Sweet Talking Rancher Read online

  YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE

  Danny angled his head and kissed Faith, stopping her words. She didn’t have to think about whether to kiss him back and opened her mouth to him. With a groan he delved deep and she clung on to his shoulders. He tasted the same, but the body beneath his clothes was now fully formed and honed with the strength of hard work into something far more potent.

  Eventually he drew back and looked down at her, his expression careful.

  “Do we mark this down to closure or is it something else?”

  “I don’t know,” Faith said honestly. “I just need—”

  This time she was the one who leaned into him and took his mouth. His arm locked around her hips bringing her astride his lap, making her aware of the hard ridge trapped behind the fly of his jeans. She rocked against him aware in some part of her brain that she was not thinking straight but was too into what was happening to care. She might care later, she tended to overanalyze everything, but not now, not now. . . .

  BOOKS BY KATE PEARCE

  The House of Pleasure Series

  SIMPLY SEXUAL

  SIMPLY SINFUL

  SIMPLY SHAMELESS

  SIMPLY WICKED

  SIMPLY INSATIABLE

  SIMPLY FORBIDDEN

  SIMPLY CARNAL

  SIMPLY VORACIOUS

  SIMPLY SCANDALOUS

  SIMPLY PLEASURE (e-novella)

  SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE (e-novella)

  The Sinners Club Series

  THE SINNERS CLUB

  TEMPTING A SINNER

  MASTERING A SINNER

  THE FIRST SINNERS (e-novella)

  Single Titles

  RAW DESIRE

  The Morgan Brothers Ranch

  THE RELUCTANT COWBOY

  THE MAVERICK COWBOY

  THE LAST GOOD COWBOY

  THE BAD BOY COWBOY

  THE BILLIONAIRE BULL RIDER

  THE RANCHER

  The Millers of Morgan Valley

  THE SECOND CHANCE RANCHER

  THE RANCHER’S REDEMPTION

  THE REBELLIOUS RANCHER

  THE RANCHER MEETS HIS MATCH

  SWEET TALKING RANCHER

  Anthologies

  SOME LIKE IT ROUGH

  LORDS OF PASSION

  HAPPY IS THE BRIDE

  A SEASON TO CELEBRATE

  MARRYING MY COWBOY

  CHRISTMAS KISSES WITH MY COWBOY

  LONE WOLF

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

  Sweet Talking RANCHER

  The Millers of Morgan Valley

  KATE PEARCE

  ZEBRA BOOKS

  KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  RECIPE

  Notes

  ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2021 by Kate Pearce

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-4201-5257-9

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-5258-6 (eBook)

  ISBN-10: 1-4201-5258-0 (eBook)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks to Meg Scales and her veterinarian for my newfound knowledge of all the diseases calves can get. Also, thanks to Sian Kaley for reading the book through for me.

  Chapter One

  Miller Ranch

  Morgan Valley, California

  Danny Miller gently released his horse’s foreleg and straightened up.

  “Looking good. Thanks for doing this, Andy.”

  His gelding, Applejack, snorted and tried to knock Danny’s Stetson off as Andy Ferraro gathered his tools. They were in the horse barn, which sided onto the ranch house, and it was as hot as hades.

  “You’re welcome,” Andy said. “I’ve built up the shoe at the back, but I’ll change it out once he’s walking better. Anything else you need me to look at while I’m here?”

  “Nah, I think we’re good.” Danny clapped his friend on the back. “Come on in and have something to drink before you go.”

  “That would be appreciated.” Andy narrowed his eyes and looked up at the unending blue sky. “It’s darn hot out here. Mind you, it’s better than that endless rain we had all spring.”

  “Which is probably why you prefer to live in Bridgeport these days.” Danny put Applejack away in his stall, made sure the door was bolted, and headed toward the ranch house.

  “I’d come back if it was worth my while,” Andy said. “My parents still live here, and I know they’d love it if I was closer.”

  Danny held open the screen door that led into the mudroom. “We could do with a farrier in the valley. You should talk to the Morgans. With all the horses they have for the dude ranch, I bet they’d love to have you around full time.”

  “Yeah?” Andy paused to heel and toe off his boots and wash his hands. “Ron McDonald used to do a lot of the local horses in Morgan Valley, but as he’s retiring, maybe they will need someone new.” Andy gave Danny a sidelong glance. “You did know he was retiring, right?”

  “Yup.” Danny braced himself for the inevitable follow-up question.

  “I hear Faith’s coming back to run the veterinary business with Dave,” Andy said in a way-too-casual voice.

