The Rancher Wore Suits

More determined than ever, she headed down the hall toward the pediatric unit. Late at night, she usually found some sick child lying in a hospital bed who felt frightened and alone. She would see who needed her tonight. Then maybe she could sleep when she finally went home. Maybe she wouldn’t have nightmares of losing her baby.

And maybe she’d dream of a way to convince Dex Montgomery to help her.

TY STARED at the massive mahogany table in the dining room in amazement. The entire Cooper clan could fit around it. Yet none of them would feel comfortable with the formal furnishings.

The dark-maroon wallpaper reminded him of heavy drapes he’d seen at a funeral home. A crystal water glass that probably cost more than his grandmother’s entire set of good dishes sat in front of him, and a short glass full of dark liquor—Scotch he presumed, since Dex had been drinking it at the airport—had been placed beside it. He reached for the glass and took a sip. A brush fire started in his throat, scalding his windpipe. Coughing, he grabbed the linen napkin, trying to hide his reaction when George slipped up behind him.

“Are you all right, sir?”

“Yea…yes. Thanks.”

“Your salad.” George handed him a plate of lettuce sprigs that looked like grass roots, followed by a saucer of something slimy.

Ty had no idea what the item was, but he didn’t intend to eat it.

“Your escargot with risotto,” George said, his shoulders thrown back with pride.

Escargot, Ty thought. Hadn’t Leanne told him once that escargot was snails?

He didn’t even eat cow tongue at home! Good grief, with the Montgomery wealth, they could certainly afford better grub. He’d starve to death if he had to eat like this. Irritated, he made a mental note to send Dex a freezer-full of prime hamburger and steak when he returned to Montana.

George stood stiffly by a long buffet, his body poised to jump to Ty’s every need. “Aren’t you going to eat, sir?”

“Um, I…was looking for the bisc…bread.” And the real food.

“Certainly.”

George returned with a basket of rolls, store-bought most likely, but at least Ty recognized them. Where was the butter?

He searched the table and saw a small china dish with pats of butter, so he slathered two pats on the bread. He inhaled it, only to catch George’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Is something wrong with the escargot, Mr. Dex?”

Yeah, it looks like it crawled out from under a rock.

“Sir?”

Ty could have sworn the man’s voice echoed in the huge empty room. How was he supposed to digest food, especially slimy creatures, with all this silence? Mealtime meant families talking and joking and arguing, rehashing the day on the ranch, kids throwing peas and clanging spoons, his dog Lady begging for scraps at their feet. After dinner Angelica would ride piggyback on his back, the twins would bounce on his knee. And sometimes he’d strum the guitar for a family sing-along on the porch under the stars.

Afterward, he and Pa Cooper would sit and talk—what did his Grandfather Montgomery do after dinner? Sip brandy in his study and read his stock reports?

He pushed the plate of snails away and stood. “Sorry, buddy, but I guess my stomach’s not up to speed tonight. I appreciate the supper, though.”

George made a tssking sound as if he assumed Ty had drunk too much, then took the plate away. “Very well, sir. Shall I draw you a bath?”

Ty nearly choked on the roll. There was no way in hell he’d let another man draw anything in the bathroom with him. “No, thanks.”

George nodded curtly, looking slightly offended as he rushed away with the plate. Ty grabbed two more rolls and stuffed them in the pockets of his suit so he wouldn’t wake up with his belly so empty it was hitting his backbone, then left to find his bedroom. Poor Dex; how did the man survive on these piddly rations?

Still, he tried to look on the bright side as he climbed the steps in search of his brother’s bedroom. Maybe tomorrow night he would be eating with the entire family and he’d learn more about them and his father. He’d be able to fool them better after a good night’s sleep.

Dr. Stovall’s face materialized in his mind—that is, if he slept at all instead of dreaming about that redheaded vixen all night.

Or if he didn’t give himself away first.

Chapter Four

Jessica woke slowly, a tingling sensation rippling up her arm all the way to her fingers. Slowly, she lifted the child snuggled next to her, slid her arm from beneath him, then flexed her fingers to rejuvenate the blood flow. Her watch read 5:30 a.m. They would be coming to prep Donny for surgery soon.

The three-year-old whimpered and opened his eyes. “Dr. Jesse?”

