From Corral To Courtroom

Former rodeo star Amanda Markette is prepared to deal with anything her new job as a family law attorney can dish up. Until she learns her childhood sweetheart, Mitch Goodwin, is her client’s ex-husband and opposing counsel.

Mitch wants nothing more than to win full custody of the daughter he’s been raising on his own for the past four years. Until Amanda rides back into his life…

Amanda and Mitch know they shouldn’t give in to the connection that still sparks between them after fifteen years, but can they resist? And will Mitch ever forgive her once he learns the secret she’s been keeping—a secret that could change his life forever?

When Amanda’s hand brushed his, a low-voltage current shot straight up Mitch’s arm and across his chest

He studied her face and knew she’d felt the same thing. Curls had fallen onto her forehead and, using only his fingertips, he swept them to one side.

“Amanda?” he whispered.

Her cheeks flushed and her breath caught.

Though he wanted nothing more than to bend down and kiss her, Mitch told himself he had to draw back. “There’s too much at stake,” he whispered. “My daughter…”

“Right,” she agreed. “You’re absolutely right.”

He knew there was only one thing he could do. He had to leave before they crossed a line. They weren’t sixteen anymore. They were on opposite sides of a court case that could change his life, and Hailey’s life, forever.

Amanda dusted her hands. “We’ll meet here at the same time next week?”

“Yeah. Are you okay?”

“Sure. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She seemed so self-confident, but as Mitch made his way to the door he couldn’t help wondering if either of them was telling the truth…

Dear Reader,

Shortly after we were married, my husband and I spent a crisp fall weekend with friends at one of those old summer camps near Lake Saranac in upstate New York. Though the leaves had turned brilliant and we bundled up to walk along the shore or row across the lake, I could almost hear the laughter of those summer campers.

I imagined days of arts and crafts, archery lessons and swimming competitions. Nights around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories. The thrill of falling in love for the first time, holding hands, sharing a first kiss, followed by the bittersweet rush to the mailbox for letters after the summer ended.

In Rodeo Daughter, Amanda and Mitch spent one such glorious summer together before their lives headed in very different directions. Fifteen years have passed. This time when they meet, they are adversaries in a custody suit filed by Mitch’s ex-wife. When a playground mishap forces Mitch and Amanda to spend time together, they walk an ethical tightrope as the love they felt that long-ago summer rekindles and deepens into something neither of them expect.

I loved writing Rodeo Daughter and hope you enjoy reading it. Special thanks go to Roxanne St. Claire, Kristen Painter and the ever-encouraging Lara Santiago, who introduced me to the magic of Library Days while I worked on this book. I look forward to hearing from my readers and invite you to stop by for a visit at www.leighduncan.com.

Leigh

Rodeo Daughter

Leigh Duncan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Leigh Duncan writes the kind of books she loves to read—ones where home, family and community are key to the happy endings we all deserve. Married to the love of her life and mother of two wonderful young adults, Leigh lives on central Florida’s east coast.

When she isn’t busy working on her next story for Harlequin American Romance, Leigh loves nothing better than to curl up in her favorite chair with a cup of hot coffee and a great book. She invites readers to follow her on Twitter or Facebook. Contact her at P.O. Box 410787, Melbourne, FL 32941 or visit her online at www.leighduncan.com.

For Sandy

And all who dream of growing up to be real cowgirls.

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 One

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Amanda leaned against the hood of her car. Staring into her father’s perpetual blue-eyed squint, she fought for composure.

“Sorry, Mandy.” Tom Markette managed to say the words without sounding or looking at all apologetic. “I need the biggest paycheck I can get, and Okeechobee offered it. Gas and feed ain’t free, you know.”

Amanda swallowed a bitter retort. There was more than money behind her father’s decision to leave her twisting in the wind, and they both knew it. But this wasn’t the time to dredge up old hurts. She shoved a hank of loose hair behind her ear and chose a different battle. She had more immediate issues to deal with, starting with the Saddle Up Stampede in…

“Dad, the stampede is in five days. Five days. You can’t back out now.”

Expecting to find her father in the practice ring of the Boots and Spurs Dude Ranch, where the bar association held its annual fundraiser, she’d closed her law office in nearby Melbourne and driven out to watch him ride. The instant she’d spotted his long form propped against his motor home, a familiar sinking feeling had formed in the pit of her stomach. Acid had burned the back of her throat when she’d spied a horse standing in the hitched-up trailer.

“Okeechobee lost their opening act and I took the job, baby girl. You know how it is. I have to take advantage of every opportunity.” Tom speared her with a calculating glance. “If you’d give up this foolish notion and join the team again, I wouldn’t have these problems.”

There it was. Eight years, and her dad still hadn’t forgiven her for walking away from the Markette Ropin’ Team. Well, he wasn’t the only one who bore a grudge. She held up a hand.

“You’re the one backing out of our deal. Don’t even try to lay this on me.”

She eyed the man who should be standing with his hat in his hand, gratitude showing in his lined face for the easy paycheck he would earn putting on a roping-and-riding exhibition at the charity fundraiser. Hoping to impress him with the clout she wielded as the newest member of the bar association, she’d given him the job. But her father didn’t appear grateful, much less impressed. If anything, he looked as if he couldn’t wait to hit the road. And if he cared one whit about the predicament his leaving would put her in, it didn’t show in the jaunty angle of the Stetson he’d perched on his head.

“By the time the show starts, three thousand people will be sitting right up there. Waiting for you, Dad.” Amanda gestured toward the grandstand, which would be filled to capacity in less than a week. “How can you let them down?”

She didn’t bother to ask how he could let her down. The fact was, neither of her folks had ever won a Parent of the Year award or shown any interest in her outside the rodeo ring. Their neglect had shaped her decision to specialize in family law, where her focus was always on the best interests of the child.

“Guess they’ll have to settle for someone else.” Tom Markette pushed himself away from his truck and reached out as if to hug her goodbye.

Amanda crossed her arms. “What, you think rodeo stars are hiding behind every palmetto bush? Or waiting in the barn till I call their number? No such luck.”

And where did that leave her?

She was in charge of entertainment for this year’s stampede. Come Saturday night, an empty arena was not an option. Not with her practice in its infancy and her reputation at stake. Not with every paralegal, attorney and judge in the county expecting the thrill and excitement of the best that rodeo had to offer. Not with at-risk kids up and down the east coast of Florida dependent on the money the event would raise.

“Ahh, Mandy. You always did worry too much. Royce and the rest of the crew’ll still be here, won’t they?”

They’d do some pole-bending rides, give a calf-roping demonstration. She’d lined up a live band and a country dance. All of which were small potatoes compared to the best roping-and-riding exhibition in the business. He was the headliner and the reason they’d sold so many advance tickets.

“Dad,” she said pointedly, “you signed a contract. You’re legally obligated to be here.”

“Yeah, well, so sue me, baby girl. I won’t be.” He laughed easily, his smile so charming Amanda caught herself wanting to please him, to persuade him to stay, to be proud of her.

Old news.

She stifled a groan. He had her over a barrel and he knew it. She’d no more sue her own father for breach of contract than she’d pick up the reins of the life she’d left behind. The only surprise was that, this time, she’d actually expected him to keep his word. She’d never forgive him for breaking it…again.

Her father tipped his hat back and gazed at her thoughtfully.

“All right, here’s the deal. I already unloaded Brindle. Left him in a stall right over there.” He thrust a thumb over his shoulder toward the Boots and Spurs stables. “I’ll leave him with you through the weekend. I’ll even swing by to pick him up on Sunday.” Her dad made it sound as if he was doing her a huge favor. “You can take my place, ride him in the show.”

Amanda stared from behind dark sunglasses. Was he crazy? Sure, she’d helped him design the roping and riding act he’d performed ever since injuries forced him out of the chase for the next big purse, the next gold buckle. But she’d put herself through college and law school since then.

“Dad, I haven’t been riding. Not in months. I’ve been too busy getting the practice off the ground. I have clients who are counting on me.”

Including one who had hired her that very morning. The custody battle between an admittedly prodigal mom and the father who’d had sole custody of their four-year-old deserved Amanda’s full attention. She needed to dig into the heart of the case, figure out why no other family law attorney in town would touch it. She sensed this one could be a game changer, that success would give her prominence on the highly competitive playing field.

Her father clapped his hands, eager to hit the road. Heading for the truck’s cab, he spoke as if he hadn’t listened to a word she’d said.

Which, Amanda realized, he hadn’t.

