Her Rodeo Man. Cathy McDavid

who’ve been with the school longer.”

      “Budget cuts. Right. You were outvoted, and your hands are tied.”

      “We’ll hire Tatum back as soon as we can.” Sunny covered the leftover corn bread with a linen napkin. “The board convenes in a few weeks to approve the new budget.”

      Tatum didn’t want to get her hopes up, but she couldn’t help herself. She loved teaching. Other than her own children, nothing gave her greater satisfaction or enjoyment, and she missed it terribly.

      To her vast relief, talk turned to the upcoming Wild West Days Rodeo and the arena’s record number of entries.

      “Ryder has some notion about...what did you call it?”

      “Reciprocal advertising,” Ryder said, then went on to explain the concept.

      Tatum thought the idea innovative, though her experience with marketing was limited to her job at the arena and what Sunny had taught her.

      Cassidy shrugged. “We’ve always done well enough without having to swap advertising with other rodeo arenas.”

      “We could do better,” Ryder said.

      “What if it backfires and we lose business?”

      “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Look at what Dad’s done with the bulls he purchased. He told me revenue’s increased over fifteen percent in two months.”

      “Because of the weekly bull-riding jackpots and team penning.”

      “It’s just an idea, Cassidy. I’m not married to it.”

      Ryder’s response was casual, as if he couldn’t care less. A stillness of his hand and tension in his jaw gave Tatum the impression he cared very much and didn’t like his methods being questioned.

      The Beckett family dynamics were certainly interesting and, at times, bewildering and frustrating. Did none of them realize this was the first time in who knew how many years they were all together? Couldn’t they play nice this once?

      Excusing herself, Tatum said, “Duty calls. My voice-mail box has probably reached its limit and is ready to self-destruct.”

      “And I have a meeting with a client.” Deacon pushed back from the table. “Thank you for lunch, Sunny.”

      “I’ll walk you to your truck.” Before joining Deacon, Liberty bent and gave Ryder a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m really glad you’re home. Let’s have dinner soon.”

      “How about tomorrow night? I need someone to show me around town. A lot’s changed.”

      “Great! Deacon and I will pick you up at seven.”

      A smile spread across Ryder’s face, and Tatum was momentarily disarmed by his handsomeness. It was amazing, really, that, at thirty-six, he remained a bachelor. Women no doubt pursued him in droves.

      One by one, everyone left the kitchen. Cassidy had to supervise preparations for the roping practice later that afternoon. Once Liberty saw Deacon off, she’d recruit a couple of the wranglers to help her unload the lumber she’d bought. Mercer was taking Ryder to his place to settle in.

      Sunny started clearing the table.

      Though she’d been the one to suggest leaving, Tatum offered, “I can stay and help, if you want.”

      “Thanks. Then I’ll go with you to the office. There’s a pile of paperwork calling my name.”

      Ryder paused on his way to the door, stopping Tatum as she carted an armload of dishes to the sink. “See you in the morning?”

      “Right.”

      He didn’t move. “Look, I’m sorry.”

      “For what?”

      “Not remembering. The kiss.” Those compelling eyes roved her face, then lingered on her mouth. “That wouldn’t happen now, I guarantee it.”

      The next instant, he was gone. Thank goodness! One second longer, and he’d have heard her sharp intake of breath.

      Tatum tried to tell herself that Ryder was in marketing. Essentially a salesman. Winning people over, even flirting a little, was part of the job and second nature to him. Yet, a thrill wound slowly through her, confirming just how susceptible she was to him. She simultaneously dreaded the coming morning and couldn’t wait for it.

      * * *

      CASSIDY SAT AT the front desk when Ryder entered the ranch office. “Hi. Tatum’s not here yet.”

      Her tone wasn’t exactly welcoming, but neither was it distant. Did she consider him an interloper rather than an asset to the business? She still treated his father that way at times.

      “I came early to see you.”

      It had been easy enough to learn from his father that Cassidy made a habit of visiting the office ahead of Tatum, who had to drop off her sons at day care. She liked to review the day’s schedule and answer emails. According to their father, it was the only break she’d have all day.

      “I didn’t come empty-handed.” He produced two paper cups of steaming coffee. Sitting in the visitor chair across from her, he passed her the cup with caramel latte scrawled in black marker on the side.

      After a pause, she accepted it. “Dad tell you this is my favorite?”

      “I’ve been picking his brain.”

      “You actually stood in line twenty minutes for coffee?” Cassidy sipped tentatively through a hole in the plastic lid.

      “I got up early and beat the morning rush. Who’d’ve guessed? Reckless has a gourmet coffee shop.”

      She eyed him from over the brim of her cup. “Things change.”

      He eyed her back. “They do.”

      “Is this a peace offering or a bribe?”

      “I don’t want to fight, Cassidy.”

      She set down the coffee. “We’re not fighting.”

      “You embarrassed Tatum yesterday just to get at me.”

      “I do owe her an apology.”

      “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re sorry I came home.”

      “Why wouldn’t I be glad? Really. Mom’s ready to burst with happiness. And Liberty’s so excited, she’s downright annoying. The whole family’s reunited at last, yadda, yadda, yadda.”

      “What about you?”

      “Depends.”

      “On?”

      “Mom, for one. You broke her heart when you left. I don’t want you to do it again.”

      “The only promise I made Dad and Liberty when I agreed to come here was that I’d try.”

      “An honest effort is all I ask.”

      Did she think he’d give anything less? “Mom and I have a lot of bridges to mend. It won’t be easy.”

      “It’s going to be as easy or difficult as you make it.”

      Interesting comment for someone who was starting out by making things difficult. But, his sister was probably right. “Let’s stick to the reason I waited twenty minutes in line for overpriced coffee.”

      “I thought you said you beat the rush.”

      “A slight exaggeration.”

      Cassidy laughed. It wasn’t much of a laugh. More like a dry chuckle. Still, it beat the heck out of their mother’s forced cheerfulness at lunch the day before.

      “Why are you really mad at me?” he asked.

      “Tatum.