Rancher On the Line Read online

  “Tell me who you are, Dane Firebrand,” she said, not budging an inch no matter how much her heart pounded the base of her throat at staring into the pain in those pure blue eyes. “I want to help.”

  He stood there for a long moment and it seemed like time stood still. He stared into her eyes like he was trying to read her. Maybe even decide if he could open up to her. And then he blinked, a wall came up, and she saw nothing relatable in his gaze.

  “Thanks for the offer, sweetheart. But I’m not the chatty type. I’ll pass.” With that, he smirked before taking a step back. He retrieved his coffee cup and moved to the sink next to her like nothing had just happened.

  Her heart sank in her chest, frustration burned, and she was filled with an emptiness that caused a physical ache. And just like that, she was back at that place and in that moment when she’d found out Lucas wasn’t ever coming home. In a word…helpless.

  Digging deep, pulling from all her strength, Catalina refused to let her knees buckle.

  “Are you a coward?” she said to the back of his head. The comment stopped him in his tracks. He fisted the hands at his sides. For a split second, she believed he might just turn around and unleash hell on her.

  He didn’t.

  Instead, Dane turned his head to the side just enough for her to watch his mouth move when he spoke. He barely gave her a glance when he said, “No. But I am broken. And sweetheart, not even you can fix me.”

  “I don’t accept that.” Catalina had no idea where this bravado was coming from except that she’d lost enough already. “It’s an excuse and we both know it.”

  His smirk returned.

  “You don’t let up, do you?” he asked.

  “I did once and it cost me someone I cared deeply about. Promised myself that I’d never do it again if I had another chance.” The admission put her out of her comfort zone. But then, this whole conversation qualified.

  “Let me help you out here,” he said. “You can’t save me.”

  Why did those words from a practical stranger make her want to curl up in the fetal position and cry?

  6

  “Mind if I give you a piece of advice?”

  Catalina shrugged. Her shoulders rounded forward and her lips curled into a frown, causing Dane to feel like a real jerk.

  “Go ahead,” she said.

  “Whatever Lucas did, said, or didn’t do…forgive him.” It was as simple and complicated as that. Trying to fix Dane wouldn’t change how she felt about what happened with Lucas.

  “I already have,” she said. Her chin quivered despite holding her head high when she said the words. He believed she meant them, which meant something else caused her to want to ‘fix’ Dane.

  “I’ll take you up on your offer of help,” she said. “But no more discussions about my relationship with Lucas.”

  “Okay then.” Dane realized he’d struck a raw nerve. Had she truly forgiven Lucas for his mistakes? For all his shortcomings? For his temper? Trying to have a ‘normal’ relationship back home while doing the things required of a soldier didn’t mesh. It required a person to split themselves in two in order to do it successfully. Dane had seen the casualties, the broken promises, the frustrated girlfriends and wives. Only a psychopath devoid of true emotion could slip in and out of the two roles without leaving collateral damage.

  It was the primary reason Dane kept his relationships casual. No strings attached. No expectations on either side. He was upfront and his partners knew exactly what they were getting into straight out of the gate. Great sex. No sticky emotions. They could do as they pleased. His only request was that they both be monogamous for as long as they were hooking up.

  The sun brightened the eastern horizon, peeking through the slats in the kitchen window mini blinds. Their conversation had left him edgy and her tense. He could think of an interesting way to relieve their tension, but sex with Catalina could never be a one-time thing, and he highly doubted she’d be willing to play by his rules.

  “Do you want to grab a few hours of shut-eye before getting started today?” he asked, figuring he could keep watch for a few hours.

  “I’d rather bring you up to speed on what I’ve been doing the past three weeks, where I’ve been, and what you should be looking out for.” She stood there, hip leaning against the counter a few feet away from him. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she refused to make eye contact.

  “Talk,” he said, moving toward the fridge. “I’ll make breakfast.”

  “I haven’t spent more than one week in a place since leaving the office twenty-one days ago. The shortest record is three days. Austin. And I probably shouldn’t have gone there in the first place because Kal already knows it’s one of my favorite cities. I feel like there’s always someone just one step behind me, but I might just be paranoid at this point.” She dropped her arms to her sides, palms out, an improvement in her body language. “It’s been a very real couple of weeks and I feel like I’m living out some thriller movie instead of my life.”

  Dane nodded as he pulled out a carton of eggs. There was lunch meat and cheese, so he pulled those out too. On the counter, he’d seen a bag of bagels. He could work with these ingredients. Two bagels went in the toaster while he fried a pair of eggs.

  “I’m close to finishing the code but I need another week. I’d take a few uninterrupted days, though, to be honest. Beggars can’t be choosers,” she continued while he worked.

  “Have you seen anyone follow you or is it just a feeling? Like eyes watching you?” The distinction was important and would tell him how much of this was her imagination getting the best of her or real fact.

  “I could have sworn I saw the same guy in Austin as I did in Tulsa. He’s always wearing dark glasses and a black cowboy hat,” she said.

  “No one wears a black hat in the middle of summer,” he stated.

  “I know. It’s the reason he stood out to me.” Her eyes lit up and he forced his gaze back to the breakfast bagel he was building.

