Their goodbye was supposed to be for good.

But now this rich rancher is back...and he wants her!

For billionaire Texan Noah Grant, joining the military meant sacrifice—breaking up with city girl Camilla Warner was especially tough. Yet coming home to discover she’s had his child changes everything—except for the desire still burning between them and the wall of misunderstandings keeping them apart. But Noah’s come too far to give up without a fight...

SARA ORWIG, from Oklahoma, loves family, friends, dogs, books, long walks, sunny beaches and palm trees. She is married to and in love with the guy she met in college. They have three children and six grandchildren. Sara’s one hundredth published novel was a July 2016 release. With a master’s degree in English, she has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Sara welcomes readers on Facebook or at www.saraorwig.com.

Also by Sara Orwig

Expecting the Rancher’s Child

The Rancher’s Baby Bargain

The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride

The Texan’s Baby Proposal

Expecting a Lone Star Heir

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The Rancher’s Heir

Sara Orwig

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07658-6

THE RANCHER’S HEIR

© 2018 Sara Orwig

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Extract

Extract

About the Publisher

Prologue

During the night under a starless sky, they had driven their Humvee into an ambush, and now they were barely holding on, pinned down in a firefight with nothing but a crumbling rock wall between them and the enemy. Noah Grant had only cuts and bruises. His two close friends, Mike Moretti and Jake Ralston, also had non-life-threatening injuries. The other member on this US Army Rangers mission, Captain Thane Warner, was hurt badly with wounds to his chest and head, an injured leg and deep gashes all over his body from flying shrapnel.

Mike had applied pressure to two serious wounds, trying to save their captain and friend until help arrived. Their last communication had been cut off, but before it was, Noah heard a chopper was on the way.

An explosion rocked the ground not twenty feet away, sending up a plume of light. Mike turned to punch Noah’s shoulder. As Noah Grant lowered his weapon, Mike told him, “Trade places. Keep pressure on his wounds. He wants to talk to you.”

Without hesitation, Noah took Mike Moretti’s place, holding Thane’s own jacket and Mike’s jacket over Thane’s wounds, trying to apply pressure to the two most serious ones, hoping his captain and friend could hang on until help arrived.

Thane gripped his arm and Noah leaned closer to hear him over the explosives. With shallow breathing and a hoarse whisper, Thane spoke through obvious pain. “Noah, promise me you’ll take two gifts home for me.” Coughs racked his body and he grimaced. “Promise me.”

“I promise,” Noah said without thinking as he concentrated on trying to keep pressure on the wounds.

“Two keys in pocket,” Thane said in a raspy, weakened voice, placing his hand on a pocket. “Keys alike. Other one for Jake. Mike has one.”

“Don’t talk. Save your strength.” Trying to keep pressure on the wounds, Noah slipped his hand into the pocket, leaning down closer to Thane. “I have the keys.”

Thane’s eyelids fluttered and he looked at Noah. “...in box...two packages go to Camilla and Ethan.” He closed his eyes and stopped talking. Noah leaned closer.

“Thane. Thane. Hang in there. Chopper’s coming. Thane!”

Thane’s eyes fluttered and he grasped Noah’s wrist with surprising strength. “Promise...you’ll give Camilla...gift yourself.”

“I promise I’ll put her gift in her hands,” he said, not wanting to think about actually doing the deed.

“Other present—promise me...you...give to my nephew...have to...give to him, no one else...want him to see a soldier. Don’t give to Camilla... Promise me even though—”

“I promise to put the present in your nephew’s hands myself.”

Thane’s eyes fluttered open and for an instant Noah felt a shock as Thane looked intently at him.

“I promise to place it in the baby’s hands,” Noah repeated emphatically, startled by the piercing look from Thane.

The last statement seemed to pacify him as he nodded and closed his eyes. “Get Jake.”

Noah looked around, spotted Jake and shouted at him. He didn’t dare let go of the blood-soaked jackets he held against Thane’s wounds.

“Jake,” he shouted again and jerked his head when Jake looked around.

Noah turned back to tell Thane that Jake was coming. Anxiety filled him as he saw Thane’s eyes were closed, his head turned away. Noah felt for a pulse and was surprised to find one. “Thane,” he shouted, trying to keep the man awake until medics arrived. “Thane, stay with me.”

Jake slipped down beside Noah just as another explosion ripped the ground in front of them. “Thane wants you to have this key,” Noah said, handing a small key to his friend. “He’ll tell you what he wants you to do. Hold these against his wounds. Where the hell is the chopper?”

“I don’t know, but last I heard it’s coming.”

“It better get here soon. He’s lost too much blood.” He leaned close to Thane’s ear.

“Thane, here’s Jake,” Noah shouted and moved away as Jake took over keeping pressure on Thane’s wounds.

“Hang on, Thane. Help is coming,” Jake shouted, leaning close to Thane as the man stared blankly at him.

Noah moved away, pausing when he heard another sound besides the bursts of gunfire and the explosion of a grenade. Were they going to get some help? He opened his hand that was smeared with Thane’s dried blood. A brass key lay in his palm and Noah drew a deep breath. He didn’t want to go home and give Camilla a gift from Thane. When they broke up, he didn’t expect to ever be with her again and it still hurt to think about her.

He didn’t want to see her, talk to her or do anything to stir up old feelings. It had hurt to walk away but he had and now he had to go back to her. He wondered whether he would ever reach a point where he would stop thinking about her.

One

Noah

Six months later, in July, Noah was no longer a Ranger in the US Army. He’d been honorably discharged, armed now with a list of things he needed to do before he settled back into civilian life and took over his ranch again. He’d systematically run through the list until, after tonight, there was only one thing left to do—take Thane’s packages to Camilla and her baby. He didn’t want to see either of them, but he would keep his promise to Thane. He stood holding two packages. He guessed the one for her baby was a book—that was what it felt like. Both packages were wrapped in what looked like the brown paper of grocery sacks at home. Used paper with wrinkles smoothed out. The other package for Camilla was a box. It wasn’t deep, but it was bigger than the book. Each one was tied with brown twine. Neither box felt heavy. A simple delivery. Just hand them to her and get the hell out of her life again. Just the thought of seeing her was stirring up too many unwanted memories.

The first weekend back he’d gone home to see his parents in Dallas. He’d hugged his mother while Betsy Grant had wiped away tears as she smiled at him.

“Mom, don’t cry,” he’d said.

“I’m just so happy you’re home.”

“I’m happy to be home and I’ll never understand crying for happiness.”

Smiling, she’d wiped her eyes and patted his cheek. “Someday you will. Someday you’ll have tears of joy and relief in your eyes.”

“Don’t wish that on me,” he’d said, laughing. As he’d hugged her, he’d realized she felt a lot more frail than she had when he had hugged her goodbye before he’d left for Afghanistan.

His dad’s handshake had been firm, his smile as warm as ever, but Cal Grant’s skin had looked pale.

Tonight he returned to the family Tudor mansion in Dallas and walked in to see his siblings. Noah stepped to Hallie to hug her lightly. His sister-in-law was still a beautiful woman, tall, blonde and brown-eyed.

“We’re glad you’re home,” she said, smiling at him.

He turned to his middle brother and gazed into blue eyes slightly lighter than his own. The two looked alike, except Ben had wavy black hair, not thick black curls like Noah. Noah wrapped his arms around Ben, Hallie’s husband, and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you,” he said, meaning it.

