The Texas Rancher's Family

She hadn’t felt so aroused in what seemed like forever. Hadn’t even been sure she could feel desire like that again.

Now she knew.

She still had plenty of untapped passion, ready and raring to go. And now Mac Wheeler knew it, too. As did her brother Gavin.

Erin went to the sink to wash her hands. “What did you and Mac talk about last night?” She had heard them conversing long after she had turned in. Their tone had been cordial, matter-of-fact, whereas she had still been in turmoil.

“I told him to stay away from you.”

Erin squirmed. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I was being sarcastic.”

“Noted.”

Erin folded her arms. “What did Mac say?”

“He agreed kissing you was a bad idea.”

Her lips quirked. “Let me guess... And promised not to do it again?”

“We agreed, since he’ll be leaving soon, and you have enough on your plate, that the two of you should stick to business. Which is why we have a family meeting tonight. Adults only, so you’ll need to get a sitter for your boys, and it’d be nice if Mac’s daughter could hang out with them, too.”

Not sure she liked the idea of the two men joining forces, Erin asked, “Why is Mac going to be at our family meeting?”

Gavin filled his travel mug with coffee. “He wants to talk to us all about putting a wind farm on our ranch. He wanted to do it over dinner at one of the restaurants in town, but I said that wasn’t necessary. So we’re going to meet at Travis Anderson’s law office instead.”

Erin blinked. As the oldest, she considered herself the head of the family. And therefore used to calling the shots. “You asked our family attorney to sit in on this?”

“Travis is an expert in energy and property law.”

Erin wasn’t arguing that. She just didn’t see the necessity of any of this, whether Mac Wheeler wanted it or not. “I’m not interested in selling the ranch.”

“Well, the rest of us are, which means you owe us the courtesy of hearing Mac out.”

* * *

ERIN CAUGHT UP WITH MAC early that afternoon, when she saw him coming out of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant with four of the county commissioners.

The two women and two men were deep in conversation with him, and appeared to be listening intently to what he had to say. All were smiling when they shook hands and parted ways. Mac was really making inroads, even in khakis, a button-down oxford-cloth shirt and loafers.

Not wanting to think what he could accomplish if he ever fully assimilated into a bona fide Texan, Erin continued down the sidewalk toward him. She inhaled a jerky breath, trying not to self-combust. Not easy, when all she could seem to do, now that they were within touching distance, was remember their kiss.

She couldn’t help wondering if he was thinking the same thing.

She lifted her chin. “Got a minute?”

He favored her with a half smile. “Actually, you’re just the lady I was hoping to see. I was headed to the store to give you a check for the down payment on the boots.”

Erin glanced across the street. Some roughnecks from Prairie Natural Gas, the company that supplied gas to the power plant, were standing in front of several beat-up trucks, talking and looking their way. Not surprisingly, they seemed as interested in Mac as everyone else in the area was. Probably because their company would expand their business in Laramie County if he failed, and lose ground if he was successful. Aware that none of the men looked familiar, Erin turned back to Mac with a cool smile. “I’d rather talk privately.”

He shrugged, his manner not nearly as businesslike. “You want to sit in my SUV?”

What speculation that would bring! Erin glanced around, assessing the options. “Let’s walk over to the park across the street.” She could pretend she was showing him something.

Mac glanced behind him, and his brow creased with concern. “Have those men been bothering you?”

His protectiveness rankled. “No. Why do you ask?”

He slid a hand beneath her elbow, ready to take care of her, anyway. “You seemed...a little on edge when you were looking at them.”

She let him grasp her arm for a moment, so as not to look like an overreactive idiot to anyone watching, then casually pried herself loose, her skin still tingling from his touch. “I was wondering if they were following you around.”

“Maybe. Then again—” Mac mimicked her Southern drawl as his handsome face took on a Texas-size grin “—maybe we’re all just going to the same places. We’re definitely all bunking at the Laramie Inn, at least since I got back.”

Texas was a friendly place, Laramie County even more hospitable. Yet Erin knew things could get ugly fast when large sums of money were involved, no matter what state you were in. Luckily, Mac looked like he could take of himself, and then some.

She didn’t want to see anyone go after him. And there was his adorable little daughter to consider, too.

“Where is Heather this morning?” Erin had expected to see her with Mac.

“School. She was enrolled in a Montessori program in Philadelphia, so it was easy enough to get her transferred into the one here. Because it’s a self-paced curriculum, she should be able to finish out first grade here in Texas, before we head back to Philly.”

If Erin ever needed another reminder he was leaving again, this was it. Which was another reason she shouldn’t get involved. Last thing she needed was to fall for another man who would leave her in the dust.

“I’m still looking for a furnished house or apartment to rent,” Mac continued as they walked over to the park, “but that’s not so easy. Seems no one wants to rent for one to two months. If you hear of anything...”

Erin nodded. “I’ll put the word out, let you know if anything turns up.”

“There it is. That legendary Texas hospitality again.”

Erin returned his smile. It would be so easy to get lost in that charm. In him.

“So what did you want to discuss with me?” Mac asked.

Erin stopped short of the stone-and-glass monument that contained the framed map of the downtown Laramie historic district as well as directions to other popular tourist destinations in the area. She pretended to show him something. “Why did you kiss me last night?”

He studied the flush in her cheeks. “Do I need a reason, beside the obvious?”

“That’s not an answer,” she said stiffly.

Mac’s blue eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “Okay, then. Why did you kiss me?”

Because, Erin thought, I had been wanting to kiss you all evening, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. And because you make me feel incredibly reckless and alive whenever I’m near you. After years of feeling numb inside, I suddenly want to feel like a woman again. I want to feel desired. And that scares the heck out of me, even as it appears to energize you.

“Did your hitting on me have anything to do with selling me on the wind farm idea?” Because if that was the case...