“Agreed,” she said instantly, her eyes firm on his. “Like I said, I’m here to break the ice. In case we should bump into each other at Penny’s Song. I’m not good with awkward.”

Tagg smiled. “Me, neither. Never had any social skills.”

She chuckled deep in her throat and nodded in agreement. He almost took offense but then Callie’s lips parted slightly and she spoke soft words that couldn’t be misconstrued. “You make up for it in other ways.”

“Do I?” Always nice to know a female companion had no complaints when he took her to bed. Tagg’s mind drifted to the beautiful brunette with soulful caramel eyes moaning his name as he drove deep inside her. Oh, man. He shook those thoughts free before Callie caught a hint of what he was thinking.

He wondered what she needed to forget. What kind of loneliness and pain had she been clinging to that night? But Tagg wasn’t going down that road. He didn’t want to know. He didn’t want any more involvement with Callie Sullivan, pretty as she was.

Callie pursed her lips and nodded. They stared at each other silently.

“I should go.”

“Probably should.”

“Okay, then.” She walked out the barn door and Tagg followed quietly behind her.

But then she stopped, turned on her heels abruptly and he nearly mowed her down. Their bodies connected; his chest knocked her backward. On impulse, he shot both arms out to keep her from falling. “Damn, woman. Give a man some warning.”

And there he was, holding soft, pretty Callie Sullivan in his arms. Her hair fell back, and when he righted her, the shiny strands came forward and tickled his fingers.

She blinked. Looked up into his eyes. “Thanks.”

“Why’d you stop so quickly?”

“I had something else to say.”

“Say it.” That musky flowery scent invaded his senses and reminded him once again about their night together. He released his hold when he was sure she was on level footing. Callie set her hands on her hips, the exact place where his hands had been. It was an unconscious gesture on her part, but one that tugged at his cold heart.

“I don’t usually pick up men in bars.” She shot him a bold look that dared him to doubt her.

Tagg arched his brows.

Color rushed to her face. “I mean to say, I’ve never had a one-night stand before. It’s not my—”

“Got it.” He wanted out of this conversation and the reminder of that night.

“You do? You believe me?”

“Doesn’t make a bit of difference if I believe you or not, but yeah, I do believe you. I may not have social skills but I’ve got good instincts.”

“It makes a difference to me. I’m glad you believe me. I mean, since we’ll be seeing each other from now on. Your opinion matters.”

It shouldn’t, he wanted to say, but kept his lips sealed.

His cell phone rang and he was glad for the interruption. Callie had a vulnerable expression on her face and Tagg was a sucker for a female in distress. He lifted up the phone. “Gotta get this.”

She smiled weakly and nodded. “Goodbye, Tagg.”

He watched her walk to her car and get in. Once she started the engine and circled around to the gravel road, he answered Clay’s call. “What in hell were you thinking hiring on Sullivan’s daughter?”

“I’m so glad you called, Sammie. I really needed to hear your voice today.” Callie leaned back on her bed, resting her head against the daisy pillow sham, speaking on the phone with her best friend and onetime college roommate.

Her bedroom on Big Hawk Ranch looked the same as it did when she was a child. The pale yellow and cornflower blue walls spoke of a brightness that Callie didn’t feel these days. She’d come home from Boston because her job there had ended just about the same time her father’s health had taken a turn for the worse. She felt the timing was right. She’d missed living in Arizona. She’d missed the ranch. But once she’d returned, she’d found that while everyone else had moved on with their lives, Callie’s life had remained stagnant. The room her mother had decorated when Callie was just a girl was one of many perfect examples. The Hawk never wanted the room changed and Callie had acquiesced.

“Yeah, you sound down this morning. There’s something wrong. So what’s going on?” her friend asked.

“I … I just miss you.”

“I miss you, too,” Sammie said. “And you know there’s nothing holding you there. You can come back to Boston anytime. I’ve got an extra room in my apartment that has your name on it. But, hon, I know that missing me isn’t what’s putting that tone in your voice. What’s up?”

“You know. The usual. My father.”

“The Hawk? He’s at it again? What did he do this time?”

“It’s a little complicated right now.”

