Her Bucking Bronc (11 page)

“I’m sorry.”

She blinked, unable to form a response.

“I was worried about you, and angry that you hadn’t told me that the arsonist had burned your restaurant. I don’t do this friendship thing well. I don’t know how.” He sighed. “I’ve been alone most of my life, and it shows. I can be a jerk.”

Her heart went squishy again. “Um, I accept your apology. Now, can you put me down?”

Dylan set her on her feet and stepped back half a pace, but he didn’t let go of her waist. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day.” He kissed her. “Now, let’s go get Amber’s purse and clothes. I’m helping you bring her back to your home.”

Hannah wasn’t sure how she felt about bringing Dylan home to meet her mother. Ready or not, it was about to happen.

“Was that our first fight?”

He snorted. “Not hardly.”

She nodded. “I guess that’s true.”

“I expect we’ll always mix it up a bit.”

“There’s passion there.”

“Damn straight there is.” He glanced at her with a side eye. “I can’t hardly sleep for thinking about it. My hand isn’t the only thing getting chafed.”

At that Hannah laughed so hard her stomach hurt. He glared at her until the corners of his mouth twitched.

“Why the hell are you laughing?”

She could barely get the words out. “I-I th-th-thought it w-w-was j-j-just me!”

At that he joined in, a deep guffaw that vibrated her bones. She needed to get this man into her bed or his, either one would do. It would probably be a few days before they would find time alone. Now that she would be helping Amber, their passion would have to be put on hold again.

“Soon.” His voice, the word, held a promise she intended to keep.

* * * * *

Dylan tucked Amber into the truck and Hannah climbed in beside her. The damn cat had waited for them, snuggling beside the injured woman and purring. They were all relieved her burns weren’t too serious, although everyone was exhausted. The ride out to the Blackwood ranch was quiet. The barista was bundled up with bandages and somewhat sedated.

The ranch had a beautiful wrought iron gate that was open for them. He drove through and up to the sprawling house. He was as impressed with the ranch as he was the first time he came by.

That time, of course, ended with him having sex with Hannah in the backyard. They were lucky they didn’t get caught, but he couldn’t regret the experience. It showed him heaven on earth in the arms of a fiery Texan who was slowly taking over his heart, much as he wanted to stop it. He knew it, yet he still needed to accept it.

“Just pull up to the front door. Mama should have the guest room ready.” Hannah steadied Amber, then got out of the truck. “I’ll be right back.”

Dylan was left alone with the wounded barista and the cat. She’d always been so sweet and pleasant to him. She damn sure didn’t deserve what happened.

“She’s a good person.” The low murmur from Amber surprised him.

“You’re awake.”

“Sort of. Feels like I’m swimming in the ocean.” Amber’s eyes popped open and she turned her head to look at Dylan. “Hannah is one of the best people I know.”

“Agreed.”

“Don’t hurt her.”

“What?”

“I can feel the air crackle between you two. She lost one man in her life. She doesn’t deserve to be hurt again.” Amber’s eyes drifted closed. “Just love her the best you can.”

Dylan opened his mouth to refute her claim, but the words didn’t come. He wasn’t in love. Not yet. He had a hard time opening himself to anyone. Hell, he’d spent more than half his life only depending on himself. How was he to put his heart in the hands of Hannah?

“Everything’s ready.” Hannah’s voice startled him. Her brows went up when he started. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get her inside. I’ll come around and carry her.” Dylan got out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side. He scooped up the slender barista and followed Hannah into the house.

The décor was rustic ranch mixed with industrial. He was surprised but pleased to find it. Dylan might be a dumb general contractor, but he had taken courses in interior design along with all the other subjects. The decorator of this house had skills.

“Follow me.” Hannah led him through to the main staircase and up to the second floor.

A door was open down the hallway with warm light spilling onto what he knew to be the hand-scraped wooden floors. The Blackwoods spared no expense in this house, but it was done tastefully.

He walked into the room to find a smaller, older version of Hannah. Mrs. Blackwood was a beautiful woman in her sixties with bright, intelligent eyes. Hannah definitely took after her mother in looks. Her father must’ve been tall, since her mom was no bigger than a minute.

“Lay her here.” Mrs. Blackwood had the covers turned down on a bed with cream sheets, a patchwork quilt and a mound of fluffy pillows.

Dylan set Amber on the bed and Mrs. Blackwood took over, tucking her in and murmuring to the injured woman. The cat must’ve followed them because it jumped on the bed and settled beside Amber.

He backed out of the room into the hallway. Hannah poked her head out.

“Why don’t you go downstairs and get some coffee? I’m sure there’s a pot in the kitchen. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

He nodded and left the women to take care of Amber. He was here in Hannah’s childhood home and the only thing he could think about was when he could escape. Families made him twitchy.

Mothers made him want to leave town.

Dylan forced himself to find the kitchen and the mugs in the third cabinet he opened. He hunted down milk in the fridge and the sugar bowl on the table. The smell of the cinnamon pastries Hannah had made lingered in the air hours later. His stomach rumbled at the fact he hadn’t had any food all day.

“Can I make you some lunch?” Mrs. Blackwood’s voice made him tense like a guitar string.

He turned to find her smiling at him. Hannah definitely had her smile. “No need to put yourself out. I’ll wait for Hannah to take her back to town.”

“Oh, she’ll be here all day with Amber. Might as well have some food. I could hear your stomach growling like a bear.” Mrs. Blackwood opened the fridge. “A sandwich okay? I think there are some of Hannah’s pretzel rolls.”

“I, uh, sure.” Dylan sipped at the coffee so he didn’t have to speak more. Why the hell did Hannah leave him alone with her mom?

