What a Man Needs by Patricia Thayer Read Free Book Online Page B

friend and business partner. “That should make you happy since you’re in this venture, too.”
    â€œI’ll always be your friend first, whether we’re in the wine business or not. You can tell me to stay out of it but something is going on between you and Cyndi.”
    â€œIt’s past tense. Something did happen between us, but that’s over. This is business. All the money from Ms. Reynolds’s riding lessons will be put into the vineyard.”
    Patrick had known Forest Rawlins for the past eight years. He’d come to the ranch looking for work right after the second-worst time in Patrick’s life. Gwen had run off with nearly everything. It wasn’t until later that he’d discovered that Forest had an MBA in business, but had gotten fed up with the corporate life. Forest had just picked up and walked away from everything. But when hecame to the Tanner Ranch, he’d also brought enough knowledge to help Patrick save the place.
    He resided in the small foreman’s cottage and was paid a reasonable salary, and Forest claimed he’d never been so content. Now they were starting a partnership in the wine business. Patrick hoped in a few years they would be producing grapes.
    â€œLet’s go check our vines.” Patrick kicked his horse’s sides and rode off, refusing to answer any more questions.
    As he rode along he tried to concentrate on the calming scenery: the rich green hues of the valley, the high blue sky, the bank of white clouds just hiding the tips of the Cascade Mountain Range. He walked Ace along the trail, through the giant pines, and felt a deep pride at being a part of this land. Tanner land. His chest tightened as he came to a clearing and looked down at the ten acres of row after perfect row of rootstock vines that he and Forest had planted last spring.
    This was the beginning of his dream.
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    Cynthia wasn’t going to sit around the rest of the day. After she put the plates and glasses into the dishwasher, she returned to the barn. Bravernow, she went to check out the other Tanner Ranch residents and discovered she wasn’t alone.
    A tall, lanky teenage boy came out of one of the stalls carrying a bucket. “You must be Cyndi,” he said.
    â€œYes, I am.” Once again she was glad that she hadn’t been recognized.
    â€œYou work here?” she asked. Patrick hadn’t told her about any other employees.
    â€œI’m Kevin Northbrook.” He set the bucket down and tipped his hat, revealing short blond hair. “I help out some, mostly because it pays to board my horse. Patrick is cool. When my dad wanted to sell Ranger, Patrick said I could keep him here as long as I help out to pay for feed. So I come by as often as I can.” He stepped back to the stall gate and a brown horse with a black mane came to him. “This is Ranger. Ranger, meet Cyndi.”
    The horse’s head bobbed and Cynthia smiled. The boy held Ranger still while she petted him. The horse blew air out of his nostrils and Cyndi almost pulled away, but stood her ground.
    Kevin smiled. “He likes you.”
    â€œI have to admit, I’m a little afraid of horses, but Patrick is helping me get through it.”
    â€œI know. He told me you were staying here fora little while and I wasn’t to tell anybody because you were up for a movie role and needed to know how to ride a horse.”
    Cynthia was a little surprised that Patrick would confide in this boy. “You know who I am?”
    â€œOf course.” He smiled. “Who wouldn’t recognize Cynthia Reynolds? You’ve been in about a gazillion movies. My mom loves you.”
    She bit back a groan. Great! His mother loves me.
    â€œIt’s nice to know that I have fans. But I’d appreciate it if you kept it quiet. I don’t want the media discovering I’m here.”
    â€œDon’t worry, it’s cool. I can keep a secret. I haven’t even