“No,” she answered, surprised at the news. “Thank goodness. We couldn’t afford another loss.”
The tall lanky cowboy returned the rakes to the storage room, saying over his shoulder, “I hear you, but we’re good. Once Jason hires someone, we can start spreading the herd out further. The pastures are greening up nicely.”
“Spring is always welcome. I’m off for a ride. Thanks again.”
He lifted his hand in a wave. “Later, Miss.”
Mark’s good news helped lighten Tamara’s mood from fretting over whether Connor would regret coming to her last night. If he did, she’d deal with it, she decided as she swung up on Galahad. Patting his sleek neck, she nudged him into a trot and then a gallop. The smooth bunching of the steed’s muscles under her reminded her of Connor’s strength and size as he came over her, his thick thighs spreading hers to make room for him. Just one night, that’s all he’d given her so far, and she was hooked. No, that wasn’t true, she admitted as Galahad took her over the first fence with effortless agility. Spying on Connor and his date that morning at his barn had sealed her fate. Ever since then, she had wanted no one but him in her bed, no matter how hard she’d tried to move on with someone else.
Now that she had what she’d craved for so long, she prayed he wouldn’t find an excuse to take it from her.
By the time dawn broke on the horizon with a glowing yellow-orange sliver Monday morning, Tamara woke up grateful Connor had chosen to return to his place yesterday morning. He’d surprised her by showing up Saturday and suggesting they stay in instead of going to the club. Just like when she’d been a teenager, they made popcorn and watched a movie. Unlike those times, as soon as Amy left for Jason’s, he’d stripped her and taken her on the floor, then bent over the couch and again in her bed where he had insisted, she ride him for a change. And she’d loved every second of his rough, demanding possession even though her body ached from the unaccustomed activity all day yesterday.
He’d called yesterday, but a problem with a well had kept him tied up until late and she spent most of the day helping to repair a line of fencing someone knocked down the night before. Jason guessed kids had likely been out causing trouble, drinking and driving through the fields without paying attention. Whoever they’d been, they’d managed to destroy yards of fencing along one side of their most used pasture during this time of year. Between rounding up the escaped cattle and repair work, she’d been exhausted last night, but had still missed him wrapped around her.
Because she was on uneven footing over whether his change of heart would last, she refrained from mentioning the downed fence when he’d asked how her day was going. He was expert at finding things to worry about her on his own, and there wasn’t anything he could do about reckless kids causing damage. After a quick shower and cup of coffee, she drove into the clinic, eager to see him again even if it would be for his last therapy appointment. Maybe they could meet up for lunch on the days she worked at the clinic, she thought as she parked and entered the therapy room. When he arrived a few minutes later, her heart thudded and her body throbbed as if she hadn’t seen him in weeks instead of one day and she knew if he ended up regretting their intimacy, it would hurt worse than any other painful experience of her life.
Connor didn’t care for change in his life. He liked the way things were and had never desired a shake-up in the status quo. Why mess with a good thing? But he knew he was in for a big one when he’d found himself missing Tam’s soft, toned body curled against his last night after spending the two previous nights in her bed. As he entered the physical therapy room, she looked up at him with the same vulnerable, insecure expression she’d worn when her father had arrived at the fair riding ring to pick her up all those years ago, the same expression she couldn’t hide the other morning following their first night together. A tight clutch gripped his chest and a surge of encompassing warmth spread through his body. It had always been his job to see to her needs, whatever they were, and it was both a heady and scary feeling to discover the idea of change appealed to him now because it was Tam the change revolved around.
He still harbored reservations about entering this new phase of their relationship – old habits were difficult to set aside in just one weekend – but damned if he didn’t find himself wanting to explore where these newfound, expanded feelings would take them, starting with easing the look of uncertainty on her expressive face.
“Good morning, little one,” he greeted her, hanging up his hat as she returned his smile.
“Hey.” Coming around her desk, he could see her pulse flutter in her neck as her look changed to one he was hard-pressed to ignore.
“Careful, Tamara,” Connor warned with emphasis on her full name. “You’re the one who doesn’t want me placing you in a compromising position here at work.”
She giggled and his grin widened. “I can’t help it. You’ve turned me into a hussy. I missed you yesterday.”
Running his fingers down her flushed cheek, he was relieved to see the return of her confidence as he leaned down and brushed her mouth with his. “I missed you, too. Now,” stepping back from temptation, he asked, “what torture are you planning for me today? And remember, I have ways of getting even.”
“I like the ways you torture me,” Tamara admitted, leading him to the raised mat. “Sit down and I’ll check your progress. I’m already pretty sure you can use it as much as you want, so long as you don’t overdo.” The look he gave her had her shaking her head with a rueful sigh. “I know, you’ve already been doing as much as you want, so I don’t know why I even bother.”
“Because you know me,” Connor returned, enjoying her hands on him any way he could get them. “Were you and Amy able to spend time together yesterday?”
She hesitated and then said, “Some. We’re still shorthanded, so I’ve been helping out as much as I can when I’m not here.”
“I thought Jason had a few prospects for hiring.”
“He does, and I think he’s contacting someone today, so that will help. Our herd is down, with the ones we just sold at market and the stolen cattle, so the work’s been doable. I hear the authorities have caught the rest of the thieves.”
“Just the other day. They also located several head they hadn’t disposed of yet. It’s the same gang that worked out of Wyoming last year, so there are a lot of ranchers breathing a sigh of relief now.” She released his arm and he stood, itching to put his hands on her. Too bad he couldn’t indulge himself here. “Come early to the barbeque next Saturday and, if you’re interested, I’ll show you a few calves I can give you.”
Her mouth tightened and those gray eyes flashed, a stubborn reaction he expected to follow his offer. “You mean you’ll sell them to me, right?”
“Sure, sweetie, whatever you say.” Her glare went to slits, but before she could snap at him for calling her sweetie again, he asked, “Am I good to go, then?” Rotating his shoulder, he gave her one of his most endearing grins.
Tamara smacked his arm, her lips twitching. “Go, and don’t call me sweetie.”
Connor strolled out whistling even though he still worried taking Tam to his bed would end up being another mistake, and he couldn’t risk losing her again. The years she’d kept herself from him had been the most difficult of his life. The next time he screwed up she might not forgive him and a life without Tam in it wasn’t worth thinking about. God forbid if taking this step ever interfered with his need to always see to her happiness and safety.
Chapter 11
“No, absolutely not, Jeremy.” Tamara tightened her hand on the phone as she tried her best to keep calm. Telling herself she’d done wrong by her ex wasn’t
working any longer. She needed to get him to move on. “I told you last week when you showed up uninvited I didn’t want to see you. Do not come back. Why haven’t you returned to Boise?” She made sure her frustration level came through loud and clear.
“I don’t understand why you keep choosing that place, with all its problems, over the much easier life I can offer you. That just doesn’t make sense, baby.”