“Savannah, we’re going to kiss,” Mike said.

“It might as well be now,” he added in a whispered Texas drawl. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

Savannah placed her hands on his chest, ready to voice her protest when his lips brushed hers lightly and her heart thudded.

At that moment she wanted his kiss with all her being. She couldn’t think about what was best or if she shouldn’t or that he really didn’t want this either. The stubble on his jaw scraped her skin slightly while his warmth, his strength and his lean, hard body heightened her pleasure.

Finally, as she paused, he released her slightly.

“A kiss isn’t a binding commitment,” he said. “A long, warm kiss on a cold winter’s night even beats hot chocolate.”

She suspected he attempted to make light of the moment, but that was impossible. They both had kissed away wise decisions.

“Savannah, we won’t fall in love—I promise you.” So said him.

* * *

At the Rancher’s Request is part of Sara Orwig’s Texas-set series, Lone Star Legends.

At the Rancher’s Request

Sara Orwig

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SARA ORWIG lives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere, from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.

To David and my family with love.

Also, with many thanks to Stacy Boyd and Maureen Walters.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Extract

Copyright

One

Mike Calhoun frowned, glancing briefly at the small mirror that allowed him to see Scotty in the backseat. Assured his almost-three-year-old son was okay, Mike peered ahead as sheets of gray rain swept against his truck. With the truck wipers maxed, he guessed visibility was less than fifty yards. He hadn’t passed a car or seen any sign of life for the past half hour. To his relief he spotted a small light shining on a sign and he turned, thankful to have reached the shelter of the only gas station between the closest town and his West Texas ranch.

He slowed to stop beneath the extended roof covering eight pumps. Ed had locked up and gone home and Mike didn’t blame him. On a stormy Saturday night in the last week of January, Ed wouldn’t have had much business anyway.

“We’re stopping, Scotty,” he said, turning to his son while he left the motor running and the car lights switched on so they would not be in complete darkness. “If we wait, the rain will let up and driving conditions will be better,” he said as he unfastened his son’s seat belt.

Solemnly, Scotty looked at him. “Can we cross the bridge?”

Smiling, Mike tousled Scotty’s black curls. “My little worrier,” Mike said. “I think so, Scotty. If we can’t cross the north bridge in the front, I’ll drive around to the west. It’ll take longer, but we can get home. Don’t worry. This downpour will slack off soon. It can’t rain this hard all night.”

Twin specks of light emerged from the rain and grew bigger as a car approached. “Here comes someone else. It may be someone from our ranch.”

When the car pulled into the lane next to Mike, smoke poured from beneath the hood. The driver passed the pumps, stopping beyond them, still sheltered by the roof.

The driver’s door opened and someone in a parka stepped out and shook the hood away, revealing a woman with a long blond braid.

“This isn’t anyone we know. Scotty, stay in the car while I see if she needs help.” Mike lowered the front window so Scotty could hear him easily. He cut the car engine. “The lady has car trouble.”

Pocketing his car keys, Mike stepped out and closed his door. “Hi, I’m Mike Calhoun. Can I help you?” he asked, looking at a blonde with big blue eyes.

Frowning slightly, she walked around her car. “Thank you. I’m Savannah Grayson. I do need help. I don’t know what’s wrong with my car. I was so scared it would break down while I was on the highway. It’s been clattering and smoke was coming out from beneath the hood. Thank heavens I saw your car in this station. It was like getting tossed a lifeline in a stormy ocean.” She looked past him. “You have a little boy in your truck. I shouldn’t take your time.”

Mike looked at Scotty and waved even though only a few yards separated them. Smiling, Scotty waved back. “He’ll be fine for a bit.”

“I don’t know what the trouble is—”

“Whoa,” Mike said, seeing a flickering orange flame curl from beneath the hood. He stepped to his truck, retrieved his fire extinguisher and opened the hood of her car. As flames shot out, Savannah gasped. He held up the extinguisher and in seconds white foam doused the fire.

“I’m sorry, but this car isn’t going anywhere until a mechanic works on it,” Mike said, bending over the smoldering engine. “Are you visiting someone around here?” he asked when he straightened. He was certain she didn’t live in the area or he would know her.

“No, I’m just passing through. I’m on my way to California from Arkansas. I don’t know anyone here. I guess this place is locked up for the night.” She frowned again as she looked at the dark station.

“When the rain lets up, I can drive you back to Verity where there’s a good hotel. I’ll call Ed who owns this gas station and tell him you’re leaving your car here for the weekend. It’ll be Monday before anyone can look at your car. In the meantime, I’ll take you back to Verity and you can get a hotel room.”

“Thank you,” she said, giving him another faint smile.

“Let’s go sit with my son Scotty until this rain lets up. This is a whopper of a storm. We’ve had a long dry spell, so now we’re getting the rain all at once to make up for it. This is supposed to change to snow later tonight.”

As she nodded, Mike opened the truck door.

Sliding into the truck on the passenger side, she turned to smile at Scotty. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he replied, staring at her.

Mike turned to her. “Savannah, this is Scotty. Scotty, this is Ms. Grayson.”

“Hi, Ms. Grayson,” he said.

Mike closed her door. He walked around to sit behind the steering wheel while she shed her parka and smoothed the oversize navy sweatshirt she wore. The interior of his truck had cooled with the window lowered, so Mike turned on the engine, the heater and defrost. Lights from the dash gave a soft glow in the car.

“I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here,” Savannah said. “Probably driven it out into the rain, opened the hood and then ran. I suppose the rain would have put out the fire.”

Mike laughed. “Guess it is a good thing I was here. Where in Arkansas are you from?” he asked, looking into big eyes that were the deep blue of a summer sky.

“Little Rock,” she replied.

The first hailstone caught their attention. In seconds another struck, then hail began hurtling at the car and ground.

“Thank goodness we’re sheltered and I’m not still out on the highway,” Savannah said.

“Those are big hailstones. I’m glad we’re both here.” He took a few minutes to call Ed about her car, then pocketed his phone. “All set for Monday morning,” he told Savannah. “Why don’t you take what you need from your car and then lock it. You can leave the key in the drop box on the station door.”

“This is nice of you. I hate for you to have to drive back to Verity.”

“I don’t mind,” he answered. Hailstones fell harder, faster, bouncing when they hit the pavement. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.

“Damn. We’re having a bad storm. Excuse me a minute. I want to check at the ranch.” He called his foreman, explaining he was waiting out the storm at Ed’s station. After a lengthy report from Ray on how things were faring, Mike said he’d check back in later.

He slipped his phone into his pocket. “I don’t live far from here. We’re not going to get back into Verity tonight because the river is flooding and we’d need to cross a bridge to get into town. Also, the temperature is dropping. If it keeps up, this will turn to sleet and roads can get slick in the blink of an eye.”

“Seems I’ve gone from bad to worse,” she said, gazing at the rain.

“Savannah, you’re welcome to come back to my ranch with me. You can get a character reference from the sheriff of Verity. I have his phone number—he’s my relative. Or if you want to check in with someone who’s not a relative of mine, I can give you my banker’s or lawyer’s number. I just don’t want you to worry about coming home with us.”

She laughed. “Mercy. That’s a lot of references.”

“I’m calling the sheriff now and you can talk to him.”

“Please, you don’t need to call. I think your best reference is sitting in the backseat.”

