Liana yawned as she finished sweeping up the remnants of her client's hair scattered across the floor. It was ten-thirty, and Jenny had just arrived for her morning manicure clients. Normally Jenny's bubbly, happy personality brightened  the salon, but this morning, it was blinding.

"I am making you another coffee," Jenny admonished the moment she'd looked into Liana's bloodshot eyes, and bustled to the back before she could tell her not to. It would be useless. She'd already had more than her normal two. Caffeine wasn't the answer.

Sleep was.

Liana had—as she'd told Tanner she would—spent the night at her salon. This included tidying the supply closet, re-organizing the dye shelf, and then attempting to sleep on the lumpy plaid couch in her overstuffed office.

Where she proceeded to replay the evening in crystal clarity. Going over and over what happened after she found Tanner by his truck. She could still feel the warmth of his arms around her. More than a decade had passed since they'd held each other, and when the hard planes of his chest had met her cheek, it was as if a day hadn't gone by. He was taller, and certainly had more muscle than he did at eighteen, but...

His heartbeat had sounded exactly the same.

That heartbeat had echoed in her head, and she tossed on the damned couch until she couldn't take it anymore. She finally got up around five, and puttered more, preparing for the day's clients, Windexing the mirrors, dusting her Monstera plant in the corner. That plant was going to take over the salon if she wasn't careful. All from a tiny cutting Caitlin had given her when they'd met.

Jenny plunked herself in a chair, handed Liana a steaming mug, and gestured at her. "You. Spill."

Jenny had obviously checked her friend feed this morning. Everyone was talking about the fight, posting their fuzzy phone pictures. Everyone had exclaimed that Tanner put Dermott in his place, and then some.

"Spill what?" Liana asked and leaned the broom on the wall, set the coffee aside and crossed her arms. If she didn't answer her questions now, Jenny would be relentless, and she'd rather discuss it without clients in her shop. But what Jenny wanted her to say, she wasn't sure.

Jenny squared her dark-brown eyes on her and shook her finger. "You didn't tell me you were dating Dermott Nelson!"

"Not dating, we went on two dates. Believe me, there will not be a third."

"Why not? He's ruggedly handsome, has money—I think—a nice spread outside town, security.... Oozes that bad-boy asshole gene that women just swoon for, what's not to love?"

"I didn't get the memo about the asshole part, or maybe I did and was blinded by his biceps?" Liana groaned. That was a better explanation than she was lonely and he'd simply asked.

Jenny laughed and leapt out of the chair. All five foot one of her bounded over and grabbed Liana around the waist and hugged. "I'm sorry he was true to his nature. Someday he'll find a woman that will set him straight. Maybe... Oh hell. Likely not. He'll end up going to Vegas with some buddies and marry a cocktail waitress wearing a giant wig with three kids she'll drag back up here to live on his ranch and they'll be unhappy ever after!"

"You are ridiculous," Liana replied, but laughed as well and hugged her back. It felt good to make fun of the situation. But... Jenny had not asked the question Liana knew she was dying to ask.

"Out with it you pint sized drama queen," she added after Jenny let her go and picked up her coffee, slurping loudly while eyeballing Liana expectantly.

"So the reason there was a fist-fight between Dermott and a certain Tanner West is because..."

She may as well be truthful. Jenny was sweet, and she liked to gossip—most folks who worked in the beauty industry did—but Jenny was never malicious about it. Her parents also ran the diner, and heard and saw it all in town. She'd have to steer clear for a few days until something new caught everyone's attention.

"Dermott, ahh... wouldn't take no for an answer last night and Tanner, he—"

Jenny's face fell. "Oh no, did Dermott push himself onto you? How awful! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I kneed him in the junk, but he has balls of bronze or something. He came at me madder than a wet cat, and Tanner yanked him off of me before things got worse."

"Well thank God for that. Not the first time I've heard he's been a little too handsy," she said, and her trademark no-nonsense hum came from the back of her throat to punctuate her statement.

"Handsy? He was more like sloppy drunk and looking to score. Crowded me up against the railing, tried to kiss me, then held me down when I wouldn't cooperate," Liana replied.

"He's a big guy, that must've been scary," Jenny said.

"It was, but I was more embarrassed once he and Tanner started fighting. Dermott staggering around telling him to go find his own woman. Tanner only had to hit him twice to stop the show," Liana admitted, and covered her face with her hands. "Are people talking about me?"

"Well, just that Tanner waded in on you and Dermott out on the patio. But honestly, more people were talking about how Tanner laid him out like it was nothing and looked damned good doing it. Lots of thirsty women in this town, I tell you," Jenny laughed.

