Dear Reader,

The very first of my novels published by Harlequin Books was a rodeo story, so I was thrilled when invited to write another one. Whether it’s the hero or the heroine climbing onto the back of a bucking animal, or trying to tie down a calf in a matter of seconds, a rodeo setting always raises the stakes for the relationship and makes the book that much more fun. Speaking of fun, I’ve greatly enjoyed my chance to work with the other writers in this series—Rebecca, Marin, Cathy, Pam and Trisha. Coming up with story ideas was easy with such talented partners, whether we were “building” the town of Markton or decorating the luxurious accommodations on the Cottonwood Ranch. Reading their stories provided important insights into their characters and my own in this family called the Codys. Thanks for the help, ladies!

I hope you’ve had a chance to read all the books in the First Family of Rodeo set. And I hope you enjoy Janie and Jesse’s story as the conclusion to the Harlequin American series’ first multi-author continuity. Let me know what you think with a note at my website, www.lynnettekentbooks.com, or a letter to P.O. Box 1012, Vass, NC, 28384.

Happy reading!

Lynnette Kent

Jesse: Merry Christmas, Cowboy
Lynnette Kent

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynnette Kent lives on a farm in southeastern North Carolina with her five horses and five dogs. When she isn’t busy riding, driving or feeding animals, she loves to tend her gardens and read and write books. This is her twenty-fourth story for Harlequin Books.

For the man who taught me

what to expect from heroes…my dad.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter One

Ten days. Ten go-rounds. One National Finals Rodeo Championship.

Jesse Cody needed to stay focused on his training in order to win the bull-riding championship. He didn’t need this.

“Please,” he said, staring at his father, who glared right back at him. “Tell me I didn’t just hear what I think I heard.”

His mother responded, instead. “We invited the Hansens to stay with us at the hotel. Your dad and I will be arriving on Wednesday. But we told Janie you would fly her and Abigail to Las Vegas Tuesday afternoon.”

Jesse disconnected from J. W. Cody’s flinty gaze and turned to face his mom. “Are we one big, happy family now? Kind of sudden, isn’t it?”

“It’s taken thirty damn years,” J.W. growled.

“We have to adjust, son.” Anne Cody put her hand on Jesse’s arm and looked up into his face. “Mark Hansen is your father’s son. I think the best way to deal with the situation is to accept the facts and move on.”

“I—” Jesse shook his head and tried again. “We—” Speechless with frustration, he stepped away from his mom’s touch and walked to the wall of windows in his dad’s office, which looked out across the sprawling Cottonwood Ranch. Winter had descended on Wyoming, bleaching the prairie grass, defrocking the cottonwood trees of every last leaf and sending the tender plants in the gardens around his parents’ house deep underground. The Thanksgiving holiday had ended and Christmas was just around the corner.

The holidays would come after the National Finals, of course, where he fully expected to win the championship in bull riding. That would mean defeating Mark Hansen, his archrival since they were in high school and, it seemed, his older brother. His bastard older brother.

Without turning around, he said, “I don’t think Mark and I can live practically on top of each other while we’re competing at the Finals.”

Again, his mother answered. “You don’t spend that much time in the room. I doubt you’ll see each other.”

“The Hansens actually accepted this invitation?”

“Your father and I had a long talk with Mark and Nicki at the Denver rodeo this past weekend, and they agreed this would be the best solution.”

“I bet they did.” Who wouldn’t want to trade some cheap motel on the Vegas strip for rooms on the concierge floor at a first-class resort? Jesse wasn’t surprised that Mark would agree to everything he could get out of becoming a Cody, but his wife, Nicki, had been Jesse’s best friend since they were kids. Marrying Hansen had apparently put her solidly on the other side.

His tone of voice must have hinted at his thoughts. “Don’t jump to conclusions, Jesse.” His mother walked up behind him, took hold of his shoulder and urged him to face her. “As things stood, Janie would have had to stay home to take care of their mother. This way, we can hire a caretaker to keep an eye on Abigail while Janie gets to have fun and watch the Finals. You know she’ll want to see Elly race.”

“Not to mention Mark,” Jesse pointed out. “She’ll be rooting for him to win.”

Anne grinned. “She can’t always be right.”

The best Jesse could do in reply was a snort. He looked over at his dad. “And you’re okay with this plan? You’re ready to welcome Mark into the fold?”

J.W. stuck out his chin. “I think I owe him the recognition.”

“What else do you owe him, do you think? A job here at the ranch? In the cattle operation, maybe?”

“We haven’t talked about it.”

Temper rumbled through Jesse’s gut. “I’ve been running things for eight years. Maybe you think it’s time for a change.”

“Jesse,” his mother said, a warning note in her voice.

“That’s bull.” J.W. stepped out from behind his desk. “And you know it.”

“And maybe you think he needs a spread of his own, to make up for all the years you ignored him. Would a hundred thousand acres do it? Not leased land, of course—just some prime Cottonwood property. Then you could build him and Nicki a house of their own.”

“You’re acting like a spoiled brat.” J.W. moved in close until his nose almost touched Jesse’s. “You’ve had everything you wanted or needed for your whole life. Don’t begrudge my son a little attention, maybe some help getting started in life.”

Jesse shrugged. “Of course not. You’re free to give him whatever makes you feel better, Dad. Even though Hansen hasn’t worked a single day on this land, never squeezed out a single drop of sweat.”

“None of you kids has—”

“Now who’s talking bull?” Hands propped on his hips, Jesse moved forward a step. His father retreated. “I’ve been working on this ranch since I was old enough to sit a horse. You’ve been ordering me around, telling me what I had to do, had to know, where I should be and how I should think for as long as I remember. There hasn’t been a day I didn’t feel responsible for every damn problem and solution going on at the Cottonwood Ranch. So don’t tell me I haven’t worked for what I got.”

He did a quick turn on his heel and headed for the door.

“You don’t walk out of here without my per mission.”

Jesse heard his mother’s gasp as he stopped in his tracks. He stared at the closed door panel for a few seconds, debating what to say.

Then, without another word, he reached for the knob, pushed through the door and strode across the foyer, past the life-size sculpture of a cowboy on his horse, to the front entrance. Another minute and he was in his truck, headed down the road at a reckless speed. He braked briefly underneath the wrought-iron sign announcing The Cottonwood Ranch, glanced in both directions and jerked the steering wheel left. Once on the paved county road, he pushed hard on the gas pedal, letting the big diesel engine whine.

He wanted a good stiff drink…or four or five, however many shots it took to shut down his brain. And he wanted to drink alone, though not in private. Drinking behind closed doors only led to trouble.

But he couldn’t think of anywhere in the whole state of Wyoming where he would be anonymous. Not in the closest little town, Markton, or even in Cody, a few miles farther on. Not in Laramie or Cheyenne or Gillette, where he had friends and knew competitors. He was an NFR finalist in bull riding, after all. Worse, he was a Cody—J. W. Cody’s second son. Not much happened to the Codys that didn’t become public knowledge.

And that was as good a reason for hard drinking as Jesse had ever come up with.

AFTER WORKING A FULL DAY at the Markton Feed and Grain Store, Janie still had errands to run if she planned to leave for Las Vegas tomorrow. In Jesse Cody’s plane.

That thought alone made her stumble as she walked across the pharmacy parking lot with her four bags of supplies. Or maybe hunger tripped her up—she hadn’t eaten since breakfast and her stomach had been growling for hours. If she planned to keep shopping, she should probably get some food.

Back in her truck, grateful to be out of the bitter wind blowing off the mountains, she headed for her favorite restaurant in Cody. Managed by a couple of her friends from Markton, Los Potrillos served well-cooked, authentic Mexican food. A quick bite would give her the energy she needed to spend the rest of the night packing her mother’s bag as well as her own for the trip to Las Vegas.

Janie still didn’t see how this trip could possibly succeed. Who in their right mind would take an Alzheimer’s patient traveling? These days, her mother left their house only for doctors’ appointments, and then spent the entire trip agitated and fearful. What would she think about an airplane flight? How would she react in a small private jet?

