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Tyler Nelson was taking over her life Annie decided as she got ready for work the next morning. From the second he’d appeared in the grocery store, everything in her life had been in disarray. There was no escape.
Which was how it had always been with them. Growing up, she and Tyler had been inseparable. They’d done everything together. He had been her world.
Until he’d left her.
Then she’d been left to pick up the pieces all alone. Those first few weeks had been horrible. Even once she’d realized he’d been right to call off the wedding, she still couldn’t get over her resentment for the way it had happened.
He was right. He should have handled it better.
But now he was everywhere. In the grocery store. Having dinner at her house. Picking up Courtney from day care.
And most annoyingly, in her dreams.
She had woken up this morning realizing that for the first time in years, she had dreamt about him. And it bothered her. A lot.
Tyler still had the same impact on her he’d always had. And as much as she liked to pretend she was indifferent to him, she wasn’t. Far from it, which explained the kiss.
Life was so unfair. She shouldn’t still be attracted to the man after everything that had happened. She ought to be able to ignore him. But she’d be lying to herself if she said she could. As much as she hated to admit it, he still made her heart race when he was close.
“Stupid chemistry,” she muttered, helping Courtney put on her pants and top.
“Mistry,” Courtney said, looking at her mom.
“That’s right. Beware of chemistry,” she told the little girl.
Now if only she could figure out how to heed her own advice. She still felt drawn to Tyler, much in the same way she had been all those years ago. She didn’t want to feel this way, but nothing she did seemed to help.
And, of course, kissing him had made things so much worse, which was why she’d scooted him out the front door last night once they entered the house from the backyard. The less time they spent together, the better.
She couldn’t let the attraction she felt toward him cloud her better judgment. She needed to be the voice of reason when it came to expanding the business. Sure, only some of her money came from the ranch, but that was because their small horse farm couldn’t support her parents, her brother, and her. If she had her way, she’d love to spend all her time working with the horses, but that hadn’t been a reality.
She wasn’t sure it would be a reality with the new arrangement either. Tyler said she would be able to work with the horses, but she’d have to see how things turned out.
Once Courtney was dressed, Annie carried her into the living room. Brett had promised to drop the little girl off at day care this morning so that Annie could head into Amarillo for a meeting with a bookkeeping client. She placed Courtney in the playpen to wait.
“Purr,” Courtney said, tugging on Annie’s jacket. She smiled, knowing her daughter was trying to say pretty.
When the doorbell rang, Annie went over and opened it. Brett stood on the front stoop, a broad grin on his face.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said, walking into the living room. Like Annie, Brett had inherited their father’s blond hair and blue eyes. “I got the car seat back from Tyler, so I’m good to go.”
“In a minute,” she said. “I think we should talk.”
“Uh-oh.” He sat on the sofa, his initial smile replaced by a frown when he saw her expression. “What’s up?”
She sat next to him. “You tell me. Dad explained to me that he wants to retire, and he’s asked Tyler Nelson to join our ranch with his. What exactly is Tyler buying?”
Brett’s guilty look told her what she wanted to know. He was involved in this right up to his eyebrows. What she didn’t understand was why. Brett had never been a friend of Tyler’s, so why the sudden urge to go into business with him?
“Dad should have waited to talk to you about it. Nothing’s definite yet,” Brett said.
“But you two have been talking to Tyler, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I called him a while ago to see if there was anything we could work out. I did it for Dad. He’s tired, Annie. He deserves to retire.”
Annie knew her brother was right. Their father had slowed down recently, and she knew some days were rough on him. “I know.”
“Yeah, so I figured Tyler was our best bet. And hey, since his ranch has stopped raising cattle, he agreed he could raise horses. It would only make sense for him to join us. If he buys into our business, then Dad and Mom will have enough to retire.”
“But what exactly is he buying?” she asked again. “Will he own our ranch?”
“No. He won’t own it, just like we won’t own his ranch. We’ll use the land on the two ranches, but each family will still own their ranch. What he’s buying is a partnership in our business. I’ll still get to do what I love, work with horses. Tyler loves horses, too, and now he also can work with them. With this much land, we can really expand, and I think we’ll be great together. And you can keep doing what you’ve always done—both working with horses and keeping the books. Except now there’ll be enough money to keep this business afloat. Dad may have an excellent reputation, but his business isn’t big enough to compete with the huge horse farms down south.”
