Wrangled and Tangled (31 page)

Here was a guy who despite his advanced college degree wants exactly what you’ve already got: a life as a Wyoming rancher.

“Sorry, man. Forget it. Sometimes I get a little gung ho about stuff.”

“It’s okay. Just tryin’ to . . .” Abe sighed. “Look. I graduate from UWYO next week with a bachelor’s in agricultural business.”

Tobin’s eyes widened. “No shit? That’s great! I’ll bet you don’t have a problem with
your
brother accusing you of thinking you’re all hot shit and stuff because of your Ag degree.”

“That’s the thing. No one knows I’ve been goin’ to school.” His eyes flashed a warning. “No one. Not my family. Not my friends.”

“Janie?”

“No.”

“Why would you keep that a secret?”

“I wasn’t sure I’d ever graduate. Some of them classes . . .” He shook his head. “I’ve been running things my way since I was nineteen. I implemented a few changes while my brother was bullfighting. When Hank came back, he never suggested I was dumb for doin’ things differently. Since I’ve put some of what I’ve learned in college into practical application, our cattle operation sustains two families, instead of one.”

“See? That is the reason you should be touting your degree to your family, Abe. I wish I could use you as an example to my brothers about how progress can work in conjunction with tradition.”

Abe had made up his mind to tell his family... after the ceremony. After he had the diploma in his hand for sure.

The door slammed. They both glanced at Renner.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Abe drawled.

“Fuck off, Lawson. You can go. Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.”

Abe chuckled. “This is the thanks I get? Fine. Ain’t like I don’t have plenty of my own shit to do.” Renner stopped beside him and Abe gave him a once over. “No offense, but you look like hell.”

“That’s what life on the road and nights with no sleep will do to ya.” Renner swigged from his insulated mug. “Thanks for your help, Abe. I do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Need anything else, just holler.” He pushed away from the post. Tempting to swing by Janie’s office, but he had a shitload of stuff to do. Including study.

“Hey, Lawson,” Tobin yelled. “Remember what we talked about. Tell her. It’s important.”

Abe waved him off. But the kid had planted the seed.

“What was that about?” Renner asked testily.

“Just picking his brain about a couple of things. The Lawsons run a top-notch cattle company from what I understand.”

“You thinking about jumping ship and goin’ to work for Abe and Hank?”

Tobin shook his head. “No, sir. We were just talking. Old-school thinking in ranching versus new-school thinking. I like talking to him. He’s not so set in his ways, like my family is. He’s a smart man.”

“Yes, he is. But in light of your obvious Abe worship, I should tell you, that as much as I need your help around here as a hired hand and bellhop, if you’re serious about using your degree, I could use your expertise in setting up a breeding program. ’Course, that’ll be down the road a piece. But I wanted you to be aware of my long-term plans.”

“No shit?”

“No shit. I’ve also been thinkin’ lately about raising organic beef. Some guys I’ve known for a while have gotten into it and they swear it’s less work and more money.” Renner managed a smile. “I’m all about that.”

Tobin nodded. “And it’s not like you don’t have the grazing areas.” The kid launched into a long-winded explanation about natural grasses that made Renner’s eyes cross. But he wasn’t sure that wasn’t from being so goddamned tired.

He felt Tobin looking at him expectantly. “Sounds like you’ve been doin’ a little research on the land around Split Rock.”

“Here and there. Tierney’s been very helpful.”

It was all Renner could do not to grab Tobin by the throat and have him define
helpful
.

“Whoa. Boss. I know that look and it’s not like that. Not at all. Tierney is hot as hell in that brainy-girl way, and if she wasn’t . . . well, I might’ve been willing to take a crack at her—”

Renner snarled.

“But I’m not the type to poach, okay?” Tobin half cringed. “Jesus, don’t tear my limbs off after I’ve finally found a job I like.”

The jealous haze cleared. He bit off, “Explain poach.”

Tobin’s cheeks colored, but he kept his gaze steady. “I know you and Tierney are involved.”

Renner froze. Had she been confiding in Tobin while he was gone?

“Look, I don’t need a lot of sleep, so I’m up late. I’ve seen you goin’ to Tierney’s, seen you coming back from there in the early morning hours. Seen you shoveling her walkway early every morning.”

“Woman would break her neck in them damn high heels she always wears, if I didn’t,” Renner muttered.

“Last night after you got home that was the first place you went. And man, I don’t blame you.”

He snarled again.

“No, no, not what I meant,” Tobin backtracked. “I meant I don’t blame you guys for keeping it under wraps.”

“Well, fuck. Doesn’t sound like it’s under wraps.”

“Near as I can tell, no one knows besides me.”

“Let’s keep it that way.”

“Done.” Tobin opened his mouth. Closed it.

“For Christsake, what now?”

“Why doesn’t Tierney ever come to your place?”