Callie wasn’t ready to share everything with Sammie, especially the guilt she felt about her secret. But she could tell her the most basic truth, which was that she’d reached her boiling point with her father last month. She’d thought that having a college degree, having lived off the ranch for several years and having reached her twenty-sixth birthday would have made a difference with her father. But she’d come to the bitter realization that he would never change. Oh, she did love him. In many regards he was a good father, but his need to control the outcome of her life had gotten out of control lately.

“You know I was dating a man named Troy, right?” she asked.

“Right. The tall, blond carpenter.” He’d come to the ranch to build a new pool house and Callie had hit it off with him. “I thought you were still dating. I mean, the last time we talked you didn’t say you weren’t.”

“I didn’t tell you what The Hawk did because I was so furious with him, I needed some time to let it sink in. My daddy just doesn’t get that I can make decisions for myself.

He can’t see it as a control issue. He thinks he’s looking out for me the way a father should.”

“He’s overcompensating for you not having a mother. Trying to be both parents at once.”

“I’ve always understood that. I cut my father slack because I knew he grieved for my mother. But Mom’s been gone eleven years and instead of him moving on with his life, he tossed all of the love he had for her onto me. I’m on the receiving end of a doting, controlling, overpowering father. Lucky me.”

“Oh, Callie. Sorry. I thought he’d lighten up after you got home from Boston.”

“Just the opposite. He wanted me to work for him when I got home. Laid the guilt on pretty thick too this last time. The Sullivan legacy will die if I don’t take the reins at the ranch. All that he’d built up will go to ruins. The sky will fall and crush everything he’s worked so hard for. Finally, I gave in. I worked with him for months. And I tried, Sammie. But The Hawk and I just don’t see eye to eye on things.”

Which was a nice way of saying her father was too ruthless a businessman for Callie. She had strong professional ethics that he didn’t understand. They’d butted heads over business decisions constantly. “I finally told him no, not at this time. I want to work in the field I’m interested in, the field I studied for four years. And he backed off, a little. And then he pulled his Hawk maneuver with Troy.”

“What did he do?”

“Troy’s a really great guy. I liked him, but it wasn’t earth-shattering or anything.” Nothing compared to how she felt about Tagg Worth. Especially now, but she had to hold those feelings close to her heart for the time being. She was purposefully deceiving Tagg with a sin of omission, but it couldn’t be helped.

Restless, Callie rose from the bed. She moved over to the window and smiled when she looked down from the second story to find her palomino, Freedom, prancing around the perimeter of the corral. When her mother was alive, living on Big Hawk Ranch had given Callie so much joy. She still loved the ranch, but couldn’t abide her father’s way of doing things.

“I’d only dated him for a month. Daddy kept asking questions, hinting that Troy wasn’t good enough for me, just because of what he did for a living. Apparently, blue-collar workers aren’t good enough for a girl raised on a cattle ranch,” she added with sarcasm. “I was really beginning to like this guy and then he stopped calling. I couldn’t reach him by phone, so one day I stopped by his office trailer outside of town and asked him what happened. And you know, I have to give Troy credit for telling me the truth.”

“Which was?”

Before Callie could respond, Sammie sighed. “Oh, your father threatened him?”

Callie turned from the window, tempering the anger she felt at her father’s manipulation. “No, no … nothing that blatant. He offered Troy a lucrative job doing a remodel for a friend’s ranch in Flagstaff. Would take about six months at the very least. The only stipulation was that he break off all contact with me.” Callie laughed without humor. “Can you imagine? I about died of mortification and whatever I had building with Troy had been sullied, ruined by The Hawk, even though Troy had turned my father down flat.”

“Oh, wow, Callie. That’s too bad.”

Callie thought so, too. After that humiliating experience, Callie had packed her bags and driven to Reno to blow off steam. Her cousin, Deanna, lived there and she had an open invitation to visit. For the first few days, Callie could barely see straight for the anger and humiliation she’d felt and she vented to her cousin, who’d lent a responsive ear. She was on her way back home when she’d stopped at the Cheatin’ Heart and spotted Tagg sitting on that bar stool.

Callie’s fantasy man.

And her father’s worst nightmare.