“I’m glad you’re here, bro. Eli was sorry he couldn’t get here tonight. He couldn’t get out of a dinner where he’s a speaker.”

“I’ll see him soon.”

“Come sit and let everyone talk to you,” his mother said as they all walked into the big familiar living room with comfortable sofas and chairs. “You can’t imagine how glad we all are that you’re home.”

He sat and talked to his family and once again he was struck by how much his parents had aged in the years he’d been in the military. He heard the front door open, and then his sister, Stefanie, appeared, screeching when she saw Noah. She ran across the room, her black hair flying, to throw her arms around his neck. Laughing, he hugged her and she stepped back, smiling at him.

“I’m so glad you’re home.”

He looked into her deep blue eyes, so like his own, and smiled. “I’m glad to be home.”

She turned to greet the rest of the family, crossing the room to kiss their dad’s cheek, going to brush her mother’s cheek with a kiss. “This is a celebration,” she said.

Noah laughed. Some things never changed, and his little sister stirring up the whole family with her grand entrance was one of those things.

And some things did change, he thought. Like his parents.

As they all sat and talked, he realized how good it was to be home. Nothing was more important than family. This was what he’d wanted at some point in his life. The moment that thought came, so did memories of Camilla and, with them, an unwanted pang that shocked him. After all this time, how could he still miss her? They had broken up three years ago and he didn’t want to still miss her. He didn’t want to picture her when he thought of having his own family. But he did. She was his wife and the mother of his children in all such fantasies.

But it had to stop. Now.

Banishing those tormenting images, he turned to his father and tried to pay attention to what the man was saying. It wasn’t until ten that night, when his folks said good-night and retired for the evening, that he was alone with Ben and Hallie and Stefanie.

“C’mon, Stefanie. Come with me. I’m going to find a book to take home,” Hallie said, dragging his sister to the library down the hall.

Noah looked at Ben. “I know the folks usually tell us good-night and leave, but Hallie has left for a reason besides getting a book to read.”

“Yeah. Let’s go into the study,” Ben said, and Noah realized it was something serious. He followed his brother.

Ben switched on the lights and Noah glanced around the familiar room that served as his dad’s home office. Then his attention shifted to Ben.

“What’s up? I have the feeling there’s something you’ve been waiting to tell me.”

“There is. I told Mom I would tell you and you can talk to them about it tomorrow, but she can’t talk without crying.”

“Oh, damn,” Noah said, sinking into a leather chair. Instantly he remembered his dad’s pallor and quiet manner. “It’s Dad, isn’t it?”

“You noticed. I figured you would. He—he has heart problems. Since you’ve been gone, he’s had a heart attack and he’s had bypass surgery.”

Noah felt as if he had been punched in the chest. He hurt and he looked down, remembering his dad in earlier years. “Dammit.”

Ben took a seat beside him. “Dad isn’t strong any longer, but he walks on a treadmill several times nearly every day.”

Noah looked away, remembering moments as a kid when he’d had fun with his dad, playing ball, swimming.

“That’s a hell of a thing to come home to,” he told Ben. “How’s Stefanie handling it?”

“She’s hovering over him, which seems to make them both happy. Mom, too. Between work and her social life, Stefanie keeps busy, so she’s okay. She’s running the north Dallas Grant Realty office and she’s very good at it.” He shook his head as if amazed at how well she handled the family’s real-estate business. “I thought she was too much a social butterfly to be a sharp businesswoman, but I was wrong. Last spring, she spent a month in our south Texas home and had it all done over. And I think she has plans for the Colorado home this fall. I don’t know where she gets the energy. Even with all that on her plate, she moves in social circles and supports several charities. I’ve got about three I devote time, effort and money to, while Eli has about five. You know how Dad taught us all we need to give back to the community, so here we are, doing what he expected.”

“I’m sure he’s proud of you all.”

Ben looked at him squarely. “We’re all proud of you serving in the Army in the Rangers.”

Noah shrugged. “Our dad served. Our grandfather. Our great-grandfather. It’s a family tradition. But one from this generation is enough. Don’t you go sign up.”

Ben held up his hands, palms out. “No danger of that. I have my hands full here.” He ran a hand through his hair. “When Dad had to step down, I took over the main real-estate office. You know, it might be a good thing if you come in about once or twice a month just so you know what’s going on and you’re able to take over if I’m away.”

“Okay, but I’m sure you have some vice presidents who can step in.”

“Oh, yes. I just want you to know about the business since Dad is out.”

“And in turn you’ll come out to the ranch and spend a couple of days per month.”

“Noah, ranching is your deal and maybe Eli’s occasionally. I would be lousy—”

Noah laughed and waved his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m kidding. You barely know a horse’s head from its rear, so I don’t think you’d be of much help anyway.”

Ben sat back, looking relieved. “Don’t scare me like that.” Then he sobered. “Back to Dad. I told him I’d tell you about his heart. He said he has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and they’re running some tests. He said to give him a couple of days and then come by. I think those doctor appointments wear him out. So much that he doesn’t even venture into the office any longer.” Ben leaned forward. “Don’t panic, Noah, but I’d really like you on the board.”

“The ranch is my life. I’ll be on the board, but I won’t take an office job.” He got up and paced the den. “You know, when you leave home, you think you’re coming back to the same life, but you never do,” he said. “Well, hell, this one hurts and it’s just going to hurt more as the days go by.” He stared into space a moment, lost again in memories of his dad. He turned to Ben. “Thanks for telling me.”

“Yeah. I hated to have to tell you.”

“I’m glad I didn’t know it over there. Losing Thane was hell enough. We’ve been friends since we were schoolkids. His wounds were too bad and they couldn’t save him. How’re things with you?”

Ben shrugged. “Business is good. On the home front there have been some tense moments—” He paused to look at Noah. “Hallie and I have tried since we first married to have a baby. Especially since Dad’s heart problems. We wanted him to know his first grandchild.” Ben shook his head and glanced at the closed door. “The docs say we’re both okay, to just relax, that pregnancy will happen. It would give Mom and Dad so much pleasure.” He paused a moment as Noah resumed his seat, then met his brother’s eyes. “I hate to ask, but...have you seen Camilla?”

At the mere mention of her name, his insides knotted. “No, but I will. Thane asked me to take gifts to her and to her baby.”

“She was only married two, three months at most. Then the guy was gone. He was there long enough that she has a baby. He left town before their divorce and I’ve heard he doesn’t have any interest in the kid.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s over between us,” Noah said, his stomach tightening even more. “I’m too much the alpha male for her, which is the pot calling the kettle black, to quote the old saying. And she loves Dallas and won’t even visit my ranch.”

“Sorry. You two seemed close.”

They had been once. They’d dated for a year before he joined the Army. “Not any longer.” Noah stood. “I better go and let you get home.”

They walked back to rejoin the others. He glanced at Stefanie. “If I know you, you’re just getting ready to start your evening. You’re probably meeting friends.”

Smiling, she wrinkled her nose at him. “You might be right. You can even join us.”

“Thanks, but not tonight.” He turned to his brother. “I’ll call and see Dad when it’s convenient for him.”

Ben nodded, then reached out to hug his brother.

“Damn, I’m glad you’re home,” he said.

“Let me know if you need me. I have something I need to do in Dallas before I go to the ranch and I’ll spend a bit longer in Dallas to be with Dad more.”

“That will be good. I’m sorry about you and Camilla.”