"Oh. Great. I suppose that's good," Liana muttered, and picked up the broom again to give her hands something to do. He had looked damned good, his big shoulders flexing, muscular frame moving with smooth practice. He was strong and capable—always had been—but having grown into himself, it affected her. Her hands tightened on the broom.

Jenny ran her bright neon pink french manicure through her spiky dark black pixie haircut and sighed. "There's well-known history there, between Dermott and Tanner. Brady too," she mused. "It was a long time ago, but it left a lasting impression, I think."

Liana had been wondering why Dermott had such a bee up his butt about Tanner, outbidding him for the bull he didn't need, and for once, she wasn't in the know why. Next time she was out to visit Caitlin, she was going to ask Brady about it. Might help understand why Tanner seemed irrationally angry when he swung at him.

"Yeah. I saw a bit of that at the auction earlier. That was where Dermott took me yesterday."

"Ooh, the aroma of cattle and ranchers... Soooo romantic," Jenny snarked, and they both laughed.

"Terribly. He bought a bull. Its registered name is 'Lazy Eye' but apparently the former owners nicknamed it Asshole."

"Apt name considering who bought it," Jenny snorted and took another sip of her coffee. She waved her hands and then got serious again. "Anyways, back to last night. Someone saw Tanner leaving here around midnight, the lights blazing inside and you standing at the door."

Liana groaned and sunk into the couch along one side of the room, sweeping forgotten. Great. Someone saw that. That hadn't been online, no one had messaged her. But soon enough, it would be.

"He hurt his hand. I cleaned him up and sent him home."

"With a goodnight kiss?" Jenny asked hopefully.

Liana stared at the ceiling. She did not want to contemplate what would have happened if she had given into the urge to lock lips with him when he'd held her.

"No, dammit. We barely speak to each other normally. It was fucking awkward, but I sort of needed to help him somehow. He did get me out of a stupid situation."

Jenny made her noise again. Liana looked over at her. "Jenny—" she warned.

"Okay, okay, I believe you! Such a shame. He deserved a reward for being your knight in shining armour! But I suppose it would be hard, considering."

Liana sighed and closed her eyes. Yeah. Considering.

A tinkle above the door announced what was likely Jenny's eleven o'clock arriving early, and she got up, pasted on a warm smile. Caitlin, in her scrubs, with a bright green thermos in her hand stepped through the door instead. She looked worried, biting her lip as she strode over.

"Liana," she said, thrusting the thermos into her hands. "Jake made you his Blue Mountain coffee this morning and says come out for dinner and if you need anything just call."

Liana stared down at the thermos, the warmth from the metal seeping through into her hands. Caitlin had blurted that out in one breath, which meant she was nervous about something.

"Why? Also, what's up?"

"Tanner sort of asked me to check in on you before I headed into work. I looked at his hand first thing, and he told me you needed me but didn't tell me why. I heard about the fight at Catalina's, but—"

Tears formed and spilled from Liana's eyes before she could stop them, and she brushed one away as it fell. She didn't need this right now, but the relief of her best friend standing in front of her dragged all the stress and tension up to the surface. Caitlin tsked and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh honey. Let's talk. I have an hour before my shift," Caitlin whispered in her ear. "You're a mess."

"We can sit in my office," Liana nodded as Jenny's actual appointment came through the door.

"Jenny, can you check your client in and keep an eye on the front?" Liana asked. "I—"

"Of course. Woman, you gotta let it out so you can let it go," Jenny quipped. "When's your next appointment?"

"Noon."

"Go, I got you," Jenny said, and shooed her with her hands as she rushed to greet the woman who was curiously eyeing Liana and Caitlin.

Caitlin hooked her arm in Liana's. "Come on. Peony snuck a little bottle of Bailey's in my purse for your coffee. A good idea?"

"God yes," Liana said, pulling her towards the back, away from prying eyes.

-----

Tanner dropped his gloves in a basket in the mud room and flexed his hand under the bandage Caitlin had plastered across his gash. All morning he had been driving the old Massey Ferguson tractor to deliver feed and hay into the pens, reaching to shift with his left hand, which pissed him off. He'd snapped at Kevin and Bobby already and the crew had been silent, scattering the moment the day's work briefing was done.

Brady had pushed him to go in for lunch and take a break, saying he'd handle his stuff for the afternoon. He'd also looked him straight in the eye and said "You're being a fucking dick, and given how tired you look, go away."

So he did, an idea of a mid-afternoon nap popping into his head. He hated napping when shit needed to be done, but he'd barely slept last night, thinking about what had happened with Liana. From being so damned mad at Dermott for how he treated her, to holding her in his arms and being absolutely rattled after the fact with how it felt.