“You’ll be fine. I haven’t changed the routine since the last time you saw it.” He winked at her and slid onto the driver’s seat. “Brindle knows it so well, all you’ll have to do is hold on and let him do his thing. And who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy it so much, you’ll chuck this life and come with me next time.”

The big diesel engine sprang to life. The camper and trailer it towed lurched forward. Amanda’s protests sputtered to a halt as the dust clouds settled in its wake.

With less than a week before the mini rodeo that was really more an exhibition than a competition, it was too late to find a replacement. She was stuck with the job. It wasn’t as if she’d never been on a horse before. She had. She even had her own gold buckle to show for the years of sacrifice and training, years she’d spent trying to earn her father’s love.

“Don’t go there,” she whispered.

There were other places she needed to be, though, things she needed to do. She made a list and started checking off the items one by one on her way to the stables. Knowing the first order of business was to clear her calendar, she tugged her cell phone from her back pocket and left a message for her secretary.

The familiar scents of hay and horseflesh filled her nose as Amanda stepped from bright sunshine and stifling heat into the relative cool of the stables. From the third stall down on the left, a horse nickered. A large pale head leaned out over the door. Amanda ran a hand over the horse’s neck and felt the palomino quiver.

“Hey, big guy,” she whispered to her dad’s second-best mount. “It’s been a while. You remember me?”

The horse snorted and nudged her shoulder, looking for a treat.

“That’s a good boy,” Amanda said. She might have put the rodeo scene behind her, but some things never changed. She pulled the expected handful of carrots from her pocket.

Blowing soft wet kisses, Brindle lipped them from her open palm.

“You ready for a little run?” she asked the horse.

Spangles glinted from the saddle her dad had tossed over one wall of the chest-high pen. A pile of blankets, bridles and other tack sat beneath it. Amanda straightened the fringe on a costume of soft caramel buckskin she hadn’t seen in years. She shook her head. Her father had thought of everything, eliminated every reason why she couldn’t take his place.

Well, except that maybe she was so out of practice she’d have trouble sitting in the saddle, much less standing on top of it while Brindle thundered across the arena. She gave a final thought to the case that had landed in her lap earlier that morning, and sighed. There was a ton of work to do in the two weeks before she and her client made their first courtroom appearance.

But all that would have to wait until Sunday morning, when the performance she’d never wanted to give was behind her.

* * *

MITCHELL GOODWIN LIFTED the miniscule teacup from the wooden table in the playroom. Shifting uncomfortably on the narrow painted bench, he raised the tiny piece of china, tipped an imaginary toast to his hostess and pretended to drink.

“Yum.” His cup rattled into its saucer. “Hailey, that hit the spot. Thank you so much.”

Across the table, a frown clouded a pair of brilliant blue eyes. Mitch noted the purse of rosebud lips, and leaned forward.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“You forgot to crook-ed your pinkie, Daddy. Mrs. Birch says it’s a rule.” Four-year-old Hailey Goodwin demonstrated. “Now your turn, Daddy.”

Beneath the tiny picnic table, the pointed toe of Mitch’s left boot pinched. He flexed his ankle to stave off a muscle cramp brought on by the longer-than-usual tea party. Cup in hand, finger properly bent this time, he took another sip.

“Wait! Your cup is empty. Put it down here.” Hailey pointed to a doll-size serving tray. “I’ll pour some more.”

Hoping to goodness that the exorbitant tuition he paid to Mrs. Birch’s Angel Care covered a lot more than lessons in etiquette, Mitch held out his cup as his daughter poured make-believe tea from a tiny china pot.

“Did your class sing the A-B-C song, honey? Did you practice your letters?”

“Would you like a cookie, Daddy?” Hailey held out a small plate filled with plastic wafers. “They’re coconut. Mrs. Birch says they’re the bestest kind.”

Uh-oh.

Mitch’s smile froze. When he’d stocked up on treats for the evening, coconut hadn’t been on his shopping list.

“The best, huh? Last week, you asked for chocolate chip.”

“Did you buy some?” Her eyes going wide, Hailey stared over his shoulder at the door to the kitchen.

“There’s a brand-new box on the counter. I bought them especially for you and Betty Jean.”

Hailey’s fists landed on her sturdy little hips. “Why does she have to be here, Daddy? I want you to tuck me in, same as always.”

“Hailey, remember your promise.” An hour of dolls and stories were his part of the bargain. In exchange, Hailey had promised to behave for the babysitter. Lifting his cup again, Mitch blew out air that he hoped his daughter took for a cooling breath and not an exasperated sigh. Life wasn’t fair, and little girls—even ones without mothers—couldn’t have their way all the time. “We talked about this,” he reminded his daughter when her glower continued. “Betty Jean will help you say your prayers, but I’ll kiss you good-night before I leave, and again after I come home. You’ll get lots of kisses.”

“And cookies?” Hailey asked, the picture of innocence.

Mitch bit back a laugh and shook his head. There were a few consolations to having a wife who’d abandoned her newborn to run off with another man. Karen hadn’t stuck around long enough to teach their daughter the fine art of manipulation.

“You know the rules.” Too much sugar and Hailey wouldn’t sleep well. “Just one.”

Dark curls spilled onto her face, nearly hiding the gleam in her eyes. “If I’m extra good, can I have more?”

His daughter drove a hard bargain. Someday she’d make a good lawyer, just like her father, and his father before him. His resolve weakening, Mitch answered, “Two. But only if you play nice with Betty Jean.”

“I will, Daddy,” Hailey said solemnly.

The storm that had gathered in his child’s face dissipated. This time, Mitch didn’t bother to try to hide his relief. His attendance at the bar association’s charity event was not optional. The district attorney might not stand at the gate with a clipboard or check names off a list, but the man would soon name his successor. As his protégé, Mitch expected to get the nod. Now was not the time to slip up by skipping an important appearance.

Besides, he practically had an obligation to speak with the star of tonight’s show, didn’t he? Sure, he’d been only sixteen that summer he’d worked as a counselor at Camp Bridle Catch. But he hadn’t forgotten the long days in the saddle, any more than he’d forgotten the green-eyed girl who’d stolen his heart the night they’d slipped away to a carnival in town. He tapped a finger against his lips, recalling the wonder of that first kiss, and the others they’d shared during long nights around the campfire. Though their love hadn’t survived past the summer, he’d followed her meteoric rise on the rodeo circuit. When she’d suddenly retired eight years ago, he’d wondered why. Tonight, he’d finally have a chance to ask Tom Markette about his daughter.

Strictly as one old friend asking about another, of course.

Mitch shot the cuff of a suitably Western-style shirt and checked his watch just as chimes signaled the arrival of the babysitter. Hailey’s little-girl laughter rang through the room. Their tea party abruptly forgotten, she charged toward the front door.

In the entryway, where stick-figure artwork crowded the walls, Mitch motioned Betty Jean into the air-conditioning that made life on Florida’s east coast bearable. The college student was familiar with their routines, so once Hailey calmed down enough for him to get a word in edgewise, he made quick work of the necessary instructions.

“There’s leftover spaghetti, mac ’n cheese, chicken tenders or fish sticks for supper.” He rattled off the list of Hailey’s current favorites. “Cookies for dessert. She can have a couple.” He waited until Hailey’s back was turned to signal that three would be okay.

“I’ll be home before midnight,” he whispered, wary of last-minute objections.

He needn’t have worried.

Betty Jean pulled bottles of glittery nail polish from her backpack, earning herself a big tip and his daughter’s instant devotion. Soon, the girls were chatting like magpies as they cleared away the tea things to make room for a manicure station. And when Mitch bent to deliver the promised good-night kiss, Hailey barely offered her cheek with a, “Bye, Daddy, see ya later,” before asking the babysitter which polish matched her outfit.

Seeing his child engrossed in the girlie stuff he didn’t quite understand, Mitch rubbed at an empty spot in his chest. For the moment, he shoved the feeling aside. But weaving his way through rows of cars parked on a grassy field twenty minutes later, he couldn’t avoid second-guessing his plans for the night. Now that his ex-wife had breezed back into town demanding not just a place in their child’s life, but full custody, should he have stayed home, tried harder to be both mother and father to his little girl?

The heel of one cowboy boot caught a divot in the grass, and his other foot came down hard. The move jarred Mitch, and he smiled, thinking it might have knocked some sense back into him. He was a prominent attorney. He’d worked hard to make a good home for Hailey. While he couldn’t guarantee the judge’s ruling, he could definitely prove he was a better parent than the woman who hadn’t called or visited her child in four years.

