The pastor’s daughter…and the bad boy!

Melanie Knowles is the Good Girl of Blackfoot Falls—pastor’s daughter, teacher, animal shelter volunteer and upstanding member of the community. And Good Girls are never naughty. Ever. But Melanie is in serious trouble…because Lucas Sloan’s wicked blue eyes and deliciously hard body could turn this saint into a very satisfied sinner!

Lucas just wanted the Safe Haven animal shelter to help out with the Wild Horse Training Program. Getting hot for teacher was not part of the plan. The magnetism between them is intense, fierce and irresistible. But Lucas has secrets—and if Blackfoot Falls ever finds out, his sexy little trysts with the town sweetheart will ruin Melanie’s golden reputation forever….

You’ll never get enough of these cowboys!

Talented Mills & Boon Blaze author Debbie Rawlins keeps the cowboys coming with her popular miniseries

Made in Montana

The little town of Blackfoot Falls

isn’t so sleepy anymore….

In fact, it seems everyone’s staying up late!

Get your hands on a hot cowboy with

Alone with You

(March 2014)

Need You Now

(June 2014)

Behind Closed Doors

(September 2014)

And remember,

the sexiest cowboys are Made in Montana!

Dear Reader,

Here we are, eight books into the Made in Montana series. I must confess, I’m surprised to still be here in Blackfoot Falls. When I started the series I assumed I’d write six books and that would be it. Then I would come up with another theme or setting, and maybe even concentrate on urban books for a while. Turns out I love Westerns, cowboys and Montana way too much. I can’t seem to leave. And thanks to so many of you readers who share my enthusiasm, I get to stay in Big Sky Country a bit longer.

Some of you have met the heroine, Melanie Knowles, in book five, No One Needs To Know. She’s the high school teacher, who also volunteers at Safe Haven Large Animal Sanctuary along with her students. She wasn’t on the page much and it hadn’t occurred to me to make her a future heroine. But a few months later I happened to read an article about the Wild Horse Training Program and I instantly thought of Melanie. She’d fight for such a cause, no matter how unpopular it might be among the townspeople who hold her up to higher standards than most. Sexy, enigmatic Lucas Sloan is also a hundred percent behind the program, but when he comes to town he throws Melanie so far off course she may never find her way back.

These two characters quickly became favorites of mine. I hope you enjoy them, too.

All my best,

Debbi Rawlins

Need You Now

Debbi Rawlins

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbi Rawlins grew up in the country with no fast-food drive-throughs or nearby neighbors, so one might think as a kid she’d be dazzled by the bright lights of the city, the allure of the unfamiliar. Not so. She loved Westerns in movies and books, and her first crush was on a cowboy—okay, he was an actor in the role of a cowboy, but she was only eleven, so it counts. It was in Houston, Texas, where she first started writing for Mills & Boon, and now, more than fifty books later, she has her own ranch…of sorts. Instead of horses, she has four dogs, five cats, a trio of goats and free-range cattle keeping her on her toes on a few acres in gorgeous rural Utah. And of course, the deer and elk are always welcome.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Extract

1

MELANIE KNOWLES ENTERED Safe Haven’s cheery new office and sighed at the stack of papers sitting on the old desk. Well, no one said running a large-animal sanctuary would be easy. Though the next time someone asked for a volunteer, she’d at least stop and think for two seconds before jumping in with both feet. It would take half the evening to order more feed and cross-reference invoices, another three hours to grade her junior English class essays, and she still had to proofread her father’s sermon before Sunday.

Oh, she doubted she’d find a single typo, much less a grammatical error, but her father insisted she have a look. Just as she’d done every week since her freshman year in college. That was ten years ago and so far she’d found only two misspelled words. No one could ever accuse him of not striving for perfection. He’d argue the point if she mentioned it. Not that she would. She’d always been a good girl, the perfect pastor’s daughter. That was why she was living in the same small Montana town she’d grown up in and teaching at the same school she’d attended.

She made sure her jeans weren’t too filthy, then sank into the new leather chair. So many changes had been made lately, all thanks to the generosity of the sanctuary’s former director and her new husband. Annie and Tucker lived outside of Dallas but Annie still kept close tabs on Safe Haven. She probably felt guilty about leaving before her position had been filled. But Melanie honestly didn’t mind temporarily sharing the responsibility with Shea, another volunteer, who also headed the board.

With all the new construction over the past few months, the job had been overwhelming at times. Thanks to funds from Tucker’s charitable foundation, Safe Haven now had a new quarantine stable, a bigger barn, completely stocked medicine cabinets, a new irrigation system, equipment that actually worked and an almost-finished three-bedroom cabin for the next director. The list of improvements went on, but the bottom line was, so many more animals were being saved.

Someone knocked just before the door opened. One of her students hovered in the doorway. “Come on in, Susie.” Melanie smiled at her. Susie stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the clean white walls and small galley kitchenette. “Wow, it’s nice in here. You even have a window.”

“What a difference, huh?” She’d opened the blinds earlier, giving her a view of the west corral, which held a pair of abandoned roan geldings that had arrived yesterday. In the distance she could see the Rockies. “They finished last week.”

“Shoot. I wanted to help you paint.”

“You can still help me put up the volunteer board and feeding schedule. Some posters would be nice, too, don’t you think?”

Susie nodded, already distracted by the two roans outside. She reminded Melanie of herself at that age, smaller than anyone else in her junior class, quiet, a bit on the shy side, always eager to please. Another similarity was Susie’s strong affection for animals. When Melanie had come up with the idea of having her students volunteer at Safe Haven, she hadn’t been surprised that Susie’s hand had shot up first.

The other kids had shown enthusiasm—whether to get out of the classroom or because they genuinely wanted to help was anyone’s guess. But the project had progressed nicely to three afternoons a week and covered everything from lessons on money management to animal husbandry. Now the kids even received academic credits. Melanie had David Mills to thank for that. She just wished the new principal would stop asking her to coffee or lunch.

He always made a point of mentioning an upcoming school event or the program’s progress, but his interest wasn’t purely professional. Melanie may have led a sheltered life, but she wasn’t stupid. And she’d never date her boss, even if she were attracted to him, which she wasn’t. David was nice enough, probably too nice. At least for her. Wouldn’t her father’s congregation be shocked to know she secretly harbored a thing for bad boys?

Well, not crazy bad, just wild enough to bend the rules, someone who could kiss her senseless and not give a crap that her father was Pastor Ray. In high school she’d had huge crushes on two of the McAllister brothers. But guys like them had never given her a second look.

“Ms. Knowles?” Susie turned away from the window. “May I bring apples for the new roans? I hate seeing their ribs.”

“They’ll fill out soon. Doc Yardley thinks they’re in fairly good shape.” Melanie glanced at her wristwatch. “We have to leave in ten minutes. Have all the animals been watered?”

“I think so.” Susie pushed the thick dark hair away from her face. “Are you coming back after you drop us off?”

“Probably.” Getting to her feet, Melanie eyed the invoices, wondering if she should take them with her instead of making the thirty-minute round-trip later. Her gaze caught on the day planner she and Shea shared, and she groaned.

“What?” Susie moved closer. “Is something wrong?”

Melanie shook her head. “I forgot I have an appointment later.” She massaged her left temple. Shea had agreed to meet with a representative from the Wild Horse Training Program. Unexpectedly, she’d had to fly to California for her job, so that left Melanie. “Susie, would you please make sure everyone is at the bus in five minutes?” she said, picking up the day planner and squinting at the name Shea had scribbled. The woman was brilliant when it came to computers but she had the worst handwriting.

“Sure, Ms. Knowles.”

By the time Susie closed the door behind her, Melanie had decided the man’s first name was Lucas. She gave up trying to decipher what came after that and set the planner aside. No doubt Shea had noted the meeting on the computer, but there was no time to boot up. Lucas could introduce himself. She patted her pocket, remembered she’d left the keys in the bus, glanced at the schedule board, then went outside. Kathy, a longtime volunteer, was coming out of the barn and pulling off her work gloves. She and her husband were the most dedicated of all the volunteers. They worked long and hard, and everyone had hoped they would take over from Annie, but Kathy wanted to move closer to her grandbabies.

“You taking the kids back to school now?” Kathy brought her hand up to shade her eyes. At 3:00 the September sun was still bright and warm.

Melanie nodded. “I’ll be back by five.”

“Levi’s at the dentist but he’s coming to help me dispense meds. No need for you to be here, too.”

“Tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind getting home early for a change but I have to come back.” She saw Brandon, the class troublemaker, threaten two girls with the hose spray, and she motioned for him to knock it off. “Shea made an appointment with someone from Prison Reform Now. It’s an activist group out of Denver. They want to talk to us about fostering mustangs for the Wild Horse Training Program. Have you heard of it?”

“I think so.” Kathy turned and saw Brandon still messing around. “That kid keeps annoying Nell, and he’ll end up getting kicked in his behind. He sure rubs that mare the wrong way.”

