Everything’s bigger in Texas, even surprises!

Rodeo superstar Houston Calloway lives to chase championships. But an injury sends him straight to Jill Amherst, aka world’s toughest athletic trainer, then home to the sprawling family estate—with Jill in tow. Of course his brother offered her a job at the ranch. She’s highly qualified, but now Houston can’t get the green-eyed beauty out of his mind.

Rolling in the hay with Houston is a lot more fun than butting heads on the rodeo circuit. But unexpected consequences have Jill wondering what’s next with this bull-riding risk taker. Can he find a new dream to chase—a family of his own?

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? is part of the Texas Extreme series.

He looked up from the last bite to find Jill staring at him.

“That hit the spot,” he said.

“I can tell, and you weren’t kidding when you said you would eat those pancakes fast.” She was obviously amused.

“Good food and good company. Nothing better after a long night.”

A long, frustrating night, in this case. He hated the damn cast on his wrist and the fact he could be out of commission for weeks, if not months. He really hated that he didn’t know Jill well enough to kiss her good morning. Or good night. Or all day.

Where the hell had that thought come from?

“I bet I know exactly what you’re thinking, Houston Calloway.”

Only if she could read minds, and he sure hoped she couldn’t. “Huh?”

“You’re lamenting the fact you’re injured.”

He wasn’t too injured to stop fantasizing about her.

* * *

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? is part of the Texas Extreme series: Six rich and sexy cowboy brothers live—and love—to the extreme!

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby?

Kristi Gold

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KRISTI GOLD has a fondness for beaches, baseball and bridal reality shows. She firmly believes that love has remarkable healing powers, and she feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readers’ Choice Award winner and a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Kristi has learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from networking with readers. She can be reached through her website at www.kristigold.com, or through Facebook.

To my daughter, Kendall—I am so proud of the woman you’ve become. And to my dear friend and fellow author Kathy D. for all the brainstorming on this particular book. Couldn’t have done it without you...again.

Many thanks to my daughter, Kendall, MLA, ATC, LAT, for all the endless technical questions during the making of this book. Any errors in interpretation are definitely my own.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Extract

Copyright

One

He wore his cowboy charisma like a practiced charmer, but the storm in his dark eyes told Jillian Amherst this rugged risk taker wasn’t completely immune to pain.

When Houston Calloway strode across the first-aid tent, his black hat tipped low on his brow, the licensed athletic trainer in Jill noticed the gash in his well-worn jeans above his right knee, and that his right hand was wrapped around his left wrist below the cuff of the red shirt. Had she not been a professional, she would have only noticed his confident gait, the shading of whiskers surrounding his mouth and his above-average height. But she was a professional and always had been.

Besides, as a member of an elite rodeo medical program, Jill had treated the likes of him before. In fact, she’d treated him before. Several times. The ever-popular rodeo superstar had enough bull-riding championship trophies to fill a football stadium and several concussions on his injury résumé. He also had a penchant for being an uncooperative patient, something she’d discovered the hard way over the past two years.

Jill rolled her chair back from the counter, swiveled completely around to face him and suppressed a frown. “What is it this time, Mr. Calloway?”

He worked his way onto the exam table across from her without an invitation. “Got my left hand caught in the rope when I was trying to get my right hand free, and I took a horn to my leg. But I made it to the buzzer.”

Good for you, she thought as she stood. “Are you right-handed?”

“Yep.”

“That’s a plus. Any chance you fell on your head again?”

He cracked a cynical smile. “Not this time.”

“That’s new and different. Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

Doubting she could believe him, Jill held up a finger. “Follow my movement without turning your head.”

He grumbled and scowled. “I told you I didn’t fall on my head. I landed square on my feet and if you don’t believe me, ask Henry.”

Like she’d really believe a rodeo clown wouldn’t cover for him. Jill lowered her hand in resignation, but stared at him straight on. “Okay. Fine. For now. But I’ll be watching you for any latent signs. You’ve already had two concussions that I’ve treated, and who knows how many you had before that.”

That earned Jill a frustrated look. “Why are you so bent on giving me grief, Jilly?”

Only one person had ever been allowed to call her by that name, and the loss of that special someone still hurt her to the core. She shook off the memories and faked a calm demeanor. “Why are you so determined to annoy me with that Jilly thing?”

He inclined his head and studied her. “It fits you better.”

“Well, I don’t like it and I suspect that’s why you do it.”

He had the gall to grin. “Would you feel better if I let you call me by a nickname?”

Jill grabbed for a little levity to defuse her frustration. “Overly confident?”

“Hmm...” He streaked his right hand over his stubbled jaw. “Overly Confident Calloway. Has a nice ring to it, but it’s too long. I was thinking more along the lines of Handsome.”

Shocker. “How about Crazy Calloway?”

“Been called that before. Charming?”

This exchange could go on all night if she didn’t put a halt to it now. With that in mind, Jill morphed back into medical mode and turned to retrieve a pair of disposable gloves, then approached the table to inspect the cut beneath the slit in his jeans. “You’re lucky. Your leg was protected from certain doom by denim. This is superficial and nothing a little antiseptic and a bandage won’t cure. Now let me see your wrist.”

He gingerly held the appendage out for her to examine. “Probably just a sprain,” he muttered.

She pressed the fleshy part of his palm next to his thumb and immediately heard a litany of oaths. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my opinion you have a scaphoid fracture. You’ll need to confirm that with an X-ray.”

“I don’t have time for a fracture.”

She shrugged. “You’re going to have to make the time if my assessment is correct.”

He frowned. “How much time?”

She reached behind her, grabbed an antiseptic packet and tore it open. “That will be up to a doctor to decide.”

His jaw tightened when she began to dab at the cut. “Give me a hint,” he said.

After discarding the damp pad in the appropriate bin, Jill applied a plastic strip to the abrasion. “Best case scenario, three months. Worst case, six months.”

Surprise passed over his expression before turning to anger. “If I’m laid up for even three months, I might as well forget making it to the finals in December.”

Always chasing those championships, as were most of the cowboys who came to her for aid. “If you don’t comply with any treatment you might need, you could complicate matters.”

He released a rough sigh. “Can’t imagine this being any more complicated than it already is.”

Oh, if he only knew...and now he would. “If you go back to riding before the fracture heals, you could suffer a ruptured tendon.”

“It’s my left hand. All I have to do is hold it over my head to balance.”

“And if you lose your balance, you risk landing on it again. I assure you that would not be pleasant.”

He swiped his arm across his forehead. “None of this is pleasant.”

“No, it’s not, but it’s unfortunately a risk you take when you climb onto a raging animal. Do you have someone who can drive you to an emergency room?”

Houston looked even more defeated. “My brother took off in the rig to hook up with some old girlfriend.”

“Which one?”

He scowled. “Hell if I know who she is.”

Suppressing a smile, she stripped the gloves off and tossed them into the bin behind her. “I meant which brother.”

“Tyler.”

Jill had treated the bronc rider once or twice, only he had always been polite and accommodating, unlike his big brother. “I’m sure if you give him a call—”

“I did before my ride. He told me to find a way back to the motel and I’d see him in the morning.”

