So Not a Cowgirl (10 page)

The truck hit a rut that had Tanya bouncing around on the seat. Although most of the tenderness had disappeared overnight, she still winced on occasion when he hit a particularly deep rut. Her mood had been growing testy ever since about the twentieth bounce. She ground her teeth and finally snapped, “I’m beginning to think you’re aiming for every pothole you can find.”

“
Road needs a bit of fixing up after the winter.” He shot her a sideways glance, and to her disgust gave a slip of a cocky smile. “Butt still hurts a mite, huh?”

She curled her hands into fists and refused to comment on the state of her
butt
. Instead she focused on his reluctant admission last night about his having been pigheaded about refusing her assistance on the audit. If he was going to try and push her buttons, well, turn about was fair play. “So you’ve decided to let me work on the audit?”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Only because I’m finding myself drawn in too many directions.” He gave her another sideways glance. “I’ve got some legal issues going on concerning the foundation right now. If I don’t deal with them, the foundation could fold before it really even has a chance to get up and running.”

Now she felt petty for pushing him about the audit stuff. She hadn’t known matters had gotten so serious with the foundation’s problems. Occasionally she saw some of the foundation’s paperwork as it came through, but evidently she’d missed anything problematic.

“
I really can help you with the audit. That should free up your time for focusing on these legal matters, whatever they are.”

Although it really wasn’t any of her business, she wished he’d confide in her what the matters were. Maybe it would help if he talked them out with someone who wasn’t legally or financially interested in the foundation. But she doubted he would open up to her about any of it.
Baby steps
, she reminded herself. Everything with him involved baby steps. The man simply didn’t like relying on anyone else, except maybe Greg, and then only in connection with the day-to-day running of the ranch.

The rest of the ride to Dodge City was quiet. Drew was lost somewhere in his problems, and Tanya took the time to really look at the area. It wasn’t as barren and unappealing as she’d first thought, or as she’d told Mandy. In a way, she liked the openness. You could see forever it seemed. And with spring only a week away, the prairie was almost completely back to life and out of hibernation from the sometimes harsh western Kansas winters that she’d heard the men talk about. In truth, she didn’t even miss stopping in at a Starbucks every morning on her way to work. She certainly didn’t miss the constant traffic issues she’d had to deal with every day. No, she felt oddly content…except for butting heads with the stubborn rancher, that is. And sometimes she kind of enjoyed their minor skirmishes.

“
I could use a cup of coffee, maybe some eggs, too. You hungry?” Drew asked, breaking the silence. They were on the outskirts of town now and he pulled into the parking lot of a small diner.

“
I haven’t eaten yet, so, yes, I’m hungry.” Now that he brought it up, she was famished.

With a nod, he parked in one of the few open spots out front of the 50’s-looking diner. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of their eating together; usually she ate something simple back in her little house. Their relationship pretty much revolved around business. They’d shared some heated moments, too, mainly involving spankings. But he’d also kissed her…

“
You coming?” he asked, opening the passenger door of his big Suburban.

Blushing, she realized she’d been sitting there pondering the man who’d not only paddled her yesterday but also turned her on with just his normal grouchy expression. How bizarre was that?

Avoiding looking directly at him, she climbed out of the cab only to find herself standing extremely close to him. She breathed in his outdoorsy/leathery scent, so incredibly masculine, so enticing. She felt the warmth of his big body only inches away. Even in her four-inch heels he towered over her.

“
Sorry,” she finally managed to mumble as she stepped slightly away from his personal space.

When she looked up, there was an odd look in his eyes. Arousal? No, she had to be imagining that.

Then he put a hand on her elbow and led her into the building. Her heart fluttered the entire time he escorted her through the semi-full diner to a booth at the far corner. At least a dozen people had looked at them curiously, well, looked at her curiously. Several men of various ages, mostly ranch hands or ranchers—from the way they dressed similar to Drew—had greeted him with a ‘Hey!’ or a friendly nod. But he’d not stopped to chat with any of them. Getting her to the booth seemed to be of utmost importance to him.