“Oh, well, that wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen, now, would it?” She smiled, and Kathy laughed.

“You have an evil streak in you, Melanie Knowles, and I for one am glad for it. Lord knows these kids nowadays need a firm hand.” She turned away from Brandon. “The Wild Horse Training Program... It’s big in Wyoming and Nevada prison farms, isn’t it? The inmates do the training.”

“Yes, that’s my understanding. Guess I should do some reading before I meet with him.” She looked at her watch. Not much time for her to do anything but get the kids back to school, load her briefcase and take a quick shower. She hoped this Lucas knew there was no motel in town. The closest place for him to stay was Kalispell. “Come on, everyone. We have to go.”

“I’ll go chase out any loiterers in the stable,” Kathy said, already charging in that direction. At sixty, she was small and wiry and didn’t take guff from anyone.

Melanie should learn from her. One thing she sure could use was tips on how to say no. The bus doors were open, but only Susie sat inside, right behind the driver’s seat, staring out the window at the roans. The image tugged at Melanie’s heart. High school had been a lonely period in her own life. Friends she’d had in elementary school had decided it wasn’t cool to hang out with the minister’s daughter. Books and animals had been her escape.

Susie’s face brightened when she saw Melanie board. “I told everyone we had to go.” She shrugged her narrow shoulders. “I hope they were listening.”

“Well, they’d better have been or else they’ll find themselves busy studying for an extra quiz.”

The girl grinned and looked out the opposite window. A group coming from the stable was headed toward them.

“Everyone here?” Melanie asked once the kids had finished jockeying for seats. Despite the chorus of yeses, she did a quick head count in the rearview mirror as she started the engine.

Another recent improvement was the extended parking lot. Before the pad was paved, the gravel had scattered so thin the summer dust rose thick enough to choke the horses. She slowly reversed the small bus, swinging wide to the left. A loud pop startled her and she briefly lost control of the steering wheel. The bus lurched to the side, and she heard the kids’ surprised yelps.

She tightened her grip on the wheel but the bus seemed to have a mind of its own. She scrambled for the brake and engaged it with all her strength. At the sickening clang of metal hitting metal, she jerked a look in the side mirror and saw the black truck she’d just hit. The bus had finally stopped, but her pounding heart nearly drowned out the kids’ excited murmurs.

They all rushed to the back window, crawling over each other to see the damage.

“Please, everyone, be quiet and take your seats.” Melanie hesitated before opening the door. She pretended to wait for the kids to obey but mostly she was trying to stop shaking. “Now,” she said in a sterner voice, and they finally sat back down, still straining to watch the man slide out of the truck.

He was tall, wore his dark hair close-cropped, but he was far from clean-cut. At least three days’ worth of stubble covered his jaw. Very calmly he walked around to the hood of his vehicle and assessed the damage.

Melanie sucked in a fortifying breath, then climbed out. She paused to stick her head back in the bus. “Everyone stay here. Understand?”

She got a few nods. Unfortunately, they came from the kids who didn’t worry her. Dragging her clammy palms down the front of her jeans, she rounded the rear of the bus.

The man glanced up. He had blue eyes. Really blue. The kind of blue that made her forget what she was going to say. Then he smiled. She knew her mouth was open and she’d better think of something fast.

Rubbing a hand over his short hair, he turned to the bus’s bumper. “Could’ve been worse.”

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Right there.” He gestured with his dimpled chin.

Her gaze followed his to the rear left tire. “Oh. A flat? I should’ve felt that before I even started the engine.”

“No, it blew out while you were reversing.” He glanced at the curious faces pressed against the back window. “Good thing you weren’t on the highway,” he said and crouched down for a better look, frowning at the other tire. “This happen often?”

“I don’t think so, but I’m not the regular driver. I’m their teacher. I only use the bus three times a week to bring them here.”

Squinting against the sun’s glare, he gave her another look.

“Are you Melanie Knowles?”

“Yes.” It didn’t register at first, and then her insides did a little tap dance. “Are you from Prison Reform Now?”

“Lucas Sloan,” he said, pushing up and offering his hand. “I’m early.”

Thank goodness she had the presence of mind to wipe her damp palms on her jeans again. His hand dwarfed hers, the skin rough and calloused like that of most of the men who worked the ranches in the area. But she couldn’t recall a man’s handshake ever sending a jolt of electricity up her arm. Had to be his eyes. Staring into them was dangerous. She’d lost track of the conversation.

She recovered quickly, and they both let go at the same time. “How’s your truck?” She moved away to check his bumper. It wasn’t as horrifying as she’d expected. “The school has insurance. Of course, we’ll take care of it.”

“I’m not worried. We’ll let the insurance companies duke it out.” He smiled, his teeth so white against his tanned face. “Let’s focus on getting you back on the road with these kids. I assume you have a jack and spare.”

“I hope so. We should.” She paused for a moment, pretty sure she’d seen something of that nature behind the last row of seats. She turned to go have a look, then realized she was being rude. Melanie glanced over her shoulder to tell him that...

He was staring at her backside.

Her breath caught. Men didn’t stare at her like that.

Again she lost track of what she was going to say. Swallowing, she tucked her unruly hair behind her ear and hurried onto the bus.

“Who is that, Ms. Knowles?” Chelsea was kneeling on the last seat to peer out the rear window. “He’s hot.”

Cody made a sound of disgust. “That guy’s old enough to be your father.”

“No, he isn’t.” Chelsea tossed her long hair and smiled at Lucas. Everyone knew Cody had a crush on her, including Chelsea.

“Excuse me, Chelsea. You’ll have to move.” Melanie could access the equipment without displacing the girl, but she doubted Lucas appreciated being ogled by a seventeen-year-old going on thirty. Or maybe not. What did she know about him? “One of you boys, help me pull this out, please.”

Cody and another student jumped up. Cody was lean but strong and used to manual labor. Russ wasn’t a weakling, though he was more the studious type.

Darn it. Great time for the husky football players to be at practice. She could’ve used them to change the tire. Now she’d have to call her boss to send someone. It would take forever.

She saw Lucas watching her, his brows raised in question. She gave him a nod, then asked the rest of the kids to stand aside so the boys could drag the tire and tools down the short aisle. Getting out of the way herself, she grabbed her phone off the driver’s seat and left the bus.

“I think we have everything,” she told Lucas. “It can’t be much different than a car, right?” Her finger poised for speed dial, she stepped farther back so she wasn’t blocking the door. “But if you notice we’re missing something, I’d appreciate knowing before I call someone to come out.”

He frowned, then turned his attention to the two boys wrestling the oversize tire and large metal box to the door. Without hesitation, Lucas hefted the box from the bus to the ground. It landed with a thud. Good grief—she’d had no idea it was that heavy.

Cody had some trouble getting the tire out, but she noted that Lucas seemed careful not to jump in and take over. He stood back, watching the boys work it out. While he was occupied, her gaze meandered down his lean body. His jeans were on the worn side but his white shirt was spotless, the sleeves deftly rolled back to the middle of his muscled forearms. Someone had taken care to iron that shirt. A wife perhaps? His ring finger was bare but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

Once the tire hit the ground, Lucas put his booted foot out to stop it from bouncing.

“Think you guys can give me a hand swapping out the tires?” he asked the boys.

“Sure,” Cody said with a shrug as if it were no big deal.

Russ pushed his glasses back in place and nodded, not looking quite as confident.

Melanie shook her head. “I’m calling the school to send someone....”

“No need,” Lucas said, unfastening the buttons on his shirt.

Melanie’s gaze went to the wedge of chest he’d exposed. By the time she could speak, he’d undone two more. “No, really, we’re close enough to town, Mr. Sloan. It won’t take someone long to—”

“It’s Lucas.” He shrugged out of the shirt. “Would you mind?” he asked, holding it out to her.

“Of course not.” She checked her hand to make sure it was clean but also to redirect her attention. Staring stupidly at his muscled chest wouldn’t do.

After handing off the shirt, he took the spare and rolled it to the rear of the bus. His back and shoulder muscles were equally well developed, and if not for the three senior girls fogging the bus’s windows, Melanie might not have caught herself staring a bit too intently. She motioned for them to go back to their seats, but they took her hand gesture as a cue to rush to the door.

“No.” She met them before Chelsea left the bottom step. “Stay inside. The guys don’t need an audience.”

Leaving the tire with Cody, Lucas approached her, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth. “They all need to get off so we can jack up the bus.”

“Oh, right. I knew that.” She watched him pick up the box of tools and head to the back of the bus.

The girls came spilling out. Mia and Chelsea had both applied peach-tinted lip gloss. “Oh, for goodness’ sakes,” Melanie muttered. Lucas looked to be in his early thirties. Teenage girls these days had no shame and few boundaries.

As if it had a will of its own, her gaze went to Lucas’s bulging biceps. Apparently, neither did their teacher.

“Want me to hold that for him?”

