From Megan Maitland’s Diary

Dear Diary,

How I wish this day could last forever! I’ve been so truly blessed to have my whole family with me this Christmas. Seeing them all gathered around my table, each one happily married and with growing families of their own, fills my heart with joy. What more could a mother want for her children?

The Lords arrived this evening to share in the celebration. Garrett, Michael, Lana and Shelby are as dear to me as my own family. They’re all married now, too, except for Garrett. He remains stubbornly single, and seems more determined than ever to find his birth mother. If only…no, I cannot betray a promise. But I can make a special Christmas wish…

There’s never a dull moment at
MAITLAND MATERNITY

Garrett Lord: Garrett never expects that the runaway bride he finds in his barn might be the woman who holds the key to his past…and the key to his heart.

Mimi Casville: Mimi wants to prove to Garrett that she can work the ranch. Not because she needs to hide out but because Garrett seems to like her for herself. Not her family’s wealth and power.

Rupert Casville: Rupert is obsessed with having a grandson to carry on the Casville legacy. What he doesn’t know is that he already has one….

Paul Renquist: Paul isn’t above being paid by Rupert Casville to marry Mimi—or above blackmail to ensure that this time she makes it to the altar.

LeeAnn Larimore: She’d given up her precious babies all those years ago. Now they’re adults…and so close she can reach out and touch them.

Fugitive Fiancée
Kristin Gabriel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Kristin Gabriel is a traditional city girl who now lives on a farm in central Nebraska with her husband, three children, a springer spaniel and assorted cats. She received a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Nebraska before pursuing her dream of writing. Two-time winner of the prestigious RITA® Award for Best Traditional Romance of the Year, Kristin is the author of over twenty-five books for Harlequin. Her first novel, Bullets over Boise, was even turned into a made-for-television movie called Recipe for Revenge. Kristin enjoys hearing from her readers and can be reached through her Web site at www.KristinGabriel.com, or at Kristin Gabriel, P.O. Box 5162, Grand Island, NE 68802-5162.

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

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

GARRET LORD needed to find a place to hide. Fast. Caught between the corral and the old red barn, he could see the shiny blue Ford pickup truck rattling down the long gravel drive that led to his ranch house. The dual tires kicked up a plume of thick Texas dust that hovered in the fading twilight.

He only had a few precious seconds to take cover before he was spotted. He considered diving into the water trough by the corral, but he didn’t think he could hold his breath for that long.

That left the barn.

He spun on the heel of his cowboy boot and bolted for the barn door, whipping it shut behind him just as he heard the sound of gravel crunching under the truck’s tires. Hubert, his aspiring cow dog, began barking, alerting his master to the new arrival. But Garrett didn’t have to worry about the little black schnauzer disclosing his hiding place. That dog was loyal through and through.

Too bad Garrett couldn’t say the same about some of the people in his life.

He’d learned that lesson early. At two and a half years old, to be exact. When his mother had abandoned him and his younger sisters and brother. He couldn’t even remember her. Not the color of her eyes, or her hair, or the sound of her laughter. When he was a young boy, he used to look for her on the streets and in department stores, certain he’d recognize his own mother when he saw her.

But it had never happened.

Now he was both older and wiser. He didn’t indulge in childish fantasies anymore. It had taken him a while, long enough for another woman to rip away a little piece of his heart when she’d left him stranded at the altar seven years ago. She’d made a fool of him. But when the embarrassment had lasted longer than the heartache, he knew he’d gotten lucky. And he was smart enough not to make the same mistake twice.

Garrett always went with the odds, and love was definitely a long shot. Especially with his track record. Not to mention the astronomical divorce rate these days. Besides, he was more than content living alone. Working alone. Although he did treasure the time he spent with his sisters and brother. Time that was increasingly scarce now that Shelby, Lana and Michael had families of their own. As their older brother, he’d watched over the triplets for as long as he could remember. But they didn’t need his protection anymore.

Now, if he could just find someone to protect him from man-hungry cowgirls.

He leaned toward the door, pressing one eye against a tiny crack in the wood. He could see the front porch and the young woman from the neighboring ranch who stood at the door. Venna held a large covered basket in one hand. No doubt another food offering to entice him into matrimony. Only food wasn’t the way to Garrett’s heart. Neither was her eclectic artwork. Last week she’d given him a painting of a clown to hang in his living room. He hated clowns.

As he slanted his head for a better view, Garrett suddenly realized that he’d been reduced to hiding from a woman. But it was that or endure Venna’s incessant chatter until the wee hours of the morning again. She could talk almost as well as she could cook. And she was forever finding excuses to touch him.

She reminded him of a cat that had wandered onto his ranch a few years ago. Garrett was allergic to cats, so he’d avoided it as much as possible, leaving food and water in the barn, but keeping his distance. But the more he tried to keep away from it, the more the cat sought him out. Rubbing against his boots. Sleeping in his saddle. Leaving cat dander everywhere. When his sneezing and itchy, watery eyes had finally proven too much to bear, he’d foisted the overly affectionate feline on Megan Maitland. She’d always been good at taking in strays.

If only he could get rid of Venna as easily.

“Damn,” he breathed as he watched her try the doorknob, then enter the house. He’d left the door unlocked and a light on in the living room, as well as a slow cooker full of beef stew simmering in the kitchen. All signs that might encourage her to wait for his return. Which meant he could be stuck in the barn for most of the evening.

He turned away from the door and strode down the center aisle of the barn. None of the six horses even gave him a glance, recognizing his familiar step. They stood in their wooden stalls, three on either side of the aisle, chewing contentedly on their evening ration of oats.

“At least the animals on this ranch get to eat,” he muttered, his stomach rumbling. He climbed the plank ladder that led to the hayloft, figuring he might as well catch a few winks on a soft bed of straw while he waited. It beat staying awake and listening to his stomach growl.

The flutter of birds’ wings and admonishing squawks greeted him. No doubt his presence disturbed some of the nesting barn swallows, who didn’t like anyone invading their home.

He knew just how they felt.

“Hope you don’t mind if I join you,” he called to the birds as he reached the top of the ladder.

“Not at all.”

Startled, Garrett lost his grip on the ladder and almost toppled off. When he regained his balance, he stared slack-jawed at the vision in front of him. Sitting atop a stack of golden straw was a bride.

He blinked and looked again. It was a bride, all right. He recognized all the warning signs—the white wedding dress, the gauzy fingertip veil, the white satin spiked heels on her dainty feet. Not to mention the lacy blue garter belt, revealed by the voluminous taffeta skirt bunched up around her thighs.

Before he could get a good look, she hastily pushed her skirt down, concealing the garter belt as well as a pair of long, slender legs.

For one brief moment, Garrett had an irrational impulse to shinny down the ladder and make a run for it. But run where? The house wasn’t safe, and he’d be spotted out in the open. Besides, this was his ranch. His barn. His hayloft. If anyone was leaving, it was the bride.

He climbed the last two rungs, then stepped onto the loft floor. Without giving the woman another glance, he sidled over to the dusty window and looked down at the driveway. The pickup was still there. Hubert was there, too, dutifully marking all the tires.

“You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here,” she said, breaking the long silence between them. Her voice was smooth and soft, like a warm, gentle breeze.

“I can guess.” He clenched his jaw as he turned to face her. No doubt Shelby and Lana were to blame. His sisters had been hinting that his place needed a woman’s touch ever since his housekeeper had retired. They’d brought up the subject again during Christmas dinner last week, even offering to play matchmaker for him.

Despite his irritation, he couldn’t help but be impressed with their choice. Quality stock, no doubt about it. Tall and slender, with generous curves in all the right places. Her blond hair was swept up off her neck, a few errant strands curling around her cheeks. A tiara encircled the intricate bun on the top of her head, the tiny crystals sparkling in the fading sunlight.

She wore only a touch of makeup, and that was marred by the tiny smudge of dirt on her nose and another on her chin. The almost regal way she tilted that dirty chin made him want to smile. But she might take that as a sign of encouragement, which was the last thing he needed.

Then he made the mistake of looking into her eyes. Deep, blue eyes like the Texas sky after a storm. They held him. Captivated him. Something in his belly twisted, but he told himself it was just hunger pains. He’d been working since dawn, not bothering to stop for lunch. That explained the ache deep inside him. He needed food. Rest. He needed to be alone.

Garrett forced himself to look away from her as he brushed the dust off his denim jeans. “My sisters sent you here, didn’t they?”

“No, I—”

“Then it must have been Michael,” he muttered, rubbing one hand over his jaw. “Or Jake.”