Annie knew the ranch had a good reputation. She also knew they needed money. But was that enough?
“What happens if something goes wrong?” she asked.
Brett looked at her and raised one eyebrow. “It won’t. Tyler wants to join our business. He’s buying out Dad and joining me.” When Annie frowned at him, he added, “And you. Let’s face it, if we don’t do something, we’ll be out of business soon. We aren’t selling enough horses to let me earn a decent salary. Dad does okay because Mom was a teacher and collects her retirement, but I’m not married. I can’t live on my tiny salary. And you’re no longer even taking a salary from this business. If we join with Tyler, our horse farm will be big enough to compete. We can even specialize if we want.”
His comments stopped any protest from Annie. She did the books for the business, and she knew how little her brother made. “You’ll earn a good salary?”
Brett nodded, then told her a number that made her stop. “Why so much?”
With a grin, Brett said, “See what having money can do? All his ranch hands start at a great salary. Plus, they get benefits. Tyler talked his father into this pay arrangement years ago. That’s why people work for the Nelson ranch forever. Except right now, not much is going on at their ranch. He needs to do something to bring in business and justify keeping the ranch.”
On the surface, the deal seemed great. But how could her brother not see all the worms he’d let out of the can? Brett would be bulldozed at every turn because he was too nice. Tyler would own the bigger share of the business than they did, so he could make all sorts of decisions.
“Brett, this has bad news written all over it. Tyler is a lawyer. He knows how to draw up a contract that can really destroy us.”
“But he won’t. And we’ll have our own lawyer review it. Tyler insists we have a real tough lawyer on our side.” He looked at Annie, then added, “You have to go along with this. The money will let Dad retire.”
She looked into Brett’s face and knew he wasn’t seeing things clearly. Despite his bulky size, Brett was a sweetheart. He would never trample another human being, and to his way of thinking, neither would Tyler.
“Brett, I just don’t know . . .”
Brett leaned forward. “Annie, what choice is there? Dad is tired of working. He can’t retire at the moment because he and Mom don’t have enough money. I do all the work now, but there isn’t enough to support me, let alone Mom and Dad. This idea solves all our problems. I get to stay with the career I love, and Dad gets to retire. Everyone wins. Tyler is saving us.”
Annie thought about what he was saying. Everything sounded great. Perfect, in fact. Both her parents and her brother would have enough money to live comfortably, which was important. She was happy for them, but she also was worried.
If everything was so perfect, why did she still feel like this was a mistake?
She forced herself to take a deep breath and tried a different approach. “I can’t help wondering why he’d even want to get involved with us. He’s a hotshot lawyer.”
“He wants to give up his law practice and move back home. He wants to make a change. You should talk to him.” When she frowned, he said, “I mean really talk to him. Just sit down and have a long talk.”
“We talked last night,” she said.
“Talk to him about the business,” he said. “But also talk to him about the past and what happened. You two need to slay that dragon and put it to rest.”
Annie couldn’t exactly say why, but the deal really bothered her. Still, talking with Brett wasn’t getting her anywhere. His mind was made up. So was her father’s.
Which meant she needed to find a way to deal with this, so maybe she would have a long conversation with Tyler.
Maybe it was time.
**
“I think something bad is going to happen,” Annie said at lunch. She’d just gotten back from Amarillo and joined two of her childhood friends, Ella King and Blair Collins Wilson, at a small diner on Main Street. Ella had recently moved back to town, and Blair had gotten married a couple of years ago and was expecting a baby. Both of their lives were progressing nicely, but not Annie’s. Her life was a mess.
“Why do you say that?” Ella asked, peeking over the menu. “It sounds like a normal business deal.”
“I agree. I bet your father, Brett, and Tyler are putting together a nice deal that will benefit everyone,” Blair said. “Ethan works with problem horses all over the state and when I told him, he said there are lots of opportunities for the business if you all can grow it so you can compete.”
Everyone stopped talking for a minute when a waiter came over. While he was talking to the other two, Annie tried to put her feelings into words. She just couldn’t find a way to capture her emotions in a way that she could express to other people. She was scared and a little hurt about the business deal. She also was nervous about the attraction she felt toward Tyler, and she was worried that her attraction would distract her from what mattered—protecting her family.
After the waiter left, Annie said, “Something bad could happen.”
