Claiming the Rancher's Heart (3 page)

“Did she come back into the house?” Seth asked in an all-too-innocent tone. “So you two could get even better acquainted?”

Josh met his friend’s blue eyes. “Are you asking if I slept with her?”

Though no one was seated nearby, Josh had automatically lowered his voice. When his marriage crumbled he’d provided more than his share of grist for the town’s gossip mill, and he wasn’t eager to repeat the experience.

Seth’s gaze remained steady. “Did you?”

“Of course not.” Josh responded immediately, making sure his tone left no room for doubt. “We just met. Besides, she’s not my type. And I am
not
hers, either. She told me so.”

A smile quirked the corners of Seth’s lips. “Tell that to someone who’ll believe it.”

“She’s Anna’s friend.” Josh ground out the words, irritated at the teasing, yet not sure why. Seth had always liked to rattle his cage. Why should now be any different?

“She’s also very pretty,” Seth pointed out.

“She’s a city girl,” Josh continued. “A hothouse flower not suited to this climate.”

Just like Kristin, he thought.

“Sometimes those hybrid varieties can surprise you—”

“Then
you
go out with her—” Josh stopped himself, finding the thought of Stacie dating Seth strangely disturbing.

“I’m not her perfect match.” Seth took a sip of coffee. “You are.”

The words hung in the air for a long moment.

“I don’t believe that bull,” Josh said finally. “Look at Kristin and me. Everyone said we were a perfect match. Didn’t even make it three years.”

Though he now realized they were better off apart, the failure of his marriage still rankled. When he’d said his vows, he’d meant every word. He’d been willing to do whatever it took to make it work. But he’d learned the hard way that for a marriage to succeed, both parties had to share that commitment.

“That’s because you and the wicked witch weren’t matched by a computer.”

“Get real. You don’t believe in that stuff any more than I do.”

“I filled out the questionnaires, didn’t I?”

“Only ’cause you knew Anna would have your hide if you didn’t.”

“Speaking of which…” Seth’s gaze settled on the doorway. “We got us some company.”

Even before Josh turned around he knew who he’d find standing there. The click-clack of heels had been his first clue. The light scent of jasmine mingling with the smell of café cooking grease was the giveaway.

“Stacie…Anna…what a surprise.” Josh pushed back his chair to stand, but Anna waved him down.

“Stay put,” Anna said. “We’re not staying. I saw Seth’s truck parked out front and had a quick question for him.”

Seth leaned back in his chair and lifted the coffee cup to his lips. “What can I do for you, baby sister?”

“I need more men.” Anna cast a sideways glance at Stacie. “I mean,
we
need more men.”

“I’m sorry Josh wasn’t man enough for you.” Seth’s gaze focused on Stacie and his tone oozed sympathy.

Josh shot him a dark glance, warning him to back off.

The merest hint of a twinkle in Seth’s eyes was his only response.

“I never said that.” Stacie’s cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink as her eyes sought his.

“Seth is a joker,” Josh said, offering her a reassuring smile. He hated seeing her distressed. Her worried frown brought out his protective instincts and he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms…

Whoa…where had that come from? He reined in the emotion and told himself he was merely reacting to her appearance.

After all, she looked as pretty as the bluebells that filled his pasture. Instead of wearing jeans like most women in Sweet River, she had on a pair of shorts the color of the summer sky and a sleeveless, loose-fitting white shirt with something blue underneath.

Though the shorts came down midthigh and the shirt wasn’t at all revealing, Josh remembered the feel of that body against his. In fact, he could still taste the sweetness of her lips and feel the softness of her hair against his cheek…

“I’m game,” Seth’s voice broke into his thoughts. “How ’bout you, Josh?”

Josh refocused to find the three staring expectantly at him. He quickly considered his options. He could admit that his mind had been traveling down a dead-end road or he could just go along. After all, Seth had already agreed. “Okay by me.”

“Great.” Anna smiled. “We’ll see you at eight.”

With their business concluded, the two women turned and headed for the door, admiring looks following in their wake.

“Should be interesting,” Seth said.

“What?”