  He built the layers, bagel on bottom, then a slice of cheese. Ham was next and then came the fried egg. He made a move to open a cabinet in front of him, but she shook her head and opened the one nearest her. She pulled out two plates and set them down. One by one, he scooped his creation onto them.

  “I have to say, I’m impressed,” Catalina said, causing him to smile despite their heavy exchange a few minutes ago.

  “They taste even better than they look,” he said, drumming up a casual tone, trying to lighten the mood.

  She stared at him for a long moment and he could almost predict the questions forming. Why did a wealthy cattle ranch kid know how to cook? How had he honed his kitchen skills in the military?

  His own mother was an incredible cook. He’d picked up a few ideas watching her. But mostly, Catalina would probably be surprised to learn how much he’d learned to depend on himself growing up in a family with nine kids.

  Setting the plates on the table, he poured himself another cup of coffee. He held up the pot. “Do you want a refill?”

  “No, thanks. I like my morning caffeine cold.” She pulled a Coke from the fridge before sitting down at the table made for four. The furniture in this cabin was a helluva lot more comfortable than Jacob’s but it also took up more room, making the place cozier. The décor was neutral with more feminine touches. Salt and pepper shakers in the form of spring flowers. A variety of pale pinks and purples in the form of throw pillows and place settings.

  Dane took his seat, having to remind himself this was no date, despite the fact he hadn’t sat down for a meal with someone from the opposite sex in years. This mirrored a real date, unlike the ‘get togethers’ he’d orchestrated which might involve food at some point but was normally an order take-out and eat in bed situation. He found taking this tact led to less confusion in the long run.

  “The guy with the hat. What else did you notice?” He needed to steer the conversation back on track. Keep focused.

  She took a bite of the sandwich and a little moan of pleasure escaped. Wasn’t exactly good for the whole ‘keeping focused’ angle.

  “He was tall, but not like you,” she said in between bites. The way she wolfed down her food made him think she hadn’t had a good meal in days. “More like Lucas’s height.”

  “A hair under six feet,” he said, and she nodded. “What about his build?”

  “He looked more like a runner than a bodybuilder.” She glanced up and to the left, a sure sign of recalling facts. “He had on jeans and a black t-shirt, which stuck out in Austin. You know?”

  He did know. The city was overrun with eighteen to twenty-two year-olds considering the University of Texas’s main campus was smack in the middle of town. It was a sea of backpacks and burnt orange apparel. “Someone dressed like that would stand out.”

  He noticed her navy blue quilted backpack tucked up against the sofa and figured despite being in her thirties she could fit right in with the college crowd. Especially when he considered the number of grad students in the mix.

  Dane took a bite of his breakfast and chewed.

  “There are all kinds of people downtown, but none of them caught my eye in the way he did,” she said. “Plus, he kept watching me like he was trying not to.”

  “There are other explanations as to why a man might watch an attractive woman,” he said. “None of them have to do with corporate espionage or stalking.”

  She kept her gaze on her food as she took another bite. The fact she didn’t, or couldn’t, make eye contact meant she was uncomfortable with a compliment. Duly noted. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable around him. He also noticed how quickly she cleaned her plate. Her cheeks flushed as though his comment embarrassed her. Did she not realize how
incredibly beautiful she was?

  “I better get back to it.” Catalina needed to deflect attention because the red blush crawling up her neck had reached her cheeks. She stood up and collected her plate and silverware. “I’ll do dishes since you cooked.”

  Dane shook his head. “No dice. You have one job right now and you promised to let me handle the rest.”

  Catalina couldn’t remember the last time someone took care of her. Even in her relationship with Lucas, she’d carried most of the weight. And Dane made a good point. Coding was her priority. She nodded before moving to the couch, picking up her laptop along the way. She settled in, thinking how easy it had been to slip into the role of taking care of Lucas. In the rare times he came home she took time off work, dropped everything, and did her best to make up for lost time. It was silly, looking back, how she’d begun to feel the pressure of keeping the relationship going on her shoulders without expecting much in return.

  Lucas loved her in the best way he knew how. But should she have expected more? She was a strong person, but every once in a while she’d wished there was someone who could hug her and make her believe everything would work out.

  The screensaver on her laptop made her smile, realizing a piece of Lucas would always be with her in their child. The thought of bringing up Luke alone scared her. Forget the red cape, single parents were her new superheroes.

  Fingers on the keyboard, she glanced over at Dane, who was whistling. The fact he was self-sufficient, well, grateful didn’t nearly express how she felt about his presence. Finding out he came from one of the wealthiest cattle ranching families had thrown her for a loop, though. For one, he didn’t act like someone who had money. He was dressed in normal clothes, served his country in the military, and had a down-to-earth quality despite being one of the sexiest men she’d ever seen. She couldn’t help but wonder what else she didn’t know about the mysterious man—a man who’d been close to Luke’s father.

  She bit back a yawn, wishing her Coke would kick in already. Then again, she hadn’t slept more than a nap here and there in the past fifty-two hours, a personal record. Giving birth five months ago had definitely taken away some of her ability to crush late nights and work long stretches. Speaking of which, she extended her arms as far as they would go to get the blood moving again, and bit back another yawn. Curiosity got the best of her so she Googled Dane’s name.