“You might try calling him again.”

“Did that, too. It went straight to voice mail, which means he’s tied up for the night. Literally.”

Clearly he’d run out of brother-based options. “Surely you can find one of your rodeo cronies to give you a ride.”

He slid off the table and groaned. “I was the last entry so everyone’s probably headed out. I should’ve done the same thing and would have if Henry hadn’t convinced me to come in here to see you. I could have just as easily waited to see my doctor at home.”

A new nickname for him came to mind—Foolish. “It’s a long way from Fort Worth to South Texas. It’s never wise to delay treatment.”

“I can have my private plane here in two hours. Problem solved.”

Not quite. “Sure. You could do that, and if you have any blood-flow issues, they can fit you for a prosthetic hand when you get there.”

He blew out a long breath. “Since you put it that way, guess I better call a cab and get this over with, although I figure it’s probably going to be a waste of time.”

Jill couldn’t trust he wouldn’t bypass medical care and opt for the plane trip, leading her to the last resort she’d been trying to avoid. “Look, there’s a satellite ER two blocks from here. You’ll be in and out much faster that way, and if it’s only a sprain, you can tell me ‘I told you so.’ I’ll take you there and drop you off at your hotel after you’re finished with the exam.”

He seemed seriously perplexed. “Why would you do that for me?”

Her answer would reflect her strong sense of responsibility, and possibly a serious lack of wisdom. “I can report my findings to the staff while I’m there and make sure you actually go inside.”

“No one waiting for you at home?”

The next response would indicate the sad state of her life. “No. Tonight I have nothing better to do aside from grabbing something to eat and settling in to my motel room. If you accept my offer, we can go as soon as I close up here.”

Houston mulled that over for a moment and smiled in earnest. “Tell you what. If you’ll do this for me, I’ll buy you breakfast since I’m sure we won’t be done before dawn.”

Heavens, she hoped that wouldn’t be the case. Spending all night in a waiting room as a favor for a cranky cowboy wasn’t her idea of a good time.

* * *

At 5:00 a.m., with his wrist and thumb bound in a cast, Houston followed the demanding athletic trainer through the double glass doors and into the warm September night. As he trailed behind her toward the sedan, he realized he’d never observed this side of her before. He’d never really considered that she was taller than most women. He’d never seen her shiny auburn hair out of a ponytail, never noticed the way it swayed against her back when she walked. He’d sure as hell never paid much mind to how well she filled out her jeans, but then again, she was usually facing him when she tended his wounds.

But he had witnessed the impatience in her green eyes on several occasions when he’d put up a good argument as to why he didn’t require her attention. He sure wouldn’t mind her attention now...

Whoa, Calloway.

He had no business lusting after a member of the rodeo medical staff, even if she happened to be a really good-looking member.

Once they reached Jill’s sardine-can car, Houston practically had to fold himself in half to slide into the passenger seat. Having a damn cast on his wrist didn’t help much.

Jill settled behind the wheel, turned the ignition and asked, “Where to now?”

“We need to find someplace to eat.”

She sent him a sideways glance. “I’m too tired to eat.”

“Well, I could eat a whole side of beef. And don’t forget I promised you breakfast.”

“Maybe later.”

For some reason he wasn’t quite ready to part company with her. “I know you’re itching to tell me ‘I told you so,’ and you can do that over a cup of coffee.”

She sighed. “I’ve had at least four cups of coffee over the past five hours.”

“That leads me to believe you won’t be falling asleep soon.”

She shifted slightly to face him. “You have to be the most persistent man I’ve ever met.”

“Persistence pays off most of the time.” He tried on a persuasive smile. “Come on. Join me. I promise to eat fast and talk less.”

She put the car in Reverse and guided it out of the space. “Oh, all right. We can go to the diner next to my motel.”

“Where are you staying?”

“The place where everyone tied to the rodeo stays,” she said.

“The Buckout Inn?”

“The one and only.”

He couldn’t imagine her taking a room in a dive populated with crude cowboys. “That’s where I’m laying over, too.”

“No four-star penthouse suite?”

He stretched his legs out as far as they would go in the cramped sedan. “Nah. I’m more of a down home kinda guy.”

“A down home kinda guy with a private plane.”

Apparently she wasn’t all that impressed. “Technically, the ranch owns the plane. I just use it now and then.”

She sent him a skeptical smirk before pulling onto the street. “Ah. That explains it.”

As they drove down the Fort Worth streets in silence, Houston couldn’t seem to stop stealing covert glances at Jill. He took note of how well she filled out that white tailored shirt stamped with her name right above her breast. Nice, full breasts. And if she caught him staring at that immediate area, she’d probably slam on the brakes and kick his ass to the next curb. Good motivation for avoiding that. He didn’t care to call a cab at the moment.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the deserted diner and claimed a booth near the window. Houston scanned the menu for a few minutes while Jill checked her cell. He raised his gaze to find her frowning.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said as she grabbed her purse, slid out of the booth and stood.

Houston figured she either planned to climb back in the car and leave him, or she needed to make a call. “Do you want me to order something for you?” he asked as she walked away.

“A glass of orange juice,” she said without looking back.

Must be the phone theory, and that pleased him. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about Jillian Amherst intrigued him. He decided to spend the meal trying to peg exactly what that something might be, provided she cooperated. First, he had to make a call, too.

After fishing his cell out of his front pocket, Houston pulled up his contacts and chose the number listed as The Tyrant. He waited through two rings before Dallas answered with, “What do you want at this time of the morning?”

“You’re always up by five.”

“Yeah, and Luke had us up until two.”

“Sorry, but this is kind of important. I had an accident last night and—”

“Did you fall on your head again?”

“Nope. Got my hand tangled up and it’s fractured, so I’m pretty much done for the next couple of months. Since I can’t find Tyler, I need you to send the plane this afternoon.”

“Fine, but you’ll have to arrange for transportation to the airport. I’d say having you at the ranch might be a good thing, but not if you only have the use of one hand.”

He started to argue that he could do more with one functioning hand than some men could do with two, but thought better of it. “It’s my left hand and I can still manage.”

“I damn sure hope so. And while I have you on the phone, I need to talk to you about Fort’s latest demands.”

Houston didn’t have the time or energy to deal with Worth’s twin. “Look, can it wait? I’m having breakfast with someone and she should be joining me at any minute.”

“You must not be too banged up if you’re with a woman.”

“She’s not a woman.” Hell, that sounded weird. “I meant she’s not a date. She’s the rodeo’s athletic trainer and she took me to the ER.”

“Oh, yeah? How old is she?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Does she have a lot of experience in the medical field?”

“You could say that. She’s tough as hell but she knows what she’s doing.”

“Then see if she might consider the job here.”

Sleep deprivation had obviously robbed his brother of his senses. “You don’t know a damn thing about her.”

“Right now I’m pretty desperate. I’ve made a few calls but athletic trainers are in such high demand, there aren’t a whole lot available around here. At least not any who are qualified to manage a program or who are willing to move to the middle of nowhere.”