“Michael or Jake?” she echoed, looking perplexed.

“My brother and my former friend, if he’s behind this.” Michael Lord and Jake Maitland were once diehard bachelors who had avoided marriage as vigorously as Garrett. But they had accidentally let down their guard, and two determined women had snatched them up. Of course, the fact that Garrett happened to like both their wives very much was beside the point.

Lately they’d been dropping broad hints that Garrett should follow in their footsteps. But a bride in his barn? So much for subtlety.

Only what the hell did he do with her now? If he kicked her out of his hayloft, it might call attention to his presence. Better to wait until the coast was clear.

“I believe I owe you an explanation, Mr.…”

“Garrett.” He bit the word out.

“Well, Mr. Garrett…”

“Just call me Garrett,” he interjected. He didn’t stand on formality. And even though he’d carried the Lord name for more than twenty-five years, lately it had only served to remind him that he’d had another last name once. A name he still didn’t know.

“All right, Garrett. You may call me Mimi.”

He wasn’t planning on calling her anything, except a cab. Which made him wonder how she got way out here. He hadn’t seen any strange cars around the place. Though his ranch was located only a few miles outside Austin, it was tucked deep in the hill country, accessible only by a winding backroad. Had she been en route to her wedding at some quaint country church and lost her way?

She certainly looked lost. Not only was she over-dressed for the barn, but her manicured fingernails and those dainty shoes on her feet told him she was completely out of her element. He studied her face, noting the creamy smooth complexion, which obviously hadn’t seen any days working in the sun and wind. Her cheekbones were high, her nose finely shaped and tipped just slightly at the end. Her eyebrows and lashes were slightly darker than her hair, like burnished gold.

She licked her lips. “I know the last thing you expected to find up here was a bride sitting on your haystack.”

He swallowed a groan. It was worse than he thought. Bad enough he’d found a bride in his barn. She was a city girl, to boot. “You’re sitting on straw, not hay.”

A golden brow lifted. “Really? What’s the difference?”

“Wheat straw is yellow and used for livestock bedding. Hay is cut from grasses, like brome, and is fed to the stock. It’s green, and your pretty white dress would be, too, if you were sitting on hay.”

“I’m learning all kinds of fascinating things today,” she said, her tone telling him she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.

Well, he wasn’t thrilled, either. Not only was he stuck in the barn for who knew how long, he was stuck here with a city girl. A worried city girl, judging by the way her perfect teeth kept nipping that lush lower lip. Shadows clouded her blue eyes as she looked at him.

A vague uneasiness tightened his gut. Maybe this wasn’t a prank. Maybe she wasn’t lost. Maybe this woman was in trouble.

“If you’d just let me explain,” Mimi began, winding her fingers together.

“That really isn’t necessary.” Garrett moved to the window. Despite his natural curiosity, he didn’t want to know any details about her. Didn’t want this woman to intrude on his life more than she already had. Those shadows in her eyes bothered him. If he found out how they got there, he might feel obliged to help her. And he had enough problems of his own to deal with right now.

It was better if they remained strangers. Better for him, anyway. Sometimes he wondered if that’s why Jake Maitland had spent all those years working as a secret operative for the government. Moving from place to place had kept him from making ties and establishing relationships. Even his own family had rarely known how to find him. Maybe he’d liked it that way.

Because sometimes it hurt to care too much.

The creak of the barn door startled them both. Garrett whirled, locking eyes with Mimi. Her wary blue eyes widened at the sound of footsteps below them.

“Hide,” Garrett ordered in a husky whisper, diving behind a tall stack of straw. Mimi rolled off her perch to join him there, tangling them both in a billowing cloud of white taffeta.

They both batted down her wayward skirts, then froze as a feminine voice called from below. “Anybody here?”

One of the horses whinnied in reply.

“Garrett?” Her shout startled the barn swallows perched high in the rafters, and they fluttered around their nests.

Garrett saw Mimi open her mouth, and he immediately clamped his hand over it. Her lips were soft and warm against his palm. He felt a touch of moisture, like dew, on his skin, when she tried to speak. He shook his head, his body tightening at the thought of her small pink tongue touching him, tasting him.

She looked at him with those blue eyes, then finally nodded slowly in understanding. He removed his hand, suddenly aware of how close Mimi was to him. He could feel the silky wisps of her blond hair tickling his cheek and the soft fullness of one breast pressed against his upper arm. She was so warm and so very, very soft. One of her legs had tangled with his during their fall, her creamy skin rubbing against the rough fabric of his jeans. He didn’t dare move, even as a hot, tingling sensation shot through his veins to other parts of his body.

He looked into her eyes and found her still staring at him, their faces only a hairbreadth apart. He hadn’t been this close to a woman in months—and his body was reminding him of that fact. His heart pounded, and his breathing hitched.

“Garrett?” The voice below called again, closer now. “Are you up there?”

His muscles tensed as his attention was drawn away from Mimi. He held his breath, letting it out slowly when he finally heard the sound of receding footsteps. The barn door creaked once again.

Venna was gone.

He immediately put a healthy distance between himself and the bride. That’s when he noticed her hands were shaking.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Without thinking, Garrett reached out and clasped her small hands in his. Her fingers were as cold as ice. “You’re not fine.”

He hauled her off the floor and began roughly brushing strands of golden straw from her wedding dress. The roar of an engine drew his gaze to the window. He watched with relief as the pickup peeled out of his driveway toward the country road. Then he turned to Mimi. “It’s safe now. We can go to the house and you can call someone to pick you up.”

“That’s not necessary,” she breathed. Her fingers clutched the skirt of her wedding dress so tightly her knuckles matched the pearly white fabric.

“Believe me, it is.” He strode toward the ladder, then waited for her to follow.

She stayed rooted to the spot. “I can’t leave.”

“You can’t stay,” he countered, his tone registering his impatience.

She looked at him and licked her lips. Panic flared in her eyes. “You don’t understand. I…I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do.”

He heard the edge of desperation in her voice and moved closer to her. “It’s all right,” he said softly, using the same tone he used to gentle a spooked horse. “Everything will be all right. Come with me to the house. We’ll figure out what to do.”

Her tense shoulders relaxed a fraction. She took a deep breath, then gave him a shaky nod.

Garrett gently grasped her elbow and led her toward the ladder. She gathered her voluminous skirt in her hands, then carefully climbed down the wooden rungs. Her knees buckled when she reached the barn floor, and Garrett watched her grab on to a wooden support beam to steady herself. He jumped down the last few rungs and hurried to her side.

“I’m all right,” she assured him. “I haven’t eaten anything all day and the…excitement must be catching up with me.”

Damn. Bad enough he’d found a citified bride stowed away in his barn. Now she was about to pass out from hunger. How could she leave his ranch if she was unconscious? Without bothering to ask her permission, Garrett bent and scooped her into his arms. He ignored her sharp gasp of protest as he gathered her close to his chest. A little closer than necessary. But he couldn’t resist the urge to inhale her unique scent and feel all that softness against his body one last time.

His horse Brutus emitted a high-pitched whinny as Garrett headed for the barn door, a sputtering bride in his arms. If he didn’t know better, he’d think the big bay gelding was laughing at him.

AS SOON AS Garrett carried Mimi out of the barn, the wild Texas wind snatched at her veil and whipped it across his face. He spit three layers of tulle out of his mouth, then muttered an oath under his breath.

“You can put me down now,” she said, more than a little unnerved by his brute strength. She weighed one hundred and thirty pounds, and the man wasn’t even breathing hard.

“This is my ranch,” he bit out, shifting her slightly in his arms as he strode toward the house. “I’m the one who gives the orders.”

Mimi clenched her jaw and held her tongue. She couldn’t afford to antagonize him. She couldn’t keep staring at him, either. It wasn’t proper for a woman who’d almost married another man less than four hours ago. And Mimi Casville had been raised to be a proper young lady. To behave perfectly in every social situation. She’d always tried to follow the rigid dictates of high-society etiquette.

Until today.

Running out of your own wedding was not considered polite behavior in Austin society. Or anywhere else, for that matter. A well-bred, proper young lady did not abandon her groom at the altar. Or leave four hundred guests crowded together in the overly warm sanctuary.

But Mimi had done exactly that. And now she was in the arms of a cowboy. A very handsome cowboy who was partly to blame for the weakness in her knees and the erratic beat of her heart. She blinked at him, unable to look away. His face was tanned and rugged, testimony to long days working under the hot Texas sun. The shadow of stubble on his square jaw matched the russet hair almost hidden beneath his black felt cowboy hat.

