Is there anything sexier than a hot cowboy? How about four of them!

New York Times bestselling author Vicki Lewis Thompson is back in the Blaze® lineup for 2013, and this year she’s offering her readers even more …

Sons of Chance

Chance isn’t just the last name of these rugged Wyoming cowboys—it’s their motto, too!

Saddle up with

I CROSS MY HEART (June)

WILD AT HEART (July)

THE HEART WON’T LIE (August)

And the first full-length Sons of Chance Christmas story

COWBOYS & ANGELS (December)

Take a chance … on a Chance!

Cowboys & Angels

Vicki Lewis Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

New York Times bestselling author VICKI LEWIS THOMPSON’s love affair with cowboys started with the Lone Ranger, continued through Maverick and took a turn south of the border with Zorro. She views cowboys as the Western version of knights in shining armor—rugged men who value honor, honesty and hard work. Fortunately for her, she lives in the Arizona desert, where broad-shouldered, lean-hipped cowboys abound. Blessed with such an abundance of inspiration, she only hopes that she can do them justice. Visit her website, www.vickilewisthompson.com.

With gratitude to Dana Hopkins for her steady hand on the editorial reins and her most excellent tweets.

Contents

Prologue

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

Epilogue

Prologue

December 24, 1989

Last Chance Ranch

A WHITE CHRISTMAS was all well and good, but somebody had to shovel the snow off the front porch, and Archie Chance had appointed himself caretaker of that chore. His wife, Nelsie, had tried to talk him out of it, but he was the logical guy for the job. Everyone else was busy wrapping presents and cooking food.

In the ninth decade of his life, Archie could still wield a mean shovel, whether he was mucking out a stall or clearing a path through the snow. He rather enjoyed both jobs.

After bundling up in a sheepskin jacket, earmuffs and his Stetson, Archie took a pair of gloves out of his coat pocket and opened the massive oak door. Yeah, it was cold out this morning, but he’d endured worse. Frigid winters were a fact of life in Jackson Hole.

The snow shovel was kept handy by the door all winter. Archie picked it up, scooped up a load of snow and was about to throw it over the porch railing when the ranch foreman, Emmett Sterling, called out to him. The tall cowboy made deep ruts in the snow as he plowed his way from the barn up to the house.

Archie emptied the shovel and leaned on it as he watched Emmett approach. “Nelsie called down to the barn, didn’t she?” The phone connection to the barn was a recent addition, and right now Archie didn’t care for it.

“She might’ve.”

Archie blew out a breath, which created a substantial cloud in the air. “Look, I’ll be fine out here. My back hasn’t bothered me in quite a while.”

“And Nelsie wants to keep it that way.” Snow crunched under the tall cowboy’s boots as he mounted the steps. “Especially seeing as how it’s Christmas tomorrow. She doesn’t want you putting your back out right before the big day. Can’t say I blame her.”

Archie considered his options. He was Emmett’s boss, so he could refuse to turn over the shovel. But Emmett had interrupted his own chores in the barn to come up here and help, so sending him back down would mean more wasted time.

Archie also realized that if he insisted on shoveling and happened to reinjure his back, he’d look like a stubborn jackass. Nelsie would be ticked off, and making her mad wouldn’t help the celebration of Christmas any.

“Much as I hate to admit it, you make a good point, Emmett.” With a sigh of resignation, Archie relinquished the shovel.

“I’d be obliged if you’d hang around and keep me company,” Emmett said. “Conversation makes the job go faster.”

“Be glad to.” Archie laughed. “Nothing wrong with my jawbone.” As he brushed the snow off the porch railing and leaned against it, he thought about the kindness inherent in Emmett’s invitation, as if he knew Archie had come outside partly to enjoy the crisp winter air. Emmett was less than half Archie’s age, but he understood people better than most anybody Archie knew.

“I hope you don’t fault Nelsie for calling me,” Emmett said as he tossed snow over the railing. “She just cares about you, is all.”

“I know that. She’s a good woman, and I’m a lucky man to have someone like her fussing over me. It’s just...”

“You don’t want to be fussed over.” Emmett dumped more snow into the yard.

“You got that right. And I like to think I can do everything the same as I always did. She knows I’m touchy that way, and she doesn’t nag me. Not much, anyway.”

“You said it yourself, Archie. She’s a good woman, and you’re a lucky man.”

Archie heard the note of longing in Emmett’s voice. Emmett’s wife, Jeri, had decided ranch life didn’t suit her and had divorced Emmett a couple of years ago. She’d taken their young daughter, Emily, back to California with her.

Although Emmett could have fought that, he hadn’t. Instead, he made do with sporadic visits from Emily. Archie thought it was a shame the marriage hadn’t worked out. Emmett would have made a good family man.

Archie didn’t get too many opportunities to talk privately with Emmett, so he decided to make use of this one. “You can tell me to mind my own business, but I can’t help wondering. Have you ever thought of remarrying?”

“Nope.” Emmett kept shoveling.

“Sorry if that was too personal.”

“It wasn’t.” Emmett propped the shovel on the porch floor and leaned on it while he looked over at Archie. “I didn’t mean to sound like it was. I just don’t have any interest in marrying again.”

“Why not?”

Emmett paused, as if considering his answer. “Mostly it’s about Emily. All my spare cash goes to my daughter, and any woman I hooked up with would rightly conclude she came second to Emily. Not many would accept that, and if they wanted to have children, what then? I wouldn’t start a new family when I still have Emily to think of.”

“The right woman would understand.”

Emmett smiled. “Maybe. But if that’s so, I haven’t found her yet.”

“Well, I hope you keep looking.”

“I hate to disappoint you, Archie, but I’m not looking. The kind of woman who would be happy with a cowpoke in my situation is a rare breed. I seriously doubt I’ll ever marry again.”

1

Present day

CRAMMED INTO THE small backseat of Watkins’s king cab, Trey Wheeler thought about the wedding he would soon be a part of. He’d worked as a horse trainer at the Last Chance Ranch for a few months, so he didn’t know the groom, Emmett Sterling, all that well. But Trey could tell the ranch foreman was majorly stressed about his upcoming nuptials.

His fiancée, Pam Mulholland, ran a B and B down the road from the Last Chance. She seemed like a nice lady, but when it came to this wedding, she wasn’t making things easy on Emmett. Even a newcomer like Trey could see that.

Pam was wealthy and Emmett was not. Although Emmett was crazy about Pam, he’d allowed their financial differences to keep him from proposing until the previous summer, when a shyster had blown into town and shown interest in Pam. Emmett had thought it prudent to take her off the market before he ended up losing her forever.

But Pam, who’d been previously married to a cheating bastard, wanted the wedding of the century this time, and she’d reserved the entire Serenity Ski Lodge in Jackson Hole for a Christmas-themed celebration. Trey was thrilled because Pam had hired him to play guitar for the ceremony along with Watkins, a seasoned ranch hand and the husband of Mary Lou Simms, the ranch’s cook. Trey had caught a ride up to the Serenity resort with Watkins and Mary Lou, who were as eager for several days of celebrating as everyone else. Everyone, that was, except the groom.

Trey edged his guitar case aside and leaned toward the front seat as they navigated the snowy road leading to the resort. “Do you think there’s a chance Emmett will bail and ruin everything?”