His thoughts settled, he stopped by the Boots and Spurs barn, where a band was setting up for the dance following the rodeo. Making his way past scattered hay bales and picnic benches, he dutifully checked out the silent auction part of the fundraising event. This year’s prizes ranged from a dance with one of the rodeo stars to riding lessons. Since Hailey would enjoy the latter, he scribbled down a bid before dropping a generous check in the donation box.

Then it was on to the arena, where he plunged into a milling throng. He bought a bag of freshly roasted peanuts from a vendor, and worked his way toward the stands, chatting with people he knew, greeting some he didn’t. He traded nods with Randall Hill, the county’s district attorney, before taking a seat in the reserved section. Mitch had barely settled into it when a cowboy on a gray horse raced onto the dirt track, quickly wove between several flagpoles, and sped back the way he’d come.

Top-notch entertainment?

Maybe not, Mitch decided as he cracked a few peanut shells. By the end of his summer at rodeo camp, he’d ridden nearly as well. He smiled, remembering how Mandy had taken pity on his inexperience and given him a few pointers on calf roping. He’d spent the next six weeks head-over-heels for her. His thoughts drifted to the stolen hours they’d spent in each other’s arms. The innocence of those days helped keep his fears about the looming custody case at bay. Or so he told himself, until the arena emptied and he realized he’d been so lost in thought he’d missed the warm-up acts.

“We’re sorry to hafta tell ya’ll that Tom Markette can’t be with us tonight,” a voice drawled over the loudspeakers. “But we got a real treat for ya. Takin’ his place is one time-member of the Markette Ropin’ Team and a champ-een barrel racer in her own right…Ma-a-and-y Mar-ket-t-te.”

Mitch searched the ring below. Had he heard correctly? Or had the flood of memories about his first love tricked his ears into deceiving him?

As he watched, an elaborately costumed blonde calmly made her way to the center of the arena astride a large and equally bedecked golden horse. Mitch’s gaze narrowed in on the rider as the pair turned, giving him his first good look at the woman Mandy had become. Gone was the coltish figure of that long-ago summer, replaced by womanly curves. Horse and rider stood still for several long seconds, until a hush fell over the crowd.

Then, without warning, Mandy let loose a rebel yell. Dirt sprayed from the horse’s hooves. The big palomino raced through a dizzying series of figure eights. Coming out of a final turn, the rider called, “Hee-yah!”

Instantly, the horse beneath her surged into a full gallop.

Mitch stared, unwilling to move, hardly daring to breathe. His heart pounded while Mandy danced in the saddle, sometimes standing, sometimes leaning so far over her long braids brushed the ground. When she wheeled for the final run, everyone in the crowd surged to their feet. Mitch scrambled to his, glad for the extra few inches that let him see over those in front.

Below, a broad smile on her face, her arms spread wide, Mandy stood atop the prancing palomino. While the crowd roared in approval, horse and rider raced for the gate.

All too soon the last dirt clod settled to the ground. By the time a rodeo clown stepped into the arena, doffed a ten-gallon Stetson and latched the gate, Mitch’s feet were in motion. With every step he took closer to the barn, his plans firmed. He would attend the dance and talk shop with the law clerks who lingered around the punch bowl. But first, he’d enter a bid in the silent auction. One high enough to win a dance with the star of tonight’s rodeo.

* * *

HEART PUMPING, limbs trembling from the exertion, Amanda slid from Brindle’s saddle, patted the horse soundly and slipped him a couple of well-deserved sugar cubes. The big palomino snorted in pleasure, and she gave him a hug. Together, they had nailed it. Delivered the performance of a lifetime. So what if the ride hadn’t been quite flawless? The applause from the grandstand proved that no one at the Saddle Up Stampede cared if she’d lost her hat halfway through the second cloverleaf. Or nearly lost her footing as she rode out of the arena.

“Be sure you walk him until he cools off.” She handed Brindle’s reins to a waiting stable hand. “Then give him an extra measure of oats and a long rubdown.”

Lucky horse. His work was done. Hers, not so much.

The sawing screech of an out-of-tune fiddle drifted across the parking lot, a reminder of the country dance that would end the evening’s festivities. Her pulse still racing on the high of a near-perfect ride, Amanda spun on a boot heel. The barn, where cowboy hats bobbed on a sea of plaid shirts above straight-legged Levi’s, beckoned.

At a gingham-covered table, she asked about the winning bid for the first dance.

“Great show, Amanda.” The auctioneer beamed. “You musta’ made an impression on Mitchell Goodwin.” He pointed to the dark-haired man who strode toward them from the cashier’s booth.

Mitch? Now, that was a name she hadn’t expected. Memories rose like smoke from the campfire she and Mitch had once cuddled beside. They’d gazed at the stars and talked for hours, and ended up falling in love.

Frowning at her exaggerated version of puppy love, Amanda swallowed a wave of nostalgia. At sixteen, Mitch had been all knobby knees and elbows. Tonight, there was nothing awkward about the man whose long strides brought him ever closer. Laugh lines around his mouth enhanced his broad smile. Her own lips curved upward as she noted his familiar straight nose and high cheekbones, and her breath hitched when their eyes met. His were so deep that, for a moment, she let herself get lost in their azure depths, the way she had one summer night as they stood in line for the Ferris wheel. How had she ever forgotten eyes such a vibrant blue? Or the way his quick smile had once thrilled her heart? She’d kept a diary that summer, each page crammed with inky script, their initials entwined along the edges.

She gave him her best smile. “It’s good to see you, Mitch.”

“Mandy.” His focus never wavered as he extended a hand. “It’s been too long.”

She’d left the nickname behind the day she’d walked away from professional rodeo, but mentioning that now seemed petty. Slipping her fingers into his warm grasp, she was surprised by the pinprick of heartbreak that lingered after all these years. The urge to move closer faded.

Mitch had always had an uncanny way of reading her thoughts. Now, he stepped back, relinquishing his hold. “Well, you’ve certainly come a long way since rodeo camp.”

His slow, appraising glance skimmed over her like a caress.

“I always knew you would. You put on a great show tonight.” His smile widened into a teasing grin. “I guess you hear that all the time.”

“Not so often anymore, but you always did say the nicest things.”

Her sarcasm surprised Amanda almost as much as the embarrassed look that passed quickly over Mitch’s face. Her throat tightened, and she cleared it. His smile had dredged up memories of the kisses they’d shared…and the hurt that had followed. She raced to think of a topic that might steer the conversation away from painful adolescent memories.

“I guess you stuck with the plan and went into law.” She gestured toward the crowd of bar association members who stood around in tight knots, waiting for the dance to start. “What’s your specialty?”

“I’m with the district attorney’s office.”

His answer explained the air of authority he carried on his wide shoulders. She nodded, understanding why they hadn’t run into each other. So far, her work hadn’t required a visit to the courthouse’s criminal division.

Before she had a chance to mention her own practice, the band finished their warm-ups and ran through the opening bars of “Arkansas Traveler.” On the plywood stage, Mark Jansen, president of the bar association, stepped to the microphone. Throughout the barn, chatter quieted, except when someone in the back yelled “Let’s hear some music!” The call echoed off the rafters.

Jansen grinned, waiting until a spate of laughter died down before promising to keep his remarks brief. After assuring everyone that their contributions would appear in the next edition of the Bar News, he revealed the amount they’d raised for charities catering to at-risk children. The evening’s total was impressive enough that several wolf whistles punctuated a round of applause.

“That’s four thousand more than we raised last year. In this economy, you’ve truly outdone yourselves.” He signaled the band. “And now, our own Mitchell Goodwin will lead tonight’s star performer, Mandy Markette, in the first dance. Ya’ll join in, y’hear.”

Her hand tucked in Mitch’s grasp, Amanda followed the good-looking attorney out onto the straw-covered dance floor. She’d barely turned to face him before the fiddle player led them into a slow rendition of “Rodeo Moon.”

“Shall we?” Mitch bowed ever so slightly.

With a reminder that the night was all about charity, Amanda plastered on a broad smile and ignored her misgivings about stepping into Mitch’s arms again. She told herself they certainly wouldn’t fit together as well as they had one long-ago summer. She was a different person from the girl he’d known back then. Plus, in the intervening years Mitch had grown several inches taller. At six-feet-something, he now towered over her compact frame.

But two measures into the waltz, Mitch slipped his arm around her waist. The gentle press of his hand sent familiar tingles up and down her spine.

Struggling to hide a rush of heat, Amanda pressed her cheek to his chest. His woodsy aftershave mingled with a faint powdery smell she couldn’t quite identify. Whatever it was, it triggered a wave of longing for the home her childhood on the road had never included. She inhaled deeper while the singer belted out a song that made the rodeo circuit sound far more romantic than the life she’d known.

