Feels Like Home

“I know.” Wyatt grinned at him. “That’s why I like it here.”

Rafe could tell. He was happy for his twin, and he vowed he would do his best to fit in for the short time he was part of Wyatt’s new world. As they all filed into the dining room, he hesitated, unsure of where he was supposed to sit.

Sarah glanced his way. “Rafe, why don’t you—”

“He can sit here, Sarah.” Meg patted a chair next to her. “We’re the two who don’t have kids or spouses, so we might as well hang out together.”

Sarah looked pleased. “That works.”

Rafe took the offered chair. “Thanks.” Sitting next to her at dinner wasn’t the same as making a play for her, so he felt okay with it. He also thought a polite compliment was in order. “You look really nice.”

Her cheeks turned slightly pink. “Thank you. I don’t get dressed up very often.”

That made him wonder how she earned a living. “Where do you work?”

“I’m an engineer for the city. I specialize in traffic control.” She gazed at him steadily, as if to assess his reaction.

“Huh. I’ve never met someone who did that.” So she had brains, too. She intrigued the hell out of him, and he’d just promised Wyatt not to get involved.

“My job doesn’t usually make for fascinating dinner conversation.”

He laughed as he unfolded his napkin and laid it in his lap. “Mine, either.”

“So what shall we talk about?”

“Well …” He couldn’t resist telling her of his latest plan, especially after the way she’d goaded him earlier. “You’ll be happy to know I’m going to try riding tomorrow.”

Her green eyes grew wide. “You are?”

“Yep. I decided that you’re right. I’ll never have a better chance than now, so why not?”

Her smile dazzled him. “That’s fabulous. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I’ll probably fall off, but what the hell?”

“You won’t fall off.”

“I might. I don’t know the first thing about riding a horse.” He picked up his water glass and took a drink.

“It’s easy. What time do you want to start?”

He nearly choked on his water. “Start? What do you mean?”

“I mean, after challenging you to experience life on a ranch, I think it’s only fair that I be the one to teach you to ride. The hands are all busy and I’m relatively free. So what time?”

“I—” He cast around for a way out of this. He’d be terrible in the beginning, and he didn’t relish the idea of looking bad in front of her.

“I suggest eight-thirty. I’ll meet you down at the barn.” She smiled again. “You’re going to love this, Rafe.”

“If you say so.” He had plenty of misgivings about having her teach him to ride, but the plan had one positive side. Given his lack of experience with horses, the time spent together had zero chance of being romantic.

3

MEG ARRIVED AT THE BARN ten minutes ahead of schedule the next morning. Rafe hadn’t shown up in the kitchen for breakfast or even for a cup of coffee, so maybe he’d blow off this lesson. She hoped not. Teaching him to ride would satisfy several objectives.

Olivia and Wyatt would be much happier if Rafe participated in ranch life instead of staying aloof from it as he’d originally planned. Plus Meg enjoyed pushing people out of their comfort zones, and she wouldn’t mind getting to know Rafe better. But she couldn’t force him to do this.

If he didn’t keep their appointment, she’d back off, way off. She valued those who made agreements and kept them. Anyone who couldn’t do that moved several notches down in her estimation.

After petting Butch and Sundance, the two dogs lying on either side of the barn’s double door, Meg stepped inside and breathed in the welcome scent of hay, oiled leather and horse. She truly loved it in Jackson Hole, and specifically at this ranch. After only four days, she was already questioning whether she wanted to stay in Pittsburgh or consider a move to Wyoming.

Her two older brothers had moved away, one to Connecticut and the other to Indiana. Although her parents still lived in Pittsburgh, they’d started making plans to retire in Florida. She really had nothing holding her except a job and friends.

The job was no problem. She could find something out here. And her friends would simply come visit. The more she thought about the idea, the more she liked it.

Besides, she was already making friends here, like the foreman, Emmett Sterling. She found him oiling tack, which explained why the tangy scent had been so strong when she’d first come into the barn.

At their initial meeting she’d told him that he reminded her of Tom Selleck, especially with his graying mustache. Emmett had blushed. He was an old-fashioned cowboy, a modest man with a strong work ethic, and she admired that.

He glanced up with a smile when she walked into the barn. “Hey, there. When do you want to schedule that roping lesson?”

“I’m not sure yet, Emmett. I don’t know if you’ve heard that I volunteered to teach Rafe how to ride, assuming he hasn’t changed his mind since last night.”

“I did hear that from Wyatt.” He gave a nod of approval. “Great idea.”

“If he comes. Maybe he’s decided not to.”

Emmett looked over her shoulder. “I think you’re in luck.”

She turned and tried not to let her jaw drop. For a second she thought Jack had walked into the barn, but the stride was different and the jeans were blue denim, not the black that Jack favored. No telling where Rafe had dug up the jeans, shirt, boots and hat, but they fit him well.

A little too well, in fact. Yesterday his dress shirt and slacks had partially disguised his build, but this outfit disguised nothing. The snug jeans showed off his muscled thighs and the shirt emphasized his broad chest.

The borrowed hat was black. By accident or design, Rafe had tilted it at the right angle to make his dark eyes sexy and mysterious, exactly as she’d imagined they would be when shadowed by a hat. He looked amazing.

He came to a stop in front of her and spread out his arms. “Will this do?”

She had the inappropriate urge to move right into those outstretched arms in the hope he’d wrap them around her. “You should wear clothes like that more often.” Whoops. She’d said that out loud. “I mean, yes, that’ll do fine.”

“Sarah rounded them up for me this morning.”

“Did you eat any breakfast? I didn’t see you in the kitchen.”

“I never eat breakfast. I grabbed a cup of coffee before I came down here. That’s all I need.”

She didn’t think so. He might get away without breakfast when he sat in an office clicking computer keys, but his morning routine was about to shift dramatically toward fresh air and exercise. She decided against mentioning his need for real food because he probably wouldn’t believe her.

Instead she turned to the foreman, who was watching them with thinly disguised amusement. “Emmett, which horse do you recommend for Rafe?”