Page 59 of A Rancher's Heart

Tamara gave Emma’s fingers a squeeze. “There’s a big girl. Your sister will be back in a bit. She’ll be happy, and so will we. I peeked through the colouring books earlier, and saw a book with a picture of a goat, if you can believe that. Want to track it down?”

Emma’s smile widened.

As an added bonus, Hanna was at the small table with her daughter, and the two girls sat next to each other like little puppies, content to use the coloured pencils and work side by side in silence.

“Crissy talks about Emma all the time,” Hanna admitted quietly. “I think some of the noisier girls in their class scare her, so she and Emma buddy up a lot.”

“They look as if they get along well,” Tamara agreed. “You guys want to come out to the ranch sometime for a playdate?”

“Crissy would love that.” Hanna smiled sweetly. “Honestly, so would I. It’s been a long time since I got to wander a ranch.”

After double-checking to be sure Hanna would keep an eye on both girls, Tamara snuck away to the washroom.

She paused as she exited the room to take a slow look over the gathering. Voices sounded in her ear, loud enough to make her jump, and she spun, turning back in surprise when no one stood anywhere nearby.

It took a moment before she realized where she stood formed a perfect sound tunnel. With the gymnastics equipment stored along the side wall, the very intense discussion being held half a gym away was being magically carried all the way to Tamara’s ears as if she were sitting in their midst.

The longer she listened, the tighter the knot in her belly became. Because three of the moms Tamara had just briefly met were talking about Caleb.

Caleb, and the girls.

Her feet were frozen to the ground as she stood and listened.

“Maybe now that fine man will get out more,” offered Carrie, mother of the birthday girl.

“He gets out plenty. He needs to spend more timein.” Natalie winked lewdly.

The third woman, Joleen, leaned over and slapped her on the leg. “You are so bad.”

“But I bethe’sgood, if you know what I mean. Knows what he likes—that’s sexy in a man.” The three women exchanged glances. “Wendy always was a complainer. I don’t think anything she bitched about was real.”

“Especially considering the way she took off.I’dhave no trouble with that man being demanding in bed.”

“You wish your husband would do something other than missionary,” the friend teased.

“I’m not complaining about my situation. I’m thinking of that underappreciated hunk of manhood. Now that he’s got the nanny, maybe he’ll come back on the market. Lord knows my sister could use a strong, sexy rancher.”

“If the nanny is good enough to stick around. Poor things, especially that littlest one.”

“She’s not quite right in the head, is she?”

Tamara’s spine straightened with a violent snap. What the hell? There was nothing wrong with Emma.

“They need someone who’s going to take care of them.”

“My sister loves kids.”

The other two women laughed at the same time. “Your sister likes money,andsexy men,” Joleen pointed out. “Your sister would keep the nanny if she could, and focus on spending time with a certain sexy rancher.”

“Wouldn’t we all?”

“Wouldn’t you do just about anything to put a smile on that man’s face? I imagine once he makes a move, you’d spend the rest of the night with every muscle in your body screaming for more.”

“Tell your sister to drop by Silver Stone one evening. I bet Caleb would be happy to see a friendly female face,” Joleen insisted. “It’s been a long time since he had a good time with a woman.”

“Unless he’s getting some when he’s gone on business,” Natalie said.

Carrie shook her head. “I doubt that. Besides, he’s rarely the one who leaves the ranch. You know, he’s kind of like your prize stud bull. Give him a comfortable, well-fenced area. Feed him and keep him happy so he’ll be at his peak performance anytime he’s needed.”