Free Two to Wrangle by Victoria Vane Page A

and I need you for that.”
    â€œFine,” he grunted. “I’ll take you. Just don’t complain to me later ’bout your sore ass. I s’pose we can find an ol’ ranch horse ’round here that’ll suit you . . . unless you jus’ wanna climb up here on ol’ Beau with me.”
    She eyed the horse dubiously. “Can he carry us both?”
    The horse gave a snort of protest.
    Ty replied with a chuckle, “He might not like it much, but it won’t hurt him any. He’s big enough, and it’s about time he earned his groceries.”
    Â 
    Monica questioned her judgment the moment she mounted the horse behind Ty and wrapped her arms around his big, hard body. After last night, she’d sworn to keep her distance, but now that distance could be measured in millimeters. She shut her eyes, inhaling the tantalizing scents of mingled leather, horse, and male musk. It wasn’t just his smell, a unique blend of old-time Marlboro man with a hint of urban cowboy, that turned her on, but his easygoing nature, quick wit, and natural, unaffected swagger. Most of all was how he wore his masculinity without apology.
    Ty was just as much a man’s man as Tom had been, but Ty also liked women, and as Delaney had painfully pointed out, maybe too much. Could she ever trust a man like that? Though her heart wanted to say yes, his history told her emphatically no.
    â€œSo what were you and Delaney so chummy about?” His sudden question broke the silence.
    â€œAre you growing paranoid in your old age, Ty? I told you, she offered me some jeans and boots.”
    â€œHer place is only fifteen minutes away. You were gone for almost two hours.”
    â€œYou timed me?”
    â€œCourse not, I simply noticed. I was talking to Bob when I saw you leave. My ears were burning the whole while you were gone.”
    â€œThat’s a tad egotistical, don’t you think?”
    â€œIs it?” he asked. “Gotta wonder how you filled that time.”
    â€œYou really just want to know if we talked about you,” she said.
    â€œI already know that much,” he replied. “What did she want from you?”
    â€œWhy do you think she wanted anything?”
    â€œBecause that’s Delaney. She doesn’t do anything without an ulterior motive.”
    â€œDo you really despise her that much?” Monica asked. Although Delaney had been just as snarky toward Ty, Monica had no doubt she still had feelings for him. She wondered if Ty’s outward animosity was also just a ruse.
    â€œNo,” he confessed, “I don’t really despise her. She just annoys the hell out of me.”
    â€œBut weren’t you the one who did her wrong?” Monica shot back.
    His back stiffened. “I told you it wasn’t like that. Who are you gonna believe, Monica, a bitter ex-wife or me?”
    She replied slowly, “As Tom used to say, there’s two sides to every story, and then there’s the truth that lies somewhere in the middle. I think I’ll stick to that middle ground on this.”
    â€œFair enough,” he grunted, his body relaxing under her hands.
    â€œI don’t know what she wanted from me, Ty, but I got a strong feeling that she wants something from you.”
    He tensed again and shifted in the saddle. “Why do you say that?”
    â€œBecause she asked flat out if I was after you.”
    â€œDid she now?” He turned his head to catch her eye. “And what did you say?”
    â€œI told her it was none of her business. But I also told her I’m leaving, so I’m sure she’ll draw the right conclusion. Does she want you back? She swore she doesn’t, but her actions make no sense otherwise.”
    Ty snorted. “Delaney may be a walking contradiction, but she knows we’re done.”
    â€œThen what does she want?”
    Ty’s chest rose and fell with a sigh. “A baby.”
    â€œA what