It still hurt too much to talk about her. “Thanks. So am I, but I’m not giving up ranching. I sure as hell can’t change my personality.”

He said good-night to Stefanie and Hallie. “See you both soon,” Noah said as he made his way to the door.

Stefanie asked him to wait, walking outside with him.

“How is it with Camilla?” she asked as they headed toward her car. “Have you seen her baby?”

“It’s finished with Camilla, and no, I haven’t seen her baby,” he said.

“Sorry, Noah, if you’re unhappy about it. Come out with me Friday night and have some fun.”

He laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “You’d take the old man out with you? Thanks, but I’ll pass this time.”

“You’re not that much older than my crowd and you’re not as old as some of them.” She smiled at him and touched his arm. “Think about it. Also, I’m a cochairman for the Heart Ball—”

He stopped her with a grin. “I’ll take a table and however many tickets that means.”

“Ahhh, thank you! It’s still three months away but it’s never too soon to sell tickets.” She opened her red sports car and turned back to him. This time he noticed her expression had sobered. “Ben told you about Dad, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, he did. I’ll go by and talk to Dad soon. He has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”

“It breaks my heart, but I don’t want to be sad around them. He seems to be doing okay, but I’m sure you see a difference.”

“Of course I do.” He reached out to her. “If you want a shoulder to cry on, I’ve got one.”

She gazed up at him. “There will be times I’ll need it. You’re a wonderful big brother.”

He smiled and pulled her to him in a hug. When he released her, he held open her car door, then closed it when she was in. “See you soon,” he said as he turned for his car. As he opened his car door, he glanced back to see her backing out of her parking place. He left, driving to the condo he maintained in Dallas while he thought about his dad, and then his thoughts shifted to Camilla. He would see her—after all this time. His pulse beat faster when he thought about her while at the same time memories of the past clutched at his heart. He had put this meeting off long enough. Even though it might very well open old wounds, the time had come to see her and fulfill his promise.

Stefanie

Stefanie drove to her condo in downtown Dallas. She ran a family office in a suburban area, but she liked the town condo. When she was inside, she walked to the window to look out at the city without really seeing it. Her thoughts were lost on her oldest brother. She was thankful he was home. Noah had a steadying influence on everyone in the family.

She could hear the gruffness in his voice when she had asked about Camilla, and her anger flashed. She’d liked Camilla—until she’d hurt Noah. She’d hurt him before he ever left for overseas and that had worried Stefanie. She’d feared he wouldn’t have his mind on his job as much if he was worried about Camilla—something that could be fatal in hostile territory.

She thought about Camilla, who was pursuing an art career. Stefanie had always wondered if she had married to spite Noah because her husband was gone in a couple of months. Camilla probably hadn’t planned on a pregnancy. The guy hadn’t even wanted his baby.

Stefanie thought about Noah, looking preoccupied tonight, learning about their dad and coming home to unhappiness with Camilla. Noah needed to meet someone, someone who was fun to be with, someone who would get him over his breakup.

Stefanie knew some really gorgeous women who would be perfect for Noah. She knew two women in particular who came to mind right away. Better still, one of them was going to be in Vivian Warner’s wedding party when Thane’s widow remarried next week. She could call Vivian. Noah needed someone who would make him happy.

And Stefanie needed to think of a way to get Camilla away from Dallas and out of her brother’s life.

If Camilla was away from Dallas, maybe Noah would be more interested in going out and meeting new friends.

Camilla

In her large art studio at her Dallas home, Camilla stepped back to look at the canvas on an easel. She had a commissioned family portrait of two children she was painting from a picture she had taken with her iPad. She usually got up early to paint while Ethan slept. She would hear him on the monitor when he stirred.

It was quiet, peaceful in her studio, and on breaks from painting, she could watch the sunrise over her backyard.

Light spilled into the room and over easels holding watercolor paintings, charcoal drawings and portraits. One wall held a massive landscape painting. There were shelves filled with art bottles of acrylic paints and tubes of oils. Two sinks were near a worktable. Sunshine splashed through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall that gave a broad view of her gardens. Stacks of drawings and prints were in bins along a wall. She had a patio door open to let fresh air in and a slight paint smell out. She had a studio in her condo, another studio in an office in downtown Dallas, but this was her favorite place to paint. She also had an art gallery in Dallas.

As she cleaned her brushes, she glanced over at a black-and-white pencil sketch propped on top of a cabinet holding her paints. The sketch was Noah, one she had done from a picture after they started dating. She still liked it. All in shades of black and gray on a white background, she had made his eyes a vivid blue, trying to reproduce the color of them. He had a faint smile and his black hair was its usual unruly tangle. That mass of tangled curls was gone when she last saw him with his military cut.

She stared at his picture a moment, dreading seeing him again while at the same time missing him, wondering what the future held. Guilt plagued her and memories taunted her, memories of his kisses, moments in his arms.

With a shake of her head, she continued to put away brushes and pencils. In the cabinet were scrapbooks with printouts of pictures and artwork she had done.

She had attended a musical at the Music Hall last night, and during the performance, her mind had wandered to Noah. He was out of the military now.

On the wall behind a massive wooden desk was a wall calendar with the art jobs she had pending and due dates. She had appointments written in, important events she would attend, including her widowed sister-in-law’s upcoming wedding. Noah would be there and their paths would cross.

She thought over what she’d heard: Noah Grant was home. She couldn’t get him out of her thoughts. She couldn’t understand her reaction to hearing the news. She hadn’t seen him for two years, not since he’d been home on furlough. Even back then he was exactly what she disliked in a man—a take-charge male—yet when she heard he was back, her heart had raced and longing shook her. For just an instant, she forgot their fights and arguments and remembered only the good moments. Noah making her laugh, Noah holding her, kissing her. Noah taking her to bed, where she’d run her hands over his smooth back. Noah—

Stop it.

She had to listen to that sane inner voice telling her to rein in those errant memories. Yes, they’d had moments of ecstasy, of bliss, but those times were over.

So why did the mere anticipation of seeing him make her heart flutter? Why did she have such an intense reaction to him?

Their last time together had ended in a bitter breakup and she had been the one who’d enacted it. She told him they had no future. She had a father who made all the decisions and ran their house with an iron fist. All her life her mother had given in to her dad. Too far back to remember exactly when, Camilla had vowed she would never live a life where she had to constantly give in to someone else about everything. She had to make some of her own decisions beyond what she would wear and whom she’d invite to the next party.

Her brother, as much as she had loved Thane, had been another take-charge man. But she wouldn’t allow herself to choose a man like that for a husband.

At least her dad led a quiet life. Noah, on the other hand, liked challenges.

Noah and she were such opposites that she couldn’t understand the attraction she felt. She was going to Shakespeare in the Park tonight. Noah would never go with her to Shakespeare, the opera or the ballet. He seldom went to art galleries with her. She loved city life, operas, chamber music, her art. Noah was a billionaire rancher, but a cowboy at heart. He loved his ranch, boot-scootin’ honky-tonks, country music, competing in rodeos, flying his planes. He was exuberant, filled with life, and he’d take charge wherever he was. She didn’t want to tie her life to a cowboy who was 100 percent determined to do things his way.

So why did she almost melt when she looked into his vivid blue eyes? Why did his kisses set her on fire? He could make her forget the world, forget what she liked and didn’t like. So easily he could make her want to be in his arms. And that was what he had done the last time she had seen him when he had come home to Texas on a furlough.