“No,” Mary Lou said. She’d tamed her flyaway gray hair under a furry hat. “I’ve known Emmett Sterling for a lot of years, and he’s considerate. He might not like this operation, but it’s what Pam wants, and he loves her.”

“That’s a fact,” Watkins agreed. “And the Chance family has gone to some trouble to hire temporary help so we could all get up here and stay a couple of days after the wedding. Emmett wouldn’t mess with that kind of generosity.”

“I hope not.” Trey looked out at the snowy landscape. “I know how much everybody’s looking forward to this, including me.”

Watkins grinned as he glanced in the rearview mirror. “You gonna try skiing, cowboy?”

“You know, I might. I mean, thanks to Pam, it’s free, so why not?”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Watkins said. “At least the bunny slope, right, Lou-Lou?”

“At least. I used to be pretty good, but I haven’t skied in years. I hope it’s like riding a bike and it’ll all come back to me once I suit up.”

Watkins sent her a fond glance. “I can’t wait to see you all decked out. I’ll bet you’ll look great in goggles.”

Mary Lou laughed. “No, I won’t, you old flatterer, but I appreciate the thought.”

Trey got a kick out of those two. They were both in their fifties, and Watkins had been after Mary Lou for years. She’d resisted the idea of tying the knot until about eighteen months ago, but now that they were married, they both seemed deliriously happy. It was very cute.

The truck approached a curve, and Trey sucked in a breath, as he always did when he came to this part of the road.

“You okay back there?” Watkins glanced in the rearview mirror again.

“Yeah. This is where I had my accident last spring. It always gets to me a little bit.”

“I’m sure it does.” Mary Lou looked back at him, her gaze sympathetic. “You could’ve died.”

“I would’ve died, if that woman hadn’t come along.” His angel. For the millionth time, he asked himself why she’d come to his rescue and then left before he could thank her.

He’d been heartbroken after getting a Dear John letter from Cassie, who’d moved back east to attend law school and had fallen for someone there. In the predawn hours, he’d lost control of his Jeep on this curve. Pure misery had kept him from fastening his seat belt, so when the Jeep flipped, he’d been thrown into a snowdrift.

As cold as it had been that morning, he could easily have died from exposure. But his angel had shown up, pulled him out of the snow, taken him to the hospital and left. In his dazed state, he only remembered a halo of blond hair, blue eyes and a soft voice. He also thought she’d come to his hospital room once to check on him, but he’d been really out of it and might have dreamed that.

After he’d recovered, he’d tried unsuccessfully to find out her name. His search had yielded nothing. If she’d given it to the hospital personnel, it had disappeared somehow. Nobody could help him.

Without a name, his chances of finding her dropped considerably. He couldn’t even describe her very well, other than her blond hair and blue eyes. Lots of women in the Jackson Hole area had blond hair and blue eyes. She also might have been a tourist, which meant she could live anywhere. People from all over the world visited Jackson Hole.

He wasn’t even sure he’d recognize her if he saw her on the street. But her voice haunted his dreams, and he thought he might know the sound of it if he heard it again. More than once he’d stopped a blonde walking down the sidewalk in Jackson and asked her something lame, like directions to the nearest burger joint, so he could listen to her voice. None of them had sounded like his angel.

He’d begun to think she might have been an honest-to-God angel instead of a real woman. He didn’t really believe in such things, but that would explain her sudden appearance at his hour of need and why she’d vanished into thin air after rescuing him. Still, he kept looking and listening, hoping that he’d meet her again so he could express his gratitude.

In the meantime, because he owed his life to her, he’d wanted to do something to commemorate her rescue. She might be a caring woman who didn’t want to be identified, or she might be a spirit sent down from heaven. In either case, she was his angel.

After much thought, he’d chosen to have an angel’s wing tattooed on his left biceps in her honor. Whenever he looked at it, he was reminded that he was one lucky son of a bitch to be alive. In the months that had followed the accident, he’d also realized that Cassie had not been worth dying for. He was ready to move on. Unfortunately, the woman who had made that epiphany possible had vanished without a trace.

* * *

ELLE MASTERSON LOOKED forward to having the Last Chance Ranch folks at Serenity for a long weekend while the foreman and his lady got hitched. She’d been warned by management that these would not be experienced skiers, but teaching beginners was her first love. With no other guests to take care of, she’d build her schedule around whatever they wanted, beginning first thing in the morning.

Before then, she needed to finish her Christmas shopping. Rather than head into Jackson, she’d decided to see if she could find something for her favorite cousin in the Serenity resort gift shop. The items were pricey, but she’d get an employee discount.

The shop wasn’t busy. The only customer was a tall cowboy, probably part of the Last Chance bunch, who had his back to her as he glanced through a selection of postcards on a rack near the door. Samantha, a fun-loving, curvaceous redhead, stood behind the jewelry counter at the far end of the store, and Elle headed in that direction.

“Hey, Elle! What’s up?” Samantha seemed eager for company.

“I need something pretty for my cousin Jill. A necklace, maybe. She likes turquoise, but she also likes nature-themed stuff, like wolves and—”

“My God, it’s you! I recognize your voice!”

She whirled toward the speaker. The tall cowboy who’d been shopping for postcards stood at the end of the jewelry counter staring at her as if he’d seen a ghost. One glance into his brown eyes and she knew why.

Trey Wheeler looked completely recovered and perfectly healthy. He also was as drop-dead gorgeous as she’d remembered. Like most cowboys, he wore his hat indoors, the brim pulled down a bit so it shadowed his eyes and gave him an air of mystery. He’d also left on his sheepskin jacket, but he’d unbuttoned it, which provided a glimpse of his physique.

The guy was built like a defensive end—slim hips, broad shoulders, powerful chest. She wondered if he was still hung up on Cassie, the woman he’d called out for at the hospital, the woman he’d begged not to leave him.

He swallowed. “So you’re real, after all.” His voice was husky with emotion.

“Did you think I wasn’t?” Then she considered what shape he’d been in after the accident. He’d suffered from exposure and a concussion. He might have thought she was a hallucination.

Samantha spoke up from behind the counter. “Could one of you fill me in? Sounds like there’s a story here.”

Elle turned to her. “This gentleman flipped his Jeep into a snowbank last April, and I took him to the hospital.”

“Then you disappeared,” Trey added. “I’ve been searching for you ever since. Where did you go?”

“Argentina.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You live there?”

“Six months out of the year, starting in April. Then I’m here for six months. I’m a ski instructor.”

He nodded slowly, as if fitting the pieces together. “That explains why I didn’t run into you around town. But I wish you’d left your name and contact information. You saved my life. I wanted to show my appreciation for that.”

“Wow, Elle.” Samantha gazed at her. “You’re just like the Lone Ranger!”

“My thoughts exactly.” Trey seemed to have recovered his poise. He walked forward and held out his hand. “But now that you’re unmasked, allow me to introduce myself.”

She knew his name, but didn’t want him to know that she knew, so she kept quiet.

“I’m Trey Wheeler, horse trainer out at the Last Chance, and I’m exceedingly grateful for what you did.”

She grasped his large hand. His grip was firm, warm, and...sexy. Tingles of awareness shot through her. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I happened along.”

She tried to extract her hand, but he held it captive as he smiled down at her. “Not so fast. I still don’t know your name.”

“Elle Masterson.” The continued physical contact jacked up her heart rate.

