Page 63 of A Rancher's Heart

His friend wavered but still forged ahead. “Right, that does make things difficult, and yet it’s not the working-for-you bit I was thinking about. You’ve been alone for a while.”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“Not all women are like Wendy.”

“Thank God, or the human race would have died out years ago.”

A snort escaped Josiah. “Okay, looking at this from a different angle. You realize Tamara grew up on a ranch? She knows how much work it is, and hey, look. She hasn’t run screaming yet.”

“She’s here to take care of the girls.”

His friend nodded. “And from everything you’ve told me, she’s doing a great job at that.” Josiah looked him over. “So why is it not a good thing for you to act on how hot she makes you?”

“She doesn’t…” Caleb couldn’t bring himself to lie. Not to his best friend.

“Thank you for not continuing that bullshit. But seriously, I know it’s not the easiest of situations, but you’ve got an opportunity here—”

“Thanks for coming out this morning. Talk to you later.”

He turned and walked away.

That Josiah recognized his attraction to Tamara wasn’t a good thing. Especially in light of the fact that the rumour mill would now be going wild.

My God, what if the girls heard? What if they thought their world was about to be flipped upside down all over again? Their memories of Wendy were bitter and hurtful.

This was his own damn fault for not being stronger. It should have been crystal clear from the first moment he wasn’t interested in Tamara except on a business level.

But it wasTamara’sfault too, for speaking out of turn, and right then he was angry enough to march into the kitchen and shout at her. Of course, that would cause all sorts of other problems.

No, this had to be dealt with in a big enough way to make an impression on the hardheaded woman. Something private enough he could get through to herexactlywhat she’d done.

It was strange. All the times he and Wendy had fought left him aching and angry, but never hot like this. Those fights have been icy-cold, polite and sterile.

What burned in his belly now was red-hot, laced with sexual tension.

It might not be right, but for once in his life he didn’t care if he was doing therightthing. The way to prove his point without a shadow of a doubt was simple, and perfect. Terrible and yet wonderfully justified.

He couldn’t wait. She wasn’t going to know what hit her.