At the Rancher's Request. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ a wide glass desk, bookshelves along one wall, chairs and two sofas. The room had appealing turquoise-and-cream decor with a hardwood floor and thick area rugs. “There’s a bedroom beyond this room. If you need anything, just let me know. Make yourself comfortable. As soon as I get Scotty in bed I’ll come back and we can go have hot chocolate or a drink or whatever you would like.”

      “That sounds wonderful.”

      “See you in a few minutes,” he said.

      She watched him walk out, his son in his arms. He looked like a typical cowboy, his black hat squarely on his head and his jeans hugging his long, slender legs. Boots gave an already tall man additional height. Once again she was thankful he had been at the station when she had turned in.

      Glancing around the sitting room, she thought of the rooms they had passed. Mike was not an ordinary cowboy to afford a house such as this. She walked through the sitting room into a bedroom that was warm, pretty and welcoming with antique maple furniture, a four-poster bed, a rocking chair, another large television and a tall cheval glass. Savannah put her bags on her bed and sent a text, including a photo of her temporary room, to her mother to let her know where she was and why.

      She freshened up, then changed into jeans, a blue sweater and her knee-high leather boots. Undoing her braid, she brushed her hair, which fell across her shoulders. She thought about the moment beneath the porte cochere before they stepped out of the truck when she had become aware of Mike as a desirable man. When she had looked into his dark eyes, she had been certain from his intense expression he had felt something. She shook her head. Attraction had no place in her life at this time and it had surprised her that she even had such a reaction for a brief moment, although Mike Calhoun was a good-looking man and his calm in the storm gave him added appeal.

      No matter how attractive Mike was, after what she had just been through, she knew better than to go from one problem of the heart straight into another one.

Two

      Mike stood over Scotty’s bed and looked at his son. His insides tightened with pain. He still missed Elise and he missed her for Scotty. She should have been there to comfort Scotty in the car this afternoon, although Savannah had done a great job of taking the boy’s mind off the storm. Mike walked through the connecting door to his bedroom, tossing his hat on a desk and raking his fingers through his hair.

      Thinking about Savannah, he turned to go see if she needed anything. He headed toward her bedroom when she stepped into the hall and started toward him.

      Surprised, he drew a deep breath. A tall, beautiful blonde approached him. She had brushed out her hair and it fell across her shoulders. The oversize sweatshirt had been replaced by a blue sweater that revealed lush curves. Jeans clung to long legs and she still wore her suede knee boots. His heartbeat quickened and again shock stabbed him that he reacted to her—something he now had done twice this night, a startling response he had not felt for several years. His gaze raked over her once again before she was close and then he made an effort to look into her eyes. His heartbeat raced and even though unwanted, his desire was hot and definitely part of his life once again.

      “You don’t look as if you’ve had a harrowing drive,” he said, smiling at her.

      “Thanks to you,” she said, smiling in return. Her winning smile caused another response as his insides tightened. She had full pink lips and even white teeth and when she smiled, her eyes twinkled. “How’s Scotty?”

      “He’s in bed asleep now,” Mike answered, her warm, enticing smile drawing him. “Did you have enough dinner? I’ve got steaks, casseroles in the freezer, an array to choose from.”

      “I did have dinner. But I’d love something warm to drink.”

      “How about hot chocolate and popcorn? Or if you want something stronger, we have drinks from wine to whiskey.”

      She laughed as she walked beside him. “I’ll take the hot chocolate and popcorn. Right now that sounds just the thing for a cold, winter night.”

      “I agree,” he said as they headed to the kitchen. As he made the hot chocolate and got the popcorn going, he was aware of her moving around him. Her perfume was light, barely noticeable, yet inviting. While he waited for the popcorn, he realized he was staring at her full lips and wondering what it would be like to kiss her. Again, the attraction startled him. It had been a long time since he had wondered any such thing. He didn’t welcome those feelings back into his life yet. He didn’t need any more complications for either Scotty or himself.

      He still lived with a constant, dull pain over Elise. He missed her every waking hour. At least there was no danger of any complications with Savannah because she was leaving for California as soon as Ed repaired her car. By that time the weather shouldn’t be a factor, so she would be gone in days. For all he knew, she was married, although she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

      Finally, they moved to the family room that adjoined the kitchen. Mike placed two cups of hot chocolate on a coffee table while she set down a big bowl of popcorn. He picked up the table to move it closer to the hearth.

      “Let me get a fire going,” Mike said, adding a few logs to the fireplace. In minutes they sat on the floor in front of the blaze with the popcorn and hot chocolate on the nearby table. As Savannah looked around, he glanced at the familiar surroundings. He never gave them any thought: brown leather furniture, a game table and chairs, a large, wall-mounted flat-screen television, thick area rugs and a stone fireplace that dominated one wall. Adjacent was a glass wall with doors that opened onto a covered patio that now had snow blowing over it.

      “So tell me about your life. Who are you and what do you like besides ranching?”

      “I have a simple life that centers around my son, my family and friends, my ranch, my horses. I like rodeos, flying, skiing, baseball, tennis, apple pie. Some things I’ve dropped since Scotty’s birth. I have a responsibility now, so I’m not as reckless as I was before. No more bull riding when Scotty is so young.”

      “That’s good.”

      “It’s a simple life. What about you, Savannah?” he asked. She sat facing him with her long legs tucked under her. Firelight gave her a rosy glow and once again desire stirred, increasing his awareness of her appeal, bringing the same surprise that she stirred such feelings, surprise now tinged with guilt for feeling that way even though Elise had been gone almost two years now. Overriding those feelings was the ever-present sorrow over his and Scotty’s loss.

      “I think my life may be quieter and more simple than yours,” she said, flashing another engaging smile. “My world centers around my family and friends. I’m a neonatal nurse and I love babies and children. As I mentioned earlier, I have three siblings and I’m the youngest. I adore my four little nieces and nephews.” She thought for a moment. “The only thing we have in common that you listed is tennis. I still play occasionally.”

      “Is the trip to California a vacation?” he asked, wondering why she left Arkansas.

      “Not really. I have an aunt in California and she wanted me to come,” Savannah said, watching the fire while Mike watched her. She was a beautiful woman and he wondered what she was running from.

      “My aunt said I won’t have difficulty getting a job and I’d love to live in California. I love a beach, swimming, warm weather—so I’m going to try it for a while and see how things work out.” She turned to face him. “I’ve never been away from СКАЧАТЬ