Having Sassy close to him felt far too good, and before Jett could stop himself, he slid his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close against him.

She didn’t resist. Instead, her body settled against his as though it had found a perfect niche. Encouraged by her reaction, he said, “I’d like to change that for you, Sassy.”

Her head tilted backward, allowing her gaze to connect with his. “How? You can’t change the course of my life.”

“You might be surprised about that.”

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Jett, I think—”

Her words suddenly halted as his thumb and forefinger wrapped around her chin. “You probably won’t understand this, Sassy, but I’m very glad that you’re here.”

“How can you be?” she asked, her voice little more than a breathy whisper. “You didn’t ask for all this trouble.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re just the kind of trouble I need.”

* * *

Men of the West:

Men of the West: Whether ranchers or lawmen, these heartbreakers can ride, shoot—and drive a woman crazy …

The Baby Truth
Stella Bagwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

STELLA BAGWELL has written more than seventy novels for Mills & Boon. She credits her loyal readers and hopes her stories have brightened their lives in some small way. A cowgirl through and through, she loves to watch old Westerns, and has recently learned how to rope a steer. Her days begin and end helping her husband care for a beloved herd of horses on their little ranch located on the south Texas coast. When she’s not ropin’ and ridin’, you’ll find her at her desk, creating her next tale of love. The couple has a son, who is a high school math teacher and athletic coach. Stella loves to hear from readers and invites them to contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com.

To Jason and Karen,

with lots of love.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

Chapter One

“Pregnant! But that can’t be!”

Sassy Matthews stared in disbelief at the doctor standing at the side of the examination table. If the roof over her head had suddenly crashed in, she couldn’t have been more shocked.

The doctor gave her a kindly smile. “Why not? You’re a young, healthy woman.”

Sassy’s mouth flopped open. “But that happened more than two months ago! And we used protection.”

“I’d say two months or a little more is just about right. And no method is foolproof. You did say you’re not using oral birth control?”

Birth control! Sassy had never needed it. Then she’d gotten to know Barry and spent one impulsive night with him. Now a baby was coming. It was too much to comprehend.

“No. I’m not. I didn’t. But, doctor, I’ve not missed my period. How—”

“Occasionally that happens in the early months. If you continue to experience them, let your obstetrician know. In the meantime, I want you to take these vitamins until you get back home to New Mexico and see your regular physician.” He handed her a small square of paper. “You can purchase them at a nearby pharmacy. I’ll send a nurse in to help you dress and she’ll give you some information regarding diet and nutrition. Think you can stand now without fainting again?”

With a dazed nod, she said, “Yes. Thank you, doctor. I’ll be fine.”

As the physician left the curtained cubicle, it took all the strength she could summon to keep from dropping her face in her hands and sobbing. Thank God he’d not asked about the baby’s father. Telling him about Barry’s death would have broken what little composure she was clinging to.

A few minutes later, her purse stuffed with prenatal care pamphlets, she walked into a large waiting area filled with people, most of whom were sitting on stuffed couches and armchairs. As her gaze swept over the scene, she caught sight of the man who’d been waiting for her.

He was standing near the double-door entrance, his shoulder resting against a wooden pillar. A gray cowboy hat dangled from one hand while a cell phone was jammed to his ear. No doubt explaining to someone that he was delayed at the hospital because of a dizzy redhead.

Oh, my, what must he be thinking? Sassy forced herself to move in his direction. He was the Calhoun family lawyer, and he’d met her nearly two hours ago when the small plane the Cantrells had chartered for her landed at the Carson City, Nevada, airport—and after five minutes of conversation she’d fallen into his arms in a dead faint. He’d rushed her to the nearest hospital and had been waiting for her ever since.

Spotting her approach, Jett Sundell immediately pushed himself away from the pillar. As he strode toward her, Sassy’s heart suddenly kicked into a seriously high gear. His tall, lean frame was covered with worn blue jeans and a short denim jacket. A brown-and-white patterned kerchief was tied around his neck, and the square toes of his cowboy boots were scuffed and worn to a buttery brown. She guessed his age to be somewhere in his early thirties; his complexion was a leathery tan while his thick hair appeared to be a shade shy of black. He looked nothing like a lawyer and everything like a cowboy who made his living in the saddle.

At the moment, a smile was tugging at the corners of his chiseled lips, and in spite of the news the doctor had just given her, she found herself smiling back at him.

“I see you’ve recovered,” he said in the same low, graveled tone of voice she remembered from their short conversation at the airport. “I hope the fainting spell was nothing serious.”

She was going to have a baby and the father would never be around to be a part of the child’s life. That was serious. And, unfortunately, a fact that couldn’t be changed.

Trying to keep a positive smile on her face, she shook her head. “Nothing life threatening. I’m fine.”

“Good. Then let’s get out of this place. I’m not exactly fond of hospital emergency rooms.” Taking her by the elbow, he urged her toward the exit doors, and as they moved forward she was acutely aware of the strength of his hand, the nearness of his big frame. At least she’d had the good sense to faint in front of a man with enough muscle to save her from a nasty fall, she thought.

“I parked the truck not far from the entrance,” he informed her. “But if you’re still feeling shaky, I’ll pick you up beneath the portico.”

She hadn’t asked Jett Sundell to meet her at the airport. But when she’d informed him that she’d be arriving today, he’d insisted on meeting her plane and driving her to the hotel. He’d offered because he represented the Calhoun family, the people she’d come to Nevada to meet. She’d never intended to cause him so much inconvenience.

“No need for that. I can make the walk,” she told him. “And I apologize, Mr. Sundell, for putting you through all this.”

“Call me Jett. And as for the fainting—forget it. I always wondered what it was like for Roy Rogers or Gene Autry when the damsel in distress fainted in their arms,” he said with a grin. “Now I know.”

For the past three months her life had been a whirl of grief, shock and confusion. By mere chance, she’d learned she was adopted. Then the man she was beginning to truly care for had been tragically killed. The combined trauma had left her in such a fog she’d not noticed anything going on around her. But now Jett Sundell’s presence was penetrating that daze, making it very hard for Sassy to ignore him.

Working on the Chaparral, a huge cattle ranch down in New Mexico that was owned by the Cantrell family, she’d seen plenty of tough, rugged men. But there was something about this man that set him apart and demanded way too much of her attention. Especially when she needed to focus on the news she’d just been handed by the doctor.

Outside the building, the afternoon sun was bright in a cloudless sky. A faint wind was blowing from the west, where a tall ridge of mountains towered over the city. Sassy had worn a light green coat over her dress, and the extra clothing felt good against the brisk January air.

When they reached a black pickup truck with a brand of J Bar S emblazoned on the door, he helped her into the passenger seat. Sassy supposed it was the same vehicle he’d placed her in after she’d fainted, but she couldn’t remember their trip to the hospital. One minute she and Jett had been talking in the airport, and the next thing she’d known she was in a curtained cubicle with a nurse standing over her. And now she felt very grateful to this man. Even bonded to him, in some weird way.

Sucking in a deep breath, she watched him settle his tall frame behind the steering wheel. She had to speak up now, she thought, otherwise it was going to make things even worse.

“Mr. Sundell—I mean, Jett—before we go any further, we need to talk.”

Instead of jamming the key into the ignition, he squared around in the seat so that he was facing her, and Sassy’s attention was immediately captured by his craggy features. The grin on his face was causing a dent in his left cheek and his dark brown eyes were studying her in a way that gave her the impression he was enjoying the moment. Which didn’t make sense. No normal man wanted to deal with an emotional female.

“Okay,” he said. “Fire away. I have plenty of time if you do.”

Feeling a blush sting her cheeks, she glanced away. Before now, talking one-on-one to a man had never been difficult for Sassy. But what she had to say was so personal, and Jett was such a rugged, masculine man.

“This isn’t easy and I don’t even know how to say it. But I think I should cancel the meeting with the Calhouns.”

As soon as she spoke the words, a look of comical confusion spread over his face. “Cancel! Are you kidding me? After flying all the way out here?”

“I’m sorry,” she said feebly. “I realize you’ve gone to so much trouble—first to meet me at the airport and then this whole hospital thing. I feel awful about wasting your time.”

“I’ve had trouble before, Ms. Matthews. And you’re not trouble. At least, not yet. But I do think I deserve an explanation.”

Thrusting a hand into her tumbled red hair, she shoved it back from her face while trying to force her breathing to an even pace. “You have to be thinking I must be the silliest woman you’ve ever encountered. But everything has suddenly changed.”

“Sudden is an understatement, Ms. Matthews. Two weeks ago, when we talked on the phone, you were champing at the bit to meet the Calhouns. And hardly more than an hour ago at the airport you were gung-ho to see them. I don’t get any of this. I thought seeing the Calhouns, Finn in particular, was important to you.”

No doubt about it, she was looking worse than an idiot right now, Sassy thought. “I’m Sassy to you, not Ms. Matthews. And let me assure you that everything about coming here to Nevada was—is important to me.”

The square corners of his mouth twisted to a skeptical slant. “Why? Because you believe there’s a million-to-one chance the Calhouns might somehow be connected to your biological parents?”

She shot him an annoyed look. She’d already explained to this man why she was here. Why was he questioning her again? Especially now that she wanted to leave? “You sound just like a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer,” he reminded her.