They had started out fighting and arguing and ended up in bed in each other’s arms. He had charmed her as he usually did.

For all their differences and her wanting to avoid getting entangled with a wild, take-charge rancher who liked challenges, she had been charmed, dazzled and unable to resist the mutual attraction, and she had spent the weekend in his bed. Now she was going to face the consequences.

When Noah had been home on furlough, he had been more appealing than ever. He had filled out with broad, muscled shoulders, a hard body in prime shape with a narrow waist, endurance that made him fabulous in bed. Just thinking about seeing him again made her pulse race and her insides get tingly.

She didn’t know how she would deal with him. No matter how much she planned to stand firm, to resist him, she feared that all he had to do was wrap his arm around her and kiss her and her resistance would disappear into thin air.

On the other hand, he could be stubborn, determined and unyielding. Which made her wonder how forgiving he could be. She couldn’t answer that, because there hadn’t ever been an occasion between them for her to gauge his ability to forgive.

Thinking of seeing Noah made her shiver.

She heard the monitor and left to get her fifteen-month-old son.

He had gone back to sleep and she stood beside his crib, love filling her for her baby. Ethan lay curled on his side. His long black lashes cast dark shadows on his rosy cheeks.

Camilla ran her fingers lightly over her precious sleeping baby. His mop of curly black hair reminded her of his dad. He held a frazzled-looking teddy bear in his arms—the toy he held like a security blanket whenever he’d get sleepy. The bear’s stitched black nose was smashed from Ethan rubbing noses with it.

She touched Ethan’s curls again. Guilt was a heavy shroud that had fallen over her. This was Noah’s baby and he had no idea that Ethan was his son.

Two

Camilla

All during her pregnancy, everyone assumed she was carrying her ex-husband Aiden’s child. When she realized they did, she let everyone go right on believing that. By the second month after they married, Aiden and she were divorced. When the baby was born, it was easy to keep up the deception. She had been divorced and Aiden had left town six months before Ethan was born, so no one questioned her naming her baby Warner, her family name. Aiden had been a rebound marriage, a fling, a mistake, and she never wanted to keep his name and he had no interest in her baby.

Little Ethan, like Aiden and Noah, had black hair, so no one suspected anything.

Though she’d already broken up with Noah when she started dating Aiden, she’d been pregnant. Noah had been back in Afghanistan, his furlough over. As well as their relationship.

She’d known Aiden since college and she married him on the rebound. She had thought he would be a dad for her baby, but she knew the second week of the marriage she had made a mistake and she felt he wasn’t happy, either.

They really weren’t compatible. By the second month he’d wanted a divorce and so had she.

People still didn’t realize this was Noah’s baby. While guilt plagued her because Noah had a right to know the truth, she knew he would want to take charge of the situation. He would want control over her baby. Maybe her own life in some ways would be out of her hands.

At some point she had to let him know about Ethan, but she dreaded it more than anything in her life. She was not going to let him know yet. Ethan was the joy of her life now. She didn’t want to lose him. Nor was she ready to share him. Noah was a rancher, but she loved city life and wanted her son in Dallas.

Though she’d spent time on her grandfather’s ranch, she wasn’t fond of them. Being on a ranch made her think of Winston, her little brother who had fallen through the ice at their grandfather’s ranch when Winston was four. Thane had pulled him out of the icy pond. Later Winston had developed pneumonia and died. It always saddened her to think of that time.

The entire year they’d dated, Noah had never declared his love, but he’d made it clear that if he ever wanted to marry, his wife would have to live on his ranch.

Yes, suffice it to say, she and Noah had hugely different lifestyles. Noah wasn’t going to change and she didn’t want to change, either.

She brushed her fingers so lightly over Ethan’s soft curls, feeling them tickle the palm of her hand. Wanting to lean down and kiss him, she resisted because she was afraid she would wake him. The minute Noah knew about their son, she was certain he would want to take charge of Ethan’s life and maybe hers, too. She would see Noah when Mike Moretti and Thane’s widow, Vivian, married. Their wedding was coming up this next weekend, and both she and Noah would be in it. Ethan was too little to go to this wedding, so she didn’t have to worry about having Noah and Ethan in the same place.

Aside from Mike and Vivian, she moved in a circle of friends now who did not know Noah, so she hoped she’d be able to drag out the deception a little longer.

Over the last almost two years there’d been times she’d considered telling Noah about his son, but she’d always backed off. Now, as she looked at her baby and fought the urge to hold him in her arms, she knew despite her guilty conscience, she had to continue to keep Noah away from him. It was too terrifying to tell him the truth.

Noah

Tuesday afternoon, Noah sat across from Mike as they ate burgers together on the patio of a popular lunch place in Dallas. “I’m glad about you and Thane’s widow,” Noah told his friend. “I guess it was good you told Thane you’d go to work for him when you got out of the military. I think it gave him peace of mind to hire you and know if something happened to him, you’d go home to run the ranch. He may have hoped all along that you would marry Vivian.”

“I’m sure he was taking care of Vivian and taking care of his beloved ranch. He had everything all lined up if anything happened to him.” Mike put down his burger and wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Now you have an errand for him.”

“Right,” Noah said, looking into his friend’s alert brown eyes. Mike’s black hair had a slight wave and was longer than when he was in the service, but still cut short. “I had to promise Thane I would put his package into Camilla’s hands myself. The baby, too. Her baby isn’t going to know or care what’s going on and probably won’t even know he has a present.”

Mike laughed. “Thane probably hoped you’d get back with his sister.”

“That won’t happen. She told me a definite goodbye and she married after I left. She divorced him a few months into the marriage and now has his baby. Camilla and I are history. I’m too much the alpha male for her.”

“We’re all alpha males, and her brother definitely was, too.”

“She has said the same thing about her brother.” Noah shrugged. “I can’t change something as basic as that. It’s who I am. I don’t know how we got together in the first place. We’re opposites. She likes opera, art galleries and big cities. I like my country-western music, rodeos and the ranch. In short, we were never meant to be. It’s over.”

“Sorry. Life can get complicated. Thane probably wanted you to get back together so that her child would have a good dad around.”

“She’s from a very wealthy family. In addition, she does well with her art, some pieces bringing big bucks before I left for the service. She does watercolor landscapes, murals, also portraits and has done some portraits for celebs for impressive amounts of money, so she doesn’t need one bit of financial help. Also, she has two more brothers, Mason and Logan. As far as I know, they’ll be around some for her baby. When I left for the service Mason had a financial consulting firm in Austin and Logan is head of his Dallas oil company. Maybe being in a war made Thane sentimental. I don’t know. All I have to do is take the present to her and give the baby his present and say goodbye.”

Mike paused as he went to take another bite of his burger, and his eyes met Noah’s. “Sorry, buddy. She’ll be in our wedding because she’s family and a friend of Vivian’s.”

“It won’t matter. While it’s over between us, we can be civil to each other. I’ll see her at your wedding and then it’s goodbye and we probably won’t cross paths again.”

“She’s a good artist and highly successful, which made her instant friends with Vivian. Vivian shows Camilla’s art in her galleries. Camilla is good at what she does. Her art is bringing in higher returns and it’s selling better than ever.”

Noah was glad for her. She’d always been talented. But enough talk about Camilla. He changed the subject quickly, before Mike could go on about the woman. “Speaking of a wedding, too bad Jake won’t be out of the military and back for your wedding.”