Melanie blinked at Chelsea. She meant his shirt. “No, I’m putting it out of harm’s way. You girls stay back. Leave Mr. Sloan some breathing room.”

“He said we could call him Lucas,” Chelsea said with a cheeky grin.

“No, he told me to call him Lucas. You may call him Mr. Sloan.” Melanie realized she was crushing his shirt collar and hurried onto the bus to find a safe place to hang the garment.

Brandon was still in his seat texting. Mark sat behind him, one with his smartphone.

“Come on, guys. Get off now.” She draped the shirt over the steering wheel, then followed the boys out.

“She really is a cool teacher. Our favorite.”

Melanie heard Chelsea’s voice coming from behind the bus. She paused and smiled. Though she wasn’t bucking for teacher of the year, it was nice to know what the students thought of her.

“Even if she is old-fashioned,” Chelsea said just as Melanie was about to join them.

The awful term stopped her cold. She almost turned around and headed for the office. The girl didn’t know she was there. But Lucas did. From his crouched position, his gaze swept up to briefly meet hers. Melanie managed to find a smile for him but it was too late. He’d already shifted his attention back to loosening the lug nuts.

Old-fashioned? That was how the students regarded her? Maybe she shouldn’t be shocked... No, not shocked so much as hurt. Though why should she care? She was their teacher. But she was only twenty-seven, barely ten years older than most of them.

“I’m going to call the school and let them know why we’re late,” she said. “Lucas, we have some water and soda in the office. May I get you something?”

“No, thanks. I’m good.” He gave her a smile that should’ve made her breath catch.

Instead, she sighed as it sank in that Chelsea was right. Melanie wasn’t anything like the exciting and daring women she saw on television. And she certainly wasn’t a woman a man like Lucas would look at twice.

2

LUCAS STOOD BACK and let Cody tighten the lug nuts on the spare tire. Fortunately, they’d been working in the shadow of the bus, but it was still warm. Earlier he’d asked one of the kids to find him a clean rag and he used it to blot his face before rubbing the grime from his hands.

Melanie had checked with him once and then disappeared into the office again. He thought about sending the ever-helpful Chelsea to get her, but he wanted to have a word with her in private.

“I want to talk to your teacher,” he said to Cody. “You don’t need me. You’ve got this.”

“Yeah, no problem.” He put a little more muscle into the job. Strictly for show. The kid had it bad for Chelsea and all she’d done was ignore him and flirt with Lucas.

Man, the girl scared the crap out of him. Since when were seventeen-year-old girls so damn bold? Lucky for him, he hadn’t been around teenagers much. But he’d been one himself not that long ago, and getting dissed by a girl like Chelsea? It hurt.

He took his time, scoping out all the new construction. The barn hadn’t been painted yet. Another structure was missing a wall but there were no workers in sight. Could be the sanctuary had run out of money. That sort of thing happened too often. He ducked his head to see inside the older barn. Bales of hay were stacked in the corner. Several goats roamed freely, pilfering scratch from clucking chickens.

What interested him most were the corrals and fenced pasture. He knew Safe Haven could handle over a hundred horses space-wise. As for feed and vet services, his organization would cover those costs. If he could convince Melanie Knowles and Shea Monroe to participate in the program.

The log-cabin-style office was obviously new. He scraped the bottom of his boots on the mat, then knocked on the door that matched the green roof.

“It’s open,” Melanie called out.

He stepped inside and waited for her to look up.

She lifted her head, her brown eyes widening. “Oh. Sorry, I thought you were one of the kids.” She swept back flyaway strands of dark hair and quickly remade her ponytail. “Are you done?”

“Cody is finishing up.”

“That was fast.” She tapped the stack of papers she’d been working on into a neat pile and stood. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.” She blinked at his chest. “You’re probably looking for your shirt. I put it in the bus.”

The faint rosy blush that spread across her cheekbones reminded him of Chelsea’s comment. He supposed most kids considered their teachers old and stodgy. But Melanie? In that close-fitting red T-shirt and jeans, she looked barely older than her students.

Not until she cleared her throat did he realize he’d been staring. She came around the desk and went to a dorm-size refrigerator in the corner. She bent over and rifled around inside. Luckily, he’d stopped noticing how the soft denim molded her ass a second before she turned around and passed him a bottle of water.

“There’s a sink in the barn where you can clean up if you like,” she said and went to step past him.

He moved to accommodate her but got in the way instead. “Sorry,” he said and noticed she’d blushed again. Her arm had barely grazed his chest.

Clearly Melanie was shy. Maybe that was what Chelsea had meant by old-fashioned.

“Well, this is awkward,” Melanie said, picking her phone up off the desk. “Here you’ve done all this work, and now I have to desert you.”

“You have to get the kids back to school, right?” He unscrewed the cap and gulped down half the water.

“I do,” she said in a distracted voice. “I’ll be gone for about an hour.”

“No problem.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his arm and saw that she’d been watching him guzzle. It made him self-conscious. He wasn’t used to being around too many people, certainly not women. And here he was shirtless. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just hang around and wait.”

“Oh, sure. A volunteer is in the quarantine stable. Her name’s Kathy. Her husband, Levi, will be along soon to help. They’re practically permanent fixtures here.” She smiled and opened the door for him.

Lucas hesitated. “Look, what happened with that tire could’ve been avoided. Whoever’s in charge of the bus was negligent.”

Her lips parted with a soft gasp. “I hope you don’t think I’m making light of the accident. I feel awful about it. In fact, I’ll take your information with me and call the insurance company so they can get to work on fixing your vehicle.”

“I don’t give a damn about the truck.” He hadn’t meant to sound gruff or make her flinch. “I’m thinking about you and the kids.”

She looked away. “It’s as much my fault as anyone else’s since I drive the bus, too. I should’ve checked.”

“Would you know what to look for?”

She frowned at him, her chin lifting defensively. “No, but I will from now on.”

He smiled. “I’ll show you if you like.”

Melanie nodded, but he could see in her face she was still offended. Or feeling guilty.

Hell, he should’ve kept his mouth shut. He’d meant to help and it had gone sideways. When was he gonna get it? How big a price did he have to pay before he finally learned to mind his own business?

* * *

MELANIE PARKED HER compact Ford close to the gravel path leading to the office and resisted the urge to check her hair in the rearview mirror. Already she regretted using a little blush and tinted lip balm. Kathy would probably notice and start getting stupid ideas. She was always pushing Melanie to date or at least get out and do things that weren’t church related. She knew Kathy meant well, but having a social life wasn’t that simple.

It was 5:35. Melanie wasn’t sorry that she’d taken an extra ten minutes to shower, especially when she noticed Levi’s truck parked close to the old barn, loaded with supplies. Lucas’s truck hadn’t been moved. Apparently he’d felt no need to get as far away from the crazy bus driver as possible. She still couldn’t believe she’d hit him. Usually there weren’t more than two cars in the lot.

She scanned the corrals, pleased to see the geldings playing a little. Already they were getting stronger. Somebody had taken a bay mare to the second corral. The rest of the sixty-two horses Safe Haven had given refuge to were either in the stables or grazing in the north pasture.

No sign of any humans. She opened her door and heard laughter coming from the old barn. Kathy and Levi, of course, and Lucas. He had a deep voice, so she’d expected his laugh would have that low sexy timbre, as well. The sound even matched his buff body and rugged good looks.

She stopped halfway to the barn. Thinking of him that way? Big mistake. She swiped her tongue over her lips, then used a finger to rub off the residual gloss. Taking an extra breath, she walked with purpose toward the voices.

Lucas had changed his shirt. He now wore a black T-shirt, the same jeans and cowboy boots from earlier and a grin that sent her pulse into overdrive. He didn’t see her.... Neither did Kathy or Levi.... They were focused on something happening in the corner. Even standing with his legs spread, Lucas was taller than Levi, who Melanie knew was close to six feet. His arms were folded across his chest, his biceps straining the snug sleeves and wreaking further havoc on her nervous system.

They were all watching Pinocchio, a notoriously mischievous pygmy goat, so they didn’t see her approach. It wasn’t until she came up behind them that she saw what was so amusing. The determined Pinocchio was trying to mate with Selma, an unfazed older Nubian nearly twice his size. The poor little guy would never reach, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Melanie wasn’t sure what embarrassed her more...watching the animal giving it his all or being embarrassed over something so silly. If it had been only Kathy and Levi, no problem. She would’ve had a chuckle along with them. For a second she wondered if she could back out of the barn without anyone the wiser. The thought had barely flitted through her brain when Lucas saw her.

That smile of his. Heaven help her, it was really something. She smiled back, felt the heat in her face and knew there wasn’t a thing she could do about the blush.

“That was fast,” Lucas said, mercifully uncrossing his arms and relaxing them at his side.

Kathy and Levi turned to her, as well. The instant the older woman saw her, she tilted her head, her sympathetic expression confirming Melanie’s fear. Her stupid cheeks were flaming. She wasn’t even a redhead but a mousy brunette. It wasn’t fair.