Ella laughed. “Something good could also happen. Wish on a falling star. There should be a shower tomorrow night.”
“Yes, be sure to do that,” Blair said. “Ethan and I both made wishes the last time there was a meteor shower, and I know we’ll make wishes tomorrow night as well.”
“Me, too,” said Ella.
Annie laughed. “No offense, but that’s just silly. Wishing on falling stars doesn’t do anything. We all know that.”
“Hey. Who knows that?” Blair said with a shrug. “Besides, it can’t hurt.”
Annie was about to say something negative when the waiter appeared with the food. It was ridiculous that her friends suggested this as a possibility. Sure, all three of them had been part of a group of friends who’d hung out when they were teens. They called themselves the Falling Star Stars, and each time there was a meteor shower, they’d gotten together and made wishes. But then they’d grown up.
“I can tell from your expression that you think it’s phooey, but you never can tell,” Ella said. “Give it a try for us.”
Annie sighed. “If I say okay, can we talk about my problem?”
Both women nodded. “Sure,” Blair said, “But I don’t see where there’s a problem. Have a good lawyer look at the documents and make sure there aren’t any surprises. Then encourage your father to sign.”
“Yep, I agree,” said Ella. “This deal with Tyler is going to be great for your whole family. Wish upon a star tonight that the deal goes through.”
Anything Annie wanted to say at this point would come across as being bitter. She wasn’t. She was just cautious. And no offense to Ella, but wishing on a star wasn’t going to ensure this deal worked out.
Keeping a level head would.
**
“I don’t think Annie is happy,” Tyler said dryly. He walked over to the corral fence. Brett was watching a ranch hand exercise a horse. “So, what do you think I should do to change her mind?”
Brett sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s against this. I thought she might be. That’s why I put off telling her about it.”
“So how do we change her mind?” Tyler asked again.
“I don’t know. I know I don’t stand a chance of convincing her. I’m just her brother. She never listens to a thing I say.” He gave Tyler a long, assessing look. “But maybe you can bring her around.”
“How? She doesn’t trust me.”
Brett stopped the ranch hand and gave him a few directions. Then he looked at Tyler. “This morning when I talked to her, I got the sense that what really bothered her was that we worked this out behind her back. Maybe Dad and I were wrong. Maybe we should have talked it over with her.”
Tyler admitted, “She would still feel the same way even if you had. I’m not sure she likes me anymore. Just when I start to think she does, something happens that makes me think she doesn’t. It’s . . .”
“Annoying? Frustrating?” Brett suggested.
“Yes.”
Brett chuckled. “For a smart man, you’re pretty dumb sometimes.”
Tyler wanted to argue the point, but he didn’t have a lot to defend himself with. He did feel dense when it came to dealing with Annie. If there was a wrong way to handle the situation, he’d pick it.
“So what should I do now?” he asked.
Brett shrugged. “I told her that the two of you should sit down and talk about the past. You need to tell each other how you feel.”
Tyler sighed. Of course that was the best way to handle the problem, but he was very reluctant to do that. Last night hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped, but he wanted this deal to work out, for lots of reasons, so he had to try. He looked at Brett. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Spoken like a brave man,” Brett said.
**
When the doorbell rang, Annie glanced out the window and saw Brian, the husband of the couple who owned the local floral shop standing on her front porch. She opened the front door, stunned to see the bouquet he was holding. Small, delicate pick roses were interspersed with white lilies and baby’s breath. The flowers sat in a stunning pink glass vase.
In his other hand, he held a white box.
“These are for you,” he said, handing the bouquet to Annie. He looked at Courtney, who was standing next to her mom. “And this is for you.”
“Who sent these?” she asked.
“Read the card,” he said, then with a wave, he headed back to his truck.
Annie was pretty sure she knew who had sent the flowers, but she nudged Courtney back inside and set the arrangement on the dining room table. She snagged the card before joining Courtney on the couch.
The little girl was trying desperately to open the white box, so Annie took it from her and helped her pull off the lid.
Inside was a flowing purple cape with sparkling silver stars. The card on top said it was a princess cape.
“It’s a princess cape,” she told Courtney, taking it out of the box.
“Nincess,” Courtney said, then she squealed and climbed off the couch. “On Ma. On Ma.”
The cape was beautiful, indeed fit for any princess. Annie had no idea where Tyler had found it—or how he’d even thought of it.
