Page 104 of A Rancher's Heart
Chapter Twenty-Three
The new year arrived, school started again, this time with the whole rash of activities to get the girls and herself out of the house.
Tamara was bundling them up one Saturday afternoon when Caleb showed up on the porch, pulling to a stop in surprise as he met three fully snow-suited individuals.
“I guess my idea of coming in to play a game isn’t going to work,” he said.
“We’re going tobogganing,” Emma announced unexpectedly, racing back into the mudroom to grab a toque and pull it firmly on her head.
“Come with us, Daddy,” Sasha begged.
Emma nodded and two little faces stared up at him pleadingly.
Tamara was a goner as well. Only she managed to offer a friendly smile instead of one that said too clearly how she felt. “We found the perfect spot last week, and now that the creek is frozen, we don’t have to worry about doing another splashdown.”
His gaze drifted over her face as he nodded. “I was going to take the rest of the afternoon off. I’d love to join you, then maybe I can take my favourite girls out for supper.”
Emma and Sasha bounced with excitement as they wholeheartedly agreed. Warmth like the heat from a summer day enveloped Tamara from the toes up. He’d kept eye contact as he saidhis favourite girls, and now his gaze dropped to her lips, pupils dilating as she licked them, not because she was trying to drive him crazy but because being around the man made every bit of her react.
But this moment wasn’t sexual, it wasmore. As he switched to a different jacket and grabbed a thick pair of mitts, Tamara prepared for an afternoon of heartaching bliss.
They climbed into his truck to have room for four, but Caleb insisted she take the wheel. “You know where we’re headed.”
A collection of vehicles had gathered to the side of their destination, and Caleb reached into the back of the truck and pulled out the sleds he’d transferred from her vehicle to his. One was old-fashioned, long with a gentle curl at the front. The other, a sit-upon with a steering wheel, like a mini ATV without an engine.
Which was when Tamara realized she hadn’t thought this out, because as they marched up the hill, children running around them, the toboggan arrangement had been perfect for three people. Not so much for four.
Sasha jumped up and down as she pointed to where she wanted her sled positioned. “Push me, Daddy,” she ordered after settling into the seat.
“You need a push? It’s a pretty steep hill,” he warned.
Sasha rolled her eyes. “I like to go fast.”
Caleb glanced at Tamara, his lips twitching. “That’s kind of what I’m afraid of.”
Tamara snickered, lining up the other sled and sitting down so Emma could crawl in front of her. With a squeal, Sasha was off, Caleb sending her on the way with a gentle push before standing to watch her steer her way down the slope.
Then he turned toward them. “You two ready for a push?”
Emma shook her head, then sweetly made a request. “Ride with us.”
Tamara’s heart was in her throat. Since Christmas Emma had taken to speaking out loud around her far more often, and every time it happened she felt as if she was privileged to be trusted.
Only as Caleb moved to fulfill his daughter’s request, Tamara was about to be enveloped in his arms.
“Scoot,” Caleb said, patting her familiarly on the butt.
Tamara glanced around, but none of the families racing up and down the hill were watching them with anything more than a moment’s interest. She shuffled forward, tucking her feet into the front of the sled and curling around Emma so Caleb had room behind them. He settled, his legs tucked under her knees.
There might have been a million layers of fabric between them, but Tamara didn’t care. Caleb got their forward momentum going, then reached around her waist and grabbed hold, locking their bodies together to guide the sled.
They made it safely past where Sasha stood, arms raised high in a victory salute. For a split second after they came to a stop Tamara leaned back against Caleb, pressing as close as she dared. His chin was tucked over her shoulder, the scruff on his cheek brushing hers as his warm breath created a cloud in the cold wintry air.
A small moment of intimate pleasure in the midst of an innocent childish activity.
Emma was up like a jack-in-the-box, giggles escaping as she attempted to help Tamara to her feet. The little girl tugged her forward, but it was Caleb’s hand on her butt that sent her vertical, his palm lingering for the briefest of seconds. With a smile in his eyes, he grabbed the sled rope, striding over to Sasha to help pull hers up the hill as well.
There were other families playing, childish laughter and squeals of delight ringing out, and the longer it went on, the more Tamara knew this was what she wanted with all her heart.