Her cheeks blazed when his green-gold eyes caught her staring at him. She blinked and quickly looked away. But not before his gaze touched something in her soul. The way he looked at her… If her fiancé had ever looked at her that way, just once, she might be a married woman right now.

Mimi closed her eyes, pushing thoughts of her duplicitous fiancé out of her mind. She couldn’t think about him. Not now. Instead, she leaned her head against Garrett’s broad chest and focused her attention on the ranch house.

It was a rustic, two-story stone-fronted structure, fifty years old or so, but well-maintained. Black shutters accented every window, and small wisps of smoke curled out of the stone chimney. An inviting wraparound porch held a porch swing and a small doghouse. Wood creaked as Garrett climbed the steps that led to his front door.

Like most girls, Mimi had always dreamed of her wedding day. In her mind’s eye, she’d seen a magnificent cathedral full of friends and family. A reverent candelight service. A handsome, adoring groom.

She sighed. So far, it hadn’t turned out at all like she’d planned. She’d certainly never imagined being carried over the threshold by a cantankerous cowboy. Although the stranger holding her in his arms had a solidness about him that she’d rarely experienced before. A gentle strength that inexplicably made her want to nestle closer to him.

At least until he marched through the front door and dumped her on the beige leather sofa in his living room. Then he turned on his heel and left without a word.

Mimi lay there stunned for a moment, listening to the clomp of his cowboy boots in the next room. Then she struggled to sit up. It was difficult to do anything in her five-thousand-dollar wedding dress. One hundred and ten silk-covered buttons ran down the back of the dress from her neck to her tailbone. Steel ribbing cinched her middle like an old-fashioned corset. It made her waist look impossibly tiny and her breasts impossibly big. It also made it very hard to breathe. Little wonder she’d almost passed out.

When she finally managed to pull herself upright, she took a long look around the room. A sturdy oak coffee table separated the sofa from two oversize leather armchairs. A handwoven rug with rich hues of blue, green and burgundy stretched across the polished hardwood floor. Another rug lay in front of the stone hearth, where a small fire glowed. A rustic Christmas wreath made of fragrant pine boughs still hung over the mantel.

She leaned back against the sofa, listening to the crackle and snap of the fire and watching the shadows of the flames dance on the wall.

Mimi’s instincts told her Garrett was definitely a bachelor. There were no fussy feminine touches in the room, although she found she liked the Spartan simplicity surrounding her. It was an improvement over the ostentatious Colonial-style mansion she’d grown up in.

Tears pricked her eyes. She might never see that home again. Never see her father, who was no doubt bullying his way through Austin right now searching for her. Her throat grew so tight it was almost painful. She couldn’t let him find her. Not until she had time to straighten out the mess she’d made of her life.

The day seemed like a blur. Or rather like a nightmare. One you couldn’t escape by waking up. It was all too real. The betrayal and the lies. The careful scheming and the furtive whispers. All designed to make Mimi believe an illusion. Only now her eyes were wide open.

She’d never been this alone before. No, that wasn’t true. Once. Just once she’d been even more frightened, more desperate. It was a time she didn’t like to think about. A time that made her heart ache. Ten years ago. She closed her eyes and swallowed her tears. Now wasn’t the time to reminisce about lost hopes and broken dreams. She had to stay strong. Had to figure a way out of this mess.

After taking several deep breaths, Mimi opened her eyes, more composed. She couldn’t worry about the past or the future. Right now the present demanded all her energy.

Garrett entered the room carrying a tray with two steaming wooden bowls on it and a crusty loaf of bread. He set it on the coffee table, then handed her one of the bowls. “Eat every drop.”

Mimi sat up and reached for the spoon, assuming this to be another one of his orders. She was much too hungry to think about disobeying it. The savory aroma of the stew made her mouth water. She spooned up a hearty bite, blew gently on it, then put it in her mouth, closing her eyes in appreciation as the delicious flavors mingled on her tongue.

“This is wonderful,” she said, spooning up another bite. It seemed so peaceful somehow, eating stew with a perfect stranger. Away from all the pressures that had built around her for the past few weeks.

“Anything tastes good when you’re half-starved.” He sliced a thick slab of bread from the loaf and handed it to her.

So Garrett didn’t take orders or compliments well, Mimi thought as she watched him cut a slice of bread for himself. He didn’t take kindly to finding stray brides in his barn, either, judging by his earlier reaction.

He looked up and caught her staring at him again. “Eat.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she immediately dropped her gaze to her bowl. She sensed that Garrett, like his adorable dog, was all bark and no bite. The little black schnauzer had growled ferociously at her when she’d first stepped foot on the ranch. Of course, the pup had ruined his guard-dog act by licking her ankles and rolling over on his back for a belly rub.

Not that his master could be so easily pacified. An unbidden image of Garrett licking her ankles flashed in her mind, and Mimi choked on her stew. Heat washed up her face as Garrett looked at her.

“Are you all right?”

“Fine,” she replied, hoping he’d blame the steaming stew for the fiery flush on her cheeks.

To make matters worse, he pushed away his empty bowl, then leaned back in his chair and slowly rubbed one hand over his taut stomach. Maybe he enjoyed belly rubs as much as his dog.

She tried to swallow the giggle bubbling up her throat, but it erupted in a very unladylike snort. He scowled at her, and Mimi didn’t know what to do. Laugh? Cry? Both seemed equally tempting at the moment.

But now was not the time to become hysterical. She could save her tears for later. It wasn’t proper for a dinner guest to weep over her food. So instead she took a deep, calming breath and endeavored to make polite dinner conversation.

“This bread is delicious.” Mimi had never baked bread in her life, but she knew after the first succulent bite that it was homemade. Still warm from the oven, the bread was crusty on the outside and tender on the inside.

“Venna made it.”

“Venna?” Mimi wiped her buttery fingers on her paper napkin. “Is she your cook?”

“Nope.”

She waited for him to elaborate, but he turned his gaze to the fireplace. His silence only made her more curious. Mimi wasn’t naturally nosy, but for some reason, this man intrigued her more than most. Maybe because he didn’t know anything about her or her illustrious family. He wasn’t trying to impress her or charm her or do anything to draw himself closer to the Casville fortune.

He might even like her if he got to know her. Like her for herself, instead of what her family’s money and power might do for him.

She spooned up more stew. “Then she must be your fairy godmother.”

That got his attention. He turned his gaze from the fire to her. “What?”

“This mysterious Venna. I thought she might be some kind of fairy godmother who magically makes fresh-baked bread appear on your table every evening.”

He scowled. “There’s nothing mysterious about her. Venna Schwab was the woman in the barn.”

“The woman you were hiding from?”

“I wasn’t hiding,” he said, not quite meeting her gaze. “I just don’t happen to like unexpected company.”

She chose to ignore the innuendo. “Why? I’d think a person would get pretty lonely way out here—with nothing but cows and coyotes to keep you company.”

“That’s the way I like it,” he countered. “Although a ranch is no place for a city girl like you.”

She blanched. “How did you know?”

“I can spot a city girl a mile away. Not many women out here waste money on a fancy manicure.” He motioned to her polished pink fingernails. “Or wear silly shoes like the ones you’ve got on.”

She lifted her feet a few inches off the floor. “These silly shoes happen to be imported from Italy. They’re designer originals!”

“Well, they’re not worth two bits out here. Between the dirt and the gravel and the scrub brush they’ll be ruined in no time.”

She shrugged and placed her feet on the floor. “I didn’t have time to change. I left in rather a hurry.”

She expected him to ask her why, but instead he swept the bread crumbs off the coffee table into his empty bowl. Then he looked at her. “Finish your stew.”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious about me?” she asked, ignoring his latest order.

“No.” He settled back in the armchair and folded his arms across his chest. “I’ve learned the hard way that curiosity can be a dangerous thing. Now, do you need a ride back into Austin, or did you drive out here?”

“I drove.” She licked the last few bread crumbs off her fingers. “At least, until I ran out of gas. Then I walked.”

He arched a brow. “Walked? In those shoes?”

“Of course not. I took them off and carried them.”

He leaned forward. “You mean you walked barefoot on these gravel roads? Exactly how far did you go?”

She shrugged. “Five or six miles. I lost count.”

He rose and moved toward her. Then he knelt in front of the sofa and picked up her foot. She winced as he carefully removed her right shoe.