“We waited for you. I’m not waiting another month for Jake to get back, even though I count him as a close friend,” Mike said.

“I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“He won’t care if he isn’t in a wedding except that he’ll miss a party. Jake loves a party.”

After reminiscing a bit about their good friend and Ranger buddy Jake Ralston, Mike asked after Noah’s plans now that he was home.

“I’ll stay in Dallas for the next month to get business taken care of, see my family some, and I have Thane’s gift to Camilla to deliver. Eventually, I’ll go back to my West Texas Bar G Ranch.”

“That’s the best possible plan,” Mike said, smiling. “If you want to buy a really fine horse, come by our place.”

“I’ll do that. When is a good time?”

Mike shrugged. “With our wedding coming up this weekend, either come out today or tomorrow or wait a couple of weeks until we return from our honeymoon.”

“Thanks, Mike. I’ll give you a call or text when I’m ready.”

“Great. You know where the ranch is. Stay for dinner and get to know Vivian if you can.”

“Thanks,” he said and Mike nodded.

As the hour passed, they finished lunch and finally said goodbye. Noah left, thinking again about delivering the gifts from Thane. When he sat in his car, he called a phone number he still could remember easily and drew a deep breath as he waited to hear Thane’s sister, Camilla Warren, answer.

Camilla

Camilla’s heart skipped a beat when she looked at the name on the caller ID. Noah. She hadn’t talked to him since the two weeks he’d been home on a furlough. Since they’d made a baby together. Sex with Noah had always been fabulous. In bed, they were compatible, in sync. Not so much out of the bedroom. A relationship between them never would have lasted. And now he would never forgive her deception.

She stared at the caller ID while the music on her phone continued to play, indicating an incoming call. She didn’t want to answer. She and Noah had nothing to talk about and he should know that she would not go out with him. She couldn’t imagine he would want to ask her out after the harsh words they’d had when they last parted. She didn’t want to see him and she didn’t want to talk to him.

His call kicked over to voice mail and minutes later her heart skipped another beat when she listened to Noah’s familiar voice.

“Camilla, your brother has a gift for you. It’s important because he went through hell—” Noah paused and tears stung her eyes because she loved her older brother and she knew Noah and Thane had been close friends since they had been in middle school.

She could hear Noah take a deep breath. “Thane went through hell to make sure I knew what he wanted. I promised him I would give a package to you. He was insistent I put it in your hand myself. Sorry Mike could have given it to you, but that wasn’t what your brother wanted. This was a final request of a dying buddy, a man whose memory I will always honor, and I’m going to keep my promise to him and put his gift into your hand as he asked. Also, he gave me a present for your baby, his first nephew. I’m to give that present to him. I’ll call again for a time.” There was a brief pause, and then he added, “It’s Noah, by the way.”

She heard the click and dropped her phone to cover her face with her hands and sob for the big brother who had been killed, a brother who had been a friend and a second dad. He wasn’t coming home. And she knew she was also crying over Noah, the man she had once loved with all her heart. The man she had to keep out of her life at all costs. Yet now there was a reason she had to see him, because she could not refuse her brother’s dying request, either.

Thane had known she couldn’t refuse to see Noah. Too easily, she could imagine her brother’s motive in getting Noah to deliver the present to her. Even from the grave, he was taking charge of someone else’s life. This time, hers. Thane was determined that Noah learn about Ethan. After the baby was born, Thane had written her and asked if Ethan was Noah’s. He was the only person who had come up with the truth. She couldn’t write back and admit it, though. Just the fact that she’d stalled had given him an answer. And then he’d gotten a call through to her and they had argued about it.

Thane tried almost as much as her dad to take charge of everything in his life. But he couldn’t convince Camilla to tell Noah the truth.

She sighed as she wiped her eyes and tried to regain her composure. She would have to see Noah and accept her brother’s present. To do so, they should make arrangements to meet as soon as possible and get it over and done. But she was not going to let him see Ethan. Noah could give her Ethan’s present. Her son wouldn’t know what was going on, anyway.

She picked up the phone to send a text to invite Noah to come by. She had no intention of telling Noah ahead of time that Ethan would not be home. Noah would simply come another time. In minutes she received an answer and a time, which she accepted. She sighed as she wondered how she would get through seeing Noah tomorrow. Not only then, but at Vivian’s wedding.

Vivian would marry Mike Moretti, another Ranger buddy and rancher who had been in Thane’s outfit. Thane had hired Mike to replace their retiring foreman. Vivian knew about Camilla’s breakup with Noah, so she had been sympathetic when she’d asked Camilla to be in her wedding, telling Camilla if she was uncomfortable accepting, she would understand. Camilla wanted to say no and stay far away, but she couldn’t. For Thane’s sake—and she truly liked Vivian—she would be in the wedding, which Vivian had originally said would be small with just family members and very close friends. That had changed because there were so many family members. Mike and Vivian both had brothers and close friends. One of Vivian’s brothers would be best man. Noah would be a groomsman. Noah’s sister, Stefanie, would be a bridesmaid.

Camilla hoped she could get through seeing Noah, talking to him, being in the wedding with him, without any tears. She was the one who had broken up the relationship and she thought by now she was over him, but hearing his voice not only made her cry, it made her weak in the knees and swamped her with longing to have his arms around her and to kiss him again—something she didn’t want to feel. She had no future with Noah. Her feelings hadn’t changed one tiny degree regarding his alpha-male ways. She just had to get through tomorrow’s meeting and get through the wedding, and then Noah would be out of her life.

After the wedding, she didn’t ever have to see Noah again. She would cling to that thought like a lifeline.

But first she had to make it through tomorrow.

* * *

The next day at noon her heart fluttered as she changed clothes for the third time. She shouldn’t care how she looked or what she wore. She and Noah were finished forever and she would take the package and baby present her brother had sent and say goodbye and Noah would be gone. She lived in Dallas, and Noah lived two hundred and thirty miles away in West Texas on his Bar G Ranch. Now, if only her heart could get the message that seeing Noah wasn’t important. Her heart was pounding, her hands were icy, her breathing was fast—why couldn’t she get over him? She didn’t want a future out on a ranch with a strong alpha male whose life choices were mostly the opposite of hers.

Annoyed by her reactions to seeing him, she took a deep breath.

Her door chimes made her jump and she realized how tense she was. She took another deep breath, glanced at herself in the mirror and shook her long, straight brown hair away from her face. Her gaze skimmed over her pale blue cotton blouse, matching slacks and high-heeled sandals. Then she hurried to the door, swinging it open and feeling her heart beat faster as she looked up into Noah’s vivid blue eyes. In that instant, two years’ worth of time vanished. In some ways it could have been yesterday when she’d last seen him. In other ways, change was evident. He looked older, taller, more broad-shouldered and even more incredibly handsome. His thick black hair was a mass of unruly curls above the most vivid blue eyes she had ever seen.

Looking like the rancher he was, Noah was in civilian clothes: fresh, dark jeans, a navy long-sleeved shirt and black boots. A short black beard was a new addition. He looked like a strong, handsome Texas cowboy, not a billionaire rancher and former officer of an elite military outfit. She couldn’t speak and she wanted to walk into his arms and kiss him. She had thought she was getting over him, but the instant she looked into his eyes, such intense longing filled her that it hurt. For a moment they stared at each other and she realized he was as silent as she.