Startled, Mike looked up to see a twinkle in her blue eyes. “Scotty?”

She turned to Scotty. “Scotty, can I trust your daddy?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She smiled at Mike, an enticing smile that revealed even white teeth and made the evening seem suddenly better. “I think you’ve given me enough assurances that I’ll be safe to go with you. You don’t need to call the sheriff. Do you need to call your wife and tell her you’re bringing a guest home?”

Mike felt a clutch to his insides. No one had asked about Elise in a long time, but it still hurt when he was questioned. “I’m a widower.”

“I’m sorry,” she said instantly.

“Thanks. I think the hail has let up slightly. Let’s get things out of your car and get going while we can. Scotty, just sit tight. I’m going to help Ms. Grayson move some of her bags to our car.”

“Yes, sir,” Scotty replied.

In minutes they had moved suitcases, a laptop, two backpacks and a box. As soon as she locked her car and dropped the keys in the drop box, they climbed into his truck and he drove back onto the state highway. She glanced back at her car.

“Your car will be okay there.”

“I wasn’t worried. It’s an older car with a burned, damaged engine and I don’t think anyone would want it. And thanks so much for your help,” she added. “I hope I don’t crowd you. I can sleep anywhere—sofa, floor, anything works.”

He smiled. “You won’t have to sleep on the floor. I have plenty of room.”

They became quiet while Mike concentrated on his driving. The rain was still heavy, but not the downpour it had been, which improved visibility.

Almost an hour later as they neared the turn for the front gate, Mike called his foreman again on a hands-free phone in his truck. When he ended the brief call, he glanced in the mirror at his son. Big brown eyes gazed back at him.

“Scotty, we’ll need to go around the creek to get home. But don’t worry because I promise we’ll get home.”

Scotty smiled and nodded, and Mike glanced at Savannah. “My foreman drove to the creek that crosses the ranch. We can’t get there the usual way from this road. I have to take a longer route.”

“Whatever is necessary. Anything beats staying alone in my burned car in the rain all night,” she said, smiling. “I’m just thankful to have a roof over my head tonight and be where people are.”

The downpour suddenly thickened, sheets of rain sweeping over the vehicle again and then hailstones began bouncing off his truck.

“Dammit,” Mike said softly, glancing quickly in the mirror and seeing Scotty’s eyes wide and frightened.

“Daddy, I don’t like this.”

“It’ll quit in a minute, Scotty, and with every mile we’re getting closer to home.”

“Scotty,” Savannah said, rummaging in her purse and turning slightly to reach between the seats. “I keep a tiny flashlight in my purse. You take it. And look at this. It’s a compass—it shows you which direction you’re headed. See this letter. It’s a W. W means west. We’ll be much closer to your home when the needle points to—” She paused.

“N,” Mike said.

“N is for north,” Scotty replied.

“Very good, Scotty,” Savannah said. “How old is he?” she asked Mike.

“Yes. He’ll soon turn three and he’s with adults all the time. He knows about a compass.”

“Scotty, you can watch that compass to see which direction we’re going. You have a flashlight so you can see the letters.” As the hail increased, she raised her voice. “You’ll know when we turn that you’re closer to your home. Look here. I have a marble that was in my purse. I’ll hide it in one of my hands and you guess which one it’s in.”

Mike listened to Savannah play with Scotty. She had gotten his mind off the storm and he was looking at her hands, guessing about the marble. Mike wondered if she had younger siblings. He realized he had been gripping the steering wheel tightly and he relaxed. The hail receded, but the rain still came in pounding sheets over his truck, making driving hazardous.

While Scotty played with the flashlight, Savannah turned back around.

“Thanks,” Mike said.

“Sure. Kids are fun.”

“Do you have siblings?” Mike asked.

“Oh, yes. There are four of us and I’m the youngest. I have four little nieces and nephews, too. I like babies and children.”

Mike wanted to ask her more about herself, but he turned his attention back to his driving and they rode in silence while he concentrated on getting home.

* * *

It was almost another thirty minutes when Savannah saw a wide gate ahead with a high iron arch over the road and the letters MC in the center at the top. Rain still poured and the wipers were a constant swish. At a post near the gate Mike slowed to reach out to punch a code. When the gate swung open, he drove across a cattle guard, a silver grill of flat steel tubing with a slightly rougher surface than the road, and then the gate closed behind him.

“Your son is asleep,” Savannah whispered.

“I figured he would be. He’s had a busy day in town. And you don’t have to whisper, he’s out.”

“I don’t want to wake him.”

“It’s just as well he’s asleep because he’s a worrier and we have to cross a swollen creek. At the main entrance to my ranch, there’s a bridge, but it’s older, already underwater and less reliable. The bridge on this part of the creek is newer, higher and wider so we’ve always been able to get across.”

“You better,” she whispered. “You promised him.”

When Mike glanced at her, Savannah smiled.

“Kids have great trust,” he said with his attention back on the road.

“Not if it isn’t earned. You must have always come through for him.”

“I hope I always can. He knows there are some things beyond me,” Mike said.

“We’ll hope crossing this bridge tonight isn’t one of them.” Savannah was thankful to have found Mike and Scotty. Otherwise, she would have been on a deserted road in the storm for the rest of the night and maybe a lot longer and she wouldn’t have known where or when to get help. Thinking about it, she shivered and studied Mike’s profile. He had a wide-brimmed black hat squarely on his head. He was in a leather, fleece-lined parka with fur trim and wore jeans and boots. He looked as competent as he was proving to be. His son was an adorable miniature of his dad with black hair and dark brown eyes.

After a time she wondered how big Mike’s ranch was because it seemed as if they had been driving a long time since going through the gate.

“There it is,” Mike said as if he guessed her thoughts. She peered through the streaming rain and could see what looked like a river. Swollen with surging black water, it was bigger than any creek she had ever seen. Rushing water had spilled out of the banks earlier in the evening. Mike’s truck headlights revealed seven men in slickers getting out of two pickups on the other side of the raging creek.

“I’ll be damned,” he said quietly, frowning as he peered through his windshield. “I’ve never seen the creek this high. Not ever.”

Chilled again by apprehension, she looked as the rushing water spread out of creek banks and splashed across the bridge that was already underwater.

“The bridge is covered by the creek,” she said, her apprehension mounting swiftly. “Can we cross?”

“We’re going to,” Mike replied, stopping to phone his foreman. “Thanks for coming, Ray. I really appreciate all of you being here.” Mike paused to listen. “I think we’ll make it, but I’m glad you’re here. Thanks.” Mike put away his phone and she watched as the men turned lights on the raging creek.

“They came earlier and strung ropes across the creek tied to trees on each side. If we go into the creek, I’ll get Scotty. You try to grab one of those ropes or anything else you can grab. Someone will come to help you. I don’t think that will happen, but if it does, we’ll have backup. If you go in, swim with the current, but try to angle toward the bank.”

“I hate to think about someone risking his life to come into the creek to get me. The water looks fierce. I don’t think I can swim in that.”

“It is fierce,” Mike said. “Just go with the current. The guys will get you. We can’t go back and we can’t stay out here all night. Thank heavens Scotty is asleep. Don’t worry until you have to because I expect the bridge to hold,” he said in a tone filled with so much confidence, her fear diminished. He lowered all the windows. “Sorry, but just in case we go in and the truck sinks, we can all get out easily. The pickup might just float because the current will carry it along.”