She gently pushed a lock of his blond hair away from his forehead. “What, sweetheart?”

“Stay till my mama gets here.”

Jessica smiled. “Don’t worry, I will.” Donny’s mother would come running in just as soon as she dropped her other two children at day care.

Then Jessica would have to run out in order to have time to shower and change before her eight o’clock appointments at her office. At eleven o’clock she had to break for her meeting with the hospital board. And Dex Montgomery.

“I scared,” Donny whispered, fat tears pooling in his eyes. “What they gonna do to me?”

Jessica squelched the tears flooding her throat, knowing she had to be strong for the little boy, then began to explain one more time the scary surgery he faced. He’d been born with a hole in his heart and the doctors had known they would need to operate eventually. They’d postponed it as long as possible. His prognosis looked good, but the surgery was costly, and his mother’s health insurance minimal.

Patients like Donny were the reason she lobbied for more money for the children’s wing.

“And when you wake up, your heart’s going to be fixed, just like brand new,” she finished softly.

She only wished Dex Montgomery’s heart defect could be repaired with surgery as well.

THE SOUND of a knock woke Ty from a deep sleep. He flexed and rolled to a sitting position in his brother’s big sleigh bed, surprised when he glanced at the clock and saw it was already 6:00 a.m. Geez, when had he slept so late?

Normally he crawled out of bed with the roosters.

He had to admit Dex’s bed was comfortable, but he missed his feather pillows.

George opened the door and peeked in, a tray laden with coffee and newspapers in hand. Ty’s stomach growled, wishing he had some bacon and eggs. He’d probably have that waiting downstairs. Maybe he’d get to eat with his grandparents.

He waited till George set the tray down before he wrapped the sheet around him and stood.

George stared at him with that pinched odd look again, as if he were wondering what planet Ty had stepped off. Dex probably walked around in front of the man in his underwear but Ty did not get naked with other men. He was not shy, but he had to draw the line somewhere with this ruse.

“Your workout clothes are on the vanity in the dressing room, along with today’s attire, sir.”

Ty picked up the cup of coffee and sniffed. It smelled odd, as if it had some kind of flavoring in it, like the almond extract Gran Cooper used in her pound cakes.

“I know you must have missed your special brand in Chicago,” George offered, his voice laced with pride.

Ty hated to offend him, but he could no more down the sweet-scented stuff than he could swallow those slimy snails the night before. “Actually,” he began, clawing through his hair. God, he missed his hat. “I think we need to get diverse,” he said, proud of his vocabulary. “I had some of that regular stuff in Chicago. Why don’t you buy some today?”

George’s brows furrowed. “Very well, sir.”

Ty lifted the lid of a tall silver container.

“Your protein shake,” George announced, implying it was his customary breakfast. “The cook added three raw eggs just as you like. Now, I’ll leave you to your morning routine.”

Ty grimaced at the thought of drinking raw eggs, wondering what his normal routine consisted of. At home, he’d eat a big breakfast, then work on the ranch till lunch with the sun beating down and the wide-open space calling his name.

His stomach growled again. “Oh, and pick up some good hamburgers and a steak or two while you’re at it, George.”

George’s mouth fell open, but he quickly snapped it shut. “You aren’t concerned about your cholesterol?”

Ty hedged. “I met with an investor who’s working with the beef industry. Thought I needed to sample some before I give him advice.” At least part of that was true.

George nodded. Apparently he understood business. “Hamburger and steak it is, Mr. Dex.”

“And get enough for my grandparents tonight.”

George halted by the door. “But sir, they won’t be dining here this evening. They have plans at the country club.”

Did they ever dine here? Ty wondered. “Well, when is the next family dinner?”

“I don’t believe they have one scheduled this week.”

They had to schedule family dinners? Now, he’d heard it all.

“Your grandfather said you could ride in with him today if you want. He’s leaving at eight-thirty sharp. Or you can drive yourself, if you want. The Mercedes is back from its grooming.”

They groomed their cars? Ty almost laughed out loud but accepted the offer. At least if he rode with his grandfather, he’d finally get to meet him.

The man who hadn’t wanted him or his mother.

Besides, he had no idea where his office was located or how to get there.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, Ty stood in the middle of a home gym that could have held thirty people. Everything in Dex’s room and closet had been in order, even the gym was neat and organized, the opposite of how Ty lived at home. Gran would like that about Dex; she was always fussing at Ty to clean up.