Houston could debate why Jill might not be a good fit, then he realized having her around wouldn’t be so awful since he wouldn’t be her patient, or her boss. “I’ll ask, but don’t get your hopes up. She seems pretty happy with her current position.”

“Okay, but I expect you to use your powers of persuasion. By that I mean persuade her that it’s a good opportunity without trying to seduce her. I’ll have the plane there by four.”

Before Houston could respond, Dallas hung up the phone in time for Jill to return to the booth, sporting black-framed glasses. “Sorry,” she said. “My contacts were killing me. I had to take them off.”

“You look good with glasses.” And she did—smart and sexy.

She released a short laugh. “Oh, yeah. You know the old saying about women in glasses never getting passes.”

“That old adage has never been in my verbal repertoire.”

Her eyes went wide with surprise. “Verbal repertoire? I’m impressed.”

He leaned forward and smiled. “I might look like a hayseed, but I don’t just climb on the backs of cantankerous bulls. I have a degree in business with a minor in marketing.”

“Really? I suppose that comes in handy with all those energy drink ads featuring your smiling face that I keep seeing everywhere.”

Hell, he didn’t like thinking about those, much less talking about them. “They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

She opened the menu and turned her attention to the limited offerings. “I’m sure it helps pay the bills, like all the expenses involved in owning a private plane.”

At least she’d said it with a smile. “Yeah. That, and horses and entry fees.”

After setting the menu aside, she finally focused on him. “Those entry fees are pricey, especially for the cowboys just starting out. I don’t know how they manage the rodeo life and a family, like many of them do.”

He leaned back and sighed. “I learned a long time ago that a wife and kids and rodeos aren’t a good mix. I’ve seen a lot of relationship casualties over the past fifteen years.”

“I’m sure you have, and I assume that’s why you haven’t gone down that path.”

“You’d be right about that.” At least partially. Truth was, he’d never met anyone he’d wanted to settle down with, or anyone he’d be willing to give up the life for.

A young woman with a lopsided blond ponytail arrived at the table, set two glasses of water before them and hid a yawn behind her hand. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a long night. Someone didn’t show up for their shift so I pulled a double, which wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have class in four hours.”

“I remember those days,” Jill said. “I use to wait tables in college to avoid student loans.”

“You do what you have to do to make ends meet without borrowing money,” the sleepy young woman replied. “But times like these have me reconsidering.”

Jill sent her a sympathetic smile. “I hear you. But rest assured it will be worth it when you don’t have any debt after you get your degree.”

“I hope so. Are you folks ready to order?”

“I’ll just have some wheat toast and a glass of milk,” Jill answered. “And some honey if you have it.”

Houston frowned. “That’s it? Remember, I’m buying.”

“I’m a cheap date.” A faint blush colored Jill’s cheeks as she handed the menu to the waitress. “Not that we’re on a date. And I’m not cheap. I’m just not hungry.”

He chuckled. “Glad you clarified that,” he said as he regarded the now smiling server. “I’ll take the Western omelet with a side of pancakes and bacon. And if it’s not too much trouble—” he glanced at her name tag “—Ashley, just bring me a whole pot of coffee. I’m going to need it.”

The coed grinned. “No problem at all. I’ll have that out shortly.”

Jill took a sip of water and shifted slightly in the seat. “I hope I’m not boring you so badly that you need a whole pot of high-octane caffeine to stay awake.”

Not hardly. He didn’t find anything boring about her mouth or her eyes or the way she rimmed the top of her glass with one fingertip. He sure as heck didn’t see anything boring about the slightly dirty thoughts that little gesture brought about. “You’re not boring me at all. I’ve learned a lot about you in a short amount time.”

She rested her elbow on the table and supported her cheek with her palm. “Such as?”

“You don’t like nicknames. You don’t eat enough to feed a parakeet. And you worked your way through college waiting tables, although I have a hard time picturing you slinging hash in a greasy spoon.”

She straightened and smiled. “Who said I worked in a diner?”

“I just assumed—”

“Assumptions aren’t always accurate. Actually, I was a cocktail waitress in a casino.”

He wouldn’t have guessed that in a million years. “Where?”

“Vegas, where else? That’s where I discovered rodeo in relation to athletic training. I interned with my current company and that landed me a job after I received my master’s degree.”

And he thought nothing about her would surprise him. “Let me get this straight. You worked your way through undergraduate and graduate school by working in a casino and managed to get by without financial aid.”

“I did. The money was very good. Being objectified on a nightly basis was not. But I did what I had to do to survive.”

The idea of some drunk groping Jill didn’t set well with Houston. He started to ask why her parents didn’t help her pay for her education, but he decided that wasn’t any of his business. “I admire your guts, Jill. I had no idea you could make that much serving booze. Exactly how much did you make?”

She frowned. “If you must know, on average, fifty grand a year. Some of my fellow servers made twice that much working full-time.”

Damn. “I can only imagine what you went through, particularly during the rodeo finals.”

Finally her features relaxed. “Nothing a good pair of glasses didn’t cure.”

That wouldn’t have deterred him, or most of the guys he knew. “Congratulations on being resourceful, and thanks for allowing me to get to know you better.”

“I know you a bit better, too.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. You want people to know you’re not just a bull rider. You like the finer things in life but you downplay your wealth. You eat like a field hand and, most important, you’re an incorrigible flirt.”

She definitely had him dead to rights. “Am not.”

“Are, too. I saw you trying your best to charm that poor, exhausted waitress with a wink and a grin.”

He immediately jumped into defensive mode. “I didn’t wink. I only smiled at her. In my book, that doesn’t qualify as flirting. I was being polite, like my mama taught me.”

She held up her hands, palms forward. “Hey, don’t get your chaps in a twist. I didn’t say it was a horrible trait. It’s just part of your personality. Something that is second nature to you. And it’s obvious you know how to contain it. You’ve not once ever attempted to flirt with me to get your way.”

Did she want him to flirt with her? “Would it have worked?”

“Absolutely not.”

Figured. “If you think about it, you’ve only seen me at my worst. Banged up and pissed off.”

“And cranky.”

He grinned. “Cranky Calloway. That’s the best one so far.”

They shared in a laugh until Ashley came back with the tray filled with his food and the requested pot of coffee. For the next few minutes, Jill picked at her honey-covered toast while he shoveled his food down like it might disappear. He looked up from the last bite of pancakes to find one pretty amused athletic trainer staring at him.

Houston pushed his plate away and sat back against the booth. “That hit the spot.”

“I can tell, and you weren’t kidding when you said you would eat fast.”

The way she wet her lips brought about all kinds of questionable thoughts. “I guess you’re going to tell me it’s not good for digestion.”

“No. I was going to say I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Her mouth held his fascination, and man, oh, man, he liked a woman with a great mouth. He also liked her slightly upturned nose and the dimples creasing her cheek, one more prominent than the other. He liked the way her slender hands moved when she spoke, and the intensity in those green eyes peering at him from behind the glasses. “Good food and good company. Nothing better after a long night.” A long frustrating night, in this case. He hated the damn cast on his wrist and the fact he could be out of commission for weeks, if not months. He really hated that he didn’t know her well enough to kiss her good morning. Or good night. Or all day.