“I don’t care to think about the possibilities,” she said, staring at the creek.

Mike inched slowly across. Holding her breath and clutching the door handle until her knuckles were white, she watched waves splash over the bridge. They reached the other side and she let out her breath.

“You did it!” she exclaimed, looking at Mike who raised all the windows except his own. The men waved and slapped hands in high fives. One tall man in a hooded parka came to the truck.

“Thanks, Ray,” Mike said.

“Glad you made it across. We’re supposed to get sleet and later snow. I’m glad you’re back.”

“We’re thankful to be here. Ray, this is Ms. Grayson. She had car trouble and we left her car at Ed’s. She’ll stay here tonight.”

“Howdy, Ms. Grayson,” he said, bending down to look at her.

“Just call me Savannah, please.”

“Savannah, this is Ray Farndale, my foreman.”

“Thanks for waiting to help,” she said.

“Glad our help wasn’t needed. Mike, we’ll see you in the morning. We all better head home before it gets worse. If it keeps up, that bridge will be far enough under water no one can cross.”

“What about the animals? Do you guys need any help tonight?”

“Thanks, no. You get Scotty and Ms. Grayson out of the storm. We’re fine, so far. I’ll call if we need you. If the temperature drops the way they say it will, then tomorrow will bring a different set of problems.”

“I’ll join you in the morning because we’ll need every hand.” He raised his window as he drove past the other men and waved.

“Scotty slept right through that,” she said. “I have to say, I’m supremely glad the bridge held. You were very calm. You must not rattle easily.”

“It wouldn’t have helped for me to get worked up.” Mike smiled at her. “Let’s go home,” he said, the words wrapping around her with a reassurance that was comforting.

In minutes the first lights could be seen through the rain-covered windshield. One truck turned off and headed away. “Where is that pickup going?” she asked.

“Ray and a couple of guys are headed out to see about our livestock. The men all have phones and walkie-talkies so they can keep in touch.”

“And you like this ranch life?” she asked.

He smiled. “Yes, the good outweighs the bad. Everything has ups and downs. There is something new every day and constant challenges.”

“And you like that?” she repeated, shaking her head. “Good thing you can keep calm. I’d hate to be headed out in the blizzard in the dark.” She wondered about his rugged life that was so different from everything she knew. She looked into the darkness and shivered, thankful to be in a warm car.

They passed a large hangar. Farther along, Savannah could see lights from houses set back long distances from both sides of the road. Next, outbuildings came into view and then two large barns and corrals. In seconds the road divided, the remaining truck turned and headed away from them.

“The guys are going home or to the bunkhouse. Some of them have houses and families here.”

She rode in silence as they passed more outbuildings and an eight-bay garage. Beyond it was a fence and a sprawling three-story ranch house. Mike punched buttons on his phone and lights came on in the house. The drive circled beneath a porte cochere.

“I guess I won’t have to sleep on the floor,” she said, startled by the size of his home and outbuildings. She turned to him. “All this from raising cows?”

“All this from having ancestors who were the first cattle barons who settled here. Each generation has built on that. We’ve been fortunate. We still raise cattle.”

With a hiss the rain changed to sleet and Mike’s smile vanished as he swore quietly. “This we don’t need, but I’m thankful it held off until now.”

She nodded and looked up. He gazed into her blue eyes and she gazed back. The low dash lights bathed her face in a pink glow, revealing rosy cheeks, big blue eyes and smooth skin. As he looked into her wide eyes, he became aware of her as a woman. A current sparked and he saw her eyelids flutter at the same time he felt electricity ignite between them. Startled, he stared at her while his surprise held him immobile. He hadn’t been aware of another woman since losing Elise to cancer almost two years ago, a year after Scotty’s birth. Shocked by his reaction, Mike forgot how he was staring at Savannah. He looked away, turning to gaze at the rain.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Lucky boy. He’s still asleep.”

“I’ll carry him in and come back to get your suitcases,” Mike said.

“Don’t worry about my things tonight. I’ll get the bag I need and the rest can wait until tomorrow. You take care of your son.”

“His nanny is away right now or she would come help. Her daughter has a new baby and Nell, Mrs. Lewis, has gone to help for a few weeks.”

“I’m in no rush,” Savannah said, slipping on a backpack and gathering her laptop, purse and a suitcase.

Mike unbuckled Scotty and picked him up, carrying his sleeping son in his arms.

“He’s a sound sleeper,” she whispered.

Mike smiled. “Thank heaven.” He opened the door and held it wide for her. She stepped inside and turned to hold the door out of his way while he carried Scotty inside and switched off an alarm.

“Scotty is growing up in a comfortable, beautiful home,” she said as they walked down a wide hall that held green plants, oil paintings of landscapes and Western scenes in ornate frames, Queen Anne chairs and tables along the walls. Doors opened onto rooms they passed, giving her a glimpse of a formal dining room with a massive table that had to seat twenty. She passed a library with ladders and an open beam ceiling.

“Mike, that’s an enormous library. Do you read constantly?”

He smiled and nodded. “It’s the family library. Many of the books are very old. Scotty has his own bookshelves in his room, so he doesn’t try to pull out valuable first editions from the family collection.”

“I don’t know how Scotty finds his way around this house.”

“This house seems large because it’s new to you. You’ll know your way around in no time.”

“Which means you think I’ll be snowed in for several days.”

“Don’t sound so glum. You didn’t mention having a deadline and we’ll find some way to pass the time.”

He smiled at her and she had to laugh. Was he flirting with her? She didn’t know him well enough to know. They branched off into the front hall with a sweeping staircase and she went upstairs beside Mike.

“This ranch is my whole life. My brothers have other interests, but my world is here. My sister is like me and has a ranch close by. I also have a house in Verity that I never use and a condo in Dallas that I’m rarely in. Do you live in town or in the country in Arkansas?”

“Definitely in town,” Savannah answered. “I don’t know anything about country living much less life on a Texas ranch.”

They walked down another wide hall. “My suite of rooms is at the end of this wing. Any of these bedrooms are empty along here. You might as well be closer so you don’t feel isolated. Scotty’s suite adjoins mine and his nanny has a suite adjoining his on the other side. Here’s where you can stay.” Mike entered a room and switched on a light. She looked at a sizable sitting room with a large-screen television, a wide glass desk, bookshelves along one wall, chairs and two sofas. The room had appealing turquoise-and-cream decor with a hardwood floor and thick area rugs. “There’s a bedroom beyond this room. If you need anything, just let me know. Make yourself comfortable. As soon as I get Scotty in bed I’ll come back and we can go have hot chocolate or a drink or whatever you would like.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“See you in a few minutes,” he said.

She watched him walk out, his son in his arms. He looked like a typical cowboy, his black hat squarely on his head and his jeans hugging his long, slender legs. Boots gave an already tall man additional height. Once again she was thankful he had been at the station when she had turned in.

Glancing around the sitting room, she thought of the rooms they had passed. Mike was not an ordinary cowboy to afford a house such as this. She walked through the sitting room into a bedroom that was warm, pretty and welcoming with antique maple furniture, a four-poster bed, a rocking chair, another large television and a tall cheval glass. Savannah put her bags on her bed and sent a text, including a photo of her temporary room, to her mother to let her know where she was and why.