And what in the world would Janie find to talk about with Jesse Cody for two solid hours? Especially when the most obvious topic—the fact that her brother Mark was also his brother—was too fraught with tension to discuss?

With her hands clenched on the steering wheel, she pulled into a parking spot at the restaurant, then kept her head down against the wind-driven sleet as she ran inside.

“Lousy weather,” her friend Lila remarked, leading her to a booth for two.

“Nasty,” Janie agreed, brushing ice crystals off her shoulders. “Some good hot food will help, though.”

Lila smiled. “You know we’ve got that covered.”

The waitress appeared to take Janie’s order for coffee, water and chicken mole. Not many people had ventured out on a Monday night in bad weather, and the dining room tables were mostly empty. Janie wished she were home, too, eating canned tomato soup in front of the TV instead of planning to hit the superstore in Cody to find clothes for her mom to wear in Vegas.

Her mom…the woman who had tempted J. W. Cody into an adulterous affair.

Janie couldn’t stifle a sigh. If she’d ever had the ghost of a chance with Jesse, she felt sure that chance had now vaporized. Whenever he looked at her, he would be reminded of her brother…okay, her half brother, but still…Mark’s new status as a Cody threatened everything Jesse had worked for in his life—the respect of folks in town and across the country as J. W. Cody’s oldest son, his place in the business at the Cottonwood Ranch and maybe even the title of World Champion Bull Rider at the National Finals Rodeo.

“Here you go.” The waitress set a huge platter of chicken with chocolate sauce, salad and tortillas on the table in front of her.

“Thanks.” Janie flashed a smile, even though her appetite had all but vanished. Thinking too much about Jesse Cody always made her want to curl up into a ball and cry her eyes out.

As the server headed toward the kitchen in the back of the building, somewhere behind Janie a man called out, loudly enough to be heard over the music. “Excuse me?”

With a fork full of mole halfway to her mouth, Janie groaned. Could she be this unlucky? As if her thoughts had conjured him, Jesse Cody sat at a table in the back.

“Excuse me,” he said again when the waitress didn’t turn.

Sauce dripped onto Janie’s plate. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing him not to notice her.

Boot heels thudded on the tile floor, coming up beside her table. He passed, and Janie opened her eyes.

Broad-shouldered and slim-hipped, his short, silvery-blond hair gleaming even in the dim lighting, Jesse walked away from her, carrying an empty highball glass toward the bar. As she watched, he thumped the tumbler down on the counter. For years, she’d been imagining the strength of his muscle-corded arms around her, the rumble of his warm, smooth voice against her heart. Now, she shook her head. As if!

“Could I get a refill, please? Jack on the rocks. Make it a double this time.”

He would turn back in a minute. She couldn’t avoid being seen.

With the precision of a surgeon, Janie returned her un touched food to the plate. She took a gulp of water and wiped her mouth. Then she folded her hands in her lap and put a smile on her face—a friendly, casual smile, she hoped—that said, “Don’t let me keep you.”

Jesse took a sip from his new drink while still standing at the bar. Then he pivoted and started back to his table. Janie witnessed the moment he caught sight of her, saw the surprise in his blue eyes, quickly followed by irritation, outright anger and then resignation. Just as she’d expected.

Her heart sank. She thought she might be sick.

To give the man credit, the negative reaction lasted only a second, replaced by his usual engaging grin. “Hi, Janie.” His jovial tone suggested they were good friends. “What brings you to Cody for dinner?” He glanced at the empty seat across from her. “All alone?”

“Hey, Jesse.” Her fingers curled into fists under the table. “Yeah, just a quick bite. I had some last-minute shopping.”

He glanced toward the table behind her, then back at the empty seat in her booth. “I can keep you company a little while, if you’d like.”

“Sure.” As he sat down, Janie wondered how she would manage to swallow a single bite. “You’re here by yourself?” Without meaning to, she looked down at the glass between his fingertips.

“Uh, yeah.” Even as she watched, he took a long draw on the whiskey. “I had a…discussion…with the parents, and needed to loosen up a little afterward.”

Janie could imagine exactly what was discussed. “That’s how it goes sometimes.” Then she thought about her own mother, no longer capable of ordinary family squabbles or any real relationships. “On the other hand, you miss them when they’re…not here anymore.”

Looking back at her plate, she picked up her fork again, put the food in her mouth and chewed, even swallowed without gagging. When she lifted her chin, she found Jesse’s gaze fixed on her face.

“Sorry,” he said. “I guess we don’t always appreciate what we’ve got till it’s gone. How’s your mom doing?”

She couldn’t tell him the worst parts, not when they were supposed to spend a week in the same hotel. “Okay, I guess. She doesn’t remember much. And she sleeps a lot.” Maybe that would calm some of his fears about the upcoming trip.

Janie only hoped she was telling the truth.

“I, um, thought we’d leave about two, tomorrow afternoon.” Jesse avoided her eyes as he spoke. “Will that work for you?”

She stared at him as he swirled the ice cubes around in his glass. Shadows rimmed his eyes, like bruises from a fist. Now that she considered, he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. But she couldn’t ask why not. “Shall we meet you at your airstrip?”

Jesse kept his plane on the ranch, taking off and landing on the Codys’ private runway. That kind of luxury made it possible for him to compete in the biggest rodeos around the country in order to earn the points and money required to reach the National Finals while being home during the week to work at the ranch. Mark, on the other hand, drove almost everywhere and competed constantly, which meant he was away from home most of the time.

Just one more example of the huge lifestyle gap between the rich Codys and the poor Hansens.

“Why don’t I pick you up about one-thirty,” Jesse suggested. “You’ll need some help with luggage and…and stuff.”

She wasn’t sure if that would be better or worse than having her mother see him for the first time at the plane. “That sounds good. Thanks.”

Silence fell, then stretched between them because, really, what did they have to say? Janie couldn’t tell him what she felt, and as far as Jesse was concerned, she was his little sister’s buddy. Or else the sister of his archrival. He could take his pick.

“I’m sorry,” she said abruptly. “I know this must be hell for you.”

His sigh seemed to come up from the soles of his boots. “It’s not easy for anybody.”

“Mark is a good man.” For some reason she needed to say that. “He won’t hurt your parents if he can help it.”

“So Nicki tells me.” Jesse gave a faint grin then glanced at her plate. “You’re not eating.”

“I’m not hungry.” She pushed the plate toward him. “Have some.”

He didn’t wait for a second invitation, but picked up the salad fork she hadn’t used and dug in. From the way he ate, she might have concluded he hadn’t had a decent meal in months. Judging by the loose fit of his jeans, she might be right.

The waitress stopped by to see if they needed anything, and Jesse ordered another double.

“Don’t worry,” he said when Janie frowned. “I won’t have anything to drink after midnight. Eight hours is the FAA rule for private pilots, same as the airlines.”

“What about the drive home?” A glance through the window showed the sleet had turned to snow which already coated the roads.

“I can drive from Cody to Markton in my sleep.” He drained the dregs of one glass just as the server set down the new one. “And probably have, about a hundred times. If not more.”

“I believe you. That doesn’t make it safe to drive drunk.”

“It’s okay.” His words slurred a little. “I’m just another one of those intre…interchangeable younger Cody brothers. Mark’s got the hard job now. To Mark.” He raised his glass. “The old man’s pride ’n’ joy. His new pride ’n’ joy, that is.” Half the whiskey vanished with his first gulp. Jesse swallowed and then emptied the drink.

“That’s a stupid thing to say.” Janie gripped the edge of the table with her fingertips. “Walker and Dusty and Dex have never been jealous of you. You don’t deserve a pity party any more than they do.”

“You know so much.” He slid out of the booth, swaying a little as he straightened up. “S’hard to miss what you never had.”

