“Because you’re not very good at it.”
When he would have whirled around and stalked away, she added, “That’s okay. No apology necessary. Just don’t make a habit of it.”
“Believe me, I won’t,” he said fervently. If today was any example of the aftermath, he was going to give her such a wide berth that they’d never even cross paths again. He’d leave notes telling her what he expected of her as far as the horses were concerned, then hightail it to some other part of the ranch. He could carve out some decent distance to keep between them if he put his mind to it.
“Want some iced tea?” she asked, cutting into his thoughts.
He stared at her. “What?”
This time she did laugh out loud. “It wasn’t a trick question. It’s a hot night. I asked if you wanted some iced tea—I brought a pitcher out with me. I can run in and get an extra glass.”
Wade considered the friendly gesture. What could be the harm, especially now that he’d laid all his cards on the table? She knew there weren’t going to be any more kisses. They both knew it. And he had a plan to stay out of her path from here on out. In the meantime, there was no reason not to stay for a few minutes of polite sociability.
“Sure,” he said finally. “But I’ll get the glass. I know where they are.” Besides, the walk inside would give him a few minutes to cool off and shake the temptation to kiss her again. He figured it would set a very bad precedent if he kissed her not five minutes after swearing that he would never do it again.
She shrugged. “Whatever.” She turned her gaze to the night sky as if what he did were of no consequence at all.
For some reason that annoyed Wade just as much as everything else Lauren did. He stalked past her, went into the kitchen and retrieved a glass. He was on his way back to the porch when Grady caught him in the front hall.
“You need something, Wade?”
“Just getting a glass,” he said, relieved that the overhead light was off so his boss wouldn’t see the color that was no doubt flaming in his cheeks.
“None down at your place?” Grady inquired, laughter threading through his voice.
Wade found himself clenching his teeth. “Actually, Lauren asked me to join her for a glass of iced tea.”
“You two getting along better, then?”
“It’s a constant test of our natural instinct to butt heads, but we’re trying.”
Grady nodded. “That’s good. Well, you two enjoy yourselves.”
He sounded too much like a father anxious to see his daughter settled down. Hearing that tone in his voice made Wade’s skin crawl. “You could come on out and join us,” he said, suddenly desperate for a buffer.
“Not me. I have plans, and they don’t include the likes of you. Karen’s upstairs.”
How could he have forgotten that? It seemed as if sex was in the air tonight and there was no escaping it. “Yeah, right,” Wade mumbled. “Well, see you tomorrow.”
“Crack of dawn,” Grady said. “We’ve got to move the herd to the west pasture.”
Wade had completely forgotten that he’d offered to help out with that. “What about Lauren?”
“What about her?” Grady asked.
“Maybe I’d better tell her to spend the day shopping or something,” Wade suggested.
What might have started out as a laugh suddenly turned into a cough. “Why don’t you do that?” Grady said. “I think I’ll come out after all and watch.”
Wade sighed. “You don’t think she’ll go for it, do you?”
“I think she’ll cut you up in little pieces and spit you out if you even suggest such a thing,” Grady said cheerfully.
“It was just an idea. I don’t want her around Midnight without someone to keep an eye on things.”
“Then tell her what your concerns are and let her decide.”
“Her?” Wade asked. “Lauren’s impulsive and stubborn. She’ll spend the whole blasted day with the horse just to spite me.”
“Then it’ll be her choice,” Grady said.
Wade felt his stomach turn over. “And if we come back and find her lying in the dirt with a couple of cracked ribs or worse, will that be her choice, too?”
Grady’s expression sobered. “You’re really worried, aren’t you? Aren’t things going as well as I’d hoped they would?”
“Up to a point,” Wade said cautiously. “But she’s the kind of woman who’ll push the limits, and you know it.”
“Talk to her,” Grady said again. “Lauren’s a lot smarter than you’re giving her credit for being. She’s not going to do anything foolish unless you goad her into it.”
Wade scowled at having the responsibility for Lauren’s actions placed squarely on his shoulders once again. “I’ll talk to her,” he said grimly. “Not that I think it’ll do any good.”
He walked outside and let the screen door slam behind him, so he couldn’t be accused of sneaking up on her again.
“Nice to know you have such a favorable impression of my common sense,” Lauren said mildly.
Wade groaned. After her protests about how he was always sneaking around, it had never occurred to him that she could hear every word he and Grady had exchanged inside the house.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“Are you really?” she asked. “Or are you just sorry you got caught?”
“Mostly the latter,” he said with candor. “I try never to insult a woman to her face.”
“Just behind her back?”
“If we’re going to get into a sparring match over this, can I have some of that tea?” he asked.
Lauren nodded toward the table. “There’s the pitcher. Help yourself.”
Despite himself, he bit back a grin. He should have known she wasn’t going to demean herself by waiting on him. He poured the tea, took a long swallow and tried to find some way to get his foot out of his mouth.
“Since you heard everything we said, I don’t suppose there’s any chance at all that you’ll consider going over to Winding River tomorrow and spending the day shopping?” he asked hopefully.
She beamed at him. “Nope. Consistency