And she couldn’t let herself forget it, Sassy thought. Instead of seeing him as a sexy cowboy with feelings, she needed to remember that he represented the Calhoun family. Everything she told this man would most likely be repeated to them.

“Well, since you feel the need to cross-examine me, I don’t mind answering. Although I don’t understand the need. We discussed all this before I came out here. Or have you forgotten?”

The sardonic grunt he made brought her gaze back around to him.

Sassy had a spirited nature that matched her red hair. Any other time she wouldn’t have hesitated to spit fire back at this man. But learning she was pregnant must have done something to her. Instead of using fighting words, she was fighting back tears.

“I agree it sounds a little far-fetched. At first I didn’t give Barry’s suggestion a second thought. Just because he thought I looked like a friend of his, this Finn Calhoun from the Silver Horn Ranch— Well, it was amusing. We both laughed about it. Then Barry invited me to join him in Canada for a few days where he was going to be competing in a rodeo. I needed a passport to travel there and—”

“In order to obtain one, you had to have a certified birth certificate,” he finished for her. “I recall you explaining all of that. But hadn’t you seen your birth certificate before? And didn’t you have family who would have said something?”

She let out a pent-up breath. She’d been in such a daze these past few weeks, she couldn’t remember exactly what information she’d given to this man. “If my late grandparents knew about the adoption, they never told me. I don’t have any other close relatives that might have known the truth. As for the certificate, all my family papers burned years ago when I was seventeen. Before that happened there wasn’t any need for me to see the document. Anyway, that same fire killed my parents, took my home, everything. I just happened to be staying with a friend that night. Otherwise, I would’ve probably perished with them.”

“Sorry,” he said ruefully. “I’m not trying to be insensitive, Sassy.”

This man was rattling her, and it had nothing to do with the questions he was asking. His dark, rugged features and muscled frame seemed to fill up the whole left side of the truck, making it difficult for her to breathe, much less think. And those brown eyes—they were warm enough to melt butter.

“It’s a jumbled explanation, really. But I’ll try. You see, I applied to the state for a new birth certificate, and when the new document arrived in the mail I was stunned to discover that I’d actually been adopted from an orphanage in Santa Fe. I immediately drove up there and visited the orphanage, but they couldn’t tell me anything.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t? Adoption files always have a tight lock,” he said.

She shook her head. “They don’t know where I came from. I was left there mysteriously—in the night. A few days later, I was still reeling from that discovery when I got word of Barry’s death. All together, it knocked me for a loop.”

The skepticism on his face disappeared as he shook his head. “That’s understandable.”

Not wanting him to see the despair in her eyes, she glanced out the windshield. She wasn’t a loser or a whiner. She’d always kept her back straight and her chin high. And that strong woman was the one she wanted Jett Sundell to see.

“I was still going around like a zombie trying to come to terms with everything when I got a letter from Finn Calhoun saying he’d like to meet me. That’s when Frankie Cantrell, my employer on the Chaparral Ranch, suggested that I make the trip out here. In fact, she and her family even treated me to this trip.”

He nodded. “Finn told me about his friend Barry sending him a picture of you. He said you looked enough like him to be his sister. And I admit there’s a strong resemblance—I recognized you right away. I just hadn’t been aware Finn had written to you until a few days ago, when you called the ranch’s business office.”

Suddenly clearing his throat, he twisted the key in the ignition and the engine sprang to life. “It’s getting cool. We need the heater.” As he fiddled with the controls on the dashboard, he said, “I apologize again if I sounded like I’m cross-examining you, Sassy. It’s just that families like the Calhouns...well, they can sometimes be the objects of—”

“Con artists,” she finished flatly. “Gold diggers or nutcases. I appreciate it’s your job to shield them from that sort of thing. But Finn did invite me to come for a visit. It’s not like I took it upon myself to make this trip. Actually, if Frankie hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t be here at all. And it’s not really like I expect anything. But it’s been a rough few weeks and this was a chance to get away—to have a bit of a rest from everything else that’s going on. And maybe discover some information that could help me find my birth family.”

After studying her for a long, thoughtful moment, he said, “What are you going to do, then? Disappoint her by racing back home?”

“You don’t understand. I—” She paused, unable to come out with the real crux of her problem.

“Look,” he said impatiently. “If you’re getting cold feet about meeting the Calhouns, then don’t. They’re just normal folks like you and me.”

Under any other circumstances, Sassy would have burst out laughing. She’d been raised in a very modest home. And after her adoptive parents died, all she’d been left with had been a small amount of money from their life insurance, a few changes of clothing and an old pickup truck. For the past seven years she’d supported herself by working as a maid for the Cantrells. And though she hardly lived in poverty, she was so far down the totem pole from folks like the Calhouns that it was ridiculous.

“Normal? Jett, their normal would be a far cry from mine. But that’s not the reason I’m having second thoughts about meeting the Calhouns.” She drew in a deep, bracing breath. “Okay, I’ll just go ahead and say it. A few minutes ago the doctor told me that I—I’m pregnant.”

A look of confusion washed over his face. “Pregnant? Are you saying you didn’t know until just now?”

Just getting the word out gave her a measure of relief. “I’ve not been feeling exactly like myself lately, but I put it down to stress. The news about the baby was quite a shock. So maybe you can understand why I think I should go home to New Mexico.”

“Why?” he insisted. “Is there an immediate problem with your health?”

She pressed fingertips to her forehead and tried to slow the chaotic spin of her thoughts. “No. But surely you can see why my mind isn’t exactly on meeting Finn and the other Calhouns right now.”

“I can see that you’re probably anxious to get home and share the news with your husband.”

Even though she had no reason to be embarrassed, a blush moved over her cheeks. He didn’t understand. And why should he? During the brief conversations she’d had with this man, she’d never mentioned whether she was single or married. She’d never really clarified her relationship with Barry, either. And now, because she was pregnant, he’d simply assumed she had a husband.

“That would be nice—if I had a husband. But I don’t. The baby’s father is—was Barry Landers.”

His brows shot up. “Barry Landers! I didn’t realize you were that close.”

The blush on her face grew even hotter. “We were more than friends. And now— The baby changes everything.” Bending her head, she closed her burning eyes. “Meeting with the Calhouns doesn’t seem that important anymore.”

Suddenly she felt his hand settle on her shoulders, and even through the thickness of her coat she could feel its warmth spreading through her, reminding her that she wasn’t completely alone.

“Besides your adoptive parents, do you have any other family?” he asked gently.

His words brought her head up and she stared at him through misty eyes.

“As I said, all my grandparents are deceased. There’re two distant cousins up in Oregon. I’ve never met them, though.”

He grimaced. “Then the way I see it, you being pregnant makes meeting the Calhouns even more important. If they can help you find your real parents, it would be good for the baby to have roots and a medical history.”

Fishing a tissue from her coat pocket, she dabbed her eyes, then lifted her chin. “That’s true. But I figure that snow falling in Death Valley would be more likely to happen than me learning I belonged on a branch of the Calhoun family tree. And so do you.”

Her reply put a clever arch to his brow. “Did I agree to that assumption?”

What was he doing, she wondered, playing some sort of game with her? With this man it was hard to tell exactly what he was thinking or feeling.

“Not exactly. But—”

He put the truck in reverse and quickly backed out of the parking slot as though everything had just been settled. “Call the hotel and cancel your reservations. You’re going home with me.”

Dumbfounded, Sassy stared at him. “What are you talking about? I’m not going home with you. I barely know you.”

He suddenly chuckled and the sound helped to ease her tense nerves.

“If you’re worried about my character I’ll stop by the sheriff’s department. Rafe, one of the Calhoun brothers, works as a detective in Carson City and the outlying county. He, or any of the other deputies, can vouch that I’m a man of honor.”

“I don’t need a character reference! I hardly think a prominent family like the Calhouns would employ a sleazeball for their lawyer. I’m thinking of all the bother I’ll cause your family by barging into your home.”

“That might be so—if I had a family. But I’m a bachelor.”

Even though he had that wild and free look about him, the news that he was a single man set her back somewhat. At his age a man usually had a wedding band on his finger and kids at home. Clearly Jett Sundell was not the typical sort.

“Even so, I’m not sure that going to your house is the right thing to do.”

“Actually, it’s more than a house,” he corrected her. “It’s a ranch. The J Bar S. And before you jump to conclusions, it’s nothing like the Calhouns’. Just a little spread of my own. But it’s comfortable. And I think the solitude is just what you need. Besides, if you decide to faint again I want to be around to catch you.”

For some reason, his show of concern brought another rush of moisture to her eyes. She blinked it away and swallowed hard. “I’m not going to faint again,” she said flatly.

“How do you know? Your face still looks like a bowl of flour.”

“As soon as I get to my hotel room I’ll lie down and rest,” she argued. “And if I need help, I’ll have my phone with me.”

“How are you going to use the phone if you’re lying on the floor in a dead faint? No,” he said emphatically, “it’s decided. You’re coming with me.”

“But—”

“Look, if you’re worried about being alone in the house with a man you’ve just met, forget it. My older sister lives with me.”

“Oh.”

He looked at her and grinned. “I’ll take that as a word of disappointment.”

Straightening her shoulders, she settled back in her seat. “It was nothing of the sort. That was a word of confusion. My head is so mixed up right now it feels like it’s going to burst.”