“Mark isn’t taking anything away from you. He just wants—”

“To know his dad, right?” Stepping carefully, he retrieved his jacket and hat from the other table, then came back to stand beside her again. “He’ll find out soon enough that being J. W. Cody’s oldest son comes with a price. I hope your brother’s man enough to pay it.”

The implied insult stung. “Why wouldn’t he be? He’s as much a Cody as you are.”

In the process of thumbing through his wallet for cash, Jesse stilled. After a moment, he lifted his gaze to her face.

“That’s the truth, isn’t it? I’ve got no more claim on J.W. than your brother does, except for a marriage license that didn’t seem to mean too much at the time.” He tossed a couple of bills on the table, an amount that would cover his drinks plus the dinner she hadn’t eaten twice over. “So maybe it’s my turn to get out from under the Cody yoke. Your brother—”

“Your brother,” Janie interrupted.

“Mark,” he growled, “can have all the honors. Hell, maybe he’ll just go on and take the championship while he’s at it.” He jammed his white hat on his head and shrugged into his heavy sheepskin coat. “I don’t really give a damn about anything or anybody. Not anymore.”

And with that declaration, Jesse Cody turned on his heel and stalked out into the snowy night.

Chapter Two

The frigid wind hit Jesse like a brick in the face. He staggered, eyes narrowed against the prick of icy snow pellets.

“Hell of a night for a drive,” he muttered, heading for his truck.

Once inside the cab, he wiped snowflakes off his face, fired up the engine and flipped the heater fan to high speed, then took off his hat and let his head rest back against the seat. Maybe if he closed his eyes, he’d fall asleep. This wouldn’t be the first parking lot where he’d stopped to grab a few winks before a long drive.

Might be one of the last, though. He was getting too old for bull riding, too old for the whole damn rodeo lifestyle. Even with a plane to get him to shows across the country, the endless competitions wore him out. The fact that Mark Hansen had hit enough shows and earned enough money to reach the Finals by driving from one venue to the next made him a damn good cowboy. He probably deserved to win the championship based on endurance alone.

Nobody could deny the man’s talent, either. Hansen made sitting astride a two-thousand pound package of bovine dynamite look like a pony ride at the county fair.

Yawning, eyelids drooping, Jesse dragged his brain away from the possibility that anyone but a Cody—all right, this Cody—would win the championship. He visualized the scene on the final night at the Thomas & Mack Center, pictured himself on stage accepting the winner’s saddle, the belt buckle…his dad would have to be proud of him then…

In his dream, the indoor arena stage in Vegas became a simple outdoor platform under the hot Texas sun. “Ladies and gentlemen,” blasted a voice out of the loudspeaker. “This afternoon’s winner in the junior bull-riding division is…Mr. Mark Hansen!”

Jesse watched, gut churning, as a whip-thin teenaged Mark stepped up to claim the belt buckle and a check.

Standing at Jesse’s shoulder, his dad muttered, “Hansen’s got the talent, no doubt about it. You should have that kind of split-second timing. God knows you’re as much a Cody—” The words stopped abruptly.

Jesse didn’t look around when, after a couple of seconds, his dad finished the thought. “As your brothers, and they all got it. You need to work harder, is all. Practice more.”

Applause and cheers chased Jesse as he broke away and fought through the crowd, looking for an exit…

The sharp rap of knuckles on the window right beside his head woke him up. Jesse snorted and jumped, then swore as he fumbled for the window button. The glass slid down and a thick layer of snow fell onto his lap.

“Dammit.” He brushed the snow away, glaring at the woman peering in at him. She’d pulled the hood of her parka over her hair, leaving only her dark eyes and rosy mouth and smooth cheeks vulnerable to the wind and cold. “What the hell do you want, Janie?”

His temper didn’t faze her. “I thought you might have passed out here in the parking lot.”

“After three drinks?” Jesse snorted. “Come on.”

“You’ve been sitting there for two hours. I went shopping and came back and you’re still here.”

“Nah.” He glanced at the clock on the dash. Two hours had, in fact, passed since he got into the truck. “Oh. Well, I dozed off. It’s been a long day. I was in the saddle at 6:00 a.m.”

“So you should be at home asleep.”

“Great. Let me roll up the window and I’ll go do that.”

Janie shook her head. “Why don’t you move to the passenger side and let me drive you home?”

“I don’t think so.” Hearing his own surliness, Jesse shook his head and tried for some good manners. “I appreciate the concern, really, but I’m fine. Take yourself back to Markton and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The woman appeared to be deaf. She reached through the open window, pulled up the handle and opened the door. “Come on, Jesse. Better safe than sorry.”

He didn’t intend to budge. “You’re talking to a bull rider, here. I don’t do safe.”

“Yeah, a bull rider who is supposed to compete at the world championships starting on Thursday night. Wouldn’t you like to be alive for the event?”

He groaned in frustration. “I am not drunk.”

“You’re tired. That’s enough of an excuse.”

“What about your truck?”

“Roberto and Lila said they’d bring it home for me tonight when they close. Come on, Jesse.” She rubbed her gloved hands over her arms. “It’s freezing out here.”

They could argue all night, or he could give in just to get some peace. “I don’t know why I’m letting you do this.” He dropped to the pavement, keeping his balance by gripping the door, since the ground seemed a little unsteady under his feet. “It’s absurd. I’m stone-cold sober.”

“Sure you are.” Janie turned to the small, beat-up truck parked next to his and opened the door. “Put these in the backseat.” A dozen or so shopping bags came at him with the order. Once the goods were stowed, she climbed up behind the steering wheel without looking at him until she’d shut the door between them. “Coming?”

If only to get out of the snow, Jesse rounded the truck bed to the passenger side and swung himself onto the seat, remembering just in time to move his hat. With his safety belt buckled, he sat staring out the window as Janie Hansen, his designated driver, took him home.

Snow powdered the windshield as the streetlights of Cody dimmed behind them on the dark road to Markton. Several inches of the white stuff covered the road pavement, while twice that much had already piled up on the frozen grass.

The storm intensified, and Janie slowed down as visibility decreased. “Are we going to be able to take off tomorrow?” she asked. “If the sky clears, I mean.”

“We can plow the runway.” Jesse rubbed his sleepy eyes with his fingers. “And the plane’s in the hangar, so there won’t be ice on the wings. Don’t worry,” he said, noticing how her teeth bit at her full lower lip. “I’ll keep you and your mom safe.”

She answered with a sigh, which hinted at trouble.

He decided he’d better know what lay ahead. “Is your mom looking forward to the trip?” When Janie didn’t answer, he pushed. “Does she know what’s going on?”

“Sometimes,” Janie said at last. “She wants to watch Mark in the Finals. When she remembers.”

“You’ve told her about the flight?”

She sent him a worried glance. “I tried to.”

“How do you think she’ll react?”

He heard the gulp as she swallowed hard. “I have no idea.”

“Great.” He couldn’t repress the comment and wouldn’t apologize. “If you didn’t think this was going to work, why did you agree to come?”

She stared straight ahead, lips pressed together, for a long time. Her whitened knuckles revealed a tense grip on the steering wheel. “Mark and Nicki wanted Mom to come. Anyway, how many times have you refused to do what your parents wanted?”

Good point. “You’ve got an advantage over the rest of us, though.”

“Oh?”

“You’re not part of the family.”

“No kidding?”

The sarcasm stung. “You don’t have to get mad. I just meant—”

She held up a hand to stop him. “Believe me, I know exactly how far outside the Cody constellation my family’s orbit lies.”

Jesse let the comment slide. “I only meant that my parents don’t have any power over you. You were free to refuse.”

“And miss maybe the only time I’ll ever get to see my brother at the National Finals? Maybe the only time I ever get to go to the Finals, period?” She shook her head. “I couldn’t say no.”

“I guess you couldn’t.” He would just have to hope things turned out better than he expected.

Several miles passed in a silence broken only by the sound of the wipers brushing back and forth. Finally, Jesse came up with a less confrontational topic. “So you’ve never been to the Finals?”

