He reached her and she was still in that strange state of not breathing. 'Zoe? You okay?'
Her mouth fell open a bit more, then she swallowed audibly. 'Uh… yeah. Sure.'
She sounded so… distraught. No, that wasn't right. Her eyes had gone wide, but there was no fear in them. 'What is it?'
Her gaze was glued to his chest now. 'Ah… nothing. I mean, I've gotta go
And with that, she whirled and ran toward her truck.
Baffled, Ty glanced down at his own bare, dripping chest, wondering what had gotten into her.
Suddenly a smile split his face. His temper and frustration didn't vanish but rather settled in line behind amusement. He easily caught up to her since she'd dropped her keys three times, then fumbled with the door handle.
'Going to get something to chest?' he asked casually, coming to a halt behind her.
Her shoulders stiffened. Her fingers went still.
When he peered around to see her face, her eyes were closed, her mouth tight.
And her face was a most definite shade of red.
'It sure is warm today,' he finished conversationally. 'Never know when you're going to need something… to chest.'
Something escaped her throat, it sounded suspiciously like a groan.
He laughed then, he just couldn't help it. Reaching for her, he turned her toward him, a feat in itself because she'd gone rigid as a corpse.
'Hello.' It wasn't kind to torment her, but she had the ability to single-handedly drive him crazy. He figured it was his God-given right to drive her crazy right back. 'Come clean, Zoe, gig's up.' He grinned and rubbed his chest. 'You want me.'
She stared with great interest over his shoulder at nothing. 'I have to go now.'
'I can see that.' He laughed again, he couldn't help it; he suddenly felt lighter than he had in weeks. 'Need another look at me first?'
Her face went even redder.
'Tongue-shy?' He bent closer, but she still wouldn't meet his gaze. 'Wow, this is a first. Listen-you weren't by any chance back there… lusting after me, were you?'
'Shut up.'
'You were.' He laughed again, earning himself a cold glare.
'All right!' she fumed, raising her hands. 'All right! I might have been staring at you.'
She lifted her chin in that endearing yet annoying gesture of hers. 'I have no idea why you're so amused about this,' she snapped. 'Just a moment ago you couldn't wait to get away from me.'
'No, just a moment ago we were kneeling over a miracle,' he reminded her, his smile fading. 'Over Abby and her new colt, and nothing is more real or grounding than that. It's precious, Zoe. Seeing life start before your very eyes, and you know it, too, I saw you. I saw your face. God, the way you looked at me… It made me feel that something was between us. Something amazing. I know you felt it, too, Zoe, don't even try to deny it.'
She said nothing, which was typical and frustrating, and suddenly he wasn't going to take it. 'That's when you remembered you didn't like me, or that you didn't like the man you think I am, and it was over. Just like that, click, and you're back to unfeeling Zoe Martin. Even your eyes shuttered against me.'
She drew an uneven breath, but to her credit, she didn't run as he'd half expected.
'We bring out the worst in each other,' she said quietly.
'And also the best.' Hell, he had no idea where that statement came from. He didn't even know what it meant. He didn't want this thing between them any more than she did, so why then did he constantly push her for more?
If he was falling, he was falling hard, and for a woman who had clearly been so hurt in her past she couldn't possibly return the feeling. But Ty had a will of iron. If falling for her was a mistake-which it was-then he simply wouldn't fall.
No problem. He was unfallen. That easy.
Straightening, he dropped his hands to his sides and turned from her, bone-weary. He'd been putting in long days at his ranch, then more hours at hers. And for the past two nights he'd been up sitting with Abby, waiting.
'Where are you going?' She sounded startled that he was walking away from her.
'I won't fight for your damn affection, Zoe. I won't even fight for your friendship anymore, I'm too tired. I have other things to spend my energies on-including saving your selfish pride over that ranch.'
Now she looked a little frightened. He hesitated, thinking she would stop him, but she didn't speak. Disgusted with the both of them, he shook his head and strode away.
She followed him.
He gave her a look that would have any of his hired hands quivering in their boots as he walked. 'What?'
'I…' Zoe couldn't form the words as she struggled to keep up with his fast pace. 'We… we, ah, had a meeting last night. My sisters and I.'
'Did you?'
'About the ranch.'
'Okay.' Now he stopped, halfway between the house and his barn. The sun beat down on them. The water still beaded on his tanned chest, glistening, but it was all hard to enjoy when his face and voice were so distant.
She felt as though she were on an emotional roller coaster ride, one she was completely unequipped for. She knew nothing of these matters, she'd avoided exactly this kind of attachment most of her life.
Walking away would be so easy, but she had no choice. For her sisters, she had to do this. And really, just how bad could pride taste, anyway? 'We figured we could fix up the barn,' she said. 'The cabins on the edge of the property aren't needed right now, so they can stay the way they are.'
'We've discussed this.'
'There's more.'
He crossed his arms, his legs spread and steady. An aggressive male stance that screamed dangerously annoyed, tired male. She spoke quickly. 'Then maybe we could get some animals, you know. Nothing too complicated at first. Maybe start out with some chickens.'
'Uh-huh.'
'And a cow or something.'
No response. And agonized over what she had to ask, Zoe held her breath. 'Only we need some…'
'Some…?' he repeated, ever so helpfully.
She sighed loudly. 'We need some help, dammit. Okay?'
He looked disbelieving. 'To handle a single cow and a few chickens?'
'I want more than that. Ty… I'm trying to ask you for help.'
'Why is it so hard?'
'I don't know.'
He didn't soften in the least, keeping his arms crossed over the still-bare, still-magnificent chest she was trying her best to ignore.
'For the record,' he asked finally, 'are we talking technical help or financial help?'
'Technical.'
'I'm already-'
'Yes, yes, I know. Manager,' Zoe said, finishing for him impatiently. 'This is different. I need more than a general manager. I need to be taught everything.'
He didn't comment on the fact they'd be working together, closely. 'Where is the money going to come from?'
