Page 26 of Second Chance with the Rancher

He snorted and his smile grew to a dangerous size. Her clit pulsed and her belly tingled. “I think you can attest that although I’m not Macklin size, I’m no slouch, either.”

She shrugged. “It was dark and I was drunk. I honestly don’t remember. But I do remember it took me a really long time to come so …” She flashed him a cheeky smile.

Heat blazed in his eyes. He’d been trying to get her to open up all day, but she’d worked just as hard to keep up her guard. She knew what he was doing. He was not only trying to woo her, offer him a second chance at whatever they’d been for a hot, sweaty minute, but he also wanted her to see what life on the ranch could be like.

She had to hand it to him, he was doing a good job. She’d had fun today.

The idea of getting to furnish and decorate the cabins was a dream she didn’t know she had, come true. They were blank canvases ripe for her vision. She planned to do a different theme for each cabin. Nate said she could just order four of everything—four sets of dressers, four beds, four sets of bedding and linens—but she wanted to make each cabin unique.

Even though her belly rumbled like approaching thunder, she was glad that they’d gone to all four cabins so she could take pictures of the surrounding area and get a feel for what kind of a vibe she wanted each cabin to adopt. The three on the river would be more nature forward with lots of greens and browns, natural fibers and things that complemented the river and forest. But the last cabin—her favorite—was on a small hill with the entire valley and mountains in full view. The river was a five-minute walk down the hill and only visible from the window in the loft. She wanted to go more rustic and country with that one. Flannels and plaids, country-chic style furniture and décor.

Her heart was close to bursting and the cogs in her head were on overdrive by the time they returned to the ranch. She barely registered her hunger until another rumble, loud enough to make Macklin startle, reminded her that she should eat.

“My last client canceled because he caught a cold at the pool on the weekend, want to head to the store now?” Triss joined them at Macklin’s stall where the tension between Mieka and Nate was thick enough to choke on.

Mieka’s sister cast her a curious look before bouncing her gaze to Nate. She lifted one brow and cocked her head to the side. “What’s going on with you two? I feel like I interrupted something.”

“Nothing!” Mieka blurted out at the same time Nate shrugged and casually said the same thing.

That only made Triss more suspicious. Thankfully, though, Macklin realized there was a new person there to give him attention, so he made a snuffling noise and nudged Triss with his nose until she started to scratch his neck. “Yes, yes, you big baby.” She kissed his cheek. “You’re a bit pathetic, you know that, Mack? So needy.”

“He doesn’t care,” Nate said, exiting the horse’s stall. “He has no shame as long as he gets attention.”

“I know men like that,” Mieka said, which caused Nate’s head to whip around and his eyes to burst into two blue flames in his skull.

Her lips twitched.

“Ready to go?” Triss asked.

Mieka nodded. “Sure. I’m starving, so I’m going to be the worst grocery shopping companion.”

“We’ll stop by the bakery and grab Danishes then, if there are any left,” Triss replied.

“What’s on the menu tonight, ladies?” Nate asked, moving to Umber’s stall to fill his trough, as well.

Mieka wanted to keep it a secret then surprise him, since he’d divulged on their ride that his favorite food was tacos and they were in fact planning to make tacos for dinner. But Triss was oblivious to all that was passing between Mieka and Nate and just said, “Tacos.”

Nate’s eyes once again turned fiery.

“Pick me up a Danish,” he called after them as Triss linked her arm through Mieka’s and they made their way toward the side door at the south end of the barn.

“We’ll see,” Mieka called back, unable to resist teasing him.

She heard him growl behind her and that sent the butterflies with saddle-sores into a new frenzy in her belly.

It wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world, climbing up into Asher’s big truck with one arm in a cast, but she finally managed, with Triss giggling at her struggle.

“You okay?” her sister asked, still laughing while Mieka buckled up her belt and nodded. Triss turned on the truck and it rumbled to life. A moment later they were ambling down the driveway toward the main road. “How was your ride today?”

“It was great. I’ve got loads of ideas for the cabins.”

“I knew you’d like this job,” Triss said, turning left onto the country road that would take them toward the general store roughly two miles away. “Nate wasn’t too annoying?” She said this with mirth, since Mieka knew that Triss and her brother-in-law had a great relationship. Triss had never had a negative thing to say about Nate, so she was just calling him annoying to be funny.

But Mieka was quiet.

“Shit, did he actually do something?” Triss asked, her brown eyes—a similar shade to Mieka’s, but maybe a little darker—going wide with worry.

Mieka shook her head and sighed, staring out the window. “No. He’s just … he’s trying to convince me that ranch life might be something I could like.”

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