“Nope.”

“It’s the wildest rodeo you can imagine. Picture any show you’ve ever been to times a thousand, held in the craziest place on the planet.”

Janie chuckled. “That’s quite a description. But this is your first time competing, too. Right?”

“Yeah. We go every year since Dad usually has a bull competing, but I was tired of hearing him complain that I wasn’t there riding, so I put in the extra effort and got myself on the list.” He winced when he recognized the bitterness in his own voice. “Of course, I’m looking forward to competing. The best bulls and the best riders—it’s gonna be a blast.”

He felt Janie’s sideways appraisal. “Are you ready for all the attention that comes with the title? I’m pretty sure Mark hasn’t thought about it at all.”

“Endorsements, you mean? And publicity?” She nodded. “I don’t think any of the guys thinks about that ahead of time. We all just want to get out there and win. That’s the real point—being the best.”

“Till next year. Or maybe just the next ride.”

“Whoa. Don’t be so supportive.”

She shrugged, then made a careful turn onto the road leading between stone pillars into the Cottonwood Ranch. “I like winning as much as anybody. If Mark gets the championship, I know he’ll spend some of the money to help take care of Mom, which will be a blessing. But you don’t need the cash, or the fame. I get the feeling that even if you win, you won’t be satisfied.”

Jesse turned in his seat to look across the cab at her. “What else could I want? Besides being world champion?”

As he asked the question, Janie braked gently at the foot of the porch steps leading to his front door. “I think you want respect.” She didn’t look at him as she answered but watched as a layer of snow quickly obscured her view through the windshield.

The woman knew too damn much about what went on inside his head. “Who doesn’t?”

Then her eyes met his. “The man who already respects himself.”

Stunned by the implication, Jesse couldn’t have come up with a quick, casual answer if his life depended on it. At last he simply opened the door and jumped down into the snow, sinking halfway to his knees. “Maybe this worked out okay, after all,” he told Janie, grateful to have something practical to think about. “This way, you can just drive the truck back here tomorrow when you come with your mom.”

“Sure.” Janie looked past him at the dark windows of the old homestead the Cody siblings used to share. “I guess you’re living all by yourself these days, since Dex is with Josie and Elly’s with Will.”

He nodded. “Most of the time.”

“Do you get lonely?”

She’d already divined more secrets tonight than he was comfortable with. “After growing up with the pack of them following me around? I’m enjoying the peace and quiet.” He patted the roof of the truck. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, about one-thirty. Drive carefully.”

“Right. And you be sure to get lots of sleep, so I won’t be nervous while we fly tomorrow.” Her smile was rueful. “More nervous than I already am, anyway.”

His tired brain picked up the hint. “Is this your first time flying?”

Janie nodded. “I’m an aeronautical virgin, so to speak.”

He laughed. “I’ll be gentle.” Stepping back, he shut the door and then called through the glass, “Thanks for the ride home.”

“You’re welcome.” She waved, shifted the truck into four-wheel drive and drove away, leaving Jesse standing outside in the false twilight of a snowy night.

He stood there for quite some time, watching the snow fall while he wondered what else Janie Hansen might know about him that he wished she didn’t.

THE FLIGHT TURNED OUT to be easier—and yet more difficult—than Janie could have imagined.

Her mother’s doctor had provided a sedative for the trip, and even half a dose kept Abby Hansen too sleepy to get upset about leaving the house in a truck she didn’t recognize for a place she didn’t know. Janie hated the dull, lifeless expression on her mother’s face as they drove the snowy roads toward the Codys’ property, but if the alternative was hysteria, she’d take dull.

Once she reached the Cottonwood Ranch, she saw that Jesse had seen to it that the ranch roads were cleared, as well as the runway. That would be the advantage of having a crew of cowboys ready to take whatever orders came into the boss’s head. She reached the runway without a problem, having ridden the land on horseback for years with Elly, Jesse’s sister. The storm had passed to the east, leaving a cloudless blue sky above the snow-blanketed prairie. Jesse’s plane sat there gleaming in the sunlight—ready, Janie gathered, to take off.

She wished she could say the same. Not knowing what to expect and anticipating looking down from this small craft to the earth thousands of feet below only made her feel sick to her stomach. Maybe she should have taken one of her mom’s pills.

Getting her mother onto the plane took her mind off her own anxiety. Abigail had fallen asleep on the ride from town and was startled to be woken up. She didn’t recognize Jesse, and his attempts at friendliness didn’t reassure her.

“Where is he taking us?” Abby whispered to Janie as they crossed the tarmac toward the plane. “Is he some kind of new doctor?”

“No, Mom. Just a friend. We’re going to see Mark at the rodeo, remember?”

“Mark’s a good boy. And he’s the best bull rider in the world. He’s going to win, isn’t he?”

They reached the bottom of the steps that led up into the plane. “Yes, he is.” Janie glanced back at Jesse and saw his rueful smile. “Let me help you up the steps, okay?”

The passenger cabin reminded Janie of a luxurious motor home she’d seen once at a big rodeo, with reclining armchair seats that swiveled in all directions and an up-to-date TV and music system. The walls were paneled with beautiful wood, thick carpet covered the floor and a small kitchen offered snacks and drinks of all kinds.

The thought that Mark was now part of a family that could afford such luxury made Janie shake her head. What sane person wouldn’t choose this lifestyle, given the option?

Abigail didn’t like the smallness of the plane, but the sedative made her too tired to do more than talk about her feelings.

“There’s not enough room,” she said, her voice fretful. “Only a few seats. Where will everyone else sit, Janie?”

“Don’t worry, they’ll find a place, Mom. Why don’t you lean back and let me fasten your seat belt?” By the time she got Abby settled and interested in a travel magazine with lots of photographs, Jesse had climbed aboard, shutting the door behind him.

“Ready?” Underneath the sheepskin coat, he wore the standard rodeo “uniform”—good jeans with one of his trophy belt buckles, dressy boots and a Western shirt in a soft blue chambray that made his eyes an even brighter blue by comparison. Weak-kneed with nerves and longing, Janie sank into the seat beside her mother. “Um…sure.” Her hands shook as she buckled her own belt.

Jesse grinned. “You don’t sound too sure. I promise, everything will be fine. The weather is great, the plane’s in perfect condition, and I am a terrific pilot.”

She couldn’t resist a little dig. “Modest, too.”

“Always. Just relax, and we’ll be flying high in no time.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Janie muttered.

She could see him in the pilot’s chair from where she sat. He donned a set of earphones, then flipped switches, turned knobs and consulted charts, plus a hundred other complicated motions she guessed were necessary to make the plane function. Finally, with a slight bump, they started rolling along the ground.

Janie looked over at her mother, who was asleep again, her head resting against the butterscotch-colored leather of her seat, the magazine in her lap. Janie realized her own hands now gripped the arm-rests, but just when she thought she might loosen her hold, they hit another bump. Then another. Were they going to die now?

In the next moment, though, the front end of the plane lifted. The noise of wheels on pavement stopped, and she knew they’d taken off. The plane was flying.

She was flying.

A glance out the window showed her the ground falling away, the sky growing larger, enfolding them, sup porting them…and then the wonders of a bird’s-eye view as they flew southwest, across Yellowstone, the Tetons and Utah. Abby stayed asleep, so before too long, Jesse had lured Janie to the cockpit so they could talk about the wonders she saw beneath the wings.

“I don’t want to land,” she confessed at last, as they neared Las Vegas and the desert floor came closer. “The magic’s in the sky.”

Jesse grinned. “Well, we’ve got to fly back next weekend. Something to look forward to.”

Before she could respond, a cry came from the cabin behind them. “Janie? Janie, help me!”

When she reached her mother, Abby grabbed her arm with both hands. “Janie, what’s happening? Where am I? What is this place?”