Tanya scooted onto the worn, red vinyl bench opposite him. She was curious about his attitude but leery of asking him about it. Still, she was relieved to no longer feel his hand on her arm. His touch had made her quiver inside, made her feel warm in a place that she wasn’t sure she wanted to feel that way with him.

Watching him settle onto the other bench and carefully set his hat brim up on the seat beside him, she took a second to try and calm down. Not happening. She’d spent too many nights dreaming about what his hard muscled body would look like naked. A lot of time thinking about him sliding into bed with her…or her sliding into his king-sized bed with him. She’d also spent considerable time wondering how it would feel having him moving deep inside her.
So
not
calming down here
, she thought, her body all too interested in Drew Weatherford.

“
So wrong,” she muttered under her breath, grabbing for one of the menus propped next to the napkin box to focus on something else.

“
What?” Drew asked.

She looked up, feeling her cheeks heat from her wandering thoughts. “Nothing.”

He started to press her about what she’d said…maybe about her flaming cheeks, but, thankfully, a white-haired, pleasantly plump waitress in her 60’s or 70’s approached their table.

“
Your usual, handsome?” the waitress asked, smiling down at them. She was already pouring him a cup of coffee.

With his nod, she looked at Tanya. “You must be Drew’s new bookkeeper.” She glanced down at Tanya’s gauzy, low-cut top. “Love that, the skirt, too. Oh, and I noticed those high-heeled sandals as you walked by. Wish I could wear something like them, instead of these thick-soled, old-lady sensible shoes.” She stuck out a foot and pursed her lips in disgust.

“
Thank you,” Tanya said. She’d caught Drew studying her top, too, apparently very interested in the way it teased with a look at a lacy, red camisole underneath the white gauze top. He hadn’t said anything, of course. But his eyes had shown definite male interest. She’d also seen him frown —as usual—at her choice of footwear earlier.

He was frowning again and the waitress noticed and laughed. “Ain’t nothing proper except boots and the like, in this here cowboy’s opinion.”

When he scowled even more, she rolled her eyes and held up her notepad. “Anyway, pretty lady, what you want for breakfast? Eggs? Pancakes? Ham? We can pretty much fix anything.”

“
Vegetarian.” The way Drew made the announcement it was clear how disgusting he thought that food choice was.

The waitress laughed again, which greatly pleased Tanya and lightened her mood. “Ain’t nothing wrong with not being a meat-eater. Why, there was a time when I considered…” She laughed once more. “Didn’t consider the idea long, though. I like the taste of beef too much. Still, ain’t nothing at all wrong with being a vegetarian.”

If the subject didn’t change soon, Tanya thought that vein pulsing in the side of Drew’s neck might explode. “I’d just like some oatmeal and fresh fruit, if you have any. And some coffee.”

As the waitress walked away after one last smile, Tanya put the menu back and glanced around the building. “I’ve always loved these diners made to look old-fashioned.”

“
No ‘made to look’ to it,” Drew said, sounding calmer now. “Bert and Annie, the waitress who just admired those ridiculous shoes of yours, built the place back in the early 50’s.”

She met his gaze pointedly. “Do I talk bad about those scuffed up boots you wear all the time?”

He appeared taken aback by her comment and changed the subject. “So, you taking that job with Townsend or whatever the man’s name is?” He fiddled with unrolling his silverware from the paper napkin.

Annie set a coffee cup on the table and poured Tanya a cup full. “You quitting the Weatherford already?” She frowned at Drew. “You been mean to our pretty little gal?”

“
She was only hired temporarily, not that it’s
any
of your business, Annie.” He focused on straightening his silverware and she walked off with a huff.

Tanya couldn’t resist smiling at the older woman picking on her gruff boss with such ease. She wondered what Annie would think if she’d said, “Yes, he
has
been mean to me.” But that would have required an explanation when Annie pressed about
how
he’d been mean. Tanya sure wouldn’t want to explain that he’d spanked her, which was
mean
in her book.

