“I’ll miss you.” Peeking at him from under the pillow, Tracy said, “I’m only lingering in bed because once again I can barely walk.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Cash grinned. The previous night they’d made love, fallen asleep, awakened in each other’s arms, and made love again without a word. It occurred to Cash he always thought the wordsmade loveand not the wordshad sexwhen it came to Tracy. “After lunch, I’ll drive you to Triple C-Central for your interview with Jade.”
“Okay,” she smiled, those mesmerizing turquoise eyes closing.
Cash tugged the sheet down and feasted his eyes. With cinnamon curls spread over her shoulders, her back taperingto her slim waist, and her fanny in full view, it took a will of iron not to roll back into bed with her. With a kiss to a soft butt cheek, he stood and strode naked to the shower. When she joined him, making love to her steamed the mirrors more than the hot water. After their wet and wild romp in the shower while he dressed, she pulled on one of his Triple C tee shirts. She crawled back into bed but this time it was with her laptop. She blew him a kiss and he walked out of the bedroom with the image of Tracy in the middle of his bed. Right where she belonged. At least in his opinion.
“Come on, Dude,” Cash called over his shoulder and smiled when he realized the dog was already padding up behind him. “We’ll see you later, spitfire.”
“See you andyourdog later, big’n bad.”
Cash chuckled and then grinned all the way through the house. There were two large bags of dog food in the kitchen, and he grabbed the unopened one. He hoisted the bag over his shoulder and put his cowboy hat on his head. He and Dude made it to the café just as the breakfast chow bell clanged. It was another beautiful day with no humidity. He loved life. How long had it been since such a thought had consciously crossed his mind? Since Tracy entered his life. Since Tracy was on his ranch. Since Tracy was in his bed. Yeah, since Tracy.
“Morning,” Cash said to Kellie and Sam.
Yesterday, Cash and Tracy had fed Dude in his kitchen before the three of them headed out. But today, he figured since Dude was with him, he could eat outside too. The previous day, the German shepherd had made friends with every last one of the guests. This dog was made for dude ranch life. Finding two tin bowls in the outdoor kitchen, Cash filled one with water and one with dog food. He placed them near the back table in the corner where he and Sam usually sat.
“Morning,” Kellie said as Cash joined Sam in the serving line for breakfast burritos. She placed a crispy strip of bacon on Cash’s plate. “That’s for Dude.”
“She likes the dog better than us,” Sam joked as Kellie laughed.
Cash chuckled on the way from the serving line to their table. He set his plate down and crumbled the bacon into Dude’s bowl. Dude looked at him as if to say thanks and gobbled up the treat and food. Dude ranchers began arriving, ready to eat and ride. Acknowledging Cash and Sam, those who took seats closest to them also said hello to Dude. Others across the café asked about Dude and some called to him. Thus, Dude made the rounds and shook hands. Like a boss.
“You’re a great boss,”Tracy said to Kirk Devereux as they spoke on the phone. She’d crawled out of Cash’s bed and was sitting in a two-person leather chair near the hearth in his bedroom. “Thank you for your unfailing support regarding Gerald and Donna.”
“I gave them more chances to redeem themselves than I should have,” Devereux said. “They had me fooled as to what they were capable of, and I regret that.”
“I think they had all of us fooled for a while,” Tracy agreed.
“I can assure you Gerald was not responsible for your Triple C Ranch assignment. So don’t feel you owe him anything if he should contact you. As a longtime friend of the Cooper family, I knew you’d be a good fit to do the Triple C story. Once again, I apologize for any trouble Gerald and Donna caused you and Cash.”
“No apology necessary at all, Mr. Devereux,” Tracy said sincerely. “But I understand the need to offer one. I’ve apologized to Cash for the trouble they caused as well.”
In Devereux’s opinion, Gerald and Donna were a liability to the magazine’s good name. Their belongings had been packed up and remained in the hands of security at the front desk of theRanchers and Rangesoffice building.
“While I hope we’ve seen the last of Gerald and Donna, I want to thank you for sticking with us, Tracy,” Devereux said. “You’re not only an excellent journalist, but you’re also brave. Let me know when you and Jacob finish up on Triple C. I already have new assignments lined up for the two of you.”
“Really?” Tracy asked. Normally, she’d be thrilled. But suddenly all she could think of was that those assignments wouldn’t be on Cash’s ranch. “Where?”
“Since you’re covering Triple Cs, here in the middle of Colorado, your next assignments will take you to all four corners of the state.” The excitement in Devereux’s voice would have been echoed in Tracy’s too—before she’d met Cash. “You might not even be in Colorado Springs during the holidays. In the meantime, I’ll be searching for a new editor to fill Gerald’s spot at the magazine. Take care, Tracy. Talk to you soon.”
They hung up with the wordbraveresounding in Tracy’s head. If she were brave, she’d hop in that helicopter when and if Cash asked her. Cash Cooper was the brave one. She’d never forget his calm in the face of the calamity at the gas station. He’d warned Gerald Moles not to tangle with him. And Donna Smith? Cash had let her know in a firm but not unkind way he was not interested in her from day one. Like Kirk Devereux, Tracy hoped they’d seen the last of Gerald and Donna.
All four corners of the state. Tracy’s shoulders sagged.
Working on the interview with Chase, she gazed around at Cash’s king-size bed, the walls of Western art, the big archway to the bathroom area with the horse trough, and the rustic French doors open to the balcony and hot tub. The room, the house, the ranch—all of it a class act with the right amount of wild cowboy just like the man who owned it.
Cash will kiss you goodbye and never look back.Tracy’s eyes stung.
Maybe she shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Professional assignments to all four corners of Coloradomight distract her from the personal devastation that surely lay on the horizon. Right now, here on the ranch with Cash, was Christmas in July. By the time the actual holidays rolled around, she could very well mean nothing more to Cash than another notch in his bedpost. She glanced at his bedpost before she could stop herself. No notches. Still, she closed her eyes and wondered how quickly he’d forget about her after she was gone. Should she mention the upcoming travel assignments to him? And feel her heart shatter when he shrugged? A word from Cash and she’d turn down the assignment. She could ask Kirk Devereux to let her take over Gerald’s job as editor. Not only would that allow her to stay in the Springs, but she’d have more time to dedicate to writing and illustrating her children’s books. Picking up her cell, she punched in a number. Voicemail.
“Grandma, I hope you’re feeling well,” Tracy said. “Call me before you leave Punkin Center and let me know you’re on your way to Colorado Springs. Maybe I’ll have the chance to introduce you to Cash Cooper.” She finished in a whisper, “I’ve fallen in love with him.”
“You’rein love with her, little brother,” Chase said, out of Tracy’s earshot.
“Yeah, I know,” Cash replied.
Chase and Jade had arranged their schedules to include lunch with tours of the house and stables. They’d been kind enough to invite Jacob to join them as well as Katy, Jade’s friend and receptionist.
