Sizzling Summer Nights Read online

  Seth laughed. “Come on, Hannah. You’re a bright woman.” He put the truck in gear. “You can say ‘roll over’ and I’m all yours.”

  “Huh. Sounds promising.”

  “Buckle your seat belt.”

  She glanced down. “When did you unbuckle it?”

  He just smiled and got them back on the road.

  * * *

  IT WAS THREE THIRTY by the time Seth turned onto the gravel road that led to the ranch. He debated calling Paxton to hoof it out to open the gate. Made of iron and pine posts, the sucker weighed a ton. Seth never really minded getting out to deal with it. But he was still pissed at Paxton. Losing a key wasn’t minor. The guy was damn lucky he hadn’t been off the property when he’d misplaced it.

  “Is this your road or a public access?” Hannah asked, leaning forward to look out the windshield.

  He tried like hell to keep his eyes off her breasts. But she wasn’t making it easy. Between her straining against the seat belt and the thin, stretchy material of her top, he could almost see the outline of her nipple. He sure didn’t need to get out of the truck with an erection. “It’s ours, and so is the land on either side.”

  “Wow. The grass is so lush and pretty.”

  “For now.”

  “You keep saying that,” she said. “Hey, I think I can make out some buildings to the right.”

  “That would be the stable and east barn. Beyond that is the bunkhouse and a couple of equipment sheds.”

  “Is the house on the left? I can maybe see it, too.”

  “Yep, that’s the house.” Sitting at the top of a rise, its alpine-style peaked roof was hard to miss.

  “Oh, my God, look at that gate. It’s so wide. I can’t imagine how heavy it is.”

  “We haul lots of stock and equipment in and out of here.”

  Seth nixed the idea of calling Paxton. He decided it would do him some good to get out for a few minutes. Away from his perfect view of her jutting nipples. Although he’d have to climb back in at some point.

  He pulled the truck to a stop and exhaled a harsh breath. For Christ’s sake, he should just ask her to sit back. He looked over and saw her staring up at the old sign hanging over the gate. Whispering Pines had been carved into the wood by Elwin Landers, his great-grandfather.

  “I’ll only be a minute,” he said, opening his door.

  “Would you like me to drive through while you hold the gate?”

  “Sure.” He expected her to get out and walk around but she slid her butt over the console and plopped down behind the wheel.

  She cupped a hand over the gearshift knob and frowned. “Now, what does this thing do?”

  His mouth dropped open. Then he saw she was trying to hold back a smile and he laughed.

  After she drove in and he closed the gate, he hopped into the passenger side. “Just keep going until the road splits and veer left.”

  “Got it.” She had to lift her chin so she could see over the steering wheel.

  “You can raise the seat, if you want.”

  “We’re not going far. I’m okay.”

  Seth forced himself to keep his eyes above the spot where her hair touched her shoulders. Last night he would’ve described her as a brunette. In the sunlight, streaks of honey and gold changed the color. Watching the way her hair bounced, he wondered how it would feel brushing his bare chest.

  “Are we headed toward those two guys?”

  Seth snapped out of his daydream. Paxton and Murray were standing near the corrals watching them drive up.

  “Yep, see if you can hit the one wearing the stupid Hawaiian shirt.”

  “Paxton?” she asked, grinning.

  Murray took off his hat and waved them forward. Yeah, as if they couldn’t see his bright orange T-shirt. The old guy was off the clock, but he rarely left the ranch anymore. Except to pick up supplies at the hardware store. Although Clint had just put a stop to that. By accident he’d found out Murray hadn’t renewed his driver’s license since he turned sixty-five.

  The other two hired men, Heath and Joe, were off today, as well. But Seth saw Joe’s truck parked in back of the bunkhouse where he lived with Paxton and Murray. Probably sleeping off a hangover. The kid liked to party, but his work never suffered for it.

  Seth motioned to a place at the side of the barn for Hannah to park, then pulled a big ring of keys out of the glove box. Murray approached them as they climbed out.