But her daughter was in heaven. Annie helped put the cape on Courtney, who then raced around the living room, the shimmering cape flapping behind her. She was giggling and hooting and having an amazing time.
Smiling, Annie grabbed her phone and took a lot of pictures. Then she opened her card. As expected, the gifts were from Tyler. The card said, “Have dinner with me tomorrow night and we can talk.” His cell phone number was at the bottom.
Annie sat for a moment, looking at the card. Then she picked up her phone. Rather than call, she took the coward’s way out and sent him a text that simply said yes.
Then she wandered over and looked at the flowers. They were stunning. The pink roses especially touched her. When they’d been a couple, Tyler had bought her flowers a few times, and they’d always contained pink roses. He’d known they were her favorite.
And apparently, he hadn’t forgotten.
The kind gesture got to her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had done something so sweet. She and Paul hadn’t really been together very long. They’d had a whirlwind romance that had ended only a few weeks after the wedding when he died. Still, she’d loved him.
But she’d also loved Tyler. Tonight showed that he still knew how to get to her, and she suddenly realized she really needed to be careful around him. He hadn’t lost his ability to break through her defenses. All those years ago, he’d been everything she’d imagined, funny and smart plus kind and caring. He’d had everything a woman wanted in a man.
Everything except the ability to make their love last forever.
**
As Tyler drove to Annie’s house, he refused to listen to all the self-doubt floating through his head. His intentions were good, and all he had to do was get Annie to see that. He could do a lot for her entire family, and Brett really would be an asset to his ranch. All he needed to do was convince her to forgive him for the past . . . and trust him in the future.
Which sounded easy but was probably a tall order.
His little inner pep talk did nothing to raise his confidence. Once at her house, he parked and walked up to her door. He tapped, then waited impatiently, unsure of the reception he’d get.
Annie opened the door. She was wearing a pretty flowered dress and had a smile on her face, which was a good sign.
“Thank you again for the flowers,” she said, leading him into the living room. “And the cape. I’m certain Courtney feels you are the most wonderful person she’s ever met. I had problems getting her to sleep last night, and just so you know, I bet she’ll want to wear it tonight to dinner. I hope you don’t mind, but I couldn’t get a sitter.”
Tyler didn’t mind at all. In fact, Courtney would give them something to talk about if the conversation lagged. “I’d love for her to come.”
After Annie sat on the sofa, he dropped into the pale-blue chair facing her.
“Great,” she said. “We can drive by day care and pick her up, then head to the restaurant.”
He nodded, unsure how to approach this evening. “Okay.”
She gave him a somewhat skeptical look. “Okay? You seem very agreeable tonight.”
“I’m always agreeable,” he said, but when she gave him a knowing look, he chuckled. “Okay, mostly I’m agreeable. And I’m glad you’re willing to go to dinner. I think it’s a good thing that we’re talking about the past.”
For a few seconds, she just looked at him. Then she said, “I’m not really sure what there is to talk about.”
“Then I’ll start.” He took a deep breath, then holding her gaze, he said, “I really wanted to marry you. I was desperately in love with you, but we had both just graduated high school. My father wanted me to go to college, and he figured if we got married, I’d never end up going. So he talked me into breaking the engagement. I feel terrible for how it happened and how I handled it.”
“You mean calling me with the news in the middle of the night and then disappearing?” She said these words flatly, almost as if she didn’t care, but Tyler knew better. He could sense the tension she was feeling.
“Yes, I mean that. I did a terrible thing, and I’m truly sorry. I don’t know what else to say, but just because I did something incredibly hurtful and stupid as a kid doesn’t mean I’ll do the same thing now as an adult.” He leaned forward, needing her to understand. “I have no intention of hurting you or your family. I think this business deal is good for all of us. Sure, it helps me, but it also helps your father and your brother.” After a pause, he added, “And you. It helps you.”
She sighed, and he couldn’t help wishing he knew what she was thinking. “I know that’s the plan, but—”
“You’re afraid I’ll do something devious, right? Something to destroy the company?” He laughed, but his laughter died at the look she gave him. He ran his hand through his hair. “Look, Annie, I know we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. And I apologize, but I’m not out to hurt you or your family. In fact, quite the opposite. I really want to help.”
“Why us? Why are you even bothering? Don’t you have a law firm in New York that needs you?”
