Home on the Ranch: Tennessee Bull Rider Read online

  He removed his hands from her pant legs and slowly slid her T-shirt up to rest beneath her breasts. Trailing soft kisses across her belly, he waited, silently asking for permission before tugging the hem of her pants and panties lower on her hips.

  Cool air hit her bare midsection and her belly trembled as he covered it with his hot palm, then traced the long scar that extended low across her pelvis.

  “Did it hurt?”

  Amber stilled. The heavy note in Nate’s voice stirred wet warmth behind her closed eyelids. She cleared her throat, then said softly, “As much as it should, I suppose.”

  His lips moved against her belly. “What was it like? To carry them? Give birth to them?”

  Without him? Her mouth shook. “Scary.” She lifted her hand toward his voice, her fingers fumbling over the tight clench of his jaw. “But wonderful. They’re the best thing I’ve ever done.”

  Something wet touched her fingertip, then trickled along its side, its light trace barely detectable. Amber opened her eyes and looked down.

  Nate stared up at her, his lashes wet and a pained smile tilting his lips.

  She ran her fingers over the handsome cleft in his chin and thought of his stubborn confidence. Both of which Dylan had inherited. She trailed them across his high cheekbones—attractive ones that Savannah had been blessed with—then lowered them to the sensual sweep of his lower lip. The shape of which Mason would flash in charming ways years from now.

  “The best thing we’ve ever done,” she said. “There’s so much of you in all of them.”

  “So much of us,” he said, catching her hand in his and weaving his fingers through hers. “When I first saw them, I was so shocked—so unsure of everything—I had trouble imagining what my future would look like with them in it.” He rose then stretched out by her side, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “Now I can’t see a future without them.”

  Her throat closed. She buried her face against his chest and inhaled his familiar scent.

  “I wish I had the right words to tell you—” His voice broke and his arms tightened around her, fingers moving gently through her hair. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you then, Amber. But I swear I’m here for you now.”

  Now. Amber bit her lip and glanced at the dresser. McBride continued to stare silently back at her, detached and unreachable. As he always would be. Just like her late mother and estranged father—wherever that fool of a man was. Just like Paul would be for Tina. And eventually—if she gave in to him—just like Nate would be for her, when their children grew older and a quiet life in Elk Valley lost its appeal. Or when the divine stepped in with plans that differed from his own.

  Because nothing—and no one—stayed around forever, whether by fate or choice.

  “So what’s the use in now?”

  She froze, only realizing she’d said the words aloud after they’d left her.

  “What?” Nate’s hand stilled in her hair.

  Lord, she got maudlin when she was run-down. Nothing like a good old-fashioned pity party to kill the mood.

  “I’m tired is all.” Amber tugged at Nate’s shirt, pulling it off as he lifted his arms, then pressed her cheek tighter to him, absorbing the comforting heat of his skin. “Can we sleep?”

  For now. She’d hold him just for now, and later she’d be stronger and things would go back to normal.

  Nate didn’t speak. But his arms tensed as he cradled her closer, his heartbeat steady beneath her cheek as she closed her eyes and drifted off.

  Chapter 8

  “Amber?”

  Nate started at the faint call, his hands clenching around something soft as he peeled his eyes open and struggled to get his bearings. An almost archaic ceiling fan, white walls and—Mean McBride?

  Yep. That was his stern mug staring from the top of the dresser, highlighted by the last bit of afternoon sunlight that trickled in through the slightly open blinds.

  Sporadic baby babbles emerged from a monitor on the nightstand and a soft, feminine moan vibrated against his bare chest. Nate dragged his attention away from McBride’s picture, looked down then smiled.

  Amber, arms wrapped tight around his waist and slender legs tangled with his, still slept just as she had before he must’ve finally given in, closed his eyes and joined her. Her long curls cascaded over her shoulders and pooled on his abs, lifting with the rise of his belly as he pulled in a deep breath.