“If I had known you had entertainment, I wouldn’t have rushed,” she said breezily.

“I put the invoice from the hardware store on the desk,” Kathy said, and Levi added, “Jorgensen mentioned he could wait until next month to be paid if need be.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” She looked at Lucas and wondered again about his white shirt. Had she somehow soiled it? “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“I was going to help Levi finish unloading his truck. Unless you’re in a hurry....”

She lifted her gaze from his chest and met his eyes. “What happened to your other shirt?”

“He didn’t know I was gonna put him to work,” Levi said, grinning. “This young buck stored feed in half the time it takes me. What do you do to get arms and shoulders like that?”

“Levi.” Kathy gave her husband a warning glare.

Lucas just smiled but he seemed a bit embarrassed himself. “You want help unloading that truck, or what?”

“Not if you’ve got business with Mel.” Levi clapped him on the back. “Go on. I’ll take care of it.”

“Am I going to hold you up?” Lucas asked her. “You got a husband and kids waiting at home for their supper?”

“Me?” She let out a laugh. “No.”

Curiosity flickered in his eyes. “It won’t take long to finish unloading. Maybe fifteen minutes.”

“I know Levi would appreciate the help.” She glanced at the truck. It would take more like half an hour, though she didn’t care. “I’ve got things to do in the office.”

Lucas pulled a pair of Safe Haven work gloves out of his back pocket and left to catch up with Levi.

Kathy moved closer and bumped Melanie’s shoulder. “Now, that’s a fine-looking man. He’s not married, either.”

“How do you know?”

“I asked.”

Melanie laughed. “You didn’t.”

“Of course I did,” she said, and they both watched Lucas swing onto the truck bed with ease and grace. “I knew you wouldn’t, so I figured I’d step in and make sure he was up for grabs.”

“For who? You?”

“If I were thirty years younger and single, you bet.” Kathy nudged her again. “He’s real polite, too. Offered to help Levi without being asked.”

“Well, good for him.”

“Don’t use that tone with me, missy.”

They’d both continued to stare at him. Melanie finally turned to Kathy. “I swear, if you tell me I’m not getting any younger, I’ll...” She just sighed. How pathetic. After hearing her mother say it a thousand times, Melanie should really have had a witty retort.

Kathy gave her a quick hug. “I expect you get that enough. Promise me one thing, though. If he asks you to dinner, you go.”

She groaned. “Where is this coming from? He’s here on business. I only just met him myself, and anyway, he isn’t interested in me.” Melanie frowned at the self-satisfied gleam in the other woman’s eye and gave her a long look. “Should I be worried about you putting in too many hours?”

Kathy snorted. “I raised three boys. Good luck trying to shake me off. Think I didn’t hear him work in whether or not you were married? He’s interested.”

“You said it yourself—he’s polite. He doesn’t want to hold me up, that’s all. But you think what you want.” Melanie turned toward the office. “Just don’t embarrass me.”

“Oh, honey, you know I wouldn’t do that.”

“No, you’re right.” Something had been bothering Melanie. She’d tried to let it go, but it still nagged at her. At least she could count on an honest answer from Kathy. “Would you consider me old-fashioned?”

Her friend’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Not in the least. Why on earth would you ask such a thing?”

“One of my students said something....”

“Oh.” Kathy flapped a hand. “Kids always think their teachers are older than dirt. Levi was barely forty when the Weaver boy asked if he was getting ready to retire. Course, Tim’s not a boy anymore. He’s got two young ones of his own. Back then he was a junior and Levi was his history teacher. My poor husband hadn’t even sprouted his first gray hair yet, and goodness but he came home in a foul mood that day.”

Melanie smiled. Levi had been her teacher, as well, and she knew Tim Weaver, despite his being four grades ahead of her. And here he already had two kids. She wasn’t anxious to get married or start a family, but sometimes it bothered her that there were no prospective men in sight. The guys she’d dated in college had been fun at the time. Though living in a dorm two hundred miles from Blackfoot Falls had had a lot to do with the fun factor. Here she couldn’t sneeze without someone handing her a tissue.

“I guess I should get to work on those invoices,” she said. “You and Levi don’t stay too late, huh? Nina and her boyfriend offered to pull the night shift.”

Kathy looked as if she was dying to say something but only nodded and headed out the back. Melanie turned and started to walk toward the office. She had a good idea what was on the woman’s mind. Kathy didn’t like Nina’s boyfriend. He’d been a drifter who’d hired on at the Circle K. Sure, he was young and cocky, but he was fond of animals—otherwise Melanie wouldn’t allow him to volunteer.

That was the trouble with living in a small town. Everyone had an opinion about everything that went on. Her being a teacher and the minister’s daughter—it was a triple whammy.

Since coming home, she’d gone out with a rancher from the next county who had an unfortunate fondness for chewing tobacco, then a slightly older widower who hadn’t gotten over his deceased wife. A cowboy she’d met at a rodeo in Billings had lasted a few weeks. But they hadn’t clicked well enough to make a long-distance relationship work. Her mother hinted that Melanie was too picky. That was partly true. She’d never settle for the sake of a gold band on her finger. But it was also laughable since she doubted her parents would approve of half the men she found appealing.

She wondered what they’d think of someone like Lucas. He obviously had a generous heart. She assumed he was a volunteer for Prison Reform Now. But even if he held a paid position, a man doing that job wasn’t looking to get rich.

Hefting a bag of feed off the flatbed, he flashed her a smile.

A soft gasp escaped her. Without realizing, she’d actually stopped and was staring again. Nearly tripping over herself, she hurried to the office. Once inside, she planted her butt in the chair behind the desk and waited for her heart rate to slow down.

Seconds later she got up and slanted the blinds, but the window was in the wrong position. She couldn’t see much of him. Probably just as well. She had a lot of work to tackle, and though Lucas was nice eye candy, he’d be gone in an hour or so. And Blackfoot Falls would be the same boring town that she’d woken up to this morning.

* * *

LUCAS WOULD’VE PREFERRED to shower before meeting with the pretty schoolteacher. Though she, of all people, understood why he might be a little ripe. Damn, he was glad he’d helped Levi. The guy had a weak back and bad arthritis. No way should he be doing that kind of manual work. But as Levi had confided, if not him, Kathy and Melanie would have done the unloading, which happened often enough. And they were both small women.

He paused at the office door and knocked, even though Levi had told him to just walk in. Melanie called that it was open, just as she’d done earlier, and why that made him smile he had no idea. Maybe it was the trace of impatience in her voice. She seemed the type who’d be appalled that she’d let it show.

Melanie got up as he entered, and she moved a box that was sitting on the spare chair. Then she went to the small fridge. Oddly, he felt his body tighten. Just because he knew she had to bend over? That was pretty damn sad.

“Water or cola?” she asked.

“Water.” He ordered himself not to look and did anyway. Different jeans than before. These were a bit snugger. A-plus for the teacher. “Thanks.”

She’d brought out a bottle for herself, too, and hid behind the old desk again. “You’re the one who deserves my thanks. Levi is terrific, never complains. He does most of the heavy lifting, even when he shouldn’t.”

“Yeah, he told me about the arthritis.”

“Did he?” She seemed surprised. “Normally, he doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“How many volunteers do you have?”

“Seven who come rain or shine, including Shea and myself, Kathy and Levi. Another four we can usually count on to show up twice a week or if we’re in a tight spot. A few more pitch in but not with any regularity.”

“Mostly women, I take it?”

Melanie nodded. “Now, if we have an emergency or the weather is bad, the McAllister brothers are here in a heartbeat. They own a big ranch to the south of town and have their hands full but they’ve never let us down. Shea moved here because of Jesse, the middle brother, who’s also a pilot. He’s flown air rescue for so many animals that wouldn’t have made it if not for him.”

“Safe Haven owns a plane?”

“No,” she said, drawing out the word with a laugh. “Until this spring the coffers were so empty it’s a miracle this place held together. We went nonprofit and were lucky enough to get some serious funding.” A small impish smile lifted her lips. “It doesn’t hurt that the former director just married a man with a sizable charitable foundation.”

“Ah.” Lucas had no trouble smiling back. She was different from the women he usually dealt with inside the organization.

Like Melanie, they were volunteers. They were also members of Denver’s elite. They had money, influence, time on their hands and, most of them, a legitimate interest in prison reform. No question the wheels would move a lot slower without their support. But their generosity had clear limitations. They gladly opened their checkbooks, made phone calls to people who mattered, talked up the cause at their fancy cocktail parties, but their hands always managed to stay clean.

Melanie swept the hair away from her face and blinked at him. “I guess we should get to the reason you’re here.”

“I assume you know the basics. I emailed some material about our group and what we’re trying to accomplish.”

“Yes,” she said, nodding thoughtfully. “If I understand correctly, the program is a collaborative effort between the state and the prison system. A portion of the wild horses gathered by the government each year are sent to the prison farms, and the inmates train the animals, which are then auctioned off, with the money that’s raised going back to the prison.”

