In the Arms of the Rancher

In the Arms of the Rancher

By

Joan Hohl

His Vienna Christmas Bride

By

Jan Colley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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In the Arms of the Rancher

By

Joan Hohl

“A kiss. That will really seal the deal.”

Reaching across her to set his glass next to hers, he drew her into his arms and captured her mouth with his own in a searing kiss.

Seal indeed. The thought, recognizable if fuzzy, floated through Kate’s mind. Or was it she herself floating?

The sealing kiss went on forever yet ended much too soon. When Hawk drew his mouth from hers, Kate found herself stretched out on the long couch, Hawk stretched out next to, or rather practically on top of, her.

How did she get into that position when she didn’t remember moving? How had Hawk managed the move without her noticing? Did it matter at all?

No. The answer was there, at the forefront of her mind. The only thing that mattered was she was there with Hawk, secure and safe in his arms.

About the Author

JOAN HOHL is a bestselling author of more than sixty books. She has received numerous awards for her work, including a Romance Writers of America Golden Medallion award. In addition to contemporary romance, this prolific author also writes historical and time-travel romances. Joan lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and family.

To:

My new editor, Krista, and her assistant, Shana. Welcome to my imaginary world!

Dear Reader

Hello once again. I’m back with another story for you. If you happen to have read a previous book of mine titled Maverick, you may recognize the hero in this book as the Maverick’s friend Hawk McKenna. Well, it seems after playing a minor role in one book, Hawk decided he needed a book of his own. What’s a poor writer to do but obey her imagination? Besides, I really liked the character named McKenna my busy little mind came up with.

So here, then, is Hawk’s story about a summer-weary rancher taking a vacation break in Las Vegas for a little R&R and some female company before winter sets in. Instead, he finds Kate, a beautiful female with man troubles.

Although I’m writing this letter on a beautiful spring day in May, I know the holiday season is approaching as you hold this book, which I hope you will buy and enjoy, in your hands.

Happy holidays to all and to all a good read!

Joan Hohl

Prologue

He needed a break, and he was going to take one. Hawk McKenna stood in the sunlight slanting from the west onto the covered porch that ran the width of his ranch house, his hand absently resting on the head of the large dog next to him.

Though the sun’s rays were warm, there was a nip in the early October breeze. It felt good to Hawk after the long, hot, hard but productive and profitable summer. Yet he knew that before too long, the mild autumn would be replaced by snowflakes swirling, driven by harsh, bitter cold winds.

When the deep snows came, Hawk knew the work on the ranch would be just as hard as it had been during the summer. No, he thought, smiling wryly as he gazed around him at the valley in which his ranch was nestled, the work in the deep snows of winter entailed numb fingers and toes and being chilled to the bone. All things considered, he’d rather sweat than freeze.

The idea of what was to come sent a shiver through him. He must be getting old, Hawk mused, stepping from the porch into the fading sunlight. But as he was only thirty-six, perhaps it wasn’t so much his age as it was tiredness. Other than a run into Durango, the city closest to the ranch, for supplies, he hadn’t been off the property in months.

Nor had he been in any female company in all that time, other than that of his foreman Jack’s nineteen-year-old daughter and his wrangler Ted’s wife.

Not exactly what Hawk had in mind for female company. Ted’s wife, Carol, while very nice and pretty, was…well, Ted’s wife. And Jack’s daughter, Brenda, was even prettier but far too young, and she was becoming a pain in the ass.

A year or so ago, Brenda, who had hung around the ranch every summer since Jack had come to work for Hawk, had begun trailing behind Hawk. Her sidelong, supposedly sexy glances were beginning to grate on his nerves.

He wasn’t interested. She was a kid, for cripes’ sake. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, Hawk had tried dropping subtle hints to that effect, to no avail. She had gone right on with the sly, intimate looks, at moments even deliberately making physical contact, while making the touches appear accidental.

Frustrated, not knowing what to do other than be brutally honest by telling her to act her age and knock off her flirting, Hawk had approached Jack about her behavior. Treading as carefully as if he were negotiating a mine field, Hawk had asked him what Brenda’s plans were for the future.