“Nice to meet you at last, Elle. Buying you dinner doesn’t seem like much of a payback, but it’s a beginning. Are you busy tonight?”

She scrambled to get her bearings. Trey Wheeler was a fast mover. She should have anticipated such an invitation, but she hadn’t. “Sorry, but I make it a policy not to date resort guests.” She smiled to take the sting out of the rejection.

“I get that, but this isn’t a date. It’s a thank-you dinner for saving my life. That’s significantly more important than a date.”

“So you’ll take me to dinner and consider your obligation to me fully satisfied?”

He grinned. “I didn’t say that.”

Her heartbeat ratcheted up another notch. He had a killer smile going on, and he was employing it to maximum effect. He seemed determined to charm her, and he was accomplishing his goal.

But she followed her personal rule about not dating guests for many reasons. All sorts of complications could arise, including getting fired for unprofessional conduct. Every resort she’d worked for had agreed it was a good policy, although some were more relaxed about the issue than others.

And even if she didn’t have a strict policy against dating guests, she’d be wary of dating this one. Catching a guy on the rebound wasn’t her idea of fun. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Trey, but dinner isn’t a good idea. I understand that you want to thank me in some way, but anyone would have done the same under similar circumstances. Your gratitude is very sweet, but you don’t owe me for doing the right thing.”

“I think I do, but if dinner won’t work, I’ll come up with something else.”

“No, really. That’s unnecessary. Knowing that you’re all recovered is enough of a reward for me.”

His brown gaze was warm as it swept over her. “I admire your modesty, but this is important to me, and I’m not the kind of man to just let it go. You’ll be hearing from me. See you later, Elle.” He touched the brim of his hat and walked out of the shop.

She stared after him, her pulse hopping around like a Mexican jumping bean.

“You should have accepted his invitation to dinner,” Samantha said.

Elle turned. “You know I don’t believe in getting cozy with a guest.”

“Yeah, but he has a point about the special circumstances. Besides, not many guests look like him. He’s one hot cowboy. I say he’s worthy of a little rule-bending.”

“Let’s think about this for a minute, Sam. He’s not simply a guest. He works at a ranch in the area, which means he won’t be completely gone come Tuesday afternoon.”

“Even better! Then he’ll stop being the kind of conflict of interest that bothers you so much.”

“No, but...” Elle felt ridiculous putting her reservations about Trey into words. She’d sound paranoid, or at least presumptuous. She didn’t know him at all, so she couldn’t predict how he’d behave in a relationship.

Yet she’d heard his heartbroken plea to Cassie, obviously his former lover. Cassie might be old news by now, but Trey didn’t strike her as the type who’d be fine with dating a woman who spent half the year in Argentina. He seemed too intense for a casual affair.

Casual affairs were all she allowed herself because she had such a great life following the snow. She didn’t want to tie herself down to one place or one man. Not yet, anyway.

Maybe in a few years she’d grow tired of the traveling. At that point, someone like Trey would be a possibility. But he wasn’t right for her now, no matter how fast her heart beat when he was near.

Samantha frowned in obvious disapproval. “I know what it means when you tighten your jaw. You’re going to reject this yummy man’s advances, aren’t you?”

Elle consciously relaxed her jaw and smiled at Sam. “Yep. But you’re welcome to him, if he appeals to you that much.”

“Oh, he does, but I don’t stand a chance. He only has eyes for you.”

“That’s silly.”

“No, it’s incredibly romantic. Did you hear what he said? He recognized your voice. That means he carried the sound of your voice around in his head for months while he searched for you. The memory of you haunted him. How great is that?”

Elle rolled her eyes. “You really should ask him out. You’re obviously into his brand of drama.”

“You should be, too. A Prince Charming like him doesn’t come along every day of the week. You may look back on this later and realize you screwed up a golden opportunity.”

“Maybe I will, Sam, but the timing is way off.” She gazed at her friend. “He may be a prince, but I’m not ready for a fairy-tale ending.”

2

TREY ENJOYED A rowdy dinner with everyone from the Last Chance, including the prospective bride and groom. Once Trey understood the layout of the resort, he realized that his spur-of-the-moment invitation to Elle might have been impractical. The formal dining room had been appropriated for Last Chance people, which left the coffee shop and the bar for private meals. Neither of those places suited Trey’s image of treating Elle to a special dining experience.

During dinner, the hotel manager passed around sign-up sheets for resort activities. Trey had never skied a day in his life, but he signed up for lessons when he saw that Elle was listed as one of the instructors.

For eight months she’d been a mystery woman he couldn’t forget, but other than her voice, her eyes and that halo of blond hair, he’d known nothing about her. She could have been a teenager or a senior citizen, short or tall, plump or skinny, plain or pretty.

And now he knew. She took his breath away. How amazing to think that Pam and Emmett’s wedding had brought him face-to-face with Elle Masterson, his angel. Hearing her voice had been a jolt. Seeing her standing there in all her glory had made him feel as if Christmas had come early this year.

Oh, yeah, he wanted to get to know her better. He thought she might want the same thing. Her blue eyes had sparkled with interest when she’d looked at him, so even though she’d thrown up roadblocks, he would persevere. That flash of sexual attraction had been decidedly mutual.

He understood why she’d be wary of getting involved with a resort guest, but he’d only be in that category for a few days. If he laid the groundwork now, he could build on it later, when he was no longer a guest.

Something had clicked for him the moment he’d rounded that corner in the gift shop and laid eyes on her. She might think coincidence had made her drive past where he’d swerved off the road, but now that they’d met, he wouldn’t call it coincidence. He’d call it destiny.

After dinner, he and Watkins checked out the wedding ceremony venue, a large space with exposed beams and warm wood paneling. In daylight, when the ceremony would take place, the curtained windows would look out on pines and ski slopes. The candlelit reception in the evening was scheduled for the adjoining ballroom. Trey and Watkins would play then, too.

“It’ll be real nice,” Watkins said, looking around the room where the wedding would take place. “The acoustics should be decent, too. I’m glad they carpeted the floor.”

“Did you want to practice tonight?”

“Nah, let’s not.” Watkins smoothed his handlebar mustache. “There’s a country-and-western band playing in the bar, and Mary Lou wants to dance. She doesn’t get to do that whenever I’m playing, so this will be a treat for both of us. She’s probably already in the bar ready to boot scoot.”

“Before you go, I wanted to tell you something.”

Watkins, who was a good six inches shorter than Trey and at least fifty pounds heavier, glanced up at him. “What’s that, son?”

Trey liked that Watkins called him “son.” Trey’s folks were both gone, his mom from cancer and his dad in an oil rig accident. Although Trey had come to grips with not having living parents, he reveled in the family atmosphere of the Last Chance and appreciated how Watkins and Mary Lou had taken him under their wing.

“I’ve found her,” he said. “My angel. She works at the resort.”

“No kidding!”

“She’s one of the ski instructors, and her name is Elle Masterson.”

“Well, I’ll be.” Watkins stroked his mustache again. “What’s she like?”

“Perfect.”

“Hold on there, cowboy. No woman’s perfect. You know how I feel about Lou-Lou, but I’d be the first to admit she’s not perfect. Don’t go setting some lady on a pedestal. You’ll regret it.”

“You’re right.” Privately, Trey didn’t think so. “But Elle is darned close. And she likes me. I can tell she does.”

“Then why didn’t she identify herself when she hauled your ass to the hospital? Something’s not adding up here.”

