Page 31 of Disarming The Rancher

“I have no doubt you can take of yourself and probably everyone else around you.” He meant every word. “I just don’t think you should always have to.”

She blew out a breath.

“I love these guys. So, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I feel like their mother and I don’t even want kids.” Her comment surprised him.

He decided not to comment. When he really thought about it, her lifestyle of being on the road or in the studio wouldn’t give her a whole lot of time for anything else.

“We live in small quarters, on the same bus, together almost three hundred and sixty-five days a year,” she said.

“You don’t take any time off from touring?”

“Kind of, but I’m making music so it’s not really time off so to speak,” she said. He must’ve shot some look at her because she added, “Do you take vacations from the ranch?”

“I’ll take that as a no,” he said, smiling. “But I’ll add that when you love what you do it’s not called work.”

“Oh, yeah? What do you call it then?” she asked.

“Passion,” he said and then realized the trap he’d walked himself into.

“Exactly.” A self-satisfied smirk crossed her features.

“You don’t have to gloat,” he teased, thinking he might need to have a one-on-one conversation with Hotshot at some point if the guy didn’t get the message.

“But you walked yourself right into that one.” Her laughter was all the music he needed. And yet, when she started strumming the guitar and belting out one of her songs, he realized how wrong he was for a second time tonight.

One thing was certain, someone with a talent like hers needed to share it with as many folks as possible. She had a rare gift.

All he could do at this point, was lean back and enjoy it.

“What time is it?”

“Ten o’clock.” It was long past dark before Brax realized how long he’d been in the loft with Raleigh. He could listen to her all day.

“Oh, wow.” She shook her head. “Sorry for keeping you up here so long.”

“Are you kidding me? I just had hours and hours of a private concert with the one and only Raleigh Perry. I should be thanking you,” he said with a wink.

She shook her head and smiled.

“Sometimes, like tonight, I just get lost in the music,” she admitted.

“Was that new?” he asked.

“Just made it up tonight.” She caught his gaze. “I was inspired.”

She set the guitar down and stretched out her arms.

“It was incredible.” He couldn’t hold back the admiration. Her talent was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. She was beyond anyone he’d ever known. And he needed to stop himself right there before he went all ‘fan boy’ on her. Suffice it to say, his respect for her grew leaps and bounds after spending time with her.

“It’s been a hot minute since that’s happened,” she said, and then looked around. “Being here brings out the best in me.”

“I don’t know. That was pretty awful when I really think about it.” He couldn’t help but tease her.

She crawled over on her knees just to tap him on the shoulder. “That’s not fair. I’d never call you a bad cattle rancher,” she said.

“How would you know one way or the other?”

She sat back on her heels and made a face at him. Then her hands came up in the surrender position. “You got me there.”