“Oh, you know kids,” Jack said, grimacing. “They want everything. They just can’t decide what in particular.”

Hawk sighed. Not much help there. “It’s over a year since she graduated high school. I thought she was planning to go on to college?”

“She now says she isn’t sure.” Jack gave him a probing look. “Why? Has she been making a pest of herself hanging around here?”

Drawing a slow breath, Hawk hedged. “Well…she has been kinda getting underfoot.”

Jack nodded his understanding. “Yeah, I noticed,” he admitted with a sigh. “I’ve been meaning to say something to her about it, but you know girls…They get so dramatic and emotional.”

“Yeah,” Hawk agreed, although he really didn’t know girls, as in kids. He knew women, knew as well how emotional they could be. He worked hard at avoiding the dramatic ones.

“I’ll talk to her,” Jack said, heaving a sigh before flashing a grin. “Maybe I can talk her into spending the winter with her mother, as she always did while she was still in school.” He chuckled.

Hawk shook his head. Jack and his former wife had not divorced amicably. Although Brenda had spent only the summers with Jack while she had been in school, mere days after receiving her diploma, she’d taken off, telling her mother she wanted to be on her own, free.

Well, Hawk mused, if being on her own and free meant living with her father while bugging the hell out of him, she had succeeded too well. “You handle it any way you want,” Hawk said, not bothering to add that Jack had better handle it, and her, sooner rather than later. “Maybe a father-daughter heart-to-heart will help.”

“Will do.” Jack started to turn away.

“Hold up a minute,” Hawk said, stopping Jack short. “I’m going to take off for a couple weeks for a little R and R. Can you hold down the fort, and Boyo?” Hawk ruffled the hair on the dog’s head.

Jack gave him a look. “You know damn well I can.”

Hawk grinned. “Yeah, I know. I just like riling you now and again.”

“As if I didn’t know,” Jack drawled. “You tellin’ me where you’re going and when?”

“Sure. No secret. I’m going to Vegas as soon as I can make room reservations. I’ll let you know where I’ll be staying.” He paused before going on. “When I get back, you and Ted can take some time off. While I’m gone, you can decide who goes first.”

“Good deal.” Jack grinned and went back to work.

Relieved, Hawk drew a deep breath of the pine-scented mountain air. The dog looked up at him expectantly. “Not this time, Boyo,” he said, ruffling the dog’s thick hair. “You’ll be staying with Jack.”

If a dog could frown, Hawk thought, that was exactly what the big Irish wolfhound was doing. With a final hair ruffle, he turned to the porch steps.

A smile on his lips, Hawk walked into the house, picked up the phone and began punching in numbers.

Chapter One

Kate Muldoon was behind the hostess station, checking the reservation list, when the restaurant entrance door opened. A smile of greeting on her lips, she glanced up to see a man just inside the door and felt a strange skip beat in her chest.

The first word to jump into her mind was cowboy. Kate couldn’t say why that particular descriptive word came to mind. There wasn’t a pair of boots or a Stetson in sight. He was dressed the same as most patrons, casually in jeans that hugged his hips like a lover, a pale blue button down shirt tucked into the narrow denim waistband, the sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm.

His height was impressive. Kate judged him to be six feet five or six inches tall at least, maybe more. He was lean, muscular and rangy. He had a head full of thick, straight dark, almost black, hair with strands of deepest red glinting under the lights. It was long, caught at his nape and was tied with a narrow strip of leather.

He was striking—sharply defined features, a squared jaw and piercing dark eyes. His skin was tanned, near bronze. Part Native American, perhaps? Maybe.

But he wasn’t what she would call handsome, not in the way Jeff was…

“May I help you?” Kate asked brightly, pushing away errant thoughts of her former lover.

“I don’t have a reservation, but I’d like a table for one, if you have it.” His voice was smooth, low, rather sexy and alluring.

Telling herself to grow up, Kate said, “Yes, of course. If you’ll follow me.” Scooping up a menu, she ushered him to a small table for two set in a corner between two curtained windows.