“Shh, Mom. Shh. It’s okay.” Janie knelt next to her mother’s chair, trying to be calm despite the pain of fingernails digging into her arm. “We’re going to Las Vegas, remember? Mark’s riding in the National Finals and we get to watch. We took an airplane, so we didn’t have to drive so far. Remember?”

But Abby didn’t remember and Janie spent the rest of the flight trying to reassure her and calm her down, thankful for the seat belt which kept her mother in the chair. Her moans and cries would be easily heard by Jesse up in the cockpit. The last twenty minutes of the trip approached Janie’s worst fears.

Just as her mother had subsided for a moment, Jesse’s voice came over the intercom. “Janie, sorry to bother you, but you’ll need to be in a seat with a safety belt for the next few minutes while we land.”

At the sound of the disembodied voice, Abby became agitated again. With her arm still in her mother’s grip, Janie sat in the seat facing Abby’s and leaned forward to ease the strain on her shoulder. She couldn’t begin to imagine how they would get the hysterical woman off the plane and into a car, much less through a crowded hotel lobby, onto an elevator and settled in a hotel room.

What a terrible idea this had been. Or, rather, how stupid she had been to accept the Codys’ invitation. She should have refused and watched Mark ride on TV.

But instead, she’d let Mark and Nicki persuade her to “join the fun.” She’d grabbed at the chance to experience the Finals for herself, maybe the only time she’d ever attend the biggest event in professional rodeo.

And maybe the last opportunity she would ever have to make an impression on Jesse Cody. Deep in her heart, unconfessed to anybody else, was the hope that she could maneuver some private time with Jesse. Maybe, if she was really lucky, he might see her as something other than Elly’s friend or Mark’s sister. She’d certainly shopped for that chance, running up the balance on her credit card way beyond her ability to pay it off any time soon.

Not only had she spent too much money, but she’d dragged her mother away from the home where she felt safe and subjected her to all the terrors of travel. Sure, Mark’s chance at the championship provided an excuse, and he’d wanted Abby to be there.

But Janie knew the truth. If it weren’t for her feelings for Jesse, she would have had the strength and good sense to keep her mother at home. How selfish could she be?

With just a couple of slight hops, the plane touched down and claimed the runway surface. Janie barely felt the braking action as Jesse slowed their speed and approached the hangar. Only the smallest jolt signaled that they’d come to a stop.

Jesse appeared in the doorway to the front of the plane, and Abby shrank back into her seat. “Who is that man? What does he want?”

At least she’d finally let go of Janie’s arm. “This is Jesse, Mom. He’s a f-friend of mine.”

Her “friend” came and squatted down by Abby’s chair. “I’m going to take you somewhere you’ll be safe.” He spoke slowly, in the soothing tone Janie had heard him use with frightened horses and puppies. “Would you like that, Abby?” He fixed his wide, steady gaze on hers.

To Janie’s surprise, her mother nodded without looking away.

“That’s good.” His smile was warm and reassuring. Janie could see her mother relax. “We’ve got a car waiting outside, and then we’ll go to a place where you’ll feel comfortable.”

“I get to go home?”

“Not right away. But Mark is waiting for you. And Janie will be there.” Jesse placed a hand over Abby’s clenched fingers. “You know Mark and Janie would never let anything happen to you. They will always keep you safe.”

Janie smiled through her tears as her mother looked at her.

“I know.” Abby nodded. “They take care of me.”

Jesse nodded. “I know they do. Now, I’m going to make sure the car is ready and then we’ll get in and drive for a little while. Wait for me—I’ll be gone just a minute.”

When he returned, events proceeded exactly as he’d promised. He coaxed Abby down the steps from the plane and then into a waiting limousine, where he offered her some water and a Snickers bar, her favorite candy. After a short trip, the limousine stopped in the drive of a towering resort building, but the crowds and noise Janie expected were nowhere to be seen.

“The hotel allowed us to use their security entrance,” Jesse explained as he helped Janie out of the car. “We’ll take the private elevator straight to our floor.”

Once he had persuaded her mother out of the limo, Jesse smoothly escorted them both through an empty hallway to an elevator as spacious as most rooms in their home. On the fortieth floor, the doors slid apart and Jesse led them along another wide, silent hallway, this one carpeted in forest-green and decorated with quiet elegance. When he knocked on the door at the very end, they were welcomed by a middle-aged woman with bright silver hair and a deep tan.

“It’s good to meet you, Janie. I’m Serena Gable.” Her smile and soothing demeanor lived up to her name. Putting an arm around Abby’s shoulders, she drew the anxious woman into a large, airy suite of rooms. “Miss Abby, let’s get you comfortable.”

In minutes, she’d convinced Janie’s mother to change into lounge pajamas and crawl between smooth, cool sheets. Her calm voice, with its hint of a Southern accent, and her quiet, efficient movements made Janie feel calmer, too. She was able to kiss her mother on the cheek and leave the bedroom without a single protest being voiced.

“I’ll have her awake for dinner,” Serena promised as she closed the door.

“Wow.” Janie stood in the living room of the suite, bewildered by the sudden absence of responsibility in her life. “That was amazing.”

Jesse had waited outside the bedroom while Abby got settled. “I think your mom will be okay while she’s here. Don’t you?”

“Sure.” But the enormity of everything that had happened in the past four hours had finally caught up with Janie. She stared at the man beside her as questions began to pop up in her brain. “How in the world did you arrange all of this?”

“My parents talked to Mark and Nicki, trying to be sure the trip wouldn’t be too difficult for your mom.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are they making such an effort?” Janie brushed her bangs off her forehead, then down again. “I mean, your dad hasn’t deigned to recognize my mother’s existence for more than thirty years. Why start now?”

Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “That’s kind of a strange question to ask, given that all we’re trying to do is be nice to your family.”

“Maybe so.” With her arms crossed over her chest, Janie lifted her chin. “But smart businessmen like your dad never give away something for nothing. So I want to know what your family expects from the Hansen family in return for all this generosity you’re offering.” She gave the matter a second’s thought. “Just what is it you’re trying to bribe Mark to do?”

Jesse propped his hands on his hips. “I don’t—”

“Or are you spending all this money simply to make him leave you alone?”

Chapter Three

Jesse stared at the woman who’d just accused his family of cheating and lying. “You don’t mince words, do you?”

“I want to know the truth,” she said. “That’s all.”

At that moment, the bedroom door beside Jesse opened. “Janie?” Mark Hansen looked at his sister, then at Jesse. “I thought that was your voice I heard. What are you two arguing about?” He crossed the living room to Janie and gave her a quick hug. “Tell me how the trip went for Mom.”

Jesse took a step back, preparing to turn around and go to his own room.

But Mark motioned him to stay. “Have a seat. Nicki will be here in a minute and she’ll be glad to see you.”

Jesse hated to admit it, but Nicki’s marriage had changed how he felt abut his best friend. He didn’t feel comfortable with her these days, not since Mark Hansen had become her husband. “Thanks, but I need to return a few phone calls.”

“Okay.” Mark assessed him with a keen stare all too similar to J.W.’s. “What did Janie say that’s got you worked up?”

“You’ll have to ask her. I’ll catch up with you all later, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, Jesse left and headed down the hallway to the suite his parents always reserved for the Finals. In past years, J.W. and Anne had occupied the master bedroom, Elly had taken the room with only one queen-size bed and the four brothers had slept wherever they found space in the remaining bedroom and on various couches.

This year, the other Cody kids were staying in their own rooms with their new partners, leaving Jesse his choice of both secondary bedrooms. Standing in the silent living room he realized that, like everything else about the Cody family, the time they spent together at the Finals this year was going to be very different.

And he didn’t like the changes. He wanted his normal family back—his dad as the honest, upfront husband Jesse had always believed he was, his mother as a contented and cherished wife, his brothers and sister as the playmates and allies he’d grown up with.

What he did not appreciate was having a new brother who’d already appropriated his best friend and might very well beat him in the championship and take over his job at the ranch. And he did not appreciate being insulted by a woman he was just trying to be nice to…especially when he couldn’t swear that his dad wouldn’t pull exactly the kind of trick she accused him of.