Seth grinned. “I knew you weren’t listening.”

It wasn’t the smile that worried Josh; it was the gleam in Seth’s eye. A sinking feeling filled the pit of Josh’s stomach. “Tell me.”

“Anna wants me to round up some more guys for the survey,” Seth said. “Most ranchers from the area will be at the dance tonight. I promised I’d ask around.”

A rush of relief flowed through Josh. For a second, he’d let his imagination soar. “So all we have to do is recruit?”

“That’s all
I
have to do,” Seth said. “You have a different assignment.”

Josh stilled. Why did he have the uneasy feeling the other shoe was about to drop? “Which is?”

“You’re escorting Stacie to the dance.” Seth motioned to the waitress for more coffee. “When the guys see how good your match turned out, Anna figures they’ll want one of their own.”

“I knew it.” Anna’s gaze dropped to Stacie’s feet, to the Tony Lamas they’d picked up in town. “I thought you should have gone up a half size—”

“They fit fine.” Stacie hastened to reassure her. If boots were indeed de rigueur for country dances, she’d found her fashion statement. The pink crunch goats had been the prettiest the Montana Western store had to offer.

“O-kay.” Anna tilted her head, confusion clouding her blue eyes. “If it’s not the boots, what doesn’t fit?”

All the misgivings that had been plaguing Stacie since she first heard Anna’s plan surged forth. “Me. Josh. This going-to-the-dance-together bit. I don’t want to do it.”

Anna’s eyes widened as though this was the first she’d heard of Stacie’s misgivings. Which didn’t make sense, considering they’d been having this discussion off and on since Anna dropped the bomb-shell in the café. Frankly she’d been stunned when Josh agreed to the plan. When he’d taken her home after their first—and only—date, it had been clear to both of them that a romance wasn’t going to work.

“I thought you liked him.” Anna sounded hurt. As if Stacie was dissing her friend.

“I told you before…Josh is a wonderful guy.” Stacie dropped on the bed and heaved a heavy sigh. “But he’s not the man for me. And this—” she fingered the collar of her cowgirl shirt “—this isn’t me.”

For a moment Anna didn’t say anything. Then she sashayed across the room, the rhinestones in her jean skirt glittering in the light. Once she reached the bed, she plopped down next to Stacie. “I’m not saying you have to stay in Sweet River and marry the guy. Just go to the dance with him. Have some fun.”

“Going as his date just seems so…” Stacie struggled to find the words that would convey her feelings without insulting her friend.

Anna met her gaze. “Deceitful?”

Stacie nodded, relieved that Anna finally understood. “We
were
matched, but we aren’t a couple.”

“I believe,” Anna pressed a finger to her lips, a contemplative look on her face, “you’re thinking too hard.”

Stacie blinked, stunned. It was the type of dismissive response she usually got from her family…as if she were too stupid to understand. She expected it from them, not from her roommate.

She lifted her chin, but when she met Anna’s gaze, there was no condescension in the liquid blue depths.

“Why do you think most of the guys filled out the survey?” Anna asked when she remained silent.

“Because your brother made ’em.”

“Good answer.” Anna smiled. “Why else?”

“Because they’re lonely and looking for their soul mates.”

“Perhaps,” Anna conceded. “Why else?”

Stacie shifted under Anna’s expectant stare.

“Marriage or even a long-term relationship isn’t really what Lauren’s study is about,” Anna explained.

“It’s not?” Stacie couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. Though Lauren’s dissertation topic wasn’t fixed in her mind, she’d been sure the bottom line was matchmaking.

“You and Josh have a lot in common, right?”

Stacie thought for a moment. “I like to cook. He likes to eat.”

Anna’s lips twitched. “What else?”

“We both love animals,” Stacie added, warming to the topic. “And he’s easy to talk to.”

“You enjoyed his company,” Anna said matter-of-factly. “He enjoyed yours.”

