Chapter 22
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As if I could turn Anna down when she flipped those damn doe eyes on me. I think I’d give her just about anything she wished for if she looked at me like that again.
I’m so fucked.
“I’ve never been to a ranch before. You’ll have to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do,” she says once we’ve turned out of town toward the ranch.
I wasn’t expecting this kind of excitement from her.
Sure, she clearly wanted to go, but there’s a genuine excitement to experience what I do every day in her attitude that I’m floored by.
I’ve never taken a girl home to the ranch before, and I’m more comfortable with the idea of Anna there than I thought I’d be.
I want her to get to know me more, and this might be the best way to make that happen.
“Alright, for one, you’ll want to watch where you step so you don’t end up ankle-deep in cow shit.”
Come to think of it, the nice winter boots on her feet are an absolute no go. Hopefully, she’s close enough to my grandmother’s shoe size so we can steal a pair for her today.
Anna makes a sound of agreement in her throat. “What else?”
“If my grandmother offers you lunch, accept it. Feeding others is her love language.”
A pause, as if she’s thinking that one through. “I haven’t had anyone cook for me in years.”
Disbelief barrels into me. “What?”
“Family dinners aren’t really a thing in my family. They never have been,” she answers sheepishly.
“Not even with your sister?”
“My sister moved to Ottawa a few years back, and I’ve always been the one cooking for her and her family when they visit.”
“Your mom still lives in Vancouver, though, right?”
I can’t help but keep looking for a valid reason as to why this woman has been lacking such a sense of family in her life. I may have only had my grandparents for most of my life growing up, but they were more than enough. Family time was always a priority for them.
“Yes, she does. But when she remarried, it was like she was born again. Suddenly, she wanted to travel and live her life in a way she couldn’t when she was tied to my dad.
I refuse to be selfish with her when she dealt with a man like him for decades.
So no, we don’t do family dinners, and yes, she might be gone on a majority of the holidays, but I’m happy for her,” Anna explains.
The soft note in her voice makes it hard not to believe her.
“Well, one thing you shouldn’t do today is tell that to my grandmother. She’ll damn near adopt you, and you’ll never be free of us again,” I say, trying to lighten the suddenly serious mood. “You’d be wishin’ you never had to have another family dinner in your life.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that would be such a bad thing.”
The Steele Ranch gate comes into view, and I flash her a grin, feeling like a damn lucky guy knowing she’s about to venture into my world.
It’s hard to focus on the road when she spots the gate and gasps, awestruck at something as simple as some iron and steel.
It’s nothing in comparison to the ranch itself, especially not in the summertime.
Life dealt us an unfair hand with having her first time here being in the dead of winter.
“Welcome to Steele Ranch, Anna. It’s a lot more than meets the eye,” I say.
“How big is it?”
“About thirty thousand acres, give or take a few.”
Again, her mouth falls open. “That’s massive.”
“We don’t use all of it.” Nearly all of it, but still.
“So, you just leave some of it barren?”
I nod, turning the truck through the open gate.
The drive up to the house is short, the original Steele generation of ranchers having built it closer to the road to try and help the land not appear so overwhelming to newcomers.
Nobody knows if it actually has that effect, but I’d guess not.
It doesn’t take more than a glance past the house to see the true size of the ranch.
“Most of it is just roaming space for the cattle. I’m not the best person to ask regarding the ins and outs of anything outside of the equipment, stables, and simple chores. I never took an interest in learning much about the cows once they grow from calves.”
Much to my grandfather’s disappointment. My lack of involvement was the first sign that he was going to need to find someone else to take over for him. For as long as I can remember, as soon as someone started talking about calving season, my attention drifted elsewhere.
“My grandfather would be a better teacher if you chose to learn more. My knowledge is limited to the basics,” I add.
Anna’s stare is inquisitive enough that I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. “How did your lack of interest go over with your grandfather?”
I blow out a long breath. “About as well as you’d think.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We make it work. I’m still hopin’ that my time home will help start to mend our relationship.”
“How’s it going so far?”
I chuff a laugh. “Not great.”
“Will he care that I’m here today?”
“No. He’ll probably be too surprised that I’ve brought anyone here in the first place to worry about who.”
Even if he did have a problem with it, it wouldn’t change anything. I want her here. That’s all that does matter.
I glance across the cab and catch her smile before she looks out the window.
Movement on the left has me tearing my eyes away from her.
An onyx horse trots alongside the truck, its rider sitting atop him wearing a matching hat and a heavy winter jacket.
My grandfather leans forward on his saddle, looking into the truck and quirking a brow at me before I park in front of the house.
“Is that him?” Anna asks.