The truth was the only answer he had. “I’m sick of practicing law. I want to do something different.”
Her expression didn’t soften. “What about your family? Isn’t your mother upset that you’re leaving your law firm? Not too many years ago, the fact that my dad owned a small horse farm drove your family nuts. Remember that, Tyler?”
Tyler deserved that, and he knew it. “They were wrong then, and so was I. I should have stopped them. But Mom is very sorry. So am I. What can I do to convince you?”
Rather than answer his question, she asked, “How can we make sure this deal is fair to us?”
He didn’t blame her for being suspicious. He knew dropping this bomb on her had to be a shock. The frustrating part was he actually thought he’d made some progress convincing her to trust him over the past few days. He didn’t want to lose that progress.
“Annie, I think it’s important that you and your family have an attorney on your side who will make sure your interests are protected.”
Her eyes reminded him of the sea during a storm. “I agree. But why should I trust you?”
He played the only ace he had. “Because it’s important to your father. He built this business. He made it his life. But now he wants something else, and you can give it to him. Don’t you think he deserves some time off after all he’s given your family over the years?”
As he watched pain form in her eyes, he knew what he’d said was a low blow. But it was also the truth. Herb Lee wanted this to happen. The capital Tyler had would give Herb financial security. Brett’s new job would enable him to fare well in the deal. And Annie would be able to work for the horse farm full-time.
That is, if they could get her to agree and to stop fussing. He knew her family didn’t want to proceed with the deal without her approval.
He also didn’t want to proceed without her approval.
She finally said, “I need to talk to my parents some more. I haven’t heard what my mother thinks.”
Tyler nodded. “I understand. That’s fair.” He stood and headed toward the front door. “Everything will work out,” he said, hoping it was true. “So let’s go pick up Courtney and have a nice evening.”
**
He was being charming, Annie decided when they pulled up in front of her house after dinner. Tyler had been helpful and fun at the restaurant. They had ended up at a family barbeque restaurant, which was mobbed. Once they were seated, he’d entertained Courtney with a variety of games and funny songs. He had been silly and sweet, and Annie couldn’t help but feel the attraction she always felt near him. What could be more special than a man who was wonderful with children?
Once Courtney was busy scribbling with crayons supplied by the restaurant, they talked a little about the business deal, but mostly they talked about their lives and their plans. He’d explained why he wanted to leave law, and she’d explained her desire to work with horses full-time.
As the time passed, she remembered all the reasons she’d fallen for him in the past. Truthfully, the dinner couldn’t have gone better.
After he parked his truck, Tyler got Courtney out of her car seat. She had long since fallen asleep, so Annie went ahead and opened the front door.
“Let’s put her in her bed,” she said, leading the way.
Tyler followed behind her, and once they were in Courtney’s room, he placed her gently on the bed. Annie quickly changed the toddler into her pajamas, and then quietly, they left the room.
“I’ll get her car seat,” he said after she’d shut the door to the toddler’s room.
Annie followed him outside. When they reached the side of his truck, he turned to face her.
“Look up,” he said softly. “And make a wish.”
Annie did as he said and immediately saw a falling star. Without thinking, she made a wish, just as she always had throughout her life. Although she’d told her friends she thought the practice was silly, she couldn’t stop herself from making a wish.
For a few minutes, she and Tyler stood outside her house, watching the falling stars. At first, the stars fell fairly often, but when they slowed, Tyler opened the door to the truck and retrieved Courtney’s car seat.
Once he had it, they headed toward Annie’s car, and Tyler reinstalled the car seat. Annie watched him, unable to think of a thing to say because her mind seemed to have gone blank. All she could think about was how much she wanted to kiss Tyler.
When he turned to look at her in the pale light from the moon, she found herself holding her breath. She could tell from his expression that he was feeling the same overwhelming desire she felt, and she wasn’t surprised when he leaned toward her.
“Annie,” he said.
And then he kissed her. Or she kissed him. She honestly wasn’t sure. All she knew was suddenly they were kissing. And kissing. And kissing.
The years seemed to slip away, and suddenly Annie felt eighteen again, young and in love. She’d missed Tyler more than she’d realized, and the kiss held so much promise.
He ran one hand through her hair, and Annie murmured softly. Before she could do anything else, a cry from inside her house pulled them apart. Annie spun on her heel and rushed inside. Courtney was sitting up in bed, crying.