J. W. Cody had always been a canny negotiator, capable of wheeling and dealing to get the best advantage for the Cottonwood Ranch. Jesse couldn’t think of a single reason to doubt the possibility that J.W. would manipulate his bastard son with gifts and attention to further some purpose of his own. If Jesse asked for the truth, his dad would say whatever suited him at the moment.

So he’d have to ferret out proof of what J.W. planned, if anything, on his own. Just like he’d had to hire William Jackson, Elly’s fiancé, to prove Mark’s paternity—all in the name of looking out for the Codys and the Cottonwood Ranch.

Walking into the bedroom Elly used to occupy, Jesse dropped facedown on the bed. Sometimes, protecting the ranch and the family felt like a burden he just couldn’t carry another step.

And sometimes, these days, he was tempted to believe that Mark Hansen, always strapped for cash and unaware of his heritage as a Cody, had been the luckier man.

WHEN JANIE TOLD MARK what she’d accused J. W. Cody of, Mark stared at her in much the same way Jesse had. “Why would you think something like that, let alone say it out loud? To Jesse, of all people?”

Nicki’s expression conveyed the same disapproval. “The Codys aren’t like that, Janie. Especially Jesse. You of all people should know how honest he is.”

“Maybe Jesse’s being duped, just like the two of you.” She felt all the more aggravated because she knew she’d been wrong to bring it up. Sometimes her mouth galloped off before her brain settled fully into the saddle. “J. W. Cody isn’t above using Jesse to get what he wants.”

“And just what do you think that is?” Mark stood with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, as if the position helped him keep his temper.

“Well…” Janie gathered her thoughts together. “If he’s seen by everybody at the National Finals being nice to you—taking care of your mother, paying for me to be here, who knows what else he’s got planned—that’ll be the story people accept about you and the Codys. Then, back at home, he can cut you off and nobody will believe it wasn’t your idea. Or—”

Mark made a chopping motion with one stiff hand. “Cut me off? What does that even mean?”

“He could refuse to see you again. Refuse to give you a job, or anything else you’re entitled to as his son.”

“What makes you think I want a job from J. W. Cody? Or anything else, except acknowledgment that he’s my father?”

“Why would you have accepted this invitation, otherwise?”

Mark’s cheeks reddened, and after a quick glance at Nicki, he looked at the carpet between the toes of his boots.

“If you intended to remain independent, then I would think you would have been here on your own, not letting the Codys buy you a fancy room and meals and…whatever.”

“We thought it would be polite to accept,” Nicki said after a pause. “A gesture of good faith.”

“But then you involved Mom. And me. That leaves us indebted to a man we’re not at all related to.”

Mark lifted his head. “The Codys don’t expect to be paid back.”

“I’m not talking about money. As Nicki just pointed out, there are other mediums of exchange.”

Her brother looked confused.

“Hospitality is a gift,” Janie explained. “And it’s one I can’t possibly give back. So now I’m in the Codys’ debt. As are you and Nicki. But at least you could work for him, if you wanted to and he asked. I’ll just be at a permanent disadvantage.”

After another pause, Mark made a gesture of surrender and sat down on the sofa, bringing Nicki with him. “I still don’t completely understand your point. I think, and Nicki does, too—” his wife nodded when he looked at her “—we think the Codys just want to have the family all together, as they do for every National Finals. If there’s more to it, I’ll deal with that when it comes. But I haven’t by any means decided that I want to be part of the Cody operation. Nicki and I haven’t really had time to talk about it. We were waiting until after the championship.” He curved his arm around Nicki’s waist, and from the gentle motion of his hand along his wife’s hip, Janie could tell that his thoughts had taken a different direction.

“Fine. Once I’ve unpacked, I’ll apologize to Jesse, and I’ll try to keep my suspicions to myself. See you guys later.” No one, she noticed, was asking her to stay and keep them company. She didn’t turn around to discover why no one answered.

In the bedroom on the other side of her mother’s, she spent some time hanging up the clothes that would wrinkle, lining up the three pairs of boots she’d brought and laying out her makeup in an orderly arrangement. She didn’t usually wear makeup, and today she could see why. Nobody appeared to have noticed that she looked any different at all.

Of course, she’d destroyed any favorable impression Jesse might possibly have by attacking his motives and those of his family. “Think before you speak,” her mother used to say when Janie’s big mouth got her in trouble at school. A lesson she clearly had yet to learn.

She touched up her mascara, shadow and powder anyway, then wandered across the room to stand at the window, gazing out over a psychedelic landscape of hotels, casinos, marriage chapels and traffic. She could just see the ridge of black mountains at the edge of the desert where a pink-and-gold sky anticipated the sunset. Her first night in Las Vegas, and she had no idea where to go or what to do.

Well, except find Jesse and apologize.

She knocked loudly on the door of the Cody suite, then waited, rubbing her thumbs over her fingertips in the nervous habit she’d never managed to conquer.

Jesse didn’t answer the door. He might have gone out again. Maybe he’d planned dinner with friends, people who didn’t accuse him of being the bad guy. He might have set up a date with a woman who knew how to keep her mouth shut.

Janie debated knocking again, but instead turned to go back to her room. She would check in on her mom, maybe get something to eat downstairs, then—

“Janie?”

She swung around with a gasp. Jesse stood in the open door, shirttail half in, half out, rubbing the top of his head.

“You were asleep.” She stated the obvious. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” He glanced at his watch. “Almost five o’clock. What’s going on?”

She swallowed. “I, um, wanted to talk to you.”

He tilted his head to the side and just looked at her for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath and stepped back. “Come on in.”

The huge suite she entered reminded Janie of the Cody homestead, with a living room featuring several different seating areas, a long dining table and chairs plus a big flat screen TV and music system.

“This is nice,” she said, walking across the room to look out the windows, which provided a view to the east. “I can see why your parents feel comfortable here.”

“Yeah, we’ve been in this same room at the Finals as long as I can remember. What did you want to talk about?”

Facing him, she shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “Well, obviously, I owe you an apology.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Not ‘obviously.’”

Janie nodded. “Oh, yes. The kindest thing you could say was that I had to let off some steam, after the trip with Mom.”

A half grin curved his lips. “I can say that.”

“But whatever concerns I might have about your dad, I don’t have any reason to make accusations that include you, Jesse. I’m sorry I blew up like that. You’ve been a real help today, and I’m grateful.”

“Okay, then.” He came close enough to put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it anymore. I know J.W. isn’t an easy man to trust, especially for your family.”

“But you are.” She put her hand over his fingers as they rested against her body. “I’ve always trusted you.”

Time stopped. Jesse’s eyes widened as he looked down at her. A strange fluttering started up behind Janie’s ribs as she focused on the weight and heat of his hand, the feel of his skin against her palm. Somebody took in a quick breath.

And then he backed away, letting his hand fall to his side. “So, what are your plans for your first night in Vegas? Gambling? Shopping? A show?”

Janie shrugged both shoulders, disappointed. “I don’t have a clue. I’ll take any recommendation you’d like to offer.”

“What are Mark and Nicki doing?”

“Um, they might be staying in for the evening.” She felt her cheeks heat up as she said it.

Jesse’s flush showed that he took her meaning. “All these newlyweds are a pain in the butt for us single folks. Well, if you want to see a show, there’s—”

She shook her head. “I’m not really big on going out by myself. I’ll just get some dinner and sit with my mom.”

He gazed at her for a few seconds. “Why don’t the two of us go out together?”

AN HOUR LATER, JESSE EYED his reflection in the mirror, removed a hair from his black blazer and then met his own gaze.

“Dinner and a show,” he told himself. “It’s the least you can do for Elly’s best friend. Not a big deal.”

The trouble was, it felt like a big deal. He hadn’t really meant to ask Janie out, in the social sense of the word, any more than he would ask his sister for a date. Hell, he’d seen Janie in her pajamas since she was a twelve-year-old sleeping over at the ranch. In all this time, he’d thought of her as a part of Elly’s life. Not his.