Where the hell did that come from?

“I bet I know exactly what you’re thinking, Houston Calloway.”

Only if she could read minds, and he sure as heck hoped not. “Huh?”

“You’re lamenting the fact you’re injured.”

He wasn’t too injured to stop fantasizing about her. “It is what it is, and I’ve had worse. Dallas is going to be happy to have me home to work on Texas Extreme, although he’s going to question what a one-handed cowboy can accomplish.” In fact, Dallas already had.

“I’m sure you’ll improvise,” she said.

He could improvise when it came to her needs. Too bad he wouldn’t have the opportunity to show her if Dallas offered her the job. Then again...

Houston could just hear his mom now, warning him to remember his raising and to never disrespect a woman. Unfortunately his lying, cheating dad hadn’t followed that advice. He shook off those sorry memories and cleared his throat. “You’re right. I’ll manage.”

Jill dabbed at her mouth and set the napkin aside. “Exactly what will your role be at this rodeo fantasy resort?”

“I plan to be the bull-riding instructor, as soon as I get this contraption off my wrist.”

She moved her plate to one side and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “When is this venture supposed to be up and running?”

Should’ve been long before now. “We were supposed to be ready to go by next month, but now it looks like after the first of the year. We were warned about constructing a project this big. Expect delays and an increased budget. We’ve got both.”

“You are going to have medical facilities, aren’t you?”

No surprise she’d ask about that, and it was the perfect lead-in to Dallas’s request. But he still wasn’t sure he wanted to bother with doing Dallas’s bidding. “We have a building, with nothing in it yet.”

She perked up like a pup. “You should definitely utilize athletic trainers, if not full-time, on a contract basis. You’ll need someone to manage that, and of course, they would also be in charge of ordering supplies, including safety gear. How close is the hospital?”

“They just built a new one off the interstate, about ten minutes or so away from the ranch.”

“Excellent. You’ll have an emergency room staff readily available, and you should have quick access to EMTs, just in case. Also, I suggest you might want to...”

Houston just sat back and watched Jill talk so fast he only heard half of what she was saying. He didn’t like that he was starting to lust after a lady who wouldn’t give him the time of day under most circumstances. More important, he hated to think he might be forced to see her on a daily basis and not be able to explore all the possibilities with her.

But that was okay. He could control himself around her if this whole employment thing came to pass.

“I’m sorry,” Jill said, garnering his attention.

“Sorry for what?”

She let go a low, sexy laugh. “I’m sorry for rambling on about my ideas for your business. Once I let the passion take hold, I have a hard time stopping it.”

Houston downed half a glass of water in response to the fantasies rolling around in his mind. Like that would help extinguish the heat building below his belt. He seriously needed to get a grip on his libido. “Nothing wrong with being passionate about your work. It’s the best way to get ahead in life. Do what you love and love what you do.”

“For you that’s rodeo,” she stated.

“Yep. And ranching.” And making a woman feel really good all night long.

Jill took a quick check of her watch. “Wow. It’s almost dawn. Way past bedtime.”

Not if he had any say-so in the matter. Down, Houston. “Guess that’s my cue that it’s time to go.”

She put her palm over her mouth and yawned. “I could use some sleep, and I’m sure you should grab a few minutes before Tyler returns. Are you heading back home today?”

“Yep. I hadn’t planned on it, but with a bum wrist, looks like I don’t have a choice. What about you?”

“I’m laying over here until next weekend, then I’ll move to a motel near Mesquite.”

That meant she was free for the week, a good thing if she agreed to the interview, provided he asked her about it. Houston pulled out his wallet and tossed a fifty onto the table. “Let’s go.”

Jill eyed the bill for a few seconds. “Don’t you need to wait for your change?”

Houston slid out of the booth and came to his feet. “Nah. She needs the money more than me.”

“Very generous, Mr. Calloway,” she said as she stood. “I’m sure Ashley will appreciate your contribution to the college fund.”

Knowing he still had the job offer hanging over him, Houston trailed behind Jill as she headed out of the glass door and started toward the car. “I can walk from here,” he told her before she climbed inside the sedan. “I could use some fresh air before I enter that musty room.”

“Suit yourself,” she said with a slight smile. “And if you need any advice on your medical facilities, feel free to give me a call or a text.” She set her purse on the hood, pulled out a card and offered it to him. “Here you go. If I don’t answer immediately, it’s probably because I’m trying to put a broken cowboy back together.”

He’d been that broken cowboy before, and she had always been an expert at trying to put him back together. She was an asset to the rodeo sports medicine program. She’d be an asset to any program. Hell, anyone would be lucky to have her, in a medical sense. Any other sense, for that matter.

It occurred to Houston that he wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to her yet. Not until he posed the question that could lead to a favorable response, at least for his brother, or a literal slam of the door before she drove away, leaving him to eat her dust as easily as he’d eaten breakfast. But if she agreed to consider coming to work for Texas Extreme, he could still look at her, even if he couldn’t touch her. Even if he’d have to take several cold showers a day until he went back on the road. Damn Dallas for putting him in this predicament.

“Before you go, Jill,” he began, “I have something else I need to say. Actually, it’s an offer.”

She looked more than a little leery. “What kind of offer?”

“One that I’m hoping you can’t refuse.”

Two

The comment robbed Jill of her speech, but only momentarily. “If you’re about to proposition me, you can—”

“Do you want me to proposition you?”

She didn’t intend to hesitate even a split second, but she did. “Of course not.”

“Hey, relax. I have a proposition for you, but I promise it doesn’t involve scooping you up and carrying you into the motel for a little predawn delight.”

That stirred up a few inadvisable images in her muddled mind. “What a relief.”

“Besides, that would be tough to do with my hand in a cast,” he said, topping off the comment with a wily wink. He leaned back against the car, as if he had no intention of going anywhere. “First, a couple of questions.”

So much for getting that snooze any time soon. “All right.”

“Where is your home base?”

“Actually, I don’t really have one. At least not a place of my own. I list my permanent address as my parents’ house in Florida.”

“You travel that much?”

“Most of the year. I live in hotels and motels and the occasional corporate apartment. I don’t even own a car, so I have to rely on rentals, like that sedan you’re polishing with your behind. Why?”

He shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “When you were gone earlier, I called Dallas. And when he found out you were with me, he suggested you might be a good candidate for the medical position at Texas Extreme.”

That threw her for a mental loop. “He’s offering me a job?”

“He wants to interview you first. It’s my understanding you’d have full control over the medical program, hire anyone you want and make all the decisions.”

She considered several problems with that setup and prepared to bat all his arguments away like a practiced tennis player. “Thanks, but I like the job I have.”

“You’d have your own apartment. A brand-new apartment.”

“I have no problem traveling. Makes life less boring.”

“He’ll double your salary.”

He’d just served up a surprise backhand. “How can Dallas promise that if he doesn’t even know how much I get paid?”

He pushed away from the car and smiled. “Doesn’t matter. We can afford it.”