Stacie nodded. She couldn’t deny it. In fact, when Josh had driven her home that night, he’d taken the long way, giving them more time to talk. He hadn’t been uncomfortable, despite what happened. And though he hadn’t kissed her again, the look in his eyes had told her he wanted to…

“Some guys
are
looking for a wife.” Anna stood and moved to the mirror, pulling her long blond hair up in a ponytail before letting it drop back down. “But a lot of them would be satisfied with simply meeting someone who enjoys their company. Someone to go out with and have a good time. Someone to be their friend and take the edge off their loneliness.”

Stacie took a moment to digest Anna’s words. She thought back to her evening with Josh. She’d had fun and knew he had, too. Maybe that
was
enough.

“Okay. I’ll do it,” Stacie said reluctantly, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “I’ll do it. But I refuse to wear a hat. And square dancing is absolutely out.”

The large wooden structure that housed the Sweet River Civic Center was filled to capacity. The dance floor, brought in specifically for the occasion, took up a good third of the building. The rest was filled with tables decorated with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. Baskets of peanuts doubled as a centerpiece.

Food supplied by ladies in the community sat on tables against a far wall, next to kegs of beer.

Though many of the younger men and women had left the floor when the square-dance caller took the stage, Stacie and Josh had stayed. She adjusted Josh’s cowboy hat more firmly on her head during the promenade, a smile lifting the corners of her lips.

She’d been determined to remain hat free. But when Josh teasingly plopped his Stetson on her head, declaring her the prettiest cowgirl he’d ever seen, it seemed right to leave it there. And when the square dance had started and he asked her to give it a try, she hadn’t had the heart to say no.

Surprisingly Stacie found herself enjoying the experience. But she hadn’t realized how exhausting this style of dancing could be. The two-step and country swing moves had been challenging, but this—she allemanded left for what seemed like forever—set her heart pounding and turned her breathing ragged.

When the set ended and the caller started up again Stacie shook her head at Josh’s questioning look. They’d barely relinquished their spot when an older couple took their place. Though it was almost midnight, the party showed no sign of slowing down.

Stacie wove her way through the tables, hopping aside just in time to avoid being plowed over by a drunken cowboy with a ten-gallon hat.

Josh slipped an arm around her shoulders, sheltering her with his body. He shot the man a quelling glance. “Watch where you’re going, Danker. You almost ran into the lady.”

Danker—all 285 pounds of him—stopped and turned. Stacie had never liked bulky linebacker types. Their size made her uneasy. But not this guy. With his chocolate-brown eyes and thick curly hair, he wasn’t a grizzly but a teddy bear.

A huge,
drunk
teddy bear. His glassy eyes fought to focus.

“I did what? Oh.” His gaze shifted from Josh to Stacie and a big grin split his face. “Is this her? Your new honey?”

“This is Stacie Summers,” Josh said, then proceeded to introduce her to Wes Danker.

She learned that Wes raised sheep and that his ranch was twenty miles from Josh’s spread. But when Josh mentioned Wes had recently returned to Sweet River after a stint in a Wall Street brokerage firm, Stacie couldn’t hide her surprise.

“I need another drink,” the man bellowed, punctuating his words with a belch.

Josh’s gaze narrowed. “Tell me you’re staying in town tonight and sleeping this off.”

Wes’s expression brightened as his gaze returned to Stacie. “I could sleep with you. If’n you’d let me.”

Josh’s blue eyes turned to slivers of silver in the light. “Ain’t gonna happen.”

Wes let loose a hearty laugh. “I was just kiddin’. I know she’s yours.” His expression sobered. “I wish I had a woman.”

“That’s why you need to fill out the survey,” a familiar voice responded. Seth pushed through the crowd to stand beside Wes. “I told you, buddy. You want a woman. You fill out a survey.”

“Probably won’t get matched anyway.” Wes grabbed two full plastic cups out of the hands of a man passing by. He took a big gulp out of one and then the other.

The cowboy whose beers he’d stolen just laughed and continued through the crowd.

“You won’t know if you don’t try.” Seth’s gaze settled on Stacie and Josh. “Look at Collins. Who’d a thought he’d get matched?”

“Hey.” Josh gave Seth a shove. “Watch it.”

“I want one as pretty as her,” Wes said, as if placing an order for a side of fries, his gaze lingering on Stacie.

