Page 44 of A Rancher's Heart
“Got it.” Tamara liked how they handled that. She liked that they were tight—not everyone got along with their sisters as well as she did with Karen and Lisa. Tamara turned to check out the room. “Nice place.”
“Busy all the time,” Rose said. “A lot of ranches in the area where the guys work shifts, so there’s no Friday or Saturday night parties around here. It’s pretty much every night is a good night if you need a distraction.”
“Strange.” Tansy examined her sister closer. “I would’ve said every night is a good night to come out dancing. Whatever do you need to be distracted from, sister dear?”
The back of Rose’s hand slapped into her upper arm again, and Tamara saidouchat the same time as Tansy, the two of them exchanging a grin.
“My sister is forlorn and sad about being alone,” Tansy informed her. “And by alone, I mean male-less.”
“So you’re teasing her about it?” Tamara pretended to think about it for second. “Yup, definitely sisters.”
Kelli eyed the crowd, her feet moving and shoulders wiggling. “Okay, I’ve introduced you, and y’all are getting along great. I don’t need to stick around to make sure you behave? Of course not. Good. Because I’m going dancing.”
She swallowed the last of her beer and set the empty glass down on the table before wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. She headed across the dance floor like she was on a mission.
“You need to see this.” Tansy tugged Tamara next to her and they all pivoted to watch Kelli in action. “It is a thing of beauty when she gets her eye on something she wants.”
What Kelli wanted involved a table of young men, all of them broad shouldered and wild. Pitchers of beer covered their table and laughter rang loud and clear over the music.
Kelli sauntered up and draped an arm around one of the guys, casually sitting on the edge of his chair.
A second later he was out of his seat, taking her by the hand, and as the table hooted, he pulled her on the dance floor. A rapid two-step followed, bodies dipping and whirling with incredible skill.
Rose leaned in closer to be heard. “What you’ve got to realize is that somehow in the past five minutes, Kelli figured out exactly which guy had enough moves to be worthwhile hauling out to dance.”
“I have no idea how she does it, but Rose is right. She should have a fifty-fifty percent chance of ending up with someone with octopus hands or three left feet, but no. Every single time, Kelli picks the twinkle-toes from the crowd.” Tansy leaned forward to smile up at Tamara. “Whichwelike because we dance with her leftovers all evening, and it saves our ankles and shins a world of hurt.”
Tamara grinned. Too funny Kelli could do that. “But what if I like getting stepped on a little?” Rose’s eyes widened. Tansy covered her mouth and laughed.
Then they both waved, and Tamara turned to discover a tall brunette making her way toward them. Tansy introduced her. “Brooke. Local mechanic, and all around good gal. Tamara is the Stones’ new nanny, or I should say the Stones’ first nanny, because they haven’t had one before you.”
Brooke said hello then helped herself to a glass of beer from the pitcher. “I see Kelli is in full swing already. Which of you girls claimed him second?”
The twins pointed at themselves before pointing at Tamara.
“I have no objections. I like dancing,”
“Perfect. Let’s do it.” Brooke took her by the hand and whirled her to the floor. Behind them, Tansy’s and Rose’s laughter rang out, probably at what must’ve been a very shocked expression on Tamara’s face.
She got herself together and caught hold of Brooke, and allowed the woman to lead her around the floor, quick-paced twirls and all.
Actually, dancing with Brooke wasn’t that bad.
“This is fun, but I don’t swing your way,” Tamara said, still smiling because it was the truth. Both parts.
“I’m not swinging any particular way. I get tired of waiting for the guys to stir up enough courage to come ask me to dance. Plus, I figured it was the easiest way to get a chance to talk to you. You enjoying Heart Falls?”
Tamara ignored the questioning glances they were getting. “So far, so good. You like being a mechanic?”
“Love it. Someday I plan to take over the shop for my daddy.”
“Wow. Good for you.” Tamara wasn’t sure if she was more impressed or jealous. Obviously Brooke’s daddy had no issue with a female in a nontraditional role. “That sit okay with the locals?”
The woman grinned. “Sometimes not, but there’s more than enough work for us with the guys who prefer to have the job done properly the first time. And the slow-to-learn, well, I enjoy making them see the light when they have to drag in someone else’s mistake for me to fix.”
“I hope you charge double for that.”
“Yup.”