That she didn’t doubt. Still, she realized one serious obstacle remained, and she planned to lob it right to him. “No offense, Houston, but I’m not sure I could work for you.”

“Not a problem. You wouldn’t be working for me. You’d be working for Dallas. Besides, I’ll be back on the circuit before you know it and you won’t have to deal with me.”

Having Houston’s brother as a boss could be a major concern if Dallas Calloway happened to be as stubborn as his younger sibling. And she would still encounter Houston on a regular basis until he took off again for the next rodeo. That wouldn’t be for another two to three months.

But double the salary? She’d be foolish not to give it some thought. She might be a bigger fool if she accepted without knowing all the particulars. “Look, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t tempted, but—”

“I can tempt you even more.”

Jill reacted to the deep grainy quality of his voice with unwelcome goose bumps. One more reason she should walk away from him and his blasted offer. Maintaining complete professionalism in his presence could be difficult outside the rodeo circuit considering his persistence, the fact that he wouldn’t be her patient and this idiotic attraction to him that had begun to rear its ugly head. “I believe I have enough to make an informed decision, and my answer is—”

“A ride on a decked-out plane, complete with a fully stocked bar, in case you’re nervous about flying.”

“I’m not nervous.” The slight tremor in her voice betrayed her, but it had nothing to do with the flight. “I can’t count the times I’ve been on a plane.”

“A private plane?”

If he only knew. “Actually, I have.”

He cracked a crooked smile. “Yeah, but you haven’t been on mine.”

Why did everything that spilled out of his mouth sound suggestive? “And your point?”

“I just thought that since I’m done for the season, and you don’t have to be anywhere until this weekend, we could mosey on down to the ranch so you can take a look around before you decide. We have plenty of places for you to stay overnight.”

Overnight? No way. “I believe I’ve heard enough and I really don’t think—”

“Pack an overnight bag, and I’ll see you at four in the lobby,” he said as he started across the lot toward the motel. “And FYI, I won’t take no for an answer.”

Wouldn’t take no for an answer? Ha. Maybe that worked for most women, but Jillian Elizabeth Amherst wasn’t just any woman, a fact he would soon learn. She’d spent a good deal of her adulthood telling people no, from pesky men to her own parents.

Come on, Jilly. Take a chance, for once in your life.

Jill shoved aside her onetime best friend’s words and allowed caution to come into play. She had a decent life, a satisfying job. She liked the travel even if she didn’t care for the solitude at times. She didn’t really desire to have a permanent home or a larger salary, although she wouldn’t reject extra money in most cases. But she surely didn’t need the hassle of trying to avoid a cowboy who had begun to capture her fancy, and imagination. She worried she might not want to turn him down, if the opportunity presented itself.

That reason alone led her to the appropriate decision. When Houston Calloway walked into that lobby this afternoon, he wouldn’t find her there.

* * *

Houston was kind of surprised to see Jill standing there, a blue canvas bag hanging over her shoulder, a larger suitcase at her feet and a ticked-off look on her face. She struck him as one of those organized people, and she probably didn’t appreciate the fact he was ten minutes late for the rendezvous.

“Not much on punctuality?” she said as he approached her, confirming his suspicions.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I overslept.”

“I didn’t sleep at all.”

She’d said it like that was his fault. “Why not?”

“Aside from having to turn in my rental car, I kept rolling your offer around in my mind, weighing the pros and cons. Instant insomnia.”

No shock there. “Fair enough. Now follow me.”

After picking up her suitcase, Houston escorted Jill out of the lobby to the black limo waiting at the curb. The driver opened the rear door and took the suitcase while Jill climbed inside. She claimed a spot on the lengthy seat on the far side of the limo, while he sat opposite her to maintain a wide berth between them. Otherwise he’d be battling the urge to coax her down onto the gray leather.

Like she’d be open to that. And he sure as hell didn’t understand why he’d suddenly become so damn attracted to a woman who’d been a burr in his butt for two years. Maybe it was just the challenge and the chase. Maybe he’d gone too long without female attention. Maybe it was those dimples and that shiny auburn hair and the way that peach-colored T-shirt enhanced her finer attributes. And damn she smelled good, like the lavender his stepmom, Jen, planted everywhere she could find a scrap of dirt. Jillian’s finer qualities, coupled with her no-BS attitude, presented a mighty fine package. He could so take her on one, hot ride...

“Nice ride,” she said, breaking through his fantasies.

“Only the best. The bar’s fully stocked if you want a drink.”

“No, thanks. When I drink, which is extremely rare, I don’t ever do so before seven.”

He could use a shot of whiskey, but he’d refrain in order to maintain some control over his libido. “Did you have any lunch?”

“I grabbed a sandwich a couple of hours ago.”

When she flipped that thick hair over one shoulder, he wanted to grab a cab and get out of there before he forgot his manners. “We’ll have dinner with the family tonight,” he said.“That would be a welcome change of pace. I tend to have a lot of fast food.”

“I hear you. Nothing better than a home-cooked meal.”

“I agree,” she said before glancing out the window.

Houston still couldn’t quite get a grip on the fact she’d agreed to accompany him in light of all her earlier arguments against it. He sensed Jill might be questioning that decision when she shifted and turned her attention onto the smoky glass partition separating the front from the back. The conversation died during the twenty-minute drive to the private airport and didn’t resume even when they boarded the D Bar C corporate jet.

They settled into the beige leather seats kitty-corner from each other in the main cabin near the onboard bar. Jill stared out the window without speaking, leading Houston to wonder why she would find a hangar so damn interesting.

He snapped his seat belt closed and cleared his throat. “How does this plane compare to the others you’ve been on?”

She tore her gaze from the tarmac and looked around. “About the same,” she said before finally looking directly at him. “Plush seats. Full kitchen with white marble counters. The ultimate in technology, right down to the WiFi. I assume the sleeping quarters are in the back.”

“Yeah. Feel free to stretch out after we take off.”

She rifled through her bag, took out a magazine and began to flip through the pages. “No, thanks. I’m fine right here.”

All talk ceased as they taxied down the runway, and once they leveled off midair, Houston got up and grabbed a beer from the bar fridge. “Want anything to drink? I make a mean gin and tonic.”

“No, thanks,” she said without looking up.

“Glass of water?”

“No, thanks again.”

Jill seemed bent on ignoring him, and that royally ticked Houston off. He took a swig before settling back in the seat. “Did I do something to piss you off?”

She sent him a fast glance and went back to flipping. “Not today.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

After closing the magazine, she looked at him straight on. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. I didn’t intend to take it out on you.”

He suspected there was more to it than fatigue. “Are you sure something else isn’t bugging you?”

“If you must know, my mother left me a voice mail and I listened to it right before I left the motel room. She reminded me that my sister is getting married next weekend and I’m expected to attend. Sometimes her demands rub me the wrong way.”

Houston decided Ms. Amherst had some serious mama issues. “You don’t sound too excited about the nuptials.”

“I’m not. I’ve never been that close to Pamela. She’d didn’t even invite me to be in the wedding party. But I’m five years older and let’s just say she’s always been the favored child.”