She freshened up, then changed into jeans, a blue sweater and her knee-high leather boots. Undoing her braid, she brushed her hair, which fell across her shoulders. She thought about the moment beneath the porte cochere before they stepped out of the truck when she had become aware of Mike as a desirable man. When she had looked into his dark eyes, she had been certain from his intense expression he had felt something. She shook her head. Attraction had no place in her life at this time and it had surprised her that she even had such a reaction for a brief moment, although Mike Calhoun was a good-looking man and his calm in the storm gave him added appeal.

No matter how attractive Mike was, after what she had just been through, she knew better than to go from one problem of the heart straight into another one.

Two

Mike stood over Scotty’s bed and looked at his son. His insides tightened with pain. He still missed Elise and he missed her for Scotty. She should have been there to comfort Scotty in the car this afternoon, although Savannah had done a great job of taking the boy’s mind off the storm. Mike walked through the connecting door to his bedroom, tossing his hat on a desk and raking his fingers through his hair.

Thinking about Savannah, he turned to go see if she needed anything. He headed toward her bedroom when she stepped into the hall and started toward him.

Surprised, he drew a deep breath. A tall, beautiful blonde approached him. She had brushed out her hair and it fell across her shoulders. The oversize sweatshirt had been replaced by a blue sweater that revealed lush curves. Jeans clung to long legs and she still wore her suede knee boots. His heartbeat quickened and again shock stabbed him that he reacted to her—something he now had done twice this night, a startling response he had not felt for several years. His gaze raked over her once again before she was close and then he made an effort to look into her eyes. His heartbeat raced and even though unwanted, his desire was hot and definitely part of his life once again.

“You don’t look as if you’ve had a harrowing drive,” he said, smiling at her.

“Thanks to you,” she said, smiling in return. Her winning smile caused another response as his insides tightened. She had full pink lips and even white teeth and when she smiled, her eyes twinkled. “How’s Scotty?”

“He’s in bed asleep now,” Mike answered, her warm, enticing smile drawing him. “Did you have enough dinner? I’ve got steaks, casseroles in the freezer, an array to choose from.”

“I did have dinner. But I’d love something warm to drink.”

“How about hot chocolate and popcorn? Or if you want something stronger, we have drinks from wine to whiskey.”

She laughed as she walked beside him. “I’ll take the hot chocolate and popcorn. Right now that sounds just the thing for a cold, winter night.”

“I agree,” he said as they headed to the kitchen. As he made the hot chocolate and got the popcorn going, he was aware of her moving around him. Her perfume was light, barely noticeable, yet inviting. While he waited for the popcorn, he realized he was staring at her full lips and wondering what it would be like to kiss her. Again, the attraction startled him. It had been a long time since he had wondered any such thing. He didn’t welcome those feelings back into his life yet. He didn’t need any more complications for either Scotty or himself.

He still lived with a constant, dull pain over Elise. He missed her every waking hour. At least there was no danger of any complications with Savannah because she was leaving for California as soon as Ed repaired her car. By that time the weather shouldn’t be a factor, so she would be gone in days. For all he knew, she was married, although she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

Finally, they moved to the family room that adjoined the kitchen. Mike placed two cups of hot chocolate on a coffee table while she set down a big bowl of popcorn. He picked up the table to move it closer to the hearth.

“Let me get a fire going,” Mike said, adding a few logs to the fireplace. In minutes they sat on the floor in front of the blaze with the popcorn and hot chocolate on the nearby table. As Savannah looked around, he glanced at the familiar surroundings. He never gave them any thought: brown leather furniture, a game table and chairs, a large, wall-mounted flat-screen television, thick area rugs and a stone fireplace that dominated one wall. Adjacent was a glass wall with doors that opened onto a covered patio that now had snow blowing over it.

“So tell me about your life. Who are you and what do you like besides ranching?”

“I have a simple life that centers around my son, my family and friends, my ranch, my horses. I like rodeos, flying, skiing, baseball, tennis, apple pie. Some things I’ve dropped since Scotty’s birth. I have a responsibility now, so I’m not as reckless as I was before. No more bull riding when Scotty is so young.”

“That’s good.”

“It’s a simple life. What about you, Savannah?” he asked. She sat facing him with her long legs tucked under her. Firelight gave her a rosy glow and once again desire stirred, increasing his awareness of her appeal, bringing the same surprise that she stirred such feelings, surprise now tinged with guilt for feeling that way even though Elise had been gone almost two years now. Overriding those feelings was the ever-present sorrow over his and Scotty’s loss.

“I think my life may be quieter and more simple than yours,” she said, flashing another engaging smile. “My world centers around my family and friends. I’m a neonatal nurse and I love babies and children. As I mentioned earlier, I have three siblings and I’m the youngest. I adore my four little nieces and nephews.” She thought for a moment. “The only thing we have in common that you listed is tennis. I still play occasionally.”

“Is the trip to California a vacation?” he asked, wondering why she left Arkansas.

“Not really. I have an aunt in California and she wanted me to come,” Savannah said, watching the fire while Mike watched her. She was a beautiful woman and he wondered what she was running from.

“My aunt said I won’t have difficulty getting a job and I’d love to live in California. I love a beach, swimming, warm weather—so I’m going to try it for a while and see how things work out.” She turned to face him. “I’ve never been away from home before except to college and that was still in Arkansas, so I have mixed feelings,” she said. “Since we’re a close family, this is an experiment in my life.”

Mike nodded and kept silent, thinking she shouldn’t gamble because she couldn’t bluff her way through anything unless she was playing with Scotty. Her voice was filled with reluctance, so whatever she was leaving behind, she wasn’t happy about it.

“How old are your siblings and what are their names?” he asked.

Big blue eyes gazed openly at him. “Dan is thirty-two, Phillip is thirty, Kelsey is twenty-eight and I’m twenty-six. They’re all married.”

“You can always go home if you don’t like California.”

“That’s the plan,” she said. “Now tell me about your family.”

“We’re close, too. I’m the oldest, thirty-five, and then Jake, who married Madison Milan last fall.”

“Madison Milan, the artist?”

“So you’ve heard of her in Arkansas?”

“Sure. Is she from Texas?”

“Yes, from this area. Josh is next in age and then our baby sister, Lindsay, is the youngest. Lindsay is a full-time rancher, the same as I am. I’m the only one of my siblings with a child and I told you that I’m widowed. Elise died of breast cancer when Scotty was almost a year old.”

“That’s heartbreaking. I’m so sorry,” Savannah said.

He glanced at her and nodded. “Most of my family is in this area,” he said to change the subject. “Some more than others. Lindsay and I are the ones that are here most all the time.”

The hiss of sleet grew loud and Mike glanced toward the glass doors. Outside lights were on and beyond the covered patio, he could see sleet coming down steadily, tree branches and posts beginning to glisten with a coat of sparkling ice.

“We’ll be a solid sheet of ice tomorrow. Power lines will go down in this, although some of ours are underground and we have generators. Look at that stuff come down.” He stood and walked to the glass doors, standing with his hands on his hips to watch. “It’s a good thing you don’t have to be in California by a deadline.”

“I am so glad that I’m here in your house,” she said, coming to stand beside him.

“It’s freezing solid as we speak,” he remarked. “I have a feeling no one can cross even the west bridge now,” Mike said, glancing at her. “Did you have any food or a blanket in your car?”