Was it only her imagination or did Josh’s arm tighten around her shoulders?

Seth slapped the big man on the back. “You stop over at Anna’s house tomorrow, fill out that survey and she’ll do her best.”

“’Kay.” Wes finished off the beer in his right hand and crushed the plastic cup between his massive fingers. “I gotta take a leak.”

As he stumbled off, Stacie swallowed the laughter bubbling in her throat. “I cannot imagine him on Wall Street.”

A smile lifted the corners of Josh’s lips. “He was good at what he did. Made bucket loads of money.”

“Sounds as if he’s going to do the survey.” Stacie slanted an admiring glance at Seth. “Anyone ever tell you that you are one fantastic recruiter?”

Seth winked. “I’m not done yet.” His eyes settled on a group of cowboys at a nearby table. “Five more and I make my quota.”

Without a backward glance, he was gone.

“I hope Wes finds someone.” Josh’s expression turned thoughtful. “Though he’s not at his best tonight, he’s a good guy. Moving back to take over the ranch when his dad got sick was hard on him. I know he’s lonely.”

Stacie’s heart went out to the gentle giant. In the past couple weeks she’d discovered what Anna had told her and Lauren was true: there simply weren’t enough females to go around. Tonight, guys outnumbered women three to one.

“Seth is certainly doing his part to help make some matches,” Stacie murmured as Josh led her to a table far from the dance floor. “Above and beyond the call of duty.”

“He loves his sister.” Josh pulled out a folding chair for Stacie. Once she sat down, he dropped into the chair next to her.

She thought Josh was clearly the handsomest man in the room. She inhaled deeply and her heart fluttered. He smelled good, too. The spicy scent of his cologne set her pulse racing.

“He’s happy to have her back in Sweet River,” Josh added.

“My parents and siblings would be happy if I were back in Ann Arbor, too,” Stacie said with a wry smile. “It’s hard to run my life from a distance.”

Josh pulled a basket that sat in the middle of the table closer and grabbed a couple of peanuts. He handed one to Stacie. “I don’t think you mentioned your family at all the other evening.”

“Be glad,” Stacie intoned in a ghoulish whisper. “Be very, very glad.”

Josh didn’t laugh or change the subject as she expected. Instead, with his gaze firmly fixed on her, he cracked the shell in his hand. “I take it you don’t get along.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Stacie fought to keep her tone light. She never wanted to be one of those people who whined about their life or their awful childhood. It could be so much worse. After all, high aspirations for your child could hardly be considered abuse. “They’re all very successful. I’m the token low achiever.”

Josh’s gaze searched hers. “Believing your family doesn’t respect and value the person you’ve become has to hurt.”

“Their opinion doesn’t bother me.” A lump rose in her throat at his sympathetic tone, but she shoved it back down. “Most of the time, anyway.”

Looking for an excuse to avoid his perceptive gaze, Stacie grabbed more peanuts. She shelled one and popped it into her mouth. By the time she met his gaze, her emotions were firmly under control. “Fact is, they’re probably right.”

His eyes never left hers. “You don’t believe that.”

Stacie hesitated, not wanting to lie, yet seeing no reason to bare her soul, either. “Sometimes I do. Other times, I tell myself it’s just that I don’t define success the same way they do.”

“That’s the way it was for me in college.” Josh’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Most of the guys I knew were all about making money. All I wanted to do was come back here and be a rancher.”

“That’s what I want, too.” She paused and then laughed at the startled look on his face, realizing what she’d said. “No. No. I didn’t—and don’t—want to be a rancher. I simply want to be happy doing my life’s work. But unlike you, I haven’t found the avenue to my bliss.”

Surprisingly, Josh didn’t laugh. Instead, his expression grew even more serious. “If you could do anything, what would you do?”

He appeared sincerely interested and his tone invited confidences. Unfortunately over the years she’d learned the dangers of sharing her dreams. She’d discovered most men would happily run her life if she let them. Still, Josh didn’t seem the kind to tell her what to do.

As if sensing her turmoil, Josh smiled encouragingly. “C’mon, tell me. I can keep a secret.”

