Waiting on a Cowboy, page 11
He went back to the house, missing her being there with him already. It made him stop on the porch and turn to the vast ranch and confront his memories of his time here and what it felt like now. He loved working here, but he wanted more in his life.
He and Liz had been a part of each other’s lives forever. They had shared many experiences and a gazillion conversations. It seemed like enough. He enjoyed what they had and felt lucky to have a friend like her. But he wanted them to join their lives in a more meaningful and permanent way.
They were moving in that direction, but the desire to hurry it all up and get to what he really wanted surprised him. The more he thought about the concept of him and Liz, the more he wanted it. Her. Them to be an us.
He never expected things to go like this, this fast. But there it was. And he was ready for more.
Chapter Twelve
Tate jumped when someone put their hands over his eyes, but he immediately recognized the smaller hands as a woman’s and smiled, hoping it was the woman he hadn’t expected to see today.
“Surprise,” Liz said, moving her hands to his shoulders as she leaned over him and kissed his cheek.
He grabbed the file he’d been using to fix the mare’s hoof, stood, turned to Liz, and got himself a real kiss. “I thought you were having dinner with your folks today.”
She shrugged. “I turned Sunday dinner into Sunday lunch so I could come out here and see you for a couple hours.”
“Did you get your laundry and other stuff done?”
“For the most part. I might have gone down the rabbit hole on a couple of design shows.”
He touched her back to get her to walk out of the horse’s stall ahead of him. “You’re obsessed with decorating.”
“No, I just like looking at all those pretty places. They’re all clean and neat when real life isn’t. My place is small, it’s just me, and I still can’t keep it as picture-perfect as those places look on TV.”
“I’m so glad you changed your plans and came out to the ranch to surprise me.”
“You don’t mind?”
To show her how much he appreciated her making the drive and taking the time, he kissed her softly, hoping to convince her to stay for dinner—and maybe the night.
He didn’t know if they were there yet.
With any other woman, he’d simply seduce her into inviting him back to her place.
But this was Liz.
And he didn’t want to go to her place, he wanted her right here with him, sharing his bed.
Big difference.
While he’d never brought anyone home to the ranch—because he shared the house with his siblings—he wanted Liz to stay.
He’d thought about it a lot yesterday and all day today.
She fit.
She belonged here.
It scared him. In a good way. Because it felt real and important and like he was on the cusp of changing his life and getting what he really wanted.
He didn’t expect them to go from friend to forever without taking the time to explore and experience this new phase of their relationship.
He didn’t want to rush.
He wanted to show her that this was important to him. She meant something to him. More than he’d ever let himself feel or acknowledge.
So he poured that into the kiss, hoping she understood and felt everything he didn’t know how to say to her.
His phone rang in his pocket.
He broke the kiss and stared into her dazed eyes, happy to see he’d made an impression. “Sorry. Trinity said she might need some help tonight at Almost Homemade.”
Liz swept her hands over his chest. “Take it.”
He wanted to take her up to the house and have his way with her. But he pulled the phone from his pocket and smiled at the caller ID. “Hey, Ma. How are you? What are you and Dad up to today?”
“Not much. I’m checking in on my kids.” She did that at least once a week no matter where they were on their cross-country tour.
“Where are you?”
“Yosemite. It’s beautiful here. Dad says hi. How are you?”
“I’m good. Great actually. A beautiful woman swung by for a surprise visit.” Tate winked at Liz.
She smiled, leaned in, and said, “Hi, Mrs. McGrath.”
“Is that Liz?”
“Yeah, Ma.” He brushed his hand over Liz’s hair and filled in his mom on the biggest change in his life. “She and I, well, we’re seeing each other now.”
“About time.”
He rolled his eyes. “What does that mean?”
Liz cocked up an eyebrow, wondering what his mom said to him.
“I knew eventually you’d want to settle down with her.” Absolute certainty filled her voice.
“You did?”
“You’ve loved her forever.” She said it as matter-of-factly as saying he liked beer.
Did everyone see what he’d missed all these years? “How did you know when I didn’t?”
“Tate, you picked her to be yours when you were still talking in one-word sentences. You looked at her, said, 'Mine,' and that was it. I saw it in you when you two played together. She’s been your friend and confidant your whole life. Most people drift apart as they get older and especially when they aren’t in school together anymore. Not you and Liz. You made a point to stick close to her. She did the same with you. I always thought you were meant to be. I bet her parents feel the same, though I bet her mother wants to know what’s taken you so long. Me, I know you needed time to live a little and decide what you wanted your life to be.” She sighed, and he imagined her raising her shoulders and holding up her hands, the way she did. “Boys take longer to figure things out.”
He rolled his eyes at that.
“Liz always knew,” his mom announced, like he didn’t already know that. “I’m glad you see it now.”
So was he. He’d never felt this hopeful about any of his other relationships.
“I hope you two will be happy together.” The warmth in her voice assured him she was happy for him and Liz.
“Thanks, Ma.” He weaved his fingers through Liz’s. “We’re figuring it out, but it feels right.”