He had no right to act on how he felt, not now, not ever. She wasn't his, and never would be again, she'd made that clear a long time ago. All the way home, the choice he'd made the night of his mother's funeral reared its ugly head, shaming him like it always did when he thought of her.

Which was too often in the past year.

Even now, standing in the mudroom at the back of the house, the highlight reel of that night all those years ago poked his nerves, pestering him with all the shit he had tried for so long to get past.

"Dammit," he groaned and levered off his boots, throwing them towards the tray. They hit the wall and tumbled over. He didn't even care right now, he was that tired and wrung out. He slowly folded out of his winter overalls, hanging them from a well-polished peg along the wall and sagged forward, leaning his head along the soft cushion of overcoats and winter clothing. He just wanted to stop thinking for a bit. Just a little bit.

"You gonna pass out there or come in and at least get warm?"

Jake poked his head around the doorframe. As usual, he was prepping lunch for the crew before he spent his afternoons out in the barn office taking care of the neverending business of ranch paperwork.

Tanner glared at his older brother and wearily waved him away, Jake chuckling as he disappeared back into the kitchen. With a groan, he levered off the wall and followed him. Peony was sitting at the island, a steaming coffee in front of her, her meal planner book open.

She took one look at Tanner and pointed to the back TV room. "Go lie down. I'll bring you some lunch in a minute. Coffee too?"

"Get it myself," Tanner muttered, not wanting to be fussed over.

Jake handed him a bowl with steaming stew in it. "Chicken Barley. Will stick to your ribs. Cold today."

"Thanks," Tanner managed as he fished for a spoon in the cutlery drawer. He stirred the stew and leaned against the counter. Peony was still eyeballing him.

"What is it," he clipped.

"Your brother informed me this morning that you were in a fight last night at Catalina's."

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. Jake raised an eyebrow at him.

"You knew that was coming," Jake muttered at him, then cleared his throat and winked at Peony. "For what it's worth, I'm glad. Nelson deserved it."

"Now Jake, don't encourage him. But I agree. For Liana's sake, pulling him away and teaching him a lesson—not that he'll learn anything, he's as dumb as a post—was the right call. How is your hand?"

"It's fine," Tanner said noncommittally and tried some of his lunch. It was perfect, as always. His brother could not make anything terrible, damn him. It irked him that Jake was able to do so many different things effortlessly. He'd taken to riding like he was born to it, had a head that could figure out any accounting issue. But, in all that he was thankful for what he brought to the table, literally. Everyone, including the crew, ate very well at this ranch.

"I sent Caitlin in with a thermos of coffee to check on her," Jake added. "She was really worried after you told her Liana needed her."

"I didn't mean to worry her," Tanner said. He hadn't told her all of it on purpose, not wanting to upset her completely. But he did mention something because he was desperate to make sure Liana had a friend to lean on. When he left her last night, she was pushing it all deep inside of herself, shutting everyone away to take care of it on her own.

The idea that other men in her life had treated her like Dermott had last night still stung, and he took a deep breath and shovelled in more food to stop himself from hurling the spoon across the kitchen at that thought. He had never, ever made her do anything she didn't want to when they were together. Christ, she'd been the instigator most of the time.

"She'll be fine. Liana is made of tough stuff," Peony said, and flipped a page in her planner. "I suspect it may not be the last we hear from Dermott. You prepared to wrestle that bull when he comes calling?"

He gave up trying to scoop his stew and tipped it into his mouth directly from the bowl as quickly as possible. He didn't want to answer that question. In his head he already knew if he had to have another go-around with Dermott, he wouldn't stop at a couple of punches. But Peony was right. He had to be ready for retaliation, if it came.

"Any bull can be roped and snubbed to a post, can't it?" he clipped, set the bowl and spoon in the sink, nodded to Jake, and left the kitchen before they could talk about it any more.

He closed the doors on his room with a soft click, and groaned as he sat down on the edge of his bed. The comforter and sheets were twisted, proof he'd tossed and turned all night, and he took a moment to straighten them out. His entire body was protesting the lack of sleep, and with the soft confines of his bed beckoning, it was too much to resist.

He peeled off his thermal shirt, and shucked his jeans before sliding in. When was the last time he took an afternoon off on a day that he wasn't scheduled? He thought about it, and realized it was Jake and Liz's wedding.

Last summer.

As he closed his eyes, images of Liana at the wedding floated in. Wearing that tight sexy green dress, laughing at something Brady had said, her head thrown back, her hair floating all around her. She had been absolutely stunning that day, and even after a couple of drinks, he'd not drawn up the courage to talk to her once for the entire reception. She'd danced most of the night with Jake's friend Gordon, anyway.

As he drifted off, he attempted to push all thoughts of Liana away, thinking about the things he needed to do for work. He had to get her out of his head.