He raised a skeptical eye at the equipment. He’d considered skipping this part of Dex’s routine, but didn’t want to draw suspicion to himself. Besides, he’d be relaxing the rest of the day, pushing paper behind a desk in some cushy air-conditioned office, signing his name, well, Dex’s name, to a bunch of forms. He’d be so bored he’d be napping by noon. Might as well stay in shape while he was here.

He recognized the stationery bike from TV and the weights. An old buddy from high school had owned a set; he’d wanted to build muscles and impress the girls. He recognized the treadmill, too, from some guy demonstrating it on the tube.

He benched his weight for a few minutes, then climbed on the treadmill. Thank God George had unearthed some tennis shoes for him; they were a hell of a lot more comfortable than those Italian things Dex wore. He wondered if he could wear the sneakers with his suit.

Nah, they’d probably notice.

He fiddled with the knobs for a few minutes, trying to figure out the machine, when the surface beneath him began to move. Slow at first. Not bad. He walked with the motion, trying to adapt to the rhythm.

Piece of cake, although he’d much rather be outside riding his horse Dodger. Studying the different speeds, he punched a few buttons and the motion sped up. Faster, then faster, then faster. He pumped his legs and arms, increasing his pace until he was running to keep up, but the machine sped up, and he felt his feet sliding out from beneath him. Suddenly his shoestring got caught in the rung, his foot was being dragged tighter, closer to the edge, and he thought his ankle was going to snap. He ran faster and faster, jerking his foot, trying to release it, but the motion continued, his toe came close to being ground in the machine, and his chest was aching as he tried to breathe.

“Mr. Dex?”

George’s shout alarmed him and he stumbled and lost the rhythm, then fell face-first against the bars. His nose hit the bar, his eye the handle. George rushed over and flipped off the machine. Ty struggled to breathe. Sweat poured off his body, his nose was bleeding and he thought he might have broken his toe.

“What happened, sir? Are you all right? Shall I call a doctor?”

The genuine concern in George’s voice brought Ty out of his stupor. He could imagine his brother laughing his head off when he found out that Ty had almost killed himself on his treadmill. And he was supposed to be a doctor.

He wondered how Dex was faring on Dodger.

JESSICA HAD JUST finished her first round of patients when Dr. Epstein, head of the hospital board, phoned. Her nerves instantly jumped to alert.

“Are you ready for the meeting today?”

Jessica took a calming breath. She was as ready as she would ever be. “Yes. I have all my information together.”

“I hope you can make this work. If we don’t get an answer in two weeks, the plans for the new wing will be dropped. We’ve already gone through all the charity funds for this year.” He hesitated, the sound of a pen clicking breaking the silence as he said good-bye.

Jessica hung up, thinking about the silent message behind his phone conversation. There were just too many families in need.

God, she ached for one of her own.

But if she didn’t swing this deal with Dex Montgomery, all the families who needed assistance for the remainder of the year would be left without.

And their needs far outweighed her own.

TY HAD SHOWERED and shaved when George knocked at the bathroom door. Ty barely managed to wrap a towel around him before the door squeaked open.

“I took the liberty of calling your barber, sir.” George poked his head in and tssked again, then pointed to Ty’s neckline. “I noticed your hair has gotten a little unruly while you were away.”

He was probably thinking it wasn’t the only thing that had gotten unruly, Ty thought. “Thanks. When do I go?”

George’s eyes narrowed. “Your stylist is waiting for you in your suite, sir, as usual. He’ll give you a trim before you go to the office.”

Ty nodded and waited until George left, then yanked on the velour robe hanging over the door handle. He didn’t know if he’d ever be comfortable having a man’s man in his life, much less in his bathroom.

He grimaced. He was going to blow this if he didn’t get his act together.

A few minutes later, he stared at the mirror in stunned silence. He had known he looked like his brother, but with his new haircut, he realized they were truly identical.

He wouldn’t have known the difference between Dex and himself if he didn’t know he was Ty.

But he was Ty, a Cooper, he reminded himself. A man who had always known exactly who he was and where he was going. A fifth-generation rancher who lived off the land.

Until he’d met his brother.

And learned about the Montgomerys.