“What Hannah does with her life is her business, but I’ll not allow someone to fiddle with her heart.” Mrs. Blackwood gave him the mama death stare. “Don’t think I’m a feeble old lady.”

“I’d never assume such a thing, ma’am.” He wondered if there might be an earthquake handy to open up the floor for him.

“Good. Then that’s settled.” She set down a plate with a sandwich and a cookie along with a glass of milk. Milk! “Now eat.” Bossy like her daughter.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He dutifully ate the meal while she puttered around in the kitchen.

“For the first time in two years, I see happiness in her eyes. I’m not sure if you’re responsible, but if you are, then thank you.” Her words cut through the awkward silence.

“I’m not sure if I’m the cause of anything except indigestion.”

Mrs. Blackwood laughed. “She’s got a big mouth but an even bigger heart.”

“Stop talking about me.” Hannah sailed into the kitchen. “Amber’s asleep, so I thought I’d grab some lunch.”

The older woman left the kitchen after a silent communication with her daughter. Hannah glanced at Dylan’s plate. “She fed you the last pretzel roll.”

“Do you want to share?”

“No, I don’t want your cooties.”

“Suit yourself. Go ahead and eat a substandard roll.” He took a big bite of the sandwich, enjoying the way she stuck out her tongue at him.

“Your mother just warned me she would bury my body in a deep hole if I hurt you.”

“She’ll do it too. She’s the one that taught me how to use a pistol.” Hannah put her own plate on the table and sat down.

“Now I’m actually scared.” He drank the milk, although he didn’t remember the last time he’d even tasted it except in his coffee.

“Blackwood women are the only females strong enough to birth Blackwood men.” She smiled. “That’s what my grandmother used to say.”

“Your family sounds intimidating.”

“I’ll bet yours is too.”

He managed not to get up and walk away, but it was close. Dylan wasn’t one to talk about his past. To anyone, but if he were to find out if this relationship was going to go anywhere, he had to take a chance.

“Don’t really have family to speak of, intimidating or not. I never knew my father. No brothers or sisters. My mother died when I was sixteen. I’ve been on my own since.” He fiddled with the condensation ring on the table. “I wouldn’t go into foster care, so I lied about my age and started working construction. I was big enough they didn’t care.”

“I’m sorry.” She put her hand over his. “And my family is louder and more overwhelming than an army.”

“True.” He took a bite of his sandwich, but he wasn’t tasting it any longer.

“Since you don’t have a family, do you want to share mine with me?”

He stopped and stared, his pulse picking up while his stomach did that funny flip again. “What are you saying?”

She met his gaze with those beautiful brown doe eyes of hers. “I’m saying I want you to stick around for a while. With me. And my crazy family.”

Dylan could barely swallow the bite in his throat. She just asked him to stay in Tanger. With her.

Holy shit.

Hannah’s heart thumped madly. The fire at the coffee house had reminded her that life is short. Too short to play games when she felt strongly about a man she could love. When Phillip had died, she’d wanted to die too.

Now she wanted to live. She wanted to taste every day with every cell of her being. That included stepping out of the safety net and learning to fly again.

“I’ll be here building the restaurant.” He kept his gaze on his plate, and her heart sank.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.”

“Then say something that is a reasonable response to my invitation.”

The silence was only broken by the sound of the air conditioner cutting on and the ticks of the cool air hitting the metal ducts.

“I don’t know how.” His voice was quiet, nearly a whisper.

Hannah scooted her chair closer and took his hand. “I’m scared too. But more than that, I know what I’m feeling for you is more than attraction. Asking you to stay is making me want to run around pulling my hair out.” She leaned in and put her head on his shoulder. “But if we don’t take that leap, how will we know what we could have?”

“I’ll probably piss you off.”

“Same here.”

“You might want to shoot me.”

“Same here.”

He finally looked up, meeting her gaze. In it she saw fear, hope, and something softer. “Do you think we really have a chance?”

“We won’t know if we try.”

“I reckon that’s true.” He kissed her forehead. “We’re gonna fight like cats and dogs.”

“Then we can make up.”

He snorted. “You’re crazy.”

“Probably, but I think I’m your kind of crazy.”

“You’d be right.”

Hannah hugged him, her heart light and her throat tight.

“Ah, pardon me.”

Hannah started at her cousin Kyle’s voice. She grinned at Dylan, who was scowling at her. “Test number one.”

“Shit.”

“Am I interrupting?” Kyle’s voice had hardened.

“No, not at all. I normally hug and kiss my general contractor.” Hannah turned, loping her arm around Dylan’s neck. “Tell me you found the cause of the fire.”

Kyle looked terrible. He had a few burns on his cheek, one eyebrow was half singed and he still had soot on his uniform and arms. “Sophie is down there checking it on behalf of the fire department. She said her preliminary findings indicate it was arson. Same method as the fire at Cindy’s and the old jail.” His jaw tightened. “Son of a bitch could have killed her.”

Hannah didn’t point out she could have been killed too. It seemed like her cousin had taken the fire at the coffee shop personally. Perhaps there was something between him and Amber.

“Are you going to assist in the investigation?” Hannah asked.

“As much as I can. Whoever he or she is, they crossed the line. I won’t let this happen again.” Kyle’s fists clenched. “Is she in the guest room upstairs?”

“She is, but I suggest you don’t walk in there breathing fire. She was sleeping and she needs the rest. Don’t stomp around like Frankenstein’s monster.” Hannah was glad to see her cousin nod.

“Good advice.” Kyle turned to leave then looked back at them. “If you plan to continue sparking, you may want to take it outside.”

“Sparking?” Dylan whispered.

“Will do, Deputy.” Hannah watched as the normally stoic deputy disappeared from view. “Well, I’ll be damned.”