Page 86 of A Rancher's Heart
Lisa glanced between the two of them. “Okay, we need to hold a Whiskeyteers retreat so I can get the truth out of both of you, but”—she held up a finger—“that will have to wait until after this holiday season because at the moment Tamara has bigger fish to fry than satisfying our curiosity. And I can get the details from Karen when we’re alone.”
“You can try,” Karen scoffed.
Lisa put her hands on Tamara’s shoulders. “How about I tell you something that should make you feel a little better about your unrequited love.”
Tamara hissed for her to be quiet. “You think you’d have learned how to use an inside voice by this stage of your life.”
Lisa motioned for them to lean in closer. “When your boss contacted me last night to find out the details for the Coleman Boxing Day event, he also arranged for the girls to stay and visit for a couple of days.”
All the strange talk of chores and sleeping arrangements fell into place. “Oh.That’swhat they were talking about. That’s great. The girls have been missing Dare, so if we stick around for a while—”
“No.” Lisa shook her head. “Listen. The girls are sticking around for a couple of days, but you and Caleb are still going back tonight.”
Shock rolled through her. “Why?”
Lisa blew a raspberry. “Oh, because he loves doing chores, and he’s forgotten how to make coffee for himself in the two and a half months you’ve been living with them. I don’t know why, he didn’t tell me specifically, but hedidset it up so that the girls are staying here, and you and he are going to be back at Heart Fallswithouttwo little chaperones.”
After a careful swipe at her eyes to make sure she no longer looked weepy, Tamara twisted to be able to gaze into the room. Only half of the clan were around, the other half visible outside the window playing in the snowy wonderland, or seated around the giant bonfire pit her cousins had made.
Caleb was inside talking with his sister Dare and her cousin Jesse.
Their eyes met across the room…
Nothing.
It wasn’t as if it was a magical moment. His eyes didn’t light up with passionate flames. He didn’t wink, or offer any insight as to why he might have gone out of his way to change plans without telling her.
“I actually think you might be right on that one,” she muttered. “That he wants me along to cook and clean for him. Wouldn’t that be the kicker? I get my hopes up, and then get to enjoy an empty house to masturbate in for two days.”
Lisa snickered.
Karen looked a little scandalized. “God, I can’t believe you just said that.”
“What, masturbate?” Tamara looked at her older sister in shock. “You’re such a prude, but I’ll forgive you, because broken hearts suck the big one.”
“Eloquent as always.”
“No matter how painful, truth is beautiful.” Tamara closed her eyes for a moment, considered this new twist. It was wonderful and terrifying at the same time.
Whatdidshe want?
She peeked across the room again, examining Caleb carefully. Broad shoulders under the neat, jean shirt that he’d worn, arms folded over his chest as he listened to Jesse and her Uncle Mike debate.
The three men were poster-perfect examples of the strength and masculine beauty found in the ranching community. Jesse’s dark good looks with a firm jawline and mischief shining in his eyes. Uncle Mike’s hair was shot with silver, but the family resemblance between them was so strong it was like looking at before and after photos of the same man.
And there in the middle was Caleb, not quite as young, not nearly so old, but the years of responsibility had given him a look of maturity and solid dependability that she admired in a man.
Dependable, but sexy as hell. No denying it.
But did she want him for a fling, or for something far more enduring?
Screw it—she wasn’t about to lie to herself. She knew what she wanted.
The question was, what washethinking? Was this just an opportunity, if Lisa was right, to burn off the sexual tension driving them crazy?
Or did he want more?
She opened her eyes and smiled at her sisters. “Well, either way I’m bound to be feeling pretty content over the next couple of days. Don’t phone me, don’t text me, and for God’s sake, Lisa, do not pick this week to take advantage of mythe door is always opencomment. Because if you show up when I’m in the middle of something entertaining? You’re sleeping with the goats.”