“Is she okay?” Tyler asked from the doorway.
Annie hadn’t realized he’d followed her, but she wasn’t surprised he had. She nodded and picked a stuffed animal off the floor. “She woke up, and her aardvark was gone.”
“There’s a sentence you don’t hear often,” he said with a chuckle.
Annie laughed softly and rubbed her daughter’s back. “True. But she loves Andy the Aardvark.”
Tyler nodded. “I can see why. Who wouldn’t love him?”
His silliness erased any awkwardness she was feeling. Instead, they simply smiled at each other for a few seconds, then Tyler said, “I’d better head out.”
“Okay.”
Then, before he could leave, Annie stood and walked over to him. She leaned up and kissed him. “Have a good evening.”
With a chuckle, he said, “I already have.”
**
Annie couldn’t remember the last time her mother had looked so happy. Her smile was almost too big for her face, and Annie had the feeling that her father’s sudden decision to retire wasn’t so sudden after all. Annie had decided to stop by during lunch and talk to her mother about the sale. But one look at Fran’s face said it all. Like everyone else, she thought it was a great idea.
“Did they tell you?” her mother asked, that high-voltage smile of hers not wavering at all.
Annie nodded and wandered into the living room. As she sat in the chair facing her mother, the unsettled feeling she’d had all morning kicked into overdrive. In some corner of her mind, Annie had thought her mother might offer a different perspective. But one look at her mother’s happy face answered any questions she had. “Yes, I know about the deal. But I’m not sure about it.”
Her mother’s expression crumbled slightly, and Annie felt like a heel. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“I’m just not sure.” Annie couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this guilty. But why couldn’t any of them see the potential problems with this idea? Sure, she and Tyler were getting along these days—more than getting along—but so many things could go wrong.
“Why not?”
“Lots of reasons. For starters, he knows nothing about the business,” Annie said, stating the most obvious and objective reason she had. “Have you and Dad had time to really think this through?”
“Yes, we have. You know, your dad has wanted to sell his part of the business for a long time. Tyler’s the perfect solution—he’s got the capital, and we know him. Plus, Tyler’s lived on a ranch and been around horses. In addition, your brother’s new job really sets him up.”
“Mom, up until a few days ago, the only thing we knew about Tyler was he’s the type to dump his fiancée,” Annie pointed out, not sure why this idea bothered her so much, but it did. Every time she thought she was okay with it, she quickly discovered she wasn’t.
Her mother shook her head slowly. “That’s not true. Tyler grew up here. We’ve known his family for years.”
Her family had caught some sort of floating amnesia. None of them had a firm grip on the past. “His parents insisted he not marry me because I wasn’t good enough for him.”
The frown on her mother’s face deepened. “And you were too young. Look, I know he hurt you, honey. He hurt all of us, but he was a kid. You were a kid. That was a long time ago. Plus, this is different. This is business.”
“I’m only mentioning the past because I think it shows what could happen.”
Her mother sighed. “Could happen. Not will absolutely happen. And I’m sorry to hear you feel this way because I think the deal is already set. I told the boys they should talk to you first, but they didn’t want to. Your father thought it would be better to just let you know once the plans were final.”
And Annie knew exactly why they all thought that—she’d object. Her father, her brother, and Tyler had known she would try to stop it.
Annie leaned forward in her chair and placed her hand on her mother’s leg. “I’m not trying to cause problems. I just don’t think now is a good time to change anything. Can’t Brett and I buy Dad out of the business?”
Her mother quoted a price that made Annie’s blood chill. “That’s what Tyler is paying your father. Do you and Brett have that much money?”
Annie didn’t know anyone who had that much money. “Tyler’s overpaying. The business isn’t worth that much.”
“He feels it is.”
Annie started to tell her mother just what she thought of Tyler’s plans, but the front door opened, and her father came in, smiling. Looking at Annie, he said, “I thought you might stop by here at lunch.” He dropped down on the couch next to her mother and gave her a quick kiss.
“I wanted to know how Mom felt about your selling,” Annie said.
“Did you know Annie’s upset about it?” her mother asked.
“Still?” Her father looked so surprised that Annie almost laughed. It had been only a few days since this bombshell had been dropped on her. It was hardly long enough for her to grow accustomed to the idea. She tried one last time. “Are you really sure Tyler is the right person?”