“In a nutshell, yes.”

“The program is self-supporting and appears to be very successful.” She paused. “I did glance at the material you sent, but I’m not as prepared as I should be and for that I apologize. But why would a private group like PRN be involved?”

“Various state laws and budgets dictate who gets what. We’d like to see the program spread around.” Lucas liked that she was interested and didn’t hesitate to ask questions. Hell, he liked her. “Tell you what...apology accepted.” He held back a smile at her raised brows. “But only if you have dinner with me.”

3

“DINNER?” SHE JUST LAUGHED. “You do realize that most people in your position—i.e., you wanting something from us—would say, ‘No apology necessary. I appreciate your time.’”

“Okay.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “Should I try again? I can do that. Trouble is, I’m starving. Haven’t eaten since I left Wyoming this morning. I don’t think well on an empty stomach.”

“I see.” A nervous tingling sensation started low in her belly. It was his eyes. The way he was looking at her... Was he flirting? She couldn’t think with him watching her like that. “Well, you did help Levi, so I guess I should feed you.”

His expression shifted, as if he’d mentally taken a giant step back. “Unless you have plans, I figured we can talk and eat at the same time.” He shrugged. “Or not. I can wait.”

She felt her composure falter. Had she just scared him with a wrong signal? He was merely being practical, and she was being an idiot. Dinner made sense. It didn’t mean he wanted her company. “There’s a diner in town.”

“Is the food good?”

“Fortunately, yes, since that’s the only option. Well, the Food Mart has a deli counter, some ready-made items. They even have a few tables and chairs if you want to eat there.” Oh, that was a stupid suggestion. It would be crowded with people she knew—most of them nosy.

“I like the deli idea.”

“Be warned, it’s not a real deli. Not like you’d find in Denver.”

Lucas smiled. “I grew up in a town similar to Blackfoot Falls.”

“How big?”

“Maybe three thousand people in the entire county.”

“Same here. A few people live in town, but mostly ranching families and hired hands make up the population. They’re spread out for miles.”

“Yep. I understand.”

“So you know what that means....”

He gave the matter a moment’s thought and then sighed. “Everyone who walks into the Food Mart will want to know who I am and what we’re talking about.”

“Some might even pull up a chair.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his jaw. “We’re not gonna do that.”

“No. Bad idea.”

“What about picking up food and eating outside? I bet you know a few good picnic spots.”

“Um, a picnic?” That didn’t sound at all businesslike. She grabbed her water and took a hearty sip.

“Okay. I see that was a miss. Guess it’s the diner.”

“No, no, it’s not a...” She sighed. “You know what.... A picnic sounds great, no interruptions,” she said, trying to recall what food she still had stashed in the old cabin. “We might not have to pick up anything from town.” She stood. “Take a walk with me.”

He quickly got to his feet and opened the door for her. “Where are we going?”

“Just over there,” she said, stepping outside and gesturing to the tiny hovel of a cabin. “The former director used to live there.”

Lucas frowned. “I’d be claustrophobic.”

“It has a loft that was used for a bedroom. But you’re right—I couldn’t have done it. Plus, it doubled as an office. That would’ve been okay, but not living there, too.” She nodded at the large cabin to the right of the gravel path. “The new place has three bedrooms and two baths. The electrician still has to come out, but it’s very nice. Now we just need a director.”

“Any bites?”

“Kathy and Levi were the front-runners. But their children moved south with their families. Kathy misses them. She and Levi will be making a move themselves eventually. And frankly, with Levi’s recent health problems, this place would be too much.”

“What about you?”

The question surprised her. She turned to look at him. He was awfully close. Close enough for her to see his pupils dilate. She took a quick breath. “Believe it or not, teaching keeps me quite busy.”

“It’s kind of a shame.... You seem like a good fit. But then, you’re also the kind of teacher these kids need.”

Melanie stopped outside the door of the old cabin and gave him a quizzical look. He didn’t know her....

“Your students explained how you got them involved here. Told me about the alternative agricultural methods you guys are exploring. Growing your own alfalfa to make Safe Haven more self-sustaining? Really impressive. So is getting them school credit to volunteer.”

Surprised, she blinked. “I see they were quite chatty. Anything else?”

He smiled. “Only that you couldn’t decide between being a teacher or a vet.”

“Gee, did they tell you what color underwear I prefer?”

“Uh, no,” he said, the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. “We didn’t get to that.”

She shook her head, laughing and groaning at the same time, and tried the doorknob. It had always stuck, but with the lack of frequent use, it was more stubborn than usual.

“Let me try.” Lucas took over, but he hadn’t left room for her to get out of the way.

He put his shoulder into the effort, and she stared at the rippling motion of his muscles flexing and releasing. His elbow grazed her right breast, and she tensed. He didn’t seem to notice or else purposely ignored the contact. Her nipples tightened, and she realized that in her hurry to squeeze in a shower, she’d forgotten to wear a T-shirt bra.

The door opened, startling her into taking a step backward on the uneven ground. Lucas steadied her with his large hand briefly on her arm. The frantic pace of her pulse really annoyed her. She wasn’t going down that road again. This was business and she really wasn’t that starved for a man’s attention. No, that was a lie. She’d been suffering a drought for a while now. Usually she was just better at ignoring it.

“Yep, it’s a tight space.”

She followed his gaze to the battered old recliner pushed against the wall and the small scarred table Annie had used as a desk and for everything else. The kitchen was nothing more than a sink and a counter with a microwave, a toaster oven and a coffeepot. Underneath was a mini fridge on its last legs.

“I don’t know how Annie managed,” Melanie said and moved inside. “The loft has a bed, a small dresser and that’s it. But the worst thing is the tiny shower. It’s almost criminal.”

Lucas ducked his head, spotted the door to the bathroom tucked under the stairs. “How long did she live here?”

“Two years.”

He let out a low whistle. “That’s dedication.”

“There isn’t a word for how hard Annie worked. Without her the sanctuary would’ve folded by now.”

He joined her at the counter, where she was looking through a plastic bin of dry goods. “Won’t be easy for anyone to follow in her footsteps.”

The cabin felt even smaller with him standing so close. “I wouldn’t even try. I’m not that selfless,” she said, grabbing a box of crackers. “Still, Shea and I are willing to go to any lengths not to let Annie down.”

“Understood,” he said, his faint smile indicating he’d taken her words as a warning.

She averted her gaze and returned to inventorying their picnic options.

“Peanut butter.” He picked up the jar she’d set beside the crackers, studying it as if he’d struck gold. “Man, I haven’t had this in years.”

“I wouldn’t last two weeks without peanut butter.”

“I ate it every day when I first bought the ranch. The old place needed so much work I was too exhausted to shop or cook.” He started to twist the cap. “You mind?”

“Go for it.” She smiled when he got the top off and took a big whiff. “Where’s your ranch?”

“Wyoming.”

That surprised her. She’d assumed he lived somewhere near Denver, where Prison Reform Now was headquartered. She brought out deli turkey and cheese and mayonnaise from the fridge. Two apples were left over from the other day, so she grabbed them, too. She straightened and saw him searching the counter. Assuming he wanted a knife, she handed him one.

He dipped it into the jar, scooped out a mound of peanut butter and offered it to her. She shook her head, and he used his finger to sweep the whole glob into his mouth.

Melanie grinned. “Okay, I might be going out on a limb here...but I’m thinking we can skip the trip to town.”

Looking like a kid trying not to talk with his mouth full, Lucas nodded enthusiastically. He pointed to the food and gave her a thumbs-up.

Okay, she didn’t need him looking that adorable. What she did need, however, was a dose of common sense. She’d bag the food and take it to the office. No reason they couldn’t eat there. “How about a horseback ride?” she asked instead, evidently channeling Chelsea, which was a terrifying thought. “I know just the spot.”

He agreed, so she gathered their dinner, while he found napkins and washed the knife. It would have been downright cozy if she hadn’t been caught stealing looks at him. Of course, she’d caught him looking back.

When Kathy saw them saddling the horses, she gave her a blanket and a wink. Melanie volleyed with a glare normally reserved for boys who loitered outside the girls’ locker room. Thank goodness Lucas had missed the exchange. But that hadn’t stopped her from blushing like a lunatic.

The silent ten-minute ride went quickly and comfortably, considering the storm brewing in Melanie’s head. The sun was sinking, the air wasn’t too warm, and in fact, the crisp breeze hitting her cheeks felt refreshing. It would’ve been perfect if only her mind hadn’t kept circling back to the same question. What on earth was she doing? They couldn’t have that much to discuss. It would’ve made more sense to have eaten in the office while they talked and then gone their separate ways. She still had a lot of work to do. He probably had a long drive to wherever he was going next.

And yet she wasn’t sorry. She didn’t feel bad for not doing the sensible thing. She was enjoying Lucas. That wasn’t a crime or a sin. Though to ignore the broad stretch of his T-shirt across his shoulders might be.