He arched a dark brow with visible amusement when she slid out a chair for him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied, handing him the menu. “Tom will be your server today.” Feeling oddly breathless, she added, “Enjoy your dinner.”

He smiled.

Kate felt the shivery effects of his smile all the way back to her station. Ridiculous, she chided herself, dismissing thoughts of the tall man when she noticed a line of unexpected guests waiting for her.

Greeting and seating the hungry patrons who had suddenly shown up snared Kate’s focus. After seating a party of four nearest the corner table, she heard the tall man quietly call to her.

“Miss?”

The shivery effects began all over again. Sighing through her professional smile, she stopped at his table. “Can I get you something?” she responded, noticing his half-empty beer glass. He smiled, this time with a suggestive hint. Kate felt the shiver turn into an unnerving shimmering heat.

“Is Vic in the kitchen this evening?”

His question threw her for a moment. She didn’t know what she had expected, but an inquiry about her boss wasn’t it. “Yes, he is,” she answered, instantly regaining her composure.

“Would you give him a message from me?”

“Yes, of course.” What else could she say?

“Tell him Hawk would like to talk to him.” He smiled again, revealing strong white teeth.

“Hawk…just Hawk?” she asked. Lord, the man had a killer smile.

“Just Hawk,” he said with a soft laugh. “He’ll know who you mean.”

“Uh…right. I’ll tell him,” Kate said, turning away to head for the kitchen. It was a good thing Jeff had immunized her against men, she thought, pushing through the swing door to the kitchen. That kind of man would get under an unwary woman’s skin in a hurry.

That was one appealing package of femininity, he mused, his gaze fixed on the subtle yet intriguing movement of her hips as she pushed through the door to the kitchen. Of average height, she was all woman from the riot of loose curls in her long dark hair to her slim ankles, and everywhere in between. And he had noticed she wasn’t wearing a ring on the third finger of her left hand.

Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean she wasn’t married. Hawk knew of many men as well as women who didn’t wear their bands of commitment. Cramped their style, he supposed. He was wondering if she might be one of those women when a familiar voice broke into his musing.

“Hawk, you old dog, when did you get into town?” Vic Molino came to a stop next to Hawk, a big smile of welcome on his handsome face, his right hand outthrust.

Rising, Hawk grasped the hand and pulled the shorter man into a buddy embrace.

Stepping back, Hawk flicked a hand at the empty chair opposite his. “Got a minute to talk…or are you too busy in the kitchen?”

Vic grinned. “Always got a minute for you, Hawk. How the hell are you?” He arched his dark brows. “It’s been a long while since your last visit.”

“Yeah, I know.” Hawk grinned back. “Been too busy making money. Now, before winter sets in, I aim to spend a little of it.”

“I hear you.” As he spoke, a server came to a stop at the table. Vic smiled at him. “I’ll take care of this customer, Tom, but you’ll still get the tip.” He lowered his voice dramatically, as if to prevent Hawk from hearing him. “And he’s a big tipper.”

Tom smiled. “Thanks, Vic.” He turned to leave but Vic stopped him before he could take a step.

“One thing, Tom. You can bring me a pot of coffee.” He shot a glance at Hawk. “You want a fresh beer?”

Hawk shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m going to have wine with dinner, but I would like a cup of coffee.”

“Coming right up, sir,” Tom said, hurrying away.

Hawk glanced around the dining room. “Business looks brisk, as usual.”

“It has been good,” Vic said, a touch of gratitude in his voice, “even with the slump in the economy.” He pulled a frown. “I didn’t even get a vacation this year.”

Hawk gave him a droll look. “Poor baby. Lisa cracking the whip over you, huh?”

Vic flashed a white grin. “Never. My bride is too much in love with me to find fault.”

Hawk felt a touch of something—longing, an empty sensation. Surely not envy for his friend and the bride he’d married over five years ago.

“In fact,” Vic went on smugly, “Lisa’s too happy at the present to find fault with anyone.” He paused, waiting for the look of confused curiosity to bring a frown to Hawk’s face.

“Well,” Hawk said. “Where’s the punch line?”