Now, dressed in Dex’s fancy suit and ties, he wondered if he would ever be that same man again.

JESSICA GRIMACED as she hurriedly gathered her notes. The morning had been wild. Five ear infections, a four-year-old who’d stuffed a candy up his nose and a baby she’d had to put in the hospital for dehydration. Unfortunately, the three-month old had lost the last of its fluids on her lab jacket. Thankfully, the formula hadn’t soaked through to the suit she’d worn beneath, but the sour milk smell lingered.

Dex Montgomery would not appreciate her new perfume. It wasn’t exactly the two-hundred-dollar a bottle type he probably bought for his lady friends.

Her beeper chirped just as she reached the car. A moment of fear hit her when she read the hospital number. But she quickly jumped into Nellie and phoned the hospital.

“Dr. Stovall here.”

“Yes, this is Dr. Blankenship. You wanted me to call about Donny?”

Jessica’s breath caught. “Yes?”

“He’s through surgery and holding his own for now. The next twenty-four hours will tell.”

Jessica thanked Dr. Blankenship then hung up. She closed her eyes and said a prayer, then shifted Nellie into gear and headed toward the hospital for the board meeting. She’d stop by to see Donny and his mother after the meeting. Maybe she’d have some good news to tell them, that Donny’s bill would be taken care of by some extra funds coming in, and that Donny’s mother wouldn’t have to lose her house to pay for her little boy’s surgery.

Now all she had to do was convince Dex Montgomery and that barracuda business associate of his to help her.

TY STARED at his grandfather across the boardroom table, emotions churning through him. He’d hoped Grandfather Montgomery would embrace him when he’d met him at the car and he’d worried the older man would recognize him as an impostor, but his grandfather had simply nodded good morning, started his Cadillac and driven to the office. He’d barely even looked at Ty, much less noticed the difference. Ty should have been relieved, but he wondered if Dex and Grandfather Montgomery ever hugged or really talked about personal things. Who had Dex turned to with questions when he was growing up?

Then Ty had noticed the pipe on the seat and made his first mistake; he’d asked his grandfather what kind of tobacco he smoked. Grandfather Montgomery had frowned and replied that Dex knew he’d given up smoking thirty years ago.

Was that the only thing he had in common with this grandfather? The fact that they’d both smoked at one time?

No, he and Dex had his dark eyes, as had their father. He remembered the photo album at home. Grandfather Montgomery had probably had thick dark hair, too, but now slivers of gray were threaded through the dark brown, and it had thinned slightly on top. He was a tall man with a commanding presence and a voice that spoke with authority.

Ty felt no real connection and it bothered him immensely. Inside, something twisted. He wanted to impress the man, to get his attention and prove he was worthy of being a Montgomery. He fought the insecurities, yet he had felt the same way in those damn meetings in Chicago. And when he’d gone to the bank for the loan back home.

It was the same way he’d felt when Paula had published that stupid article about him. He’d met her when he was giving riding lessons at a nearby dude ranch when he was twenty-five. He’d fallen for her hard, only to find out later she’d been using him. Paula had returned to New York City and written an article for her journalism school, which had received an award and been published in a local magazine, complete with pictures, making him look like a clod with a run-down ranch. He’d not only been hurt but humiliated.

Did Dex feel this need to prove himself all the time? As if he had to win Grandfather Montgomery’s respect?

Could Ty have inherited his drive to want more from the Montgomerys? Could that ambitious need be the reason Ty had always wanted to expand the ranch?

Had Pa Cooper recognized Ty’s ambition as a Montgomery trait—was that the reason he was so strongly against it? Because he didn’t want Ty to become like the Montgomerys?

Grandfather Montgomery stood. “I believe our meeting is over, gentlemen.”

Bridget, Dex’s financial advisor curled slender, manicured fingers over his and smiled. Ty had immediately recognized her from Dex’s description. Only, Dex had described her as efficient, brilliant, organized and attractive, while Ty’s impression differed. She was a waif-thin woman with steel-gray eyes, short brown hair that resembled a man’s cut, and a voice that hinted of arrogance. He had no idea what his brother found attractive about her; she was so skinny a good stiff Montana wind would blow her over.

Had she and Dex been involved personally?

And why had his brother never mentioned Dr. Stovall?