“Damn,” he breathed. Beneath the shredded sheer stocking, raw blisters and tiny cuts covered the sole of her foot. Without another word, he carefully pulled the stocking away from her skin, then ripped it apart with his powerful hands. It split all the way to her knee.

Mimi looked down to see that her pink pedicured toenails were torn, dirty and bleeding. Her head spun, and she reached out to grab his broad shoulder. She hated acting weak in front of him, but at the moment she was too busy trying not to pass out to care.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his callused hands cradling her foot.

“Nothing. It’s silly.”

“Tell me.”

As Mimi struggled to remain conscious, she thought about all the money her father had wasted on doctors and even a hypnotist to help her overcome this ridiculous reaction to the sight of blood. Especially her own. But nothing had helped. In fact, her father’s insistence that she conquer this weakness had only seemed to make it worse.

At last, she took a deep breath and focused her attention on his face instead of her foot. “The sight of blood makes me a little woozy. In fact, I have to wax my legs instead of shaving them because I’ll pass out if I nick myself with a razor.”

Heat flooded her face when she realized how inappropriate it was to tell him that intimate little detail. Especially now that his thumb was absently stroking the sleek, bare skin of her ankle.

She swallowed hard at his sensuous touch, wanting it both to stop and to go on forever. “I…you…I mean, this really isn’t necessary.”

“Don’t look,” he ordered as he turned his attention to her left foot.

She squeezed her eyes shut, but she couldn’t stop the small gasp that left her lips when he tugged off her other shoe.

“Does that hurt?”

“Not really,” she breathed, warily opening her eyes.

“Liar,” he said softly. Then he stood, turned and tossed her shoes in the fireplace.

She watched in mute horror as her five-hundred-dollar shoes went up in flames. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m doing you a favor.”

“But…those are the only shoes I have with me.”

“My sister Shelby keeps a pair of boots here that she only wears when she comes out to ride.” His gaze flicked over her. “Might not be a perfect fit, but you two look about the same size.”

“That’s not the point. You had no right to dispose of my property. How would you like it if I—” she motioned wildly toward the large picture window “—burned down your barn!”

He arched a brow. “Is that what you were planning to do in there?”

“Of course not. If you want to know the truth, I was hiding out. I figured a hayloft was the last place my fiancé would look, especially since he has horrible hay fever.” She swallowed, realizing the time had come to tell him everything. Well, maybe not everything. She did have some pride.

“I was supposed to be married today. But I…” Mimi’s voice quavered, and she paused a moment to gain control. “I just couldn’t go through with it. So I left him at the altar, hopped into my car and drove until it wouldn’t go any farther.”

The memory rekindled her anger, making her voice stronger. “It didn’t matter to me where or how far, I just had to get away. As far away as possible.”

A muscle ticked in Garrett’s jaw, but he didn’t say anything.

“I walked until I couldn’t take another step,” she continued, her fingers flexing on the wrinkled skirt of her gown. “That’s when I saw your ranch. There wasn’t anyone around but the dog, and he seemed friendly enough. I thought I could rest for a while in your hayloft. Maybe even stay the night.”

Garrett just stared at her.

“I know that was presumptuous. And I apologize for trespassing on your property.” She nibbled her lower lip. “But I really didn’t know what else to do. I certainly couldn’t walk right into your house, unlocked or not.”

She swallowed again, her throat dry. “I’d only been up in your hayloft for about thirty minutes when you arrived.”

The way Garrett was looking at her made her increasingly uneasy. Raw emotion smoldered in his eyes.

“Well,” she said after a long, uncomfortable silence, “don’t you have anything to say?”

“Yes.” His voice sounded low and tight. “Get the hell off my ranch.”

CHAPTER TWO

MIMI FLINCHED as the front door slammed. Garrett had ordered her to leave, but he’d been the one to stomp out the door. Men. She’d never understand them. Her father was just as unfathomable. Not to mention prickly and stubborn.

Today she’d also learned he was a liar.

Her chest tightened, and Mimi sat up straight on the sofa, suddenly unable to breathe. Frantic fingers clumsily worked the silk buttons running down the back of her gown. The fabric ripped, and she gasped for air until she was finally free of the confining garment.

She stood up, shimmying out of the voluminous gown and letting it pile at her feet. Then she stepped out of it, still decently covered from ankle to collarbone by her white silk bridal slip. She kicked the gown into the corner, then sat on the sofa, placing her head between her knees to regain her equilibrium.

Not a full-fledged panic attack, but close enough. A sign that her life was spinning out of control. Again. It had first happened when she was a freshman in college. A silly infatuation with a charming upper-classman had turned her life upside down and almost caused her to quit school.

Then, two years ago, her father had been diagnosed with colon cancer. Mimi had immediately left her job with the Archives Department of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center and moved home, devoting herself to her widowed father’s care.

An astute businessman, Rupert Casville was suddenly faced with his own mortality. His illness and frailty terrified Mimi.

He lost all interest in Casville Industries, leaving everything in the capable hands of his business attorney, Paul Renquist.

Without his business to occupy his time, her father had focused on continuing the Casville legacy. He soon became obsessed with having grandchildren, and since Mimi was his only child, it was up to her to provide them. Rupert’s obsession only got worse after his remission.

She bit her lip, remembering her father’s wistful pleas for a grandson. But despite her empathy for him, she’d kept her secret. A secret she’d carried for a decade. Still, a sense of guilt made her agree to go on an endless series of blind dates. But none of the self-absorbed, eligible bachelors her father had found appealed to her.

At twenty-eight, she no longer expected to find her soul mate. But she was willing to settle for someone she could depend on. A man who shared her desire for children and treated her with respect.

A man like Paul Renquist.

He was handsome and charming. A self-made man and a savvy attorney, Paul had efficiently handled every business crisis during her father’s illness. Strong and steady, he had been a solid rock to cling to in her suddenly stormy life.

Still, his marriage proposal had come as a complete surprise. Mimi had been stunned, since they’d never shared more than a few casual dinner dates. Paul’s reasons for a marriage between them had made so much sense. She hadn’t stood a chance against his polished negotiating skills. Especially when he’d insisted on a prenuptial agreement that would prevent him from receiving any of the Casville millions if they divorced.

So Mimi had said yes, believing she’d eventually grow to love him.

Then today, thanks to the ancient ventilation system in the old cathedral, she’d discovered her father had been paying him to romance her all along. Mimi had been alone in the dressing room, fighting off another impending panic attack, when she’d heard their illuminating conversation through the air vent.

She liked to think it was divine providence.

She closed her eyes, her head spinning. She’d almost married a man she didn’t love. Almost destroyed her own life, trying to please her father.

Fleeing her wedding was the first impulsive thing she’d done in her life. For the first time she could remember, she wasn’t standing in the suffocating shadow of the Casville name. And Garrett was the first man who didn’t see dollar signs when he looked at her.

Not that he wanted to look at her. The man had just ordered her out of his house. He obviously didn’t realize she wasn’t taking orders anymore.

Only she still wasn’t sure what to do next.

A dull ache throbbed in her temple as she contemplated her options. No doubt her father and Paul had already started a full-scale search. She couldn’t go home. She couldn’t go to a hotel, either, since she didn’t have any of her credit cards with her.

More than anything, Mimi needed time to heal. And what better place than on a secluded ranch in the starkly beautiful Texas hill country?

But first she had to figure out a way to convince Garrett to let her stay.

“WOMEN,” Garrett muttered under his breath as he marched along the fence line, his way lit by the full moon. “I’ll never understand them.”

Hubert trotted beside him, emitting a tiny bark as he bounded forward to keep up with Garrett’s long stride.

“It’s like they go out of their way to drive a man crazy.” Garrett looked at his dog. “Take my advice, Hubert. Don’t ever get mixed up with some female. Even if she has eyes like the Texas sky and hair like clover honey.”

Hubert yelped, then drew up his front paw and limped on three legs. Garrett bent and pulled a sandbur from the tender pad of the dog’s small paw. Then he straightened and leaned against the corral fence, propping one boot on the bottom rail.

He gazed at the canopy of stars glittering across the big Texas sky. “Of all the haylofts in all the world, why did she have to end up in mine?”

Hubert barked at him, wagging his cropped tail.

Garrett sighed, wondering when he’d become such a coldhearted son of a bitch. Ordering the woman off his ranch hadn’t been one of his finer moments. He stared at the moonlit horizon, letting the nippy breeze cool his temper.

Women had plagued him all day. First his sister Lana, inviting him to dinner. Suspicious of the spark of mischief in her eye, he’d finally gotten her to confess that she planned to invite a date for him, as well. He’d turned down her invitation, but she hadn’t made it easy. Lana could be almost as stubborn as Garrett when she set her mind to something.