Vic gave a burst of happy laughter. “She’s pregnant, Hawk. After all this time, all the praying and hoping, we’re going to have a baby.”

Hawk lit up in a smile. “That’s wonderful, Vic. When’s the baby due?”

“In the spring. She’s in the beginning of her second trimester.”

“Damn! Damn, that’s great, for both of you. I know how much you’ve wanted a child.” Even as he congratulated his friend, Hawk again felt that twinge of empty longing. He brushed it off as he shook Vic’s hand.

“Yeah,” Vic said, grinning like a kid. “We were almost at the point of accepting that there would never be a baby for us.”

Grinning back at him, Hawk raised his glass of beer. “Well, here’s to perseverance.” Bringing the glass to his lips, he downed the beer remaining in it. As he set the glass down, the hostess came to the table with a full fresh pot of coffee.

“Tom was busy at another table,” she explained. “So I brought this over. Is there anything else, Vic?”

“No thanks.” Vic shook his head. As she started to turn away, he stopped her by taking her hand. “Wait a minute. I want you to meet an old friend.”

“Okay.” She smiled at Hawk.

He felt an instant of breathlessness. He stood up as Vic rose from his chair.

“Hawk,” Vic said, “this lovely lady is Kate Mul-doon, my hostess and Lisa’s and my friend.” He smiled at her. “Kate, Hawk McKenna. We’ve been friends since college, and he’s been Lisa’s friend since our wedding.” A teasing gleam shone from his eyes. “I suspect she’d have grabbed him if she’d met him earlier.”

“Right,” Hawk drawled, offering his long-fingered hand to her. “Nice to meet you…Kate?”

“Of course,” she answered. “Hawk?”

“Of course,” he echoed.

“Have a seat, Kate,” Vic said, rising to grab an empty chair at the next table while beckoning to someone.

Kate shook her head. “I can’t, Vic. There are custom—”

“Yes, you can,” Vic interrupted. “You haven’t had a break yet.”

Kate gave him a dry look. “I started working only two hours ago.”

“Long enough,” Vic said, turning to the young woman who had come to a halt at the table.

“You employed the imperial wave, sire?” the woman said, her blue eyes fairly dancing with amusement.

Vic laughed as he watched her give a quick glance at Hawk, her eyes widening with surprise. “Hawk!”

“Hi, Bella.” Hawk said, getting to his feet just in time to catch her as she flung herself into his arms. “Subdued as ever, I see.” Taking her by the shoulders, he set her back a step to look at her. “And beautiful as ever.”

“I bet you say that to all your friends’ sisters,” Bella said, laughing. “You look great, Hawk.”

“Thanks.” Hawk smiled. “So do you.”

“If this ritual of mutual admiration is over,” Vic said, “I’d like you to take over at the desk for Kate for a while.”

“Sure.” Bella gave Hawk another quick hug before turning away. “Will I be seeing you while you’re in town, Hawk?”

“Of course.” Hawk smiled.

“Good.” Bella smiled back. “Take your time, Kate. I can handle the ravenous crowd.”

“Thanks, Bella,” Kate said. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”

Her soft, almost smoky-sounding voice, along with her smile, caused an even stronger searing sensation in Hawk’s stomach and sections south.

“So,” Vic said, “how long are you going to be in town this time, Hawk?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I have a room for a week.” Hawk shrugged. “After that…depends.”

“On what?” Vic laughed. “The weather?”

Hawk grinned. “Yeah, the weather. You know how much it concerns me.” He shook his head. “No, actually, if I’m tired of the whole scene at the end of a week, I’ll head home. If not, I’ll make other arrangements.”

“And where is home, Hawk?” Kate asked.

“Colorado,” Hawk said. “In the mountains.”

She laughed. “Colorado is full of mountains.”

A tingle skipped the length of his spine. He drew a deep breath, willing steel to chase the tingle from his back. “I’m in the southwest corner, in the San Juans, a double jump from Durango.”

“A double jump?” she said.

Vic answered for him. “Hawk’s got a horse ranch in a small valley in the foothills there,” he said. “I gotta tell you, this guy breeds and trains some gorgeous horseflesh.”

