The Rancher's Surrender

Delia laughed. 'Yeah, Zoe, stuff that trap shut.'

'Delia,' Maddie said mildly. 'Drink your tea.'

Her tummy comfortably full, Zoe sat back, watching Delia carefully to make sure she didn't get clobbered again.

Delia watched Zoe with equal attention.

Maddie sighed, but the sound was full of affection. 'Now, tell me what's up.'

'We've got money trouble,' Zoe admitted.

'So?'

'So?' Zoe laughed. 'Didn't you hear me?'

Maddie shrugged. 'We've got money trouble. What's new?'

Zoe stared at her and then laughed again. 'Well, that's putting it into perspective.'

'It should,' Maddie said. 'Don't tell me you've forgotten all those nights we sustained ourselves on nothing but a twenty-nine-cent box of macaroni and cheese.'

'With water instead of milk,' Delia added. She laughed fondly, then groaned. 'Yuck. We might be back to that soon.'

Zoe's stomach growled at just the memory. There'd been plenty of tight times after they'd left their group home together, determined to remain a family despite all the insurmountable odds.

Three eighteen-year-olds, innocent yet toughened by life. Eventually Delia had found her niche working in a beauty salon, catering to the rich who so fascinated her. Maddie had always cooked, first at Hamburger Palace, true, but she'd worked her way up to much fancier establishments.

And Zoe… she'd had the hardest time finding her place. She hadn't known what she wanted out of life other than she wanted more. Finally she'd ended up at a city college, then the university at night. She was the only one of the three with a degree.

Business management.

She nearly laughed. What would she do with it on a ranch out in the wilds of Idaho?

Hopefully she'd pull this off, that's what.

Delia stretched. 'It sure is getting old, being poor. I want the good life, dammit. I want someone else to give me a manicure for a change. And believe me, when I do, I'm going to tip really good.'

'You'd never let anyone give you a manicure,' Zoe pointed out with a laugh. 'No one would ever do it just right and you know it.'

'Well, that's because no one is as good as I am.' Zoe rolled her eyes and turned to Maddie. 'If we've always struggled, why am I so stressed-out over this one?'

'Because it's different this time,' her sister said wisely. 'It means more.'

'It does, doesn't it,' Zoe murmured, staring off into space. 'Because it's ours.' She straightened, determined. 'And we won't lose it.'

'No, we won't lose it,' Maddie said, equally determined.

'No failing allowed,' Delia agreed. 'But I have to say here, if you'd just let up a little with the whole Ty situation, you could have it much easier.'

Here it was, Zoe had known she wouldn't be able to avoid it forever. 'You want to let him in, don't you. You want him as a partner.'

'Would it be so bad?'

'Yes.'

'Why?' Maddie asked, and Zoe didn't have an answer. 'I mean, have you seen how that man fills out a pair of jeans?' Delia asked her incredulously. 'Good Lord. He's got the greatest-'

'Delia!' Maddie broke in, horrified, laughing. 'How his bottom looks is absolutely irrelevant here.'

'How did you know I meant his butt?' Delia lifted eyebrows so high they disappeared into her perfectly aligned bangs. 'You've been noticing, too, Maddie, haven't you? Admit it.'

Maddie blushed to her roots. 'Knock it off.'

'You have.' Delia laughed. 'It's okay. I mean, he's gorgeous. You'd have to be dead to-'

'Got it.' Zoe gritted her teeth at this candid discussion of the center of her nightly fantasies. 'I don't care how he looks in jeans-'

'Oh, yes you do,' Delia said calmly, smiling in a way that made Zoe want to smack her. 'I've seen you drooling with lust.'

'It was anger! That man is annoying as hell.'

'Uh-huh.'

Zoe looked to Maddie for help, but Maddie was giving her a small, knowing smile. 'You know,' her supposedly shy sister said slowly, 'the way you lose it around him is very telling. I think maybe you protest too much.'

Delia grinned and nodded. 'Yes. Yes, she does.'

Maddie's eyes weren't teasing but serious when they landed on Zoe again. 'Did you know that Ty grew up on the streets of Chicago, without any supervision or attention or money or anything?'

Zoe blinked at Maddie, unsettled by the quick shift between lust and life. 'What? He told you this?'

'Sure.' Maddie poured more tea for herself. 'He seemed to really understand the bond between us. So I asked him why and that's when I found out how hard it was for him. His parents didn't take care of him. He grew up pretty rough.'

That day in the truck, when Zoe had blurted out how guilty she felt about losing Constance before she'd gotten to know her, she'd sensed Ty's deep understanding, his deep grief about something she didn't understand.

And she hadn't pressed for answers, not wanting to pry.

No, that wasn't quite true, she admitted. She hadn't pressed because she didn't want to get to know him well. If she got to know him, she might care. And she didn't want that.

Only problem-it was far too late, she did care.

And now she yearned on top of that caring. Ached for the boy he'd been, all alone, just as she had been.

But at least she'd had her sisters.

Who had Ty had? She didn't want to know, didn't want to picture Ty as a lonely, frightened boy. 'Let's leave Ty out of this,' she suggested.

Delia gave her a knowing look. 'Can you?'

'Of course I can.'

'Uh-huh.'

'Look, can we just get back to the fact that we're drowning here and I'd like to make this work? Without a partner?' Zoe let out a breath at both Delia's and Maddie's faces, which reflected both amusement and doubt. 'I know you guys like and trust him, and I know it would be far easier if we let him in, but I just think we can do this alone.'

There was a moment of thoughtful silence. Then Maddie reached across the desk for Zoe's hand. 'I do like him, but I won't force you to do something you don't want.'

Delia held back another minute and let loose a disgusted sigh. 'Hell, hon, if you want to pass that fantastic man up, I think you're a fool. But I'm with you. We do this alone.'

Zoe blinked, for the first time considering that maybe Delia wanted Ty. It wasn't a silly thought, both Ty and Delia were adults. Human ones. But clearly Delia sensed the attraction between Ty and Zoe, and she'd never jeopardize that Zoe opened her mouth to tell Delia to feel free to make a move on Ty, but something held her back-a sort of strange ping to her midsection.

Too many cookies, she told herself. Yeah, that was it, too many cookies.

* * *

Ty relaxed and bit back a grin, taking a moment to enjoy his view.

It consisted of three shapely female rear ends, each wiggling enticingly.

Maddie, Delia and Zoe all stood in varied positions, painting the front of the main house. Ty could have told them it was hopeless, that some of the siding needed to be replaced first and the trim was all but shot.

But it would have been useless and heartless since he doubted they could afford to have the place fixed