Maybe she’d gotten overheated on the dance floor and it had addled her brain. Maybe it was the knowledge that Josh was a man who understood money wasn’t everything. Or maybe the beers she’d enjoyed this evening had loosened her tongue.

“I’d own a catering company and create fun dishes.” She’d given up talking about her dream when it looked like it would never be a reality. “There’s nothing I love more than parties and cooking and being creative. To be able to do that every day…it would be incredible.”

A longing so intense it took her breath away rose up inside her. She thought she’d buried that dream, but intense emotion told her embers still smoldered.

“Based on the dinner you made the other night, I can see you being very successful.” His supportive words and the sincerity in his tone warmed her heart. “Though I imagine you’d have to live in a large city to have enough clients to make a go of it.”

“I did a business plan several years ago.” Stacie flushed, embarrassed by the admission, yet not sure why. While she’d majored in business only because her father had insisted, she had to admit that some of what she’d learned occasionally came in handy. “The results surprised me.”

Josh raised a brow. “What did you discover?”

“That it wouldn’t have to be in New York or Los Angeles,” Stacie said. “Or even in a city the size of Denver. A town with a population as little as two hundred thousand would work.”

A look Stacie couldn’t identify crossed Josh’s face. It was gone quickly and his warm blue eyes refocused on her. “In this part of the world, you’d have to add the populations of Billings, Missoula and Great Falls together to get over two hundred thousand.”

“Wow,” Stacie said. “I guess I didn’t realize those towns were so small. It—”

“Stacie, you’ve got to come with me.” Lauren stood beside the table, looking very much the part of the local scene in her tight-fitting Wranglers and cowboy hat.

Lauren’s mission tonight was to mingle and to be on the dance floor as much as possible. She’d encouraged Anna and Stacie to do the same, saying it would be good advertising.

But if Lauren had come to drag her back on the dance floor, it wasn’t going to happen. Stacie’s feet ached and she was enjoying her conversation with Josh too much to cut it short. “I’m kinda busy at the moment.”

“I’m afraid it can’t wait. Or rather, your brother won’t wait.” Lauren’s gaze shifted from Stacie to Josh, then back to Stacie again. “He insists on speaking with you
now.
”

Stacie dug her fingers into Josh’s shirtsleeve. Paul called periodically, usually leaving a message about some job opportunity he thought she should pursue. But Saturday night was family time in his household. He’d never interrupt his time with his wife and children to call his sister. And why call Lauren and not her? Unless it was bad news and he knew she’d need her friend’s support…

Dear God, had something happened to one of her parents? Her relationship with them might be tense at times, but she loved them dearly. She jumped to her feet. “Did he tell you what happened?”

She sensed rather than saw Josh move to stand beside her and then felt his arm slide around her waist, holding her steady.

“Paul isn’t on the phone,” Lauren explained. “He’s here in Sweet River. Flew into Billings and drove straight over. He’s waiting by the entrance for you.”

The puzzle pieces that had begun to lock into place suddenly didn’t fit. “Why would he come all this way to give me bad news?”

The confusion on Lauren’s face was quickly replaced with understanding. “I’m not sure why he’s here, but it’s definitely not for that. I asked him how the family was, he said fine.”

Stacie exhaled the breath she’d been holding and closed her eyes. Thank you, God.

“Why do you suppose he’s here?” Josh asked.

“No idea.” Stacie straightened her shoulders and shifted her gaze to Lauren. “Take me to him.”

Josh stepped forward. “I’ll come with you.”

“No.” The word came out more sharply than she’d intended. Stacie immediately softened the response with a smile. “Thank you, but no.”

The last thing she wanted was to subject Josh to Paul’s imperious manner or for her brother to get the wrong idea about her relationship with Josh.

“Are you sure?” Doubt filled his eyes and a frown worried his brow.

“Positive.” Stacie removed his hat from her head and held it out to him. “Thanks for the loaner.”

Josh took the hat, but didn’t immediately put it on his head. “I don’t understand why he’d show up here.”

It was a question she’d like answered, as well. “No clue,” Stacie said. “But I’m going to find out.”