Liz locked eyes with him. Her green eyes brightened with happiness and surprise that he’d say something so open and blunt to his mom and her. He hoped it eased her mind about just how serious he took their relationship and he really did want them to work out.
“It took you a long time to get here. Enjoy it. There’s no rush.”
Maybe not, but it felt like he needed to prove something to Liz, thanks to Clint and how he’d made her doubt Tate’s feelings and intentions.
He hoped the more time they spent together as a couple, the more she’d settle in and see the truth.
Clint better stay the hell away or Tate was going to have to take matters into his own hands and make sure Clint understood Tate wouldn’t tolerate him harassing Liz anymore.
“I’m hoping we can have a nice dinner tonight, maybe go for a walk on the property and look at the stars.”
“Sounds like a nice evening. It makes me happy to know you’re happy and looking to the future. Now, what’s going on with Declan? I got the ‘everything is fine’ line from him, but it sounded like something is bothering him.”
Tate got that same feeling, especially last night at dinner with Liz, but Declan hadn’t confided in him. “It’s business as usual around here for him.”
“I sometimes wonder if he spends too much time working instead of living. Reminds me of your father. That’s why I pushed for Dad to buy the RV and get away from that place for a while.”
“You guys getting tired of wandering, yet?”
“When we do, we settle into one spot. The Sierras are nice. We’ll probably stay awhile. We plan to come back and get a little place, especially since we’ll have a grandbaby soon. Or two,” she hinted with a teasing tone.
“And that’s my cue to say I’ll talk to you later.” Kids were not in his near future, but someday. A little girl with Liz’s dark red hair and her smile. A boy with her heart and his love for riding and the ranch. Though he bet any little girl of theirs would be wild for the horses, too, and just as bold as he and Liz.
“I’ll fuss over Drake and Adria’s little one. I really can’t wait to be a grandma. Those two went from meeting each other to getting married with lightning speed. You and Liz could take a little more time than they did.”
“Drake didn’t want to let her get away.”
“And you tethered yourself to Liz all these years. Reel her in, Tate.”
That made him chuckle. His mom didn’t usually weigh in on his relationships. But he appreciated how much she liked Liz for him. “I’m working on it.”
“Who knows, maybe your dad and I will be home for another wedding soon.” Take his time. A wedding soon. His mom needed to make up her mind.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.” But he could see it. Liz walking down the aisle to him dressed in a gorgeous white gown, her hair piled on top of her head, fiery tendrils dangling around her face and that smile she gave him every time she saw him.
“I thought you finally figured out you can’t fight fate.”
Yeah, he felt it now. They were meant to be. But that didn’t mean it would just happen. They were almost there, but they needed some time to settle in and figure out how to be a couple.
He’d never done that with another woman. He had relationships, but none that made him want to stick it out when things got tough. He and Liz knew how to be friends. They needed to learn how to be partners.
“I’m not fighting anything anymore.” He walked to where Liz stood a few feet away petting the mare and listening to his side of the conversation. He kissed her softly. “Gotta go, Ma. I want to spend more time with my girl.”
“Enjoy each other, Tate. Be happy.”
“We are.” Yesterday had been great. No pressure. No expectations. Just the two of them out for a ride, talking about nothing and everything, enjoying a few hours together.
They needed more time to explore the new closeness between them and allow themselves to explore their desire for each other.
“I’ll talk to you soon, Ma.” He hung up after their goodbyes and his promise that he’d keep in touch.
Liz reached out and tugged on his T-shirt. “It’s sweet that you told your mom about us.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t know already. I figured Declan, or especially Trinity, would have told her.”
“Maybe they weren’t sure you wanted anyone to know.”
He cupped her face. “I want everyone to know you’re my girlfriend.” He kissed her softly, his tongue sliding against hers in a long, slow sweep. If that didn’t convince her he wanted her, nothing would. “Besides, it seems like everyone but me knew we’d eventually end up together. I’m kind of kicking myself for taking so long to figure it out.”
The hesitant sweep of her hand over his chest felt more like her testing the waters of how much freedom she had to touch him. “It kind of still feels like a dream.”
He pressed her hand against his heart. “I’ve had a few fantasies of my own these last few days.”
A sexy smile spread across her lips. “Oh yeah?”
“They’re never as good as this.” He kissed her again, letting loose the reins on his desire and pulling her into his arms so her body fit against his. Every time he held her close, a ripple of awareness shot through him.
She felt it, too, and moved in closer, her thighs brushing his, her breasts pressed to his chest as she settled against him.
He swept one hand up her side and over the mound that fit his palm to perfection. He brushed his thumb over her hard nipple. She sighed and rubbed her belly against his hard shaft. It sent a bolt of lust through his system so hot he wanted to lay her out in the soft grass, strip her bare, kiss every inch of her creamy skin, and bury himself deep inside her.
His phone rang in his pocket. He ignored it and kept kissing Liz and making her moan every time he brushed his thumb over her nipple. He wanted to dip his head and suck the peaked bud into his mouth.
