Fake It, Cowboy: Billionaires of Burch Ranch: Book 1 Page 5

  "Oh, you...!" She felt the heat spreading over her cheeks. "If you continue to insult my singing, then Tucker Burch, you won't be eating any of these beauties!" With a flourish, she lifted the lid from the warming dish to display the golden pancakes."

  Tucker's eyes widened. "You made these now?"

  She shrugged, feeling suddenly shy. "No big deal…"

  He cleared his throat. "Joanna Carver, you have the voice of an angel. Now please can I sample these delights, which I've been craving all week?" He picked up the dish and she motioned to the table.

  She brought their coffee as they sat down together. "Dig in."

  They sat on the table, the sunlight streaming through the windows and warming their back. Joanna was secretly thrilled she decided to make pancakes as Tucker really did look like he was in heaven. It hit her that if she stayed in Jasper then this could what being married to him would look like. Joanna sipped on her coffee, lost in thought.

  "Earth to Joanna?"

  "What?"

  Tucker leaned back and patted his stomach, "I was just saying that I really appreciate you making these."

  "I was miles away." She smiled. "You're welcome. I actually made extra in case the boys or Rose stop in mid-morning for a snack."

  "You're too good to us."

  "It's the least I can do, under the circumstances."

  Tucker finished up his coffee and cleared up their plates. "I'd like to show you something today. We'll be out for most of the day. Do you think you could pack us up some lunch while I get everything ready?"

  Joanna was intrigued. He'd given her a tour of the Ranch last week, which was incredible, and she was sure he'd showed her everything. "Of course. I'll see you in a bit."

  After he left, Joanna dashed upstairs for a quick shower. She was about to grab her usual jeans and shirt but decided at the last minute to choose a jean skirt and a nice top. She left her hair down and gave it a quick blast with the hairdryer. It fell in soft waves over her shoulder. She glanced at herself in the full-length mirror. Eric had made her lose most of her self-esteem but she was finally feeling good about herself again. She may not have the slim figure of a model, but she was now happy with her curves.

  She grabbed her purse and went back downstairs and into the kitchen.

  "Caroline, I didn't think you were here this morning." She beamed at Tucker's mum who was putting food items into a picnic basket.

  She glanced up at Jo. "You look lovely, dear. You should wear skirts more often; you've been hiding those killer legs."

  Joanna blushed and waved her hand away. "Oh, stop, but thank you." She took a seat at the island.

  "I ran into Tucker on his way out. He said he'd asked you to prepare a lunch for the two of you, but I hope you don't mind that I've taken the liberty to pack it."

  "Not at all, thank you."

  Caroline went to the wine fridge and selected a sparkling bottle of grape juice. She put it into the basket and closed the lid. "There you go, I hope you two have a great afternoon, sweetie."

  A flood of emotions hit Joanna all at once. Tears filled her eyes. Before she could help herself, they spilled down her cheeks and she wasn't able to turn her face away in time. The truth was that Joanna couldn't bear the thought of hurting this kind and wonderful woman - or the rest of the family for that matter.

  "Oh, honey, don't cry." Caroline walked over to Joanna and wrapped her arms around her. "I know this is such an important and happy time in your life…and I'm guessing that you must be missing your mother terribly."

  She had misunderstood Joanna's tears and it only made her cry even harder.

  "Mom? Jo? What's going on?"

  Joanna reluctantly pulled away from Caroline, with a watery smile.

  "Oh, it's nothing, Tucker," she replied, dabbing at her face. "I'm just being overly emotional."

  She looked at Tucker who was wearing a stricken expression, eyes full of concern. He actually looks like he really cares about me? She forced a brighter smile. She exhaled. "Come on, I'm ready whenever you are."

  Tucker took the picnic basket, still looking unsure. "You sure everything is ok?"

  "Positive." Impulsively, she reached up and pecked him on the cheek. He extended his arm out to her. "Let's go."

  Caroline stepped back. "You kids have a great time. I'll see you later on."