“Yes. Not for an emergency like this. I just had some leftover candy and some cold drinks from drive-throughs. I did have a blanket in the trunk. I can’t stop thinking about how close I came to being out there by myself in the cold and the dark with a car that wouldn’t run.”

“You’re here. Warm and safe.”

Standing close beside him, she looked up. Blue depths ensnared him and that sizzling current of awareness shook him again.

Her eyes widened and he inhaled deeply as desire swept him. Her mouth looked soft, tempting. It had been a long time since he had held a woman in his arms, kissed anyone. He leaned closer as he looked at her mouth and thought of his loss. She closed her eyes and tilted her face for only seconds and then she looked into his eyes.

“Savannah,” he whispered, frowning.

“Mike,” she whispered at the same moment, shaking her head slightly.

* * *

Startled, Savannah stepped away. Her heart raced and she was torn between desire and common sense. His dark brown eyes revealed longing. Now that his hat was gone, his black hair was a tangle of curls, locks curling on his forehead. To her surprise, desire drummed steadily, increasing tension while tugging at her senses. Shocked by her reaction to him, she decided it was the nerve-racking night, her car, the storm, relying on a total stranger. She walked away to sit on the floor in front of the fire again.

She glanced up at the mantel at a picture of Mike and a beautiful black-haired woman who must have been Elise. Her pictures were in every room Savannah had been in so far and some rooms held several pictures of her, which Savannah could understand. She would have probably done the same if she had been the one to suffer the loss of a beloved spouse and the parent of a child.

Mike picked up his cup of cocoa and followed, sitting facing her and taking a long drink. As he lowered the mug, his gaze went from the fire to her. “What are you trying to get away from, Savannah?” he asked quietly. “Can I help?”

Surprised again, Savannah focused intently on him. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen a lot of people bluff their way through things. You shouldn’t even try,” he said softly, smiling at her to take the edge off his words.

“You’re wondering why I’m going to California,” she said.

“You don’t need to tell me. In a few days you’ll leave Texas and we’ll probably never see each other again. I asked simply to see if I could help in any way.”

“It’s not private, just difficult to talk about. I was engaged,” she said, aware of Mike’s dark brown eyes focused steadily on her. He saw too much and the attraction that had flared briefly between them had unnerved her. She didn’t want to be attracted to anyone right now. “I was engaged and thought I was so deeply in love. We were going to get married in April and I was busy with wedding plans when it all came crashing around me. Although I’m the one who broke off the engagement, he didn’t want to get married after all. It hurt and it upset me that I had judged so poorly. Even though I’ve known him for years, I didn’t see this coming. So many mistakes...” Her voice trailed away as she watched the fire.

“Don’t beat yourself up. Relationships are complicated. None of us see things coming sometimes that we should.”

She smiled, turning to focus on him again. “You’re very sweet, Mike. Scotty is lucky to have you for a dad.”

“I’m lucky to have him. He’s the best thing in my life.” They sat quietly for a few minutes. She watched logs burn, crackle and pop, before turning back to Mike.

“This is going to be a lot longer trip than I expected. Perhaps I should have flown and bought a car in California.”

“Ed will probably be able to fix your car to run just fine.”

“Are you always so positive?” she asked, amused by his constant optimism and confidence.

“Try to be. It doesn’t help to be negative. I want Scotty to have a good attitude about life.”

“That’s a good goal for a dad,” she said.

He smiled and took a sip of his cocoa. “So is California really about putting distance between you and your ex-fiancé?”

She nodded. “Our families are friends and we move in the same circles. I just want to get away for a while. After a time it won’t be such a big deal and I’ll go back home.”

“Sorry. It hurts to have your life blow up in your face and it hurts even more to lose someone you love.”

Her heart went out to him. He definitely knew that first-hand from experience. “I thought I was in love. It’s been a shock that hurt badly.”

“So this just happened?”

“Yes, the first of the year and maybe I should have stayed home and waited to see how I feel six months from now before packing and moving, but I just wanted to get away from him and everyone else.”

“I can see that.”

She appreciated what an attentive listener Mike was. “I’m angry with him and I don’t want to marry him, but it hurts because I was very much in love with him. Or thought I was. It makes me question my own judgment.”

“We all make mistakes. That’s part of life,” Mike said. “I hope it works out for you when you go to California. Your family will miss you, I’ll bet.”

She nodded. “I sent a text to my mom to let her know where I am tonight. She would have been wild with worry if I’d had to text that I was stuck on the highway in a storm and the car had caught on fire.”

He smiled. “That does sound bad. A neonatal nurse. You have to deal with some tough situations.”

“Yes, but we have a lot of wonderful moments that make it all worthwhile. I love taking care of the babies and each one that pulls through is a miracle. That’s as good as it gets.”

“I’m sure it is.” They sat in silence a few minutes while she watched the logs burn and thought about babies she had cared for.

“Sure you’re not hungry for dinner?” he asked. “I’ve got all sorts of things in the freezer and fridge, plus I don’t mind cooking something.”

“Thanks, but I’m really not hungry. I would love a little more hot chocolate, though.”

They stood and headed toward the kitchen, the lights flickering out. “We’ve got generators, but the lights may come back on like they did before,” he said, taking her arm.

Instantly, she was aware of the physical contact with him. His warm, steady hand created a tingling current. It was dark and his deep voice, as he spoke about a previous storm that had knocked out power, drew her as much as his touch, her reaction to him again surprising her.

He stopped and from the sound of his voice, she assumed he had turned to face her. “It’s as dark as a cave in here. Are you all right, Savannah?” he asked. His voice had changed, gaining a husky note.

She pulled away a bit. “I’m fine,” she whispered. “What about Scotty? His monitor won’t work if the power is off.”

“I’ll start the generator and then go check on him, but it hasn’t been a minute since the power went off. Scotty will be fine.”

“It’s all right if you want to go check on him now,” she whispered.

“I don’t want to leave you alone in a strange house in a pitch-black moment,” he replied, his voice even lower and the husky note more noticeable. “Did I make you uncomfortable by taking your arm?” he asked. “A gentlemanly touch to lead you down the hall shouldn’t be a big deal,” he whispered.

Logic said he was right, but her reaction didn’t follow logic. She was intensely aware of the contact, of his closeness, of the dark that enclosed them and transformed the moment. The restrictions that light brought—reminders they were almost strangers, ordinary caution—were gone in the blanket of darkness and made Mike essential.

“Mike, I don’t need another complication in my life.”

“You’re being sensible,” he said after a stretch of silence and she felt as if he had been about to say something else. His words were in agreement, but his husky tone wasn’t and he hadn’t moved.

“I have to be. I don’t need one more tangled crisis tearing my emotions,” she whispered as they remained immobile.

Silence stretched. “Come on,” he said finally. “We’ll get a funny movie or just talk.”

His tone of voice sounded normal again and she felt relieved that he let the moment go, a physical contact with him that had shaken her because mutual attraction once again sprung to life between them. He took both mugs and the bowl from her hands as if to prove he wouldn’t touch her again. Lights flickered and came on again.

“Timed just right,” he said.

“You go check on Scottie and I’ll refill our cocoa,” she suggested, taking the mugs and bowl back from him.

Mike nodded and she watched him walk away. Tall, with that thick, curly black hair, he held a growing appeal and her awareness of him had heightened, something that continued to amaze her.