  The information from her search was a shot of caffeine to the system if ever there was one. Hearing Dane was from a rich family was one thing. Seeing their sprawling home and aerial views of the ranch was another. Then, there were all the charities his mother supported. His grandfather looked like an unhappy soul. She scrolled through the multitude of images and society stories.

  When she looked up, Dane was standing right beside her. She gasped and quickly closed the laptop.

  “If you want to know something about me…ask. I’m right here.” There was no amusement in his voice.

  “Sorry, I was curious. I guess. Surfing for a few minutes usually helps me shift gears before I go into deep concentration mode. I was too embarrassed to ask how big your family home is or what your life is like on the ranch.” The admission caused her cheeks to burn. “I’ll just open this and click off.”

  “What does it say?” he asked.

  “Basically? Your family is loaded,” she said matter-of-fact. “In a league all of your own.”

  “That pretty much sums it up,” he said. “But ranchers aren’t in it for the show.”

  “I figured that out after talking to you for five minutes. Don’t take this the wrong way but you’re one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met,” she said. “And I mean that as a compliment.”

  Risking a glance, she couldn’t help but notice the smirk on his face. “What?”

  “I’ve been called a lot of things in my day by the opposite sex. That’s a first,” he said.

  “What can I say? I’m an original,” she stated. With him standing this close, heat pinged between them. Heat she couldn’t afford to feel for half a dozen reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Dane had served with Lucas. She was certain there was an unspoken rule against wondering what his thick lips would feel like against hers. Or, better yet, feathering kisses down her neck.

  Catalina tried to physically shake off the thought.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, one of his dark brows arched.

  “My eyes are blurring and I can’t seem to stop yawning. My brain can’t seem to focus despite the caffeine, either,” she admitted.

  “How long since you’ve slept more than a nap here and there?” he asked.

  “A couple of days.” She patted her stomach. “And now that I have a full belly, I feel it.”

  “Curl up and get some sleep,” he said. “I’ll set a perimeter and then stay in the house while you rest.”

  “I seriously doubt I’ll be able to nod off.” There hadn’t been a good night’s sleep in weeks. She’d done little more than doze off long enough to refuel before a few more hours of work. Any noise, anything that went ‘bump’ was the equivalent of a shot of caffeine in her arm. Of course, being a new mom, she hadn’t had a real night’s sleep since the end of her second trimester of pregnancy.

  “I’ll be back,” he said with a reassuring wink. “You’re safe.”

  The thought of him leaving had her reaching for his hand to stop him. He did. Contact caused sensual shivers to skitter across her skin—skitters she did her best to ignore. An attraction wasn’t just inconvenient, it was out of the question and wrong, no matter how much a little voice in the back of her head argued otherwise.

  Did he feel the same electricity she did? The air practically sizzled with heat in between them. She chalked it up to missing being with the opposite sex even though she knew it couldn’t be further from the truth. Dane was different, special. And she wanted to know more about him. It was the real reason she’d gone online to see what she could find out if she was being honest with herself.

  “Don’t go,” she said, hating the shakiness in her voice. “It’s been a really long time since I felt this safe.” She figured he would chalk it up to her being on the run but the truth was that she hadn’t felt truly safe in a very long time. Despite growing up with Lucas, she’d lost touch with who he was becoming in the past few years. And as long as she was being totally honest, the way she’d felt about him had changed too.

  Lucas was everything familiar and reassuring. The fact they’d known each other and had been a couple for most of her life comforted her. Most of their friends joked they were already married. She couldn’t argue it felt that way most of the time. When he came home on leave, he wanted to stay home, pop a beer, and watch a game on TV.

  Dane, on the other hand, threatened to shatter her carefully constructed walls.

  Her stomach quivered when he stood this close, a sensation she’d never felt before, not even with Lucas. Her pulse raced and her heart thundered. The pull of attraction was earth to sun. He was like a blazing campfire in the freezing cold. And she didn’t know what to do with the way he made her feel.

  Dane’s gaze locked onto someone or something out the window. He ducked down, breaking their connection. His muscles corded and his expression morphed. His gaze narrowed. His lips thinned. There was an absent quality to his eyes she’d seen one too many times.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  “Someone’s here,” came the response.

  7

  “Get down on the floor.” Dane stayed in a crouched position as he crab-walked to the window.

  “Hello? It’s me, if you’re in there. Don’t shoot,” said a familiar voice.

  “Eric?” Dane popped up to standing. His younger brother stood in the middle of the lawn, halfway between the cabin and the lake, waving his hands in the air. Dane turned his head to the side. “It’s safe. You can sit up now, it’s one of my brothers. Get back to work or take a nap. I’ll handle this.”

  “Nap? Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t miss the chance to meet your brother for the world,” Catalina said with more amusement in her voice than he’d heard since he’d met her. There was fear too, and he was pretty sure an adrenaline rush caused that same voice to shake. “Besides, I’m thinking too hard about a problem with the code. Maybe if I relax or at the very least distract myself the answer will come to me.”