Callie took the opportunity presented to her. No, that wasn’t entirely true. She had to be totally honest with herself—she’d made things happen with Tagg. Because she wanted him and because she’d been sorely exasperated with her father. She wasn’t sure if one or the other alone would have sparked her bold move, but the combination of both was too tempting to resist. She couldn’t possibly have predicted how that night would end.

Because Callie hadn’t planned on falling in love.

Or conceiving Tagg’s baby.

Yet, both had happened.

Callie finished her conversation with Sammie and placed the receiver back onto its cradle. With a hand to her belly, she marveled about the new life growing inside her, wondering whether it was a boy or a girl. Wondering if the baby would have her brown eyes or Tagg’s beautiful silver-blue ones. Would the child have a golden bronze complexion like the father or be fair-skinned like Callie?

In only her most selective, perfect fantasies did she entertain thoughts of a future with Taggart Worth. She wouldn’t use the baby as bait to lure him into a relationship. She wouldn’t trap him into marriage. Yes, he had a right to know about the baby, but not yet. Shoving aside the guilt that burdened her by not revealing the truth to him, Callie held firm to her convictions. She needed a little time and a chance to win him over. She’d fallen in love with him and wanted nothing less in return. Before she told him she carried his child.

Callie had set the wheels in motion. Tomorrow she would begin working with the Worths at Penny’s Song.

Two

Tagg’s eyes nearly crossed as he stared at the computer screen. He’d been intent on doing an inventory of Worth Ranch holdings and had spent the better part of the morning staring at numbers.

Tagg’s office space, which was an appendage of his main house, consisted of three rooms. The room where Tagg would conduct business if need be, he had designed himself. Rough wood beams angled across the ceilings, wall-to-wall walnut bookshelves and cabinets spread across the entire perimeter, and his wide desk faced the door. The other two rooms were smaller with walls painted in rustic gold. One he used as a makeshift lounge area, complete with a wet bar, built-in refrigerator and a chocolate leather sofa. The other room was where he kept old file cabinets and outdated equipment. All of the Worths’ business machines and electronics were state of the art now, upon Jackson’s insistence.

“Enough,” he muttered as he shut down the computer. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment. At the age of thirty-one he was too damn young to be feeling so weary before noon.

“You’re doing too much,” his brother Jackson said as he walked into the office. “Why the heck don’t you break down and get yourself some help? A secretary, for Pete’s sake. You know, someone who can answer phones and file, crunch those numbers you’re staring at too long.”

“When the hell did you get here?” Tagg asked, baffled. He was concentrating so hard on his work, he hadn’t heard Jackson drive up and walk into his office.

“Don’t change the subject. You know I’m right.”

Tagg glared at him. His brother was two years older and a whole lot more polished than Tagg. He wore six-hundred-dollar snakeskin boots and dressed like a fashion model for Cowboys & Indians magazine. He operated the Worth offices in downtown Phoenix.

“I’m thinking about it.” He hated to admit it. His brothers were always on his case about hiring someone to help out. The trouble was that Tagg liked the solitude of the ranch. He liked keeping his own hours without answering to anyone. He liked being alone with his thoughts. An employee would cramp his style.

In his younger days, he’d spend all-nighters with the rodeo boys, drinking whiskey until the sun came up without one iota of sleep. But his eyes never burned like they did now, spending hours in front of the computer screen. Of course, after a long bender like that, he’d felt no pain anywhere on his body.

Tagg smiled thinking about his crazy rodeo days and the friends he’d left behind. But then, dark memories immediately flooded in, reminding him why he left the rodeo.

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re thinking about it,” Jackson remarked. “I can have Betty Sue take a look at the list of résumés we have at the main office. That woman is great at hiring the right employees for the company.”

Tagg waved him off. “Maybe. But not now.”

Jackson persisted with a coaxing smile. “There’s no time like the present.”

Tagg rose from his seat and shot his brother a look. “Give it a rest. I said I’ll think about it.”

Jackson took Tagg’s suggestion and shrugged with nonchalance. “Fine with me. So, are you helping this afternoon with Clay’s project?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there. He wants me to pick out the right horses for the kids coming to the ranch. You going?” He gave the tailored suit his brother was wearing the once-over.