“And I’m damned good at it, too,” Hawk drawled around a quick smile.

Once again he felt that strange reaction to the conversation, a reaction he had never felt before. Hawk wasn’t sure he liked it.

They chatted for a few moments longer. Then Kate excused herself to get back to work.

Unaware of his surroundings, Vic, or the soft sigh he expelled, Hawk watched Kate walk back to the hostess station, head high, her back straight, as regal as any queen.

“Attractive, isn’t she?”

Vic’s quiet voice jolted Hawk into awareness. “Yes,” he said, shifting his gaze to his friend.

“And you’re interested.” It was not a question.

“Yes,” Hawk admitted without hesitation.

“A lot of men are.” Vic shrugged.

“I did notice she was not wearing a ring on her left ring finger.” Hawk lifted his brows. “Is she attached?”

Vic shook his head. “No.”

“Why do I have the feeling that if I said I wanted to ask her to have dinner one evening with me, you’d tell me she’ll refuse?”

“Because she very likely would.” Vic gave him a half smile. “She always does.”

“She doesn’t like men?” Hawk felt a sharp pang of disappointment.

“She used to,” Vic answered cryptically.

Hawk’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to explain that murky statement, or am I going to have to call you out?”

Vic grinned. “Pistols at dawn, eh?”

“No…” Hawk drawled. “My foot in your rear right here in front of all your customers. So you’d better start explaining.”

“There was a man…” Vic began.

“Isn’t there always?” Hawk said in disgust.

“The same as there’s always a woman with bitter men,” Vic said. “Isn’t there?”

“I wouldn’t know.” It was not a boast. Hawk had never been in love. He had no experience of how a relationship gone sour could rip a person up.

“You’re a lucky man.” Vic sighed. “Well, Kate knows in spades. She was head over heels with a guy, enough to let him move in with her after they got engaged.”

“He dumped her for another woman?” Hawk asked at the thought of any sane man dumping Kate.

“No, worse than that. Not long after he moved in with her, he became abusive.”

Hawk stiffened, his features like chiseled rock. “He what?” His voice was low, icy with menace.

“Not physically,” Vic said. “Verbally, which is just as bad, if not worse. Bruises heal pretty quickly. Emotional scars take a lot longer.”

“The son of a bitch.”

“That’s my take on him.”

Hawk was quiet a moment. “I’m still thinking of asking her to dinner one night.” He frowned at Vic. “What do you think?”

“Well…” Now Vic was quiet a moment. He shrugged. “It can’t hurt to give it a try.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Why would I mind?” Vice shook his head. “I think it would do Kate good to get out…She hasn’t been since she tossed the creep out.” He grinned at Hawk. “And I know you’d never do anything to hurt her.”

“How do you know that?”

Vic’s grin grew sinister. “Because if you did, I’d have to kill you.”

Hawk roared with laughter. “Get outta here and get me something to eat…and make it good.”

Standing, Vic leveled a stern look at Hawk. “You know damn well everything I cook is good. Excellent, even.”

“I know,” Hawk admitted. “So, go cook.”

Moments later he was served a glass of red wine. Soon after the wine, the server set a steaming plate of pasta before him, with a short, folded note on the side. Hawk opened the note and chuckled. Vic had written just seven words.

Kate’s days off are Monday and Tuesday.

Chapter Two

Kate didn’t have time to think of anything except greeting and seating customers for over an hour. When she again returned to her station, she was both disconcertingly disappointed and pleased.

She needed a breathing break. What Kate didn’t need were the thoughts of the attractive Hawk McKenna, which immediately flooded her mind.

He was just another man, she told herself. And yet he invaded her mind and senses the minute activity around her slowed. Shaking her head, as if she could physically shake the thoughts aside, she busied herself by fussing with the station. She straightened the large menus and made a production out of studying the names not crossed off on the long list of reservations. The few parties left on the list were not due to arrive for a while.

Sighing, she glanced up from the list, right into the dark eyes of the very man she had been trying her best not to think about.