“Tyler’s the only person interested in our business,” her father said. “Not a lot of people are interested in a small-time horse ranch.”
That wasn’t true, but Annie would agree that not many people would offer her father and brother the same deal Tyler was. In fact, she was fairly certain no one else would offer them that deal. Looking at the joy on her parents’ faces reinforced what she already knew—the deal was done.
Annie sighed. “I just wish you’d discussed it with me earlier.”
“Honey, we know how change upsets you,” her mother said.
Annie nodded. Yes, they knew that, plus they knew she’d try to talk them out of it. But her parents looked so happy, it would be selfish of her not to at least try to be happy for them. She couldn’t stand in the way of her parents’ future. They deserved this good fortune.
So she’d hope for the best.
**
Tyler loved the smell of a freshly cleaned barn the way some people loved the smell of apple pie. He’d never mentioned this to his friends because they’d think he was crazy, but it was true. That smell immediately filled him with happy memories of the handful of precious days he’d spent over the last few years working with them.
But he still was as proud of his family’s ranch as a new father was of his baby. Now that he was back in Falling Star and back at the house, he wanted to tend to the ranch so that it would last for generations to come.
Luckily, his ranch was already set up for the new expansion. The barn near the house was huge, and he had lots of room to build another if needed.
That was assuming the deal went forward and Annie agreed to it. One thing about Annie—she let people know what she thought. Even when they were teenagers, she’d told him her opinions straight out without any sugarcoating. At that time, the girls at school had tended to fawn over him, so Annie’s dead-on comments had been both annoying and intriguing. When it came right down to it, the reason he’d asked her out in the first place was because she wasn’t impressed by his family or his reputation. She’d seen him differently than other girls had, which had been an unusual experience.
Tyler was standing in the barn, looking at the house when he saw Annie drive up the driveway. As she parked, he walked across the grass to the front porch. He was happy to see her. Last night had been great, and he only hoped she still felt the same way he did. He hadn’t thought she’d still get to him after all these years, but she did. He liked the sparkle in her eyes and the sound of her laughter. Annie still had the power to kick his pulse into high gear.
“Hi. What brings you here?” he asked. He waited until she sat in one of the wooden rocking chairs on the front porch, then he sat next to her.
“We need to talk,” she said, folding her hands in her lap.
“Sure. About the deal?” he asked.
“Kind of.” For a few moments, she sighed and just rocked in the chair. Even though she was as pretty as ever, she looked tired, and Tyler felt bad about that. He wanted to stand behind her and rub her neck and temples until her headache disappeared, but he knew better than to try.
Finally, she said, “Promise me you won’t cheat them.”
Her comment hurt. He’d thought they’d been making progress the past few days, but she still didn’t trust him. He knew she was attracted to him, but she didn’t trust him. “You know, you may find I’m not as terrible as you expect.”
She frowned at him. “I know that. I’m just worried.”
“I know,” he said. “But we could be terrific together.”
The look she gave him was doubtful. “I guess.”
“I’ll pick up any work your father’s been doing. Plus, there’ll be enough money to expand. It’s going to be great.” He tried to keep his tone professional, but he couldn’t keep enthusiasm from entering his voice. “Really, think about it. We’ll both be able to spend our days working with horses.”
“So you’ll work with the horses? Help with the artificial insemination?” she asked.
Tyler shrugged. “Sure. I grew up on this ranch when we ran cattle. I’ve done dirty work before, and I’m willing to do it again.”
“Well, the vet does most of it for us, but you’d still have a lot to do,” she said. “Not everything can be shuffled off to ranch hands.”
He was trying to figure out where she was going with this. “I know what will be involved.”
He could see how tense she was by the expression on her face. “You’re not going to leave, are you?” she asked.
“No. I won’t leave,” he said. Buying into this business had been a smart decision, not only because he’d make a good profit on his investment, but also because he knew he’d have a terrific time doing it. Unlike with the law firm, on the ranch he’d feel like he was actually accomplishing something.
She looked at him for a long moment, then she asked, “Is that a promise?”
Tyler nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I promise I won’t leave.”
“Okay. Then I’ll agree,” was all she said. She stood, walked to her car, and drove away, leaving Tyler sitting on the porch.
As he watched her drive away, he made a vow to himself as well. He would keep his promise to Annie . . . no matter what it took.