He pressed on the accelerator and positioned the truck in a faster-moving lane of traffic. “That’s what a good lawyer is for. To help a person who’s confused and in need.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. There didn’t appear to be a tense muscle in his body and somehow that helped to calm her racing mind.

“I don’t know if you’re a good, bad or otherwise lawyer.”

He chuckled again. “Guess you’ll have to find that out for yourself.”

She wasn’t here in Carson City to bandy words with a sexy cowboy parading as a lawyer, or vice versa, she thought. She was here to meet the Calhouns and hopefully find some sort of clue to her past, her parentage and perhaps even her future.

Ignoring his last remark, she stared out the windshield at the passing shops and busy traffic. The desert town was totally different from the New Mexico mountains where she’d lived all of her life.

“Why are you going to all this bother?” she asked after a moment. “I’m not your problem. And you don’t have to pretend. It’s clear you think I’m chasing rainbows.”

“Like I said, you’re not a problem—yet. But now that I’ve met you in person, I get the feeling you’re going to stir up a pot of trouble whenever the Calhouns get sight of you.”

Turning her head, she stared uneasily at his rugged profile. “Why would the sight of me cause trouble?”

“Because you are a dead ringer for Finn Calhoun. Only a sight prettier, of course.”

Sassy gripped the armrest. Jett’s remark was almost exactly what Barry had said to her a few months ago. In fact, her resemblance to his friend Finn was the reason Barry had struck up a conversation with Sassy in the first place. Now Jett Sundell was implying the same thing.

Not wanting to let her hopes run wild, she said after a moment, “It’s just a coincidence.”

“Probably so. But it’s going to be fun to see all their faces when you walk through the door.”

Right now Sassy didn’t want to walk through any door. She wanted to run as hard and fast as she could. Away from this sexy, provocative man, away from the news of her pregnancy and the fact that her life was taking as many turns as a wild roller coaster.

But Sassy wasn’t a coward. She’d never run from a problem; she’d always faced them head-on. And she was going to prove to Jett Sundell and the powerful Calhoun family that she was more than a pitiful orphan without a direction.

Chapter Two

Jett’s ranch, the J Bar S, turned out to be more than just a little spread. Ten miles north of town they turned off the main highway and onto a red dirt road, where they passed beneath a rustic entrance made of rough cedar posts. Once the truck rattled over a wide cattle guard, the flat land covered with shrubby chaparral stretched toward the east as far as the eye could see. To the west, low hills were decorated with twisted juniper and ponderosa pine, and behind them, somewhat taller mountains were thickly forested with evergreens.

The direction of the road eventually changed and took them straight to the mountains, then curved and climbed its way onto a small mesa. Once the truck reached the flattened strip of land, a rambling L-shaped house, nestled in a copse of tall pines and cottonwoods, came into view. Some hundred yards to the right of the house stood several barns and a maze of wooden corrals where a herd of playful horses were stirring the dust.

Jett parked the truck beneath a carport located at the west end of the house. While she waited for him to skirt the vehicle, she took a moment to study his home.

The walls were made of very dark brown logs with natural rock coming halfway up the sides. A walkway made of planked wood ran along the front of the house, until it reached a small porch where a holly bush blazed with bright red berries. Two black-and-white collies suddenly appeared from a far corner of the yard and jumped in excited circles around Jett’s legs.

He ordered the dogs to give him space, then opened her door. “Here we are, Sassy,” he said, as he extended a hand up to her. “Don’t mind the dogs. They love people. I’ll help you in, then come back for your bags.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she no longer felt faint or needed his help to walk, but she quickly bit back the words. The men she’d spent time with, including Barry, had always treated her like a tough, outdoorsy girl who could take care of herself. This was first time in her life that she’d ever had a man treat her like a delicate lady. She might as well enjoy the special treatment for as long as she could.

With his strong hand wrapped around hers, she climbed out of the truck and stood beside him. The dogs immediately rushed to her and she made a point of greeting them before she turned her attention back to Jett.

“Before we go in, I want to thank you, Jett. In spite of some of the things I said to you, I really do appreciate all that you’re doing for me.”

He smiled at her, and for a moment Sassy forgot everything, including the reason she’d even come to Nevada. There was something in his eyes that made her feel welcome, that said he was glad she was here. But that didn’t make sense. Jett didn’t know her. Not really. And if he did, what would he think? she wondered. She was a maid and lived on a salary that kept her bills paid and food on her table, but little more.

He linked his arm through hers and started down the long sidewalk. “I have plenty of space and time. And it’s not often that I get a client like you.”

“Oh. I thought the Calhoun family were your clients. Not me.” She would have preferred him to describe her as a friend. But that hardly mattered, she told herself. She was here to search for her parentage, not for a man.

“Technically you’re right. But I have a protective nature. Especially when it comes to pretty women. So I’m making you my client, too.”

He added another grin to the last of his words, and Sassy figured he’d never had a problem manipulating a woman’s heartstrings. But she didn’t need to worry about losing her heart to this charming cowboy. She was carrying a baby. That should be more than enough to turn off any man’s ardor.

Compared to the Cantrell’s elaborate, two-story house back on the Chaparral Ranch, Jett’s home was a modest, though very comfortable, size. After passing through a small foyer, they entered a living room furnished with a wood-framed couch done in dark green-and-brown fabric, a matching love seat and two armchairs. In one corner, a television was tuned in to the weather, while a mug of coffee and a newspaper littered a varnished cedar coffee table. Braided rugs added splashes of color here and there across the inlaid wood floor. At the far end of the space, a fire burned low in a rock fireplace and filled the room with delicious warmth.

“Bella! Come here! We have company!”

Jett’s shout brought a flurry of movement from somewhere in the rooms beyond, and then a woman with a long, dark ponytail appeared in an open doorway, followed by a black cat with a red collar around its neck.

“Oh! Jett, I wasn’t expecting you back home so early.” She walked toward her brother, who was still holding on to Sassy’s arm, then suddenly she stopped in her tracks and stared incredulously at the both of them. “Who—?”

“Sis, this is Sassy Matthews from New Mexico. She’s going to be staying with us for a few days.”

Her gaze traveling keenly over Sassy’s face, the tall, attractive woman stepped closer and extended her hand. “Hello. I’m Bella Sundell,” she introduced herself.

Seeing the same warm light in Bella’s eyes as she had in Jett’s, Sassy felt immediate relief. “Nice to meet you, Bella.” She shook the woman’s hand. “And I apologize for barging in like this. Your brother insisted it would be okay.”

“It’s no bother.” Bella shot her brother a shrewd glance. “In fact, this is quite exciting. Jett never brings guests home. Especially ones who look like you.”

“Bella! What kind of remark is that?”

With an impatient roll of her eyes, she asked, “Are you blind? She’s the spitting image of Finn Calhoun. A beautiful one, that is.” She turned back to Sassy. “Are you a relative of theirs?”

Sassy was amazed by the woman’s reaction. “No. I don’t think so.”

Jett looked at Sassy, and his expression said “I told you so.” To Bella, he said, “Actually, Sassy doesn’t know who she’s related to. And the story is too long to get into right now. Sassy had a nasty faint a bit earlier at the airport and we’ve spent the past couple of hours at the emergency room. She needs to eat and then rest.”

“Oh, my. I hope it was nothing serious.”

Deciding there was no point in keeping it a secret, Sassy replied, “I’m going to have a baby.”

Bella’s expression immediately changing to one of concern, she reached for Sassy’s arm. “That’s serious enough. Come along with me and I’ll find something for you to eat. Then you can rest.” She started leading Sassy out of the room, then tossed over her shoulder, “Jett, put her things in the bedroom next to mine, will you?”

“Sure. And don’t go plying Sassy with a bunch of questions,” he warned his sister. “She’s already had one lawyer digging at her today.”

He turned to leave the house and as Bella guided her down a short hallway, Sassy asked curiously, “Are you a lawyer, like your brother?”

“No. I work as a legal assistant, but I took the day off. I had a few personal tasks to deal with in town. And don’t worry, I’m not a nosy gossiper. I won’t bother you with a bunch of questions.”

“That’s the least of my worries,” Sassy told her. “I just feel awful about barging into your home like this. I had reservations at a hotel in town but your brother insisted I cancel them. Just because I fainted he seems to think I shouldn’t be alone. But I’m hardly his responsibility.”

“That’s Jett. He likes to help people. Anyway, it’s just the two of us living here, so you won’t be a bother to either of us. In fact, it’s great for me to have female company. It’s always just Jett or Noah, the ranch hand, roaming around the place.”

Since Bella Sundell wore no wedding ring, and was using her maiden name, it was fairly evident that she wasn’t married. Sassy gauged her to be somewhere in her thirties, past the age where most women became wives and mothers. Maybe she was wrapped up in an important career, Sassy thought. Or could be that the Sundell siblings just weren’t the marrying kind.

A few more steps took them inside a cozy kitchen with a round red Formica table and matching chairs, varnished wood cabinets and a black-and-white checked tile floor. The space smelled faintly of coffee and baked bread, and the scents had Sassy realizing she’d not eaten since early that morning, before she’d boarded the small plane in Ruidoso.

Bella helped her out of her coat, then hung it on a hall tree situated by the door.

