Free THE COWBOY SHE COULDN'T FORGET by Patricia Thayer Page B

Vance, taking clothes out of his bags and putting them in the dresser drawers.
    In the walk-in closet there was a row of shirts hanging neatly. Well, he was making himself at home. Ana closed her eyes. He had every right to be here. He’d been a part of this family for years. He should be like a brother to her. So why didn’t she feel sisterly toward him?
    Just then Vance turned around, and she zoned in on the tall, broad-shouldered man with that lanky cowboy build a woman couldn’t take her eyes off. Her gaze moved to his handsome face with those deep-set, coffee-colored eyes. His sandy-brown hair was thick and wavy, and maybe a little on the long side.
    “See anything you like?” he asked.
    “Well, you were checking me out downstairs. I thought I’d turn the tables and see how you like it.”
    He dropped his stack of T-shirts and came toward her. “I like it a lot, especially from you,” he told her.
    She fought to move away, but he was so close, and so tempting. “This playing around isn’t a good idea, Vance.”
    “Who said I was playing?” he challenged.
    Her heart started to pound as she met his intense gaze. She managed to step back. “Whatever it is, stop it. We need to concentrate on other things. Are you settled in?”
    “I’m getting there. Back at my house, I put away all my personal things. Jake and Gary moved beds from the bunkhouse into the other two bedrooms. So the place now sleeps four to five adults. Kathleen is going to put on the bedding and add some special touches.”
    “Thank you, Vance. Thank you for doing this.”
    “It’s not a big deal. The house is part of the ranch. It’s not even mine.”
    “But it comes with your job as foreman.”
    Vance had plans to have his own place soon. The dream might be pushed further into the future than he wanted, but he wasn’t giving up. He had the land, and the crop nearly ready to harvest, and soon he’d be able to build his house. He looked at Ana. Question was, would he ever have the girl?
    “I can handle living here,” he said, wanting to change the subject. “I bet your sister would have a fit knowing I’m sleeping in her room.”
    Yeah, and so close to me. Ana suddenly remembered the kid who used to sleep in the barn.
    “Like I said before, Colt should have never made you stay out in the barn,” she said.
    Vance raised an eyebrow. “He didn’t make me stay anywhere.”
    “A boy shouldn’t have to live with animals.”
    “It wasn’t that bad. Really. My room was upstairs. It was a big area, and finished just like a regular house.”
    “But you were a kid,” she insisted. “You needed adult supervision.”
    “I was fourteen,” he told her. “Chet was close by. I had pretty much been living on my own for years. Though my mother left, my dad was around most of the time. I liked being at the ranch, because he wasn’t there taking a swing at me.” Vance glanced away. “It was heaven to have a warm bed, three square meals and clothes.”
    Ana felt the tears building.
    He gave a frustrated sigh. “Don’t you do that! Don’t go feeling sorry for me. I’ve had a good life here. Your father took me in, helped me learn about horses and cattle. He gave me a chance at a good life, Ana. So just drop this.”
    Seeing her frown, he quickly changed to another topic. “I heard you worked pretty hard today.”
    “Isn’t that what you wanted? There was a list.”
    He folded his arms over his chest. “I post a list every day, but I didn’t expect you to do it all.”
    “I want to help out.”
    “You don’t need to go overboard, Ana. There are men who get paid to do the job.”
    “You can’t expect me to sit around and do nothing.”
    He hesitated. “Then how about taking a ride with me this afternoon? I need to help with the herd.”
    She was excited. “You’re not just making the trip up for me?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t have time for that. I wouldn’t have come in, except I needed to get my clothes out of the