“Thank you for coming,” Bridget said, nudging Ty to stand. She shook each of the men’s hands and he followed suit. The two Japanese men owned a small medical building which M3I had just purchased for a million dollars. He had listened to his grandfather crunch numbers, Bridget present flow charts, and he’d simply nodded, grateful they had things under control.

He had no idea what they had just said.

Was he ignorant compared to Dex? Uneducated—

“That was a steal,” Bridget whispered.

For a million, the foundation must be built of gold, Ty thought.

“Dex, we have another meeting.” Bridget’s sharp high heels clicked on the floor. “The hospital board at Bethesda.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t take long,” Grandfather Montgomery added.

“Nos never do,” Bridget said with a laugh. “I just hope that Jessica Stovall doesn’t get emotional the way I’ve heard she can do.”

Jessica…yeah, he liked that name. He could imagine her getting emotional, passionate. Whispering his name in the dark…

“Dex can handle her,” Grandfather Montgomery said. “Can’t you?”

Ty nodded curtly, stifling the ridiculous fantasy.

“Come on, Dex,” Bridget leaned over and whispered in his ear. “We’ll ride over together and have some time alone.”

A seed of worry sprouted inside Ty. What the hell did she mean—time alone? Were they involved? If not, did Dex want them to be?

“Uh, I’m riding with Grandfather. There’s something I need to discuss with him,” Ty improvised.

“We’ll all ride together,” his grandfather said in a commanding voice. On the way to the car, Ty struggled for something to say, and prayed he wouldn’t reveal himself on the ride over.

THE MINUTE Jessica walked into the boardroom, her gaze latched onto Dex Montgomery. His dark eyes raked over her, a subtle look of hunger flashing in their depths. Seconds later, his financial advisor slipped so close to him a pencil couldn’t be wedged between them.

Jessica shook her head. She must have imagined his reaction to her.

He was obviously involved with the barracuda.

Telling herself it didn’t matter, she jerked her attention back to the hospital board, greeted each one in turn, shook Charles Montgomery’s hand, Bridget’s, then Dex’s and pulled out her reports.

“We’ll get right to the point,” Dr. Sheffield, head of the board, said. “Dr. Stovall is here to present information regarding the new children’s wing that has been proposed.” He gestured toward Jessica.

Picture Dex Montgomery naked, picture him naked, Jessica silently reminded herself. Then you won’t be nervous.

She stared directly at him and saw his clothes disappear, his big, dark, broad shoulders being unveiled. Dark hair would taper down to his flat stomach, then V downward…

She shook the image away, disgusted with herself.

That image did nothing to calm her nerves. Picturing the sexy man naked only sent her blood pressure skyrocketing.

Chapter Five

As the board meeting heated up, Ty jerked at Dex’s boxer shorts which had been riding up inside his pants leg. Thankfully on the way to the hospital Grandfather Montgomery had received a call on his cell phone and had lapsed into a business conversation the entire ride, saving Ty from conversation. He’d experienced relief at first, but by the time they arrived at the small hospital, annoyance had kicked in.

Pa Cooper had always been there to sit on the porch and talk to, listening to whatever problem Ty had faced throughout the day.

Everything except the subject of his father, he realized.

What if he really had wanted to discuss something important with Grandfather Montgomery? Did he have to schedule a conversation the way they did their family dinners? Was this the way Dex’s life had always been, every minute thriving on mergers and acquisitions, with no time to talk about personal matters?

Jessica, no, Dr. Stovall, cleared her throat and he jerked his attention to her slender legs and curvy body. With an air of confidence, she lifted a chart and listed the various programs needing funding and the financial requirements necessary to make them work. The terms and astronomical figures Ty heard made his head roll.

Ty had allowed Dex’s financial advisor Bridget and his grandfather to bulldoze their way through the last meeting. He’d watched completely lost, as if he’d been dropped into a foreign country where everyone was speaking some strange tongue. He fully intended to let them do the same at the hospital board meeting as well. He could handle ornery bulls and the spring roundup of thousands of cattle, but the thought of making a decision about thousands, no millions of dollars, involving life-altering medical procedures scared the bejeezus out of him. At home, if a neighbor was in trouble, the surrounding ranchers pitched in to help. Here, they swooped in to take over the poor soul’s company at the lowest price possible so they could selfishly sell it at the highest.