“Not today. I have a meeting in the middle of the day. Gotta get back to Phoenix.”

“Something important?”

“Maybe. I’m thinking the Worths should get into the restaurant business.”

Tagg shook his head. “What?”

“Could be a really sweet deal. We could franchise, eventually.”

Tagg shook his head. Jackson was the go-getter in the family and had done very well for himself outside of Worth Enterprises. He had a gift when it came to making money. “That’s out of our comfort zone a tad bit, isn’t it?”

Jackson smiled wide. “Nah. I’m thinking it’s time to broaden our horizons.”

“Cattle, land development and now restaurants? You’ve got too much time on your hands, Jack.”

“Not true, I’m busier than ever.”

“Then maybe you need some outside interests that don’t include work.”

“Look who’s talking,” Jackson said with a grin. “This, coming from a man who doesn’t step foot off Worth land. Maybe you need to get a life.”

“I’ve got a life, right here. I’m not a recluse. I go out.” Rarely. But he did venture out on occasion. The last time he left town, he’d gone to Reno and had a sizzling hot night of sex with a sultry brunette.

“Okay, whatever you say. You got some time to feed me before you head over to Penny’s Song?”

“Yeah, I think I can wrangle us up some lunch.”

An hour later, Tagg got into his Jeep Cherokee and drove over to the Penny’s Song site. He had to hand it to his brother. Clayton Worth, country-western superstar, had retired from singing at the ripe old age of thirty-seven to live a simpler life on the ranch. Along the way, he’d had the inspiration for Penny’s Song and was making it a reality. All three brothers had pooled their resources and invested in its development. But Tagg felt close to this project for his own reasons.

He climbed out of his Jeep and studied the construction site. At least a dozen workmen applied their trade, though most of the major construction was complete. Shingles were being nailed down, barn doors were being set on hinges and new buildings forming an old-town-style street were wet with paint announcing Sheriff’s Office and General Store. The Red Ridge Saloon had an attached kitchen where the meals would be served. The bunkhouse where the kids would sleep would be run by well-screened volunteers.

“It’s coming along,” Clay said, walking up to him. He pushed his hat back on his head.

“It’s looking better than I imagined. The kids are gonna love it.”

“That’s the plan.”

Tagg captured his brother’s attention. “So, no hard feelings about the other day?”

Clay chuckled and shook his head. “You mean when you barked at me for not turning down The Hawk’s daughter? Nah. No hard feelings. I’ve never held Callie responsible for her old man’s doings. Even after you explained he’d just beaten us out of a big deal, I can’t fault her. She’s capable and more than qualified. Our mama didn’t raise no fool,” he said with a grin. “I know a good thing when I see it.”

Tagg held his tongue as Clay continued, “Fact is, she came up with a great idea for the general store. The kids are gonna get tokens every time they complete a chore. And then they can barter them for something in the general store. She’s donating little prizes and gifts to put in there.”

“That so?” Tagg had to admit it was a good idea. What child wouldn’t feel a sense of accomplishment being given a little reward for a job well done? His own father had instilled in all three of his sons the idea that hard work paid off. If you do a good job, you reap the benefits. “You should’ve thought of it.”

Clay’s eyes gleamed. “Maybe, but I was smart enough to hire on a pretty gal who knows child psychology. I’m taking full credit for that.”

Before Tagg could respond, his thoughts were interrupted by a burst of laughter coming from behind him. He turned around to find Callie Sullivan in the midst of a group of workmen by the barn, her head thrown back in amusement. All of the men in on the joke had their eyes on her, laughing along with her.

Something churned inside his gut. Seeing her again, smiling and happy around the crew, put him in a foul mood. She looked beautiful, even in faded jeans and a soft plaid work shirt with her hair pulled into a ponytail. She didn’t need frills to get him hot and bothered. Didn’t need her hair wild and loose to remember how soft those strands felt falling through his fingers.

She turned her head and caught him staring, then smiled wide, her dark eyes still glistening with mirth. She lifted her hand in a slight wave.

“There she is,” Clay said. He immediately gestured for her to come over. “I was darn surprised when she landed on my doorstep the other day inquiring about Penny’s Song. I hadn’t seen her in years.” Clay narrowed his eyes and shot a glance Tagg’s way. “But then, she stopped by your place, too, didn’t she? Enough to get you riled.”