“I know, and I mean to get to the bottom of that. But the main issue is her principles. She doesn’t believe resort employees should get involved with resort guests.”

Watkins nodded. “She must be a sensible woman, then. You can’t have that kind of thing in a fancy establishment like this. You need to respect her wishes on that.”

“I will. And I do. But don’t you think this is a special case? She saved my life. And she likes me. I hate to waste time on rules and regulations in this situation.”

Watkins smiled. “You’re talking about four days, right?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“It’s not a long time, son. I know at your age it seems forever, but trust me, those four days will go by fast.”

“I suppose.” Once again, Trey didn’t agree with Watkins. After eight months of searching for his mystery woman, he’d finally found her, and she was wonderful. He was eager to explore the possibilities, and they’d both be staying under the same roof, so to speak. He couldn’t imagine how time spent that way would go by fast.

“You don’t believe me.” Watkins clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s okay. But don’t go back to your room and stare at the ceiling all night. Get your guitar and come down for a drink. I know these guys who are playing, and they’d probably let you sit in on a set or two. It’ll be good practice.”

“Sure, why not?” Given that his hands were tied when it came to Elle, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend the evening.

* * *

AFTER A QUICK supper in the employees’ dining room, Elle climbed the stairs to her room on the second floor of the staff’s quarters. A printout of the next day’s schedule had been left on her desk, and she picked it up. No big surprise, Trey had registered for her group lesson first thing in the morning.

She was one of three ski instructors employed by Serenity, but Annalise had been given the weekend off because these guests wouldn’t need advanced lessons. Elle and her colleague Jared could handle the Last Chance group, who were mostly all beginners.

Switching Trey to Jared’s group would make an issue out of the situation, so she’d leave the schedule as it was. But she had to smile when she noticed that Jared had all women except for a guy named Watkins, and she had all men.

Besides Trey, Elle would be working with Alex Keller, Nash Bledsoe, Jeb Branford and two of the Chance brothers, Gabe and Nick. Elle hadn’t met any of them, although she certainly recognized the names of the Chance boys. There was a third brother, Jack, but apparently he wasn’t into skiing lessons.

All the men except Alex Keller had checked the beginner box on the sign-up sheet. Alex had checked the box indicating he had some experience, which meant he might be willing to help the others. All in all, it should be a fun morning. She loved taking nonskiers and turning them into enthusiastic fans of the sport.

As she considered whether to hit the sack early to be ready for tomorrow’s activities, her cell phone chimed. For some reason, Amy, the bartender on duty tonight, was calling her. Elle picked up her phone. “Hey, Amy.”

“Unless you’re in your jammies already, you should get yourself down here.”

“I was almost in my jammies. What’s happening?”

“One of the guys from the Last Chance is performing with the band and he is hot. I know you’re a country fan. Come down and I’ll put you to work behind the bar so you’ll have an excuse to hang around.”

Elle had become enamored of country music in the past year, and hearing it live was always a treat. Besides, she didn’t feel tired enough to go to bed yet. “Thanks, I’ll be right there.” Disconnecting the phone, she ran a comb through her hair, reapplied her lipstick, popped a mint and grabbed her room key. She’d helped Amy behind the bar a few times before, and she liked the job.

On her way downstairs, she breathed in the scent of Christmas. Serenity went all-out this time of year, and she liked spending the holidays here. Each guest room door had its own fresh wreath, complete with a couple of cinnamon sticks tucked into a big red bow.

Staff members didn’t get wreaths, but they were all given small trees to decorate. Hers was sitting in a corner of her room, waiting for her to get busy with lights and ornaments. Until she did, she could enjoy the fifteen-foot blue spruce in the lobby, which sparkled with lights and elegant glass balls. Pine boughs, pinecones and festive ribbons decorated the check-in desk.

The bar opened off the lobby, so the music drifted toward her as she walked past the Christmas tree toward the heavy double doors inset with stained glass. Someone was singing in a husky baritone that tickled her nerve endings.

“Going in to hear our new star?” called Ralph from the front desk.

“Yeah, I’m told he’s pretty good. Amy is letting me help behind the bar.”

Ralph laughed. “Have fun. The women tell me he looks pretty good, too.”

“I’m just here for the music, Ralph.”

“That’s what they all say.”

As Elle grasped the brass handle and opened the door, she had a premonition about who this sexy country singer might be, but she discounted it. The universe wouldn’t be so generous as to give the bodacious Trey Wheeler a great singing voice, too.

Obviously the universe was exactly that generous. Sitting on a stool in front of the mike, strumming his guitar and crooning a solo love song, was the man she was determined to avoid, the man every woman in the room was fixated on. The rest of the band was silent, not that they would have been noticed if they had decided to play backup.

Trey’s face was shielded by the lowered brim of his hat, and he seemed completely absorbed in his music. He cradled the guitar in his lap. One booted foot rested on the floor and the other was propped on a rung of the stool. His supple fingers moved up and down the guitar’s polished neck in a sensuous dance as his voice flowed over her, intimate as a caress.

Lost in a daze of feminine appreciation, she stood motionless in the doorway. The atmosphere in the room was electric. Nobody laughed. No glasses clinked. Trey had them all in the palm of his hand.

Then he looked up, as if he’d sensed her come in, and he gazed straight into her eyes.

Her breath caught. He was no longer singing to some unidentified lover. He was singing to her. The passionate lyrics spilled from his lips with such longing that she took a step closer. His slow smile told her he’d noticed, and she halted, embarrassed by how he’d hypnotized her.

Mercifully, the song ended before Elle lost all sense of propriety. After the raucous applause died down, Trey stepped back and the band launched into a lively swing tune. Another guitarist moved up to the mike to belt out the lyrics, and Elle hurried over to the bar.

Amy, who wore her dark hair piled on top of her head, grinned at her. “Told you.”

“Yes, ma’am, you did.” Elle lifted the hinged part of the bar and scooted inside. “The thing is, I kind of know him already.”

“You do? Then you get dibs. But if you don’t want him, then— Oh, crap. I see orders coming in. We’ll talk later.”

The next twenty minutes were a flurry of drink orders and washing glasses. But at the first lull, Amy brought up the subject immediately. “So how do you know him? Please tell me he’s an old family friend and you think of him like a brother.”

“I wish.” Elle told her about last spring’s incident involving Trey, and their chance meeting in the gift shop today.

“My God, that means he wrote that song about you! He introduced it by saying he’d been rescued by an angel. That totally explains why he focused on you for the last part of the song.”

“He wrote it about me?” Elle’s cheeks warmed. “That’s sort of...”

“Romantic. It’s romantic, Elle. Seems like you hooked him good by going all mystery woman on him for eight months. I envy the hell out of you. He’s mighty fine.”

“I wasn’t trying to hook him.”

“You did, anyway. Don’t look now, but he’s coming over here and he looks determined.”

Elle turned, and sure enough, Trey was striding toward the bar carrying his guitar case. Her breath hitched. “Maybe he wants a drink.”

“I think he wants you, chica.”

Elle had to admit Amy was probably right. The heat in Trey’s eyes was unmistakable.

He set down his guitar case and leaned on the bar. “I didn’t know you’d be here, Elle.”

“Amy needed some help.”

Amy glanced away, but was unsuccessful at muffling a snort of laughter.