“I should’ve asked if you feel like sitting at the table to eat,” Bella said. “If you’d rather lie down, I’ll bring a tray to the bedroom.”

Since Sassy’s job was to serve others, it felt strange to have this woman offer to do things for her. “Thanks, but I feel like sitting. And don’t go to any trouble. A half sandwich of anything will do. Lunch meat, peanut butter, whatever you have.”

Bella walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread from a wooden bread box. “That’s easy enough. Jett can’t live without salami. I’ll fix that for you. And to drink we have coffee, soda, tea, milk.”

“Coffee would be heavenly,” Sassy replied, then her lips parted as it suddenly dawned on her that she was now eating and drinking for a developing baby. She had to think before she put anything into her mouth. “Oh. Maybe I’d better drink something else.”

“I have decaffeinated,” Bella quickly assured her.

Groaning, Sassy reached up and massaged her aching forehead. “I’m sorry. I must sound crazy to you. But I—well, I just found out this afternoon that I’m pregnant. Before today I didn’t have a clue, and I think I’m still in shock.”

Forgetting her task, Bella turned on her heel and quickly returned to Sassy. “Oh, you poor darling!” she exclaimed as she eased down in the chair opposite Sassy’s. “You must be in a daze!”

Daze couldn’t quite describe it, Sassy thought. But she didn’t say that to Jett’s sister. Instead, she quickly explained the situation of Finn’s letter and her decision to fly out here to meet the Calhoun family.

Shaking her head, Bella reached over and clasped both her hands. “Well, while you’re here you mustn’t worry about a thing. Jett will help you with the Calhouns. But I’m sure you already knew that before you came out here to Nevada.”

Actually, Sassy hadn’t known any such thing about Jett Sundell. Over the phone he’d had a nice voice and a patient manner about him. But he’d not seemed overly enthusiastic about her traveling all the way to Nevada to see the Calhouns. So she’d hardly expected this much help from the man. And it made her wonder why he’d had a change of heart. Because she really did resemble Finn Calhoun? Or because, like Bella had said, he simply liked helping people? Either way, she was going to have to be careful around the man and not let him see just how much he stirred her senses.

“Who says she’s going to need help with the Calhouns?”

Both women turned their heads in the direction of Jett’s voice to see him striding into the room. While he removed his hat and hung it on a hook next to Sassy’s coat, Bella returned to her sandwich making.

“Well, why won’t she?” his sister asked. “Bart is going to blow a gasket when he sees her. Especially when the family starts asking him who he was squiring twenty-some years ago.”

Jett glowered at her. “Damn it, Bella, that’s a crass thing to be saying in front of Sassy.”

“I’m not a child,” Sassy interrupted. “I’m twenty-four, to be exact. And if I do look like this Finn person, as you’re both saying I do, then I expect I’ll hear all sorts of nasty innuendoes from the Calhoun folks.”

Bella shot her brother a sly smile before she opened the refrigerator. “I knew she was a smart girl the moment I laid eyes on her.”

He moved over to the sink and washed his hands. “Well, I don’t know why you’d think she belongs to Bart. What about his sister up in Reno? Or could be that Orin wasn’t always totally faithful to Claudia.”

Bella slapped the salami between two pieces of bread, then sliced it diagonally. “That’s hard to imagine. Orin thought Claudia hung the moon. He was devastated when she passed away from a blood clot.”

Jett dried his hands on a paper towel. “That’s true. But Orin has always traveled around the Southwest buying horses and cattle. If he had straying on his mind he had plenty of opportunities.”

Heaving out a breath, Sassy said, “Look, before you two say any more about this, I want to make something perfectly clear. I’m not here to cause trouble. And I certainly don’t want anything from the Calhoun family. I’m going to visit with Finn—that’s all. If the family does happen to have any clues they might be able to give me about my parents, then that would be wonderful. But I’m not here to stir up any trouble.”

Jett ambled slowly toward the table and Sassy couldn’t help but notice how his presence filled up the room, prompting her gaze to follow his every movement.

“I don’t think it’s going to be that simple,” he said.

Bella placed the sandwich in front of Sassy, then returned to the cabinet and brewed a quick single cup of coffee.

“Neither do I,” Bella agreed. She carried the cup over to the table, then went after cream and sugar. “The family is going to be stunned when they get a look at you. And if, by some chance, it turns out that you are related to the family, then you might have a claim on the estate. Isn’t that right, Jett?”

Sassy felt sick to her stomach and the nausea had nothing to do with her pregnancy. “Oh, God, this is awful. I would never do something like that. I don’t own anything of value now and it’s doubtful I ever will. That’s not important to me.”

Jett pulled out the chair Bella had vacated and eased into it. “Eat your sandwich, Sassy. This isn’t anything you need to be worrying about.”

“Not worry? I didn’t come here to cause family upheaval!”

Because she thought it would help her queasiness, she picked up the sandwich and forced a bite down her tight throat.

He studied her closely. “Surely that concern entered your mind before now.”

Sassy shrugged as she spooned sugar into her coffee. “Sure it did. But not in a materialistic way. My mind doesn’t work in those terms. If these Calhouns are more worried about what they own than who they are, then I’m not sure I’d want to be related to them.”

Reaching across the table, he covered her hand with his and Sassy didn’t know if she wanted to jerk away from his touch or thread her fingers tightly through his and hang on.

“They’re not exactly like that, Sassy,” he told her. “If they were, I wouldn’t be working for them.”

Returning to stand at the side of the table, Bella looked at her brother. “Why are you lying to her? Bart probably has the first penny he ever made.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Jett argued. “But family means even more to him.”

Sassy looked from brother to sister. She already had these two disagreeing. What would happen once she met the Calhouns? Nothing, she tried to reassure herself. They’d probably laugh the whole resemblance thing away. She’d have a little visit with Finn and then go home to New Mexico and pick up her life where she’d left off. Except that, in seven months or a little less, she’d have a baby, a tiny being to love and nourish. The notion still seemed incredible to her. Yet already she was feeling protective of the life growing inside her.

“So, when do you plan to see the Calhouns?” Bella directed the question at Sassy.

Blinking, Sassy shook away her rambling thoughts and looked at Jett’s sister. “After what you two have told me, I’m not sure I want to.”

Sinking into a chair on the opposite side of the table, Bella looked regretfully at her brother. “Look what we’ve done. We’ve scared her with all this talk about Bart.”

Frowning, Jett corrected his sister, “She was scared before we said a word about the Calhouns.”

Not appreciating the sound of that, Sassy squared her shoulders. “I’m not scared. I’m disgusted. And who is this Bart?”

“The oldest Calhoun,” Jett explained. “The father of Orin and grandfather to Orin’s five sons.”

“Aren’t there any women in the family?” Sassy asked.

Jett answered, “Bart’s wife, Gilda, died many years ago. Orin’s wife, Claudia, died about five or six years ago. And none of the sons are married. The only women around the place now are the cook and a couple of maids.”

“Thank God for the maids. At least there will be someone around that I can relate to,” Sassy said wryly, while thinking she might as well find what humor she could in the situation. Crying certainly wasn’t going to help.

A groove of amusement creased Jett’s cheek. “I told the Calhouns we’d be over tomorrow evening. After everyone has finished with dinner.”

“That late?” Her gaze went from Jett to Bella and back again. “Tomorrow is Saturday. Surely you two have plans for the weekend and—”

Before Sassy could go on, Bella interjected, “I’m driving over to Truckee to spend the day with our mother. She’s having some friends over for dinner. Jett is staying home and feeding the cows.”

Sassy turned a questioning look on Jett. “You’re staying here because of me?”

He shook his head. “That was my plan even before I knew you’d be flying in today. I love Mom, but her parties bore me to death. I’ll catch up with her later. Besides, I gave my ranch hand the day off tomorrow, so I have to be here to take up the slack.”

That meant she’d be spending the day alone with Jett. It wasn’t anything remotely close to how she’d planned to spend her first weekend here in Nevada. She’d envisioned herself having a leisurely morning, then viewing some of the local tourist sites. Now she no longer had a hotel or a rental car. Somehow she’d allowed this man to take over and make her entirely dependent on him. This behavior wasn’t like her. Not at all. And as soon as tomorrow was over, she was going to do something about getting herself back in control.

* * *

Later that evening Jett was in the barn, spreading alfalfa hay for the horses, when his cell phone rang. Checking the display, he shook his head. It wasn’t like Finn Calhoun to call this late. Being the manager of the ranch’s broodmare and stallion operation, Finn rarely had a spare moment for anything more than work. And at this time of the evening, when the mares were brought in to the barns, inspected and fed, Finn was always there to make sure each and every horse was in its best condition.

Stepping out of the horse stall, Jett used one hand to carefully lock the gate behind him. “Hey, Finn, what’s up? Anything wrong at the Silver Horn?”

“Not that I’m aware of. But you know how it is with me, Jett, I’m the last one around here to be told anything.” After a slight pause, he went on, “I was actually calling to ask if Sassy Matthews had arrived? You did say she’d be flying in today.”

Of the Calhoun bunch, Finn was the one who’d been a close friend of Barry Landers. Several years back, the two men had traveled the rodeo circuit together, with Barry riding saddle broncs and Finn roping steers. And even after Finn had retired from competition, the pair had remained friends. But Jett could tell that Finn’s interest in Sassy really had nothing to do with his late friend. It had everything to do with her looking like a Calhoun.