All too soon, the notes of the first number faded. Mitch’s smoldering eyes met hers, and Amanda knew with one glance that he wanted to continue their time together. When he motioned toward one of the barn’s big doors, she barely hesitated. She ducked outside, feeling giddy, while he grabbed two cups of punch from a table decked out like a chuck wagon. They moved into the shadows beyond the light that spilled from the door, not stopping until they’d left the acrid odor of several cigarette smokers behind. In a quiet spot, they leaned against a hitching rail.

“I can’t believe you’re really here. I’d planned to ask your dad about you after the show, but seeing you is so much better.” Concern dimmed the light in Mitch’s eyes. “He ever straighten up? Become the father you needed him to be?”

Amanda stifled an angry reply. No matter how much she’d changed, some things remained the same—and her dad was one of them. After her mom died, he’d dumped Amanda in rodeo camp and toured the country, preferring to rope and ride alone than help her deal with her grief. Meeting Mitch had been the only bright spot that terrible summer, and her dad had been the topic of more than one conversation between them.

She rolled her eyes. “He’s still up to the same old tricks. He backed out of the Saddle Up Stampede at the last minute, conned me into riding in his place. How about yourself? Did you go back to Camp Bridle Catch the next year?”

“Nah, that was the last in a long line of summer camps. It was all college prep and internships after that.”

Their lives couldn’t have been more different. For her, the next few years had been about winning a gold buckle in Las Vegas.

Amanda drained the cup Mitch handed her and set it aside. Talking to him brought back all her old hurts. It was as if she’d been asleep for years and had now been shaken awake, her adrenaline pumping for a fight. The urge to give Mitch a piece of her mind warred with the desire to grab him and hug him. She wasn’t sure where to start. In the end, she decided to rip the bandage off by tackling their breakup.

“I waited for you in the stables like we’d planned that last day of camp. You never showed.”

Mitch propped his arms on the top rail beside hers. “I couldn’t. My parents were furious—and probably embarrassed—that Ben and I had gotten into a fight. They refused to listen when I tried to explain. Instead, they marched us to the car. We were halfway to the Grand Canyon before I got a chance to state my case.”

“You never called. Never wrote.”

“I wanted to. I scoured the internet for the Markette Ropin’ Team. What little information I could find was always about where you’d been, not where you were headed. I’m sorry we never got to say goodbye.”

Amanda nodded, finally understanding why Mitch had left her alone and confused and, after an hour, madder than a wet cat.

“What was that all about, anyway? I never understood why you and your brother got into it like that.”

“Guy stuff.” Mitch shrugged. “Teen guy stuff,” he corrected. “Ben made some crack about my hot girlfriend. Before I knew it, he was on the ground and I was standing there, daring him to get up.”

Amanda laughed when Mitch gently elbowed her ribs.

“Oh. So, your brother thought I was hot, did he?”

His quiet “You still are” made her heart beat double time. Not quite ready to pick up where they’d left off as teenagers, she reminded herself that she didn’t know the man he’d become. She changed the subject.

“How’d you wind up in Melbourne? I thought you’d settle in Savannah near your folks.” As a teen, Mitch had talked about joining the family law practice.

“I did for a while. Almost made partner in Goodwin & Sons before…” Mitch’s shoulders straightened. “Things changed. Dad’s firm specializes in defense work. I got one of his clients off on a technicality. Turned out the guy was guilty. The next time he robbed a liquor store, somebody got hurt. I took a job with the state attorney’s office and moved here soon after.”

“Oh.” Amanda sighed. “That must have been rough.” His plans had changed as much as hers had. Back when they’d known each other, she’d wanted nothing more than to become a champion barrel racer and earn her dad’s approval. She’d accomplished one, realized she’d never have the other, and moved on. Once she’d passed the bar, she’d narrowed her search for a new home to places as far off the professional rodeo circuit as she could find. Melbourne, with its growing need for family law specialists, fit the bill.

Mitch gestured toward a faint glow that rose above the distant town. “I’ve been here almost six years. And in the interest of full disclosure, I’m a single dad. Divorced. But my ex-wife has been out of the picture for a long time. So.” He paused a beat. “How ’bout you?”

How about her?

For the past ten months, ever since she’d hung her shingle outside a converted house in the town’s quaint business district, she’d been too busy for relationships, significant or otherwise. A home-school education meant college and law school had demanded every ounce of her concentration. On the rodeo circuit, she’d been the new girl in a different town every week. The locals hadn’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat so, other than that summer, her love life had been practically nonexistent.

But on a warm August night after she’d aced a difficult performance, dredging up her entire history wasn’t on her agenda. Especially not with a tall, handsome man standing at her elbow. She studied his face and rediscovered the tiny dip in his chin that she used to trace with her fingers.

They spent hours reminiscing before she asked, “What do you do in your free time?” She kept her voice light enough to disguise a deepening interest, adding, “Besides attending charity events.”

“Between chauffeuring my daughter around and my work schedule, my spare time is at a premium… Why waste it?”

She couldn’t agree more. As his arm slipped around her waist, Amanda stepped forward. Ever so softly, Mitch brushed his lips across hers. She sighed into his kiss, letting her eyes drift closed. The gentle pressure of his mouth stirred her hunger for more, and when his tongue swept against her lips, she opened to him.

Tasting the sweet punch they’d sipped, Amanda smiled without breaking contact. She rose on tiptoe, her hands languidly stroking Mitch’s broad chest. In response, the teasing flutter of his kisses deepened. She melted against him as music rose from the barn and floated in the air around them.

Amanda breathed in the heady blend of Mitch’s aftershave mixed with the same indefinable something extra she’d noticed earlier. The strangest sensation of coming home filled her being. She gave herself over to the thrill of the moment, the press of Mitch’s hands against her back. She skimmed her fingers over the rough embroidery of his shirt, then buried one hand in his hair. Desire tugged at her core, turning her breath so ragged she barely heard the band leader announce the final dance of the night.

Sounding as breathless as she felt, Mitch groaned and broke their kiss. He gazed into her upturned face.

“We need to put in an appearance,” he murmured. The long fingers of one hand gently tucked an errant lock of her hair into her braid. “How ’bout we pick this up later?”

“Yeah,” Amanda whispered. They weren’t kids anymore, and she placed her hand in his outstretched one, content to follow the evening wherever it led.

By the time they stepped into the barn’s spill of light, the crowd inside had thinned to several dozen couples who swayed to the slow strains of a country ballad. Wait staff circulated among the tables, collecting dishes and utensils. Last call had long since passed. Behind the bar, the bartender loaded boxes onto a dolly.

Eager to return to Mitch’s embrace, Amanda moved toward the dance floor. At the sound of a familiar voice, her footsteps faltered.

“Hate to interrupt.” A decked-out cowboy stepped from the shadows near the door. “We’re pulling out at seven tomorrow. You need to be back from—” his eyebrows wiggled suggestively as he jerked a nod toward Mitch “—from wherever you’re headed, early enough to help with the horses and your gear.”

“Uh-huh,” Amanda said with an easy grin. “The same goes for you, Royce Jackson. Or did I not see you earlier surrounded by adoring fans?” Smothering a laugh, she turned to introduce one of the rodeo circuit’s most renowned practical jokesters to Mitch.

Only Mitch wasn’t smiling.

Gone was the adoring expression of the man who’d been kissing her only moments earlier. A stony look had taken its place. His hand relinquished its hold on hers, and his gaze dropped to the floor.

“Sorry. It’s later than I realized. I have to go. Thanks for the dance, Mandy, and…” Mitch had the good grace to stumble over his words. “Well, good luck.” He turned abruptly, strode across the barn and out the door without so much as a single glance over his shoulder.

“What was that all about?” Amanda stared after the man who was fast making a habit of abandoning her in drafty old barns.

Apparently, Mitch Goodwin hadn’t changed as much as she’d thought since she’d seen him last. Well, she had. And this time she wouldn’t shed any tears for Mr. Hot and Cold.

Chapter Two

Mitch’s swift, take-no-prisoners pace down the wide corridor of the Moore Justice Center slowed at the sight of the woman seated outside Family Courtroom 2. He turned away, his gaze sweeping the bare concrete walls and heavily trafficked carpet before he dared take a second look at a pair of trim calves and firm thighs. His chest tightened. There was no mistaking those legs. It didn’t matter if the last time he’d seen them they’d been encased in buckskin. He’d recognize them anywhere.