He sensed a sorry story there. “Why is that?”

“Pamela is a conformist. She went to college at my parents’ Ivy League alma mater, and she had the good fortune to find the perfect, wealthy, shallow guy. I’m sure she’ll go on to be surrounded by lots of socialites and have two point five children and a membership to the best country club in the country.”

The resentment in her tone took him aback. “Not your scene, huh?”

“Not hardly. I’m the rebel of the family. I went to school in Sin City and didn’t take the time to meet any guys, let alone get engaged to one.”

That was one helluva bombshell. “You didn’t date a single soul in college?”

“I was focused on my career, although I did consider seeking out a professional poker player just to add fuel to the family fire.”

They both laughed for a few seconds before Houston posed another question to keep the mood light. “Don’t you think bringing home a cowboy would’ve done the same thing?”

She mulled that over for a moment. “I wish I’d thought of that. My mother would have been completely beside herself, but at least she might have stopped trying to set me up with some rich, boring, misogynistic narcissist every time I went home.”

Man, she didn’t mince words. Big words. But he’d started to relate a little more to the always serious athletic trainer. He wasn’t a stranger to complicated family dynamics, and he was curious to confirm if they shared another aspect in their background. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds to me like you come from money.”

She folded her arms beneath her breasts and sighed. “Yes. A lot of money. I had a trust fund that I didn’t bother to touch because it came with conditions.”

That explained why she worked her way through school. “Conditions as in Ivy League schools and no cowboys?”

“Exactly.”

A short span of silence passed before Houston decided to end the quiet for a second time. “I’m glad you let me in on the family problems. For a minute there I thought you were mad at me for forcing you onto a plane.”

Her smile came back out of hiding. “You didn’t force me, and no, I’m not mad at you. I am a little mad at myself for not declining the invitation. This could be a total waste of both our time if your brother isn’t interested in hiring me. Provided I actually want the job.”

“Or it could be a win-win situation. You’ll have a better salary and a permanent place to land, and I’ll earn some points with Dallas.”

She frowned. “Are you holding some sort of competition?”

“Yeah. See who can find the prettiest prospective employee.”

“That’s rather sexist, Calloway.”

“I’m kidding, Amherst. Dallas thinks I haven’t been doing enough for Texas Extreme, so I figure finding someone as qualified as you to head the medical team will help prove my worth.”

“Ah. Now I know your true motives. I could be a notch in your bedpost. I meant notch in your belt buckle. Or is it just belt? Never mind.” Her face looked a little flushed. “What is Dallas like?”

“I thought you’d probably met him.”

She shook her head. “No, but I do know his reputation as an all-around champion cowboy.”

“Do you know Austin?”

“Again, only by reputation. I did catch a glimpse of him during the national finals when I was interning, but I never had the chance to meet him.”

“Is that his rodeo reputation or his reputation with the ladies before he got hitched?”

“His rodeo reputation. With you, I’d say both.”

Ouch. “Aw, come on now. I’m not a player.”

She narrowed her eyes and smirked. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

“You can’t believe everything you hear in the rodeo world. People like to exaggerate.”

“I’m sure.”

He didn’t care for her cynical tone, or that she believed he was some skirt-chasing cowboy. That would be his half brother Worth, and the minute she met him, she might change her tune. Compared to Worth, he’d look like a saint. “To set the record straight, I had a girlfriend for a couple of years.”

She leaned back and crossed her jeans-covered legs. “Really? What happened to the relationship, if you don’t mind my asking?”

He did mind a little bit. “She got tired of me being gone all the time.”

“She wasn’t into rodeo?”

“Nope. She was a city girl from Dallas. She lived in a downtown loft and unfortunately tennis was her sport.”

Her green eyes went wide. “Unfortunately? What’s wrong with tennis?”

Open mouth, insert boot. “I take it you play.”

“Yes, but not much since my boarding school days.”

That nearly shocked him speechless. His family had always been well off, but they’d never shipped him off. “Like a live-in school?”

Jill looked like she wished she could take it back. “Yes. All-girl college prep academy, thanks to my mother’s insistence. I concentrated on my studies, and not on boys.”

He’d begun to wonder if she’d never had any exposure to the opposite sex. Nah. Not possible with her looks and smarts. “Surely you had a boyfriend at some point in time.”

The way she lowered her eyes for a second told Houston he might already know the answer. “I’ve dated a little,” she finally said. “But with my bachelor’s degree, grad school, internships and a demanding job, my schedule hasn’t allowed for much of a social life for the past few years.”

He’d be glad to help her change that, but she probably wouldn’t be game. Then again, if it didn’t work out between them and she did go to work for the ranch, that could cause a lot of issues. “I imagine it would be pretty hard to have much of a social life with all the traveling, particularly in your line of work.”

“Most men don’t seem to have that problem.”

He couldn’t resist yanking her chain. “Isn’t that a little sexist?”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Oh, please. That’s the way it is. Men have an uncanny way of finding a woman in every port. Or in your case, arena.”

“You’re jaded.”

“I am not. I only tell it like it is.”

“Nope. You’ve been wronged by someone, most likely a cowboy.”

She raised her hand like she was taking an oath. “I swear I have never been involved with a cowboy. I have been a silent observer during my tenure as an athletic trainer and I’ve seen it all. Broken hearts. Heated arguments. I’ve even treated the casualties resulting from cat fights.”

He chuckled. “Gotta love those cowgirls.”

“Let me add that I’ve also examined more than a few jaws resulting from cowboy fights, even if that’s not in my job description.”

“But not with me.”

She grinned again. “No, not you. You’re more inclined to fall on your head when you fall off a bull and then argue with me when you don’t want to hear my advice.”

He studied her a moment and had a surprising revelation. “I’ve got to be honest with you, Jill. When I first met you, I didn’t like you much.”

She laid a hand above her breasts. “I’m stunned.”

“That’s sarcasm, right?”

“Yes. You didn’t like it when I ran you through concussion protocol.”

“True. And I didn’t particularly like that you seemed to treat other cowboys nicer.” Now he sounded like some jealous jerk.

“You don’t like anyone telling you what to do,” she began, “and most of my patients tend to be much more cooperative.”

Damn if she wasn’t right about that. “Fair enough. But you tend to make a big deal over a bump on the head, at least when it comes to me.”

She unbuckled her seat belt and scooted forward, her hands clasped together in her lap. “Look, Houston, I’m only tough because I care.”

“You do? Well, ma’am, I’m mighty honored to know that.”

“I care about every athlete I treat,” she added quickly.

“Even the annoying ones?”

Her smile traveled all the way to those great green eyes. “Yes, even the annoying ones.”

When Jill yawned, Houston realized he was being selfish by keeping her from sleeping. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to bed?”

“We don’t know each other that well.”

Finally, another glimpse of her sense of humor, although he didn’t find the stirring below his belt funny at all. His “bed” question might’ve been totally innocent, but the images hanging out in his head were pretty damn wicked. “You know what I mean. You’re about to fall asleep where you sit, which you can. Just press the button on the right side and the chair leans all the way back.”