Catching her by surprise, he leaned toward her and said quietly so no one else could overhear, “I know just what you were thinking. You got your butt burned for good cause, every time. Nothing
mean
about it.”

She pursed her lips, and then blew out a breath before saying pointedly, “We are
not
going to discuss
that
subject!”

Amusement flickered in his gaze as he sat back. “Fine with me. Private stuff anyway.”

Annoyed, she gritted out, “Back to Peter Townsend.” The way Drew’s expression hardened soothed her irritation with him. “I told Peter that I’m thinking about his offer.”

“
What kind of offer was it?” He didn’t sound overly excited to be talking about the subject, but then he’d brought it up.

She added some cream to her coffee and stirred it in. “Peter works for the same firm I did in Sacramento. We started about the same time. He’s decided to quit the firm after the end of this tax season. Evidently there aren’t too many staff people happy there now. Anyway, he wants to start another accounting firm in Sacramento, with me as his partner. It’d be a great opportunity. Really.”

“
I’m hearing a
but
,” Drew prodded.

“
I’m not sure I want to go back to Sacramento, other than to eventually pack up my stuff.” She took a quick sip of coffee. “I’ve been playing around with a few other ideas for my future. After I finish working for you, that is. Not that
I’m
the one in a hurry for me to leave your ranch.”

“
Our agreement—“ he began, stopping as a pair of suited men walked into the diner with clear intent as they looked around and caught his attention. They immediately walked toward their back table.

Irritation creased his forehead. “It’s not time for our meeting yet. I’ll be at my lawyer’s office after breakfast.”

Both men glanced down at Tanya. Definite interest sparked in their eyes, which Drew noted and bit out, “Ease off, boys.”

“
Drew!” Tanya chastised, both surprised and pleased by his reaction. She’d think more about it later, for now she offered the men a formal smile. “I’m Tanya Montrose. Mr. Weatherford’s accountant.”

Nodding, the taller, slightly older man focused on Drew. “So you’ve decided to hire someone to help you with that audit after all. Good. Now you can concentrate on our business.”

The other man nodded approval as well. “Something else has come up. We—you, us, and possibly your attorney—need to go into Wichita and deal with some complications that came up late yesterday. Today.”

“
What complications?” Drew asked, sounding thoroughly annoyed. “I can’t just—“

“
I thought you said you have a good foreman capable of stepping in and running things whenever needed.” The first man didn’t look pleased at Drew’s resistance. “It’s needed. Today.”

Tanya watched Drew’s face tighten. He didn’t like being pressed about anything; he especially didn’t like being ordered around. She had a feeling that whatever this was about, it was serious. He could be stubborn later. This foundation business meant a lot to him. Knowing she’d probably pay some kind of consequences later, she stepped into the conversation. “He does have a good foreman.”

Both men glanced at Tanya, the older man continuing, “And you’re probably capable of handling any small financial issues concerning the ranch for a day or two. Am I correct?”

Drew glowered. “She’s more than capable.”

Again, his quick defense of her—even if it wasn’t at all necessary—surprised her. She held that to her heart and pinned Drew with a challenging look. “You know I can handle things. And so can Greg.”

She could see he really wanted to be stubborn about the matter, refuse to go on such short notice. Then he grudgingly said, “I can leave in an hour or so.”

“
Wise decision,” the older man confirmed, as they turned away and then stopped. He faced Drew once more. “Pack for a few days at least. It might take until the end of the week to get our business settled.”

As the men left the diner and Annie brought their breakfast, the mood at the table soured again. Drew stabbed at his food, chewed angrily, and seemed to seethe inside. Tanya wasn’t sure about the problems and really wished she could help out somehow. But she felt happy just to have his silent confidence in her ability to handle the business side of the ranch while he was gone. She wouldn’t let him down. Actually, she was excited about the opportunity.