Page 57 of All Night with the Cowboy
Tan, did you really think I was going to fall for that? I want all the details, and I want them now, so get your butt over here in the morning. It’s the only way you’re getting her number.
He threw his mobile across the room and punched his pillow, bellowing like an angry bull. Damn her! The only other woman to ever drive him nuts was Mia, and this time she actually had something he wanted.
He tossed and turned and then got up, deciding to see what was on television. What was it with women making his life hell?
Chapter 18
LAUREN was laughing at something her sister was saying when she grabbed her ringing phone and saw an unfamiliar number. She held her finger to her lips and backed out of the room, hoping the kids wouldn’t follow her. They were little rascals and they had their only aunt wrapped around their little fingers, although she had to admit that staying with them had been a nice distraction. Being in a house full of little people and helping her sister out had been cathartic, especially given how she’d felt since she’d arrived home, and she wasn’t exactly looking forward to leaving in the morning and going back to her empty house.
“Lauren Lewis,” she said, poking her tongue out at her niece and carefully shutting the door behind her while trying not to laugh.
“Lauren, it’s Tanner.”
Lauren braced her hand against the door. Tanner? What the hell was he doing calling her?
“Lauren?”
“Sorry, I’m here. How’s the old body doing?” Shecringed. Why had those words come out of her mouth? She slapped her forehead and wished she could just hang up the phone and start the conversation over. Or maybe fall into a hole and never emerge. Surely she could have come up with a better question than that!
His deep, low laughter echoed down the line. “It’s not too bad. But I tell you what, that other PT you sent me to? He could learn a thing or two from you.”
Now it was her laughing. “You went to see him?” she asked. “Sam Winstone?”
“Yeah, that’s the guy. I can tell you right now that you’re a much better therapist.”
She sunk down to the floor, back against the wall as she trembled with stifled laughter. “Funny, but Sam’s a woman, Tanner. You sure you went to the PT I recommended?”
Tanner’s groan was too much to bear and she burst into laughter, wiping tears from her eyes as he muttered expletives.
“You know, this is not how this conversation was supposed to go,” he grumbled.
“Okay, how about you tell me why you’re calling and we can start over,” she suggested, liking the sound of his voice as she pressed the phone harder to her ear. She’d been missing him, but she hadn’t known quite how much she’d missed the rich, warm timbre of his voice. The tightness in her chest eased and she felt her shoulder un-bunch—maybe she didn’t need the massage she’d booked after all. She’d expected any future conversation they had to be difficult, but this was, this wasnice.
“Look, I know we agreed to part ways when he touched down,” he said. “And I also know I agreed to use a different PT on home soil.”
Lauren held her breath. Oh, hell no. Was he going to ask her out? Was he going to ask for a second chance? Or was he just seeking her professional advice? She was about to speak when he beat her to it.
“It’s just that you were a miracle worker in Fiji and I’d do anything if I could book you for another session. Any chance you could come here to the ranch, even for a couple of days?”
She cleared her throat. So he wanted her professionally, not personally. She should have guessed. In fact, she should have been relieved instead of feeling like she’d just been sucker punched. Thank heavens he hadn’t been standing in front of her when he’d asked because she would have found it impossible to keep a straight face.
“Oh, of course. I mean, if you really think you need me, then I’m sure we can make something work.” Why were these words coming out of her mouth? She was supposed to hold strong and refuse to treat him, to recommend someone else and insist that he follow the plan she’d set for him!
“I’m staying at home, River Ranch I mean, while my dad’s away for a while. Keeping an eye on the place and helping out where I can. Any chance you can come here this weekend?”
She sighed. She was officially a pushover. “That sounds great. How about I come by on Saturday morning?”
“Thanks, Lauren. See you then.”
She said goodbye and dropped her phone to the floor and her head between her knees. Why hadn’t she just said no? Why was it so impossible to say no to Tanner? She could have said she was busy or that there was pre-season training going on, anything other than yes would have been preferable.
The sound of the door opening made her look up, and she found her sister standing there, a worried expression on her face.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Hannah said, coming closer and dropping to the ground across from her.
“I just spoke to a ghost, that’s why,” Lauren mumbled, dropping her head back between her knees.
Hannah rubbed her back in big circular motions. “Tanner?”