  “Is that right?” Danny led Andy through to the large family kitchen, which was mercifully free of his siblings and parents.

  “You worried about that, bro?”

  “Why would I be?” Danny smiled. “She’s just as entitled to come home to work for her family as anyone else.”

  “So, you guys won’t be changing vets or anything?”

  “Why would we? The McDonalds have always been awesome.” Danny gestured at the refrigerator. “What would you like to drink, Andy? Something cold? A beer?”

  “Seeing as I’m driving, I’ll take something cold, but not alcoholic if that’s okay.” Andy wandered over to the window that looked out over the fenced-in paddocks. �
��Grass is looking good because of all that spring rain. Wonder how long that will last?”

  “Not long enough I can tell you that.” Danny opened the refrigerator, took out a jug of lemonade, and held it up. “This okay? Mom made it this morning.”

  “Looks great.” Andy’s gaze went to the kitchen door. “Hey, Mr. Miller, what’s up?”

  Inwardly Danny groaned as his father, Jeff, entered the kitchen and sat at the table. He still couldn’t get used to seeing his old man around the house during working hours. Since his heart attack Jeff had been unable to maintain his five-in-the-morning-until-whatever-time-the-work-was-done schedule. He also made sure that everyone in the family knew how much he hated his current existence.

  “Afternoon, Andy. I don’t know why Danny called you all the way out here just to look at something he could easily have fixed himself, but it’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Miller,” Andy replied. “My mom said to say hi, and that she’s looking forward to seeing you back at church.”

  “I’m looking forward to being allowed off my own ranch, too.” Jeff gave Danny a pointed stare. “My family act like I’m incapable or something.”

  “We’re just following doctor’s orders, Dad. You’ll be good to go this weekend.” Danny gave his father and Andy glasses of lemonade and sipped his own. “Where’s Mom?”

  “She’s over at the Morgans’. She said that someone can start dinner if she’s late.”

  “Will do.” Danny liked to cook and with Adam staying in town with Lizzie right now, he was the backup chef. “There’s no need for her to rush home. I’ll text if I need any instructions.”

  Andy sat at the table with Danny’s father. “Did you know Ron Mac is retiring, Mr. Miller?”

  “Yup, and about time, too. He’s getting way too old for that job.”

  “He’s the same age as you,” Danny pointed out. “And you’re not willing to retire yet.”

  “His mind is on the golf course way too much these days and not on the job he’s supposed to be doing. Dave’s getting better, but he’s still got a long way to go to impress me.”

  “No one impresses you, Dad.” Danny grinned.

  “True enough.” Jeff sipped his lemonade.

  “So, I suppose it’s good Faith’s coming home,” Andy said. “From what I hear she’s had a lot of large animal experience up in Humboldt County.”

  “I’m sure she’ll do great.” Danny chugged his lemonade rather faster than he wanted to and stood up. “I’m just going to text Mom. I’ll be back in a minute to see you out, Andy.”

  Andy rose, too. “I’ve got to get back myself, Dan, so I’ll follow you out.”

  Danny escorted his friend back to his truck, saw him on his way, and returned to the kitchen where his father was still sitting at the table. He busied himself putting the glasses in the dishwasher and put the jug of lemonade back in the refrigerator.

  “Faith McDonald’s coming home, then.”

  “So they say.” Danny wiped his hands on the towel and turned to find his father’s penetrating stare focused on him.

  “You worried about that?”

  “Why would I be?” For the first time, Danny let some of his annoyance leak into his voice. “You’re about the tenth person who’s asked me that this week. Why would I care what she chooses to do? I haven’t seen her for seventeen years. I’m sure she’s a different person now.”

  His father shrugged. “No need to get mad when you’re asked a simple question, Son. Anyone would think you’ve got something to hide.”

  “Jeez, Dad.” Danny shook his head. “You know what happened, you were right there. It’s not like there was anything suspicious going on.”

  “Well, she did hightail it out of here pretty darn fast,” his father commented. “And she didn’t come back, which people might say makes her look guilty of something.”

  “Then people would be wrong.” Danny met his dad’s stare. “Can we just stop talking about it now?”

  “Why? When the whole valley is buzzing with the news that she’s finally coming home?”

  “Because . . .” Danny carefully folded the towel and put it back. “Faith has a perfect right to come here, and she doesn’t deserve all this stupid attention.”

  “She hurt you, Son.”

  Danny smiled. “I was seventeen. It was a long time ago. She probably doesn’t even remember me.”