Damn kid brought up the very question he’d been asking himself. Why was he always crawling out of her bed and schlepping himself home? Be nice if she’d spend a few nights at his place. He had to get up a helluva lot earlier than she did.

Does she think she’s too good to bang you in a cheap trailer?

“Shit. Sorry I said anything. Never mind.”

Renner sighed. “I don’t know why. Haven’t really thought about it much.”
Liar
. “Now that we’re done shooting the shit, how about if we get them bulls fed?”

He spent the rest of the day in a foul mood.

He should’ve been happy that everything had run so smoothly at the Split Rock in his absence.

He should’ve been happy Wild West Clothiers sales had doubled the projections.

He should’ve been happy the lodge was full for the next two weeks, but he wasn’t.

None of it made him happy.

Renner ate lunch alone at his desk. When Tierney blew in like a wet dream, wearing a skintight black sweater dress, red patent fuck-me heels, and a
do me big daddy
smile, he barely said two words to her before he bailed. He wasn’t in the mood for company. He definitely wasn’t in the mood to lock the door and have a quickie. He considered hopping in his truck—gee, wouldn’t that be a blast, because it wasn’t like he hadn’t just spent the last ten goddamn days on the road.

Why don’t you sneak a pint of ice cream, pop
The Proposal
into the DVD player and curl up in your bed like a girl? Because you’re sure as fuck acting like one.

Wrong. He didn’t have time to wallow.

Isn’t that what’s eating at you? You left to check on your stock contracting company and found it’s in good hands? Maybe better than when you were running it full-time? And you get back here and find out you’re not needed here, either?

Not needed my ass
. There was always plenty of shit that needed done. So he returned to the barn, determined to sort through the tack.

The radio provided distraction from his self-pitying thoughts. He nailed up a new section of pegboard and had nearly cleared all the ropes, bridles and halters off the ground when he heard, “Knock, knock.”

Renner shot Tierney a look over his shoulder. Yep. She still wore that sexy-assed getup, including the stilettos. “I’da thought you woulda learned your lesson about wearin’ them kinda shoes out here.”

Tierney blinked at him.

“Something you need?” he asked shortly.

“Have I done something wrong?”

“Doubtful. Why?”

“Seems like you’re mad at me.”

“Nope.”

She tiptoed closer. “I don’t believe you.”

He shrugged and untwisted a section of rope.

“Renner? Why won’t you even look at me?”

Sighing, he faced her. “I have stuff to do after bein’ gone for ten fuckin’ days, so if you’ve got something specific to talk to me about, spit it out.”

That put starch in her spine. “I wasn’t aware I had to make an appointment to talk to you.”

“I wasn’t aware you had business in the barn. Unless you were here lookin’ for Tobin to help him out with some more research.”

He was being a dick. He knew it. She knew it. But for some reason Renner couldn’t stop it. He just kept working, hoping she’d take the hint.

“Fine. I’ll go since you’re in a lousy mood. But will I see you later tonight?”

“I’ll be at the lodge after supper to meet the guests.”

“That’s not what I meant. Will you be coming to my place after that?”

Renner shook out a halter from the pile. “Probably not.”

Silence. Then, “Why not?”

He whirled around. “Why don’t you ever come over to my place, Tierney? Not once in all the times we’ve been fucking around have you ever offered. I always have to be the one to haul my ass out of your bed and go home in the cold. Did you ever consider that I’d like to be in my own bed sometimes?”

Her stark expression indicated she hadn’t considered it, but immediately she rallied with, “No need to snap at me.”

“Do you know how nice it would’ve been to have you waiting for me for a change last night? Especially after I spent sixteen grueling hours on the road? But no. I had to go to you. And then, I got exactly two hours of sleep before I had to get up and start chores this morning. So, yeah, I’m snappy because I’m freakin’ tired, okay?”

“You didn’t have to come over last night. I knew you’d be tired. I would’ve understood.”

“I’m thrilled you’re so understanding. I know my crappy rental isn’t as nice as your cabin or what you’re used to—”

“Don’t go there, Renner.”

“Why not? It’s obvious
you
won’t go there, and by there, I mean you won’t lower yourself to cross my humble tin threshold.”

“You’re being an ass.”

He snorted. “Like that’s news to you.”

Tierney’s cell phone trilled. She was torn for two rings. Then she pulled it out and answered angrily, “This is Tierney Pratt,” as she walked off.

Chapter Twenty-five

P
ompous prick.

How was she supposed to know this stuff about sleeping arrangements? Had the man forgotten she’d been a virgin until recently?

Tierney had no precedent for this and she’d had no clue it bothered Renner so much.

Wouldn’t it bother you?

Yes. But the idiot had still hurt her feelings. Reverting to the dick-ish behavior that defined their previous relationship. She’d gotten pissed and walked off. So technically, they’d both regressed.