What a Rancher Wants by Sarah M. Anderson

Author:Sarah M. Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Ten

Chance was feeling good about tonight. Mostly because Gabriella had given him a little peck on the cheek when she’d come to the door, but also because she’d been up in the front seat of his extended cab F-250 and Joaquin had sat in the back.

Chance held the door for Gabriella at the entrance to the Texas Cattleman’s Club. He hadn’t been here in a long while. Things had gotten to the point where he hadn’t been comfortable coming into his favorite hangout. The TCC had become less a place to have a beer than an exercise in navigating shark-infested waters. Better to stay home and eat Franny’s cooking or shoot the breeze with Marty and Slim. There, at least, no one treated him like a convicted criminal who hadn’t managed to get arrested yet.

Coming here tonight was a risk. But Alex was back. Maybe not all back in the head, but he was no longer missing. People had to have realized that Chance hadn’t had a damn thing to do with the whole mess. Right?

He sure as hell hoped so as Joaquin brought up the rear of their little party. Three was starting to be very crowded. But he put on a happy face and guided Gabriella into the TCC.

“They just added the day care,” he said, showing Gabriella the new center.

She gave him an odd look as she said, “Very nice,” and he realized what he’d said.

They. Not we.

“I voted for it,” he hurried to add. When had the TCC become a they? Probably about the time he’d become a suspect.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

Before he could do anything—point toward the dining room, announce that he’d remembered the restaurant was closed tonight and they should try Claire’s instead, a voice called out, “Chance! Where have you been, man?”

Chance whipped around to see Sam Gordon bearing down on them, a huge grin on his face. Someone here was glad to see him. Thank God for small favors. “Sam, you old dog—what’s this I hear about Lila?”

“Twins! Girls! Twin girls! Brook was six pounds, six ounces and Eve—she was seven minutes after Brook—was six pounds, four ounces.” Sam giggled—a sound that Chance was positive he’d never heard the man make.

“That Lila of yours is quite a woman!” He meant it. Even though there wasn’t a lot of love lost between Chance and Beau Hacket, Lila had always gone to great lengths to distance herself from her father and brother. Chance had admired her for striking out on her own and making her own way. A way that now included Sam Gordon.

“I’m so amazed by her.” Sam’s voice drifted off into sheer awe. But then he snapped back to himself. “Here—cigars for everyone!” And he thrust two cigars at Chance.

Then, a moment later, he offered one to Joaquin. “Here you go, amigo.” This time he didn’t sound quite so overjoyed.

Sam’s gaze darted from Chance to Gabriella to Joaquin—who, after a moment’s hesitation, took the proffered cigar with a mumbled, “Gracias.

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