Today seemed different…or maybe it had started last night, when she insisted on driving him home. He didn’t recall ever being alone with Janie before, or really talking about anything more serious than a ball game on TV. Some of their conversations, last night and today, had been uncomfortable and explosive. But not dull. Janie didn’t ignore issues, didn’t gloss over the problems facing both of them. Jesse liked knowing where he stood and what he might be up against. He liked knowing what she thought and that she tried to fight fair.

The real shock was realizing that he’d never really seen Janie before today. He’d always carried around this image of black pigtails, checked shirts and dirty hands. Elly, too—Jesse knew he tended to see her as the kid he remembered, with tangled hair and braces on her teeth, rather than the lovely adult woman she’d become.

Janie had changed, as well, and definitely for the better. Her sleek black hair, high cheekbones and bronzed skin revealed the Lakota blood she’d inherited from her mother. But her full, pouty mouth must have come from her dad’s side of the family, along with her figure, rounded in all the right places. Despite her size—she couldn’t be more than five-three—she struck Jesse as a curvy little package of dynamite.

In more ways than one. And that’s what worried him.

He had enough complications in his life right now with out adding any kind of relationship to the mix, let alone an attraction to his sister’s best friend.

Or, for that matter, to his half brother’s half sister.

So this would be just a friendly evening, he promised himself, walking down the hallway to Janie’s door. Casual. Relaxed. No strings.

He knocked, Janie opened the door…and his gut lurched like a fish out of water.

I’m in serious trouble, here.

He could only hope his reaction didn’t show on his face. “Ready to go?” As she stepped out and turned to make sure the door latched, he said, “You look nice tonight.”

An understatement, if ever he’d made one. For the first time in both their lives, he was seeing Janie Hansen in a skirt—a swirly black skirt that revealed her sexy legs. She wore red boots with black stitching and black heels and a close-fitting red sweater with sequins across the shoulders. Her shiny black hair flowed like water down her back.

She looked, in a word, hot.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling at him as she turned a round. “I busted my budget on clothes for this trip. I almost never have a reason to dress up.”

“That’s too bad.” The elevator doors opened as soon as he pushed the button, for which he was grateful. He could have kept shoveling on the compliments, which would only sabotage his “just friends” campaign. “What would you like for dinner?”

“I’m hungry enough to eat just about anything. You choose.”

“How does Italian food sound?”

“Terrific.”

A cab took them from their hotel to the Wynn Resort. Janie pressed her nose to the backseat window throughout the drive, exclaiming at the lights and sights of the Las Vegas street scene.

“You never imagine it quite this bright,” she said as they walked through the Wynn Hotel entrance. “Or this tall. Or this crowded,” she added, as a group of Asian tourists nearly ran over her.

Jesse put a hand at the small of her back as she edged toward him. “Sometimes people are watching what’s around them instead of what’s in front. Are you okay?”

“Sure. I can see why they’re distracted. Just look at this place. Amazing.”

A giant poster caught her eye and she stopped in her tracks. “Oh, wow. This is where he’s performing?” One of the biggest stars in country music had come out of retirement to give concerts exclusively at the Wynn. “I’ve never seen him live. I love his music.”

Jesse couldn’t hide his grin. “Well, I guess that’s good.” Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out two tickets. “Because I just happen to have—”

“Jesse!” Janie screamed, and then threw her arms around his neck right there in the middle of the lobby. She had to jump to reach him, and he wrapped his arms around her, to keep them balanced.

The crowd flowed around them as they stood there for uncounted seconds, with Janie’s breasts pressed tight against his chest and his head filled with the scent of spices that rose from her hair.

Finally, her arms loosened, and he had the presence of mind to ease his hold so she could slide back to the floor.

“I can’t believe this.” She had tears in her eyes. “How did you get tickets? I know his shows sell out months ahead of time.”

With his hand back at her waist—and his blazer buttoned to hide the fly of his jeans—Jesse guided her on toward the restaurant. “Knowing we’d all be here, Dad bought a couple of tickets when they came up for sale. You never know who will want to do what, so he tries to provide lots of options.”

Once seated at their table, Janie got up again almost immediately. “I want to check out the ladies’ room. Be back in a few minutes.”

The waiter stopped by while she was gone. Jesse ordered water and a whiskey for himself, then debated over what Janie’s choice might be. He settled on a wine spritzer, which seemed to be what many of the women he dated would order in a place like this.

But when she returned, he saw her push the stemmed glass off to the side.

“You don’t like spritzers?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t drink alcohol. My dad was…you know, a problem drinker. I’m good with water.”

“I’ll get you something else.” He raised his hand for the waiter. “What would you like?”

Most women would have protested and settled for what he’d ordered in an attempt to please him.

Janie tilted her head. “I’d love a ginger ale,” she told him. “In a tall glass.”

Jesse chuckled. “Coming right up, Ms. Hansen.” He really appreciated a woman who knew exactly what she want ed.

Which made this particular woman all the more dangerous.

JANIE SAT MOTIONLESS long after the last note of the concert had faded, even after the rest of the audience, besides Jesse, had left the theater. She hated to move, or even breathe, if it meant breaking the spell of this most miraculous evening.

Then the lights went out.

Jesse grabbed her hand. “I think they’re asking us to vamoose,” he said, getting to his feet. “Let’s hope we don’t trip and fall on the way out.”

The theater doors were still open, however, giving them plenty of light to negotiate from the first row, where they’d been seated, up the aisle and back into the main area of the resort.

In every direction, opportunities for gambling presented themselves—slot machines, card tables, roulette wheels, dice games.

“Want to take a chance?” Jesse stood at her elbow, watching as she looked around.

But Janie wasn’t interested. “I don’t have enough faith in my own luck to risk my money like that. Besides…” she drew a deep breath, letting her eyes close for a second “…I just want to replay the music in my head.”

The concert had been wonderful, a heartfelt performance by a megastar who also showed himself to be a warm and funny man.

But then, she’d been prepared to enjoy almost any kind of entertainment after sharing a dinner with Jesse Cody. She still couldn’t quite believe the reality—she and Jesse, alone together, eating and talking about what ever came to mind. She’d filled him in on the restroom decor—fabulous—and he’d quizzed her about her pre-vet studies. Together they’d critiqued the movies scheduled to come out during the holiday season. Not once had they sat in silence, searching for something to say.

And she’d made him laugh—how about that for an achievement? She’d always thought Jesse never took enough time to laugh.

Now here they were, in a taxi again, and he was still holding her hand. His big fingers wrapped around hers, warm and secure like her favorite blanket back at home. If she moved her knee about two inches, she could touch his.

But Janie chose not to move. She’d already thrown her self at him once tonight, and she couldn’t remember the moment without her face turning red. But she couldn’t forget, either, the feel of his arms around her, the wall of his chest against her breasts, the aroma of his aftershave. Through all the excitement about the concert, she’d inhaled that scent as if her body needed it to survive.

When their cab pulled up at their hotel, Jesse’s hand slipped away from hers, reaching for his wallet. She waited and let him open her car door, then gave him her hand for help getting out. Hopefully, he’d keep it again on the elevator ride up.

Instead, he released her as soon as they entered the hotel lobby. Janie looked down at the floor to hide the disappointment in her face, so she didn’t immediately notice the man plowing through the crowd in their direction.

Then her brother stopped directly in front of them. “Where the hell have you been?”

Even without holding his hand, she sensed Jesse stiffen beside her. She took a step ahead of him, getting between the two men. “We went to dinner and a show. I left a message for you.”

“Fat lot of good that does, when you don’t say where you’re going. And I couldn’t reach you on your cell phone.”

“I didn’t know.” She took hold of Mark’s wrist. “What’s wrong? Is it Mom?”