  “You let a girl drive your truck?” he asked, frowning at her and rubbing the top of his balding head.

  Hannah just laughed.

  “Don’t mind him.” Seth touched her back, setting her in the right direction. “He let his license expire three years ago so he’s not allowed to drive any of the Whispering Pines vehicles.”

  “I ain’t letting some government mucky-muck, who don’t even know me, tell me whether or not I can drive.”

  “Hmm.” Hannah nodded. “I never considered that, but you have a point there.”

  Murray narrowed his pale eyes. After a few seconds of studying her face, he broke out in a toothless grin. “I like you. You got a good head on your shoulders, young lady. Anyhow, I drive anything I want here on the property.”

  “Not my truck.”

  “Yes, Seth, we all know that,” Murray grumbled, and stuck his hat back on his head.

  Paxton walked around the corner, his gaze fixed on Hannah. “Hell, son, I didn’t know I was interrupting something important,” he told Seth. “You must be really pissed at me.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.” Seth didn’t get a reaction, not that he expected one.

  “Son?” Hannah repeated, her brows raised.

  “It’s just a thing we say sometimes,” Seth said, shrugging. “Kind of ironic coming from Paxton, though, since he’s twenty-six going on twelve.”

  Murray chuckled.

  Seth passed him the ring of keys. “You mind making sure I get these back?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Paxton continued to stare at Hannah. “You were at the Watering Hole last night...” he said, with a slow grin. “You did that song—”

  “Nope.” She cut him off. “Wasn’t me,” she said, putting out her hand. “Hi, I’m Hannah.”

  Seth hadn’t realized Paxton was at the bar. Probably in the back playing pool. But right now Seth was more interested in Hannah. How she shook each man’s hand without giving a single hint she’d just lied to Paxton’s face. And had done it successfully, given his puzzled frown.

  Good thing to remember, Seth thought wryly. “I’m assuming you still haven’t found the key.”

  Paxton sobered. “Not yet. But it has to turn up. I’ve only been in the stables, the barn and the bunkhouse.”

  “That’s all?” Seth studied him, hoping like hell that Paxton hadn’t been foolish enough to take the key with him into town after Seth had given it to him last night.

  Paxton shoved a hand through his disheveled dark hair. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure.”

  “Okay. Keep looking for it. Anything else while I’m here?”

  “Don’t believe there is,” Murray said. “You ain’t had a day off for months. Go on and have a good time.”

  Feeling Hannah’s eyes on him, Seth looked at her. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

  “Here? There ain’t nothing to see.”

  Seth frowned at Murray. Something was up with him. He seemed a little nervous, which was unusual. Hardly anything ever bothered him.

  “How can you say that?” Hannah swept a hand toward the foothills, then tilted her head back to look at the sky. “It’s absolutely beautiful here.”

  Murray peered down the driveway, then looked at Seth. “You want me to saddle Orion for you?” he asked, sounding awfully eager. “T
he lady might like Clementine. That mare is as sweet as they come. Won’t take me no time at all.”

  “Um, I think I’ll pass.” Hannah stepped back. “But it was nice meeting both of you.”

  “Same here,” Paxton mumbled, squinting at her and scratching his head.

  Seth wondered if she’d fess up to being the one who massacred that song. He checked his watch while hiding a smile.

  Murray murmured something to Hannah, then asked, “You gonna be at the house, Seth?”

  He looked up and studied the man for a few seconds before turning to Hannah. “Would you excuse me for just a minute?”

  “Of course. Shall I wait in the truck?”

  “You can stay right here. I’ll be quick.” Seth almost kissed her. The impulse caught him off guard.

  She had a light sprinkling of freckles across her nose. He hadn’t noticed them before, and with her dark hair and brown eyes, he hadn’t expected to see any. He liked them.

  They stood there smiling at each other until he heard Murray noisily clear his throat, then spit out his chew.

  Jesus, Seth hated that stuff.