“Come in, Noah,” she said quietly, her voice a whisper. Her pulse raced and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. She couldn’t move. Her heart pounded and she made an effort to step back so he could enter. When he did, she caught the scent of his aftershave. As he stepped in front of her, he paused to look down at her. She couldn’t breathe while she wondered if he could hear her heart pound. He turned and walked on. Taking a deep breath, she closed the door and walked ahead of him into the living room.

“Where’s your baby?” he asked, following her. “I expected you to be holding him.”

“Actually, Noah, my mom came by and took Ethan with her. One of her friends is here from out of town and she wanted to show him off.”

She entered her living room and turned to face him. He had a slight scowl and his gaze had grown cold.

“Camilla, I told you that I have Thane’s gift to you and one to your son. What’s his name—Ethan?”

“Yes—he’s named for my uncle. I’m sorry,” she answered, raising her chin, trying to get some force into her voice so she didn’t sound guilty or intimidated. “I know you told me that you wanted to see Ethan, but this was special to Mom, and her friend will only be in town today. Besides, he’s a baby,” Camilla stated firmly and had a sinking feeling when his expression did not soften. “Ethan is fifteen months old. He won’t know or care if you put that present in his little hands or not. That’s ridiculous. He doesn’t even know how to open a present. He’ll probably chew on it. I’ll get it to him and put it into his hands.” Changing her tone, she waved her hand. “Have a seat, Noah, and relax,” she said, motioning toward an armchair.

Noah shook his head. “Thanks, Camilla, but I have other places to go.”

Why did his words hurt? He was stiff, cold and angry. She didn’t want to react to him, to ache to be in his arms and to remember far too vividly his kisses.

“Do I get my present?” she asked.

He crossed the room and she couldn’t resist letting her gaze flick over him. Her pulse raced as she noted differences. He stopped a couple of feet in front of her. Her gaze lowered to his mouth and she couldn’t get her breath. She realized how she stared and her gaze flew up to meet his, and for a few seconds, she saw scalding desire, a hungry look that made her weak in the knees. She was the one who broke up with him, so why was she about to go up in flames just facing him now?

She fought to regain her composure, or at least feign it. Searching for something to say, she came up with a lame comment. “I think you’re taller, Noah.”

“I am,” he answered. “I got measured enough in the Army to know I’m taller than when I went in. Taller, heavier, stronger and hopefully tougher. We’ll see the next time I participate in a rodeo.” He reached out, holding a package. “Here’s your present from Thane, Camilla. He had very specific instructions for me.”

Momentarily lost in thoughts about her brother, she accepted the small package and ran her hand over the ripped and wrinkled brown paper, tied tightly with twine. She thought about Thane, dying in Afghanistan, so far from home and family, having a present for her and one for Ethan. “Thank you. I’m glad you and Mike and Jake were with him. He died doing what he wanted,” she said and stopped talking for a moment because tears threatened. “When I kissed him goodbye, I wondered if I would ever see him again,” she whispered and turned her back to wipe her eyes. She tried to get her emotions under control and shifted her thoughts to Noah and the present, turning back to face him.

“Sorry, Noah. Thane was really special.”

“Yes, he was. He was special to all of us under his command.”

She took a deep breath. “You did what he wanted. I’ll tell Ethan, when he’s old enough to understand that Thane very specifically wanted you to bring his present home and he wanted you to place it in Ethan’s hands yourself.”

“And that’s what I intend to do. I’ll have to come back,” he said, and she could hear the reluctance in his voice.

A chill slithered down her spine because she knew Noah would do whatever he said he would. She knew far too well how tough and unyielding he could be when he thought he was right.

“Noah, you’re busy. I’m busy. Ethan is a baby and Thane wasn’t thinking about how little Ethan is.”

“Camilla,” Noah said in such a cold voice that she stopped talking instantly. “Thane knew exactly what he was doing and saying. Those were the words of a dying man giving his last wishes. I promise you, your brother’s thoughts were clear, and with great effort and some of his last breaths, he made me promise to put that gift into your baby’s hands. He specifically said to not give it to you.”

She felt heat rise in her face. She loved her brother, but he had always meddled in her life. This was why she wouldn’t tie her life to a man who was an alpha male through and through. Her controlling brother had even managed to wring promises from his men that would bring about the results Thane wanted. He was just as bad as her father.

Her father had never been deeply interested in his kids. Early on, Thane took over being a second dad to her and sometimes he’d interfered in her life if he’d thought it was best.

She smiled sweetly. “All right, Noah. You can give the present to Ethan personally. I’ll call you. It won’t be this week because we have commitments, but next week should work.”

Noah nodded. “If possible, as soon as you can. I want to get this done. I gave your brother my word that I would.”

“Sure. You want to get back to your ranch, don’t you?”

“You can’t imagine how much I want to. It’s been two years since I even saw it, back when I was on that furlough. You should have come out there with me at least once, Camilla. It’s beautiful.”

She shivered. “Noah, I’ve told you—we used to go see my grandparents on their ranch and it was never beautiful. It was scary and had snakes. I was bitten once, but it wasn’t a poisonous one. My grandfather spent his time and money gambling and that ranch was insignificant to him. So were his grandkids. I hated it, and after my grandmother died, my grandfather let everything go. The house was dark and depressing. I told you—that’s where my little brother, Winston, drowned. Our grandfather let us play on a frozen pond and the ice cracked. We all went in and that icy water was terrifying and I had nightmares about it for a couple of years. Thane pulled Winston out. He was only four. He got pneumonia and died. I’ve told you before.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard Thane talk about it. That doesn’t mean all ranches are dark, dangerous, gloomy and sad. That was your grandfather’s doing.”

“I’ll agree with you on that one.”

A faint smile raised one corner of his mouth. “Something we finally agree on.”

“I’ve lost two brothers and an uncle because of accidents or violence. At least you can take care of yourself. When we were dating, maybe I should have gone to your ranch with you and you should have gone to an opera with me.”

“I can’t recall being invited to an opera.”

“You would have turned me down.”

Again, she saw a faint, crooked smile. “You should have tried me, Camilla. You’ll never know whether I would have or wouldn’t have.”

They looked at each other and she felt that same pull, the attraction that was as intense as it had been when they dated. He had the most vivid blue eyes she had ever seen and they held her captive right now while her heart pounded. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t look away and couldn’t move.

“I’ll see you next week,” he said gruffly. But as his gaze lingered on her for a minute after he spoke, longing swamped her. She could just reach out and pull him back into her life. That thought came and immediately she stepped away from him. He might not ever want to be in her life again and she didn’t want him back. He hadn’t changed; he’d still try to run everything. Just like Thane. She knew Thane had been trying to get them together again or he would never have sent a present for Ethan and asked Noah to place it in Ethan’s hands.

“I’ll call you before I come out,” Noah added, still standing in the same spot and looking at her.

Just as she’d expected, he turned the tables on her, taking charge of their next meeting. “Please do call. My schedule varies from week to week. I have a painting I’m working on.”

“I’ll call. You look great, Camilla,” he said and his voice suddenly had a rasp that made her pulse jump. His gaze ran briefly over her from head to toe and back to look into her eyes. He might as well have run his fingers over her. She tingled from his glance—a mere glance—and she reacted to him.

“Thank you. So do you,” she said in a voice that was almost a whisper.

“I don’t know why in hell you fell in love with me when you knew from day one the things I like and do, the kind of man I am,” he said. His eyes blazed with anger and a muscle worked in his jaw.

