Ruining the Rancher (Masterson County Book 3) Read online

She grabbed a clean dishrag from the drawer and wet it. He held still and let her tend to him. Pan’s hands trembled as she dealt with the blood on his arm. She bit her lip and looked up at him.

  His eyes darkened, and focused on her lips. "I'm okay, baby girl. I’m meaner than the bull could ever be.”

  She just shook her head, and continued cleaning him up. Sometimes she half thought the man needed a keeper. He may be a hard worker and out there right next to his men, but sometimes he took far too many risks for her peace of mind.

  Pan had had enough of taking risks. There had been so many times over the past two years when she’d risked half the family’s checking account just to pay a creditor—there had been a few times her risks hadn’t paid off. They’d barely held on to this point.

  She’d never forget the fear of not having enough money to feed a seven-year-old. Never forget the fear of losing the ones she loved somehow. Never.

  Pan had learned one highly valuable lesson since they’d lost their mother—how to plan for everything. How to make it through.

  She hadn’t planned on Levi, though.

  She would stick to her next plan, too—as soon as she figured out what it would be.

  For the last two years she'd worked so hard to see her family through and try to pay off that damn hospital. Things were finally going well for the Tylers; she just didn't know what she was going to do next. Her every thought for two years had been money, and what to do next. Phoebe had been so busy with the boys and her weaving to sell, Pip with the ranch and bringing in horses for them to board, Perci had worked herself into exhaustion at the hospital to bring in every extra penny she could.

  Just so Pan could take that money and do what she had to in order to feed them all and pay the damned light bill.

  It was all she’d been able to focus on.

  But now that was over. Money was still tight, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been. Joel had even hired them an attorney to fight the insurance company over the falsified accident reports from her mother’s death. There was hope on the horizon. There might even one day be a chance at a real settlement.

  Pressure wasn’t as strong on her any longer. She had room to think about the future again.

  And that meant Levi.

  She didn't want to be his housekeeper forever; she didn't want to live there in the shadow of Phoebe and Pip, either. They were Mastersons now, too. It was time she had her own life, her own plan, her own path.

  And whether she liked it or not, that path did not include the man in front of her.

  So why was she letting him keep her so confused all the time? Not a lick of it made sense.

  14

  The two little scratches on his arm were not going to kill him, but Levi stood still while she fussed. Pan had her red hair pulled back into two narrow braids. She smelled like a mix of lemon and that indefinable sent that was her. She looked tired, that was his first thought. And no wonder, she'd been up since five making breakfast for him and the crew and then working all day with that damned movie company, then coming home and cooking and cleaning here. He checked the clock quickly it was almost seven, now. Had she rested at all?

  She finished cleaning the mud and blood off of him, having him taking care of neatly in less than two minutes.

  Levi ignored the twinge in his slightly injured arm and scooped her up. He dropped a quick kiss on her pretty lips. "Thanks, honey."

  Instead of lowering her to the floor, he carried her into the living room, despite her protests. None of his brothers or her sisters were anywhere around. For the first time in a while, they had a bit of privacy. He was going to take advantage of that.

  "What are you doing?" She almost squeaked the question. Levi bit back a grin. He loved disconcerting this woman, every chance he could.

  "What you think I'm doing? I'm carrying you in the living room." He did just that, carrying her toward the large overstuffed recliner that he’d claimed as his long ago. He sank into it, and pulled the girl down onto his lap. "You look tired, sweetie. I don't want you pushing yourself so much right now. Not until that damned Bowles is finished around here. The rest of us can pitch in and help out with the cleaning in the cooking. Or I’ll hire someone to help you. Would you like that?"

  She looked at him like he was crazy. "You're going to hire your housekeeper a housekeeper? Levi, that's insane."

  But Levi had never really thought of her of his housekeeper exactly.

  Well, maybe at first he had.

  She had applied to his job posting, and had the most experience despite her age. But after about a month of having her in his home on a regular basis, something in him had shifted. He'd started to think of it less as his home, and more as their home. The one they’d share forever, if she would just get on board.

  Joel and Matt and their wives were planning to move out soon. As soon as the renovations on their new places were done. Nate was still around, but he spent most of his time at the hospital, anyway. He was like a ghost at times.

  No, this house was always intended to be Levi's. Levi's—and the woman he would one day share it with.

  If he had his way, that woman was already in his arms. Levi just didn't know how to make her see that he was completely serious about how he felt about her.

  "Seriously, Levi, what are you doing?”

  He heard the nerves in her voice and he smiled. He had Pan right where he wanted her for the moment. Now he was going to take the time to enjoy her.

  "Do I make you nervous? You see; I think I do. And that makes me wonder why I make you so nervous. No. Just hold still. You really don't want to be squirming around right where you're at."

  "Levi, you're such a pervert. I’m not entirely certain, but I think I could sue you for this if I wanted."

  "But why would you want to? No; seriously, honey, just stay where you are for a minute. I need…"

  Some of the humor left him, as he remembered exactly where he had been before hurting his arm. The bull he had lost was going to cost him a pretty chunk of change. He just hoped his brother Matt could keep the one who’d gotten Levi’s arm alive.