“Hmm.” He didn’t appear to be buying that. “I’m glad you did, especially because I happened to be singing your song.”

“I...I didn’t realize you were a musician.” Her resistance to this gorgeous man was fading fast. No one had ever written a song about her. She liked to think she wasn’t susceptible to such romantic gestures, but the butterflies in her stomach signaled otherwise.

“Could we go somewhere and talk?”

“You’re not going to play anymore?”

He shook his head. “That’s enough for tonight.”

“Amy might need me to stay.”

“Nope,” Amy said. “Thanks for the help, but I can handle it.”

Elle took a deep breath. “Okay, then. We can go out in the lobby. There are some comfy chairs in front of the fire.”

He seemed about to comment on that suggestion, but then he didn’t. “All right. Lead the way.” But the minute they were out the door, he put a hand on her arm. “I’d rather go somewhere more private than the lobby.”

She turned and looked into his eyes. That was a big mistake. The intensity reflected there, combined with the lingering effects of his song, tempted her beyond reason. She shouldn’t surrender to his magnetism, but resisting it was proving difficult.

He lowered his voice. “My room?”

She shook her head. “Sorry.”

His gaze sharpened. “Then tell me where I can find you.”

Dear God, she was considering the possibility of inviting him to her room. She shouldn’t do that. She really shouldn’t. But if they were alone, she could explain why she didn’t want to get involved with him. She could mention his ravings about Cassie.

He was right that they needed privacy for that kind of conversation, and the options were few. They couldn’t very well take a walk in subzero temperatures. But if he came to her room, they could speak freely and clear the air once and for all.

Yeah, right. Their meeting might go that way, but if she didn’t keep a tight rein on her libido, it might go another way, too. He was one potent cowboy. The thought of being along with him made her quiver.

“Please, Elle,” he murmured. “We have a connection, you and I. We need to talk about it, figure a few things out. At least I do.”

She let out a breath. If they didn’t settle this now, it would hang over them all weekend. “Okay. My room, then. But we shouldn’t be seen going there together.” She quickly gave him directions.

“I’ll drop off my guitar and be there in a few minutes.”

She nodded. Heart racing, she hurried out of the lobby and down the hall toward the staff quarters. This was insanity, but then, Trey was making her insane—insane enough to risk being alone with him.

Nothing had to happen if she maintained control. That might be easier said than done, though. She was playing with fire when it came to an emotional man like Trey. Adrenaline fueled her steps as she ran up the stairs.

Once in her room, she straightened up the place, although judging from Trey’s intense focus, he wouldn’t care if the room was trashed. She cared, though. She’d been a military brat, and her parents’ neat-freak habits were deeply ingrained. Order and discipline had been her watchwords since childhood.

Trey’s sentimental approach to life both fascinated and frightened her. His ability to stir an emotional response in her was a warning signal that he could disrupt her carefully managed existence. But he couldn’t knock her off-kilter unless she allowed it. So she’d just have to stay in command of the situation.

3

WHEN TREY HAD packed for the weekend, he’d used his trusty duffel, as always. Maybe, just maybe, he had some condoms tucked in a side pocket of that duffel. He probably shouldn’t be thinking about that. He shouldn’t, but he was.

The whole time he’d been talking with Elle in the lobby, she’d given off sparks. If he had to guess, he’d say she was affected by his song about her. That was okay with him. He’d written it months ago as an expression of joy and gratitude, but it seemed as if everything he wrote came out sounding like a love song in the end.

He sensed that her argument against dating him wasn’t as strong as it had been this afternoon. The tide had turned in his favor, and if, in the privacy of her room, the heat started building...well, he didn’t want to be without the means to follow through. A condom didn’t take up much room in his pocket, and if he didn’t need it, no harm done.

He might not find a stash in his duffel, but it had been his traveling companion during his relationship with Cassie. Chances were good some were still in there. Funny how the thought of Cassie didn’t bother him anymore. She’d never have been happy with a cowboy who planned to stay in Wyoming for the duration.

The aroma of fresh pine greeted him as he fit the key card into the door to his room. At some point he’d track down Pam Mulholland and thank her for treating everyone to a weekend at this plush resort. He’d fully expected to bunk with someone at the very least, but Pam had reserved separate rooms for each of them. What a luxury.

Pulling his duffel from the closet, he checked the side pocket and hit pay dirt. He took one condom and left the rest. Then he reviewed the directions she’d given him.

His hat would only be in the way, so he left it in his room. Once he was in the hallway again, he decided that maybe he should head toward the staff quarters by a roundabout route. If anyone questioned him, he’d pretend to be lost. If she’d established a policy of not dating guests, she wouldn’t want anyone to know she’d invited him to her room.

In the end, he managed to actually get lost. Feeling like an idiot, he retraced his steps and by a stroke of luck didn’t encounter anyone as he roamed the halls. Eventually he found her room and rapped softly.

She opened the door dressed in the same outfit she’d had on when they’d parted. Apparently, she hadn’t decided to slip into something more comfortable. He had no idea how this meeting would go, but at least they’d be able to talk without any danger of being overheard.

“I’d about given up on you.” She scanned the hallway before whisking him inside.

“I got lost.” He hated admitting it, but that was better than letting her think he’d dillydallied around.

“Really?” She closed the door and leaned against it. Her breathing seemed a little fast. “My directions were pretty straightforward.”

“They were, but I wanted to confuse anyone who might see me walking the halls, so I took a different route and ended up confusing myself, too.” He wasn’t breathing normally, either. Being alone with her in a room with a bed was messing with him.

She looked amazing. He hadn’t paid much attention to what she had on before, but now he was intensely interested. She wore black jeggings and cute little boots that were fashionable but useless. A light blue sweater with a V neck clung to her breasts. Gazing at her caused his groin to tighten.

“So you deliberately tried to keep your destination a secret?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.” Her expression softened. “I appreciate that.”

“Judging from what you said earlier, you wouldn’t want anyone to know I’m here.”

She nodded. “But I’m not as worried about that as I am about...other things.”

“Like what?” She was still leaning against the door and he was a good ten feet away, his back to her curtained window. He cut the space between them in half and would have moved even closer, but she put up her hand like a traffic cop.

“Hold it right there, cowboy. You were right when you said we need to talk.”

He couldn’t help smiling. “We do, but I’d rather not have to shout.”

She mirrored his smile. “It’s a small room. You were hardly within shouting distance. Just stay right there for now, okay?”

He did. Never let it be said that he forced his attention on a woman. Her eyes told him she was as revved up by their proximity as he was, but he’d let the situation unfold naturally.

Her chest heaved, which made her breasts quiver. “You probably can tell that I’m attracted to you.”

“God, I hope so. Otherwise I’ve lost my ability to recognize interest when I see it.” He was gratified when his comment made that flame ignite in her eyes once again. Her lips parted, and she looked so ready for a kiss that he considered ignoring her command to hold his ground.

“We need to talk about Cassie.”

That cooled his jets. “Cassie?” He couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d mentioned ties to the Mafia. “You know her?”

“Not at all, but I came to see you after you were admitted to the hospital, and you kept asking for her. You...uh...begged her not to leave you. You were quite emotional.”