Her temper flared over his comment and she leaned closer to him, as she breathed deeply and looked at his mouth. “Oh, I think you know full well why I fell in love with you,” she said, reacting with anger and longing. Her emotions were raw and she hurt and was angry with him, while at the same time, she couldn’t stop wanting him, his kisses and his arms around her.

Annoyed with Noah and herself, she slipped her arm around his neck, standing on tiptoe to kiss him, running her tongue slowly over his lips for seconds before his mouth opened on hers. His arm banded her waist tightly, yanking her against him, and he leaned over her, kissing her, thrusting his tongue over hers. It was a hot, demanding kiss that made her heart pound while she moaned with pleasure and forgot momentarily all their differences.

Abruptly he swung her up and released her. Both of them gasped for breath as they stared at each other. “Well, I knew there had to be some reason you liked me. That one hasn’t changed. It’s a package deal—it’s all of me, the bossy male, the rancher, the cowboy and rodeo rider, the pilot.” He glared at her and her heart still pounded. “I should go,” he said.

He turned and left, walking toward his black sports car. She watched as he walked away with purpose, standing straight, looking like a soldier, someone who was accustomed to walking with shoulders back and chin up.

“The truth is, you don’t want to change,” she said softly, knowing he was out of earshot and couldn’t possibly hear her. “You’re not going to see Ethan,” she whispered. “Not next week or next month or next year. Thane was meddling in my life, doing what he thought was best because he loved both of us, but it wasn’t best for any of us—not for me, not for you and not for Ethan.”

Her conscience hurt when she remembered Thane’s call to her, the heated arguments between them—something she’d never had before in her life—and now her brother was gone and she wanted to say she was sorry she had argued with him. She wasn’t sorry for what she had done and was still doing, but she was sorry she had fought with the brother she loved so much.

She had told him that she had rights and he was butting into something that was none of his business and could hurt three people.

He had told her what she was doing was wrong and Noah had legal rights that she was violating. Thane had said she should rethink what she was doing before she hurt three people badly.

She thought about Noah and whispered to him even though he had driven away. “You can keep Thane’s present to Ethan. It won’t be half as important as keeping you from giving it to him. If the day ever comes when you see Ethan, the moment you do, you’ll know you’re looking at your son. And if that happens, all hell will break loose between us, Noah Grant.”

Three

Noah

As Noah drove away, he took deep breaths and relaxed his grip on the steering wheel. It had hurt far more than he had expected to see Camilla again. He thought he was getting over her, but the minute she opened the door, he knew damn well he hadn’t gotten over her at all. He had just been busy trying to stay alive and do his job.

While he hurt, he wished he didn’t care. He and Camilla had no future together and he didn’t want to see her again because today had torn him up. She hadn’t looked happy, either.

She had been prettier than ever, looking gorgeous, and his knee-jerk reaction had been to want to wrap her in his arms and kiss her for the next hour and carry her to bed.

He couldn’t ever do that again.

He struck the steering wheel with his hand. He needed to get to the ranch and outside where he had hard, physical work. The Army was over. His life with Camilla was over. He had to move on and get a new life and try to forget her.

He hadn’t helped himself by asking her why she fell in love with him when he knew what she liked and they both were tense and angry. Her kisses made him want to promise to change, to do whatever she wanted, but he hung on to his wits enough to know that he couldn’t stop being decisive, controlling, demanding. He loved the Bar G Ranch and didn’t want to give up that life. He’d lived in Dallas and worked in the family business and he’d had more of that than he wanted. That wasn’t the life for him.

He drove carefully because he was upset and his mind was elsewhere. It was not until he was in his own condo that he could let go, let the memories that tugged at him come, the regrets, the anger, the longing he couldn’t control.

He brewed coffee, poured a mug and went out on his balcony to look over the city of Dallas. He was high enough up that the horns and clatter of trucks were muffled.

He sat and sipped his coffee and thought about what else he had to do before he went back to the ranch, yet every few minutes, his thoughts would return to Camilla. He had to let go because they would not get back together. The differences were too big, too basic. She felt he was too strong an alpha male, making decisions and taking charge, because she had grown up with two take-charge males—Thane and her dad. She said her mother had given in to her dad always. Noah felt certain that wouldn’t happen with Camilla. She was about as strong-willed as he was if she stopped to think about it. Would she really have liked him better if he couldn’t take charge, couldn’t make decisions and act on them? He didn’t think so.

She hated her grandfather’s ranch, thus she disliked all ranches. He knew her memories were terrible at her grandfather’s place because her little brother had caught pneumonia from his fall into an icy pond and had later died. That would be a bad memory, but Noah didn’t think his ranch would trigger any such memories. He should have tried more to coax her out to his ranch.

She loved life in the city. He loved it out on his ranch, which she had never even visited. They weren’t going to work through their differences because neither of them would change. In bed was the one place where they had absolutely no disagreements. She was fantastic, instantly and intensely responsive. He sipped his coffee and made an effort to get his thoughts off sex with Camilla. The big deal was to give Camilla’s baby his little present. Why the hell Thane had been so insistent on placing that present in his little nephew’s hands, Noah couldn’t imagine, unless it had been that the little kid had no dad and Thane hoped Noah would be enough interested in the child to try to work things out with Camilla.

Noah had always wondered if she’d married on the rebound because it had been so fast, coming up right after he had been home on furlough and they had gone another—and final—round in their battle over his alpha-male, take-charge way, their city versus country life.

A part of him suspected that Thane wanted them back together and thought her fatherless child might draw them closer. That wasn’t going to happen. Noah knew Camilla hadn’t changed. She didn’t want any part of him in her life.

He sipped his hot coffee, closing his eyes, lost in memories of holding and kissing her that he couldn’t push out of mind. She was still the sexiest woman he had ever known. She dazzled him, and until he’d left for the Army, they’d had fun together. He had been staying in Dallas some of the time, or coming in from the ranch often to take her out, and for a time, they seemed to be getting closer. Until he started inviting her to his ranch.

Give the baby his present and tell her goodbye. After that and Mike’s wedding, there won’t be any other reason to try to see her.

His logical mind gave him clear commands, but he couldn’t stop the memories that clutched at his heart. Memories of one of the last times they were together, when he invited her to his ranch and she turned him down, leading to an argument as he tried to talk her into coming for a weekend. Finally he had stepped closer to slip his arms around her.

“Here’s where all our arguments vanish,” he’d said quietly. His mouth had covered hers and his tongue had gone deep while he kissed her. He’d held her close against him with one arm, his other hand slipping lightly over her curves, sliding down over her trim bottom, and then he’d shifted, his hand drifting beneath her dress to caress her breast. She’d been soft, wonderful, sweet-smelling, absolute temptation. He’d been lost. Her softness had made him shake.

For a moment she’d stood still in his arms, but with a moan, her arms had circled his neck and she’d thrust her hips against him, clinging tightly to him as she kissed him passionately in return, and he hadn’t wanted to ever stop.

He’d leaned over her, pouring himself into the kiss as if he could kiss away her reluctance and make her want a life together. Make being with him more important to her than her dislike of country life and her views on alpha males. Their moments of intimacy were the best possible, but it always came back to the truth: he couldn’t change the kind of man he was and make false promises that he never could keep and he didn’t want to give up his ranch. City life wasn’t for him.