“Is that it?” He pointed to the grassy knoll protected by a thicket of aspens.

“How did you know?”

“That’s where I’d go.” He twisted around in his saddle and looked back toward Blackfoot Falls and the distant Rockies. “Great view.”

“You can even see part of Safe Haven.”

He swung off Sergei, the gelding he’d chosen, and tethered the black to a sapling.

Before she could dismount, Lucas caught her by the waist and helped her down. She shoved the hair out of her eyes, about to tell him he didn’t need to do that, but he had strong hands and all she could manage was “Thanks.”

He smiled and turned his attention to the mare. “Is she your favorite?” he asked and stroked the horse’s neck.

“Candy Cane is everyone’s favorite. Someone abandoned her two years ago. Can you imagine? She’s so sweet and gentle I never worry when the kids want to ride her.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t found her a home.”

Melanie grinned at the mare, who nudged Lucas with her muzzle when he stopped stroking her to gather the reins. “You shameless hussy,” Melanie said, taking over pampering duty as they walked to the sapling. “Safe Haven is her home now. We’ve never tried to place her.”

His thoughtful frown warned her that he’d switched to business mode. “Last year I heard you had to move close to a hundred horses because you were overcrowded.”

Nodding, she watched him tether Candy next to Sergei. “Annie was still here then. It was bad. No funds, very little feed to get through winter. Luckily, two other sanctuaries took them in.”

“Some were mustangs that eventually ended up in the prison system.” He collected the blanket, and she grabbed their dinner. “That’s how we learned about Safe Haven. Your operation is small and out of the way, so you hadn’t been on our radar.”

“Small? Are you kidding? Sometimes it feels as though we’re drowning.” She stopped in the shade, though the sun was low and weak. “I’m not complaining—”

“I know. You don’t have someone here full-time, and you and Shea have other jobs. Volunteers mean well but you can’t count on them. This is a remote area, so new volunteers aren’t coming out of the woodwork. And with this economy, donations are down. I get it.” He shook out the blanket. “Yet look at what you two are accomplishing in spite of everything.”

“No, not me. I have limited involvement. It’s people like Kathy and Levi—” She watched him crouch to smooth out the wool blanket, smiling. “What?”

“You’re being modest.”

“I am not.”

He took the bag of food from her and set it down. “I like the way you think outside the box. What you’re doing with your students is commendable.” He studied her for a moment. “Did you grow up here?”

“Yes.”

“On a ranch?”

“No, not really. We always had a few animals. Mostly chickens, two mares, a milking cow...”

“You’re teaching those kids valuable life skills. And they’re learning to have a healthy respect for animals. You’d think that wouldn’t need to be taught. That any decent human being would understand their responsibility to—” He stopped, cleared his throat and looked away.

His voice had sounded strained; his jaw was still clenched. The blue eyes she’d found so appealing had turned cold, sending a shiver straight down her spine. He kept his gaze averted and stared at the Rockies—to hide the sudden darkness that had come over him, she suspected. She was guessing he’d had a bad experience with someone mistreating an animal. That was enough to push her buttons.

She moved closer. He was a stranger, a man she’d met only a few hours ago. What was wrong with her that she didn’t feel some modicum of fear? Did she have no survival instincts at all? His tension all but blasted her like heat from a furnace. His mouth was tight-lipped and grim, cautioning her to give him space. And yet the warning had an opposite effect.

The curse she’d hidden since hitting puberty was to blame. That was the only explanation. Why else would quiet Melanie, Pastor Ray’s obedient daughter, feel this stirring inside her, feel a deep longing to touch Lucas? Good girls stayed away from bad boys. They didn’t go looking for trouble.

She hesitated, giving herself a final chance to sync with reason, but it was no use. She touched his arm.

He slowly turned and glanced at her hand. “Sorry, did you say something?”

For the life of her, she couldn’t come up with an excuse for touching him. Or for standing this close. She moved her hand to her side and focused on the Big Belt Mountains. “Would you like me to point out landmarks? There’s Mount Edith over there. And on the right—”

Lightly brushing the back of her hand, he said, “How about we eat?”

She curled her fingers into her cold palm. And then realized he hadn’t initiated contact at all. Her trembling hand had grazed his. Keeping her gaze averted, she inched away. “Sure, let’s— I’ll set out the food.”

He caught her wrist, just to get her attention, then released her. “I got carried away there,” he said. “I’m sorry I frightened you.”

“You didn’t.” She shook her head. “I was concerned.” She rubbed her arms and saw the skepticism in his faint smile. “Okay, and maybe a teensy bit nervous.”

His mouth lifted in earnest, and just like that, there was the man who’d changed the bus tire. “Are you always this forthright?”

“I try to be.”

“No matter what the consequences?”

“I’d like to think so,” she said, mesmerized by his bold stare. The demons were gone, if that was what had drawn him briefly into darkness. Now he just looked curious. “You sound so serious. Please tell me you aren’t setting me up to play Truth or Dare.”

He laughed at that. “I’ve never played and don’t want to know how.”

She relaxed and smiled, surprised that for a second she’d been afraid he’d admit something she didn’t want to know. Something that might change her opinion of him. Which was crazy. She barely knew him. “It’s just a dumb college pastime also known as study avoidance.”

She needed to move, not just stand there staring at him. To stay put would invite him to...

His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her pulse leaped.

* * *

SHE STOOD THERE, watching him with a mix of want and fear. This was...unexpected. Different from the way the Chelseas of the world eyed him like a stud up for auction.

Lucas had first started seeing that look as a teenager and had been quick to take advantage of it. But he wasn’t that reckless, carefree kid anymore, and a woman like Melanie? He stayed clear of women like her.

He could tell she was a nice small-town girl. Curious about him but uncertain what she wanted. He might’ve been out of circulation for a while and still a little rusty, but some things a man didn’t forget. Like the look of a woman who wanted to be kissed or silky skin and a soft mouth. He’d bet Melanie tasted real sweet. She’d likely be a little timid at first, but not for long.

Those thoughts had to stop. If he had a shred of decency left in him, he’d leave her alone. Leave her exactly how he’d found her when he eventually drove away from Blackfoot Falls. She wasn’t anything like the women he’d slept with in Denver, the rich ones affiliated with the reform program. Hell, he’d been nothing more than a novelty to them. It hadn’t taken long to figure that out. Not that that was a deal breaker. Uncomplicated sex was all he wanted or expected from a woman. He couldn’t say why, but he had a feeling that sex with Melanie would be anything but simple.

She finally turned away, knelt on the blanket and started setting out their picnic. He didn’t miss the slump of her shoulders or the blush staining her cheeks.

He crouched beside her. “Need help?”

“I think I can handle this. Here.” She offered him water.

A beer would’ve been more to his liking but he took the bottle. “Is there a bar in town?”

“I doubt there’s a ranching community in this country that doesn’t have at least one.”

“I don’t know.... There might be a few dry counties left.”

“Huh. The Watering Hole is the go-to place for the local ranch hands. Some prefer to head over to Kalispell, but I can’t imagine them not having someplace close to blow off steam.”

“Is the Watering Hole where you go?”

“Me?” She laughed. “No.”

“You telling me teachers don’t need to unwind or vent?”

“Oh, we have student voodoo dolls for that.”

Lucas smiled. “What else?” He watched her try to shake free a stray curl that clung to her cheek. Since her hands were full, he tucked the lock behind her ear. “What do you do, Melanie?” he asked, reluctant to lower his hand. Her skin and hair were as soft as he’d imagined. “To relieve the pressure?”

“I guess I’m lucky,” she said, a trace of huskiness in her voice. “I’m always too exhausted to think about it.”

He took the mayonnaise from her. “Not good. Stress seems to have a habit of turning the tables one way or another.” He opened the jar and set it aside.

“What do you do?” She busied herself with pulling napkins and silverware out of the bag. “You have to travel and meet new people, lobby for their help. It might be rewarding but I can’t imagine it’s fun.”

“No, most times it isn’t. As a rule people don’t care about prisoners. They figure inmates are getting what they deserve.”

“I can understand the bias. Do folks ever worry about the safety of the horses?”

“I’ve been asked that more than a few times.” He noticed the small frown forming between her brows. “Is that your concern?”

“No, not at all. I mean, of course I know everyone in prison claims they’re innocent,” she said with a small dismissive shrug. “But no, I’m not worried.”

He smiled despite the twist in his gut. “Some prisoners actually are innocent.”

Too bad he hadn’t been one of them.

4

AFTER THEY’D EATEN and the leftovers had been stowed, Melanie glanced at her watch. Lucas had explained more about the Wild Horse Training Program, and so far she saw no reason why Safe Haven couldn’t participate. All PRN wanted to do was use the sanctuary as a stopgap between the gathers and moving the horses to the various prisons. It wouldn’t cost Safe Haven anything. Food, transportation, even manpower would be completely covered. Not only that, but PRN might be interested in taking some of the strays Melanie had been unable to adopt out. Naturally, she had to lay out everything for Shea so they could make the decision together, but Prison Reform Now seemed to be very well funded.