“Sassy did arrive,” Jett told him. “She’s staying here at the house with me and Bella.”

“Still planning to bring her over to the Silver Horn tomorrow evening?”

“That’s the time Orin and I agreed on. Why? Are you calling to put the meeting off?”

“Shoot, no! I’m excited to meet her. Now that you’ve seen her, what do you think? Does she look as much like me as she does in the picture?”

When Jett had first walked up to Sassy in the airport terminal, he’d initially been shocked by her resemblance to Finn. But after a moment, he forgot all about that connection. He’d been taken by the vibrant color of her hair and the creaminess of her pale skin. Her eyes were the color of a cloudless sky and they’d sparkled like sunlight dancing across a pool of water. Her wide, rosy-pink lips had been smiling, and as he’d touched her hand he’d immediately felt her warmth and sincerity. And then she’d fainted and he’d never been so terrified in his life.

Shaking away his wandering thoughts, he said, “I’ll wait and let you be the judge of that.”

For one brief moment, Jett considered telling Finn about the baby that Sassy was carrying, but he pushed the urge aside. It wasn’t his place to reveal such private information. That was her business and hers alone. Even so, ever since she’d told Jett about her pregnancy, he’d not been able to get it out of his mind. She seemed so young and alone, so vulnerable. But then, not all women were as helpless and insecure as his ex-wife had been. Sassy might be perfectly capable of caring for herself and her baby without a man to support her. At least, he wanted to think so.

Finn laughed. “This is going to be fun. It’s said that everybody has a twin somewhere in the world. Maybe Sassy is mine.”

Careful to keep his tone casual, Jett asked, “Finn, if it turned out that Sassy was actually related to your family, how do you think they’d react?”

“Hell, that’s a peculiar question. I didn’t invite her out here because I thought anything like that. She was Barry’s friend and she looked like me. I just wanted to meet her and talk about my old buddy. Is she thinking she might be related?”

Jett wasn’t sure how to answer that. He realized Sassy was searching for some lead to her biological parents, but she wasn’t convinced she’d find it with the Calhouns. “Not really. It’s what I’m thinking.”

There was a long pause and then Finn said in a mystified voice, “Jett, you sound serious.”

“When you see her, you’ll understand.”

Another long moment of silence passed before Finn spoke. “I don’t know how that could be, Jett. Unless she’s some distant cousin that I’ve never heard about.”

Or Bart and Orin were hiding something, Jett thought. And even though he’d never known either man to be deceptive, he figured they would do most anything to keep their family tightly knitted together. Even lie. But Jett was going to keep that opinion to himself. Finn had enough problems trying to find his way in the middle of the pack of Calhoun brothers. The last thing Jett wanted to do was have him doubting his father’s or grandfather’s sincerity.

Moving away from the stall, Jett strode toward a door at the back of the barn. “You’re probably right, Finn. It’s all coincidence that she looks like you. But everyone ought to get a kick out of seeing you two together.”

“I agree,” Finn replied with an easy chuckle.

The two men exchanged a few more words before Finn ended the conversation. Jett slipped the phone back into its holder on his belt and, after making sure the barn was securely shut for the night, headed to the house.

Inside, he found Bella in the living room talking on the phone. As soon as she spotted him entering the room, she ended the conversation and rose to her feet. “That was Mom. I reminded her once again that you weren’t coming.”

Jett grimaced. “I’m sure she’s not pleased with me. I haven’t been over to see her in a few weeks now.”

“Actually, she wasn’t upset at all. She’s happy that you’re going to be spending tomorrow with a woman. I told her about Sassy.”

He rolled his eyes. Since her divorce from a real estate mogul up in the Lake Tahoe area had become final two years ago, his sister had been living with him here on the J Bar S. In spite of Bella’s doubts that the two of them could cohabitate peacefully under the same roof, Jett had convinced her that being on the ranch would be much nicer than holing up in an apartment in town. And, so far, it had worked. Mainly because brother and sister always spoke frankly to each other.

“I’m sure the news was burning your tongue,” Jett said drolly.

Bella gave him a sweet smile. “Well, Sassy is very pretty. And you’ve never brought a woman to the ranch before.”

“Sassy is here because I was concerned she might faint again. No other reason.” Except that she had an alluring quality about her that had grabbed him from the very start. Within moments of meeting her, he’d felt himself being drawn into her plight and wanting to make things better for her. It had been years since he’d allowed himself to feel that level of protection for any woman other than Bella or his mother. It was an odd feeling, and he wasn’t sure where it was leading.

“Oh. Well, maybe you’d better take a closer look and you’ll find a reason to keep her here for a while longer.”

Not bothering to reply to his sister’s suggestive remark, Jett turned on his heel and started out of the room only to have Bella snatch hold of his arm.

“Where are you going?”

“To change clothes and start supper. It’s that time of evening,” he said pointedly. “Or hadn’t you noticed?”

Bella slipped her arm through his and pulled him over to the couch. “Well, you can give me a minute or two. I want to talk to you before Sassy gets up from her nap.”

His expression full of warning, he allowed his sister to pull him across the room. As the two of them sat on connecting cushions, Jett asked, “About what? If you’re going to start digging into me about her—”

Bella impatiently shook her head and lowered her voice. “I’m worried about you, that’s all.”

Jett snorted. “Worried about me? Why?”

She squeezed his hand, and in that moment Jett realized that, in spite of Bella’s independent nature, she needed his support. Just as he’d always needed hers. With their mother living miles away in Truckee, and their dad leaving the family years ago, the two siblings had stuck close. Especially after both of their marriages had fallen apart.

“This thing with Sassy,” she answered. “I’m afraid the Calhouns are going to blame you for all this.”

His brows arched with innocence. “All this? Nothing has happened.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not yet. But it will. I’m certain of that, and so are you.”

Jett glanced over at the open doorway that connected the living room to the rest of the house. The last thing he wanted was for Sassy to overhear their conversation. She’d probably take the first flight out of Carson City. And he didn’t want that to happen. Even though his ex-wife, Erica, had made his life a living hell and caused him to swear off women for the past five years, it was nice to be in Sassy’s company. She was fresh and frank, and one of the sexiest women he’d ever seen in his life—which was weird since she looked so much like his friend. And somehow her youthful energy—even despite her faint—made him feel alive and good. He couldn’t see anything wrong with that.

“If Sassy’s visit to the Silver Horn opens a can of worms, it’s not my fault.”

“Oh? Then whose fault would it be? You’re the man who set up this meeting. Why did you get involved, anyway? If Finn wanted to visit his dead friend’s girl, then he should’ve done it on his own and left you out of it.”

He glared at his sister. “Bella! It isn’t like you to be so unfeeling. And being the Calhouns’ lawyer always makes me the middleman. Anyway, that part doesn’t matter. I want you to put yourself in Sassy’s shoes for a moment. Wouldn’t you welcome any sort of help in finding your parents?”

She grimaced. “We haven’t known our father’s whereabouts since we were teenagers. And I’m not asking anyone to help me find the man,” she pointed out.

“No. But you don’t have to wonder who he was. And you have a mother in your life. Sassy has neither. Her adoptive parents were killed in a house fire when she was just seventeen. Now she’s having the baby of a man who was tragically killed only two months ago. The woman deserves a little helping hand, don’t you think?”

Bella’s sigh was rueful. “Okay, I sound awful. I admit it. And I’m sorry. Especially because I like Sassy. I even wish she’d stay with us for a while. But taking her to meet the Calhouns—that’s another thing. Let her go alone. Otherwise, if she uses this meeting to start questioning them about relatives, Bart might get angry at you for aiding and abetting her. He might even fire you.”

Jett’s chuckle held little mirth. “Not likely. Bart trusts me to keep the ranch’s business private. But the roof wouldn’t fall in if he did fire me. I’ve been thinking I’d rather hang my shingle out in town, anyway.”

Bella stared at him. “I’ve never heard you talk like this. Are you serious?”

“Very.”

Shaking her head with disbelief, she said, “The Calhouns pay you an enormous salary. Why would you want the headache of a public practice?”

“I didn’t go through eight years of education to work exclusively for one family. I’d like to think all that learning could help others, too.”

Bella laid her hand on his forehead. “My Lord, something has come over you. What is it?”

“I believe it’s called maturing.” Rising to his feet, he looked down at his sister’s worried face. “Now, what do you say about having spaghetti for supper? After the day she’s been through, Sassy could probably use a decent meal.”

“Are you cooking?”

“I am.”

Grinning impishly, she said, “Then it sounds great.”

* * *

A few minutes later, after changing into clean clothes, Jett left his bedroom and was walking down the hallway when Sassy suddenly stepped through her bedroom door and straight into his path.

Trying to stop his forward motion without bowling her over, he grabbed her by the shoulders and rocked back on his heels. “Whoa, Sassy! I didn’t see you coming.”

Reaching out to steady herself, her palms landed on his chest. “Jett! Oh, I’m sorry—I wasn’t looking.”

“No harm done.” Easing his grip on her shoulders, his hands slipped to her upper arms. As she looked up at him, he took a moment to survey her lovely face, and the notion suddenly struck him that he couldn’t recall the last time he’d enjoyed looking at a woman and touching her, even in the simplest of ways. But he was definitely enjoying it now. “I guess this must be my day to stop you from falling.”