  But it was more than that. That animal shouldn't have died. He and Matt agreed on that. Levi was going to find out what had happened and soon. "I just need to hold you for a minute, honey. That's all.”

  Levi’s arms tightened around her and pulled her as close as he could.

  15

  Something in his voice had had her stilling, right there on his lap, and looking at him. Closely for the first time. There was strain around Levi's eyes, strain she wasn't used to seeing. Something had happened out there besides his injury—something that made the usually affable and charming Levi look worried. "What's wrong?"

  “Lost my bull, honey, for no logical reason. Matt’s looking into it now."

  She gasped. Losing a bull was a big blow to a ranch of any size. Levi's stock didn't exactly come cheap. The bull especially; it was one of the best of the best and had been purchased from the W-Deane ranch in Finley Creek, Texas. The strain of cattle had been developed there at the W-Deane, and was greatly prized for its traits. That this one had been lost could definitely create some serious problems for Levi.

  This could be a major setback for Levi, and her father.

  Not only that, but like every one of his brothers, Levi was an animal lover. He cared about his stock, even those he sold for consumption. No wonder he was so unlike he normally was.

  She surprised herself—and probably Levi, too—when she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. He felt so warm and strong against her—she didn’t like seeing him hurting. "I'm sorry. I'm sure Matt will figure out what happened."

  "I've got some of the boys moving the rest of the herd away from that field just in case. I probably should get out there myself, but… There's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be than right here. With you."

  This time, she didn't think the man was joking. Sometimes with him it was hard to tell, especially when he turne
d on the charm. Which was all the time with her—no matter who was nearby. Levi flirted with her almost constantly; she didn't since he was flirting this time. No, this time he meant it.

  His arms tightened around her. Pan did not push him away.

  16

  Levi rocked her, forcing himself to keep his hands in neutral territory. The woman was completely innocent, after all. He wasn't about to do something to hurt her. Or scare her; not his girl. He fiddled with the end of one red-gold braid and forced himself to ignore the press of small feminine curves to his chest.

  It had been a long time since he had a woman on his lap like this. That it was her made it all the more difficult for him to keep his hands in neutral territory.

  Levi wasn’t an animal, after all; his mother had raised him better than that. "So what's your schedule like tomorrow?"

  "I get a break until two. Pip and Matt are on most of the morning, though. I figure to take care of things around here, then drive to Mrs. Carson's and handle her place. I may have time to do a second place tomorrow, too. If I’m fast enough here."

  He frowned. Mrs. Carson's place was clear across the county, and not exactly easily accessible. There was a lot of remote areas between this place and that place. Anything could happen to her.

  "You taking one your sisters with you?"

  She shook her head lightly. "No, they're all busy. I may take Parker with me; he likes Mrs. Carson's old donkey. He doesn't have any scenes tomorrow or the next day like Patton, Phoenix, or Pete. I may bring him back here with me and let him spend the night with me."

  "Why don't you let me or one of the hands drive you? Your fan belt has been squealing, and I've been meaning to tell you. I want to take a look at it. Make sure it's not about ready to go. I’d hate for you and Parker to get stuck halfway to Mrs. Carson’s.” He tried to keep himself from just pulling her right up against him. He had to be content with the fact that she wasn’t squirming to get off his lap yet. Pan wasn’t one he could rush. He knew that.

  Too bad his hormones didn’t seem to have gotten the message.

  "Levi…I can take care of myself. It's not your job to take care of my car. If there's something wrong with that that I can't fix of myself, I'll ask my father.”

  "Your father’s on his way down to Finley Creek. I think he'll be there for a day or two. Trying to figure out what’s happening with the bulls. And that makes you my responsibility. Because I want to make you my responsibility." Damn, did he want that. He wanted the legal right to care about this woman.

  He was ready for just that.

  Too bad Pandora wasn’t.

  “I don't want to be your responsibility, though. I want to be my own responsibility and that's it."

  The resolve in her tone made it very clear that she meant it. And things were going to get a bit harder for him.

  "I understand that. I was the same way until I realized I liked having people care about me and caring about them. If you'd let me, Pandora Claire, I'll take good care of you.”

  17

  She didn't think he just meant her car. And that was what terrified her the most about him. Pan didn’t know if she could trust that; his interest could wane if she gave him what he wanted. Levi had dated half the available women in the county, after all.

  Pan wasn't interested in being a number—especially with him. Not him.

  So why hadn’t she climbed off the man’s lap yet?

  "Listen Masterson, I know what you're after. The entire county knows what you're after. And I'll not play that game. I never have and I never will. When I do get involved with a guy, it’s going to be on my terms. And it will be serious. Have you ever been serious about a woman in your entire life?” She wasn’t being confrontational, or antagonistic or anything. She couldn’t at the moment. Pan honestly needed to know. Because where she was sitting at the moment felt seriously…serious. Right. Almost too easy. And that terrified her.

