The Rancher's Rules. Lucy Monroe

But Snoopy had been her dog since he was a pup and she couldn’t let him go.

      Considering the results of her calls on apartments the day before, she might not have any choice. Sunshine Springs wasn’t a big town, which was why the rich and famous seemed to like it so much as a getaway destination. It helped that it was close to the ski slopes on Mt. Bachelor as well. But rental space for year-round residents was limited, and the rates could be astronomical.

      No one she’d spoken to, no matter what kind of rent they charged, had been willing to rent to someone with a large dog like her German Shepherd.

      Grant frowned. “Your bird is one of the loudest, orneriest parrots I’ve ever seen.”

      “You get used to his singing after a while.”

      He slid her a disbelieving glance before focusing on the snow-covered road. “Singing? The bird squawks loud enough to wake the cows in the pasture.”

      “I’ll have you know that my parrot is a highly intelligent bird. He even says my name.”

      “Zoe, that parrot does not talk.”

      “Sure he does. You just have to understand his dialect.”

      Grant snorted.

      “What about Bud?”

      “He rolls all over the house in his exercise ball. I think he likes the living room best. I’m really not into small pets, but I let him do the ball thing a couple of hours each night.”

      Zoe smiled. “Thank you. Just think of it as training for when you have kids and they have small pets.”

      “I’m not getting married anytime soon. Ergo…no kids.”

      A sudden image of a little boy with Grant’s dark coloring swam into her mind, making her long for things she could never have with him. “Do you have to drive so slow? I’m already late for school.”

      “It’s a good thing I stopped by this morning to drive you. You’d probably have ended up in a ditch, driving too fast.”

      Zoe did not appreciate his comment. “Listen, Grant, I drive myself to work every other day of the year and I do not end up in ditches.”

      “So, your guardian angels work overtime? I knew that the first day I met you.”

      “Then I guess I don’t need you doing it too, do I?”

      “Maybe you don’t, but you’re stuck with me.” His set jaw let her know that he found her flippant answer annoying.

      It amazed her how quickly small disagreements escalated into full-blown arguments with him lately. This time she was going to remain calm. She gave him a conciliatory smile. “I’ve noticed.”

      He didn’t return her smile. In fact, his frown grew more intense. “I promised your parents I’d watch out for you when they moved and I will.”

      Just like that, her resolution to stay calm went up in smoke. “Don’t let a promise to my parents stop you from finding someone else to tyrannize. They gave up on me a long time ago.”

      He swore.

      The rest of the drive to town was mile after mile of charged silence.

      She unbuckled the minute Grant pulled up in front of Sunshine Springs Elementary School. Pasting a fake smile on her face, she unlatched her door and hopped out. “You don’t need to bother picking me up. I’ll catch a ride with someone else.”

      His jaw could have been hewn from canyon rock. “I’ll be here at three-fifteen.”

      “Fine.” She forced herself not to slam the truck door.

      Grant waited until she was safely on the sidewalk before backing up. He exited the parking lot at a much faster speed than he had driven into town.

      Zoe swallowed her frustration and headed into the building. The last thing she needed to deal with a roomful of five-year-olds was a bad attitude.

      When he pulled up in front of the school that afternoon, Grant half expected Zoe to be gone. She wasn’t. She stood talking to a couple of other teachers in some flowy cotton thing that flirted in the wind, with her legs encased in tight leggings. Didn’t she know any better than to wear stuff like that in this weather? And where was her coat? At least she was wearing a turtleneck under the flowy thing.

      Wasn’t that the tattoo man from the other evening? If she thought Grant would let Mr. Leather drive her home, she was in for a shock. No way was she going home on a Harley in these conditions.

      Zoe looked up and met his eyes. Grant breathed a sigh of relief when she said goodbye to her friends and headed toward his truck. At least that was one battle they did not have to get into. Not like this morning. He still couldn’t figure out what had offended her so much. Did it really bother her that he had wanted to drive her to school?

      A small, still voice chided Grant. It hadn’t been Zoe’s response that had escalated their argument. It had been his own. He was edgy and he knew why. Her dad had called him the previous evening, after she had taken care of her animals and left. He and Mrs. Jensen weren’t coming for Christmas.

      They had been invited last minute to join a group of retirees on a cruise for the holidays. Heaven knew why they accepted, but they had. Zoe would be devastated. He had given the number for the Patterson place to Mr. Jensen, but the older man had asked Grant to relay the news—said they were too busy packing to make another phone call, which was a load of manure. The man just didn’t want to have to deal with his daughter when he told her they weren’t coming back for the holidays. He’d probably dealt with enough grief from his wife, but Mrs. Jensen was an old-fashioned woman. She might argue with her husband, but she wouldn’t outright say no to him.

      Grant could have refused to tell Zoe, but that would not have improved the situation. Mr. Jensen did not know how to talk to his daughter. He would hurt her with his pragmatic attitude. He might even go on about Zoe’s pets and the new mess she’d gotten herself into because of them, as he had to Grant on the phone the previous evening.

      Much better for Zoe if Grant were to break the news. First he would have to get her speaking to him again, though. He was going to have to apologize. The thought did not lighten his mood.

      She opened the passenger door and climbed in, shivering. “You’re late.”

      “I got caught on a phone call to New York on the landline.” If he’d been on his cell, he could have left on time.

      She harrumphed like only Zoe could. He imagined her little kindergarteners knew just when they had upset Miss Jensen without her saying a word. She had a look when she was mad or disappointed that left no doubt how she felt.

      “What were you doing talking to that joker?” He hadn’t meant to ask, but now that he had Grant wanted an answer.

      Zoe’s head snapped toward him and she gasped. She turned back and looked out the front windshield. “I do not know to whom you are referring. None of my friends are jokers.”

      He ground his teeth. “The guy in all the leather.”

      “I told you, his name is Tyler.”

      “So, why were you talking to him?”

      “I talk to lots of people, Grant. Do you expect me to keep a record and report back to you?”

      “Of course not.”

      “Good, because I would have to disappoint you if you did.”

      He had not meant to get so off track. “Are you going out with him again?”

      “That’s none of your business.”

      “It sure as hell is. I promised your parents I’d watch out for you.”

      “So you said this morning.”

      Grant cleared his throat. The thermal shirt under his flannel suddenly