A silent oath escaped his lips as he glanced upward. Gone were the twin braids, replaced by a businesslike bun, but less than two weeks ago those honeyed strands had rested against his shoulder. Even though she leaned over paperwork now, her face hidden, he had no doubt.

The one woman he would’ve sworn had ridden out of his life forever was sitting on a wooden bench outside the very courtroom where he planned to argue the most important case of his life.

What is she doing here?

Mitch refused to believe she had just happened by. After five years with the state attorney’s office, he’d learned there was no such thing as coincidence. Something, or someone, had led her here at precisely—he checked his watch—nine forty-seven on August 13. Before the bailiff summoned him, he had to discover the reason. He settled on a line of questioning and let his feet take him where they wanted—straight to her side.

“Mandy.”

She looked up from the yellow legal pad in her lap, gray-green eyes widening.

“Mitch,” she exclaimed. Her full lips curved into a surprised-to-see-you smile.

He didn’t buy her act, not for a second. He was willing to bet good money she’d noted his arrival the instant he’d emerged from the stairwell. The same way he’d narrowed in on her presence. And in the seconds it took her to gather her paperwork and gracefully unfold a frame that barely came to his shoulder despite a pair of black stilettos, he wondered at the pretense.

She stuck out a hand. “Good to see you again.”

A whiff of alluring fragrance stirred through the justice center’s stale, cold air. The scent reminded him of green grass and daisies and how well she’d fitted into his arms while they’d danced. Without thinking, he rubbed the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger. When her eyes darkened, he released her hand and gave himself a stern warning to keep his distance. No matter how much he might be attracted to her, a footloose rider on the rodeo circuit had no place in his life. Not anymore.

Yet here she was.

Has she been called to testify?

Mitch brushed a speck of lint from his lapel, wishing he could just as easily knock off the devil perched on his shoulder. Because only a certifiably evil spirit would bring his single indiscretion into the courtroom where his daughter’s future was at stake. He should never have asked the rodeo performer to dance, never bent down to place his lips against hers, never tried to rekindle what they’d had as kids…but he had. He worried what that error would cost him.

“Mandy, we need to talk.”

One golden eyebrow arched. “Amanda,” she corrected as, across the hallway, heavy doors swung wide. “We will. But not now. I hear Judge Dobson is a stickler for starting on time. You already brushed the pole once. I’d hate to see him penalize you.”

Mitch scoffed. “What are you talking about?” He understood her reference to the rodeo event, but he hadn’t taken a wrong turn in the law since he’d decided to put criminals in jail instead of freeing them.

“From what I hear, Dobson is the only family court judge in the county who hasn’t had dealings with you. He wasn’t too happy about canceling his annual fly-fishing trip to the Carolinas in order to hear this case.”

Her words thinned Mitch’s smile and straightened his spine.

“That’s privileged information,” he said, wondering what was going on, and determined not to let his confusion show.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I suppose it is.”

He tried not to watch as she bent to pick up a leather satchel. He lost that battle, though he won the war against letting her catch him. By the time she straightened, he was staring through a wall of plate glass overlooking acres of cattle pasture, as if he hadn’t noticed the swivel of her softly rounded hips.

She didn’t volunteer anything more and, wanting to maintain the air of control that served him so well in criminal court, he didn’t ask. Their silence continued when she fell in beside him. Despite their difference in height, she matched him stride for stride, cutting across the crowded corridor the same way they’d cut a swath across the dance floor.

As they made their way down the courtroom’s rows of churchlike pews, Mitch watched for her to peel off and take a seat among the witnesses and spectators. Instead, she kept pace until they reached the tables reserved for attorneys and their clients. Out of habit, he veered right. The misstep put him face-to-face with the woman he’d turned his back on before things could go too far.

Once more, she extended her hand. Once more, he wrapped it in his own.

“Amanda Markette,” she said smoothly. “Attorney for the plaintiff.”

“What is this, some kind of joke?” He stared at her, fighting a sudden urge to yank his fingers from her grip.

“Not at all, Mitch.” Her tight smile vanished. Her eyes narrowed. “Your ex-wife hired me after her last attorney quit. I’ve been playing catch-up ever since, though I’m sure I faxed official notification to your office.”

Mitch fought back a groan. Convinced he had right on his side, he hadn’t paid much attention to his secretary’s announcement that there’d been yet another change in his ex-wife’s revolving door of representation. But peering over Amanda’s shoulder, he spotted Karen at the plaintiff’s table. He had to admit she appeared sedate, settled. In fact, casual observers might mistake her for any one of a thousand suburban housewives…unless they caught the malice-filled glare she aimed his way.

Summoning his best don’t-give-a-damn expression, Mitch returned the favor, marshaling his thoughts as he took his place on the hard wooden chair at the defendant’s table. He snapped open the latches on his briefcase and dug out a raft of paperwork, flipping through it until he reached the fax containing a name he’d have recognized if he’d bothered to read it. Scanning quickly, he noted credentials that exposed a glaring hole in his ability to sum up a person’s character with a single look, a single kiss. Evidently, a lot more than Mandy’s—Amanda’s, he corrected—appearance had changed since the summer they’d spent together.

“All rise for the Honorable Jeffrey Dobson,” the bailiff announced.

Standing, Mitch squared his shoulders.

With a rustle of black robes, a white-haired man took his place behind the raised desk at the front of the room. He nodded briefly to those in attendance. Wood creaked and feet shuffled until everyone had settled back into their chairs. Mitch’s gut tightened as the bailiff read the petition for custody of Hailey. His mouth went cotton-dry at the thought of losing his little girl.

“Counselors?” the judge asked.

At the other table, Amanda stood and gave her name.

“Ms. Markette,” Judge Dobson murmured.

Then it was his turn. “Mitchell Goodwin for the defense, Your Honor.”

The man seated on the dais adjusted rimless glasses and draped a hand over his microphone. Blue eyes hardening in an unsmiling face, Dobson stared down.

“You’re familiar with the old adage that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client, aren’t you? You intend to be that fool, Mr. Goodwin?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Mitch snapped, though the only thing he was truly certain about was the need to protect his daughter.

* * *

AMANDA CROSSED ONE leg over the other, shifting just enough to keep Mitch in her peripheral vision. Thank goodness she’d been sitting down when he’d stepped through the stairwell door. One peek at his carefully tousled hair and sculpted features, one whiff of his woodsy cologne, and the same weak, loose-limbed feeling that had practically been her undoing at the dance had flared again. She’d nearly succumbed to it that night. Probably would have if he hadn’t suddenly abandoned her on the dance floor, leaving her with bruised lips and a crushed ego.

She eyed the man across the aisle and assured herself it wouldn’t happen again. He might’ve broken her heart once upon a time, but she wasn’t the kind of girl to chase someone who didn’t want her. Especially when that someone was her client’s ex-husband.

She guessed, in a way, she should thank him. That Sunday morning after she’d loaded all the gear and Brindle onto her dad’s trailer, she’d gone straight to her office to prepare for her newest case. The moment she’d seen Mitch’s name in her files, the second she’d discovered she would face him in court, her stomach had performed a set of acrobatics that had made her ride the night before look tame. If they’d actually spent the night together…

Well, that couldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let it.

Or so she’d sworn. Until just a few minutes ago, when all her nerve endings had tingled at Mitch’s touch. She’d almost reconsidered the whole idea of representing his ex-wife, only now it wasn’t just her heart at stake, but a child’s well-being, too. Her client swore that Mitch’s self-centered and career-driven attitude had destroyed their marriage and was taking its toll on their daughter.

Amanda resisted the urge to wince. She hated to think that the boy she’d loved and lost had grown into such a hard-hearted man, but if even half her client’s claims were true… Well, a little girl was entitled to more than an absentee father, one who never had time for pillow fights or school plays.

Determined to do her best for the child, Amanda drew in a steadying breath. Her hands stopped trembling. She folded them neatly and forced her lips into their trademark half smile, the one she’d perfected during countless rodeo performances and a short stint as the nation’s top barrel racer. As recently as ten days ago, her confident air had assured thousands that, no matter how dangerous the stunt, she had everything under control. That same expression came in handy whenever she wanted to impress a judge.

Or get under the skin of a particularly thorny opponent, like Mitch.

Her client stirred restlessly and tapped her long nails on the tabletop. Amanda gave the woman a warning glance while, at the front of the room, the judge sorted through paperwork associated with the case. Karen rolled a shoulder before whispering, “Do you think I’ll be able to take Hailey home with me today?”

“I doubt if he’ll rule on custody right away,” Amanda answered. “If things go smoothly, though, we’ll get you the visitation you deserve.”