  He slid his finger lightly along the soft shell of her ear, then rested it over the flutter of her pulse in her neck. She looked so peaceful he hated to wake her.

  He glanced around the room, taking in the long shadows settling along the bedroom walls. It was after one when they’d fallen asleep and now the sun had almost set. They must have slept for—

  A fist pounded on the front door. “Amber, you all right in there?”

  Oh, hell! That voice, booming from the front porch, belonged to Landon. The babbles on the baby monitor stopped, then morphed into cries.

  “Amber,” Nate whispered, squeezing her close and sitting up. “Amber, wake up.”

  “Mmm.” She yawned, then blinked up at him, a satisfied light in her blue eyes. “That’s the best nap I’ve had in ages.”

  He paused. The smile curving her soft lips made him regret having to leave her bed even more. “Me, too. But we’ve got to get up now.”

  “Okay.” She smoothed her hair out of her eyes and looked at the window. “What time is i—”

  “Amber?” Worry laced Landon’s tone. “I’ve been knocking for five minutes and I can hear the babies. If you don’t answer me, I’m coming in.”

  A doorknob rattled.

  “No!” Amber rolled out of bed, shot toward the hallway and froze on the threshold of the bedroom. “I’m coming. Just hold on a minute. I’m...I’m—”

  She threw a panicked glance at Nate and spread her hands. He shrugged.

  “Tied up at the moment,” she added, cheeks flushed.

  It was silent for a second.

  “Then tell Nate to come open the door.” Landon’s low drawl faded slightly. “That’s his truck in the driveway, isn’t it?”

  Ah, hell. Nate dragged a hand over his face. Landon was pissed.

  Nate stood, then headed for the front door.

  Amber halted him at the threshold, her palm firm against his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

  “Letting him in. He knows I’m here.”

  “You can’t.” She shook her head, eyes widening as she stared at his bare chest. “Not like that.”

  “So I’ll put on my shirt and we’ll go together. It’s as good a time as any to let him know I’m going to be around here a lot more. He’s had to have heard the rumors about us by now.”

  “Please don’t, Nate.” Panic was in her voice.

  “Amber, I’m not slinking out a back window and I’m not hiding back here until he leaves. We’re going out together.” He snagged his T-shirt from the rumpled bed, slipped it over his head, then brushed a soft kiss against Amber’s lips as he eased by her. “Come on.”

  His gut churned but he proceeded down the hallway. Amber’s soft footfalls followed as he opened the door.

  Landon’s glare and the cold night air rushed in.

  Nate shivered, an especially frigid chill hitting his abs. He followed Landon’s gaze and glanced down to find his shirt’s hem rolled up at his chest. Nate jerked it over his exposed midsection.

  The glower on Landon’s face darkened.

  “Nothing happened.” Amber scrambled to Nate’s side and elbowed her way between them. “We just slept together.”

  Nate closed his eyes and stifled a groan.

  “I mean as in sleeping slept.” Amber’s voice shook. “Not the other sleeping together thing.” The color in her cheeks deepened, then spread down her neck in blotches. “Wha
t are you doing here?”

  “I brought the pumpkins,” Landon said, thrusting his arms forward. A large pumpkin was lodged in the crook of each. “You said come at six. It’s six.” He cut his eyes to Nate. “What are you doing here?”

  Nate cleared his throat. “I—”

  “Came to help me,” Amber said.

  Landon narrowed his eyes. “With what?”

  “With...with...” The babies’ cries grew louder and Amber glanced toward the nursery, fidgeting with the seam of her pant leg.

  “Amber, when you’re being interrogated,” Nate said softly, “it’s best not to elaborate.”

  A devilish edge entered Landon’s smile. “Is that what you think this is? An interrogation?”

  “Isn’t it?” Nate asked.

  “Nah.” His smile widened. “But how ’bout you step outside with me while Amber checks on the babies?”

  Nate studied him closer. Landon’s mouth twitched and a hint of teasing glimmered in his eyes. Those were good signs. He was tempted to think that Landon was actually enjoying this.