  As Joanna moved past Caroline, she reached over, gave Caroline's hand a small squeeze, and dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  "Thank you."

  Chapter 9

  Tucker

  As much as Tucker loved his family, every now and then he needed a break. That's when he headed to his special place. It had started as a project to get his mind off Sarah, but it had become much more.

  Nestled in one of the ranch's foothills was a quaint little wood cabin that he had built from scratch. He didn't know what drove him to show it to Joanna, but when he woke up that morning, he knew that he had to bring her to his sanctuary.

  He didn't want to admit it, but her reaction was very important to him. And when she jumped out of the truck and stared up at the building in awe, his heart fluttered, and an unfamiliar warmth flowed through him.

  "You made this all yourself?" Joanna asked, walking up the porch and standing in the doorway, examining his workmanship.

  "Well, I got my brothers to help me with some of the elements," Tucker said, blushing as he scratched the back of his head. "Some of the beams were too heavy for one person."

  "Tucker," Joanna said, her eyes bright as she looked over at him. "This is incredible."

  Tucker's face split into a grin. He couldn't help but notice that the cabin had never looked better than with her standing in the doorway. Somehow, he knew that it would never be the same without her. The thought hurt him, and he jogged up the stairs to join her.

  "Are you planning on living here someday?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

  "Maybe," he said with a shrug, opening the door and gesturing for her to go first.

  He was most proud of the interior. Everything was made from wood, from the kitchen fittings to the stairs that led up to the rooms.

  "I might move here with my wife one day, you know, so that we have our own space," he said suddenly, the words surprising even him.

  This place was for living in, he realized, but it would always feel empty without Joanna in it. Tucker blinked when the truth dawned on him.

  "It's beautiful," Joanna said, looking away quickly, her voice hoarse.

  Was she feeling it too? This undeniable pull toward each other? He decided to push his luck a little.

  "There's two bedrooms," he explained, taking her hand gently and leading her up the stairs. "I'm still working on it, so I could always build another room… if I have kids."

  Joanna didn't say anything, but she let herself be led through the house. She took her time looking through each room, examining each feature. When they got to the main bedroom, she stood staring out the massive windows that overlooked the ranch. Tucker watched her breathlessly. The way she was looking out the window was almost wistful, and he allowed himself to hope.

  "There's an eddy just a few feet from the cabin that the kids could play in," Tucker said softly.

  "I think they'd like that," she said quietly, running her hand along the wooden walls. "I can almost hear them…"

  The image was as clear as day in Tucker's head. He could hear their children playing outside, their voices high and happy. Joanna would be in the kitchen while he was working on another part of the house. She'd call them all in for a snack, the smell of chocolate chip cookies wafting through the house. In his mind's eye, he saw himself walking up behind her, hugging her, and stealing kisses as they watched the children play.

  "Me too," he whispered when he noticed she was looking up at him with an indecipherable expression. "So, do you think you'll ever have some one day? I mean kids."

  "Oh," Joanna said, blushing and looking away quickly. "I guess so. When I'm settled."
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br />   "I suppose there's no use thinking of having children when you're about to go on a cruise ship," Tucker said. He meant for the words to be a joke, but even to his ears, they sounded forced and sad.

  "No, there isn't," Joanna said, looking down at the floor with a somber expression.

  A heavy silence settled over them and Tucker wished he could take his words back. He racked his brain for something to say, but the moment was over.

  "Should we take a walk outside?" Joanna suggested, already leaving the room.

  "I don't want you to go," Tucker said under his breath to an empty room.

  Joanna

  A few days later, Joanna ventured into the stables. Tucker was away in town, and she was feeling restless. It was a warm, balmy day, the kind that couldn't be spent inside. Besides, she had to get away from all the wedding planning before she drowned in guilt.

  The stables were mostly empty except for the back stall, and Joanna walked over carefully. She was so focused on her task that she didn't hear Mitchell walk in behind her.

  "Joanna?" he asked, his tone tentative.