Shifting, he’d slipped his hand beneath her dress, caressing her silken thighs so lightly, hearing her moan as she moved against him. Then he’d forgotten all their harsh words and impossible goals as he leaned down again to kiss her.

“I want you, Camilla,” he’d whispered minutes later, running his hand lightly over her nape and then holding her close.

She’d inhaled, closing her eyes to kiss him in return. She’d moaned softly and run both hands down his sides. “Noah, this isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Shh. For a few minutes shut out the world. We’ll talk about it later.”

“That just means you’re going to do what you wa—”

He’d kissed her so she would stop talking and there were no arguments. The sex had been hot, irresistible, and he’d picked her up to carry her to bed, where they forgot their differences.

Hours later, he’d slipped out of bed, gathering his clothes to shower and dress. When he’d come out, she’d been waiting. She had showered, pulled on jeans and a blue T-shirt.

They’d faced each other in silence. “We didn’t solve one thing. You just took charge and swept us into making love.”

“It looks as if we’re caught up in irreconcilable differences because I can’t stop being an alpha male. And frankly, I don’t want to give up living on my ranch. That’s my life.”

“And I don’t want to leave the city life. Noah, why are we even arguing? You haven’t proposed. We’re not that deeply involved.”

“One of us was,” he’d said. “All right, Camilla. I guess we say goodbye. I’m going to the military, anyway. I won’t be around for a few years.”

She’d flinched and drawn a deep breath. “We’re just opposites and neither one of us wants to change.”

“I guess you’re right. One goodbye kiss,” he’d said, kissing her again, knowing he had lost her. Hurting, getting aroused again, he’d held her tightly and they’d kissed.

He’d released her abruptly and stepped back, clenching his fists so he wouldn’t pick her up and carry her to bed. “This is goodbye. It’s what you want. Not what I want. You’re very special, Camilla. I am who I am and I guess you can say the same about yourself. You fuss about your brother being an alpha male, as well as your dad, but that didn’t stop you from loving Thane and turning to him when you had a problem. Aw, hell. There’s too much about me you don’t like—too much you love that I don’t want any part of, like living in the city and working here. I’m here now more than I want to be so I can take you out. Well, that’s over. I’m going into the Army and I’ll be gone. We just said goodbye.”

Tears had spilled over and run down her cheeks, but her frown had kept him from closing the space between them to take her into his arms.

“You’re right, Noah. I don’t want to live on a ranch or in the country. You’re a strong man and you’ll always want life your way.”

When he’d started to reply, she’d held up her hand as if to stop him. “I know what you’re about to say—that I have a strong, take-charge tendency myself. Maybe so. We’re opposites in too many ways. All we have that goes smoothly is sex. That’s breathtaking. But there’s more to life than that. We have to get out of bed, and from the moment we do, we’re opposites. So I guess it is goodbye,” she’d said, wiping her eyes.

“You know how I feel about you, but I have to be honest and I have to be me.”

He’d turned and walked out of her condo, knowing it was the end of their relationship and wondering how long it would take him to end his feelings for her.

The memory faded, but instead of feeling like three years ago, the pain of that breakup and goodbye was fresh. His feelings for her hadn’t ended as he had thought they would when he was on active duty. He’d thought he was getting over her and then one glimpse of her set him back. There was one ray of hope for getting past the hurt from their breakup—he had done far better when he was away from her.

As soon as he delivered her baby’s present and was in Mike Moretti’s wedding, he would rarely ever see her. Thane was gone now, so his friendship with her brother could no longer throw them together. He planned to stay in Dallas for several weeks to be close to his dad. He would have to come and go from the ranch and spend more time in the city than he had originally expected.

There hadn’t been a beautiful, fun, sexy woman in his life since he went into the Army. If he found one, maybe he could move on completely and the hurt over Camilla would lessen and disappear.

Convincing himself that life would improve, he tried to focus on the things he needed to get done while he was in Dallas. He needed to go see his dad. After that, he wanted to go by the family’s commercial real-estate business. The company headquarters of Grant Realty was in downtown Dallas, which was run by Ben, and they had two suburban offices covering the metropolitan area of Dallas and Fort Worth, Eli running one of those and Stefanie managing the other.

And he also needed to deal with Thane’s final wishes. Camilla ought to have her baby home and available for him to visit early next week. Before that, Noah would see her in Mike’s wedding because he would be a groomsman and he knew she would be one of the bridesmaids, and then Camilla would be out of his life. They would be finished and he could say goodbye and, hopefully, forget her.

* * *

The next morning when Noah stopped at the back of the house, his parents were sitting in big rocking chairs on the veranda. He joined them and sat talking, taking his time and enjoying the morning, seeing his folks and gazing at their yard filled with flowers, a lily pond with a waterfall and fountains. He knew that around the corner on the east side of the house, there was another large veranda with an outdoor living room and kitchen. Beyond it was a sparkling swimming pool with more waterfalls and fountains.

“Let’s go to my office,” his dad said, and Noah nodded, strolling slowly beside his dad through the hall to the large home office. Cal Grant entered and crossed the room to sit in the big leather recliner he’d had for years. Noah turned to close the door and then sat in a hard, wooden rocking chair.

“I remember when your feet didn’t touch the floor when you’d sit in that chair,” his dad said, smiling at him.

“Yeah. I remember sitting here getting lectures about my behavior,” Noah replied, and his dad chuckled.

“They must have done some good. You turned out to be a good man.”

Noah looked into his dad’s eyes. “Ben told me about your heart attacks and your bypass surgery, Dad. I wish I could do something.”

“This came sooner than I thought something would, but I’m doing okay. I walk on a treadmill some, try to eat right. I feel okay.”

“That’s good news. I’m just sorry about what you’ve been through and that I wasn’t here.”

“You were doing a service for me and for all of us. Your mother is in a dither over this, so the less said around her the better. I feel better now that you’re home. That’s good.”

“It’s good to be home.”

“You’ll be going to your ranch soon.”

He nodded. “I have Mike Moretti’s wedding to Vivian Warner coming up and I’ll be around here for a while after that. We’ll get to see each other.”

“Noah, you faced that you might not return when you enlisted. With old age, it’s a given. We have trusts set up, the business is taken care of and I’m out of it. I’ve had a really good life. Financially, there shouldn’t be any problem or even responsibility for your mom. Harvey’s been our accountant for years and he’ll handle things. If something happens to me, just give her your love and attention the way you always have. Take care of Mom and try to not grieve. I’ve had a good life.”

“There’s no way in hell anyone can avoid grief. Not when you love someone,” Noah replied, not wanting to even contemplate losing his father. Surprisingly, another thought entered his mind. Camilla. He wondered if he was going to miss her for the rest of his life, too.

He leaned toward his dad. “If there is anything I can do to make life easier, you tell me. Would you mind if I go to one of your doctor’s appointments with you? I’d like to meet and talk to your doctor.”

“I knew you would,” his dad said. “Look on my desk. I wrote the names and numbers of all the docs I’ve seen. Feel free to call and talk to them. I told them you probably would when you came home. Also, you can look at my calendar on the desk and see my appointments. I’d be happy for you to go along.”

“Thanks,” Noah said, getting up to walk to his dad’s desk.

“Are you seeing Camilla now?”

“No, sir, that’s over. It was over before I enlisted.”

“Sorry, son. She seemed nice and we’ve missed seeing her, but some things just don’t work out. We were saddened over Thane and we’re both glad you’re home. You’ve served and Mother needs you. We’re both going to need you this year.”

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