  “I doubt that.” His dad hauled himself to his feet. “I’m going to take my walk out to the barn. If I don’t come back within the hour, you have my full permission to come look for me. If you start fretting before that, don’t expect me to be pleased to see you.”

  Danny took out his phone. “I’m going to text Mom back about dinner and then I’ll be busy getting that started, so I sure as hell won’t be worrying about you.”

  “Good.”

  Danny waited until his father slammed the back door behind him before he let out a long breath.

  Faith was coming back.

  He scrolled through his contacts until he found his mother’s name.

  In a place as small as Morgan Valley it was inevitable that they would bump into each other sooner rather than later—especially when the McDonalds were the Miller family’s vets.

  He tried to picture what she might look like now and couldn’t even guess. They’d parted on such bad terms that even after seventeen years he still wasn’t sure he’d be able to face her, or how she’d react to him. He reminded himself that they were both older and wiser, and that her defection had helped make him the man he was now, something he couldn’t regret.

  He half smiled as he started texting his mother.

  Maybe Faith really wouldn’t remember him.

  Perhaps that would be a blessing,

  After receiving detailed instructions from his mother about exactly how to cook dinner, Danny was just about to put his phone away when he paused.

  If he had to meet Faith again, he’d prefer to do it away from curious eyes and ears. He thumbed through his contacts and started to type. He was no longer a shy teenager who sat back and let things happen to him. Maybe it was time to make sure Faith knew that as well.

  * * *

  Faith McDonald suppressed a sigh as she looked around the ramshackle veterinarian’s hospital. After building a separate house on the property twenty years ago for his growing family, her father had left the original homestead entirely for the use of the practice and hadn’t made any effort to improve it since. It was a far cry from the modern offices she and her partners had occupied in Humboldt.

  “Yeah, it’s a bit of a shithole,” her brother Dave remarked from his position propping up the doorframe behind her. “I’ve been asking Dad to improve it ever since I qualified, but he wouldn’t listen. What’s new?”

  “Sounds just like Dad.”

  Faith swung around to regard her younger brother. They had the same dark hair and blue eyes as their mother and had both gone into the family business along with their cousin Jenna, who now worked and lived up at Morgan Ranch.

  “It’s not entirely his fault.” Dave shrugged. “It’s not easy making money out here.”

  “I know, but there are things we could do to improve that and stop people having to go to Bridgeport for specialized veterinary care. We both have the skills. Dad’s given me carte blanche to get the place up-to-date.”

  “What does carte blanche mean exactly?” Dave frowned. “Sounds like some kind of cake. And where are we supposed to get the money to make these changes happen?”

  “You don’t have to worry too much about that if you don’t want to,” Faith rushed to reassure him. “I managed our practice in Humboldt. We had twelve staff members including six vets and I dealt with all the financials.”

  Dave shuddered. “You go ahead. I like the ‘being a veterinarian’ part and hate the bookkeeping. It nearly killed me passing my finals.” He jerked his finger toward the back off ice, which was basically a huge pile of papers.
“Have you seen it in there?”

  Faith came toward him. “If we are going to be partners, Bro, you’re going to have to deal with some of this stuff. I can’t make decisions that will affect both of us all by myself. We will need to talk things through.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” Dave hesitated. “Can I be honest here?”

  “Sure.” Faith nodded. “Go ahead.”

  “I’m, like, not sure you’re really going to stick around,” Dave said in a rush. “I mean, I want you to, but seeing as you haven’t been near this place since I was in middle school, I have some doubts.”

  Faith made herself meet his skeptical gaze. “I understand how you feel. All I can tell you is that I really want to stay here and build up the practice. I promised Mom and Dad that if they ever needed me to come back I would do so without question.”

  “Why would I believe that when you’ve avoided it for so long?” Dave asked.

  Faith blinked. Wow, her little brother wasn’t pulling his punches.

  “Because I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep?”

  She tried not to think of all the promises she’d made to Danny Miller and subsequently broken. She’d promised to write, to keep in touch, to let him know when she’d be coming home . . .

  She forced her attention back to her brother. “I will do my absolute best to make this work, okay?”

  He still didn’t look convinced, but there was nothing she could do right now except work as hard as she could to prove him wrong.

  “There are some people in Morgan Valley who don’t remember you in the most favorable light,” Dave said slowly. “I’m not saying that to be mean, I just want you to know what you might be up against if you decide to stay.”

  “Still?” Faith raised her eyebrows.

  Dave shrugged. “Folks have long memories out here. You left, and Danny Miller stayed, so they’re bound to be more sympathetic to him. And, he’s a nice guy.”