  "Yes. Since about a month after you started living here. I haven't even thought about another woman since."

  "So less than six months? Not exactly a track record. In case you missed it, we’ve not been together six months, Levi. We’ve not been together at all. I don’t believe in insta-love."

  "What the hell is insta-love? There was nothing instant about the way I felt about you. I mean, it took a while. It probably started that day Tom Rutherford nearly killed Phoebe and Joel. You look so fierce standing on the porch protecting your little brothers. I just wanted to scoop you right up and promise to always keep you safe. No matter what I had to do. Your eyes. I still dream about your eyes that day, honey. What's so wrong with that? I don't know where you get the idea that I'm not serious about how I feel, Pandora. Because I am damned serious. You're not exactly the kind of woman a man trifles with, if he’s not. Not to mention the fact that if I do something you don't like, all you have to do is tell my own brothers. They will beat the shit out of me. And they are bigger than me!”

  Hard hands tightened around her waist and he shifted her, until her eyes met his. Never had she seen him quite so serious. "Listen to me, Pandora Claire. Just listen to me. I have never felt this way about a woman; not the way I feel about you. Just keep that in mind, when you're off kissing movie stars and flirting with big-time billionaire directors. You make me feel something more than I ever thought possible. You have ruined me. Now you have to fix what you've broken. Before you ruin me completely, forever. Don't make me suffer, please?"

  What sane woman would ever turn a man like him away? Not when he was holding her right there on his lap telling her that he had feelings for her? Pan fought the shiver that went through her.

  She was not about to let him ruin her plans, but she couldn't force herself to move away from him at that moment. It seemed harder to move away than it was to get closer. It just seemed easier to stay right where she was.

  And when he leaned his head down, and pulled her closer, her lips were already open and waiting for him.

  When he pulled back for air, one thing was infinitely clear to her.

  Hunter Clark couldn't hold a candle to the rancher kissing her right now.

  18

  She did take her youngest brother with her, and he enjoyed playing in the woman's backyard. Mrs. Carson was a retired grandmother who'd once worked as a schoolteacher. At one time, Pan and her sisters had attended the local elementary school—mostly to get four young girls out from underfoot while her parents worked the ranch. Mrs. Carson had been her teacher until her parents had made the decision that the school was just too far away and that they needed the girls home. She thought Mrs. Carson enjoyed hearing Parker's tales of making a movie almost as much as her younger brother enjoyed telling them. Still, by the time she was done cleaning Mrs. Carson's place she was more than ready to go home.

  It was getting ready to storm. She had intended to get at least one other place done for the day, but that wasn't going to happen. She'd been hoping to speak with the client about giving her a reference to use with the Preston family. They were the most well-to-do family in the greater Masterson County area, even more so than Levi and his brothers. If she cleaned for them at least once a week, it would beef up her savings enough that she might actually be able to afford to replace her car soon. Or at least get it tuned up. Because Levi was right. There was something wrong with her fan belt now.

  She didn't really have enough money to spend on fixing it; she hadn't been going to tell him that there were some things he just didn't need to worry about.

  She wasn't going to let him feel responsible for her; she wasn't about to start depending on him, either. Pan wasn't going to let that man get under her skin any more than he already had.

  Damn him. Pan just didn’t know how she was going to deal with the way he made her feel. Short of running up into the mountains that lined the back of Levi’s property. Running. Tylers didn’t run.

  Parker chattered at her as she drove the forty miles back toward the Masterson place. Her little brother was
significantly cute and always had been. He'd been born when she was fourteen and she'd spent a lot of time helping care for him. She and her sisters had taken turns helping their mother with him and the other young children after their mother had given birth to Parker.

  She missed living with her brothers and she wouldn't deny that. It wasn't that she didn't see them as much, because she did.

  It just didn't feel the same.

  She sighed. That was the way things happened, right? You wanted change, then when you got it you missed everything from before. Pan hated feeling this confused.

  And most of it was Levi’s fault. That man…she just couldn’t stop thinking about him.

  "Are you sad today?" her little brother asked.

  "No, not really. Why do you ask?"

  “You have that face again."

  Parker crunched up his face in a way that made her laugh.

  "Do I?"

  “Yes. It’s the one you have when you are thinking. Or sad. I don’t like it when my Pan is sad.” He shot her a chiding look—for a moment looking just like their mother. And her. She and Parker really favored the mother she missed every day.

  "I'm not really feeling sad today, Park. Just a little tired, and lots to think about."

  "Like Levi. I know. I heard, you know."

  Levi. Again. She just couldn’t escape him, could she? "What did you hear?"

  "Daddy and Perci. Perci thinks he's really cute, but he's not serious. Daddy thinks he is serious. And that he loves you."

  "They do, do they?" It didn't surprise her that her father and her sister had been discussing her and Levi. It seemed like everyone everywhere was. Even Mrs. Carson had had good things to say about ‘Pandora’s young man’.

  Like they were inevitable, or something. Like Perci and Nate were, too. Mrs. Carson had had a lot to say about that fine young doctor her sister had ‘caught’.