Then Venna had come after him again, still hell-bent on roping him into matrimony. He couldn’t decide if she was incredibly determined or just delusional. The last thing he wanted was a woman looking for husband number three.

Then there was Mimi.

Mimi. Ever since he’d caught her in his hayloft, she’d been like a sandbur under his skin. Only she didn’t cause him any pain. Far from it. She made him remember how damn long it had been since he’d held a woman in his arms. How soft and warm and wonderful women could be.

If only they weren’t so damn much trouble.

He’d tried ignoring her, insulting her and intimidating her, but she hadn’t taken the hint. He wanted her off his ranch and out of his life. If she wouldn’t go willingly, then he’d fling her over his shoulder and haul her to Austin himself.

“Come on, Hubert,” Garrett said, turning to the house. “Time to take Mimi back where she belongs.”

He marched to the house and through the front door, ready to meet any resistance. But his resolve faded when he saw her curled up on the sofa, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open. He pushed the door shut behind him, a little louder than necessary, but she didn’t even stir.

Her wedding dress was in a heap on the floor. He moved closer to the sofa, noticing the shadows under her eyes. Then his gaze flicked to her bare feet, peeking out beneath the hem of her long silk slip. The raw scratches and livid welts on the soles of her feet looked even worse than before.

The fire popped in the hearth, shooting a spray of orange sparks and making shadows dance on the walls. Watching her sleep, Garrett wondered why he’d let her upset him so much. Mimi was no threat to him. She was some other man’s problem. She was also in obviously desperate straits if she’d trust a total stranger not to take advantage of her. He doubted either of his sisters would ever end up in such a crazy situation, but if they did, he hoped no one would kick them out into the cold night.

Picking up the lonestar quilt off the back of the sofa, he gently draped it over her sleeping form, then he switched off the living room light.

“First thing in the morning,” he vowed to himself. “She’s outta here.”

Austin American Statesman

WEDDING BELLE BLUES

Mimi Casville, daughter of prominent Austin industrialist Rupert Casville, ran out of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Austin yesterday, just moments before she was to exchange vows with local attorney Paul Renquist.

The runaway bride wore a stunning gown of oyster silk with a sweetheart-style bodice and delicate spaghetti straps. Hand-sewn pearls accented the box-pleated skirt and cathedral train.

The groom, resplendent in a black cutaway coat and tails designed by the incomparable Oscar de la Renta, refused to comment. The champagne reception went on as scheduled, absent the unwedded couple. All four hundred guests dined on Rockefeller oysters, Russian caviar and juicy rumors regarding the fractured nuptials.

Official word is that the bride succumbed to a sudden illness and that the wedding will be rescheduled in the near future. Unofficially, sources say that the bride fled the scene in her red convertible and hasn’t been seen since.

Destination of Ms. Casville unknown. Stay tuned to this column for further updates.

—Bettina Collingsworth

“DID YOU SEE this crap?”

Paul Renquist looked up from his breakfast plate as Rupert Casville marched into the formal dining room, waving a newspaper in his hand. Paul had spent the night at the Casville mansion, hoping to talk some sense into Mimi when she returned home.

Only she hadn’t come home.

“It’s in the society section, Rupert. Nobody who matters reads that.”

“I sure as hell read it.” Rupert slapped the newspaper on the polished oak table. “Who is this Bettina Collingsworth woman, anyway?”

“She reports all the high-profile weddings in Austin.”

“Obviously, she missed her calling. She should be writing UFO reports for the tabloids.” Rupert pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “I can’t believe a newspaper like the Austin American Statesman would print such melodramatic tripe. I’m tempted to buy the damn newspaper myself just so I can fire this dingbat.”

Paul picked up his fork. “I called Mrs. Collingsworth this morning and asked her to print a retraction.”

“And?”

“And she refused.” Paul hesitated as a maid brought in Rupert’s breakfast. Maria only spoke a few words of English, or at least that’s what she claimed. Paul didn’t believe in taking chances, so he kept his mouth shut.

“This looks wonderful, Maria,” Rupert said, unfolding his napkin. “Thank you.”

She nodded, then, with a dismissive glance at Paul, walked out of the room.

A hot flush crept up his neck. He hated the way the servants looked at him, as if he’d crawled into the Casville mansion on his belly. He’d put his foot down when Mimi had wanted to invite them to the wedding.

Was that why she’d left him at the altar?

He shook his head, still baffled by her behavior. For the last six months, he’d bent over backward to accommodate her every need, grant her every wish. He’d even agreed to her outrageous request not to consummate their relationship until the wedding night.

What more did she want?

Rupert reached for the salt and pepper, liberally sprinkling his plate with both. He ate the same breakfast every morning. Three eggs over easy, a rasher of bacon, hominy grits and a big glass of tomato juice. “So what else did she say?”

Paul looked at him. “Who?”

“That Collingsworth dame.”

Paul picked up a spoon and returned his attention to his grapefruit. “She told me she witnessed Mimi running out of the church herself. So she didn’t buy our story about the bride suddenly taking ill.”

“Damn.” Rupert reached into his suitcoat and pulled out a small silver flask. He unscrewed the lid, then poured a generous shot of vodka into his tomato juice.

Paul swallowed hard, his throat suddenly very dry. “I’ll take one of those.”

Rupert raised a grizzled brow. “I thought you gave up the booze.”

“Hell, Rupert, my bride’s run out on me! I can’t think of a better occasion to fall off the wagon, can you?”

Rupert set the flask on the table and pushed it toward him. “There you go, Paul. Enjoy. Of course, you take one drink, and you can forget about ever marrying my daughter.”

Paul froze, his hand already outstretched toward the flask. He glanced at Rupert’s slate-blue eyes and instinctively knew he meant business. But then, Rupert Casville always meant business. And he never let inconsequential things like friends or family, or even his only daughter, stand in his way.

“Marry her?” Paul’s hand curled into a fist as he slumped in his chair. “We can’t even find her.”

“Mimi simply got a case of cold feet. She’ll be back.” Rupert took a sip of tomato juice. “Her mother was skittish, too. High-strung. The thoroughbreds always are.”

Paul watched Rupert push his food away, half-eaten. He’d lost a considerable amount of weight in the last two years. Of course, Rupert’s loss was Paul’s gain. His illness had given Paul a golden opportunity for a more powerful role at Casville Industries. Not only had he succeeded in a professional sense, but he’d impressed Rupert enough for the CEO to consider him husband material for his man-shy daughter.

Rupert tossed his linen napkin on the table. “I still can’t believe Mimi didn’t come home last night. It’s not like her to be so irresponsible.”

“I suppose we just need to be patient.”

“Patient?” Rupert snapped. “I didn’t become one of the richest men in Texas by sitting around on my backside. I make things happen.”

Paul clenched his jaw, willing himself to keep his mouth shut. He’d been doing a damn good job of it for the last two years, working by Rupert’s side and patiently enduring the man’s patronizing attitude and all-around bullshit day after day.

Now, thanks to Mimi’s little stunt, he’d have to put up with it even longer. He closed his eyes and imagined wringing her beautiful neck. Not that he’d ever follow through, of course. When she finally made an appearance, he’d act the part of the concerned, supportive fiancé, assuring her that this marriage would be good for both of them. Just as he’d been doing almost nonstop for the last three months.

The funny thing was, he almost believed it himself. Mimi was an attractive, vivacious woman who would make a wonderful wife. She knew all the right people and moved in all the right circles. Her basic goodness appealed to him, even when he found himself grating his teeth at her concern for her father and the household staff.

Her only concern should be him.

“The girl’s probably just hiding out somewhere, too embarrassed to come home.” Rupert picked up his tomato juice. “As soon as you’re done with breakfast, I want you to hire someone to find her.”

“It’s already done.” Paul set down his fork. “I called Harper first thing this morning.”

Rupert nodded approvingly. “He’s the best.”

“Discreet, too,” Paul added, then hesitated. “Do you think she found out about our…financial agreement?”

“How could she? I certainly didn’t say anything.”

“Neither did I. So there must be some reason for her sudden departure from the church.”

Rupert set down his glass. “I already told you. Cold feet. I’m sure you’ll find a way to warm her up once we find her.”

Paul had at least a million reasons to try, thanks to Rupert Casville’s incentive program. The old man had agreed to deposit a million dollars in Paul’s bank account as soon as he and Mimi were married. Paul would receive another million if Rupert’s first grandchild was conceived within a year, as well as a hefty share of Casville Industries stock.