“Let’s hope tomorrow improves,” she said jokingly. “I’ll try my best to stay on my feet.”

A pale pink color warmed her cheeks, and on closer inspection he noticed that faint freckles were scattered across the bridge of her nose. Her lashes were so long they created crescent-shape shadows beneath her eyes, yet it was her lips that completely stole Jett’s attention. They were wide and soft, and he figured that once a man kissed them, he’d want to do it again and again.

Clearing his throat, he forced his gaze to the cascade of fiery curls falling around her head and onto her shoulders. “Oh, I don’t know,” he told her. “This is starting to get fun.”

The color on her face deepened. “I seriously doubt that.”

He wanted to ask her what she meant, but kept the question to himself. Just because he found her attractive didn’t mean she was feeling any magnetic pull toward him.

And why would you want her to feel anything toward you, Jett? Wasn’t Erica enough punishment for you? You don’t need a woman messing up your life again and making you crazy.

He needed to heed the voice of warning in his head, he told himself. Just because Sassy was stirring up a hot yearning in him didn’t mean he should forget the painful lessons he’d learned in his broken marriage. But, oh, she was tempting him, making him want to believe that a woman couldn’t lead him back into hellish misery.

In an attempt to get his mind off the urges in his body, he changed the subject. “Feel like eating? I’m about to start supper.”

Faintly surprised, her blue eyes swept over him. “You’re going to cook?”

“Sure. I’ll even wash my hands before I start.”

She suddenly chuckled, and for a brief moment she looked happy. The sight warmed him.

“You’re a funny man.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said softly. “Because I like hearing you laugh.”

Her head bent, causing her next words to be slightly muffled. “Normally, I laugh a lot. But lately—well, things have been a little rocky.”

For a moment she didn’t stir, and Jett was telling himself that he needed to release his hold on her and be on his way, but having her close to him felt far too good and before he could stop himself, he slid his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close against him.

She didn’t resist. Instead, her body settled against his as though it had found a perfect niche. Encouraged by her reaction, he said, “I’d like to change that for you, Sassy.”

Her head tilted backward, allowing her gaze to connect with his. “How? You can’t change the course of my life.”

“You might be surprised about that.”

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Jett, I think—”

Her words suddenly halted as his thumb and forefinger wrapped around her chin. “You probably won’t understand this, Sassy, but I’m very glad that you’re here.”

“How can you be?” she asked, her voice little more than a breathy whisper. “You didn’t ask for all this trouble.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re just the kind of trouble I need.”

She started to make some sort of reply, but Jett didn’t allow her words to escape. Instead, he lowered his head and covered her soft lips with his.

Chapter Three

Jett Sundell was kissing her!

Even though the shocking realization was zipping through Sassy’s mind, her body refused to back away and put an end to the contact. Instead, she stood motionless in the circle of his arms and drank in the taste of his lips as they rocked gently over hers.

After what seemed like a long, long minute, his head finally eased back, and by then Sassy was so rattled she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or race back to the safety of her bedroom.

Fighting all three urges, she forced herself to stand her ground and face him. “Is this the kind of treatment you give all your houseguests?” she demanded, once she’d managed to catch her breath.

Expecting him to be somewhat ashamed, she was amazed to see a sly grin spread across his face. “I’ve never had a houseguest like you.”

“So you’ve not yet learned to mind your manners?”

He chuckled then, and a part of Sassy melted at the warm sound. For the past two months she’d felt dead and frozen inside. This man made her want to believe her life could be simple again. But those days were over. She was going to have a baby, and that would change every aspect of her life.

“I’m sorry, Sassy.” He gently released his hold on her. “I don’t normally behave like this. But you’re just so darned pretty. And—” Shaking his head, he touched a forefinger to her cheek. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the urge to kiss a woman.”

Sassy found that hard to believe. He’d kissed her like it was something he practiced every day. And with his dark, rugged looks, he’d never have trouble snaring a woman’s attention.

Stepping back to put a measure of space between them, she refused to give in to the impulse to lick her lips. The last thing she wanted was for Jett to think she was still savoring the taste of him. Even though she was.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend somewhere waiting for you to kiss her?” She muttered the question.

“No girlfriend. No one special.”

All sorts of questions raced through her mind, but she kept them to herself. Jett Sundell’s personal life was no concern of hers. The sooner she could get that through her head, the better off she’d be.

“Thank goodness I don’t have to feel guilty about that.” She started to step around him, but he caught her lightly by the arm to prevent her escape.

“You’re a young, beautiful, unattached woman,” he said gently. “Why should you feel guilty about kissing me?”

“I’m going to have a baby.” As soon as she’d blurted out the words, she recognized how inane that sounded. But she couldn’t help it. Hearing that she was pregnant was suddenly making her feel and think differently about herself and life in general. She couldn’t be the impulsive, carefree girl she used to be. From this point on she would always put her baby first.

He groaned with disbelief. “Carrying a baby isn’t an affliction. And I do believe that kissing is allowed during pregnancy.”

Angry at herself for allowing this man to shake up her senses, she said, “Not by me—or you—or us.”

Then, before he could counter that remark, she turned and hurriedly walked away.

* * *

Later that evening, as the three of them sat around the supper table, Sassy had to admit to herself that Jett could cook as well as he could kiss. The food was delicious and so was the memory of being in his arms.

He’d called her pretty. Had he really meant that? She’d certainly not expected to hear him say such a thing. He was a man with high standards. She could see that by the way he lived. And, at her best, she had an average appearance. So the compliment could have just been his way of apologizing, she mused. Or, God help her, maybe the fact that she was pregnant and unmarried had given him the idea that she was promiscuous.

Quit thinking about him, Sassy. Forget how his lips felt as they’d moved over yours. Forget the way he tasted and the way the male scent of his body enveloped you like a dreamy fog. Giving in to a man has already gotten you into a big fix. You can’t allow this one to lead you down a wrong path. You’ll be gone from here in a few days, and then Jett Sundell will be nothing more than a dim memory.

She was thankful that, as the meal progressed, Jett and Bella kept the conversation flowing with small talk about local happenings and the weather they’d endured so far this winter. And for a few minutes Sassy was grateful to have her mind on things besides the baby, the kiss and the Calhouns.

“Jett, since you cooked, I’ll volunteer to clean the kitchen tonight,” Bella said, as the three of them finished the meal with slices of chocolate cake.

“I’d be glad to help,” Sassy quickly offered. “In fact, I’d feel better if you’d let me do all the cleaning.”

“Not on your life,” Jett replied.

Bella backed her brother up by saying, “Thanks for the offer, Sassy. Maybe next time. You’ve had a long day. You go along with Jett and relax in the living room. I’ll take care of everything here.”

Relax with Jett? How could she manage that, when just looking at the man whipped her pulse into a mad gallop? Putting her fork aside, she said, “Bella, I’m a maid. I’m used to doing the cleaning.”

“You’re not a maid here,” Jett pointed out.

Sassy had never planned to set foot in this man’s home, yet he was treating her as if she was a special guest. Was he just showing basic good manners? Or trying to get on her good side for some reason?

She was still trying to figure out the answers to those questions when he rose from his seat and helped her to her feet. Sassy had little choice but to accompany him to the living room. Once there, she sat on the couch while he went over to fireplace and added two more logs to the low-burning flames.

When he finally put away the poker and started toward an armchair, her coiled nerves had her suddenly blurting, “Please don’t feel like you have to sit around and entertain me. I’m sure you have other things you’d like to be doing.”

Changing direction, he strode over to the couch and eased onto the cushion next to hers. Sassy’s heart immediately kicked into a rapid flutter.

“Trying to get rid of me?” he asked wryly.

Reaching over, he wrapped a hand around hers and Sassy was instantly overcome with conflicting emotions. There was something about Jett that greatly comforted her, yet, at the same time, he made her feel things she had no business feeling. Like wanting and needing and dreaming.

“I should’ve gone to the hotel as I’d first planned,” she said ruefully.

“No. I should’ve behaved like a gentleman.” His fingertips gently stroked the back of her hand. “You didn’t ask for that kiss. Now you have the idea that I’m a wolf.”

Feeling as though she was about to break apart, Sassy drew in a deep breath and lifted her chin. “There’s no need for you to apologize. It was just a kiss, no matter what you think.”

Disapproval bent the corners of his mouth. “You hardly come across as easy, Sassy.”

She searched his face. “Well, some people back home view me as a party girl—and I have had a few boyfriends,” she admitted. “But not in an—intimate way. Barry was— He was the only man I’ve ever been close to and that happened only once. Now I’m pregnant. Folks back home might not be shocked at the news, but I surely am.”

“Every town has its gossipers. You don’t pay any attention to that sort of talk, do you?”

“I never did before. But now...”

“You don’t want it to hurt your baby,” he finished softly.

He understood. For some reason that made everything she was facing seem much less daunting and him seem, oh so special.

“Now that I’ve learned George and Gloria Matthews weren’t my parents, I regard a lot of things differently,” she said. “It hurts—the not knowing where I came from. I don’t want my child to ever have any doubts about his parents.”

“Sassy, I hope you’re not thinking that being a single mother is something to be ashamed of.”

