The Rancher's Surrender Read online

  He nodded, not knowing what to do, feeling awkward and inept with a woman for the first time since puberty.

  Then she really shocked him. She stepped toward him and with her free arm she pulled him close, drawing him into a gentle embrace that meant more than all their previous almost-violent ones had meant put together.

  He held himself rigid a moment, his pent-up frustration dictating that he not give in and yank her against him as he wanted, because it would be a weakness to show how much he needed her when she didn't need him back.

  But maybe she did need him back, just a little. She placed one arm around him now, her face open and for once free of shadows. And her eyes, God, those eyes, they pulled him right in. "Thank you," she whispered again, the soft skin of her cheek against his rough one.

  Then in her first show of trust since he'd known her, she laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled close, the kitten between them.

  God. And he was supposed to resist this? Her breath stirred gently against his neck.

  Hell, he was a goner, and with a shuddering sigh, he gave in and returned the embrace.

  He could do nothing else.

  * * *

  Chapter 13

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  Ty had never felt quite this way before, as if he held the world—his world—in his arms. He was cold and hot at the same time, and a little dizzy, too.

  He buried his face in Zoe's sweet-scented hair and held on tight, letting out a little laugh when the kitten meowed at him. They stayed that way for a long moment, swaying gently with the morning sun warming them.

  Around them, the early dew lit up the yard like a thousand sunbeams. The air stirred lightly, reminding them that another hot summer day was on its way.

  All the problems seemed so far away.

  "Meow."

  Zoe was hesitant to let go of Ty, of this moment, even as sharp claws dug into her chest. But this incredible, nearly overwhelming feeling of being held so tight, so protectively, so carefully … she didn't want it to end.

  "Mew."

  Ty let out another little chuckle and lifted his head. "Noisy little thing."

  "He's perfect." Pretending as if being held by a strong, warm, sexy man was the norm, Zoe leaned back in his arms and stroked the kitten's head. "And I can't wait to show him to Maddie and Delia. This is exactly what they need … they've been working so hard."

  He dipped his head, ran his jaw along hers, and she savored the feel of him. "So have you," he said in her ear.

  "But it's harder on them."

  "Why is that?"

  "They're…" Well, she didn't know exactly, she just innately felt more suited to this life. She worried about that and dealt with the guilt, which was becoming harder to do with him making thinking so difficult. "It just seems to be easier for me out here. They'll just melt over the kitten, though."

  Ty remained silent, and finally she looked up into warm eyes the color of a summer storm. They were filled with things that made her feel weak and strong at the same time, things she wanted to hear him say. One big hand came up to stroke her jaw; his skin rough, his touch gentle. "Do you have any idea how much it means to me to see you like this?" he asked. "To see you let loose with a show of love for your sisters?"

  His words startled her. "You've seen that before."

  "No, I've seen you bicker with them, tease them. Show worry and anxiety over them." He never stopped touching her. "Nothing like this."

  He put a finger over her lips when she would have retorted and smiled at her. "Don't blow it, Zoe, I'm proud of you. Just let me have this moment, okay?"

  "But I do show them how I feel," she said stubbornly.

  He cocked a brow. "Do you tell them?"

  She felt the flush cover her face and pushed back from him because suddenly she needed breathing space. "This is really none of your business."

  "Don't get defensive."

  "Why does everyone always say that?" She glared at him. "Why don't I list off your faults and see how you feel?" She hitched the kitten up in one arm and lifted her other hand, one finger for each adjective. "For your information, you're demanding, bossy, arrogant, a know-it-all, temperamental—"

  "Careful, you're going to run out of fingers."

  She paused in mid-insult, then shook her head, perilously close to laughter, which had her all the more confused. Within a few moments' time, he'd brought her the full gamut of emotions. From yearning to happiness to laughter … to more yearning.

  And it occurred to her in that shocking moment of clarity that somewhere along the way, she had no idea when, she'd lost the last of her protective barriers with him. He'd torn down her brick wall, the one protecting her heart, one brick at a time.

  She was bare. Vulnerable.

  No. No, she wouldn't allow it, not when he wasn't the same way. She backed to the door, reaching blindly for it.

  He blinked and whistled low and long, and shook his head. "The way you do that, switch gears so fast, is positively frightening." He leaned close, so close she could see specks of blue light dancing in his gray eyes, and they were no longer light and happy. "Go on, run inside. Run away from this, from me."

  "I'm not running."

  "Yeah? Then tell me how you feel about me."

  His challenging voice wasn't what penetrated, but his eyes. They weren't sharp and daring, but … needy? Wait a minute … the tough, unshakable Ty Jackson needy?

  "Know what I think?" he asked, his voice low and taunting. "I think you're crazy about me, about your sisters, too. But you can't even say so."

  She cuddled the kitten close, unwilling to expose her emotions when he hadn't done so first. "What do you know about love, Ty?"

  His eyes shuttered and he stepped back, alarmingly distant. "We're not talking about me."

  But suddenly she wanted to be. "No, tell me. What makes you such an expert on this subject? You're alone, too."

  He stared at her, then looked at the sky for a moment, then at the kitten, and finally, back to her. "I used to be an expert," he said, his voice rough. "I loved my brother." He swore softly, shoved his fingers through his dark hair and abruptly turned away. "I'm behind on chores."

  "Ty, wait—" He didn't stop and she let out a despairing sound, knowing his temper now was spurred by pain, pain she'd brought to the surface. "Ty!"

  His long legs churned up the distance to his truck. His wide shoulders were hunched, his hands stuffed in his pockets, as if he carried the weight of the world. But somewhere under all that bunched muscle and frustration beat a wonderful, caring heart.

  She was holding proof of that heart. "Dammit." She snuggled the kitten and ran after him.

  He had the truck running when she caught him. "Go inside," he said wearily, looking straight ahead, even when she leaned in his opened window.

  "I want to talk."

  "You want to be real sure about that, Zoe." He turned then and searched her gaze with his tortured one. "Because when we talk it's going to go both ways, and there won't be any holding back."

  Involuntarily she stepped away and he let out a laugh completely void of amusement. Anguish settled in his eyes. "Go away, Zoe."

  And he drove off.

  * * *

  The truth was hard to deny when it was staring her in the face. Zoe pushed back the set of books she'd been working on, bent her weary head on her arms and sighed.

  "Mew."

  "Hey, Socks." Not exactly an original name for a red kitten with white paws, but it worked for them. Socks butted his head gently against Zoe's hand until she relented and petted him.

  He dropped to her papers, sprawled spread-eagled on his back and started to purr, making her smile. Her sisters loved him. And seeing their happy, laughing faces had been a great reward. Their happiness meant everything to her.

  But what about yours?

  She was happy, wasn't she? Even if they were still drowning in financial woes. They had fixed up the bare minimum on the house. They'd put the barn in shape, ignorin