Page 52 of Snowed in with the Rancher

“Maybe we could try?” she asked. Because she had to. She couldn't just walk away when she knew he wanted more, even if neither of them was sure how to get it.

“Maybe we should,” he answered, reaching up and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “But maybe we should start at the very beginning. Have some dates, just the two of us. Get to know one another as we are now—here.”

She nodded. Okay. She could do that. After all, she wasn't a single twenty-four-year-old anymore. And this wasn't a vacation. It was the rest of their lives, and the girls' as well.

“Then I think we should keep you and the girls separate from you and me—for now,” she told him.

He seemed to consider it. “No family time?”

She took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “It's hard—on me and on them. And it confuses things. I know you want to be their father. That's not in question.”

He kissed her again then, one burst of lingering passion that stole her breath, before saying roughly, “It's not in question that I want you, either. I just want to make sure I'm good for you. That I'm what you need.”

“Okay.” She tried to catch her breath, even as she could still feel how aroused he was where his hips pressed against hers.

“Olivia? May I take you out to dinner Saturday night?” he asked with a gleam in his eye.

She grinned at that. “I'd like that.”

“Me, too,” he whispered.

The sound of laughter floated out as a group of people from the party wandered out of the main building toward the parking lot.

Even as she realized her top was still askew, he stepped back to let her adjust it, careful to keep his body where he shielded her from view should anyone venture into the darkened greenhouse for any reason.

“It's late,” she said. “Lucy's niece is only fifteen. I should probably get back so she can go home and get to bed herself.”

He nodded, and she stepped past him. He reached out and touched her hand briefly. “I'll see you Saturday,” he said.

Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Yes,” she told him with a secret smile. “See you then.”

TWENTY-TWO

Tate spent the next few days working from sunup until sundown. Some of the fences had been knocked down by tree falls, and he and his workers repaired and replaced what they could to keep from having to move the herd. He also plowed the road to his father's house, installed a new sink in his laundry room, chopped the better part of a cord of wood, and took Lobster on three hikes.

And still all he could think about was Olivia. The taste of her lips, the feel of her skin, the sound of her voice. Getting a glimpse into what being apart from her would really mean had sparked something inside him he didn't think existed. He still didn't know if he could do right by her, but he damn well wanted to try.

The cowboy in him took hold as he thought about how to be the kind of man she deserved. He planned a formal date. He wanted to pick her up, take her out, spoil her like a man should with the woman he cared for. So when Saturday night arrived, he showed up to his father's house with a sparkling clean truck, wearing his best hat and boots, and a reservation at the most expensive steak house in town was waiting for them.

“Well,” said Lucy as she ushered him into the foyer. “Look at you.” She leaned up and kissed him soundly on one cheek. “You look ready for prom.”

He tried not to roll his eyes. He supposed this was what mothers did. Made you feel like blushing and gritting your teeth all at the same time.

“Well, we're going to Finley's,” he told her. “I hear you need to clean up for it.”

Lucy's eyes sparkled as she grinned. “Finley's, huh? That's where your daddy took me for our very first date.”

Tate tried not to cringe. He also reminded himself that it was a small town, and there weren't that many choices.

“Who's that handsome young buck in my foyer?” Thomas joked as he walked in.

“Guess I don't dress up often enough,” Tate muttered.

Thomas laughed and slapped him on the back. “Did I hear you say you're going to Finley's?”

Tate sighed. Where was Olivia? He really needed to be rescued from this hell. “Yeah, Dad. I thought a steak sounded good.”

“Finley's is good luck for first dates,” Thomas said with a wink as he put an arm around Lucy.

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