Her low laugh was tinged with irony. “I’m not ashamed. But it’s hard to forget hurtful things that are said about you. For instance, a couple of years ago I had a little crush on a ranch hand who works for the Chaparral. Someone told him I’d like to go on a date with him, and his reply was that he’d never date a young woman who hopped from one man’s bed to the next.”

“You should have told the guy to go to hell. Did you?”

She shrugged. “After that I knew he wasn’t worth the bother. But the whole thing did get me to thinking and wondering why some people get the wrong impression about me.” She looked at him, and for the first time in her life, words began to roll past her lips that she’d never spoken to anyone before. “You see, after my parents died, I felt really alone, Jett. I didn’t have brothers or sisters. Not even cousins to hang with. And I was desperate for attention and just, well—human connection. I liked going out on dates and having fun. It made me forget that I’d lost everything that was dear to me. After a while, I suppose people began to think I was overdoing it with the dates and the guys. That probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but that’s the way I see it.”

“I’ll tell you the way I see it, Sassy. You’re beautiful and special. And you’re going make your son or daughter proud.”

He squeezed her hand, and his touch warmed her just as much as his words. And even though she could hear faint warning bells clanging in the back of her head, urging her to get up and move away from the man, she couldn’t budge from his side.

A nervous little laugh slipped out of her. “I’ve been talking too much. What in the world did you put in that spaghetti, Jett? Truth serum?”

A faint grin grooved his cheeks. “I didn’t put any serum in the spaghetti, but I can truthfully say that kiss I stole earlier this evening... It didn’t happen because I thought you were easy. Understand?”

She smiled faintly. “Okay, Jett. I understand.”

But, frankly, Sassy didn’t understand. Why had that kiss happened? Had it only stemmed from basic male attraction or because he was lonely? Oh, Lord, it didn’t matter, she tried to tell herself. After meeting the Calhouns, she’d start making plans to go home.

* * *

The next morning, after Bella left to make the forty-five mile trip over to Truckee, California, to visit their mother, Jett invited Sassy to join him on his feeding rounds. After being cooped up in the house since yesterday, she’d jumped at the chance to get outdoors and see part of the J Bar S.

After pulling on a pair of jeans, boots and a warm jacket, she walked down to a big red barn with the two collies, Mary and Max, trotting happily at her side. Once she reached the building, she found double doors swung wide and Jett inside, tossing hay bales into the back of a work truck. Bits of dried grass and dust flew all around him and floated through the shafts of morning sunlight.

Careful to stand out of the way, Sassy watched him finish with the hay, then add several sacks of cattle feed on top of the load. The effortless way he handled the heavy sacks told Sassy he was accustomed to doing much more than just sitting at a desk shuffling legal papers.

When she’d first met him in the airport yesterday, she’d taken note of his headgear. This morning he was wearing the same battered gray hat. Sweat stained the band and the repetitive pressure of his fingers against the crown had caused one of the creases to split and create a hole in the felt.

Sassy had learned to read a lot about a cowboy’s character in his hat. And Jett’s was definitely full of personality. The fact that he chose not to replace the worn piece of equipment with a new one said he was sentimental about his possessions. Plus, he didn’t need fancy to make him feel important. She liked that about him. But then, that was the problem. She liked far too many things about the man.

He motioned for the dogs to jump up onto the truck, and once they were settled on top of the feed sacks, he shut the tailgate and looked over to her. “I’m all set here,” he said. “Are you ready?”

She moved to where he stood. “Ready and bundled in my warmest clothing.”

“I promise you’re not going to be cold. This old truck looks a little rough, but the heater still works great.” He reached for her elbow. “Come along and I’ll help you climb up.”

Once they were settled in the cab, Jett backed the vehicle out of the barn, then steered it onto a dirt track packed hard from constant use. As they headed toward the open range, Sassy wondered if the space in the cab had suddenly shrunk. Jett felt so near she could practically feel the heat of his body and smell the masculine scent emanating from his clothing.

“The cattle are on the other side of this mesa. Not far from here,” he said, as he steered the truck in a northerly direction. “They’ve been getting fed every day so we won’t have to hunt them. They’ll be waiting for us.”

Trying to get her mind off him and onto their surroundings, she peered out the windshield at the rough terrain. “How long have you had this ranch?”

To their left, fir-covered mountains were less than a quarter mile off, while to the immediate right, the land swept away to scrubby desert terrain full of sagebrush and juniper. It was wild and beautiful land with more wide open space to it than the Chaparral, which was surrounded by steep mountains.

“My maternal grandparents, Adah and Melvin Whitfield, used to own this property,” he said. “Along with a nice herd of cattle. But age caught up with them, and they decided to scale down to a smaller ranch in southern California where the climate is much easier. Rather than sell this place they gave it to my mother, but she never was interested in country living. She sold the cattle, and I bought her out of the property with the assurance it would always remain in the family. That happened about six years ago, and since then I’ve been trying to build it back into the ranch it was when my grandparents lived here.”

“What about your dad? He’s not interested in ranching?”

Jett laughed, but the sound held little humor. “I learned all I know about cattle and ranching from my grandparents. Dad wouldn’t know one end of a cow from the other. And he wouldn’t want to learn. More than likely, he’s playing rhythm guitar with some hole-in-the-wall band and finding gigs wherever he can.”

The stilted tone in his voice should have put her off, but Sassy had never been one to contain her curiosity. Besides, she’d already told him so much about herself, it would hardly hurt him to reveal a few facts about his personal life.

“So, he doesn’t live around here?”

The road crested over a hill and took a steep dive straight down into a narrow gully. Jett shifted the truck into a lower gear to slow their descent.

After a moment, he answered, “No one in the family has seen Gary Sundell in several years. He and Mom divorced about fifteen years ago, when I graduated from high school. After that, he left the area.”

“And doesn’t keep in touch.” She murmured her thoughts out loud. “That’s odd.”

A mocking expression twisted his features. “Not for my dad. He’s one of those free spirits who don’t believe in ties of any kind. Looking back, I’m surprised Mom and us kids kept him around as long as we did.”

“Do you hate him for leaving?”

He shrugged. “Hate him? No. What’s the good of having someone hang around out of obligation? I’m a realist, Sassy. I don’t need that.”

“Hmm. I guess my parents, whoever they were, didn’t want to hang around for me, either. But so far I’ve survived. And so have you.”

“Yeah,” he replied. “So have I.”

At the bottom of the gully, the road curved around a high bank, then climbed to another flat range. When they reached the crest, Sassy spotted a large herd of mixed-breed cows gathered around several wooden feed troughs. Upon seeing the truck, the red and brown animals began to run and buck with excitement.

“They must be very hungry,” Sassy observed. “On the Chaparral the winter feeding starts early. We have so much snow in the mountains it buries the grass.”

“Winter has put a hold on most of the grasses here, too. My cattle depend on me for a nice meal.”

“There the cowboys put molasses licks out to supplement the alfalfa. Do you do that, too?”

“No. But I’ve considered it.” He cast a curious glance at her. “I thought you were a maid. How do you know about feeding cattle?”

“I’ve worked on the Chaparral for seven years. On my time off I watch and learn. I love the animals and being outdoors. It’s a dream of mine to be able to ranch for myself one day. That probably sounds far-fetched to you. But a person has to have dreams. And I want to raise my child in a country setting—with those basic values.”

“You surprise me, Sassy. I would’ve taken you for a girl who liked the lights of town.”

She shrugged. “Visiting town is fun. But a person can’t play all the time.”

He braked to a stop. “Speaking of town, since Bella is gone I’ve decided you and I are going out to eat later on.”

“Out? But why? As far as I’m concerned, another salami sandwich would be just dandy.”

About to open the door, he paused to look at her. “Forget the salami. Even though it’s Saturday, I managed to snag reservations at my favorite restaurant. Only because I’m friends with the owner. We might be sitting in the broom closet, but I promise the food will be delicious. Then, after we eat, we’ll drive on over to the Silver Horn.”

“There’s no need for you to go to all this trouble just for my benefit.”

As he jerked open the door, he said, “Sassy, you’re giving me an excuse to do something I’ve not done in a long time. So don’t spoil it for me.”

She hardly knew what he meant by that, but it didn’t matter. Spending time with this man was starting to feel very good and there was no harm in enjoying herself before she flew back to New Mexico.

Smiling, she said, “Okay, then, I’m looking forward to it.”

* * *

Later that evening, Sassy stood in front of the dresser mirror in her bedroom and wondered if she was making a giant mistake. Living on a maid’s wages didn’t exactly give her the opportunity to buy dressy clothing, but out of the generous gift that Frankie had given her for this trip, she’d purchased a few pieces from a nice boutique in Ruidoso. This evening she’d chosen an emerald-green jersey dress that wrapped across her curves and tied at the waist. The low V neck exposed a hint of cleavage, but a string of crystal beads around her neck would hopefully draw attention away. But she wasn’t exactly fashion savvy. For all she knew, the whole outfit was too much and Jett would be too nice to laugh and tell her so.

Full of nervous doubts, she finally entered the living room to find Jett in one of the armchairs. He appeared to be reading some sort of ranching magazine while Walter, the cat with the red collar, sat curled in his lap. The moment he heard her footsteps, he put the paper aside and turned his head in her direction.

“Sassy! Wow!”