The telephone rang, startling them both. Rupert shot out of his chair. “I’ll bet this is it.”

Paul watched Rupert pick up the receiver, then saw his expectant expression fade as he rubbed one hand over the gray stubble on his face. Try as he might, Paul was unable to make out the low mumblings of the phone conversation.

His gaze moved to the silver flask of vodka on the table. His biggest weakness. If he could give up alcohol, he could do anything. Now was not the time to lose control. Mimi’s escape didn’t have to mean the end of his dreams. Just a temporary delay.

Rupert heaved a long sigh as he hung up the telephone receiver. “That was Harper. He’s checked the airport, train station and bus terminal, but no sign of Mimi. As far as he can tell, she’s still somewhere in Austin.”

“Unless she left the city in her car.”

Rupert shook his head. “Her car wouldn’t get her very far since she left her wallet and credit cards at home. She brought that silly little white purse with her to the church, and it barely had enough room for her car keys and driver’s license.”

Paul tensed. “So where is she?”

“Hell if I know,” Rupert snapped, raking his hand through his thinning gray hair. Then he looked up, worry lines etched in his brow. “Do you think she’s all right?”

Paul thought she was a spoiled princess who needed a good spanking, but he knew better than to say it out loud. “I’m sure she’s fine. Mimi knows how to take care of herself. She’ll be home before you know it, safe and sound.”

“I hope so.” Rupert sighed. “I’m exhausted. I stayed up half the night waiting for her to come home.”

No doubt the vodka was kicking in, too. Paul picked up the flask and handed it to him. “Go get some sleep. I’ll stay here and handle any incoming business calls.”

Rupert slipped the flask into his pocket. “Wake me if you hear anything new from Harper.”

“I will.” Paul placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder as they walked toward the door. “And don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

GARRETT OPENED his eyes, squinting at the sunshine streaming through his bedroom window—a sign that it was long past daybreak. Surprised that he’d over-slept, he threw back the covers and sat up in bed. Something niggled at the back of his sleep-numbed brain. Something important. He yawned, stretching his arms over his head.

Then he smelled bacon frying.

Mimi. The peace of the morning shattered as reality came rushing back. She was the reason he’d tossed and turned most of the night, snatches of erotic dreams invading his sleep. Dreams she’d invoked with her lilting voice and her inviting mouth and those incredible eyes.

Garrett rubbed one hand over the rough whiskers on his face, trying to remember just how long it had been since he’d slept with a woman. Finding female companionship had never been a problem, but lately he’d been too wrapped up searching for his birth mother to make time for anything else.

Garrett stood up as the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee teased his nostrils. He dressed and shaved at twice the usual speed, driven by the gnawing hunger in his stomach and the need to apologize to Mimi for his temper last night. The shock of finding a runaway bride hiding in his hayloft was no excuse. The least he could do was offer to give her a ride to her car first thing this morning and fill the tank with gas.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully as he walked into the kitchen. She stood at the stove wearing one of his old flannel shirts, the tails hanging almost to her knees. The denim jeans she wore looked suspiciously familiar, too, the long legs rolled at the ankles. Her feet were bare, and her silky blond hair hung loose around her shoulders.

He shifted from one boot to the other, his throat suddenly dry and his heart pounding double-time. The stylish bride from the night before had disappeared. In her place was a woman who looked as if she’d just rolled out of his bed, her hair tousled and a sexy flush on her cheeks.

She transferred the bacon strips from the frying pan onto a plate, then flashed him a smile. “I found these clothes in your laundry room. I hope you don’t mind.”

He swallowed hard. “Not at all. Did you sleep well?”

Her smile widened. “I haven’t slept so well in years. It’s so quiet and peaceful out here. If you could bottle up the serenity and sell it, you’d make millions.”

Serene wasn’t exactly the way he felt when he looked at her.

“I hope you’re hungry,” she said, setting the bacon on the table next to a colorful egg casserole and a pot of steaming coffee.

“Starving,” he said, pulling out a chair for her and telling himself to confine his appetite to breakfast.

She served a hearty portion of the casserole on his plate, then watched expectantly as he forked up his first bite. “Well?”

He let the succulent flavors linger on his tongue, then swallowed. “What is it?”

“A vegetable frittata.”

He scooped up another bite. “What kind of vegetables?”

She picked up her coffee cup. “Onions and tomatoes and broccoli. Among other things.”

He reached for the serving spoon and covered half his plate with more of the frittata. “If you can make broccoli taste this good, you’re the one who will make millions.”

She laughed, and his heartbeat kicked up another notch. He picked up his coffee cup, telling himself it was a good thing she’d be gone soon or he could be in big trouble.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, setting down her fork. “You got a phone call while you were in the shower. Some woman from the employment agency had a question about the position you want filled.”

Garrett swallowed a sigh of irritation. He’d contacted the agency over two weeks ago looking for a temporary employee. At this rate, calving season would be over before he ever got a ranch hand hired. “Did she leave a number?”

“No.”

He looked up from his plate. “Is she planning to call me back later?”

Mimi tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “No, but she is refunding your money.”

He scowled. “Why?”

“Because I told her the position is already filled.”

His stomach lurched, unsettling the large amount of vegetable frittata he’d just inhaled. Garrett wasn’t psychic, but he did have good instincts. And those instincts were telling him that trouble had already arrived. He took a deep breath, determined to remain calm. “Do you mind telling me why you did that?”

“You don’t need to find a ranch hand,” Mimi said, opening her arms wide. “You’re looking at her.”

Apprehension skittered across his spine. “Absolutely not.”

She leaned forward. “But, Garrett, I know I can do it. And this way you don’t have to waste time and money advertising for a ranch hand. I’m willing to work hard from sunup to sundown. And even longer, if necessary.”

His gaze fell to her chest, his whole body tightening at the way she filled out his old flannel work shirt. If he couldn’t even eat eggs with Mimi without fantasizing about her, how could he possibly work with her?

“Forget it,” he finally said. “You’re not cut out for ranch life. You’ll be much happier back in the city where you belong.” He stood up. “Thanks for breakfast. I’m going to feed the horses, which should give you just enough time to get cleaned up and ready to go.”

“Where exactly am I going?”

“That’s totally up to you. I’ll take you as far as your car.” His resolve wavered a little when he saw the bleak disappointment on her face. “Surely you have friends or family, someone who can help you.”

She shook her head. “I can’t go back to Austin.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

She didn’t say anything, just stared mutely at the coffee cup in her hands.

For the second time he wondered if she was in danger. He’d given refuge to a woman in danger before. And paid the price. He absently rubbed his left shoulder. The bullet hadn’t done any serious damage. The wound was scarred over, but still a little tender.

Of course, that had been an unusual situation. Jake Maitland had asked him to give Camille Eckart and her baby a place to hide from her abusive ex-husband. The old cabin on the outskirts of his ranch had provided the perfect sanctuary for them. At least, until Camille’s ex-husband showed up, armed and definitely dangerous. He’d tried to kill her, but had ended up dead by the time the confrontation was over. Garrett had suffered the only injury, but it still chilled him to think of the harm that might have come to Camille or her baby.

Still, Mimi didn’t act like a woman in jeopardy. She didn’t have the same shadow of fear that had hovered around Camille. No, Mimi was probably just afraid to face her fiancé. Or her family, who no doubt had gone into debt to pay for her fancy wedding. Still, what would it hurt him to grant her a temporary refuge?

Garrett firmed his jaw, feeling himself weakening. He couldn’t solve Mimi’s problems. He had enough of his own to handle.

“Do you need money?” he asked, trying to assuage his pesky conscience.

She met his gaze and tipped up her chin. “I don’t take charity. I’m willing to work for room and board, Garrett. The lady from the employment agency read the job requirements over the phone to me. It’s just a temporary job, which is exactly what I need. Just a month to get my life straightened out.”

A month. He’d barely made it through one night. The thought of having Mimi around day after day, night after night was enough to make him break into a sweat.

He shook his head. “You don’t understand. This is a working ranch. I raise registered Texas longhorns. I’ve got customers coming out all the time to buy breeding stock, so I need a ranch hand who can pick up the slack when I’m busy making a sale. Usually I can handle it on my own, but I do need help to get through calving season. Experienced help.”

“I’m a fast learner,” she countered.

He arched a brow. “Can you fix fence? Pull a calf? Brand? Vaccinate? Ride a horse?”