“Yep,” I mutter. “Seems like you’ll get a sooner introduction than I planned.”
She doesn’t appear put off by that. No, her excited grin is anything but put off.
“Let’s go,” she urges, clapping her hands on her thighs.
I bite back a smile and do as she says. Once I step out of the truck, I face my grandfather, expecting to find annoyance on his worn features but instead find curiosity.
“Your grandma was right” is all he says before taking another look into the truck and adding, “Go on, then. Don’t leave her waitin’.”
It’s only then that I realize Anna’s waited for me to come open her door. Pride swims in my chest at that, even if it’s more likely that she simply waited for me to open the door to avoid another one of my scoldings. It still fills me with a strong sense of male satisfaction.
It’s been weeks since I’ve heard my grandfather laugh in my presence, and as I round the hood of the truck, the rough sound of it takes me aback.
“What?” I call out.
He shrugs a shoulder and readjusts his grip on Kip’s reins. “Nothin’. There’s a list of jobs for you on the kitchen counter. It shouldn’t take you long with a second set of hands.”
“Alright. Grandma inside?”
“Yup. She’ll be excited to see your new friend again.”
The way he says it has me shaking my head despite the buzz beneath my skin. “Don’t get started. I’ll have to hear enough of it inside.”
“You gonna let me meet her?”
“Will you scare her off?”
His mouth flattens. “Does she need scarin’ off?”
“No.”
“Then no. I won’t.”
I tip my chin and finally open the passenger door. Anna’s worried expression has my stomach sinking.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, he’s just surprised to see you. Are you up for meetin’ him first? I know it’s kind of throwing you in the deep end, but?—”
Her hand on my arm has my brain failing to form words. I gulp, ensnared by the warmth in her pretty brown eyes and the comfort a single touch from her can evoke.
Not only can I not form words, but I can’t form a single thought other than Anna, Anna, Anna.
“It doesn’t matter to me when I meet everyone. I’m just happy to be here with you.”
With me.
I don’t let myself think twice about my next move.
Covering the hand she has placed on my bicep with mine, I give it a squeeze before linking our fingers.
I shift our hands to the centre of my chest and hold her stare, grateful for the first time that she opted not to put her mittens on.
I like the feeling of her bare skin against mine, the softness far too addicting.
The corners of her lips tug into a delicate smile. “You should probably let go of my hand first, though. You’ll be introducing me in an entirely different way if you don’t.”
“One introduction would probably be better than two,” I say, mentally kicking myself in the ass the moment the words are out.
They’re unfair. Unfair and premature. Whatever it is that’s going on between us is temporary. She’s in Cherry Peak to stay, and I’m planning on leaving. Sooner or later, we’ll have to say goodbye.
Pulling her into my life by bringing her here was already a big decision that I’ll probably grow to regret later. But anything more than this and we’ll leave this town in rubble.
So why can’t I stop touching her? Why does her goddamn presence make me feel more awake than I have been for the past few years? I don’t think I’ll have the time to get all of the answers I need.
Especially when I’m keeping the other half of myself hidden from her, withholding the truth about who I’m labelled under in her phone. I have to tell her soon. Preferably today so I can stop carrying this weight around whenever we’re together.
I release her hand, forcing a smile that I hope doesn’t look as fake as it feels.
“Let’s go, then, Cowboy,” she teases, tucking her hands into her pockets.
My jacket looks better on her than it ever did on me, and I grit my teeth when one passing glance over her body is enough to turn me rock solid.
I lead her toward my grandfather, subconsciously drifting a hand across her lower back.
My spine straightens when he swings off Kip and takes his first real look at her, his eyes slightly narrowed.
It’s not an abrasive look he gives her, but it’s not warm either.
I knew it wouldn’t be; I can only hope she did too.
“Wade Steele,” he introduces himself, extending his hand for her to shake.
She grips his hand in a tight shake. “Annalise Heights, but you can call me Anna.”
“Nice to meet you, Anna. Welcome to Steele Ranch. I hope my boy gave you a bit of a run of the land before you got here.”
The term of endearment has my chest tightening. “I told her enough.”
“Why don’t you head inside and say hello to my wife. Last I heard, you made quite the first impression on her. She’ll want to get you out of those boots before you ruin ’em out here.”
Anna looks down at her boots before meeting Grandpa’s waiting stare. “You make a good point.” Her eyes flick to me. “Guess we should be getting a move on, then.”
I shift closer to her before turning to Grandpa. “Call me if you need anythin’.”
He nods curtly before swinging back onto Kip’s back and saying, “Was nice to meet you, Anna. Hope to see you around here a bit more.”
There’s a double meaning there, and I don’t miss it.
He hopes to see us both around here a bit more.