  “All right.” Reluctantly, Nate flipped on the porch light, then followed Landon outside.

  Landon set the pumpkins on the porch rail, then glanced at Amber as she watched them from the doorway. “Once you get the babies settled, would you please bring me a knife?”

  Her hand shot out and gripped the door frame. “What for?”

  Nate tensed. Well, hell. Maybe Landon was mad.

  Landon rolled his lips and turned away for a second before speaking. “For the pumpkins. You want jack-o’-lanterns, right? To put on the front porch?”

  Amber answered slowly. “Yes, but...”

  “But what?” Landon’s brows rose, a bland expression appearing. “Come on, Amber. The babies are crying, it’s cold and Nate and I are overdue for a talk. We don’t want to be out here all night.”

  She held Landon’s stare for a minute, then eased back inside and shut the door.

  Once her footsteps faded, Landon leaned against the porch rail, crossed his arms and grinned. “You should see your face right now. Hers, too.”

  Shoulders relaxing, Nate shook his head. A smile tugged at his lips despite the situation. “You mean son of a—”

  “Hey.” Landon scoffed. “I spent two hours protecting my virtue from Exie Johnson’s roaming hands last night when I went to pick up those stinkin’ pumpkins. That in addition to the fact that I had to pay for the others Amber stomped.” He jerked his chin toward the door. “She owes me a laugh or two.”

  Nate smiled. “Exie put the moves on you again, did she?”

  “Hell, yeah, she did. I was surprised my ass wasn’t bruised with her handprints this morning.” Landon grimaced. “Mac’s not still having that Halloween bash at the ranch Saturday night, is he?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  Landon groaned. “Because to get out of there faster, I agreed to a dance with Exie there and at the Main Street block party next weekend. I was really hoping that with the new babies coming soon Mac would’ve canceled his shindig this year so I could scratch at least one dance off my card.” He shook his head. “I swear, sometimes I just don’t understand women. In the span of a weekend, I got one woman who won’t keep her hands off me no matter how rude I am and another who wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole no matter how much I sweet-talk her.”

  Nate choked back a laugh. “Who were you trying to sweet-talk?”

  “Katie Richards.”

  Oh. That explained it. Katie, a black-haired beauty and Elk Valley’s wild child, had been the bane of Landon’s existence for as long as Nate could remember. They’d flirted, argued, then ignored each other for years until Katie took off for California after high school graduation. From what Nate understood, her trips home to Elk Valley were rarer than his own.

  “She was visiting her sister at Frank’s when I went over there Friday to grill out,” Landon continued. “And I wasn’t actually sweet-talking her—just being polite. But you’d think I propositioned her considering the icy looks she threw at me all night.” He stabbed a finger in Nate’s direction. “And don’t think you’re getting away with changing the subject. My ears were burning with all the gossip I heard about you and Amber while I was there. She’s my sister. You have no idea how—”

  The door opened and Amber stepped out, holding a steak knife. “Here.”

  Landon scowled at the utensil. “That’s not sharp enough.”

  She glared. “This will work fine, Landon.”

  “Nate can use that one,” Landon said, taking it and handing it to him. “I’ll take that chef’s carving knife we use at Thanksgiving every year.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous.” Amber propped her hands on her hips. “I’m getting ready to feed the babies so I don’t have time to come out here and police you. Nate’s being here is none of your business and I won’t have you giving him the third degree on the front lawn.”

  “We’re not on the front lawn,” Landon stated calmly, motioning toward the wood planks under his feet. “We’re on the porch.”

  “Semantics, Landon,” Amber bit out.

  “It’s all right, Amber,” Nate said. He grabbed a pumpkin, slid it closer and started cutting out a lid. “We’re just making jack-o’-lanterns, that’s all. Right, Landon?” No response. He cocked an eyebrow at him. “Right?”

  “Yeah.” Landon eased back against the porch rail and looked at Amber. “But just let me say, the next time you buy pumpkins from Exie Johnson you’re picking them up yourself.”