Even in family law, possession counted for something, and for the past four years Mitch Goodwin had had sole custody of his daughter. Judge Dobson might resent having to cancel his vacation to hear this case, but he wouldn’t rip a healthy, reasonably well-adjusted child from the only home she’d ever known. Not without good reason. And the odds were against a seasoned attorney like the man at the other table committing an act so egregious it forced the judge’s hand.

Eventually, Amanda intended to prove that Hailey was better off with the parent who could spend the most time with her. It might take months—such cases often did—but given that Mitch carried the heaviest caseload in the state attorney’s office, she’d do it. She had only to prove how far he worked into the night—every night—leaving the care of his little girl to a parade of nannies and housekeepers, and the judge would rule in favor of her client.

Permanent custody and adequate child support was their long-term goal. Visitation, on the other hand, was practically an inalienable right. She’d lock that in today.

“You have to be patient. We’ll start with an afternoon visit and go from there.”

Karen sighed and flipped bottle-blond hair over one shoulder. The platinum color was popular among the nightclub set, but according to judicial insiders, Judge Dobson was quite the conservative. Amanda made a mental note to suggest a subtler shade before their next court appearance.

At the bench, the judge swept papers into a pile. He rapped their edges against the desk, the solid thunk sounding throughout the confined space.

“All right.” His baritone voice drew everyone’s attention.

Amanda gave Karen’s hand an encouraging squeeze and faced forward.

“Having read the custody suit and the defendant’s responses, I’d like to ask the plaintiff a few questions.” He turned to Karen.

In rapid-fire succession, Judge Dobson ran through the list Amanda had expected. Karen answered just as they’d practiced. She expressed remorse over the breakup of her marriage, insisted Mitch had denied her every attempt at being a part of their daughter’s life. Looking every inch the mother who’d been wrongfully stripped of her parental rights, she assured the court that she intended to make Brevard County her home. Bella Designs, the upscale dress shop where she worked, closed early enough that she’d be home before dinner. Her two-bedroom, furnished apartment wasn’t the Ritz, but a social worker had approved it. She was even was saving for a house, a place with a yard her daughter would enjoy.

When she finished, the judge jotted down a few quick notes, letting everyone in the courtroom take a much-needed breath. Amanda reached beneath the table and patted her client’s hand. Karen had given no indication that she was anything more or less than what she claimed to be—a woman who deserved to see her little girl, hold her in her arms and be her mommy. As long as nothing destroyed that image, their case was solid.

A glance at Mitch told her the man would try his best to undermine it. She didn’t envy him. From the way Dobson’s face hardened, her opposing counsel faced an uphill battle.

“Mr. Goodwin, your ex-wife appears to be making a new start under what must be trying circumstances. I think we can agree that, for whatever reason, she abandoned your marriage and her child. But that’s in the past.” Though Dobson’s expression never changed, his voice softened. “Let’s cut to the chase here. The plaintiff has reestablished herself in our community.” Ticking off items one by one, he held up his fingers. “She has a job, an apartment and no arrest record. Although I’d like further time to monitor the situation, I see no reason to keep Ms. Goodwin from her daughter. Let’s start with a forty-eight-hour visitation every other weekend. We’ll meet back here in three months to see where things stand.”

Karen gasped and started forward. Amanda restrained her.

“Not yet,” she whispered. If she were sitting in Mitch’s place, she’d have another argument up her sleeve. She watched the muscles in the lawyer’s neck bunch into thick cords. His jaw clenched so tightly she wondered how he’d manage to get any words out.

“Your Hon—” Mitch stopped and cleared his throat. In a hoarse voice, he stated, “Your Honor, four years ago, when Karen walked out on our marriage, she left with our building contractor. Now, Ron faces embezzlement charges. Because of her association with known criminals—”

“Objection, Your Honor.” Amanda was on her feet. “My client has no criminal record and there’s no evidence that she—”

“Sustained.” Dobson’s fingers waved her into her chair. Any hint of compromise faded from his voice as he turned to Mitch. “Mr. Goodwin, your ex-wife’s friends and associates are no more a matter before this court than yours are. You had to know before coming in here that the state of Florida has never completely refused visitation rights for a parent. I’m disinclined to buck that trend.”

Karen had claimed Mitch possessed a violent streak. She’d even hinted that both she and Hailey had suffered from it. That was the only part of her story Amanda had refused to believe. Despite the fact that she’d seen Mitch react in anger—once—she couldn’t accept that the boy she’d loved had grown abusive. She told herself prosecuting attorneys didn’t rise to the top of the heap by losing control. Still, she’d checked around. No one had ever seen so much as a single hair rise on the back of Mitch’s neck.

Judging from the waves of anger now rolling off the man, those who claimed Mitch Goodwin was incapable of losing his temper had been wrong. Railing against the family court system, he launched into an angry tirade. His strenuous objections echoed through the room.

Dobson lifted his gavel and rapped it sharply on the bench. A single tap was enough to stem Mitch’s torrent of harsh words. The tall lawyer’s expression grew shuttered, his eyes blank.

“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” he stated.

Dobson gave him a hard look. “You should be. If you ever raise your voice in my courtroom again…”

Mitch never lifted his eyes. “Yes, Your Honor. It won’t happen again, Your Honor.”

“Court is adjourned.” Dobson’s gavel struck again and, with a flurry of black robes, the judge hustled into his chambers. Practically before those watching had surged to their feet, the door slammed in his wake.

“Well.” Karen flounced back in her chair and pointed a finger at Mitch. “On TV, he’d go to jail for contempt.”

“Real court is different.” Amanda settled her hand over Karen’s forcing down her client’s outstretched arm. “We won more than we expected,” she soothed in her most lawyerly voice. “Why don’t you let me work out the details? That’s what you pay me for.”

Karen raked her manicured fingers through her hair. “Fine,” she agreed, although her angry glare said she was anything but pleased. “As long as you remember that he stole my daughter—and my life—from me. When we’re done, I don’t want him to ever see Hailey again. Have I made myself clear?”

This was a different side of the client who’d quietly slipped into her office two weeks earlier. Amanda reminded herself that emotions ran high in child custody cases. Karen wasn’t the first parent to want revenge. But proving Mitch unfit even to see his daughter? The man might be coldhearted—he’d definitely been in the wrong in preventing Karen from seeing Hailey. But the courtroom was no place to extract vengeance. Truth be told, his objections and the judge’s reaction to them were so vehement, Amanda almost felt sorry for Mitch.

She mustered a conciliatory expression, but by the time she swung around to face the man across the aisle, the door to the hallway was closing behind him.

Chapter Three

Halfway down the wide corridor, Mitch dropped his briefcase to the floor at his feet. He leaned back against the wall and concentrated on drawing strength from the hard concrete blocks. In five years as a prosecutor—no, longer than that. On the Law Review and at a thousand Sunday dinners where the senior partner of Goodwin & Sons dished out arguments along with the mashed potatoes, he’d never lost his cool the way he’d lost it in court this morning.

Mitch rubbed his temples, surprised his hands still shook with anger.

He was lucky Dobson hadn’t cited him for contempt and locked him up overnight. Worse, the way things stood, the Suwannee River would freeze over before the judge ruled in his favor on the simplest of motions.

And that wouldn’t protect Hailey.

The doors to the courtroom swung open. His ex-wife and her lawyer emerged. The sight of the two women chatting like old friends drove a spike right through the center of his gut. While Amanda guided her client into a waiting elevator, he studied the polished and astute woman who bore so little resemblance to the girl who’d worn T-shirts and shorts like a second skin. Even wearing an off-the-rack business suit, she outshone the sequined “Mandy” he’d waltzed around the Boots and Spurs barn.

She was good at her job, he’d give her that. She’d always had a competitive edge. After that summer, she’d used it to rise to the top in professional rodeo. But now she was putting it to work against him. And that only made him more determined to get back in charge of himself. He ran through possible scenarios for their upcoming conversation as she crossed the carpeted hall on three-inch heels that put an extra dash of sass in the swing of her hips.

“Hey, Mitch.”

She’d lost her familiar smile, replaced it with a frown. He warned himself not to mistake her expression for concern.

“Amanda,” he acknowledged.

“Looks like we have some things to sort out.”

She settled against the wall beside him. Her face lifted into the sunlight streaming through banks of windows, and gave a small sigh. Her lashes drifted down until they lightly brushed the translucent skin beneath her eyes.

Mitch straightened and edged away. “The other night, why didn’t you tell me you were an attorney?”

“We were at the bar association’s fundraiser.” Catlike, Amanda continued to soak up the sun. “It wasn’t obvious?”

