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She didn’t rise to the bait, not like she would have before her trip, with teasing, sex-laced innuendos. “It’s been awhile, so I guess I’ll have to see if that’s still true.” Pulling away from him as they reached the wraparound porch, she kept her face averted as Connor held open the door with a look of curiosity toward Dan.
Shrugging, Dan said under his breath, “Don’t ask me. I don’t have a clue what’s going on with her.”
Dan’s stomach rumbled, revealing his appreciation of the enticing aromas greeting them as soon as they entered the house, but as they congregated around the large dining table, it bothered him when Nan took a seat on the opposite side instead of next to him. Whenever they’d socialized with these friends, and others before, they’d always been comfortable pairing up. Every time she exhibited another inconsistency in behavior from the woman he used to know, he grew more suspicious about what happened during her time away.
“So, is this a special occasion?” Nan asked, scooping a large helping of piping hot lasagna onto her plate before passing the dish to Tamara. “Or is this feast an impromptu meal we happened to be around to be invited to?”
“You were in the right place at the right time, but I say we celebrate your return,” Sydney said. “I even baked one of your favorite desserts.”
Nan grinned, and Dan was delighted to see the spark in her eyes and that her healthy appetite remained the same. “Boston cream pie? I’ve always preferred our wine and pizza on girl’s night out, but cake rules every time, and this lasagna is great. Damn, girlfriend, you can cook.”
“True.” Tamara bit into a slice of buttery bread, moaning as she chewed. “I don’t care why we’re here so long as I can have more of that bread. You’ve outdone yourself, Sydney.”
Glancing at Caden and Connor, Dan noticed the brothers enjoyed listening to the girls banter back and forth as much as he. He knew Nan and Tamara’s friendship went back to their early teens, and that they’d welcomed both Sydney and Avery without reservation, much like everyone did him when he’d chosen to open a practice in Willow Springs. He could never regret settling on the small spread and practicing law part-time so he could also work the ranch. The physical labor helped ease the often boring and occasional frustration of litigation. He did a lot of contract work for businesses and ranchers, as well as the standard bread and butter paperwork of drawing up wills and estate planning. Representing military personnel kept his negotiating skills honed. It was never easy pleading
for an early release in front of the brass.
By the time they finished the dessert and were stepping back outside, the lowered sun had painted the eastern horizon a scarlet-streaked amber glow. As they mounted their horses, Dan turned to Nan, admiring the ease with which she swung her long, slender legs over the saddle and the enticing view of her ass in snug denim. He relished many fond memories of her draped across his lap, her bare butt his to do with as he pleased. The way she would embrace each swat, lift and beg for more until she writhed against his thighs in orgasm made those scenes both memorable and special. His hand itched to connect with those soft, plump cheeks again, his need to see and hear her moans of pain induced pleasure getting stronger with each guarded look he caught on her face whenever she glanced his way.
“Did you drive to the Barton’s or did Tamara pick you up?” he asked her before the two of them took off.
“I drove. Why?”
“I was going to offer to give you a lift back to your apartment from my place after showing you our new foal.” Fuck but he hated the way she kept averting her face whenever he suggested something that involved getting close with him.
“Thanks, but I need to get back. Can I take a rain check?”
He saw the moment she realized that was the second time she asked him for a rain check, something he wasn’t above reminding her of regardless of Connor and Tamara standing right there with them. “Sure. I’ll add it to the one I gave you last night. Now you owe me a visit to my ranch and a scene at The Barn.” He turned and spoke to Connor before she could say anything. “I’ll get those sale contracts written up tomorrow and out to you by lunch. Will that work?”
“Yeah, that’ll be perfect. Greg and Devin won’t be out until mid-afternoon. See you then. I’ll come pick you up, Tam,” Connor told her. Even though she’d moved into Connor’s house a few miles from his brother’s, Dan knew she still stabled her horses at her place.
“We’ll be back there in about fifteen minutes. Come on, Nan. I’ll race you.”
Without glancing at Dan or acknowledging his last statement, Nan pulled on Lady’s reins and took off after her friend with a wave back. Connor shook his head, a rueful grin tugging at his lips. “My girl loves to race, and win, even if she has to cheat to do so.” Looking at Dan, he grew serious. “Our Nan just isn’t herself, is she?”
“No,” Dan agreed as they set out. “I wish she’d tell us, or the girls what really went down in New Orleans.”
“You could always call her brother and ask him,” Connor suggested.
He shook his head, not ready to go behind her back just yet. “Let’s give her time. Could be a personal matter that’s none of our business and not worth alienating her friendship by prying into it.”
“You don’t think so, though.”
“No,” Dan sighed, “I don’t think so.”
Twenty minutes later, Dan trotted Tank into his stable just as the sky turned pearl gray. The Appaloosa whinnied, happy to be home because that meant a fresh scoop of oats to snack on as he rubbed him down. Hopping off the stallion that had been his first livestock purchase for the ranch, he loosened the underbelly saddle strap, eager himself to turn in. He slid the saddle off and was reaching for the brush as the back door opened and Pete, one of his new hires and the most troubled, walked in.
“What’s up, Sergeant?” The thirty-year-old vet had been rising up the ranks at a steady pace until he’d witnessed half his platoon’s deaths in a surprise attack while stationed in Afghanistan. Not even drugs could dull his nightmares, as he’d discovered when they led to his incarceration. His lined face and haunted eyes revealed the toll of what he’d lived through and the ravages of his addiction.
“I saw you come in. Need any help?” Pete walked over, stroked the young filly’s nose with a fond smile then picked up another brush and started grooming Tank on the other side of Dan.
“Thanks. Tank here will be in hog heaven with the dual attention, but you’re off the clock. Wouldn’t you rather be relaxing?” He felt he had to ask, even though Dan knew the younger, troubled man preferred keeping busy right up until exhaustion forced him to his bed in the small bunkhouse he shared with Morales and his foreman, Bernie. His other two hands drove over each day from Billings.
“Nah, I’m good, boss. Besides, Bernie and Morales are going on hour two of a chess game and I can only stand to sit and watch them or TV for so long. The little one is gettin’ prettier every day, isn’t she?”
Pete’s wistful tone tugged at Dan, as did the way his hands weren’t quite steady as he brushed along Tank’s white and dark brown speckled flanks. He’d been working on the ranch now for six months, and in that time, Dan had caught him smoking pot twice. The lapses had come early after his release, as he’d still been acclimating to civilian life and freedom. Only one hired parolee had tested Dan’s three strikes and you’re out rule when Stan had jumped right back into cocaine use within a month of his release. He was hoping Pete wouldn’t be his second failure as he was fond of the guy who didn’t care for people but held a soft spot for all animals, including the wildlife that came wandering around.
“Yeah, she is. What did you do with the orphaned rabbits?” Pete found the small nest behind the barn yesterday, and what remained of the mother a few yards away.