His litany of chores didn’t daunt her. “I can ride a horse and I’m willing to learn the rest.”

He reached for the doorknob. “Maybe so, but I don’t have time to teach you.”

“Garrett,” she began, “wait…”

But he walked out the door before she could say another word. Relief washed over him with every step that put distance between him and Mimi. He’d been too close to accepting her offer and letting her stay.

Much too close.

CHAPTER THREE

MIMI HAD NEVER believed in miracles.

Until Garrett turned his pickup truck onto the country road where she’d left her convertible yesterday. The empty country road.

“Are you sure this is the place?” he asked, slowing the truck to a snail’s pace.

“Positive.” She pointed out the front windshield. “I recognize that mesquite tree.”

“So where is your car?”

“Someone must have stolen it.” She tried to sound forlorn, but it was hard when her prospects were suddenly looking so much better.

He snorted. “This area is hardly a hotbed for car thieves.” He braked to a stop, then cut the engine. “It’s got to be around here somewhere. A car just can’t disappear.”

Mimi climbed out of the truck and joined him in the middle of the road, telling herself not to get her hopes up. He could still refuse to hire her.

He stood with his hands on his lean hips and a disgruntled expression on his face. “What have I done to deserve this?”

She looked at him, squinting in the glare of the morning sun. “Maybe it’s a sign.”

“I don’t believe in signs.” He stalked to the truck. “I’ll just take you back to Austin myself.”

“Okay,” she said, trudging along beside him. “You can drop me off on a street corner somewhere.”

He stopped to frown at her. “I don’t think so.”

“A homeless shelter?”

A muscle flexed in his square jaw. “Stop fooling around, Mimi. Tell me your address.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “I assure you I’m completely serious. You may not want me to work for you, but you can’t force me to go home, either.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re trying to make me feel guilty. It won’t work.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel anything. I’m just telling you I won’t go home. Not yet.”

“Then when?”

She gave a slight shrug. “Maybe in about four weeks.”

He looked at the sky, but she couldn’t tell if he was contemplating hiring her or leaving her out here to the coyotes. Suddenly, she wanted more than a refuge from her problems. She wanted to get to know Garrett and his life out here. A life that was so different from her own.

Mimi heard him swear softly under his breath before he turned to face her. “You’re serious, aren’t you? You really want to hire on as my ranch hand?”

Her heart leaped. “I’ve always wanted to work outdoors.”

He shook his head. “Ranching isn’t some glamour job. And it’s nothing like what you’ve seen on television. It’s hard, dirty, exhausting work.”

“I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“How about ice storms? This January is looking to be worse than usual. And we work every day, rain or shine. I mean every day, no weekends or holidays off. During calving season, we take shifts and work through the night, too.”

“You’re trying to scare me. It won’t work.”

“I’m just telling you the facts of ranching life. You’ll get kicked by cows, stung by bees and definitely break every single one of those fancy fingernails. Ranching is tough for any woman. But for a city woman, it’s downright impossible.”

She arched a brow. “You have a pretty low opinion of me, don’t you, Garrett?”

He sighed. “It’s nothing personal. I just don’t have time to waste coddling a tenderfoot. This is a working ranch, not some vacation spot for bored debutantes.”

His words stung. “I’m not looking for a vacation. I expect to earn my keep. I’m just grateful you’re willing to give me a chance.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Wait just a minute,” he began. “When did I offer to give you a chance?”

“Are you a gambling man, Garrett?”

He folded his arms across his chest. “Only when the odds are in my favor.”

She moved a step closer to him, the air crackling between them. Yesterday she’d blamed her initial attraction to him on exhaustion and nerves. But today she was drawn to him even more. His strength and vitality appealed to something primal inside her. Something that made her want to throw off the stuffy constraints of her upbringing and make him really see her. Make him believe she was a woman worthy of his respect.

She looked at him. “Let’s make a little wager. I’ll work here for three days. If I can keep up—”

“And keep out of trouble,” he interjected.

“Then you’ll let me stay.”

“But if you can’t keep up, then you’ll give me your address and let me take you home. Deal?”

Three days. She just hoped it was long enough to prove herself to him. Still, it wasn’t as if she had any options. “Deal.”

He smiled, obviously convinced he’d gotten the best of her. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re a woman. I’ll treat you like I’d treat any other ranch hand.”

She resisted the urge to do a little victory dance right in the middle of the road. “Absolutely. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And don’t be afraid to tell me when you’ve had enough. I can take you back at any time. You don’t have to stick it out for the whole three days.”

He was very confident. Alarmingly so. For one brief moment, Mimi wondered what exactly she’d gotten herself into. Then she shook off her qualms. Nothing could be as bad as facing her father and Paul.

Their betrayal still cut into her like a knife. A shiver ran through her when she realized how close she’d come to marrying Paul. Especially when her short time with Garrett had elicited a more intense physical reaction than she’d ever experienced with her fiancé.

“Second thoughts?” he asked, misinterpreting her silence.

“Not at all,” she replied, squaring her shoulders. “What do you want me to do first?”

He tipped up his cowboy hat. “Well, for starters, you could tell me your full name.”

“Banyon.” She improvised with only a moment’s hesitation. Her mother’s maiden name wasn’t nearly as recognizable as Casville. It also wasn’t in the Austin phone directory, just in case this was a trick and he planned to call every Banyon in Austin until he found one who would claim her.

She tilted her head at him. “And yours?”

“The name’s Lord. Garrett Lord.”

She held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to be working for you, Mr. Lord.”

He clasped her hand in his, and Mimi couldn’t ignore the warm tingle that shot up her arm. Then he smiled and said, “I think you’re in for a surprise, Miss Banyon.”

“Just remember, I get three days.”

His smile widened. “Mimi, you won’t even last one day.”

SHE BARELY LASTED one hour.

First, she stepped into a gopher hole, wrenched her ankle and landed in a fresh pile of cow manure. It only got worse after that. By dusk, her entire body ached from the arduous task of helping Garrett fix fence. It didn’t sound difficult, but it took muscle power to straighten fence posts and tighten barbed wire. Unfortunately, her one-day-a-week workouts at Austin’s trendiest fitness center hadn’t prepared her for life on the range.

“Ouch!” Mimi gasped as a razor-sharp barb on the wire fencing pricked her finger.

“There’s a pair of leather gloves in the truck cab,” Garrett informed her as he tightened the barbed wire with the wire stretchers.

“I’m fine,” she replied, feeling a little woozy as she watched blood ooze out of her thumb. She closed her eyes and hastily wiped her thumb on her jeans. No doubt it blended in well with the dirt and manure already staining them. If Garrett wasn’t yet having second thoughts about giving her free access to the clothes his sister Shelby had left here, he soon would be.

She was filthy from head to toe. He, on the other hand, looked wonderful. His faded blue denim jeans outlined his powerful legs and trim backside. Perspiration molded his white cotton shirt to his broad chest, delineating every well-defined muscle. The only dirt he’d collected was a fine layer of dust on his scuffed cowboy boots and a tiny smudge of mud on the side of his jaw.

She was staring again. When he looked up and caught her gaze, something hot and sweet uncoiled inside her. She liked his mouth and found herself wondering how it would feel against hers. If he kissed her, the dark whiskers shading his jaw would scrape against her skin. She swallowed at the imagined sensation.

“How about some water?” he asked, his voice slightly husky.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. When he brought her the jug, she took a long drink of the icy water.

“The sun’s hot today,” he said, removing his cowboy hat and wiping his forearm over his brow.

Not quite as hot as her employer, Mimi thought, handing over the jug. Then she turned her attention to the fence, where she inadvertently snagged her thumb on another razor-sharp barb. “Ouch!”

Garrett lowered the jug from his mouth, moisture glistening on his lower lip. “Our deal didn’t include you acting like a martyr. Go put those gloves on.”

“Don’t worry about me, Garrett.” She looked away from him, wiping her thumb on the back of her jeans. From now on she needed to pay more attention to her work and less to her boss. “I may be a city girl, but I’m tougher than I look.”

He shook his head, then surveyed the length of fence. “Looks as if we’re done here for today, anyway.”

With an inward sigh of relief, Mimi walked toward the pickup truck, trying her best not to limp. She climbed into the cab, every joint in her body protesting the movement. All she wanted now was a long, hot bubble bath, followed by a warm, soft bed.

Garrett opened the driver’s door, and Hubert jumped in ahead of him. The little dog pranced across the bench seat, then lay down with his head on Mimi’s thigh.

She lightly petted the dog with her sore fingers. “Where did you find Hubert?”