“Not when you were racing across the arena astride a horse, it wasn’t,” Mitch grumbled. “I didn’t see any other lawyers there dressed in leather and spurs.”

Amanda faced him, the light turning her eyes more green than gray. “No, they’d all donned plaid shirts and denim. Definitely courtroom attire,” she said drily. “But since you ask, I was in charge of entertainment. I hadn’t planned to perform—I gave that up years ago. But my dad skipped out at the last minute. I…” She scowled. “The show had to go on,” she said, her jaw tight. “I filled in.”

Mitch thought back to the quiet nights when he and Mandy had stayed up after all the other campers had turned in. Those days, her attitude toward her dad had been one part hero worship, two parts neglected kid. If Mitch was hearing her right, Tom Markette’s image had lost its shine.

“Amazing performance,” he conceded. Seeing her precariously balanced on one foot atop a thousand pounds of thundering horseflesh had stirred feelings he hadn’t experienced in all the years since his marriage had crashed and burned. Later, when he’d held Mandy in his arms, swaying to country music, he’d wondered if the time was finally right to try again.

He swallowed hard and looked up to find Amanda staring at him. Keeping their conversation on track wasn’t as easy as he’d expected. He struggled to regain his composure.

“Have you talked to Karen about our past? Or the stampede?”

Amanda made a derisive sound. “She knows.”

“And she doesn’t care?” Not that he’d believe that for a minute.

“Why should she? It’s not as if we’re involved. We knew each other as kids. The other night, we shared a couple of dances.”

“We did a little more than dance.”

“We kissed. Which you obviously didn’t enjoy, because the next thing I knew, you’d left me standing in the middle of the floor with egg on my face.”

She brushed her fingers across the lips he’d been crazy enough to devour.

“I owe you an apology for that,” Mitch admitted. “The guy who spoke with us—”

“The pole bender. Royce.”

Mitch nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one. From what he said, I assumed you’d be heading out with them the next morning. It made me stop and think.” He stopped now, not wanting to insult her by saying what was on his mind—that his days of getting involved with women who didn’t stick around were over.

Beside him, Amanda stiffened. She leaned closer, her words a whisper no one could overhear. “Just so we’re clear on a couple of things. One, I don’t sleep with men I’ve just met. Even if we do have some kind of history. And two, not that it made any difference then or makes one now, I’m here to stay.”

Mitch met her glare with raised eyebrows. She was right when she said it didn’t matter. If timing was everything, theirs couldn’t be worse. Amanda stood on the opposite side of the one issue that meant more to him than all the convictions he’d ever attained. Even if he were interested in a woman who could ride a horse at breakneck speeds and still feel meltingly soft in his arms—which he assured himself he wasn’t—she represented his ex-wife and was, therefore, off-limits.

“Karen doesn’t do anything without a plan. You don’t think she picked you at random, do you?”

“Sorry to disappoint… .” Amanda’s expression said the joke was on him. “But, yeah. There just aren’t that many family law specialists in town. Most of the others refused to take her case. Or they quit once they found out who they’d be up against. I was simply the last on the list. Besides,” she added pointedly, “she signed me before the rodeo.”

Amanda’s brow furrowed. “You do know what they say about you, don’t you? That you won’t cut a deal, no matter what.”

She made it sound like a bad thing, but his reputation was something he’d worked hard to achieve. He refused to apologize for it. “You didn’t walk away,” he pointed out. “What makes you so different?”

He could name several attributes that made her stand out from every woman he’d ever known, but that kind of knowledge wouldn’t help him in court. And, if he was going to protect his daughter, he needed to know more about Amanda Markette than he’d known about her when they were teens.

She stretched her arms before folding them securely across her chest.

“I happen to believe my client has right on her side. Karen wants to be a part of Hailey’s life. Every child needs their mother.”

Mitch stifled a groan. Of course Amanda would feel that way. Her own mom had died the summer before rodeo camp. But Karen…well, Karen was a whole other ball game. “She doesn’t want our daughter any more now than she did four years ago.”

He’d thought long and hard about what had brought his ex-wife back into his life. Their marriage hadn’t really had much chance to begin with. He’d done the honorable thing, marrying Karen after he’d gotten her pregnant, but she’d always been money hungry. She’d never understood why he wanted to prosecute criminals, not defend them. Or why he turned down his dad’s annual offer to rejoin Goodwin & Sons and the membership in the swanky golf club that came with it.

Any hope for their marriage had died while their house was being built. She and their contractor, Ron, had accused him of nickel-and-diming it into mediocrity. A few months later, Karen had handed Mitch the keys to the front door, placed a squalling infant in his arms and climbed into Ron’s SUV.

Now, with the builder in a serious financial jam, Karen was most likely looking for a new source of income. Mitch would bet his last dollar that’s all their daughter meant to his ex-wife. And since Florida courts rarely awarded child support when the guardianship was shared, first she’d have to win sole custody. Something he’d do everything in his power to prevent.

He eyed the woman next to him and kept his insights to himself. There were things about her client Amanda would have to discover on her own. His job was to make sure Hailey didn’t suffer in the process.

“You should know I intend to appeal Dobson’s ruling.”

“I expected no less. You won’t succeed, but I understand why you have to try.” A silky strand of hair had escaped Amanda’s bun. She smoothed it into place. “In the meantime, you’ll have to abide by the ruling.”

“Whatever,” Mitch growled through clenched teeth. “Let’s work out the specifics. A week from Friday, where would your client like me to bring my daughter?”

He read the hesitation in Amanda’s eyes. When she suggested it might be better if they met someplace neutral, such as her office, the ruse didn’t fool him for a second.

“What don’t you want me to see?” Certain she was hiding something behind her innocent expression, he sharpened his focus. “How bad is this place where she’s living?”

“It could be better,” Amanda admitted. “The social worker approved it but…”

“But their standards are lower than mine.” His head throbbed and he rubbed a hand over his forehead. He lifted the lid on the potent mix of fear and anger that had simmered ever since he’d been served with papers on the custody suit.

“I’m holding you personally responsible for Hailey’s safety. And now, if you don’t mind, I have to go home and tell my four-year-old her mother is back in town and determined to ruin our lives.”

He turned to leave, but Amanda’s hand on his forearm stopped him. If he thought he’d read concern in her expression earlier, there was no mistaking the worry on her face now.

“She’s just a little girl,” she murmured. “Are you really going to drag her into this?”

The implication hurt more than Mitch cared to admit. “Of course not,” he blustered. The bands across his chest tightened. “Give me some credit, will you? I will fight you with every fiber of my being, but I’ve never prejudiced Hailey against her mother. I won’t start now. I’ll present it as an adventure, a sleepover with her new best friend.”

The words left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he walked away, the same way he’d walked away at the end of summer camp and again after the Saddle Up Stampede. Only this time, he didn’t have the memory of soft kisses to sustain him.

* * *

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Amanda shifted in her chair in the cozy seating area where built-in shelves housed hundreds of books on family law. “Are you ready for this?”

“You know Mitch and I can’t be in the same room without drawing blood.” Karen’s noisy exhalation sent coffee sloshing over the side of her cup.

Amanda handed across a napkin and said firmly, “You will.” While her client blotted, she dredged up the tone she’d used whenever a horse had balked at a new trick. “For Hailey’s sake, you’ll be civil with each other.”

And I’ll keep my distance.

She had her own reasons for avoiding Mitch Goodwin. Though he would never make it onto her list of Mr. Possibilities, he’d managed to awaken feelings she didn’t want to admit. It took effort to remind herself that a man with single-minded dedication to his career was not who she wanted in her life.

“Do you and Hailey have big plans for the weekend?” Deliberately, she switched subjects so her thoughts wouldn’t drift toward the hot summer nights when she’d dreamed of sharing more than kisses with Mitch.

Karen smoothed the skirt of a dress Amanda recognized from last year’s fashion magazines and sighed. “I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow. I’d really like to take Hailey to Disney World.”

An uneasy feeling bloomed in Amanda’s chest. Cautiously, she asked, “What will she do while you’re at the store?”

“Why, come with me, of course. She can hang out in the employee lounge, watch TV.”

The answer triggered memories of all the scary, lonely nights Amanda had spent in their trailer while her parents performed to the roar of a crowded stadium. Her own years in arenas where disaster was only a loose stirrup away helped her maintain her composure. “I don’t think you should take your daughter to work.”

Karen’s brows arrowed down over her eyes. “I don’t see why not.”

“I’m thinking safety issues. It was hard enough to childproof your apartment.”

