Soon as she stepped closer to the trickle to rinse, water blasted out.
She gasped and leapt back.
Don’t laugh.
“I see that I-told-you-so look on your face. Wipe it off right now.”
Her shirt was wet enough the material clung to her br**sts. And he didn’t pretend he wasn’t looking. “Appears you’re the one who could use some wiping off.” Fletch loomed over her. The small size of the towel meant he could feel the heat from her body as he dabbed the water droplets from her chin. Then her neck. The bottom of his hand rested on the firm swell of her breast as he slowly blotted the water from her chest.
“I think you got it dry.”
“So it appears I have.” He didn’t stop.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Fletch put his mouth next to her ear. “Absolutely. I gotta take my thrills where I can get them with you.”
“Not fair. The way you whisper in my ear does it for me every damn time.”
His dick took note of that. “Tanna—”
“Hey!” sounded behind them.
He reluctantly stepped back and turned around.
A pigtailed blond cowgirl of about eight stood opposite the pump with her hands on her hips. She stomped forward through the water, splashing mud everywhere as she glared at Tanna. “Who are you?”
“Who are you?” Tanna shot back.
“Ellie Ray Ludlow.”
Tanna gave Fletch an amused smile. “I’m Tanna, Ellie, nice to meet you.”
“Is she your assistant?” Ellie demanded of Fletch.
“She was today.”
“I woulda helped you. I always help you. How come you didn’t ask me?”
“Because your daddy needed your help in the pens.”
“That’s ’cause I’m good with animals,” Ellie said, aiming a smug smile at Tanna, like she expected her to contradict the statement.
“I imagine a ranch girl like you is good at all sorts of things,” Tanna offered.
“You talk funny.”
“That’s because I’m from Texas.”
“Are you going back there? Soon?” she asked hopefully.
Tanna laughed. “’Fraid not. I’m here for a while.”
Ellie made a disgusted noise. “Mama said it’s time to eat and I’m supposed to invite you to supper.”
“Both of us?” Fletch prompted.
“Yes. But you are sitting by me.” She stormed off.
“That was Ellie of the marriage proposal?”
Fletch grinned. “Yes. But she’s already warned me there won’t be any of that mushy kissin’ stuff when we get married.”
“She’s adorable.”
“Let’s hope she’s on her best behavior tonight. The last assistant I brought out here ended up with a frog down her shirt.”
Tanna shuddered. “Maybe I just oughta go wait in the truck.”
“You? Running scared from an eight-year-old? That doesn’t sound like the kickin’ ass, takin’ names, shootin’ tequila Tanna I’ve heard about.”
“Maybe because I’ve had my ass kicked today. And I don’t know these people . . .”
Fletch cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Do you want to leave? We can.”
“These are some of your best clients, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. But they’ll—”
Then Tanna’s mouth was on his. Too briefly, but she’d kissed him first nonetheless. “We’ll stay. Ignore me. I’m hungry and out of sorts.”
“Food will help.”
“Probably.”
The shadows remained in her eyes. “What’s up?”
“How are you gonna introduce me?”
“Tanna Barker, the woman who rocked my world from the first time I met her?”
“You are such a sweet-talker.”
Fletch liked the way her face and her entire body softened toward him. “How about we stick with the truth?”
“That I’m a washed-up former barrel racer?”
“Stop.” Fletch rested his forehead to hers. “That’s not true. And that’s not all you ever were even if it was true.”
Tanna didn’t jerk away. She seemed to absorb a little resolve. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He stepped back. “And if you ask my future wife really nicely, she’ll probably let you play with her little lambs after supper.”
“I’m disappointed her name isn’t Mary.”
“I think the Ludlows have heard that crack as often as I get asked What’s up, Doc?”
“I hear ya. I tell guys I’m from Texas and they ask if all my exes live in Texas.”
A dinner bell clanged.
Ellie stood at the base of the driveway and shouted, “Come on. I saved you a seat.”
After eating, and chatting, and sneaking a peek at the baby lambs, Fletch took Tanna home.
She paused for a minute before she bailed out of his truck. “Thanks for today, Fletch. It’s been a great surprise and exactly what I needed.”
It was exactly what he needed too.
Chapter Twelve
Tanna had just printed Harper’s instructions for pricing the two new boxes of merchandise when the doorbell jangled. She looked up as five women, varying in age from sixty on up, surrounded the sales desk.
“Can I help you?”
“So you’re Tanna, huh?”