His phone dinged with a text. And then another.
Like a prize fighter at the bell, Liz broke the sexy kiss. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
He palmed her ass and pulled her snug against his throbbing erection. “I’m trying to answer another call.”
She smiled and laughed under her breath and hugged him closer. Just as her lips were about to touch his again, his phone dinged with another text. A breath away from his lips, she stared into his eyes with hers narrowed with concern. “Maybe it’s an emergency.”
“It’s definitely an urgent need.” He rocked his hard dick into her belly and groaned. Damn but she felt so good in his arms and they hadn’t even gotten their clothes off yet.
“Tate.”
“Fine.” He reluctantly let go of her very fine ass to pull his phone from his pocket. He swiped the screen with his thumb and stared at the notifications. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Trinity needs me at the store.” He let his head fall back and sighed.
Liz’s fingers slid into his hair. She pulled his head back up so she could look at him. “Another time.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “Count on it.” The mare nudged him in the back. He pushed her big head away, then looked down at Liz. “I don’t want to let you go, but I’ve got to get down to the store.”
“Go. Trinity needs you.” She slid her hand over the mare’s face. “I’ll head home and catch up on Outlander.”
He didn’t know what that was, and before thinking, words poured out of his mouth. “Or you could wait here for me. It’ll only be a couple of hours.”
She took a few seconds to think about it. “Um, that sounds good.” The tone didn’t back that up.
“But?”
“It’s a little odd to just go up to the house and hang with Declan while I wait for you to come home.”
He understood. It felt like everyone was watching them. Waiting.
Once he moved in to the cabin when Drake and Adria came home from their honeymoon and officially moved out, she probably wouldn’t mind. He couldn’t wait to have his own place and eliminate issues like this.
“How about dinner tomorrow after you get off work?”
Her shoulders relaxed as relief washed over her face. “That sounds great.” She gave him a shy smile. “Maybe we’ll end up back at my place.”
Usually going to the woman’s place sounded good, but not with Liz. He wanted her here. It seemed important to include her in his life here at the ranch. At home.
He didn’t say anything about that and kissed her softly. “I’m really glad you came by. I wish we could spend more time together.”
“I worried that showing up might make you feel like I’m crowding you.”
“Not at all.” He shook his head. “No. Don’t think that. I was bummed when you said you had Sunday dinner with your parents and I had a bunch of stuff to do here today. You can come and see me anytime you want. I really hope you’ll take me up on it as often as possible.”
She nodded, relief replacing the apprehension in her eyes. “I’d like that.”
He hugged her close. “Me too, Liz.” He brushed his fingers down the side of her beautiful face. “If I didn’t have to help Trinity, I’d stay here and show you how much I mean it.”
Liz placed her hand on his jaw and stared up at him. “I know you mean it, Tate. I’ll see you soon.”
He lingered over the see-you-later kiss they shared. Letting her go was harder than he thought. Driving away and not following her to her place turned out to be a test of his will, because all he wanted to do was be with her and take her to bed and love on her for the rest of the night. Maybe longer.
It might take him a while to get his fill now that he discovered his need for her ran so deep.
He never expected it to happen so fast, but she lived in his mind and heart now. Maybe she always had and he’d been too stubborn to acknowledge it. Now that he had, he didn’t want to wait for them to have . . . everything. Days doing things together. Nights making love. Mornings that started with her smile.
Friends. Lovers. Partners.
A life together.
That sounded pretty damn good.
All he had to do was figure out how to make it happen.
Where would they live? How could he give her everything she needed and wanted? How could he hold on to her?
What happened if he screwed it all up?
He didn’t have the answer to some of those questions and others he didn’t want to think about. But he needed to because his future not only included Liz—his future was Liz.
Chapter Thirteen
Liz pulled into the lot at the spa, but didn’t get out of her car right away. Instead, she took a second to search her surroundings, to be sure Clint wasn’t there waiting for her before she rushed inside for her shift.
He’d become the specter in her relationship with Tate. There, but not there.
When she left the ranch on Sunday, she’d made herself so anxious about whether or not Clint would confront her again that she’d been sick to her stomach. When she arrived home, she rushed in her front door and locked it.
She hated being too afraid to go out and do what she wanted.
And she had reason to be scared and hyperaware of her surroundings.
Tate picked her up after work on Monday as promised. They enjoyed a lovely dinner out at the local steakhouse. She loved sitting with him in the intimate booth. They shared their day over drinks and turned dessert into a sport when they each tried to keep the other from eating the triple chocolate cake with a fork sword fight that left them both laughing.
All the fun and joy faded when they walked out of the restaurant and she spotted Clint across the street watching them. He didn’t do anything but make sure she saw him before he turned and walked away.
She found that creepier than him confronting them.
Tate noticed her distraction, but she didn’t tell him about seeing Clint. She didn’t want to spoil her evening with Tate with another talk about Clint’s odd behavior and unwillingness to let their breakup go.