Amanda bent forward, setting her glass of soda on the serving tray. She thought she’d made it clear that the visitation rights they’d won in court could be ripped out from under them if Hailey got hurt. But one glimpse of Karen’s blank expression and Amanda knew she needed to try again.

“Think of all the dangers in the back of the store. Coffeepots within reach. Needles and scissors. What if Hailey walks out the door while you’re busy with a customer and wanders down the sidewalk?”

“Well, I hadn’t thought of that.” Karen rummaged through her trendy little purse until she pulled out a sleek cell phone. She thumbed the device and glanced at the screen. “You know,” she said, resettling the expensive bag at her side, “it’s just not fair that Mitch can afford to give our daughter anything he wants when I can’t.”

The lament was becoming so familiar, Amanda couldn’t ignore it. She stared openly at her client, willing the woman to understand that money wasn’t the determining factor in whether or not someone made a good parent. Sure, a man like Mitch, with his high-octane career, could provide for his daughter financially, but at what cost? The little girl spent most of her time with a housekeeper. What children really needed was their parents’ time and attention. That was something Karen could provide.

“Okay, okay,” the blonde huffed at last. “I’ll take the day off. I don’t know how I’ll make my rent at the end of the month if I can’t work on Saturdays, but I’ll do it if I have to.”

“I’m sure it’s the right thing—”

When their talk was interrupted by a loud knock, Karen’s cup chattered against her saucer. “Is that Hailey?” She placed the coffee she’d barely touched on the table.

“Right on time.” Amanda doused her own shiver of anticipation. Summoning her usual smile, she asked, “Are you ready?”

Though her client licked her lips, she didn’t budge. “Could you let them in? I’m so nervous, I don’t think I can stand.”

“Are you sure?” Amanda hesitated. The court-appointed psychiatrist had urged Karen to be the first to greet her daughter. But considering how the shaky woman held one of the sofa pillows in a stranglehold, there wasn’t much chance of that happening. And there wasn’t time to talk her through it. Not with Mitch and Hailey waiting in the hallway.

“Okay, then.” Amanda took a steadying breath and crossed the room.

At the door, she steered clear of Mitch’s intensely brooding eyes and firm lips. It was harder to ignore his towering presence, but she sent her gaze skimming past his white button-down and over a pair of long legs to the little girl who stood quietly at his side.

It wasn’t every day Amanda had the chance to reunite a mother with her child. The occasion ranked high on a list of achievements that included earning a gold buckle at nationals, passing the bar exam, winning her first case. She smiled broadly.

Just as she did, Hailey Goodwin tipped her head away from scrutiny of patent leather Mary Janes that peeked from beneath her navy pinafore. The ribbons at the ends of her thick plaits of black hair fluttered. Her dark blue eyes widened in an elfish face, and her rosebud lips parted to form a deep oval.

“Mommy?”

Stunned, Amanda stumbled back a half step. For an instant, she saw herself curled in a deep chair reading books with a child on her lap. She caught a glimpse of them in a kitchen, baking cookies, doing all the things mothers and daughters were supposed to do. The image was so powerful she almost regretted the large, male hand that dropped to Hailey’s shoulder.

“No, honey,” Mitch said, breaking the spell. “This is Ms. Amanda, a friend of ours. Your mom is here, though. Isn’t she?”

In the second it took Amanda to regain her composure, she silenced the useless ringing of her biological clock. Some people should not have children, and having practically raised herself, she’d decided long ago she would never pass her parents’ mistakes on to another generation. She liked kids, though, and mustering up an added dose of excitement for this one, she bent down until she was on Hailey’s level.

“Your daddy’s right. I’m a friend of your mom’s. She’s waiting for you. She’s so excited to see you.”

Tiny lips quivered. “Where?”

“She’s sitting on the couch. Would you like to come inside and see her?”

The girl’s fingers slipped into Amanda’s, but with each step into the room, Hailey’s progress slowed. They’d barely cleared the threshold before the child’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Puzzled, Amanda cocked her head. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” she asked.

A mix of consternation and joy warred on Hailey’s features. Amanda looked to Mitch for help, but after one glimpse of the pain that clouded his eyes, she looked away. Before she could come up with more than a few soothing words on her own, she sensed movement at her elbow and stepped aside.

“I’m your mama, honey.” Arms widening, Karen sank to her knees before the child. “Come give me a hug.”

Hailey glanced up at her father while Amanda held her breath and searched Mitch’s face. He’d hidden the pain she’d seen only seconds earlier behind a look that was pure encouragement, but the child’s owl-like gaze swung between her parents. She didn’t move until Mitch leaned down and whispered in his daughter’s ear. With his hand on her back, he guided the child into Karen’s waiting arms. Silence reigned while Karen clung to her daughter. Long seconds passed before one of Hailey’s thin arms crept around her mother’s neck.

Amanda blotted her cheeks and risked another quick glance at Mitch. She wondered if he saw the rightness of the moment, but his eyes were shuttered. A tic in his jaw told her he was fighting his own emotional battles.

“You’re such a big girl. So grown-up,” Karen murmured after a few minutes. She swiped at her eyes and held the child at arm’s length. “And so pretty.”

“You have pretty hair, too.” Hailey ran her fingers through her mother’s platinum locks.

“Thanks, honey.” Karen rose. She smiled down at the child. “We’re going to have a good time this weekend, just the two of us.” She took Hailey’s hand in hers. Her voice cooled when she turned to Mitch. “I’ll drop her off at the house at five o’clock on Sunday. Is there anything else I need to know before we leave?”

Mitch stared at the colorfully decorated, bright pink suitcase he’d dropped by the door. “I put a list in her bag. Her likes and dislikes, her favorite TV shows, a description of our bedtime routine—it’s all in there.”

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll do just fine without all that.” Karen patted her daughter’s hand. “Won’t we, Hailey?”

The little girl’s gaze swung from her mother to her father and back again, while beside him, Amanda practically felt the temperature around Mitch rise. Hoping to keep everyone calm and moving in the right direction, she intervened.

“That was very thoughtful of you, Mitch.” She aimed a pointed look toward her client. “I’m sure Karen appreciates it.”

With Hailey’s hand in hers, the woman moved toward the door. As she passed Mitch, the child wrenched free.

“I don’t want to go, Daddy.” Hailey clung to her father’s leg.

Karen hadn’t even slowed down. From the doorway, she called, “Hailey, be a good girl now, and let’s go.”

Mitch peeled his daughter’s hands away from his leg and squatted down until he was even with her tearstained face.

“Shush, baby. It’s all right. You’re going to have a sleepover with Mommy tonight and tomorrow night. I’ll see you on Sunday. We’ll play together, same as always.”

“But I want you to come, Daddy. I don’t want to go alone.” Hailey’s lower lip trembled and she hiccuped.

“Daddy can’t come this time, honey. But remember? We packed Mrs. Giggles in your suitcase.” He looked up and addressed Karen directly for the first time. “Mrs. Giggles is her favorite doll. They sleep together every night.” His focus shifted back to his daughter. “You be a good girl for Mommy now and have fun.”

“Okay, Daddy, but I won’t have fun,” Hailey conceded. Her toes dragged with every step, but she crossed the carpet to her mother’s side.

Karen immediately whisked the little girl into her arms. Within seconds, she had grabbed the suitcase and disappeared out the door. The sound of her heels tapping against the hardwood floor outside the office faded into the distance.

Mitch’s posture sagged the minute the door swung closed. He turned to face Amanda. The mask he’d hidden his emotions behind slipped away, exposing a potent mix of anger and pain.

“I hope you’re satisfied, Counselor,” he said through clenched teeth.

She was. Time would prove her right, but there was nothing to be gained by pouring salt in the man’s wounds. Instead, she strove to remain professional. “It’s the right thing to do, Mitch. That little girl deserves to be with her mother…and her father.”

His hand on the doorknob, he issued a stern warning. “I meant what I said about holding you personally responsible for Hailey’s safety. Heaven help you if my daughter is harmed in any way.”

And then he, too, was gone.

Amanda sank onto the chair behind her desk. To win this case she’d need all the help heaven could give—and more—now that the combative prosecuting attorney had shown his vulnerable side.

Chapter Four

At four-thirty on Sunday afternoon, Mitch conceded defeat. Without the sound of little-girl laughter bouncing off the walls, the house was so quiet he couldn’t concentrate on the opening argument he’d present in the morning. In the past, he’d grumbled about the thousand-and-two interruptions Hailey insisted were absolutely necessary whenever he worked at home. He would never make that mistake again. Her tiny fingers on his keyboard or frequent breaks for make-believe tea parties were nothing compared to the worries that troubled him now.