  “But I didn’t ask you to,” Amber said. “You offered.”

  “Well, I shouldn’t have. From now on, I’ll pick ’em up from anybody else—just not Exie Johnson.”

  Amber shook her head, confusion clouding her eyes, then stomped back inside.

  “As I was saying,” Landon continued, swiveling to face him, “you have no idea how hard it was to just sit there and listen to gossip.”

  “Actually, I do,” Nate said softly. “Why do you think I steered clear of Elk Valley for so long?”

  “Why did you?”

  The hard note in Landon’s voice made Nate’s hand stiffen around the knife. He placed it on the rail, then flexed his fingers. “I didn’t feel like there was a place for me here.”

  “And now?”

  Nate met his eyes. “Now I do.”

  A muscle ticked in Landon’s jaw. “Exactly how long do you plan on staying in this place of yours?”

  “Permanently.” Nate squared his shoulders. At this point, he had to tell him everything whether Amber agreed or not. But man, how to word it? “Landon, the babies are—”

  The door swung open again and Amber handed Landon the knife he requested, then glanced at Nate. “Everything all right?”

  Nate nodded and managed a smile. The concerned look in her blue eyes warmed him on the inside. “We’re good. How are the babies doing? Mason feeling better after his nap?”

  “Yeah.” She shifted from one foot to the other, hair gleaming under the bright porch light, then looked at Landon. “You’re not really grilling him, are you?”

  Landon shook his head.

  “Promise?” Her voice trembled.

  Landon leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I promise. We’re just talking. We’ll come inside in a few minutes.”

  Amber smiled at him then left, shutting the door behind her.

  “I’m not giving you a hard time just for the hell of it,” Landon said quietly. “I’ve got no right to interfere in Amber’s love life, but there’s a couple things I need to ask and I’ll trust whatever you tell me. I just want to be sure you understand something before you answer. Before you move forward with wherever this thing between you and Amber is headed.”

  Nate stilled, his breath stalling in his lungs.

  “Amber was s
even when our dad left. I was thirteen.” Landon turned away, steadied his pumpkin, then started cutting. “My mom sat us both down to tell us he’d left for good. Gave us the standard line about how she was sure he loved us in his own way. That his leaving didn’t have anything to do with us. That it had to do with her.” His movements slowed as he turned the pumpkin for a better angle. “She said in her life, that’s just how it’d always been and probably always would be. She said that’s what men do. They leave.” He stopped cutting and looked up. “Amber didn’t understand it then. Not really. She was too young. But I did.” He gestured toward the stump McBride had preserved. “McBride never had to worry about me taking off on Amber. Even at thirteen, I knew I never wanted to see the same look in Amber’s eyes that I saw in our mom’s. That look of betrayal. Of feeling forgotten. I swore to myself I’d never let it happen. But it did.”

  Nate’s throat closed. He swallowed hard against the sour acid rising from his gut.

  “I know the exact day Amber finally understood.” Landon’s hand shook. “She was standing in the café behind the counter. She’d asked me to stop by, had closed up for the night and was pouring me a cup of coffee. Told me she’d messed up. That she was pregnant and didn’t know what to do.” His jaw clenched as he stared at his hand. “She couldn’t look me in the eye. It was like she thought I’d think less of her. Be asham—” His voice broke. “Like I’d be ashamed of her. Disappointed. Like I might turn my back on her, too.”

  Nate leaned against the porch rail, his knuckles turning white against the weathered wood.

  “It was the first and only time in my life,” Landon continued, “that I seriously considered tracking another man down and inflicting severe pain.” Steel entered his tone. “Enough that he’d feel it hard. As hard as Amber did that day. For a long damned time. Sometimes I thank God she never told me who he was. I’m not sure how far I’d have taken it if she had.”

  Nate stared straight ahead. Watched the dark space that lay beyond the reach of the porch light’s glow. Listened to the vigorous rustle of the trees as the night wind gusted through them.