A Rancher's Redemption. Ann Roth

Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Extract

       Copyright

Chapter One

      Dinner was starting to smell so good that Dani Pettit’s mouth watered when Nick Kelly knocked at her door. Only a few short minutes ago, she’d buzzed him into the building.

      Although they talked and texted regularly, she hadn’t seen him in a while. But tonight she really needed to be with her best friend.

      “He’s here,” she told Fluff.

      The tomcat meowed and trotted daintily toward the door. Which was funny because at twenty pounds and half a ton of white fur, Fluff wasn’t exactly tiny. But he’d never let Dani down, and so she stifled the urge to laugh at him. There weren’t many true-blue males in her life—just the cat, Nick Kelly and Dani’s oldest brother, Sly. She dearly loved all three.

      To prevent Fluff from darting out, running across the hall and shamelessly begging food from Mrs. Detmeier, Dani scooped him up before she opened the door and managed a smile. “Hi, Nick.”

      The handsome rancher flashed his pearly whites at Fluff, then gave Dani a gentler grin. “Hey.”

      In his large hands he cradled a bottle of wine and a white bag bearing the Lannigan’s Ice Creamery logo, which was, bar none, the best ice creamery in Prosperity. Although the central Montana town of sixty thousand people boasted at least a half-dozen ice cream specialty shops, several much closer to her house than Lannigan’s, Nick had chosen well. He sure knew how to brighten a girl’s spirits.

      Dani eyed the bag. “I hope that’s rocky road.”

      “A whole gallon of the stuff.”

      “You sweetheart!” She rubbed her hands together.

      Nick chuckled. “Nothing but the best for Dani Pettit.”

      He kissed her cheek, then set his things down to shrug out of his leather bomber jacket. He hung the jacket on the doorknob of the coat closet, just as he always did, his navy flannel shirt stretching across his strong, broad shoulders.

      He was a beautiful man—tall and muscular without an ounce of extra fat, thanks to the physical demands of running a ranch. His long legs did wonders for the loose, faded jeans he favored.

      Yet as gorgeous and sexy as he was, theirs was a strictly platonic relationship and always had been. Dani adored him—as a friend.

      Nick stuck his fingers into Fluff’s thick fur and scratched behind the cat’s neck. “Howdy, Big Fella.”

      He refused to use the name “Fluff,” which he considered too sissy for a tomcat.

      Fluff didn’t seem to mind. He was too busy purring and batting Nick’s hand for more. A moment later, sated and content, he jumped out of Dani’s arms and strolled off.

      “I brought a couple of DVDs for later,” Nick said. “Unless you’d rather catch a movie out. It is Saturday night.”

      Date night. Only twenty-four hours ago, Dani had assumed that she and Jeter would be out dancing tonight at the Bitter & Sweet Bar and Grill in downtown Prosperity, where the live music and great dance floor made the bar a happening place.

      Now, dateless for the first time in three months—Dateless in Prosperity, she thought wryly—she shook her head.

      After last night’s painful breakup and an especially irritating day, she wanted only to relax and hang out with her best friend. “Would you mind if we stayed here? I’m not in the mood to go out.”

      “Staying in works.”

      Nick shot her a sympathetic look, and tears she refused to shed gathered behind her eyes. Jeter had never exactly treated her well, and over the months they’d been together, she’d done more than enough crying.

      “I’ll bet you could use a hug,” Nick said. “I know I could.”

      Which reminded her that she wasn’t the only one hurting. Earlier in the week he’d broken up with Mandy, a woman he’d seemed to really like—at least for a while. Nick had commitment issues. He claimed that he didn’t want to settle down with anyone, ever, didn’t want to marry or have kids. They weren’t just words, either. He meant it.

      Dani stepped into the warm, comforting embrace she’d needed since Jeter had dumped her. She smelled Nick’s sandalwood shaving soap and fresh Montana air. And underneath both, his own “Nick” scent.

      For a few long moments they held each other tightly. When they let go and stepped back, Dani felt better.

      Nick sniffed the air, rubbing his belly and licking his lips, making her smile for real. “Man, that smells amazing. I’ve been dreaming of your mac and cheese all day.”

      “Even while you worked on the barn roof in the freezing rain? You’re lucky it didn’t snow.”

      It had been almost two years since Nick had repurchased Kelly Ranch, once owned by his family and then sold. Now he was slowly and painstakingly making improvements on the property, which, because it had been neglected, was rundown. His current project was the leaky barn roof. He could have hired a professional roofer, but he was watching his bank balance. Also, he claimed to enjoy doing the work himself.

      “I’d prefer snow to the icy stuff we got. And yeah, I thought a lot about dinner while the sleet was pounding my head. I could eat a whole cow.”

      As if in agreement, his stomach growled loudly—just as the oven timer pinged, signaling the casserole was ready.

      “If that isn’t great timing,” Dani teased. “Come on.”

      They linked arms and headed toward the kitchen of her little apartment, swapping fond looks with each other. “What’s next on your agenda, Mr. Ranch Fixer Upper?” she asked.

      “Mending fences so that we can move the livestock when the spring grass comes up. Now that it’s March, that’s just around the corner. I also have to install the new irrigation system soon.”

      “You’re keeping busy, I’ll give you that.” Too busy to reflect much on his recent breakup. “Ever notice how you use physical labor to avoid thinking about certain things?”

      He shrugged. “Hey, if it works...”

      He did seem in a better frame of mind than he had when they’d talked the previous evening. “I wish I was as good at distracting myself as you,” Dani said with envy.

      He peered closely at her. “You’ve been crying.”

      She pulled herself to her full five-foot-six-inch height. “I was, but I’m finished now. I’m excited to spend the evening with my best friend—eating, sipping wine, having ice cream, watching a movie, eating more ice cream....”

      She expected a laugh, and Nick didn’t disappoint. “You and me both,” he said.

      While he uncorked the wine, Dani donned oven mitts and brought the casserole to her cottage-style kitchen table. “When did we last have a pity party together?” she asked as they sat down in their usual seats.

      “You mean at the same time?” Nick’s thick-lashed, mocha-colored eyes narrowed in thought. “I don’t believe we ever have. It’s usually either you or me hurting, never both of us at once.”