hard yet smooth feel of his taut butt cheeks.
He broke their kiss and grabbed her hands, pulling them out and lifting them over her head, capturing her wrists with one hand.
She looked at him with wide eyes, not a little surprised, but his nostrils flared just before his mouth found the side of her neck that caused her to melt.
She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the warm adobe wall as his mouth lowered to her collar bone. Somehow, he managed with one hand to unbutton her shirt and his tongue traced her breast along her bra line. She arched upward, wishing she hadn’t worn a bra to dinner. When her bra loosened, she opened her eyes, but all she could see was his dark hair as his lips moved her bra aside, and he captured her nipple in his mouth.
A groan left her and she rose on her toes, loving the feel of his mouth gently sucking her. She wanted to tell him not to stop, but the words were drowned out by the pleasure tightening her stomach. When his mouth moved to her other breast, she lowered back down to her heels, not unaware that his fingers were working the button of her jeans. She sucked in her breath, giving him room and within seconds his hand moved along her abdomen, past her shaved mons, and down to her moist folds.
He seemed to hesitate at her readiness, but she didn’t want him to. Swallowing hard, she forced a word from her lips. “More.”
As if that was all he waited for, his fingers moved farther and found her clit.
Her sheath tightened in anticipation. Yes! The thought was there, but the word wouldn’t come as her breaths came faster.
Then his teeth found her nipple and rolled it, sending sparks straight to her core. That’s when his finger moved expertly between her legs, gently rubbing her clit to send shockwaves of pleasure deep inside her. When his finger slipped from her favorite spot, it moved inside her sheath, and she bucked toward him, gasping for air as need riddled her body like buckshot.
He slipped his finger out and added a second, even as his thumb circled her clit. It was all she wanted, and she arched into him, her panting turning to moans. His mouth left her breast and caught her own. His tongue invaded her like his fingers as he pressed her hard against the wall, sending her spiraling out of control.
Her orgasm burst through her like a rampaging bull, propelling her into ecstasy, sending pleasure to every part of her as she floated in excited bliss. Eventually, the thrills subsided, finally allowing her to take slightly deeper breaths.
When she was able to focus on her surroundings, she felt Tanner’s mouth leaving a kiss on her outer ear, his hand cupping her between her legs, while he still held her arms above her. “Wow.” Her voice was raspy and her breaths were still short, but she felt him smile against her cheek.
Then his mouth moved toward her ear again. “I want you.”
His gruff words buckled her knees, but his hand between her legs held her up. She’d never felt so wanted by anyone in her entire life, which sent her heart back into race mode. She licked her lips, swallowing hard, determined to answer.
She turned her head toward his ear. “Then take me.”
His body turned to stone against her, stopping her heart for a moment.