He ran his free hand through his hair. “She’s been hysterical for hours. When she woke up and you weren’t available, she wouldn’t eat, and the situation went downhill from there.”

Janie headed toward the elevator at a fast walk. “Serena seemed to have everything under control…” She slammed the button with the heel of her hand. “She could have given Mom a sedative. I left the directions.” Another punch at the up button produced no immediate result.

Mark pressed the button in his turn. “It’s hard to give a sobbing, unrestrained woman a pill.”

The doors slid open, finally, to reveal a compartment packed with people, adults overlapping at the shoulders and children fitted into the spaces below waist level. The process of emptying seemed endless.

A crowd of equal size followed Janie into the elevator. Pressed against the back wall between Jesse and Mark, she couldn’t continue their discussion with so many listeners.

The last person didn’t get off until the thirty-ninth floor.

When the panels parted on forty, Janie started running. The closed door to the suite brought her up short. She waited on tiptoe for Serena to answer her knock.

Just as she heard the lock release, big hands gripped her shoulders and forced her to turn around.

Behind her in the doorway, Serena said, “Miss Janie?” Inside the room, Abby moaned and sobbed.

Standing in front of her, Jesse shook his head. “You can’t go in there, Janie. Not right now.”

Mark came up beside them, pulled back his arm and knocked Jesse sideways with a punch to the shoulder.

“Mind your own business, Cody,” he growled. “And get your hands off my sister.”

Chapter Four

Jesse bounced off the wall and came back with his own punch ready.

Janie stepped in front of him. “Don’t you dare.”

He stopped, stared at her for a moment, then shook his head like a dog shaking off water. His hand fell to his side.

“You’re right. Sorry.” He flashed a furious glance over her shoulder to Mark. “I only meant that you should take the time to calm down and pull yourself together, be fore you went in to see your mom. But…” He looked around the circle of shocked faces—Nicki and Serena were watching, in addition to Janie and Mark. “But I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

His boot heels thudded through the thick carpet as Jesse strode quickly down the hallway. The door to the Cody suite shut behind him with an impact just short of a slam.

Taking a deep breath, Janie turned and stepped past Serena into her mother’s room. When Mark moved to follow, Janie stopped but didn’t face him. “You’ve thrown your weight around enough for one night. Just stay with Nicki. I’ll call you if we need you.”

“What is your—”

He didn’t get to finish because Serena closed the door in his face.

Janie looked at the older woman over her shoulder. “I knew I liked you.” Then she peeled off her jacket, dropped it with her purse on the floor and went to sit beside her mother on the bed.

“I’m here, Mom,” she crooned. “Shh, it’s okay. Everything’s fine.”

Sure, Janie thought, remembering Jesse’s face. Everything’s just great.

JESSE HAD SET UP SOME practice time for Wednesday morning, on a ranch owned by a friend of his about a hundred miles out of Vegas into Utah. After spending half the night lying awake, thinking about Janie before and after her brother’s intrusion, he sure as hell didn’t want to think anymore.

So he set his music for a rowdy playlist—no love songs like the ones last night—and turned the volume high. All he wanted to do this morning was ride bulls and get as dirty as he possibly could.

The bulls were happy to oblige. He stuck five rides until the buzzer, but hit the sand early on three more.

“Those last three are my best.” Chick Grady, the ranch owner, leaned on the arena fence as Jesse dusted himself off after that last fall. “Ain’t nobody ever rode ol’ Hoggy to the buzzer.”

“Good to hear.” Jesse climbed the fence and dropped down on the outside. “But I should have made it, if I plan to win.”

“Stiff competition,” Chick agreed. He stood five feet tall in his boots and displayed about a century’s worth of wrinkles under the shade of his hat brim. “I have to say, yer not lookin’ yer best this mornin’.”

Removing the baseball cap he’d worn, Jesse bent over and dunked his head in a nearby horse trough to rinse the dirt off his face and cool down. Even in December, the sun shone strong in the Utah hill country. “Didn’t get much sleep.”

Chick snorted a laugh. “Gotta leave those ladies in Vegas to somebody else.”

“I hear that.” He caught the rag Chick threw him and wiped off his face and neck. “Easier said than done, sometimes.”

“Decide what you really want.” Chick spat a stream of tobacco into the dirt. “Then go get it.”

“Right. Thanks, Chick. See you tomorrow.”

Stripping off his filthy shirt, Jesse climbed into the truck in his T-shirt and aimed the windshield toward Las Vegas. He felt better for getting some fresh air and sunshine, for pitting his strength against an animal’s and winning, more often than not. That was the fun part of bull riding, the part he enjoyed.

He whistled as he walked through the hotel’s mid-afternoon horde and only grinned when the two women who joined him in the elevator stepped as far away from his dirt as they could manage. The hallway on the fortieth floor was empty, and he sauntered to the suite in a better mood than he could remember for quite some time. Certainly since Mark Hansen had decided to complicate his life.

Then he unlocked the door and stepped inside to find a crowd of faces—worried, upset and downright angry—staring straight at him.

For some reason, the first person he focused on was Janie. She stood near the window, looking defiant and furious and apologetic, all at once.

“Well, it’s about time.” His dad’s voice made itself heard over several others. “Where the hell have you been?”

Like a balloon floating up against a prickly pear cactus, Jesse’s mood deflated in that instant. He pulled off his baseball cap and rubbed a hand over his hair. “You know, I am really tired of hearing that question. Remember the good, old-fashioned word we use to greet somebody…what was it? Oh, yeah—hello.”

“Hello, Jesse,” his mother said. “We were surprised you weren’t here when we arrived.”

“I went over to Chick Grady’s ranch. He let me ride a few of his bulls.”

“How’d it go?” his dad barked.

Aware of Mark and Nicki sitting on the couch, Jesse shrugged. “Okay. I’ll be going back tomorrow, get a little more loosened up.” He surveyed the room, nodding to his brother Dex and his new wife, Josie, who were also part of the group. “Where’s the rest of the family? I haven’t seen Elly or Dusty or Walker since I got here. Not to mention the nephews.” Dusty’s son Matthew and Clay, Walker’s wife’s little boy, were two of his favorite people in the world.

“Dusty and Walker took the youngsters to the indoor pool,” Josie told him. “Elly’s working her horse and Maryanne went shopping at Cowboy Christmas.”

His next questions would, no doubt, start up the fireworks. “Why didn’t everybody go?” His gaze fell on Janie again as he asked the question, though she was the only one who didn’t try to give an answer.

“Janie’s talking about going home,” he heard Mark say. “We’ve been trying to change her mind.”

“That’s her decision,” J.W. declared. “She knows what’s best.” Trust his dad to take the easiest way out, for him, anyway. Having his ex-mistress down the hall would have to be awkward, even if his wife was being a saint about the whole situation.

“Don’t you think Abby was better this morning?” Nicki appealed to Mark and then to Janie. “She seemed calmer at breakfast.”

“Who knows what might happen in the next ten days?” J.W. pushed himself out of his chair and crossed the room to stand beside Jesse. “You don’t have time to fly back, but we can hire a pilot.”

No wonder Janie looked so stressed.

Jesse noticed that his mother hadn’t contributed to the argument one way or the other. She sat without moving, staring down at her hands, folded in her lap.

As J.W. opened his mouth to make yet another ill-considered comment, Jesse held up a hand. Somewhat to his surprise, the room fell silent. Even J.W. paused.

“Seems to me,” Jesse said carefully, “that Janie is capable of deciding what’s best for her mother and herself without being harassed by folks with their own agendas.” He glanced at Mark, to be sure he got that message, and saw the other man flush. “So why don’t we all just let her have the time and space to consider her options? We can work out what needs to happen when she’s made up her mind.”

No one seemed to understand what he meant, because they just sat or stood where they were, staring at him. “That means you should all go back to your own rooms.” He nodded at Nicki, and then at Josie and Dex. “Or go shopping. Whatever. Mom and Dad, you probably need to put your feet up for a while before dinner. After your long drive, that is.”

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