She blinked twice. “I’m fine. Really.”

“You can barely keep your eyes open.” He stood, stepped to one side of her seat and depressed the control, reclining the back of the chair and raising the foot rest at the same time since she refused to do it herself. “There you go.”

He expected her to protest, but instead she muttered, “Thank you.”

For some reason, Houston’s feet remained glued to the floor as he continued to hover above Jill, leaving them in close proximity. She wet her lips and looked like she might want to say something, or do something, but she just sat very still, her gaze locked on his. He seriously wanted to kiss her, long and hard, but his mom’s words about honor kept him from acting on impulse. Jill had been right. They didn’t know each other that well, but if he had his way, that would change, if only to find out if his attraction to her was legitimate. He probably wouldn’t get his way, so he should just stop thinking about that now.

“Have a nice nap,” he said as he moved back to his seat.

“I will,” she answered before closing her eyes completely.

Houston downed the rest of his now-warm beer and continued to watch Jill. He knew by the rise and fall of her chest, her slack features, she was out. She was also a pretty sleeper. Angelic. Sexy. So much for not thinking of her in that way.

He rested his head back against the seat and allowed his imagination free rein, at his own detriment. Every detailed fantasy made him more uncomfortable. Every questionable thought about what he wanted to do with her made him shift on the seat. And every time he tried to stop thinking about it, he met mental resistance head-on.

If he didn’t get hold of his control, by the time they made it to the ranch, he’d have to ride in the pickup bed.

Bed.

Damn. Asking Jill Amherst on this trip was definitely asking for trouble.

Three

“Buckle up, folks. We’re about to land.”

At the sound of the booming voice, Jill came awake with a start. She looked around to try to regain her bearings, and came in visual contact with a pair of golden-brown eyes. Now she remembered. Private jet. Persistent cowboy. Possible new employment.

She stretched her arms above her head and made sure her seat belt was secure as they started to descend. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Less than an hour,” Houston said. “It’s a fairly short flight.”

As she braced for landing, Jill glanced out the window to see the roofs of several houses with pools and huge barns, and on the horizon, a huge multistory building surrounded by a massive amount of acreage. “Where are we landing?”

“The ranch. We have our own airstrip.”

Of course. “It looks like suburbia in the middle of nowhere.”

“We’ve all built our own houses, so I guess it would look that way. People in these parts like to refer to the D Bar C as the Cowboy Commune.”

She brought her attention back to Houston. “Clever. I look forward to seeing the commune up close and personal.”

The tires bumped and the plane screeched to a halt, followed by a resounding “Yee haw” coming from the vicinity of the cockpit.

“Who in the world was that?” she asked.

“That’s Frank, the wannabe cowboy pilot,” Houston said. “I forgot to warn you about him.”

She wondered what other surprises awaited her. “I appreciate his enthusiasm.” And she was happy that she hadn’t been bucked out of the airplane.

After releasing her seat belt, Jill grabbed her bag and stood. Houston followed suit, but before she could take a step toward the exit, he said, “Just so you know, my family’s kind of unconventional.”

She would save that conversation for later. “Not a problem. You should meet mine.”

Without waiting for a response, Jill headed out the now open door and sprinted down the stairs into the very warm Texas evening, Houston following behind her. She spotted a huge, black double-cab truck parked across the airstrip, a red Texas Extreme logo emblazoned across the side. And leaning against that truck, a guy with ham-hock biceps and sun-streaked hair. He wore a lemon yellow T and jeans and aside from the worn cowboy boots, he looked a bit out of place against the rustic backdrop.

The minute they made eye contact, he looked somewhat surprised to see her. Not as surprised as she was to see the likes of him on a ranch—a surfer dude. Definitely not the typical rodeo guy, which led her to believe he must be either a friend or employee of the Calloway boys.

“Hey, brother,” the stranger said as he pushed off the truck.

Brother? Seriously? A brother with a serious air of confidence, Jill decided when he strode toward them, all the while keeping his gaze trained on her.

“Hey,” Houston replied as he took the bags from the rowdy pilot with the handlebar mustache, who looked more like a gunslinger than an aviator. “Jill, this is Worth, the youngest of the crew.”

“I’m a minute older than Fort,” Worth said with a frown. “That makes me second to the youngest, and it’s nice to meet you, Jill.”

She’d known about Dallas, Austin and Tyler, but Fort and Worth had never entered any conversation she’d had about the Calloways. “Nice to meet you, too.”

Worth sent her a slow grin. “I didn’t know you were bringing a girl home, Houston.”

Houston shoved a black canvas bag at Worth. “She’s not with me, and she’s not a girl.”

“Okay, she’s a woman and I saw her get off the plane with you.”

“Yeah, but she’s here to see Dallas about a job.”

Worth turned his smile on Jill. “How long are you going to be here?”

She sensed the man was an incorrigible flirt. “Only one night.”

“Would you like to go with me to—”

“No, she wouldn’t, Worthless,” Houston snapped. “Take our bags to my house. And tell Mom to set an extra plate for dinner.”

Worth looked as confused as Jill felt. “I’ll drive you to your place.”

After handing over a set of keys to his brother, Houston picked up Jill’s luggage and started toward the truck. “We’ll walk,” he said as he put the bags in the bed.

Worth saluted. “Aye, aye, captain. I live to serve.”

After Worth climbed back into the truck and drove away in a fog of dust, Houston turned to Jill. “I want to apologize for his behavior. He only has two things on his mind—women and chasing women.”

Information she’d already gathered herself. “He seemed nice enough.”

“He’s a twenty-seven-year-old teenager.”

“A year older than me,” she said without much thought.

“Maybe chronologically, but not on a maturity level.”

“Does he work here on the ranch?”

“Yeah, but he owns a yacht-chartering company on the gulf coast.”

That explained the surfer look. “And apparently he has a twin.”

“Yep. Fort, but he doesn’t have anything to do with any of us.”

Interesting. “Why is that?”

“It’s a long story.”

One she might never know. She did have an important question involving the rest of the family. “When you asked Worth to tell your mother to set an extra plate, it made me wonder if anyone knows I’m here.”

He looked a little sheepish. “Only Dallas, but the rest will real soon, now that Worth knows.”

“I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “We have guests dropping by all the time.

Now follow me and I’ll show you around.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about being the surprise for the evening, or staying in Houston’s house, but then again, it shouldn’t matter. She was here on business, and she’d established that from the beginning. She didn’t believe that Houston was the kind of guy who had to be reminded of that. Besides, he’d never held her in high esteem, although he had thought enough of her to present what could be a great opportunity. Provided she got past the initial first impressions. She had a feeling this could be an interview by committee.

They continued down a narrow paved road while Houston pointed out various landmarks, including the massive lodge in the distance, the new rodeo arena, complete with indoor and outdoor space. Then he pointed at the rock and cedar building adjacent to those facilities. “That’s the medical clinic. I’ll take you on a tour after dinner.”

Clinic? She’d been expecting a glorified tent. “I’m pleasantly surprised. It looks top-grade.”

“Right now it’s empty,” he said. “That’s where you come in.”