She’d had men compliment her before, but something about Jett’s positive reaction made her feel acutely self-conscious. Hot color swept over her face and one hand fluttered to her chest.

“Do I...look okay? I mean, am I overdone?” she asked quickly. The blush on her face grew warmer as he set Walter on the floor and rose to his feet. “To be honest, Jett, I’m not accustomed to going to a restaurant where you need to make reservations. And since we’ll be seeing the Calhouns afterward...”

“You look beautiful, Sassy. Really lovely.”

She sighed with relief. “Well, my employer and her daughter are very classy ladies, so I’ve tried to learn a few pointers from them. But if anything looks wrong, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me.”

He strode over while his gaze was sweeping her from head to toe. “The only thing I see that’s missing is a smile on your face. Put on one of those and you’ll be perfect.”

She forced the corners of her lips to turn upward. “I’ll do my best.”

He must have noticed just how nervous and out of place she felt, because he smiled and touched his fingertips to her cheek. Sassy was suddenly consumed with the warmth of his touch, the enticing scent of his body. And suddenly she wished she had the right to slip her arms around his waist, to press her cheek, if only for a moment, to his broad, strong chest.

“I’m going to be very proud to introduce you to the Calhouns. And very proud to share dinner with you.”

Was he always this kind with women, she wondered, or was he treating her in a special way?

You’ll never be special to this man, Sassy. You’re wholesome and hayseed, while he’s a well-to-do lawyer. Just get through this evening without sticking your foot in your mouth or falling flat on your face and you’ll be doing good.

“Thank you, Jett.” Swallowing the emotions jamming her throat, she turned away from him and murmured, “I’ll get my coat and bag.”

* * *

By the time Sassy and Jett finished their meal and began driving toward the Silver Horn Ranch, the clouds had turned even darker and flakes of snow began to splatter against the windshield.

“Looks like we’re in for nasty weather. I hope my meeting with the Calhouns won’t be as cold,” she spoke her thoughts aloud.

Glancing over at her, he smiled, and Sassy was reminded all over again just how handsome he looked in his white shirt, jacket and creased jeans. He wore the clothes with ease. The same way he smiled at her. As if being with her was as natural as the Nevada snowfall. And as their destination grew closer, Sassy decided that no matter what happened with the Calhoun family, meeting Jett and getting to know him was more than she’d ever expected to get from this trip.

“Are you always such a worrier?” he asked.

Shaking her head briefly, she said, “Actually, I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky sort. Probably too much so, at times. Losing my adoptive parents made me see just how short life can be. Why ruin what time you have by worrying? That was my motto. But Barry’s accident changed me in a lot of ways. Now I appreciate my friends and the people I love so much more.”

“Did you love him—Barry?”

His question jerked her head around just in time to see him shaking his head.

“Forget I asked that,” he said gruffly. “What you felt for the guy is none of my business.”

Confusion, guilt and regret swirled through her, and she stared down at her clenched hands cradled in her lap. “I’m going to have the man’s baby. It would’ve been better if I’d loved him. But—” Lifting her head, she sighed with regret. “To be totally honest, our relationship hadn’t gotten that far. We’d only known each other a few weeks and I’d become very fond of him. We were growing closer. But the baby happened because—well, that one night Barry was persuasive and I was feeling...”

“Like a human being—a woman,” he finished for her.

A pent-up breath eased out on a sigh. “That’s pretty close to what I was trying to say.”

What was he thinking of her now? she wondered. That she was the type of woman who didn’t take men seriously? Or that she was incapable of having a meaningful relationship with one special man? That idea bothered her far more than it should have. She wanted Jett to think highly of her, to see her as a smart, responsible woman, not as a flighty airhead who took impulsive risks.

“So, now that you’ve had a little while to think about things, how do you feel about the baby?”

Feeling his glance sliding over her, she forced herself to look his way. “The circumstances could be better,” she admitted. “But in spite of that, I’m happy. And I’m going to be the best mother I can possibly be to this child.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Sassy. Real glad.”

The sincerity in his voice caressed her like a soft hand and filled her with warmth. Clearing away the tightness in her voice, she said, “And I’m glad you’re going to be with me when I step into the Calhouns’ home.”

“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I’ll stick to your side.”

She was wondering about the connotation of that remark when they rounded a curve in the narrow road and entered a long lane lined with tall pines and poplar trees. At the end of it, she caught a glimpse of a huge three-story redbrick house nestled against the foothill of a mountain.

This was the Silver Horn ranch house. The Calhoun home. It was even more majestic than she’d imagined, and suddenly the idea that an orphaned maid could be related to this family was completely comical.

Jett parked to one side of the circular drive then took her arm as they walked up a long concrete walkway lined with low-growing evergreens.

At the double-door entry, a young maid, with brown hair slicked tightly back from her face and fastened in a ballerina knot, promptly answered the ring of the doorbell and ushered the two of them down a long foyer.

After giving Sassy a curious look, she took their coats, and said, “You’ll find everybody in the family room, Jett.”

“Thanks, Tessa,” he told the woman. “We’ll find our way.”

The maid nodded, then disappeared through a nearby doorway. Watching her go, Sassy suddenly clutched his arm. “I’d feel better if I was going with the maid.”

With a shake of his head, he urged her forward. “No backing out on this now.”

They passed through what seemed like an endless maze of halls and doorways, then finally stepped downward into a long carpeted room with one glass wall that looked over a wide yard and a sky full of falling snow. The space was occupied with several people, all of them men, and it seemed to Sassy that the whole group turned at the same time to stare directly at her.

“Jett! You’re finally here!”

The owner of the voice emerged from somewhere in the back of the room, and as he grew closer Sassy was astounded to see a male version of herself walking up to them.

Jett wasted no time in introducing the tall, auburn-haired man. “Sassy, this is Finn Calhoun, the man who wrote you the letter. He’s the second youngest of the Calhoun boys.”

Dazed, Sassy managed to offer her hand to him. “Hello, Finn. I’m— I don’t know what to say. Do I look like you or do you look like me?”

The man, who appeared to be near her own age, threw back his head and laughed, then beamed a grin at Jett. “This is awesome! Just awesome!” Whirling around to the rest of his family, he motioned them closer. “Come on you guys. Come meet Sassy!”

The group of men surged forward, all of them talking in an excited rush. Except for one. The older, silver-haired man was standing a few steps away from the rest of the group, his expression grim as his narrowed eyes burned a hole in her.

As the younger men reached to shake her hand and offer their greetings, Sassy tried to ignore the daunting figure and focus on each name and face. But after a moment, the outsider plowed his way through the men and fixed an angry glare at Jett.

“Get this woman out of here! Now!”

The outburst caused a hush to come over the group, and feeling as though a knife had been rammed into her chest, Sassy turned to Jett and clutched his arm.

Before she could beg him to take her away, Orin walked over to the older man and latched tightly on to his arm. “What the hell are you doing, Dad? You’re behaving like a rude bastard!”

Turning into Jett, she muttered close to his ear, “I don’t want to stay here. We’d better go.”

Overhearing her reaction, Finn quickly protested, “You’re not going anywhere, Sassy.” He stabbed his grandfather with a burning glare, then turned toward his father and three brothers. “Is she, guys?”

“Not by a long shot,” the one named Clancy replied. He stepped forward and reached for her hand. “Come along, Sassy, and have a drink with us. It’s really nice to have a woman in the house again. I think I can say that for all my brothers.”

“Absolutely!” the brother named Rafe exclaimed. “Bowie, the baby of the bunch, isn’t here. He’s in the Marines and down in southern California now, but I can safely say he’d be happy to meet you.”

Evan, the one with chestnut-colored hair and broad shoulders, rubbed his hands together with gleeful anticipation. “This is a treat. Let’s break out the best brandy and have Tessa bring in the cake that Greta made for our special guest!”

Seeing that his order was being totally ignored, Bart Calhoun jerked away from Orin’s grasp, then turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. At the same time, Clancy was pulling Sassy deeper into the room and she glanced helplessly up at Jett, who was staying close by her side.

“What am I supposed to do now?” she asked.

He shot her a wry smile. “Maybe you should let the Calhoun family tell you that.”

Chapter Four

Wondering if she was being led into a den of wolves, Sassy moved along with the Calhoun men until they reached a furniture grouping placed strategically near the roaring fireplace.

“Sit here, Sassy.” Clancy, the tawny-haired one, maneuvered her over to a big armchair covered in cream-colored leather. “It’s real comfy and you’ll be nice and warm.”

“Not there, Clancy!” Rafe quickly protested. “If she sits there none of us can sit next to her.”

Clancy shot a droll look at his younger brother. “Precisely. She doesn’t need you or Finn cozying up to her.”

“Hey, that’s not fair,” Finn protested. “Sassy’s here because of me. I should get to sit next to her.”

“Sassy is here tonight because I brought her,” Jett suddenly reminded the group. “Maybe the whole bunch of you ought to remember that.”

Standing near the fireplace hearth, Orin leveled a pointed look at Jett. “I don’t think you’ll have to remind Bart of that fact.”

From the corner of her eye, Sassy watched one of Jett’s brows arch with speculation and though he said nothing in response to Orin’s remark, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. From what Jett had told her, he’d worked exclusively as the Calhoun family lawyer ever since he’d passed the bar. If her coming here had jeopardized his position, she’d feel worse than terrible.

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