Page 10 of A Rancher's Heart
Chapter Three
By the time Caleb got back from grabbing Tamara’s truck, he was chilled to the bone.
Strangely, he didn’t mind. The wet jeans clinging to his thighs had been enough to counteract the images he had to keep under control. The ride back to the ranch with Tamara nestled in his arms had been a unique form of hell. Why had he listened to his sister Dare in the first place and hired the dangerous creature?
Right. Because the girls needed a woman around.
For some reason Dustin was hanging out in the yard instead of by the bunkhouse where he’d moved after graduation last June. Caleb got his attention, tossing him the keys to Tamara’s truck. “Park the trailer by the barn then get her horse settled, will you?”
Dustin looked over Caleb’s wet clothes with amusement but for once made the right choice and didn’t ask any questions.
Caleb grabbed the couple of bags off Tamara’s passenger seat and carried them into the house, bumping into Sasha in the hallway.
“I can take those to the nanny, Daddy,” she offered sweetly.
“Thanks, pumpkin.”
She wrinkled her nose when he stooped to give her a kiss, then he escaped to his bathroom.
He turned on the taps, and hot water gushed out instantly. Tamara must have finished her shower—
And dammit if those forbidden images didn’t come crashing back. It had been bad enough having her rub against him the entire ride home. He didn’t need to add thoughts of naked skin under hot, steamy water. It was hard to stop them, though, all things considered.
After his wife left, Caleb had pretty much given up on love. He didn’t need a woman in his life for romantic reasons. Luke could be the dreamer, and Dustin could sweet-talk and romance every young woman in town and the next three counties over if he wanted. Walker could use that cowboy charm of his while out on the rodeo circuit.
When it came down to it, what Caleb wished for most was someone to warm his bed at night. Blunt, but true. Screw the romantic bullshit, he’d like some sex. It was the one thing he hadn’t enjoyed in a long time, and he damn well missed it.
But that was not a safe path to wander down when the woman entering his home was so hands-off he needed to consider her his personal kryptonite.
Moments later he was dressed and hurrying to join his family.
He took two steps into the room then pulled to a stop.
Luke sat with Emma beside him at the kitchen island. As usual, the sight of his youngest daughter hit Caleb with the impact of a kick in the gut. A miniature cameo of his ex-wife, except Emma was sweetness and joy. Also, currently frustrated—her blonde curls wiggled as she squirmed on the spot, homework book open in front of her as Luke pointed to something on the page.
Emma glanced up. Her blue eyes shone and her face brightened with a smile like only she could give, and love melted his heart.
“Hey, button.”
She eagerly abandoned her task, slipping off her stool and hurrying to envelop him in a hug.
He took a moment to enjoy being squeezed by teeny arms before pressing a kiss to her forehead. He rose to his feet to deal with the other unexpected person in the room. “Neat trick, Walker. Last we heard you were miles away. You grow wings overnight?”
Walker marched forward from the side counter where he’d been making a salad, hand outstretched to grasp Caleb’s. “Got in my truck when the last event was done, and the wheels just carried me home.”
He shook Caleb’s hand, the smile on his square-jawed face not quite as wide as Luke’s. A shadow lingered in his dark eyes Caleb didn’t remember seeing before, but before he could ask more questions, Walker turned back to his task, speaking over his shoulder. “Luke says he has no problem with me being a slacker for the next couple of months, so I figure this is as good a place as any to hang my hat.”
“Fine by me. You can slack all that Luke lets you,” Caleb said evenly in return.
They both knew that meant never. Luke might be the fun brother, but he still demanded people get the job done.
Caleb glanced at the table then back at his daughter who was making faces at her homework. “Emma, I was going to tell you to put an extra plate out for the new nanny—she’ll be joining us for supper, but it looks as if you already set the table for one more than we need.”
She pushed away her homework, holding up fingers and counting off without naming names out loud. It was clear she was listing people, and Caleb silently joined in.
Emma, Sasha, him. Luke, Walker, Tamara…and one more.
Ahh. “Dustin is going to be here tonight, is he?”