  Paxton had already taken off for the barn, and Seth motioned with his chin for Murray to step aside with him.

  “What’s going on?”

  Murray rubbed his gray-stubbled jaw. “Nothing.”

  Seth raised his brows. “How long have I known you?”

  “I changed a few of your diapers, sonny boy. So don’t go giving me that look.”

  “You seem awfully anxious to get rid of me. Must be for a reason.”

  “Well, I reckon you’re about to find out,” Murray said, shaking his head. “Don’t say I didn’t try.”

  Even before Seth turned around, the truck’s rough engine and loud muffler told him who was rattling down the driveway.

  Jasper Parsons.

  The last person on earth Seth wanted to see.

  Shit.

  6

  “HANNAH, I’M GOING to ask you to do me a favor.”

  “Sure,” she said, surprised when Seth took her hand. “Anything.”

  “I know it won’t be easy, but it would mean a lot to me.” His gaze went to the noisy old green pickup leaving a trail of dust behind as it sped down the driveway toward them. “You’re about to meet someone you may recognize. Please don’t say anything. I’ll explain later.”

  “Of course, but I really don’t know anyone—”

  Brakes squealing, the truck came to a stop just a few feet from them. The driver had cut it awfully close. Not to mention the dust from his tires floating up Hannah’s nose. She wondered if wordlessly flipping him off meant her promise was still good.

  She pulled her hand away from Seth and turned to cover up a sneeze.

  “Christ almighty,” Murray said, waving away the dust. “What the hell is wrong with you, Jasper? Bet you never got them brakes checked, neither.”

  Jasper, who’d just jumped out of the truck, was short and wiry, and moved with the vigor of a young man. But he looked to be close to Murray’s age, only he had more hair and sported an old-fashioned mustache. Hannah would’ve remembered if she’d seen him before. Anyway, she and Murray might as well have been invisible.

  Gravel crunched beneath Jasper’s boots as he headed straight for Seth, whose mouth was pulled into a thin line. It didn’t look as if he’d be throwing down a welcome mat. “You know better than to be going that fast down a driveway.”

  Jasper snorted a rusty laugh. “You’re not the one who should be lecturing me on driving, Landers.”

  Hannah recognized the twang in his voice. She met Seth’s eyes and clamped her lips together. He looked annoyed enough for both of them.

  “You heard about that meeting on Tuesday,” Jasper said. “They got signs posted all over town.”

  Seth didn’t answer, just folded his arms across his chest.

  “Sadie says a government man is coming to answer questions. Bullshit. They’re just trying to scare us.”

  “The mayor’s got no reason to lie,” Murray said. “Sadie’s a straight shooter.”

  “I’m not accusing her of anything. She just don’t know better. She’s a barkeep, not a rancher.” Jasper swung his gaze to Hannah, as if he hadn’t noticed her until now. No smile. No tug on his battered straw hat. She didn’t exist to him. Fine with her.

  Seth reached for her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Hold on there.” Jasper paused to spit on the ground, then glared at Seth. “I’m taking a head count. Got a lot of men showing up on Tuesday, even Bertram from the Broken Arrow outside of Kalispell will be at the meeting.”

  “What about the McAllister brothers?” Murray asked.

  “Stubborn assholes, the whole lot of ’em. Gunderson’s another one. That boy’s as useless as tits on a boar pig. Says he don’t care what the government does with their land. His daddy must be rolling over in his grave. Wallace would’ve showed up at the meeting with a shotgun.”

  “Well, I’m with the McAllisters and Gunderson on this,” Seth said and lightly squeezed Hannah’s hand. “So, count me out.”

  Jasper’s dark eyes blazed. “The hell you say.” He moved to block Seth’s path. “You gotta speak for the rest of us, boy. You know how to speak their lingo.”

  “What did I just tell you? It’s not my fight.”

  “Yep, I heard you. Quite clearly, actually,” Hannah said, and Seth gave her a faint smile. She wasn’t being smart-alecky or looking for payback. The growing tension that had Seth clenching his jaw worried her.

