Page 85 of A Rancher's Heart
“Kelli says it’s important to plan ahead and not just go off half-cocked. Kelli says a lack of planning on someone else’s part is no reason for her to get all bent out of whack.” Her confused expression was clear in the rearview mirror. “Daddy, what’s bent out of whack mean?”
Thank God that was the expression she wanted to know more about. “It means Kelli should remember little people have good hearing.”
Tamara snickered, covering it up with a cough.
He was so tempted to reach over and catch hold of her hand again it was brutal.
He still had no idea what was going to happen in the next twenty-four hours, but if things went the way he hoped, they’d both be getting a very sweet post-Christmas present.
It was good to see everyone in the family again, the entire group of them gathered at the Moonshine Coleman’s.
Her uncle and aunt welcomed them in, but like any Boxing Day gathering, there were more people around than just family,
After making sure the girls were introduced to the other kids their age, Tamara found herself being kidnapped by her sisters, tucked in the corner where she could see the girls, but she and Lisa and Karen could talk openly without being overheard.
“You’re wearing a goofy smile,” Lisa pointed out. “Still having a good time in Heart Falls?”
Karen made a rude noise. “That’s a needless question. Let’s stick to the basics we need real answers to. What’s going on? You look as if you’ve got secrets, and that’s not allowed. Tell us now, or we’ll torture them out of you.”
Hand to God, Tamara was going to have reason to shoot them at some point.
Thankfully, she could answer somewhat honestly, because nothingwasgoing on. Not really. “Nothing other than I’m being an excellent nanny.”
Karen and Lisa exchanged glances before looking back and leaning in closer. “Define excellent.”
“No, first definenanny,” Karen demanded. “Does your job description involve extensive one-on-one time with anyone over the age of ten?”
Tamara waved them off. “You guys are terrible. Nothing’s…happened.”
Her confession came out with just enough hesitation she was a goner. Her sisters pounced like birds of prey on a helpless field mouse. Wanting to know who and what and especially when.
Except a second after starting, Karen pulled up sharply. “We’re teasing you, but it’s because we love you. Something’s not okay.”
Tamara hesitated. These were her sisters. If she couldn’t talk to them about the most important thing happening in her life, she was in a bad way.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” she confessed. “Wait, I do know. Caleb and I have a serious case of the hots for each other, but it would be all kinds of wrong to act on it. The girls don’t need more chaos in their lives, so even though there’s an awful lot of chemistry between us, we’re going to do the right thing and ignore it for now.”
She said it firmly, meaning every word, but the closer she came to that final statement, the harder it was to speak, until she stopped talking because her throat was closed, and tears were rushing upward.
To her horror, a sob escaped her lips, and she twisted her chair so that no one could see her make a fool of herself.
Karen leaned away as if they were talking about something inconsequential. Lisa turned her chair as well, blocking her from the other side, an arm draped casually over her shoulders as she hugged her tight.
Tamara dragged for air, fighting to keep quiet. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why this is happening.”
“Maybe because this hot, chemically induced passion between the two of you is something more?”
Tamara took a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes, “I’ve only known the man since October. Hardly enough time for anything more than lust to develop.”
“You officially met him in July,” Lisa pointed out, “which means you’ve been daydreaming about him for well over six months. Face it, sis, maybe this is a case of when it’s right, it’s right.”
“Love at first sight? That doesn’t happen in real life.”
Karen leaned forward in her chair and let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, course. You’re right, nobody haseverhad her heart broken by someone she only knew for a short time.”
Lisa and Tamara both stared at her in shock.
Karen offered a wan smile. “In case it makes you feel any better—the only reason I would share such an ego-destroying, soul-sucking truth.”