“Actually, he found me,” Garrett said as the pickup roared to life. “Someone decided they didn’t want him anymore and dumped him off in the country. He was skinny as a hickory stick by the time he finally wandered onto the ranch.”

“But he’s such a sweet dog. I can’t believe anyone would dump him on purpose.”

“Believe it,” he said. “Some people seem to labor under the stupid illusion that just because he’s an animal, a dog can survive in the wild. They don’t realize that he’s never learned to hunt for food and water. Or that there are predators out here, like coyotes, just waiting for an easy kill.”

“So you saved him?”

Garrett kept his eyes on the gravel road. “I fed him, and he decided to stick around. He’s not the best cow dog in Texas, but he tries hard.”

Hubert closed his eyes in canine bliss as Mimi scratched behind his ears. “How did you ever come up with the name Hubert?”

“That was the name on his fancy rhinestone collar. When he showed up on my doorstep, he still had it on, along with a frayed pink bow and pink toenails.”

“I still can’t believe someone could just dump him, then take off.” She shook her head. “How could anyone be so cruel?”

A muscle twitched in Garrett’s jaw. “Happens all the time. And not just to animals.”

Before she could ask him to explain, a loud horn sounded behind them.

“Damn.”

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s not a what, it’s a who.” He steered the pickup truck to the edge of the road, then rolled down his window as another pickup pulled up beside them.

The petite brunette in the driver’s seat smiled at him. “Hey, Garrett. I see you’ve got a tagalong today.”

“Venna Schwab, this is Mimi Banyon. She just hired on for calving season.”

Mimi was surprised to hear him sound so cheerful about it. Especially since he’d been silent and surly most of the afternoon.

Venna rested her elbow on the truck door, her gaze flicking over Mimi. “Really?”

Mimi leaned forward in the seat and waved. “Nice to meet you.”

Venna wrinkled her nose. “You’re a mess, honey.”

Mimi forced a smile. “Nothing a little hot water can’t cure.”

Venna shrugged, then turned her attention to Garrett. “I hope having an extra hand around means you won’t have to work so hard. I’ve hardly seen you lately.”

“It’s almost calving season, Venna. You’re probably as busy as I am at the Triple C.”

She laughed. “True. But I can always make time for a little fun.”

Mimi definitely felt like a third wheel. She thought about hopping out of the cab and walking the rest of the way to the house, just barely visible in the distance, but her aching body protested that idea.

Venna leaned a little further out the window. “Speaking of fun, are you going to Connor and Lacy O’Hara’s barbecue on Saturday night?”

Garrett nodded. “I planned on it.”

“Good. Do you need a date?”

Mimi wondered when she’d become invisible. Venna sure wasn’t letting the presence of Garrett’s hired help put a damper on her outrageous flirting.

“Actually, I’m taking Mimi to the barbecue.”

“You are?” Mimi exclaimed, realizing a second too late that it was the wrong thing to say.

Garrett turned to her. “Yes. I am.”

“Oh.”

Venna looked between the two of them, confusion wrinkling her brow. “You’re taking your ranch hand on a date?”

Garrett cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a date.”

“What would you call it?” Venna asked, her gaze fixed on Mimi. Perhaps she finally saw some competition behind all the dirt and manure.

Mimi leaned forward. “I’m sure Garrett’s just being polite. I might not even be here on Saturday, so he may be free after all.”

“Thanks a lot,” Garrett growled under his breath.

“I’ll be sure and give you a call, Garrett.” Venna waved as she drove away, leaving a cloud of dust lingering in the hazy twilight.

“She seems nice,” Mimi said as Garrett pulled the pickup onto the road.

“Nice enough.”

“Pretty, too.”

He glanced at her. “Pretty enough to snag two husbands.”

She waited for him to elaborate, but he kept his gaze focused on the road. She’d heard about the strong, silent type, but this was ridiculous. At least now she understood why he was avoiding Venna. She tried to ignore the tiny glimmer of satisfaction it gave her. Garrett’s love life, or lack of one, shouldn’t matter to her one bit.

Leaning back against seat, she gazed at the sun hovering on the horizon, awed by the beautiful palette of colors arcing across the sky. Was there any place more beautiful than this?

Garrett pulled the pickup truck into the driveway, then cut the engine. “We need to talk.”

Now, there was a novel idea. “What about?”

“About where you’re going to sleep tonight.”

“Oh. I forgot about that.” Her cheeks warmed as she realized she’d just taken for granted that he’d invite her to stay at the house. Did a ranch hand normally sleep in the barn? She’d enjoyed her brief interlude in the hayloft yesterday, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to sleep there for the next four weeks. Especially if it was occupied by mice, rats or other assorted rodents.

“I’ve been remodeling the second floor, so the bedrooms up there are a mess. I used to have a small cabin on my ranch that was used for a bunkhouse, but it burned down last month.”

“So that leaves?”

“My bed.”

“Your bed?” she echoed, certain she hadn’t heard him right.

He gazed at her through half-lidded eyes. “I think you’ll find my bed much more comfortable than my sofa.”

Maybe. But she doubted she’d get any sleep in his bed. For one brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine sleeping in Garrett Lord’s bed. In his arms. Kissing that hard, sullen mouth. A bolt of white-hot desire shot through her veins.

She closed her eyes, telling herself she shouldn’t be having erotic thoughts about another man already.

“I think I prefer the sofa,” she said at last.

“Sorry, that’s not an option.”

At the unyielding tone of his voice, her mouth fell open. Was this how he planned to get rid of her? Then she looked into Garrett’s green-gold eyes and knew she was overreacting. This wasn’t a man who played games. “Why not?”

“Because I’ll be sleeping on the sofa. It’s roomy, but not quite big enough for two.”

She shook her head. “I can’t kick you out of your own bed.”

He shrugged, then opened the door and climbed out of the pickup. “It will only be for a night or two.”

Her regret burned away at the arrogant confidence in his tone. The big jerk. Garrett Lord thought he’d be rid of her soon. Thought she was a spoiled city girl who would run back to Austin the first time she broke a nail.

She didn’t want to admit to herself that the thought of returning to Austin had crossed her mind a time or two in the last few hours. But Garrett’s doubts about her staying power strengthened her resolve.

“A night or two?” she muttered, following Garrett to the house and trying not to wince every painful step of the way. “Think again, cowboy.”

“Did you say something?” he asked as he held the door open for her.

“I said thanks for giving up your bed.” She smiled sweetly at him. “I’ll take it.”

GARRETT STRETCHED on the sofa and silently counted the chimes of the grandfather clock. Nine…ten…eleven…twelve. Midnight. He’d been lying here wide awake for almost two hours and wondering where he’d gone wrong. He had a beautiful woman in his bed. And he was on the sofa. Somehow, some way, he’d screwed up.

He bunched the pillow under his head and turned onto his side, the lonestar quilt slipping off his shoulder. Hubert slept soundly on the rug in front of the fireplace. No doubt Mimi slept soundly, too, after the day she’d put in. Hell, she’d dozed off over supper. He smiled into the darkness, remembering how he’d moved her plate away just in time to keep her hair from falling into the ketchup.

Then his smile faded. He was thinking about her too much. Way too damn much. She’d be gone in a day or two. Besides, she had a fiancé waiting for her out there somewhere.

Just like he had a mother out there somewhere. Only she wasn’t waiting for him or his brother or sisters to find her. In fact, she’d made it almost impossible. How could one woman disappear so easily? LeeAnn Larrimore. A name as unfamiliar to him as the woman he’d once called Mama.

The search for her had finally narrowed down to the last name on the list. A list that had started with the names of women who had given birth to fraternal triplets in Texas around the same time period and with the right sex: two girls, one boy. One by one, the other names on the list had been eliminated as possibilities. So had any other potential leads. That left only LeeAnn Larrimore.

According to his research, she’d given birth to triplets at a free clinic in a town near Austin. She’d lived in Austin for a while, working in a grocery store until she’d been fired from her job. That’s when the trail had turned ice cold.

He flipped onto his stomach and closed his eyes, willing sleep to overtake him. He didn’t want to think about the woman who had abandoned her children twenty-five years ago. And he definitely didn’t want to think about the woman sleeping in his bed. How her silky blond curls would spill over the pillow. Or the way her body would warm the white cotton sheets, imbuing them with her unique scent. He closed his eyes, imagining the soft, steady cadence of her breathing as she slept. Then he imagined waking her with a kiss. Sliding his hands under the sheets and touching her. Making her breathing quicken.

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