  She jumped up in surprise, clutching her chest as she whirled around. When she saw Mitchell, she relaxed only slightly. Although she was beginning to feel like part of the family, she still hadn't spent any time with Tucker's quiet brother or his girlfriend, Claire. She hoped she'd get to know them a little better.

  "Oh, Mitchell, sorry," Joanna said, feeling skittish.

  "Don't worry about it," he said kindly. "Tucker said you liked horses. I'm surprised I haven't seen you here before."

  "I've been busy with wedding planning," Joanna said sheepishly. "There's not really time to do anything else. Especially if Rose is involved."

  "You got that right," Mitchell said with an amused snort. "I'm sorry, but all the horses are out being exercised right now. If you let me know earlier, I can arrange something for you."

  "Oh," Joanna said with a little frown. "And who's that over there." She pointed to the stall in the corner.

  "That's Saffron," Mitchell said, busying himself with emptying feed into the separate feeding stations. "She's Tucker's mare. Won't let anyone but Tucker on her. He's got a way with horses."

  Joanna sensed an undercurrent of envy in Mitchell's tone but instinctively knew that it wasn't malicious.

  "He's never as happy as when he is on a horse's back," Mitchell commented. "Well… before you of course."

  Joanna didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet. When Mitchell wasn't looking, she found herself glancing over at Saffron. She realized that Mitchell had gone quiet, and she looked over to see him watching her carefully.

  "Really?" she asked weakly.

  "You've made him happier than I've ever seen him," Mitchell said thoughtfully. "Even Sarah didn't have this effect on him."

  Joanna smiled despite herself and looked away.

  "Thank you," Mitchell said seriously, catching Joanna off-guard. "Please take care of him."

  She felt a lump grow in her throat as she saw how earnestly Mitchell was looking at her and she nodded slowly. She hated to think what they'd think of her when she and Tucker got divorced.

  Her response seemed to satisfy Mitchell. He nodded quickly, then hurried off, leaving Joanna with Saffron. Joanna took the opportunity to carefully approach the horse. Saffron looked up at her cautiously but didn't react. Joanna leaned against the enclosure and studied the horse curiously. She was a beautiful bay mare with dark, soulful eyes.

  "Can I tell you a secret?" Joanna whispered conspiratorially.

  Saffron was chewing on her feed lazily, her tail swatting the wall behind her.

  "I love it here," Joanna continued, leaning her chin against her arm as she watched Saffron. "A part of me wishes this was real. I've never really had a family before. But now I know what it feels like, and I don't want that to go away."

  Saffron regarded her in silence, and Joanna felt compelled to go on.

  "What a mess," Joanna sighed. "It also doesn't help that Tucker's everything I could ever want in a man. He's nothing like what I'm used to. Now let me tell you, my ex is a real piece of work. I thought I knew what love is. I'm starting to realize that I had no idea."

  Saffron let out a soft harumph and Joanna smiled. She reached out her hand and gently touched the mare's head, loving the warm velvety feeling under her fingertips.

  "You won't tell my secret, will you?" Joanna asked, her heart clenching painfully. "The truth is, Saffron, it's going to break my heart when I have to leave this place." Chapter 10

  Tucker:

  "No way, I think Puncher 3 is the better movie," Jackson sputtered, glaring at Joanna.

  "I guess I'd see why you'd say that," Joanna said with a shrug. "Since you're not a real fan at all."

  "How dare you?" Jackson said in disbelief. "Tucker, control your woman!"

  Tucker chuckled and looked over at where Joanna and Jackson were watching him expectantly.

  "I know better than to get in the middle of whatever this is," Tucker said, shaking his head.

  "Coward," Jackson accused, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

  "Don't take it out on your brother," Joanna said, swatting his arm playfully. "If you truly believed what you said then you wouldn't need your brother to step in and defend you."

  It was only a few more days until the wedding, so Caroline sent the three of them to town to get a few last-minute goods. Tucker hoped to get some alone time with Joanna, but Jackson hopped in the truck before he could say anything, and Joanna didn't seem to mind.