What did concern her was the time. Another hour and it would start getting dark, though Lucas didn’t seem to be worried.

She watched him straighten the wool blanket, then sit down again so that he faced the orange glow of the sun sinking behind the Rockies. What she’d expected him to do was roll up the blanket and stuff it into the saddlebag along with their sack of trash.

Her gaze fell on his rounded biceps, then followed the cords of muscle to his wrist. He didn’t wear a watch. And though she knew he carried a cell phone, he hadn’t brought it out once. If he wasn’t anxious to get on the road, then why should she care?

No denying she was enjoying herself. The fresh air was nice and the quiet soothing. Working at Safe Haven was rewarding but seldom relaxing. Between grading papers and doing the shopping and cooking for two elderly church members, Melanie rarely had a moment for herself.

Of course, rounding out her enjoyment was Lucas, and that distant enigmatic expression of his. She’d seen it twice now, and goodness, it wasn’t easy keeping the naughty fantasies at bay. She refused to guess at his dark thoughts or imagine him as a teenager. He would’ve been one of those brooding guys the girls whispered about to their friends and dreamed about at night. The type of guy who’d always been and would always be out of reach for a quiet, sensible woman like her.

She realized she’d sighed out loud when he looked up and caught her staring at him. Quickly she cleared her throat. “We should go. We don’t have much daylight left,” she said, feeling even more awkward standing next to Candy Cane and peering down at him as if he were one of her pupils.

A lazy smile curved his mouth. He arched back, stretching out his arms, then pushed to his feet with the agility of a teenager. “You’re right. I’ve monopolized enough of your time.”

“No, it’s not that—I assumed you’d want to get on the road before nightfall.”

“I’m not leaving yet,” he said and scooped up the blanket. “I figured I’d spend a few days here.”

“Oh.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No.” She nodded. “Maybe.”

“Which is it?” The corners of his mouth twitched, which she saw quite clearly since he’d sidled up next to her. “Give me a hint.”

“Okay, smarty.” Inwardly cringing at using the silly word, she resisted the urge to move over. “Did you drive through town?”

“Yes,” he said, “and judging by your smug expression, I assume I missed something.”

It wasn’t easy being this close and feeling the heat from his body. Part of her wanted to lean into him; the other part was already yanking her shirt backward. “Did you see any motels?”

He kept looking at her, his right brow lifting. “A place called the Boarding House.”

“It’s not a motel. It really was a boardinghouse about ninety years ago.”

Lucas frowned. “There were cars parked out front.”

“Someone just bought the place and is making it an inn.” She tried to look innocent. “I doubt it’ll be finished by tonight.”

He let out a laugh. “I underestimated you.”

“I’m sorry—I shouldn’t be teasing.”

“So there’s really no lodging in Blackfoot Falls?”

“None.”

“The closest place to get a room would be—where? Kalispell?”

“That’s right,” she said, not feeling the least triumphant. She wanted him to stay longer. “There is one other possibility,” she said slowly, trying to think it through.

She could call Rachel at the Sundance. The dude ranch was usually booked months in advance but there was a chance they could somehow make room for Lucas. She’d ask as a personal favor if she had to. Or was she being foolish?

“Melanie?”

She met his expectant gaze.

He waited and after a few moments said, “If you’re offering me your guest room—”

Her gasp interrupted him. “Me? No, I don’t have— I mean, I do have a spare room, but I live in town. I have neighbors.” She felt the heat sting her cheeks and there was nothing she could do about it. “Very nosy neighbors, and it’s not that I care about what they say. It’s just— Well, no, I do care but—”

“Melanie.” He touched her arm to stop her rambling.

After taking a deep breath, she managed a smile. It felt brittle and fake. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

His hand moved to her face. Her burning-hot face. Just in case he needed proof of her embarrassment.

Oh, Lord.

“Don’t be sorry,” he murmured. “I was teasing you, and it was inappropriate. And even if you offered, I wouldn’t take you up on it.”

Her humiliation sank to another low. “No, of course not. We just met. Why would you?”

Lucas looked as if he was trying to control a smile. “Having just met you doesn’t bother me. Small town, you being a teacher. No matter how innocent the situation, I know it would be bad for you. I wouldn’t want that.”

She searched his eyes, unsure what she was looking for, and he eventually lowered his hand. It wasn’t relief she felt but disappointment. Dammit, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to kiss him. She knew it would mean nothing to him, if he even responded, and she didn’t care.

He turned away to deal with the blanket, struggling to roll up the bulky wool, and she started to lose her nerve. And then it occurred to her that she’d never initiated a kiss. Not once. Ever. She’d been willing plenty of times when a date had taken the lead. But here she was, twenty-seven, two semi-long-term college relationships behind her, and she’d never kissed a boy first. Wow, that was kind of sad.

“Lucas?”

He looked over and automatically smiled.

Swallowing back a lump of nerves, she moved closer. “Need help?”

“Sure.” He’d brought two corners together. “Take this end.”

Melanie obliged, gripping the blanket, spreading her arms wide and moving backward while he scooped up the lower corners. If he’d guessed at her cowardly gear switching, he didn’t let on. She hadn’t given up on the kiss yet. Just looking for a more organic way to swoop in.

Oh, who was she kidding? It would be awkward for her no matter what. She was still willing to try, though. Nervous as she was, it was clear this was one of those times she’d regret being harmless as a pet rabbit, as her grandfather used to say.

“You have to stop.”

She blinked. “Stop what?”

“Moving.”

“Right.” She laughed when she realized that he’d had to move along with her or lose his grip. “I was daydreaming. Sorry.”

The light seemed to be slipping quickly all of a sudden. Before long the twilight shadows would start playing tricks. Already Lucas’s seductive eyes had turned a deeper shade of blue as he walked the few feet to join her.

“You can let go,” he said, taking her corners.

About to protest they could do better as a team, she closed her mouth and watched him fold the more manageable half into thirds, then smaller. He finished the task with startling precision. Very neatly he slid the compacted blanket into the saddlebag.

“Were you in the military?”

Shaking his head, he finished securing the saddlebag, then turned to her. “Why do you ask?”

“You’re so neat.”

“My mom could’ve been a drill sergeant. Does that count?”

“So could mine, though not as successfully as yours,” she said drily and glanced up at the sky. It was clear overhead. Toward the Belt Mountains and Rockies, salmony-pink clouds shrouded the peaks. She loved sunsets and really needed to take more time to enjoy them. “The Sundance ranch takes in guests,” she said, noting that Lucas had been watching her. No reason to get nervous, she told herself and walked over to untie their horses. “I can call to see if they have room for you. Jesse McAllister, the man I mentioned earlier... His family owns the ranch.”

“A dude ranch?”

“Yes and no. They’re cattlemen. The family have raised cattle on that land for generations, but times are tough. They have a lot of hired hands to keep working, so they expanded, did what they had to do.”

“Good for them.”

“If there’s any chance they can put you up, they will. I know them. Really terrific people.”

“If it’s no trouble, yeah, I’d appreciate you making the call.” He paused. “Hey, what about the old cabin? In exchange I’ll make a donation to Safe Haven.”

“Annie’s cabin? The one that made you claustrophobic?”

He shrugged. “It beats driving all the way to Kalispell tonight.”

Discovering that he didn’t intend to leave town over inconvenient accommodations pleased her more than was warranted. “Unfortunately, a couple of volunteers are using it tonight. But it should be free tomorrow,” she said, holding out the gelding’s reins.

Lucas made a move to take them, only he didn’t. He closed his hand over hers. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but it seems you’ve been dying to say something.” His voice was so low and compelling she almost didn’t notice that he was drawing her closer. “Do you have something to tell me, Melanie?”

She felt his warm breath on her chin, and her mind went blank. Blood raced through her veins and roared in her ears. “Thank you for fixing the tire.”

He didn’t laugh or mock her for being a coward. But he knew. “Is that all?”

To her surprise, she glimpsed a shadow of uncertainty in his eyes. Not trusting her voice, she slowly shook her head.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He’d released her hand but their arms still touched. “I’ve got all night.”

Go on, you chicken, make the move. He’s waiting.

“I think I should call the Sundance as soon as possible,” she said, completely disgusted with herself.

Briefly searching her face, he gave her a faint smile and started to turn.

“Wait.” She pushed herself at him, pressing her palm against his chest, putting her other hand on his shoulder. Stretching up on her toes, she brushed her lips across his mouth.

His lack of response sent panic and embarrassment spiraling through her. How could she have read him so wrong? Before she could flee, he pulled her into his arms. His mouth came down on hers, and she froze in surprise.

His fingers cupped the back of her neck while his warm lips moved across her mouth. He tightened his arm around her lower back, and she felt herself begin to yield to the soft gentle tugs at her lips. Just as she was about to open for him, he drew back and looked at her.