As she entered the kitchen she thought about the past minutes with Mike. This was a complication she really didn’t want. She didn’t want to risk her heart even in a deep friendship. She didn’t trust her judgment of men—she had failed completely to see the defects in Kirk’s character. The break with home and family had been stressful enough—her future even more uncertain, lonely and difficult. Lost in thoughts, she reheated and stirred the hot chocolate Mike had made earlier.

He came striding into the kitchen and desire stirred again, physical, unwanted, something she intended to quell. It didn’t help that Mike looked virile, energetic and filled with life.

“Scotty is blissfully sleeping. He’s a sound sleeper which is great.”

“That’s wonderful.” She handed him a mug of cocoa, taking a sip of her own. She turned to walk to a nearby hutch, pointing to a picture of a dark-haired woman holding a baby. “Is this a picture of your wife and Scotty?”

“Yes,” Mike said. A muscle worked in his jaw as he gazed at the picture. “That’s Elise.”

“She was beautiful. I’ve noticed her other pictures.”

“Since Scotty lost her when he was too young to really remember I feel better with her pictures around. She loved him beyond measure.”

“I’m sure. A baby is a treasure,” she said. “That’s nice to have a lot of her pictures around for him. It’ll help him. He really looks like you, but maybe that’s because I know you a little and can see a resemblance.”

“People say he looks like me. Right now I don’t see it so much except for his curly hair and brown eyes.”

He led the way back into the family room, to their spot in front of the fire.

“So would you like to tell me how you met Elise?”

“Sure. We were in college and had an elective class in world history together and just gradually did homework together. We both were dating other people. I broke up first and then she did and we got serious fast. As soon as we graduated, we married and moved to the ranch. After a couple of years we had Scotty. She was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after he was born and she died right after he turned one.” Mike stared into the fire, looking as if his thoughts were far away in another time and place. He turned to face her.

“So what’s your life been, Miss Neonatal Nurse?”

She smiled at him. “College and work. I started dating Kirk and got engaged to him last spring. We’d planned to marry in July.”

“That’s a long engagement.”

“It was a long engagement, but we didn’t talk about the things we should have. Even though I’ve known him for years, I didn’t know about his feelings on a lot of subjects. We never talked about kids.”

“You’re a neonatal nurse and you didn’t talk about kids?”

“No. I didn’t talk about the babies I cared for at the hospital because they all had health issues and that’s personal and confidential, even when the patient is hours old—not something to share with others. I should have at least found out his feelings about babies and wanting kids. Kids just didn’t come up between us until the breakup. I found out he didn’t want to have children. At least not for the next fifteen years while he’s young and the business is growing.”

“Wow. That would be a shock. Seems like he might have mentioned this to you.”

She nodded. “Kids are definitely in my future.”

“They will be unless you get a new career. Sorry.”

“Well, any feelings between us are over, but I’m still eager to leave for a while. If I don’t like living in California, I’ll go back home.”

“You’ll miss your family. I would miss mine since we’re fairly close. If you’re here long enough, you’ll probably meet some of my family. We see each other often.”

“I don’t plan to be here long. Hopefully, my car is fixable.” She took a sip of her cocoa. “So tell me about your rodeos. You mentioned them as something you like.”

“Have you ever been to one?”

“Yes,” she answered. “Arkansas isn’t that far from Texas in more ways than one.”

Mike leaned back against a chair, pulled off his boots to set them aside and crossed his long legs at his ankles. She sat cross-legged facing him while they went from one subject to another.

“Don’t you get lonesome way out here by yourself?” she asked.

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m not exactly by myself.”

“I know you have Scotty.”

“I have a lot of employees, some have been with my family before they came to work for me, so we’ve known each other for years. Ray’s one of them. We have close, good relationships. I see some of them almost daily. I have a cook, a nanny, a housekeeper, my house staff actually. I see my brothers and my sister fairly often. I do okay. Sometimes it’s lonesome, but that just goes with losing Elise. When I was single, I used to go out a lot, honky-tonks, friends, stay in Dallas, go out of town. With Scotty, life has changed and I’ve become a homebody. It’ll change again—it always does, but that’s it for now.”

“I’m glad you’re not as alone as I thought. If I hadn’t come along, you and Scotty would have been home alone tonight. He goes to bed early, so what do you do with your evenings?”

“Different things. Sometimes I take care of my personal expenses. Each day I’m up before dawn, out on the ranch with the others and work until dusk or later, depending on what we find. I have an accountant for the ranch and business. At night I’m with Scotty until he goes to bed. Then I read and work out—I have a gym here.”

“That’s impressive,” she said.

Finding Mike good company as they talked, she lost track of time. Occasionally, she glanced beyond him and saw big snowflakes swirling around the outside lights. She felt warm, cozy and fortunate to have found Mike. Stretching, she glanced at her watch. “Mike, it’s past one and that’s late for me.”

“Sure,” he said, standing and picking up the bowl and mugs.

“Now it’s just snow coming down. Our fire has about died,” she said, looking at the glowing orange embers.

“Snow on top of ice. Not a good combination. I imagine everything will be closed today and maybe Monday, too. Depends on the temperature. You may have to wait a little longer for your car,” he said as they walked out of the room. “You’re welcome here as long as you need. There’s room and a staff and I don’t have any big agenda right now.”

“Thank you. I hope I can get on with my drive.”

He left the bowl and mugs in the kitchen and they headed down the hall. “If you want anything—that door at the end of the hall is mine. Don’t hesitate to come get me,” he said as they reached the door to her suite. She turned to face him. He stood only a couple of feet away and his proximity made her breath catch.

“Thanks for everything today. You were the knight to the rescue, burning car and all.”

“I’m glad I was. Today’s Sunday, so my cook, Millie, who usually watches Scotty when my nanny is away, is off. But because of the earlier sleet and the fresh snow coming down, the guys will need help first thing. We’ll have to get feed to the cattle, break ice for the livestock. Thing is, when the sun comes up, so does Scotty.”

“If he doesn’t mind being with me when he barely knows me, I can take care of Scotty and his breakfast. You go do what you have to do. I get up early and I can fix my own breakfast and his,” she said, looking at Mike’s dark eyes that were fringed with thick, curly black lashes. “I hope I didn’t make you miss your workout tonight,” she said.

“No. I worked out yesterday morning and it doesn’t hurt if I miss sometimes. There’s a track if you run. Just head in the opposite direction—the gym is at the other end of this hall in the opposite wing and downstairs.”

“I won’t be working out. Maybe later tomorrow, I’ll walk around the track—how many times around for a mile?”

“Eight.” Taking a step closer, he placed his hand beyond her on the jamb of the door and leaned toward her. “We’re together this weekend and then we’ll say goodbye and never see each other. Neither of us are at the point of complicating our lives, but I have to admit that I want to kiss you. Believe me, I haven’t felt that way about any woman since I lost Elise.” He leaned slightly closer and his voice dropped to almost a whisper. “We’re not going to fall into complications from one harmless kiss.”

“Why do I have the feeling that your kiss, even one, will not be—harmless?” she whispered, finding it difficult to get her breath. In the silence her heart drummed.

For a moment they gazed into each other’s eyes and she felt immobilized by his dark gaze.

“Savannah, we’re going to kiss. It might as well be now,” he whispered, slipping his arm around her waist and drawing her the last few inches to him.

