She shook her head. Was that what was eating him? Why he looked so sullen?
“By the time he got here, you already had Romeo under control. He couldn’t have done much of anything if you hadn’t. Kevin’s a great vet, but there’s no way in hell he could have out-muscled that bull. I know who the real hero is, Zac,” she finished softly. “You risked your life for my animal.”
He stood and faced her, the harsh lines around his mouth relaxing. “Didn’t do it for the bull, I did it for you. Told you I’d be here if you needed me, and I meant it.”
“I wish I knew how to thank you.”
“I could think of lots of ways,” he replied softly. She could imagine a few ways too, but was quick to quash those thoughts. “How ’bout we just say supper when I get back from Laredo?” he suggested.
She swallowed hard, already fearing where this might lead. One thing for certain, if he kept up this kind of campaign, he was going to lay waste to all her well-made plans. She’d become dangerously attracted to Zac McDaniel. She wondered if she’d be wise to make a polite excuse. She opened her mouth to do just that, but what could she say without appearing ungrateful or rude? She took a breath and replied. “Yes, Zac, I’d like that.”
“Great,” he replied with a terse nod. “Call you when I get back.”
Delaney prayed that if she could keep things light and impersonal, maybe she could get through it unscathed.
CHAPTER SIX
Delaney constantly occupied Zac’s thoughts on the eight-hour drive to Laredo. His gut knotted at what easily could have happened to her out there alone with her bulls on a thousand-acre pasture. What if she hadn’t called him? Eight years of independence had made her strong and self-reliant, but also willful to a fault. Thankfully, she’d turned to him in her need. Did that mean something? Was he starting to gain her trust?
Although he was reluctant to leave her so soon after that incident, he hoped the time apart might work in his favor. He hated this waiting game after he’d laid it all out on the line, but there was no rushing her decision. He respected that too. She desired a baby and he desired her, so he’d offered his services to give her one. Seemed like a simple enough plan when he’d presented it, but so was riding a bull—until you actually got on one of the sons of bitches.
Nothing was simple or easy about Delaney. She was so damned contrary it made his head spin. And what was up with that vet anyway? He’d never felt insecure about a woman before and sure as hell didn’t like the idea of competition. The buzz of his phone jarred him from his thoughts. A glance at caller ID told him it was Ty.
“Hey, pardner!” Zac answered. “Was wonderin’ when I’d hear from you.”
“I could say the same,” Ty replied dryly. “You’ve been in Oklahoma three weeks and I haven’t heard shit from you. Had to call just to make sure you hadn’t slit your throat from boredom.”
“Boredom? I’m too fucking busy to be bored. I’m running a ranch if you recall.”
“Hell, I figured it would be more of a vacay for you,” Ty said. “You’ve got a whole crew to do your grunt work.”
“Maybe so,” Zac said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit around with my thumbs up my ass. ’Sides, I actually like ranch work.”
“That’s where you and me differ,” Ty said. “I’ll be happy if I never see another post hole digger or roll of barbed wire.”
“Funny you should mention that,” Zac said. “I had a nasty run-in with some of that just yesterday.”
“Barbed wire?” Ty asked.
“Yeah. One of Delaney’s bulls hooked some wire while she was fixing fence. He got all tangled in it and I got a little cut up wrestling him down.”
“No shit? You took down a bull all by yourself?”
“Someone had to do it,” Zac replied. “But I’m not gonna make a fish story outta this. He wasn’t full grown. Only about eight hundred pounds.”
“Sorry you got pulled into her mess,” Ty said. “Cows are one thing, but that woman has no business messing with bulls.”
“Can’t say I agree with you, Ty. She knows her stuff. You should be proud of her.”
Ty snorted. “Are you for real?”
“Yeah. I’m for real. We need to talk, Ty.”
“’Bout Delaney or her bulls?”
“Both actually.”
“She giving you shit?” Ty asked.
“No. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what’s on your mind?”
“I offered to be her baby daddy.” A long silence followed. “You still there, Ty?”
“I’m here,” he answered slowly. “Just shocked speechless. Damn, Zac, when I made that suggestion to you, I was just joking. Why the hell would you—”
“That’s what we need to talk about. Are you coming down here or do I need to drive up there?”
“Your timing really sucks, Zac. I was just calling to tell you I’m going away for a while—out of the country to be exact.”
“Out of the country? Are you a fugitive or something?” Zac asked.