What a Man Needs. Patricia Thayer

you aren’t dressed.” Kelly examined her. “Looks like you partied a little too hearty last night. How’d it go with the sexy cowboy?”

      Cynthia stiffened. “Fine. We had a few drinks and some laughs,” she said. And made love three times, she added silently. “Don’t change the subject. What are you doing here?”

      Kelly’s eyes narrowed as she folded her arms. “How could you forget that we’re going out to the Tanner Ranch. You have a date with a nice horse.”

      Cynthia groaned. “Not this morning.”

      “Yes, this morning. I told Nora we’d be out at the ranch early, so go get dressed.”

      “Well, call and tell her we’ll make it another time.”

      Kelly took Cyndi’s hand, led her to the sofa and sat her down. “Look, sis, you told me you wanted a chance at that movie. And the only way to get it is to show you can handle a horse. Has that changed since last night?”

      Career had always come first for Cyndi, and somehow over the years, it had become her life. Every serious relationship she’d tried had gone sour when she had to go off on location, or the guy couldn’t handle her kissing her leading men, especially when the tabloids blew it up as more. And she’d never met any man who had meant enough to her to give it all up. Yet, last night…Patrick had been the first one in a long time who’d made her think how nice it would be to have someone in her life.

      But in the early morning light, she’d panicked.

      “Nothing has changed. Give me twenty minutes to get showered and dressed.”

      “Not a problem. I’ll call room service for some coffee.” Kelly went to the phone, speaking over her shoulder to Cynthia, “Put on some jeans. I have two pairs of boots for you in the car.”

      “Why do I feel like I’ve been had?”

      Kelly turned and smiled. “I’m just giving you a little push. You’re a damn good actress and you deserve the part in Cheyenne. I just want to make sure you have every opportunity to get it.”

      Cynthia stepped into the large bathroom and turned on the shower. She knew getting the female lead in the movie could jump-start her fading career. She only hoped that Nora’s brother knew what he was doing and had a very gentle horse.

      Once in the car, Cynthia thought of a dozen excuses not to go through with this. Right up to the time they drove under the archway to the Tanner Ranch.

      The beautiful, serene area seemed to stretch for miles. Against the mountains in the distance, everything was lush and green, still damp from an early-morning shower. White split-rail fences lined either side of the road, and several horses and foals roamed freely in the pastures.

      A large yellow two-story house with white shutters came into view. The huge porch was adorned with hanging baskets of colorful flowers, and a swing faced a spectacular view of pine-covered mountains. Kelly drove on and headed to the barn. The white structure had a charcoal-colored roof and huge framed doors that stood open. A man walked out leading a very large horse. Cynthia’s heart began to pound in her chest.

      “Come on, let’s go find Nora,” Kelly said.

      “Let’s try the house first,” Cynthia suggested, not yet ready to get near a horse.

      Just as they got out of the car, a brunette woman exited the house—Nora Tanner, she assumed, from her friendly wave to Kelly. She was about twenty-five and had a petite, shapely body clad in jeans and a cotton T-shirt.

      “Hi, Kelly,” the woman said, then turning to Cynthia, she gushed, “Oh, Ms. Reynolds, it’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

      “Oh, no, an adoring fan.” Kelly rolled her eyes.

      Cynthia ignored her. “Please, call me Cyndi.”

      Nora nodded. “Cyndi. I’m so glad you could make it.”

      “I’m sure my sister told you that I don’t do very well around horses.”

      “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m happy that you’re going to give riding another chance,” Nora offered. “Welcome to the Tanner Ranch.”

      Cynthia heard a horse’s high-pitched whinny. “I’m not sure this is going to work.”

      “But you’re here to try,” Nora said.

      Cynthia nodded reluctantly.

      “Good, you won’t be sorry. My brother is the best with horses, and the best teacher. Let’s go find him.” She headed toward the barn.

      Cynthia reluctantly followed her. How could she have let herself be talked into this? Nora went on ahead and talked to a man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who looked to be in his late thirties. Just their flirtatious demeanor told her they weren’t brother and sister.

      “This is Forest. He’s the foreman here. Forest, this is Kelly and Cyndi.”

      The cowboy raised his fingers to his hat in a salute. “It’s nice to meet you, ladies.”

      Cyndi managed a hello, but was watching the horse in the corral. The shiny coal-black stallion wasn’t docile like the horses she’d seen in the pasture. This animal was prancing around, bobbing his head up and down, whinnying. She couldn’t take her eyes off the magnificent animal.

      Forest noticed her interest. “You’ll have to excuse Black Knight, he’s a little…stirred up.” Just then a high-pitched whinny came from the barn. “He’s going to stand in stud today.”

      Cyndi didn’t have to live on a ranch to know what that meant. “How nice for him.”

      Just then a man’s loud voice came from inside the barn. Nora said, “Don’t let Patrick’s bark scare you off. He’s a real sweetheart. C’mon.” Nora went inside.

      Patrick? Cynthia froze. No. It couldn’t be the same man, she told herself.

      Kelly nudged her down the cement aisle lined on either side with horse stalls, some empty, some with horses inside that came forward to welcome them. Cynthia could smell a sweet mixture of hay and horses in the immaculate barn.

      At the far end a tall man stood with his back to them. Even before he turned around, Cynthia knew who he was. Oh, God. This had to be a bad dream. She quickly took in his blond hair partially covered by a white cowboy hat. It was the same face, the same chiseled jaw that she’d stroked so many times last night, and the same mouth that had done so many incredible things to her during their lovemaking. Finally she raised her gaze and looked into those blue, blue eyes.

      Cynthia fought for a breath. She needed her best acting performance to get through this meeting.

      Nora’s voice broke through Cynthia’s reverie. “Kelly, Cyndi, I’d like you to meet my brother, Patrick. Patrick, this is my boss, Kelly Reynolds, and her sister, the actress Cynthia Reynolds.”

      “Oh, my God,” Kelly said. “You were at Morgan’s last night. You were with—” She gave Cynthia a confused look, then quickly masked it as she turned back to Patrick.

      Patrick nodded, fighting to act nonchalant. But too many emotions were churning through him, the most prevalent being anger. So his Cyndi was Cynthia Reynolds. And last night the famous actress had been looking for some entertainment. He’d just been a diversion to her.

      “Yeah, I was at the pub. I was supposed to meet Nora, but it seemed she had a flat tire.” He glanced at his sister. “If you want to show your friends around the ranch, it’s not a problem, but I’m breeding the Keefers’ mare this morning.” He shot a hard look at Cynthia as he rubbed the mare’s nose.

      “She’s beautiful,” Cyndi said. “What’s her name?”

      Patrick had trouble listening to her soft, husky voice. “Suzy Q.” His gaze bored into her startled brown eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He started to open the stall.