Page 6 of Rancher’s Healing (Flying Diamond 5)

CHAPTER SIX

TAYLA

T he curtains on the window were open slightly and a stream of sunlight flowed through. A big arm was draped across my waist, an even larger leg intertwined with mine, and the familiar scent of the man beside me filled my nose. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I didn’t want the night to be over.

“You’re beautiful when you pretend to be asleep.” The words whispered in my ear sent tingles through my body.

“How did you know I wasn’t sleeping?” I asked, shifting closer to him. Jake tightened his arm and moved his leg so it was now right between my legs.

“Your breathing changed.” His low, authoritative voice sent a shiver through my body.

Had it always been like this with Jake? Had the world always felt this right?

Like this was something we were supposed to be doing.

Were we supposed to be together? Had I been selfish when I chose riding over him?

He’d even offered to wait and let me chase my dream, but I was stubborn, and I had pangs of regret.

“Hmmm.” I grumbled as he ran his hand along the underside of my breast.

“Hmmm, what?” He asked as he nibbled on my ear lobe.

“The downfall of sleeping with a doctor. You notice breathing patterns.”

“But there are benefits.” He replied between the light kisses he was placing on my neck.

“And what would those be?”

“When we play doctor, I know what I’m doing.” Jake slid his hand down my abdomen, but stopped just before he could slip his finger over my clit. “Do you want to play doctor, Tayla?” He made slow circles, teasing me. Lifting my hips, I hoped it was enough to make his finger dip lower.

Just as I opened my mouth to say yes, there was a knock at the door. We both froze. I held my breath, hoping maybe we’d just been hearing things. Another knock sounded, and Jake groaned. “What time is it?” I whispered.

“Ten.”

“What? How did we sleep so long?”

“We didn’t go to sleep until after four, sunshine.” Jake let me go and reached for his phone. “Shit, it’s Hattie.” He jumped out of bed, pulling his black dress pants on. Grabbing a t-shirt off the laundry hamper, he headed for the door.

“Jake, what am I supposed to do?” I pulled the covers up as I sat up in the bed, and he turned back to look at me.

“Guess you’re meeting the girls.” He shrugged and grinned at me.

“I have no clothes other than the dress I wore last night, and I think it’s in your entryway.” I wanted to die, curl up under the bed, and just expire. Except the fact that I was in a doctor’s house, and he’d probably resuscitate me. His kiss alone would do it.

“Look through the drawers. I’m sure there’s something you can wear.” He closed the door behind him. Was I supposed to get up now? No time like the present to let the gossip fly.

I looked through his drawers and found a shirt and a pair of sweatpants. The minor issue of no bra might be a problem, though. There was a drawer with a compression bandage in it along with other sports related stuff. It wouldn’t be the worst thing as long as I didn’t wrap it too tight.

Looking in the mirror, I was satisfied with how I looked. Except for the freshly fucked hair and smeared makeup, I didn’t look too much like I was doing a walk of shame. Wiping the mascara from under my eyes and taming my hair with his brush, I took a deep breath as I opened the door.

Trying not to draw too much attention to myself, I tiptoed through the hallway. “Hi, Tayla.” Hattie said from the door. She didn’t sound mad, maybe slightly amused.

“Hi Hattie, how are you?” I smiled as I walked over to where everyone stood.

“I’m good.” She let her gaze drift from me to Jake with a smirk. “I heard you two left the auction in a hurry last night.”

“And yet here you are this morning.” Jake said flatly. His expression matched his voice.

“I need to cut the weekend short. Jason planned a getaway, and it’s non-refundable. He mixed up the weekends.” Her saccharine smile made me wonder if the “getaway” came up about the time the gossip got to her phone.

Hattie had been Fallon’s best friend. She was a few years older, but they’d gotten along well. Until they didn’t. Fallon never talked about their falling out, and it was just one thing I never asked her about. I thanked my lucky stars that our relationship was better than it had ever been.

“Daddy.” Two voices unanimously called out as they ran to the house from the pasture that ran along the driveway.

“Hey, princesses, I’m so happy to see you.” Jake hugged his girls. Their eyes moved from him to me.

“Tayla Miller is in my house?” The older girl squealed before jumping up and down.

“You might be her favorite person. I might go as far as her idol.” He smiled at Libby and ran a hand on the back of his neck sheepishly.

“I want to be you.” She said dreamily.

“How about you be you and be better than me?” I smiled.

“But nobody can show me how.” She let her head fall, and she looked at the floor. There was something more there, but it wasn’t my place.

“Hey, if your dad and mom agree, I could teach you.” I looked up at Jake and tried to avoid Hattie’s now pointed glare. She had barrel raced for years; she could teach Libby.

“Okay girls, I have to go. Libby, it’s fine if Tayla wants to teach you how to ride.

” She talked to Libby like she was blowing her off.

Hattie looked at me and rolled her eyes.

“I don’t have the time to do it.” With a flippant wave, she was out the door, running to the car like she was stealing something from the store.

Jake pushed the door closed, and it slammed.

“Libby, Skyla, why don’t you change into jeans, and we will start our lessons.” I said, taking my eyes from Jake.

“I get to learn too?” Skyla asked cheerfully.

“If you want,” I said. “When I was growing up, my sisters Lark and Fallon would ride with me. It’s something we had as sisters.

” The girls looked at one another and smiled as they nodded.

They ran noisily to their rooms, and the slamming of their doors reverberated through the long, one-story ranch style home.

“I’m sorry,” Jake said, as he let his head flop back against the wall. “I can take you home if you want.” His sigh made me think the girls coming home spur of the moment wasn’t a onetime thing. There was a reason the girls lived with him and not Hattie, after all.

Moving closer to him, I raised my hand and pressed it against his cheek.

“Look, I don’t know what you and I are, but it’s too late to hide me from the girls.

I’m wearing your clothes, for goodness’ sake.

You’re a single dad, I knew that, and I don’t want to go home.

” Jake wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

Lowering his mouth, he pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Thank you. I’m going to make some breakfast.” He slid his hand down to my ass and squeezed it with a sly grin.

Our silent moment didn’t last long, and we could hear the girls arguing as they ran back down the hallway.

Jake let me go, and I took a step away from him.

The girls stopped fighting when they got to us.

“Did you eat breakfast?” Jake asked, crossing his arms. The tattoos that covered his biceps peaked out from his sleeve, and I wanted to see them all again.

“We had a banana, but mom said we had to get going,” Skyla said as she looked up at Jake.

“You ladies, go get your horses ready, and I will make brunch,” he said, bending down kissing the girls on the head. They pulled their boots on and ran out the door.

“Guess I’m a lady too, so I’ll go help them.” I smirked as I slipped my feet into the heels I was wearing last night.

“You can’t wear those to the barn,” he said, pointing at the heels.

“I can, I have, and I will.” Kissing his cheek, I marched out the door, knowing he was watching me. But wearing his oversized clothes wouldn’t emphasize my strut.

Laughter filtered out from the open barn door, and I almost stopped mid step. It reminded me so much of growing up with my sisters. Smiling, I peeked my head around the corner. “Need some help?” The girls looked at me and nodded.

They’d done well with the bridles but needed the help only an adult could give. Lifting the saddles, I was impressed with how the horses looked. “How long have you had these two?” I asked as I handed the reins to the girls.

“A few years. Mom doesn’t like us riding for some reason, but Dad said no ranch is complete without a few horses,” Libby said, shrugging as we walked into the sunny makeshift arena. The girls needed a little boost to get on their horses, and when they were comfortable, they were ready to listen.