  Jasper ignored her. “You mean to say there are no Landers cattle grazing on BLM land?”

  “If there are, they’re strays.”

  “And what about Lucky 7 cattle?”

  “We have nothing to do with my brother’s ranch. You’ll have to ask Nathan. But he’ll give you the same answer.”

  Jasper continued to glare. “It don’t matter where you stand on the issue. You know how to talk to those government people. Show ’em they can’t pull the wool over our eyes with all their fancy legal talk.”

  “If that’s what you’re worried about, then hire an attorney.” Seth stepped around the smaller man, tugging Hannah along with him.

  “Don’t you walk away. You owe me, boy.”

  “I don’t owe you a damn thing, Parsons. My debt to you was paid in full.” Seth kept walking, didn’t even glance back.

  “The judge let you off too easy.”

  A vein popped out at the side of Seth’s neck, but he didn’t turn around.

  “I reckon you don’t care about dragging your family’s good name through all the muck again,” Jasper called out. “Won’t be easy on your dad with him being sick and all.”

  Seth cursed under his breath. His steps slowed. Anger radiated from him.

  “Jesus H. Christ, Jasper,” Murray said with a grunt of disgust. “Don’t you know when to shut your pie hole?”

  Hannah squeezed Seth’s hand but she doubted he was aware of her standing beside him as he turned to face the horrible man. She held her breath, hoping the confrontation didn’t get physical, while part of her wanted to slap Jasper upside the head herself.

  “I suggest you tread lightly, Parsons,” he said in an unexpectedly calm voice. “And get the hell off our property.”

  Instead of slinking away like he should’ve done, Jasper opened his stupid mouth.

  “Oh, my God, seriously?” Hannah said, nipping his retort in the bud. The words just slipped right out.

  All three men looked at her.

  She hadn’t meant to interfere and knew she should apologize, but she didn’t want to. Since she was standing near the green pickup, she walked around the bed to the driver’s side and opened the door. Then she simply stared at J
asper and waited.

  He blinked, clearly surprised, then glared.

  If he wanted a staring match, game on. She was way better at it than anyone she knew.

  Finally, he shuffled toward her, muttering curses the whole way. She maturely decided not to demonstrate that she was better at that, too. She stood back to let him climb into the pickup with its cracked vinyl seat. It was a toss-up as to whether he had yanked the door closed or she’d slammed it shut.

  And then she scrambled out of the way real quick, because she damn well wasn’t going to eat any more of his dust.

  Once she was safe, she looked at Seth. At least he was smiling.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, moving closer. “I know I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”

  “Nah, you deserved to let off some steam. That was relatively mild payback, all things considered.”

  “It wasn’t about this morning.” She watched the idiot speed down the driveway. “I didn’t like him saying that about your dad. That was low.” She looked at Seth. “I’m sorry he’s sick.”

  “He’s doing okay. We had a brief scare. Retiring and having less stress was all he needed.”

  They both turned at the sound of Murray’s wheezing laugh. “Well, sonny boy,” he said, looking at Seth, then Hannah with a nod. “You might’ve just met your match.”

  “Oh, hell, I figured that out the minute I met her.”

  “Hey.” She gave him a mock glare, then thought a moment. “No, I like that.”

  Murray chuckled. “I reckon I’ll see you when I see you,” he said, with a sly grin aimed at Seth, then he turned toward the barn.

  Seth looked up at the cloudless sky; the sun was already dipping toward the Rockies. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

  “Where?”

  “There’s a steak house in Blackfoot Falls. And the diner is decent. Or we can go to Twin Creeks. A barbecue joint just opened.”

  Hannah hesitated, she’d hoped for a tour of the ranch.

  “Did I hear someone say they were hungry?” Murray had made a U-turn. “I fixed some chili and cornbread for lunch. I got plenty left over.”

  “I’m sure you do,” Seth muttered wryly. “I think we’ll pass.”