Embarrassment washed through him, and he scrubbed a hand over his face as if to erase the color he knew would be there. “She’s totally out of my life. At the time when I rolled the Jeep, I was still upset about the breakup, but I’m over her.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes. I’m not the kind of guy who would hit on a woman if I was still in love with someone else. I don’t use one person to get over another person.” How he hated that she’d heard him moaning over Cassie. But he couldn’t change what had happened eight months ago, and he really wouldn’t want to. The accident had brought them together.

“I’m willing to accept that you’re not that kind of man. But that’s not the only thing worrying me.”

“Then what else?” If there were more obstacles, he hoped to remove them. Discovering whether he and Elle had a chance of building a relationship was his top priority.

“Judging from the way you reacted to breaking up with Cassie, you were deeply in love with her.”

“I certainly thought I was, but I’ve figured out it never would have worked. I’ve made peace with that.” He had a sudden insight. “Is that why you didn’t leave any contact information? You thought I was in love with someone else?”

“You were in love with someone else.”

“I suppose so.” He shoved his fingers through his hair. “But I’m not anymore, and I’m extremely interested in you, so I don’t understand why we’re talking about Cassie.”

“I just need to know something. Do you usually get that involved when you’re in a relationship?”

He sensed this might be a trap, so he took a moment before he responded. “Sometimes I do, yes.” That wasn’t quite accurate. He had a tendency to surrender his entire heart to the woman in his life, which left him bruised and battered when the love affair ended. But he didn’t know how else to be.

“Getting deeply involved with me wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Are you married?” He imagined some Latin lover down in Argentina and wanted to hit something.

“No, and I don’t expect to get married for a long, long time.”

“That’s fine with me, but just for the record, why the repetition of the word long? Do you have something against marriage?”

She pointed a finger at him. “See? That’s what worries me. I’ll bet you’re looking for happily ever after.”

“Eventually, yeah. What’s the matter with that?”

“Not a thing, except...well, I’m just not into that routine.”

“Okay.”

“I’m looking for ‘happy right now.’”

He desperately wanted to touch her. If he could kiss her, this conversation would be unnecessary. She was worrying about things that wouldn’t matter for quite a while. When April arrived, they could deal with this issue. Talking about it tonight was a waste of valuable time. “I can work with happy right now.”

“You were awfully quick to say that, Trey. I’m not convinced you mean it, especially if you’ve been thinking about me for months and you even wrote a song about me.”

He gazed into her blue eyes and curbed his frustration. Maybe she had a point. Now that he’d discovered that his angel was a beautiful woman, he could be guilty of romanticizing the connection between them and falling in love with the idea of her. Yeah, that sounded like something he’d do.

Blowing out a breath, he shoved his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t forget himself and reach for her. “It’s possible I’ve attached too much meaning to this chance encounter because of Pam and Emmett’s wedding after what happened last spring. But damn it, when a gorgeous woman appears out of nowhere and saves your life, that’s gonna make an impression.”

“You were delirious. I doubt you saw me all that clearly. You couldn’t have known how I looked.”

“That’s true. I’ve thought about how dazed and confused I must have been. You could have been seventy-five and missing all your teeth and I wouldn’t have known the difference.”

She smiled at that.

“But you seemed like some sort of angel with your halo of blond hair, which was lit up somehow.”

“From the headlights of my truck, no doubt.”

“Probably. I also remembered your beautiful blue eyes, which are as beautiful as I thought they were, by the way.”

“Thanks.” Her cheeks turned pink.

“But I especially remembered your voice—soft, caring, soothing. I’m a musician, so sound means a lot to me. Your voice, which is also sexy as hell, has been part of many dreams these past few months.”

The color in her cheeks darkened. “Oh.”

“Now let me ask you something.”

“Fair enough.”

“Did you ever think of me after that?”

She met his gaze, even though she continued to blush furiously. “Yes.”

“Often?”

“Often enough.” She drew a quivering breath. “But that whole bit about Cassie made me decide you were too intense for me, so I thought it was better that we’d lost touch.”

“And now?” He probably shouldn’t have asked that, but the gleam in her eyes made him bolder.

“Oh, Trey. You do turn me on, but I’m so afraid that—”

“Don’t be afraid.” He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head. He was done talking. “Don’t ever be afraid of me.”

* * *

KNOWING FULL WELL that she was doing exactly what she’d vowed not to, Elle gave up the fight. But he was so appealing, so determined, and...oh, dear God, the man could kiss. His mouth covered hers gently at first as he settled in with velvet pressure that was just enough to make her want more. Pulse racing, she cupped the back of his head and parted her lips, inviting him to take as many liberties as he wanted.

And he obviously wanted. He deepened the kiss with a sureness that made her gasp. There would be no retreat now. She’d planned to stay in control, but that plan was scrapped the moment she surrendered to the thrust of his tongue. When he splayed his fingers over her bottom and pulled her against his rigid cock, she moaned in excitement.

Clothes became the enemy. She tugged at the snaps of his Western shirt, needing to touch him without any barrier. His breathing roughened when she slid her palms up the furred planes of his muscular chest.

Lifting his mouth a fraction from hers, he chuckled. “I’ll take that as a green light.”

“Extremely green.” She reached for his belt buckle. “I want you naked and I want you now.”

“That means we have matching goals.” Returning to that most excellent kiss, he slid a hand under her sweater and unfastened her bra with one quick movement.

Things progressed quickly after that. His ability to kiss was matched by his talent for ridding her of her clothes. She completely lost track of her mission to unbuckle his belt.

A girl could be forgiven for being distracted when a hot cowboy expertly slipped off her sweater and put his mouth there...and there...and there. She whimpered as he took her nipple between his teeth and tugged. This was going to be good. Very good. She’d worry about the emotional consequences later.

As she adjusted to the wonders of being topless and very well caressed, he moved on, divesting her of her jeggings, panties and boots. After that, well, he really took liberties with where he put his clever mouth. And his agile tongue.

Her knees threatened to give way as he drove her insane. “I’m...going to fall...”

“Not on my watch.” Scooping her into his arms, he laid her down on the bed and proceeded to finish what he’d started, which meant she had to grab a pillow and press it to her face to muffle the sounds of her heart-pounding orgasm.

The pillow provided some measure of privacy, too. No man had ever produced such an uninhibited reaction in her, and she was a little embarrassed. Here she’d been worried that he was too intense, and she was the one bringing all the drama. But wow. Just...wow.

The mattress shifted as he climbed off the bed. The clank of his belt buckle hitting the floor told her that he was completing the task she’d abandoned. One boot thudded to the floor, then another.

Moments later, the mattress dipped again, and he tugged at the pillow. “You under there?”

“Yes.”

“Are you hiding?”

“Yes.”

“You must be part ostrich, then. They hide just like that, everything exposed but their heads.”

That mental image was enough to make her jerk the pillow away and meet his gaze. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” He slowly combed her hair back from her face.

As she soaked up the warmth from his smile and his amazing brown eyes, she was comforted, but as he continued to look at her, comfort morphed into arousal. Her breath caught.

“What?” He stroked her cheek with one finger. “Why did you gasp like that?”

“I...” Her face felt hot, but the heat didn’t stop there. It shot through her, making her ache in a way she hadn’t known was possible. “I still want you.”

“That’s convenient.” He cupped her face in one hand and leaned down to feather a kiss over her lips. “I still want you.”

“Did you bring any—”

“Yep. Just in case.” Foil crinkled, and then he was back, dropping more soft kisses on her mouth as he moved over her.