She placed her hands on his chest, ready to voice her protest when his lips brushed hers lightly and her heart thudded.

At that moment she wanted his kiss with all her being. She couldn’t think about what was best or if she shouldn’t or that he really didn’t want this, either. It was impossible to walk away. Closing her eyes, she leaned into him and his arm tightened, his mouth coming down on hers as he kissed her hungrily in a driving force that took her breath.

His kiss drove away worries. Longing transformed the moment and she would never again view Mike in the same disinterested way.

Standing in his embrace, she kissed him back passionately, for the moment wanting his kiss, wanting to feel desired. She sought release from the tensions of the night as much as from the hurts of her past. Hoping to stir Mike out of his daily life of grief even if it happened only for seconds, she lost herself in kissing him. An intense need consumed her to an extent that shocked her.

The stubble on his jaw scraped her skin slightly while his warmth and strength, his lean, hard body heightened her pleasure. She wanted this. His kiss rocked her, stirring dormant responses. Time ceased and she had no idea how long they kissed, but it wasn’t long enough.

Finally, as she paused, he released her slightly.

“I guess we sort of lost it there,” she whispered. Both of them were breathing hard while she stepped away from him. “We can get back where we were.”

“Savannah,” Mike said, in a husky tone of voice and she turned to look at him. He hadn’t moved. He had one hand on his hip as he studied her. “We’ll never get back where we were.”

Startled, she blinked and her heart thumped faster. “We have to,” she said. “There’s no place in my life for you and there’s no place in your life for me.”

“A kiss isn’t a binding commitment,” he said, more as if to remind himself than inform her. “It was only kisses, Savannah. Warm kisses on a cold winter’s night—even beats hot chocolate.”

She suspected he attempted to make light of the moment, but that was impossible. He had a slight frown and she had complicated her stay at his ranch. They both had kissed away wise decisions.

“Savannah, we won’t fall in love—I promise you.”

“You can’t promise any such thing. No one can,” she said, realizing he had his heart locked away from any deep emotional involvement. “We’ve each had heartbreak and are vulnerable. I don’t need to make another emotional mistake on top of the huge one I’ve already made,” she said, feeling she should beware and guard her own heart because Mike was clearly warning her he would not fall in love.

He shook his head. “You won’t have even a tiny wrench to your heart because of one meaningless kiss. I’m not ready for anything serious and neither are you. We’re strangers who’ll be together only a day or two and never see each other again. Chalk it up to a stormy winter night and two vulnerable people. It was just a kiss that helped each of us on a cold winter’s night.”

Relieved that the moment was getting less intense, she shook her head. “What a line, Mike.”

Something flickered in his dark eyes and he shrugged. “Sounded good to me,” he said, continuing to make light of the situation.

“Well, maybe it put things in the proper perspective.”

“I think you did that,” he said.

“Let’s forget that kiss. Good night, Mike. See you in the morning and I’ll take care of Scotty if you’re out,” she said, shaking her head.

She stepped into her suite and closed the door, letting out her breath while she thought about his kiss. For just a few minutes Mike had made her forget her engagement, Kirk, everything else. Mike had made light of their kiss, but he had shaken her. His kiss had been sexy, spectacular, totally consuming.

She didn’t want any other complication in her life right now. She definitely didn’t trust herself to want to get to know any man better at this time. She had made a colossal mistake in judgment with Kirk, a man she had known when they were kids and yet she hadn’t really learned what she should have about him. She couldn’t know anything about Mike Calhoun, a man she had known hours when she had misjudged a man she had known well for years.

He certainly didn’t know the most important thing about her.

Frowning, she thought of what lay ahead. She placed her hand on her stomach and focused on the baby that she carried.

Three

As Mike walked down the hall to his suite, he raked his fingers through his hair. Savannah had defused the moment, eased them both away from memories that hurt and put their kiss in a better perspective. Even though it was meaningless to both of them, he shouldn’t have kissed her. Her kiss had stunned him, but it had been a long, long time since he had kissed a woman other than Elise—or wanted to. Nearly two years. It was natural for Savannah’s kiss to rock him. Along with their kiss came guilt, a feeling of betrayal of Elise’s memory and most of all, horrendous longing for Elise, the love of his life.

He walked into Scotty’s room and looked at his sleeping son who was curled on his side with his knees drawn up. Dark curls framed his face. Mike’s love for Scotty overwhelmed him. He ran his knuckles lightly along Scotty’s cheek, feeling his soft, smooth skin while love for his son held him by Scotty’s bed. He wished Elise could be with him to look at Scotty. “Your baby is beautiful,” he whispered to the empty room, thinking of her. “Elise,” he said, missing her, wishing she could see her son, wanting her with him and wishing he hadn’t kissed Savannah, yet their kiss hadn’t carried any significance. He loved Elise and Scotty with all his heart and always would. Tears stung Mike’s eyes and he blinked them away, drawing a little blanket up over Scotty’s shoulder.

“I love you, Scotty,” he whispered.

He left the room, leaving the door between their bedrooms open. Ten minutes later Mike returned with a blanket and stretched out on the brown leather sofa to sleep near his son.

He thought again of Savannah. In spite of a twinge of guilt, he’d had fun just being with her tonight—something that hadn’t happened in a long, empty time.

* * *

Sunshine spilled into the bedroom through sliding glass doors that opened onto a balcony. Savannah stepped out of bed, surprised she had slept until the sun was up. She showered, pulled on jeans and a red shirt, slipping her feet into loafers. She hurried down the hall. Half a dozen mornings lately, she had had morning sickness and she prayed she didn’t this morning. At the moment she was hungry, but in minutes she caught the first whiff of coffee and her stomach tightened. Surprised when she heard voices from the kitchen, she debated going to her room and waiting until Mike and Scotty were out of there, but she suspected they would come find her eventually. With a deep breath, she entered the kitchen.

Mike sat at the table across from Scotty, who was in a high chair that was pulled up to the table. Mike came to his feet as soon as he saw her.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling at her.

Tingles increased her awareness of him. How handsome he looked in jeans, a navy Western shirt with rolled back sleeves and his cowboy boots. His thick, black curls were as tangled as they had been last night and he looked appealing, handsome.

“Please sit,” she said, smiling at him. “Hi, Scotty. How are you on this beautiful morning?”

“I’m hungry,” he answered, smiling at her in return and she laughed.

She turned to Mike. “I thought you had some chores this morning and were going to be gone.”

“I’ve already been out. Scotty was still asleep. I’m going back to join them again after breakfast if you meant what you said about watching Scotty.”

“Sure I did if that’s all right with Scotty.”

“Scotty?” Mike prompted. “You’ll stay with Miss Savannah, won’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” Scotty said and smiled at Savannah again.

“That’s nice, Scotty. Did you see the snow this morning?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered politely. “This afternoon Daddy will help me make a snowman if I eat my breakfast.”

“A little bribe,” Mike said, grinning. “And it’ll be after I get some more chores done,” he added to Scotty who nodded. Mike turned to Savannah. “What can I fix you? We have bacon, eggs, orange and/or tomato juice, coffee, hot biscuits, dry cereal, blueberries, oranges, dried apricots—”

“Stop,” she said, laughing. “You’re naming way too many things. I just want cereal and a glass of milk. I can get my breakfast. You stay with Scotty.”

Mike reached the cabinets when she did and he retrieved a glass, turning to get the milk and pour it for her. “Tell me when.”