  He loved how Joanna fit so perfectly into the family. Besides, if he was alone with her, he couldn't promise that he'd be able to stop himself from blurting out what was in his heart.

  And yet, when he looked over at her, he knew that he had to do something. He couldn't let her get away. A plan was beginning to form in his mind, and when they stopped in town, he knew what he had to do.

  "Jackson, Jo, can you head over to the grocers? I have some business I need to take care of."

  Jackson shrugged and headed toward the store, still debating the finer points of Puncher 3, but Joanna looked over at Tucker curiously. He felt butterflies swarm in his stomach, and before he could stop himself, he dropped a quick kiss on her forehead before walking away.

  When he got to the jeweler's, he looked around to make sure no one was watching. To his relief, the piece he was thinking of was still there. Although Joanna had been insistent on buying the cheapest ring they could find, she hadn't been able to stop her eyes from straying to a pretty ring on display. It was a simple band of white gold with a deep blue sapphire set in a cluster of smaller diamonds.

  "Lucky woman," the cashier said with an impressed nod.

  "If this works, I'll be the luckiest man on earth," he said with a sheepish grin.

  Joanna

  "Are we done?" Jackson asked somewhat petulantly as he laid his head against the headrest.

  "Nearly," Tucker said in amusement, "we just need to stop at Jo's place."

  "Sorry, Jackson," Joanna said, feeling sheepish. "I need to get a few things before I leave after the wedding."

  Her words carried a heavyweight that dragged down the atmosphere around them. Joanna watched Tucker's reaction out of the corner of her eye. Was he pursing his lips because he was disappointed?

  "Here we are," Tucker announced, pulling up outside her old apartment.

  Joanna smiled gratefully at him before looking around for a familiar black van. To her relief, Eric was nowhere to be seen. Not that she had anything to worry about while the Burch brothers were around.

  "Come on," Tucker said, "let's go get your stuff."

  They left Jackson behind to make some calls, and Tucker seemed focused on something else. Joanna tried to make eye contact with him, but every time she did, he looked away with a worried expression. What was going on?

  Her heart jumped to her throat. Was he going to break up with her? Did he realize that he didn't want to disappoint his family
? Had she failed somehow?

  Her hands shook as she tried to put the key in the front door. Before she could turn the key, his gentle hand covered hers. She could feel every callous and scar on his skin, and she wanted to grab hold of his hand and never let go.

  "Joanna," his voice was rough, and she wished she could cover her ears with her hands like a child. "I need to talk to you about something."

  "What is it?" she asked, trying not to sound terrified.

  "I don't…" he swallowed hard and closed his eyes before quickly barreling forward with his words. "I don't want to get divorced."

  "What?" she asked in confusion. The world seemed to disappear around her.

  "I…" he struggled with his words and looked up at her, his eyes full of frustration and hope. "I know you're leaving, but I want to give this… us… a shot. I know it's crazy, and it wasn't part of the deal, but…" he trailed off, searching her face for some kind of answer. All of a sudden, his eyes softened as he made a decision and he put a steady arm around her waist.

  Her breath caught in her throat as his scent overwhelmed her senses and she looked up at him, her vision clouding over slightly.

  "I think this will prove how I feel…" he said softly. He seemed hesitant as he angled his face toward her.

  It was Joanna that closed the gap between them, pushing her lips against his. The kiss started off soft and gentle but quickly grew fiercer as they finally let go of all their doubts. It was the type of kiss that made her toes curl.

  "Wow," he said breathlessly when they finally parted, leaning his forehead against hers.

  She let out a soft sigh. And then reality hit her. This couldn't happen. This wasn't real. Of course, he thought he had feelings for her, they hadn't been apart for a whole month. She was sure that with some distance, he would realize that he could do so much better.

  "I should start packing," she said, pulling herself away from him. It physically hurt, but she knew that she had to save herself from more pain down the road. His eyes clouded with disappointment.