“Good man.” Wrapping her arms around his broad back, she rose to meet him, and they came together as if they’d been doing this forever. No fumbling, no miscues. One sure thrust, and they were locked in an age-old embrace.

“Mmm.” His hum of praise vibrated against her mouth.

She couldn’t have said it better. He fit her perfectly, his hard cock stretching her just enough to make her want more. She hadn’t had a lot of lovers, but none of them had felt so absolutely right.

That scared her more than a little. She wanted this kind of perfection someday, but she wasn’t ready for it now. Too late. Trey was here, buried deep inside her, and he had started to move. Sweet heaven.

If she’d thought they were a nice combination while stationary, they were a spectacular event when in motion. He began slow and easy, giving her time to catch his rhythm. She didn’t need any time. Instinctively, she knew him, knew his moves.

“Open your eyes.”

She did, and discovered he was looking down at her as he rocked forward and back, forward and back. Each roll of his hips brought her climax nearer. He made it seem effortless, as if he could love her this way for hours, yet surely he must be struggling to hold back. If so, he gave no indication.

“Your eyes are getting darker,” he murmured.

The coil of tension within her tightened another notch as she held his gaze. “That’s because...” She gulped. “Because I’m close.”

“I know.” A flicker in his eyes betrayed his excitement, although his pace never altered. “I can feel it.”

“You don’t have to hold back.”

“But I want to hold back.” His breath hitched, but his strokes remained unhurried. “I want to watch you come.”

“What about—” She moaned and clutched his hips. How she wanted this, needed this! “What about you?”

“Later. You first.” He pushed forward, putting pressure at the critical spot. Then he slid back and pushed in again.

“I need the pillow.” Panting, she struggled to hold back her orgasm. “I need it now.”

“Use my hand.” He covered her mouth gently.

With that, she erupted in a climax that shook her from head to toe. She clutched his hand and pressed it tight against her mouth. Her hips lifted toward the pleasure, and he continued thrusting. She kept coming, her cries captured in the palm of his hand. At last, her body shaking, she sank back onto the sheet. But little aftershocks continued to roll through her.

“My turn.” He moved faster, now. Slipping his hands under her bottom, he held her as if knowing she didn’t have the strength to do it herself.

Amazingly, she wasn’t finished. His rapid strokes brought her right back to the edge, and when he hurled himself over with a deep groan, she followed with a gasp of surprise. As she clung to him and gulped in air, her dazed mind kept returning to one simple truth. She’d started an affair with Trey Wheeler, and keeping it under control would take all her willpower.

4

TREY HAD A million things he wanted to say to Elle as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, but he chose not to say any of them. Actions spoke louder than words, anyway, and their actions tonight in this bed were shouting about the possibilities ahead of them. He’d let her think on it, and he sure as hell would, too.

Going into this, he’d had high expectations. The reality of making love to her had shot way past those expectations, and he suspected the lovemaking would only get better with time. A relationship was built on more than sexual attraction, and he knew that, so the next step was getting better acquainted somewhere other than in bed.

Tomorrow they’d be together for the skiing lesson, with other folks around. He was glad they’d been to bed first, though, so neither of them had to waste time wondering if and when sex would happen. The if part was settled, and the when would be every chance they had.

He didn’t think he was being egotistical to assume that. She’d responded more enthusiastically than any woman he’d been with. She’d want more of that, and heaven knows he would, too. She was incredible. His body had never felt so energized, so damned complete.

But he held off telling her all those things, especially because she was getting drowsier by the second. He’d wondered earlier if she’d notice his angel wing tattoo once his shirt was off, but she hadn’t. Just as well.

He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about it, jumpy as she was about commitment. Tattoos were permanent, although they did fade with time. Still, Elle might not like the fact that he planned to carry a reminder of her forever, no matter how their relationship turned out.

He stayed with her until she drifted off to sleep. Then he slipped out of bed, dressed quietly and left her room, locking the door behind him.

As he started down the hall, he saw a woman walking in his direction. There was no escape. As they drew closer to each other, he recognized Amy, the bartender. He had no idea what time it was, but she’d probably just gotten off work and was going to her room.

When they met, she smiled at him. “You look worried.”

“I am worried. It’s obvious where I’ve been, and I don’t want the word to get out.”

“I won’t rat on you, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“I appreciate that.”

“But after the introduction to your song tonight, followed by you and Elle leaving the bar together, I predict you won’t keep this liaison a secret very long.”

Trey sighed. “I don’t want to embarrass her. Apparently she has this ironclad rule, and—”

“It’s her rule, and she has the right to break it. I can’t speak for everyone, but I won’t tease her.”

“Thanks. And, listen, I also want to thank you for asking Elle to help you behind the bar tonight. That turned out really well.”

Amy laughed. “I can see that it did. FYI, your shirt is buttoned up wrong.”

“Oh.” Trey glanced down and sure enough, she was right. But he couldn’t very well fix it right here in front of her. He’d do that after they parted ways. “Anyway, I hope you weren’t slammed with orders after we left.”

“I wasn’t slammed with orders in the first place.” Amy’s smile widened. “I didn’t really need her help. I told her to get her butt down there so she could listen to a hot cowboy sing with the band.”

“Really?”

“Really. She loves her some good country music. I had no idea all this other stuff was going on with you two.”

“Huh. So my music did have some effect on her.”

“I’d guarantee it. Of course, you were having some effect on all the women in the room. Have you thought of doing anything with that gift?”

“Nah. I love training horses. The life of a professional singer doesn’t appeal to me at all. Local stuff is all I care to do.”

“Too bad. I know it’s competitive, but I think you could make it if you wanted to give it a try.”

“That’s nice to hear, but it just doesn’t interest me.”

“All righty, then. Guess I’ll be going off to bed. See you tomorrow.”

“You bet. And thanks again.” Trey continued down the hall. So Elle was susceptible to his music, was she? That was a bonus he hadn’t counted on.

Amy thought he should do something with his gift. Apparently, he already had. And he’d continue to use it to charm his angel until she figured out they had something special going on.

* * *

CARRYING HER SKIS and poles in a zippered bag in one hand and two clipboards in the other, Elle walked out to the bunny hill a little before nine, the time appointed for the beginner lessons. She prided herself on always being on time, but this morning she’d been more motivated than usual.

Jackson Hole had trotted out one of its famously perfect winter mornings. A cobalt sky arched over pine forests crisscrossed with ski runs. Sunlight turned the snow into a rhinestone-studded carpet.

Elle couldn’t imagine a more beautiful setting than this one. She’d bounced out of bed with the kind of energy she’d had as a kid. Breakfast had tasted like gourmet fare, even though it was her usual yogurt and fruit combined with strong coffee.

She had plenty of reservations about letting Trey into her life, but for the short term, he’d made her feel as if she’d spent a day at the spa. Her body hummed with awareness knowing she’d see him very soon.

She was already planning ahead, looking for opportunities for them to be alone so that she could feel his magic hands, taste his exotic kisses and feel the thrust of his...well, yes. Definitely that, too. She got hot thinking about it.

He was scheduled to play for the rehearsal dinner tonight, but after that...he’d be all hers. She’d had a short conversation with Amy in the employee cafeteria, and Amy had mentioned meeting Trey in the hallway. Amy wouldn’t gossip, but she’d warned Elle that Trey’s song and his subsequent exit from the bar with Elle would fuel rumors.

