What a Man Needs by Patricia Thayer Page B

Kelly, Forest, Cyndi and Nora were at the Tanner kitchen table talking and laughing while eating Nora’s chicken and rice. After Forest escorted Kelly to her car, she drove back to Portland. Cyndi had gone to her room. He’d come into his office for some quiet, but his sister had cornered him.
    â€œPatrick, are you listening to me?”
    â€œI’m listening. And no, I’m not trying to embarrass you.”
    â€œThen why weren’t you with Cyndi today? She could have been hurt badly.”
    â€œI was with her this morning,” he argued. “I just rode out to check on the herd. I didn’t expect her to clean out stalls, bathe horses and train colts and fillies.” He was still shocked that she’d done so much.
    â€œWhat did you think she would do? Sit around and play spoiled starlet?”
    He stood up. “How the hell should I know? Look, she knew from the start I had a ranch to run.”
    â€œForest and Kevin can do most of the chores. Oh, Patrick, you said you would do this, and I’ve never known you to go back on your word.”
    She blinked as if she were going to cry. Damn. He hated when she pulled that.
    â€œI told her you were the best,” Nora continued. “Please, don’t let me down.”
    Patrick stood, came around the desk and pulled his sister into his arms. “Hey, don’t cry.” He remembered holding his nine-year-old sister after their mother had died. He’d promised her then that he’d always be there for her. That she could count on him. He needed to do this for her. “I won’t let you down, honey.”
    She raised her head. “Then you’ll spend the day with Cyndi tomorrow? Help her ride Daisy?”
    â€œCan I break for lunch?”
    Nora smiled. “I expect you to. Half the time, I don’t think you eat all day. I’m staying here tonight so at least you and Cyndi will have a good breakfast.”
    â€œGood.” He kissed her nose. “I’ve missed your biscuits.”
    â€œThen find yourself a woman who can cook and I won’t worry so much.”
    He didn’t want to get into this old discussion tonight. “You find me a woman who can make biscuits as good as yours, and I’ll consider it.”
    Nora’s pretty blue eyes lit up as she held out her hand. “It’s a deal.”
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    There was a little bruise on her shin. Who would have thought such a small horse could pack such a wallop? It was a good thing she’d had on boots.
    Cyndi sat on her bed. She’d showered and lathered her filthy body twice before she was presentable enough to go down to dinner.
    Now, dressed in a cotton nightgown, she wasn’t going to have any trouble sleeping, especially when she had to be up at dawn.
    She’d nearly forgotten one thing. Cynthia went to the dresser and opened the bottle of NoWait and, as instructed, dabbed some behind each ear. After returning to the bed, she lay back on the pillow and pulled the lightweight blanket over her. A soft breeze was coming through the open window, cooling the room enough to be comfortable. Cynthia tried, but couldn’t erase from her memory Patrick’s panicked look when he’d found her on the ground. There was definite concern showing in his eyes.
    So far she hadn’t been able to forget the fact that just two nights ago he’d made love to her. She closed her eyes, feeling her body grow warm and achy as she recalled Patrick Tanner’s skilled hands against her skin. She shifted restlessly against the cool sheets, but found no satisfaction.
    Cynthia groaned in frustration. What was she doing? The man was off-limits. So she had to quit thinking of him, of their night together. It was one crazy night! Besides, just because Patrick Tanner had wanted her didn’t mean that was a good thing.He didn’t seem to like her. The familiar loneliness washed over her as she thought about her life. Her acting