One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(74)

“It means you have cold soda pop and ice water,” she said.

“Are you going to feed me from your fingertips?” he asked.

“The rules say I have to supply dinner. They do not say a word about feeding you or providing beer.” She opened the tailgate and set the basket and small cooler on it. “It’s help yourself from this point on, like at a buffet. And, Tanner, dinner does not mean the whole afternoon. One hour is what I’ve allowed, and then I’m going home to pack.”

Shit! Why had she said that? And why was it that swearing came so quickly to her thoughts these days?

“I heard that your Granny was ready to kick you out, darlin’. We’ve got lots of room over on Wild Horse, and you are welcome. I even talked to my Granny about it, and she said you could have a room in the main house.”

“And it’s all part of the feud, so no thank you. I’m so sick of all this, I could cry,” she said.

Tanner cocked his head to one side. “I’m not used to hearing you say bad words or that tone in your voice.”

“Get used to it,” she said.

The last vehicle pulling away from the parking lot was the preacher and his wife. He stuck a hand out the window and waved, then tooted his horn as he left. Did the fool think that this dinner would end the feud? Even the angels in heaven knew that this would only fuel it up hotter than ever.

Tanner waved and kept digging in the picnic basket, bringing out two paper plates and plastic cutlery. He set a pretty nice little table right there between them, spreading out two napkins to use as a tablecloth. “Leah, all kidding aside, because now I’m going to talk serious. I know you like Rhett and that you think all of this with me is part of the feud. Ham or turkey?” He pulled two sandwiches from the basket.

“Turkey,” she said.

“Rhett is a decent man, but he’s a ranch foreman and that’s all he’ll ever be. I can offer you a lifestyle like you’re used to,” Tanner said.

She pulled out a bag of potato chips and one of Fritos and held them up. He pointed at the chips, so she laid the Fritos beside her plate. “Are you proposing to me, Tanner? We haven’t even been on a proper date.”

“This is a proper date and, no, I’m not proposing to you. But the more I get to know you, Leah Brennan, the better I like you. I would like to date you. I would like to spend time with you and to hell with the feud. Who knows? Maybe if we connected, it would end this damn thing once and for all,” he said.

Now that was a novel idea. Ending the feud forever because of a Gallagher and a Brennan falling in love; she’d had a crush on Tanner for more than a decade, so maybe it wouldn’t be difficult to rekindle her past feelings for him.

She looked up to see his face so close that he had four eyes instead of two and they were closing as his lips brushed across hers. The first kiss was sweet, and the next was clearly supposed to be filled with passion and heat, but it did nothing for Leah. There were no sparks, no bursting stars, not even a little sizzle.

“Give me a chance, Leah,” he whispered seductively as his hand grazed her shoulder.

The feud could be over, her conscience whispered as softly.

“I’m moving away from River Bend because I want to figure out who I am. I’m almost thirty, and I have to get some things settled before I make a commitment to anyone for any kind of relationship,” she said.

“I’ll be right here in Burnt Boot waiting for you,” Tanner said.

“Yeah, right!” She smiled. “Until the next woman comes along who catches your eye, and then you’ll be hugged up to her on the dance floor?”

“Honey, if you’ll dance with me, I give you my promise that I’ll never dance with another woman,” he said.

Leah didn’t believe him for a minute, but still, the end of the feud? And what if the Gallaghers were serious about making Rhett disappear?





Chapter 23


Rhett had been miserable in church that morning. Sitting in the middle section with Tanner on one side and Leah on the other was purely symbolic; especially after the night before, when he’d called and sent Leah text messages so often that he’d begun to feel like a stalker. He’d wanted to get off his cycle and beat the shit out of Tanner for sitting in the back of Leah’s truck with his shirt opened and flapping like that.

Now he was miserable sitting between Betsy and her grandmother, Naomi, in a huge room of Gallaghers. He’d meant to steer clear of the feud when his cousins Sawyer and Finn told him about it, and now he was a pawn in the whole damn mess of things. He hated it and wished he could talk to Leah. He’d be willing to pawn his cycle and cut off his ponytail if he could get things straightened out with her.

“I understand Leah fixed up a cute little picnic for her and Tanner, and they’re having it in the church parking lot.” Naomi smiled.

Betsy tapped him on the arm. “She’s had a secret crush on him since they were kids. This is a dream come true for her. And I think Tanner is finally ready to stop his womanizing and settle down.”

“Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad. Leah is a fine young woman who knows ranchin’ and is such a good girl. I’ve been afraid he’d bring home a barroom hussy with dollar signs in her eyes. Even a Brennan is better than that,” Naomi said. “But enough about this, Rhett. Tell me where you grew up.”