Probably. She wasn’t going to let worry about fallout dampen her mood today, though. She’d enjoyed the most thrilling sex of her life last night, and the man responsible for that would be at the bunny hill any minute. A little voice in her head warned her that she was flirting with disaster, and she ignored it.

Jared was already there. Leaning her gear against the side of the ski hut they used as a base of operations, she walked over to him. “Ready for the newbies?”

“Absolutely.” With his lean, muscular body, Jared fit the image of a sexy ski instructor. He inspired confidence in those he coached with his brilliant smile, which flashed often in a face tanned by constant exposure to sun reflecting off snow.

Women found him irresistible, but Elle had never heard about any liaisons with guests. She decided to ask him about that. “I know the ladies hit on you all the time. Have you ever...?” She wasn’t quite sure how to state it so she wouldn’t offend him.

Jared winked at her. “Elle, you know perfectly well that a gentleman doesn’t discuss his affairs.”

“So you have had them!”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. If you’d walked the straight and narrow, you would have told me. But you hedged.”

Jared studied her with dark eyes that hinted at his Mediterranean heritage. “Why do I get the idea this isn’t an idle question?”

“Because it’s not, obviously. I’ve never done anything like this before, and I want to know how much potential trouble I could cause myself.”

“Does this have something to do with the singing cowboy?”

She stared at him. “How did you know it was him?”

“Sweetheart, everybody knows.”

“They do not.” She couldn’t believe word had traveled that fast. “You’re making that up.”

“Nope. The Last Chance crowd is well aware that he searched high and low for you following his accident last spring. Add in his revealing performance at the bar last night and the two of you leaving together, and it doesn’t take a genius.” He surveyed her. “If I needed any confirmation, all I have to do is look at you. You’re bright as a penny that just popped out of the U.S. mint.”

Elle groaned. “He’s signed up for a lesson this morning, along with five other guys from the ranch. Are you saying they’ll all know?”

“It’s a safe bet.”

“Great. How am I supposed to handle that?”

“It won’t be a problem.”

“How do you know? I think it could be a huge problem. Teasing, innuendoes, stuff like that.”

“Obviously, you don’t know much about cowboys, Elle. I suppose you wouldn’t, because they don’t come up here much. You’ve never had a reason to understand the culture.”

“What culture?”

“Cowboys have a code of honor. I’m not saying all of them do, but it’s expected of the Last Chance bunch or they’re sent on their way. Those guys might give each other grief, but they would never knowingly embarrass a woman, especially a woman connected to one of their buddies.”

“How do you know so much about it?”

Jared smiled. “That’s what you learn if you stick around during the summer and hang out at the Spirits and Spurs in Shoshone. You should try it sometime.”

“I follow the snow.”

“I’ve heard you say that, but doesn’t it get monotonous?”

Elle shrugged. “I’m an army brat. Staying in one place all the time is what would get monotonous for me. Besides, skiing is what I do.”

“It’s what I do, too, but I take a break in the summer.” He glanced over her shoulder. “Looks like our students are on the way. Prepare yourself.”

“What for?” Elle turned around and had to fight to keep from laughing. The women were all outfitted in typical water-resistant skiwear they’d probably bought in Jackson or in the resort ski shop. The men were a different story. They had the required skis, boots and poles. But they’d dressed for a day riding the range, not a morning on skis. All of them wore jeans, sheepskin jackets, leather gloves and Stetsons.

No, wait. One man was outfitted in ski clothes, a short, barrel-chested guy sporting a handlebar mustache. She’d bet he was the one signed up with the women in Jared’s group.

“Good luck,” Jared murmured.

“It’s only the bunny slope. Shouldn’t matter.” She counted the men as they approached, and her gaze locked momentarily with Trey’s. He grinned, and she couldn’t help grinning back. She hoped he felt as great this morning as she did.

But her quick head count gave her seven men instead of six. One of the Last Chance group must have changed his mind and decided to try the sport after all. She wondered if they’d communicated on the dress code or if they’d all come to this Western-wear decision of their own accord.

“Good morning, gentlemen, and welcome.” She handed one clipboard to Trey, who’d reached her first, his long strides betraying his eagerness. She gave the other one to the next man, who also wore a mustache, although not of the handlebar variety. “If you’ll pass the clipboards around and fill out the required liability form, we can get started. While you’re doing that, you can also introduce yourselves.”

“I’m Trey Wheeler.” He said it as if he’d never met her before. No one smirked or made a comment.

“Gabe Chance,” said the man with the sandy mustache.

A green-eyed man next to him spoke up. “Nick Chance.”

“We brought him along ’cause he’s a veterinarian,” Gabe said. “If we break anything, we’re covered.”

“Good to know, but I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Elle turned to the next man in the semi-circle.

“Jack Chance.”

“Ah. So you decided to join your brothers, after all.” Even semi-isolated at the resort, she’d heard of Jack Chance, oldest of the brothers, part Shoshone and acknowledged spokesman for the Chance family in Jackson Hole.

Jack’s dark eyes flashed with humor. “I blame tequila shots and my potential ex-buddy Nash Bledsoe here.” He glanced over at the cowboy standing next to him. “We have a sizable bet riding on my ability to stick it out this morning.”

“I see.” This lesson was shaping up to be a memorable one.

“I’m Alex Keller,” said a fair-haired man.

“You’re the one with some experience,” Elle said.

“A little. I’m no expert.”

She’d believe that, since he’d chosen to dress in jeans like the rest of them.

“And I’m a total beginner,” said a freckle-faced cowboy who looked like the youngest of the group. “Jeb Branford, at your service, ma’am.”

“It’s great to meet all of you.” She smiled at them. “But I have to ask, why the jeans and cowboy hats?”

Alex glanced around the circle. “Told you guys she’d wonder about that.”

“We don’t own skiing gear,” Gabe said. “Seemed kind of silly to buy it for one time.”

“True, but you could have rented something.”

“That’s what Watkins did,” the freckle-faced guy named Jeb said. “Mary Lou made him. But the rest of us agreed that those ski pants and puffy jackets look sort of...unmanly.” Then he flushed. “I mean, the outfit suits you, ma’am, but we’re...we’re cowboys.”

“Fair enough.” Elle bit back a smile. “You should be fine for the bunny slope, but—”

“Damn, is it really called the bunny slope?” Jack looked pained.

Nash clapped him on the shoulder. “’Fraid so, Jack, old boy.”

“I was hoping that was just you being cute, Nash.”

“It is, in fact, the bunny slope,” Elle said. “If any of you graduate from the bunny slope, you might want to rethink your outfit. Wet denim can get pretty uncomfortable.”

“Which will only be a problem if we fall down,” Jack said.

Alex, the one who knew better, smiled. “Good luck with that, Jack.”

Jack gazed at him, his expression serenely confident. “Time will tell, won’t it? When this is over, we’ll compare butts and see who has the dry one.”

Elle ducked her head so they couldn’t see her expression. If Jack, or any of them, thought they would stay upright throughout this lesson, they were in for quite a surprise. She might have to put on a ski mask so they wouldn’t catch her dying of laughter.

“All righty!” She glanced around the group. “After you’ve signed the form, go on over to the bench and put on your skis. I’m about to put mine on, so if you want to come over and watch how it’s done, you’re welcome. I’m also sure Alex can help you with that.”

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