“If Dallas thinks I’m the right fit.”

“He will.”

Confident much? “If I decide it’s something I want to undertake.”

He grinned. “You will.”

She’d learned from experience that debating with Houston Calloway would do no good, so Jill concentrated on meeting him stride for stride as they took a left turn at a bend in the road. The first of the residences came into view, a white rock and cedar single-story rambling ranch house set back from the road on their right. From the looks of the place, she guessed this place belonged to a matriarch, until Houston said, “This one’s mine,” shattering all her assumptions.

“Wow,” she said as they headed up the driveway toward the three-car garage. She took note of the silver crew-cab truck, the typical rodeo cowboy’s mode of transportation. Admittedly she was a little stunned to see the champagne-colored Mercedes parked next to it.

“Great,” Houston muttered. “We have a guest.”

“Old girlfriend?”

“Nope. New stepmom. That’s her car.”

“Worth’s mother?”

“Yeah. Jenny. I’ve got to warn you, she’s one of a kind.”

“In a good way?”

“Most of the time.”

Jill wasn’t sure how to take that until the door opened to a woman with teased blond hair and a sunny smile. She wore a red polka-dot dress, covered by a white frilly apron that looked like a throwback from fifty years ago.

“Come in,” she said with a sweeping gesture. “We’re so glad to finally meet one of Houston’s special friends.”

“She’s not a special friend,” Houston corrected as they stepped inside the entry. “She’s a prospective employee.”

“Whatever you say.” She turned her attention to Jill. “I’m Jenny, Houston’s stepmama. And you are?”

Jill shook her offered hand. “I’m Jillian Amherst, but most people call me Jill.”

“What a lovely name,” Jen said. “For a lovely girl.”

“No offense, Jen,” Houston began, “but what are you doing here?”

“No offense taken, sugar. When Worth told me you’d brought home a guest, we decided to bring dinner home to you. Dallas, Paris and the baby are on their way. Now Austin and Georgie might be along a little later because Chance just took a tumble off the fence.”

Jill immediately launched into medical mode. “Is he all right?”

Jen waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, certainly, sweetie. This is a daily occurrence with that seven-year-old. He’s a walking accident waiting to happen.”

Houston finally closed the door behind him. “How long until dinner?”

“That depends on how long it takes you to fire up the grill,” Jen said.

Houston’s expression turned stony. “We’re having a barbecue?”

Jen looked at him as if he’d grown a second eye. “Of course. It’s Labor Day weekend, sugar. I brought the burgers and all the fixins’ plus a few hot dogs. I even have one of those fake patties for Paris. Your mama will be here in a bit with the apple pie.”

Funny, Jill hadn’t given much thought to the holiday. In fact, she hadn’t remembered the date when it came right down to it. “That sounds great. I’m on the road so much, I can’t remember the last time I celebrated a holiday.”

“Well, that ends today.” Jenny waved Jill toward the lengthy hallway to the right. “I’ll show you to your room while Houston gets after that grill. Otherwise, we won’t be eating until midnight.”

As the enthusiastic stepmother began leading her away, Jill shot a glance over her shoulder at Houston. He sent her a sympathetic look before disappearing from the foyer.

So much for being rescued, Jill thought as she followed Jenny down the corridor, which seemed to run the length of the house.

Jenny paused at the end of the hall and opened a door. “Here we are. Your accommodations for the evening.”

Jill walked into the tastefully appointed room to find her bags waiting at the foot of the queen-size bed covered in a rich purple satin comforter. She didn’t peg Houston as a purple kind of guy, but then she doubted he had anything to do with the decor.

“I decorated this room,” Jenny said, upholding Jill’s conjecture. “In fact, I decorated all the boys’ places, otherwise they’d be covered in cowhide and wood.”

“You did a great job.”

“Just wait till you see the bathroom,” Jenny said as she practically skipped across the room to open another closed door.

Jill came up beside her and peered inside to see a white Cararra marble tile shower with matching countertops on the vanity. As impressive as it was, she had to admit it looked a lot like other bathrooms she’d known in her lifetime.

Determined not to disappoint Jenny, Jill turned and smiled. “It’s very beautiful. I’m extremely impressed by your eye for decorating.”

“Oh, thank you, sugar. Now before we go back out into the crowd, we need to have a little chat.”

She could only imagine what that might entail. “Go ahead.”

“First of all, you need to know you’re going to be immersed in testosterone tonight. The Calloway men are a virile bunch. They can hang their jeans on the bedpost and get a woman pregnant.”

That created quite a visual in Jill’s mind. “Believe me, I deal with that every day in my job. Not the jeans thing, but the testosterone.”

“Well, just so you’re forewarned.” Jenny grinned. “I can’t wait for you to meet Paris and Dallas. You know, Paris worked for Dallas in exchange for marrying him.”

Jill would swear she’d read that scandalous novel before, and although she wished she had more details, she decided not to prod. “Interesting.”

Jenny sighed. “Oh, sweetie, it was. But then they fell in love, married and had a precious little boy eight months ago.”

“What a wonderful story.”

“And when it comes to Austin and Georgie, that was a love story decades in the making. They were high school sweethearts torn apart by family feuding and unavoidable circumstances.”

“Obviously it all worked out.”

“Yes, but not before they reunited for one magical night and conceived Chance. Of course, Austin didn’t know about him for a good six years.”

She’d read that book, too. “That must have been quite the bombshell.”

“It almost tore them apart for good. Thankfully we banded together and talked some sense into the boy. And now they’re living in wedded bliss as Romeo and Juliet, without the poison and dagger.”

Jill was suffering from serious information overload. “I can’t wait to meet them all, too.”

Jenny hooked her arm through Jill’s. “Then let’s get to it.”

Jill pondered what she’d gotten herself into. Correction. What she might be getting into if they came to an employment agreement. Right now she only worried about getting through the introductions.

They made their way through the masculine great room, complete with black leather sofas and, unsurprisingly, cowhide chairs as well as a large stacked-stone fireplace grounding the room. The kitchen was all Jill expected—high-end appliances, concrete countertops and a butcher-block island the size of Rhode Island. She wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see a butler. Oh, wait. That would be her family home.

“Just go on out back, sugar,” Jenny said as she opened the huge stainless refrigerator. “I’m going to season the burgers and I’ll join you in a few with some of my special drinks.”

“Sounds great.”

After walking through a set of French doors, Jill entered a backyard that could best be described as resort-like, right down to the pergola and the pool. She found Houston lighting the grill built into a second kitchen built out of stone, a barbecue master’s dream.

When Houston glanced at her over one shoulder, he smiled slightly. “Did Jen give you the grand tour?”

She pulled back a cushioned wicker chair from the round glass table nearby. “Yes, she did. She also gave me a recap of your brothers’ love stories.”

He lowered the lid on the grill and faced her. “I can only imagine what she said.”

“Let’s just say it was enlightening.”

“No surprise there. Where is she now?”

“She’s getting the burgers ready and making some kind of special drink.”

Houston raked back the chair across from her and sat. “I have to warn you about that. Drink it slow and don’t have more than one.”

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