Page 9 of Rancher's Healing

Moving closer to him, I raised my hand and pressed it against his cheek. “Look, I don’t know what you and I are, but it’s too late to hide me from the girls. I’m wearing your clothes, for goodness’ sake. You’re a single dad, I knew that, and I don’t want to go home.” Jake wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

Lowering his mouth, he pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Thank you. I’m going to make some breakfast.” He slid his hand down to my ass and squeezed it with a sly grin.

Our silent moment didn’t last long, and we could hear the girls arguing as they ran back down the hallway. Jake let me go, and I took a step away from him. The girls stopped fighting when they got to us. “Did you eat breakfast?” Jake asked, crossing his arms. The tattoos that covered his biceps peaked out from his sleeve, and I wanted to see them all again.

“We had a banana, but mom said we had to get going,” Skyla said as she looked up at Jake.

“You ladies, go get your horses ready, and I will make brunch,” he said, bending down kissing the girls on the head. They pulled their boots on and ran out the door.

“Guess I’m a lady too, so I’ll go help them.” I smirked as I slipped my feet into the heels I was wearing last night.

“You can’t wear those to the barn,” he said, pointing at the heels.

“I can, I have, and I will.” Kissing his cheek, I marched out the door, knowing he was watching me. But wearing his oversized clothes wouldn’t emphasize my strut.

Laughter filtered out from the open barn door, and I almost stopped mid step. It reminded me so much of growing up with my sisters. Smiling, I peeked my head around the corner. “Need some help?” The girls looked at me and nodded.

They’d done well with the bridles but needed the help only an adult could give. Lifting the saddles, I was impressed with howthe horses looked. “How long have you had these two?” I asked as I handed the reins to the girls.

“A few years. Mom doesn’t like us riding for some reason, but Dad said no ranch is complete without a few horses,” Libby said, shrugging as we walked into the sunny makeshift arena. The girls needed a little boost to get on their horses, and when they were comfortable, they were ready to listen.

CHAPTER SEVEN

JAKE

Libby and Skyla monopolized Tayla’s day to the point I felt like I hadn’t seen her for hours. Laughter filled the porch, and the door opened. “Dad, can Tayla stay for supper?” Skyla shouted just before the door slammed.

“Hey, we don’t need to send the door to Wyoming,” Tayla laughed. I appreciated her saying something because they didn’t listen to me when I told them to quit slamming it multiple times a day.

“It’s hard to close, so I just make sure it does.” Libby’s words weren’t wrong. It did like to stick. One day I’d get around to fix it.

“Okay, but still, that’s what we have hips for. Just give it a little bump.” I walked to the door just as Tayla pushed her hip out. She had hips I wanted to sink my fingers into again.

“Well, ladies, have you learned everything you need to know?” I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms.

“Lesson one was good, but I think we need to have more.” Skyler said, folding her hands and bringing them up under her chin. The three of them were kicking their shoes off in the doorway and I watched Tayla take off her heels, wondering how she’d managed out there wearing them.

“Yeah dad, if we’re going to be the next Miller Sisters team, we need more practice. Well, I guess we wouldn’t be the Miller Sisters, we’d be the Gordon sisters, but you know what I mean,” Libby said.

“I guess that’s something I’ll have to talk to Tayla about.” I looked up at the woman who’d gone with the change of plans like she’d been doing it all her life.

“Well, maybe you can talk over supper,” Libby said, moving closer. “Ask her to stay,” she whispered loud enough to cause Tayla to cover her mouth to hide her giggle.

“Tayla, would you like to stay for supper?” The girls turned as I wrapped my arms around them and pulled them closer to me. They were grinning up at Tayla, and I added my smile to it.

“How can I say no to you three? Thank you for the invitation. I’d be happy to stay.” The woman had no idea how sexy she was dealing with the girls. I’d been hesitant to bring anyone around because I didn’t want to make a fling seem like it was more. While there had been no intention for Tayla to meet them like this, I wasn’t upset that it happened. I was upset that Hattie bailed on her weekend yet again.

“Why don’t you go play, and I will figure out what we’re going to have for supper.” My daughters ran off, and I turned to Tayla. “You don’t have to stay if you want to get out of this place.”

“I want to stay. Libby and Skyla are wonderful, and if I leave, I’m liable to track down your ex-wife and give her more than a piece of my mind.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Did she seriously just dump the girls back home so she could interrupt your weekend? Look Jake, I don’t care about me, but seriously. Who does that to their kids?”

She was gorgeous when she was angry, and devilishly hot when she was mad about the treatment of my kids. “It’s typical Hattie. I should have expected it and taken you somewhere else.”

“No, you never have to take me somewhere else. If there’s another time, and she does the same thing, I’ll be the lucky one to spend time with them.” Before she could take another breath, I gripped the back of her neck and pulled her to me. My lips connected aggressively with hers. This woman was unlike anyone I’d ever known. I swept my tongue into her mouth, and she took a step closer, fisting my shirt in her hands.

“I’ll make it up to you.” I whispered against her lips.

“I look forward to it.” She smiled and gave me another quick kiss as the girls came yelling down the hallway. She took a step back before my daughters got to where we were, and we watched them storm out of the house. The autumn heat never stopped them from being outside.