Page 70 of A Rancher's Heart

“I’ll be out until dinner.”

He was gone.

From what seemed to be a deep connection to not even sharing the same air space in under fifteen seconds. Tamara sat back and felt the room reel.

He really was the most annoying man, but, she had to admit she admired him for sticking to the priorities. Plus, any morning that started with expectations of being fired that didn’t finish that way was okay in her books.

An easy truce returned. That edge of sexual awareness between them lingered, but they both did their best to keep it locked down tight. Their evenings by the fire after the girls went to bed became a time of deep peacefulness. Sometimes chatting, sometimes just sitting.

Caleb didn’t talk much, but they didn’t have to fill the room with conversation to have it feel comfortable.

For once in her life Tamara was learning that silence had a rhythm and flavour. It was cozy, and sweet, and instead of ending each day like a running fool, she crawled into bed satisfied and content with her day’s work.

Satisfied, except for thatwill not be spoken of or thought too hard aboutcraving she felt for the big, gruff rancher.

And her days…

Full of activity and energy and two little girls she enjoyed more and more as time passed.

Tamara rounded the corner, pulling to a stop inches before she slammed into Caleb.

A rapid stop that turned into a disaster as Sasha and Emma slammed into her from behind, shoving her the last couple of inches forward so she connected top to bottom with Caleb.

He’d been in the process of taking a step backward, and the combined momentum of three bodies hitting him out of the blue meant his legs folded, and he tipped toward the floor, Tamara desperately trying to brace herself.

They landed in a pile. A solid grunt escaped Caleb as Tamara ended up the filling in an Oreo cookie, Sasha laughing heartily and Emma offering a snicker.

Under her was one hundred percent hard male body.

Tamara forced a lighthearted smile to her lips as she attempted to roll away. “Oops. Sorry.”

“We caught you,” Sasha gloated, twisting herself free and pulling Emma to her feet.

Caleb placed a firm grip on Tamara’s hips and lifted her.

Was it only her imagination or was there a caress in his touch before they both made it to their feet?

“Running in the house?” he grumbled.

Tamara raised a brow. “High-velocity acceleration for short periods of time. We didn’t expect to see you home so soon.”

“Obviously.”

Well, now. Somebody was extra grumpy this afternoon. “Go on, girls. Grab the carrots and raisins.”

They scurried past, digging into the pantry and fridge as Tamara bestowed her best nanny look upon Caleb. “What can I help you with?”

He turned sideways to speak privately. “I won’t be here for dinner and might not get back until late. Put the girls to bed for me tonight?”

Tamara hesitated.

Caleb sighed. “I know it’s your night off, but Penny just called, and her family’s got some animals they’re considering selling. Talisman will give us first dibs, but they’re shipping tomorrow, so we have to drive to Calgary to check them out.”

Luke’s woman was not growing on her, except maybe like a fungus. Sheer frustration on Caleb’s behalf struck. “Nice of them to give you so much lead time.”

Amusement rolled before he tapped it down. “Yeah. I guess Penny forgot.”

She didn’t have the strength to hide her growl of annoyance. “Twit.”