Reuniting With The Cowboy. Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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СКАЧАТЬ the menagerie, it usually only made the racket worse.

      Maybe she should wait until the teens left and the dogs settled down a bit.

      The door swung open.

      Cody Warren—in the flesh. Tall, muscular, with hair the smoky brown shade of a Weimaraner and soothing aloe eyes.

      Ally gasped. Twelve years since his kiss had changed her world. Twelve years since he’d left to follow his dream.

      Twelve years of trying to forget.

      The glass dish slipped from her hand.

      * * *

      Cody grabbed the dish, his hands closing over hers. His breath caught.

      Ally. On his porch.

      Same old Ally. Long waves the color of a dark bay horse’s coat, usually twined in a thick braid but loose today and spilling over her slender shoulders. Cautious coffee-colored eyes as skittish as a newborn colt.

      He’d succumbed to her charms once. It had rearranged his insides and altered everything. Who would have thought one kiss would put the wariness in her eyes, build an uncomfortable wall between them and cause Ally to spend all that time since avoiding him? All because of his disobedient lips.

      “Cody?” Her voice went up an octave. “You’re my new neighbor?”

      “Looks like.” And now he’d gone and moved in next door to her. Maybe not the best way to keep his distance. “Let me take this.” He scooped the dish out of her hands.

      “I thought you’d be back on the circuit by now.” Her gaze dropped to his shirt collar.

      “I...um... I decided not to go back to the rodeo.” More like his doctor decided for him. And that little bubble in his brain had something to say about it, too. “Aubrey is home and I needed a place of my own.”

      “You bought the place next to me?”

      “This was the only land available with enough acreage to start a ranch.” Technically leasing, with an option to buy. If he decided to have surgery. And lived.

      She hugged herself. “What happened to Aubrey not being big enough for you?”

      “Things change.” A brain aneurysm changed lots of things. “Does your mom still live with you?”

      “She does.” She bit her lip. “Okay, yeah, I still live at home. But it’s the perfect place for my vet practice-slash-shelter and Mom’s my office manager at the clinic.”

      “Come on in.” He stepped aside, striving for casual, despite the drumming of his heart. “And tell me this is a pecan chocolate four-layer delight.”

      “It is. Mom made it, but I didn’t come to stay.” She glanced toward her place.

      “You got a passel of kids waiting for you?”

      “Um, no.” Sarcasm laced her words. “Surely you know I’m not married.”

      “I meant the teenage girls out there walking dogs, but it looks like they’re leaving.”

      “Oh.” Pink tinged her cheeks. “They volunteer to make sure all of the animals get attention and exercise.”

      “Since they’re leaving, I figure you can stay and help me eat this.” He took her by the elbow and led her into the empty kitchen. Warmth swept through him. Shouldn’t have touched her. Not even her elbow. “Come on. Humor me. Catch me up on Aubrey happenings.”

      “I don’t know any.” She slid her hands in her pockets. “I pretty much stay to myself except for cattle calls and hospital visits with my dog program. I hope the Realtor told you about my small-animal shelter before you moved in.”

      “Like a good Realtor, she did.” He set the dish in the middle of the kitchen island and rubbed his hands together. “Actually, she didn’t have much choice. All the critters were serenading us when we arrived.”

      “Do they bother you?” She grimaced. “The noise, I mean.”

      “Not at all. You know I’ve always been an animal lover. In fact, once I get settled in, I plan to come over and adopt a dog or two, maybe a cat or three for the barn.”

      “Really?” Excitement filled her eyes for the first time since he’d opened the door for her.

      “Sure.” Maybe the way to reclaim their easy friendship was through her animals. Ally had always had a soft spot for all four-legged creatures. He could lend a hand with the critters in her shelter. Maybe help her find homes for them. But more than anything, he could use a friend about now. He opened a drawer and remembered he hadn’t even brought his utensils in yet.

      “Why don’t you have any furniture or appliances?” She strolled around the large kitchen.

      “My home’s been in the living quarters of my horse trailer for several years.” Maybe he shouldn’t have kept his move secret from his family. A furnished house might improve his rep. “I never needed furniture until now.”

      Over the years, his humor had pegged him as the class clown. His yearning for freedom and travel made everyone assume he had Peter Pan syndrome. His years on the circuit had only solidified his image as someone who refused to grow up, to take responsibility and settle down.

      Now he was out to show everyone there was so much more to him. Maybe if he morphed into a mature adult before their eyes, they’d buy his cover. That he wanted to retire and be a rancher. Not that he was forced into retirement and might not live to tell about it.

      “I’ll be right back.” He shut the drawer. “My silverware is still in the horse trailer.”

      “I have a better idea. Have you eaten supper?”

      “Not yet.” Why was she being so nice after making a career of avoiding him over the years? “But I can have dessert for supper.” He gave her a sly grin. “I’m an adult.”

      “Jury’s still out on that.” She rolled her eyes.

      Yep, he had a lot of convincing to do.

      “Come on over and I’ll warm up some taco soup.” She scurried toward the door.

      “You’re making my mouth water. Lead the way.” It would be hard to keep up with her with his bad leg. But he didn’t want to let on, so he followed her out. He’d made it down the steps and a few feet farther when he stepped in a hole and his knee wrenched before he caught himself.

      “Whoa.” Ally grabbed his arm. “Are you okay?”

      Heat crept up his neck. “My doctor warned me to be careful on uneven surfaces. I’ve got a little hitch in my get-along these days.”

      “Why didn’t you tell me to slow down?”

      “I sort of forgot when you mentioned taco soup.” Actually, he’d wanted to hide his weakness.

      “How are you going to run a ranch СКАЧАТЬ