Tagg bit his tongue. He’d seen enough of Callie Sullivan to occupy his dreams. “She didn’t rile me,” he said through tight lips. With Callie fast approaching, he couldn’t say much more to his brother.

“Hi, boys.”

Callie smiled at him then focused her attention on Clay. A piece of straw was stuck to her hair and Tagg had an uncanny urge to pluck it free. He focused on that strand of gold sticking out while Callie engaged in conversation with his brother.

“I’m so proud to be a part of this, Clay. Don’t forget, I’ll be happy to help with fundraisers, too. I’ve got some ideas that might bring the community together on this.”

“That’s real thoughtful, Callie.” Clay reached up and pulled that piece of straw from her hair. Tagg ground his teeth, watching Callie touch her hair and smile at his brother, like he’d just cured world hunger.

“Oh, thanks.”

Clay nodded and continued, “We’re depending on volunteers right now, but eventually, if all goes well, we’ll need more funds and have to hire on permanent help.”

“Keep me in mind.”

Clay smiled. “I surely will.” He turned to Tagg. “Actually, I’m glad you’re both here. I’ve got a job for the two of you.”

Callie shot Tagg a quick look then focused back on Clay. “Okay, I’m ready for whatever you have in mind.”

“We need to decide which horses will work best for the kids. Their ages range from six to thirteen. We need the tamest of the string, the horses with the most patience. We can’t afford to give up too many of our own trained cutting horses, but if you could select a few for now from our stables then we’ll go from there.”

Tagg could do this with his eyes closed. There was no need to involve Callie.

“I’d love to,” Callie said immediately.

“I can get this done, Clay,” Tagg stated. “If you need Callie for something else.”

Callie turned his way and he sensed her stare. He kept his gaze trained on his brother, not willing to see the recrimination in her eyes.

Clay shook his head. “No. I need you both for this. You each know horses, but Callie’s worked with children. And since none of us Worths have been around kids much, the two of you will make a good team.”

Tagg shrugged, giving up. Wasn’t as though he couldn’t spend an afternoon with Callie without jumping her bones. “Fine. We’ll pick out a few gentle mares from the string.”

Clay glanced at his watch and winced. “I’m running late. I’m gonna have to leave the crew in your hands today. I’ve got an appointment in town. Tagg, keep those boys in line for me. Seems every one of them is already smitten with Callie.” Clay winked at her and the sound of her sweet throaty chuckle set Tagg’s nerves on edge.

“Something tells me Callie can take care of herself.”

Clay narrowed his eyes and the conversation quickly died.

After a few seconds of silence, Callie chimed in, “Now, don’t you go worrying about me. Those boys are treating me just fine.”

“Glad to hear it.” Clay darted them each a curious look as if trying to figure out something.

Tagg set his jaw, waiting for his brother to leave.

“I’ll be in touch,” Clay said finally, then bid them farewell.

Tagg stood alone with Callie in front of the general store. They stared at each other for a few uncomfortable seconds until Callie’s smile brought him up short. “Well, I’m glad I stopped by your house the other day to break the ice. Because that wasn’t awkward.”

Callie’s remark broke the tension. Tagg relaxed and sent her a smile. “Do you always blurt out whatever’s on your mind?”

Callie smiled back and her caramel eyes lit up. “Yeah, most times I do.”

“What about those other times, when you don’t? How does that work for you?”

Callie thought about it for one second then replied, “It works fine. When I keep my words in check, it’s usually to keep the peace with my father.”

“The Hawk,” Tagg bit out.

“My father.”

“Are you afraid of him?”

“Heavens, no. Let’s just say it’s usually easier to deal with him without hysterical drama. Which is what it would be if I really let loose on him.”

“So you hold back.”

“I deal with him in my own way and, most times, I’m successful at making my point. What about you, Tagg? Do you always hold in your feelings?”

Tagg didn’t like speaking about feelings. What man did? “What feelings are you talking about exactly?”

Callie got a distant look on her face and then blinked it away. “Scared feelings. Like leaving a girl a note on the hotel bed instead of facing her.”