“You want me to stop?” he asked, studying her closely.

“No.” She understood the problem. Her initial shock had come across as resistance. “No, I don’t.”

He started kneading the tense muscles at the back of her neck, his light erotic touch relaxing her. She felt her chin dropping to her chest and couldn’t seem to stop it. He nudged it back up, then cupped her head with both hands and slipped his tongue between her parted lips.

Everything inside her melted. His mouth was warm, damp and skillful, and he took his time, erasing any doubt. He ran his hands down her back, pulling her against his body, and she started to tremble. She’d always liked kissing well enough, but when Lucas touched his tongue to hers, then lazily swept her mouth, a slow aching burn in the pit of her stomach started, an ache she’d never felt before.

She could feel him hardening against her belly, could feel her heart race, could feel her nipples tighten. His mouth wasn’t so gentle anymore. She understood his growing hunger. She clutched his shoulders, wanting more, wanting him to quench that burn of longing that flared hotter but not sure how to ask for it. Or even if she should. A kiss was one thing....

She swayed a little, and he pulled back to look at her. She blinked, trying to focus. He brushed another kiss across her lips and released her.

“That wasn’t planned,” he murmured, “but I won’t apologize.”

“I’d be annoyed if you did.”

Lucas smiled. “If I’d had a teacher like you, high school might not have been so painful.”

Melanie stiffened, then turned to hide her reaction. She was a teacher and to some degree a role model. But she had a right to a private life. It wasn’t as if she made a habit of kissing good-looking strangers, and certainly not in front of her students. No, it was the “stranger” part that had her shaken. And on her home turf. Clearly she was overworked.

“So you didn’t like school, huh?” she said, unnecessarily cinching Candy’s saddle strap. He’d tasted faintly of peanut butter, and the lingering flavor on her own lips calmed her, fooled her into thinking he was more familiar.

“I hated sitting indoors all day. What you’re doing for these kids by bringing them out here shouldn’t be underestimated. I bet they learn more by being involved with the sanctuary.”

Delighted by his observation, she turned back to him. “A few parents objected at first. I think they equated coming out here to field trips instead of an actual learning experience. But now, as long as this doesn’t interfere with football practice, everyone’s okay with it.” The corners of his mouth quirked up. “What?”

“Don’t like football, huh?”

She shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess. I don’t really have an opinion about it.”

“You rolled your eyes.”

“Did I? Just now?”

Watching her, Lucas nodded. “I bet you fought like a tiger for the program.”

How could she not be aware of rolling her eyes? She didn’t like that, not one bit. She prided herself on remaining centered, keeping her expressions impassive, especially when dealing with the students and their parents. And especially with her father’s congregation. Even when she disagreed with his dogma.

“Melanie?”

She blinked at him. “I doubt I was that fierce. But yes, I felt strongly about bringing the classroom outside. Some of the kids will be moving to cities, but a lot of them will end up taking over the family ranch. They need to know they have other options and not just do what their parents and grandparents have done.”

A slight frown drew his brows together, as if she confused him. Though she couldn’t imagine why. She was straightforward and predictable, much more likely to inspire a yawn than confusion.

“A tiger?” she said and turned to Candy when the mare moved restlessly. “That was a strange analogy.”

“Why?” He watched her mount, then swung into his own saddle. “You strike me as someone who would go all out for something they believed in.”

“Really?”

“Why are you surprised?”

She led him past the thicket of aspens, wondering how on earth he’d gotten that impression. Obviously he was seeing something that just wasn’t there. She rarely made waves, whether at school or at church. Occasionally she might tweak the status quo, but no one would accuse her of hoisting the rebel flag.

Heck, she hated that her neighbor hung wet rugs on the shared picket fence that was now beginning to sag from the weight. But Melanie hadn’t said a word to Mrs. Sutter.

Anxious to let the subject drop, she dug her phone out of her pocket, then glanced back at him. “I’ll call the Sundance if you’re still interested in staying overnight.”

“If it’s not a problem.”

“Calling the Sundance?”

“Me staying.” Lucas tried to hold her gaze as he rode up alongside her, but she looked away.

“No, of course not. Why would it be—?” She knew better than to ask a question that could produce an answer she might not like. She hit speed dial and prayed for the call to go through. Up here the reception could be dicey.

The connection dropped after the third ring. She kept the phone to her ear while she gathered her composure. The weird thing about him having misread her was that Lucas was observant. The kind of quiet, intense observant that made her nervous. Made her feel self-conscious, as if she needed to explain herself.

She knew he didn’t mean to upset her. After living under a magnifying glass half her life, she could tell the difference. And she also knew he was watching her right now.

“Oops.” She lowered the cell phone. “Lost the call. I’ll have to try again in a few minutes.”

He gazed up at the sky. “If they don’t have room, I keep a sleeping bag in my truck. Looks like a nice night to sleep under the stars.”

“You’d do that?”

“Sure.” He glanced at her. “I love sleeping outdoors. Only problem is I gotta have my morning shower.”

A stunningly vivid picture of him wet and naked flashed in her mind. She let out a gasp that startled them both. What was wrong with her?

“Not a fan of outdoor living, I take it,” he said, amusement lacing his tone.

“Um, no, I’ve enjoyed camping, but yeah, the, um, shower thing...” She cleared her throat and hit speed dial again. “That’s a deal breaker for me.”

She’d never been so glad to hear Rachel’s voice. “Hey, it’s Melanie. I know it’s last-minute, but have you got an extra room?”

“Actually, we do,” Rachel said. “But only for one night. We have a ton of arrivals tomorrow. Who’s it for?”

Melanie gave Lucas an affirming nod, and then it dawned on her. “Oh, wait, do you accept male guests?”

He was looking at her, his eyes narrowed and curious.

Rachel laughed. “Yeah, sure, but you’ll have to warn him. You know how some of these women are.” She lowered her voice. “Subtle as a mare in heat.”

Letting out a chuckle, Melanie briefly met his eyes. “He looks pretty tough. I think he can handle them.”

“Hey, you giggled. Who is this guy?”

Melanie groaned. “Goodbye, Rachel, and thank you.”

“Wait—”

Melanie disconnected the call but didn’t bother pocketing the phone. Rachel was probably already texting her little heart out. “There’s room for you at the Sundance but only for one night,” she told Lucas without looking at him, because her pink cheeks would only invite more curiosity. “If you’re still interested in sticking around, we can see if the cabin’s available tomorrow.”

“I’m interested.” He nudged Sergei to keep up with her and Candy Cane. “I think.”

“You can decide tomorrow,” Melanie said, pleased at her cool even tone. Despite the dreaded thought he could change his mind and leave first thing in the morning.

“Is there something you should tell me?”

She turned to him. “Like what?”

A small cautious smile curved his mouth. “You asked if your friend takes male guests.”

“Oh.” Her phone buzzed. No surprise, it was a text from Rachel. “Excuse me—I think this is about your reservation,” she murmured, assuring herself she hadn’t lied.

WTF? CALL ME THE SEC HE LEAVES.

Melanie hurriedly stuffed the phone in her pocket. “You’re all set.”

“Are you purposely trying to make me nervous?”

“No, of course not....” She saw he was kidding. Duh. It probably took an earthquake to rattle him. “The Sundance sort of caters to young single women.”

“Sort of?”

“They’ll be crawling all over the place.”

“Great.” He sighed, clearly not pleased.

And that suited Melanie just fine.

5

LUCAS STEPPED ONTO the porch of the McAllisters’ large three-story log house carrying his bag, the brim of his Stetson tugged down low. Normally, he wouldn’t have bothered wearing his hat from his truck to the front door. But it helped eliminate unnecessary eye contact.

He’d assumed Melanie had exaggerated about the ranch being overrun by female guests. Hell, he must’ve seen two dozen of them already, and he’d only just arrived. Fortunately, it seemed most of the ladies were headed to the row of rental cars parked near the stable. Though that hadn’t stopped a few from trying to engage him in conversation.

The door opened before he could knock.

“Hi, you must be Lucas.” The woman had long auburn curls, bright green eyes and a friendly smile. “I’m Rachel McAllister. Come in.”

He saw a trio of women approaching from behind her, and he automatically stepped to the side.

Rachel glanced over her shoulder. “I think this is the last wave,” she whispered, then moved to let the women pass.

The curvy brunette and her smaller friend flashed him smiles as they walked past him and hurried down the porch steps. A tall blonde wearing red heels and a short denim skirt lagged behind them, pausing to say something to Rachel that made her laugh.

“My brothers are spoken for,” Rachel said. “You see them in town, you leave them alone. Same goes for Matt.”

“You know I’m harmless.” The blonde gave her a mischievous grin, then continued onto the porch. She stopped again when she spotted Lucas. Eyeing him up and down, she drawled, “I haven’t seen you before.”

“Nope, just got here.” He had a good look at her ample breasts. Couldn’t miss them, molded by the clingy shirt.

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