Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson

just like back in high school. That was one good reason he’d never teach riding or roping. Teachers had always made him twitch too much to ever want to be one himself.
    Then again, he’d never had a teacher who looked like Janie, or who was nearly as sexy as she was.
    He was just hanging up the bit and bridle when he heard the sounds of the women talking. Janie’s voice filtered to him from outside. “You sure you don’t want to stay? I made homemade macaroni and cheese and short ribs.”
    Tyler’s attention was piqued at the mention of Janie’s home cooking. After flipping the fleece saddle pad over a rack, he turned for the doorway. Ignoring the twinge in his ankle and the ache in his back from being thrown by the stallion at Rohn’s, he walked out of the tack room and into the glare of the sun. Leaning against the wooden post supporting the overhang above him, he crossed his arms and watched the scene with interest.
    “Thanks, but I’m sure. We gotta get home. Say thank you for your lesson,” Rene instructed her daughter.
    “Thank you, Aunt Janie.”
    “You’re very welcome.” Janie’s smile for the little girl emitted a warmth he wished were for him.
    “Bye, Tyler.” Khriste turned to him and waved so fast her little hand looked like hummingbird wings.
    He laughed at her enthusiasm. “Bye, Khriste. Thanks for helping me with Bella.”
    “You’re welcome. See ya.”
    “See ya.” He nodded.
    As her friends got into their car, Janie turned back toward Tyler. “You’re good with children.”
    “I’d better be good with kids. We’ve got a new little one who just joined my family.”
    “Oh.” She frowned. “Um, I didn’t realize you had a baby . . . or that you were married.”
    He laughed. “God, no. Not me. It’s my brother’s wife’s sister who had the baby. I still haven’t figured out exactly how or even if we’re technically related, but in any case, I figure the little rug rat’s gonna be visiting a lot, so . . .”
    She smiled and frowned at the same time. “I’m not sure, either. I guess you can be an honorary uncle. Kind of like I’m an honorary aunt to Khriste.”
    “Well, that looks like a pretty good gig. I won’t mind being that one bit.” He couldn’t help but notice she’d looked pretty shocked when she’d thought he was married, just like she looked pretty damn happy now she knew he wasn’t. That encouragement was all it took for him to ask, “So, you going to invite me for supper or what?”
    Janie’s brows rose high. “Yes, as a matter of fact I was . . . if you’d given me a chance.”
    “A man can’t take any chances when it comes to home-cooked mac and cheese and short ribs. I didn’t want to risk it.” Tyler grinned. “So, what time you planning on eating?”
    “What time would you like to eat?” There was a smirk on her face that belied the mocking in her tone.
    “Well, I was hoping to get a bit of work in on the machine before, if that’s all right.”
    “Of course it’s all right. You’re doing me a favor. How much time do you need?”
    A solid week alone with her wouldn’t be enough to quench his thirst, but they were talking about her machinery, so he shrugged. “An hour, I guess. Maybe an hour and a half.”
    “Okay. You got it.” She dropped her gaze down his body before bringing it back to his eyes. “You can wash up inside the house when you’re done, if you like.”
    Janie was checking him out. At least, he sure hoped she was because there was nothing he’d like better than for this woman to be attracted to him the way he was attracted to her.
    “I’ll do that. Thank you.”
    “Sure.” She hesitated almost as if she wanted to say more, or was thinking about it. “Um, I guess I’ll let you get to work. I’ll be inside, if you need me.”
    “All right.” He nodded and finally she turned and headed for the house.
    Smiling, Tyler folded his arms and leaned back against the post. His gaze dropped to the sway of her hips