“When,” she said. “Not too much. Thanks.” She was so aware of Mike beside her, of his dark eyes intently on her. The sight of him made her remember last night, standing in his arms while they kissed.

In minutes she had cereal and a glass of milk as she sat beside Scotty and across from Mike.

“Please go on with your regular routine today and don’t let me change it,” she said.

“Will you help us build a snowman later?” Scotty asked.

“Sure, I will,” she said. “A snowman sounds like fun.”

Mike had a covered bowl on the table and when he raised the lid, she saw scrambled eggs.

“If those aren’t still hot, tell me. I’ll scramble some more,” he said.

She shook her head. “No, thank you. What I have is plenty.” She sipped her milk. “Do you know if it kept snowing into the night?”

“Oh, yes,” Mike replied. “The boys keep up with it and Ray said we had a record-setting eight inches.”

“Oh, Mike. I’m sorry—I’m sort of the houseguest who came for a night and stayed for a week. Eight inches—I won’t be able to get my car out of that and I doubt if the state road will be cleared.”

“You’re right on all counts. We’re glad to have you, so just relax, Savannah. This is a break in routine winter days.”

“Thanks,” she said, drinking some milk and eating cereal. After a few bites, her stomach lurched and worry gripped her. She didn’t want to be sick in front of Mike. She turned to talk to Scotty.

“I have a scarf you can use to put around your snowman’s neck,” she said, trying to ignore her queasy stomach.

“Savannah, are you all right?” Mike asked, studying her.

Feeling worse by the second, she shook her head. “Where’s the nearest bathroom?”

He stood and came around the table swiftly, taking her arm as she stood. “We’ll be right back, Scotty,” Mike said, leading Savannah away from the table. Mike headed to the hall and opened a bathroom door.

“Thanks.” As soon as the door closed, she lost the small breakfast she had eaten. She washed her face and hands with cold water and waited while her stomach settled slightly. When she opened the door, Mike leaned against the wall with his arms folded. Studying her, he straightened.

“Better now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Do you need a doctor?”

“No, I’ve been to one. Don’t worry, this isn’t contagious.”

“I didn’t think it was,” he said quietly.

“You better get back to Scotty. He’s in a high chair.”

“He gets himself into that chair a dozen times a day and he gets himself down. Scotty is a climber so there’s no worry. He’s an easy kid to have around, and he’s an only child and that makes it easier. C’mon. You probably want to sit.”

“Yes, I do.”

They went to the family area where Scotty sat on the floor playing a game on a laptop.

“Mike, are you sure Scotty isn’t a bit older than you told me? He’s on a computer.”

“He has some games he likes and I’ve taught him how to pull them up. He catches on fast.” He studied her again. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thanks. I’m feeling better now. I’ll get my dishes in a while.”

“Forget them. When’s your baby due or would you rather not talk about it?”

Startled, she focused on him. “I didn’t think my pregnancy showed yet.”

“It doesn’t. Elise had morning sickness. I recognize the symptoms.”

“I’m surprised you were able to tell by just one morning with me. I’m glad I found you yesterday—you were a lifesaver, but being saved by a mind reader is a little disconcerting.”

“I’m no mind reader, just observant. I assume your pregnancy is the reason you wanted to get out of Little Rock and go to California.”

“You’re right. You might not be a mind reader, but you’re definitely astute,” she said. His calm acceptance of discovering his guest was pregnant put her more at ease. If he had been shocked, worried about a pregnant woman on his hands or worse—acted disgusted the way her ex-fiancé had, she would have been embarrassed and upset. Also, his enthusiasm over his son helped put her at ease because it was obvious he liked kids and was filled with love for his son. She still hurt when she thought of the last conversation with Kirk and how he had stared at her, his gaze raking sharply over her after she had announced her pregnancy.

Get rid of it, Kirk had said. His first words to her had stabbed as if he had plunged a knife into her heart. His words had hurt, but the blunt dismissal had made her protective of her baby from that moment on. She brought her attention back to Mike.

“Your ex-fiancé didn’t want babies—what did you tell me—for another fifteen years? Or he really doesn’t ever want children?”

“He said he doesn’t want children for at least another fifteen years. I’m twenty-six and I don’t want to have my first child when I’m fifteen to twenty years older. I really don’t think he ever wants kids, but he wouldn’t say that. He didn’t want this baby at all. He didn’t care what I did as long as I didn’t keep the child.”

“That’s a hell of a thing,” Mike said, a note of steel in his voice that made her feel better. “Scotty is my whole world. I love him with every ounce of my being,” he said, looking at his son and a tender note coming into his voice that gave a twist to her heart.

“That’s wonderful for both of you. And the way I’d hoped it would be.”

“Sorry, but it’s good you found out now before you said vows. He gave up his baby and let you walk away—that’s the mistake of his life.”

“He didn’t view it that way. When he found out I was pregnant, I think he wanted to be rid of me. He signed over all parental rights, too. He wouldn’t have given any financial support anyway, but I didn’t want any from him.”

“I’d say you’re a hell of a lot better off without this jerk.”

“I feel as if I am. I don’t miss him—or if I do, I just think of the hurtful things he said to me about the baby and that changes any feelings I have for him.”

“That’s tough. So when’s your baby due?”

“I’m into my second month. I’ve been given an October date. We’ll see. What shakes me is my poor judgment about a man I had such a close relationship with and planned to spend my life with. I’ve known him since we were about eight or nine. I misjudged him in the worst way and that’s frightening.”

“Looks to me like you’ve learned from the experience.”

“It shakes my faith in myself. I don’t trust myself to fall in love again.”

“I imagine next time you’ll get to know the guy better in ways you didn’t the first time.” Mike stood. “Now I’m going to put the dishes into the dishwasher. You sit tight and don’t do anything. Then I need to get back to help the guys. When I return, Scotty,” he said, looking at his son who waited expectantly, “we’ll go build a snowman.”

Scotty grinned and returned to his computer game.

“My foreman said he has plenty of help, but I want to make sure. Usually, Nell, our nanny, is here and I work on the ranch with the others. They were still breaking ice and dropping bales of hay for feed when I left this morning. We need to make sure animals don’t get cut off and lost from the herd.”

“Don’t let me interfere. I’m happy to stay with Scotty.”

Mike loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen, working efficiently. “I’ll be back in a few hours. I have my phone and the number is written clearly there on a piece of paper. Scotty knows how to call me, too.” He gave his son a kiss on the head, then left.

“Well, aren’t you the smart boy, Scotty,” she said, glancing at him and receiving another smile. “After you finish your breakfast in the kitchen, we can play a game if you’d like,” she told him.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.

* * *

While Scotty was happily drawing, Savannah walked to the mantel to pick up the picture and look closely at Mike with his arm around his late wife as they smiled at each other. Elise had been a beautiful woman. Mike was still deeply in love with her. Last night, their proximity, maybe hurt and loneliness, made them both vulnerable.

She sighed. It wouldn’t matter this time because she would soon tell Mike goodbye, but she would have to be cautious in the future. She never wanted to be hurt the way she had been. If she couldn’t trust her own judgment about men, then she should stay out of a relationship. How could she have been so blind to Kirk’s shortcomings? He had never liked her nieces and nephews, never cared to hear about them or ask about them, yet she hadn’t stopped to think about his lack of interest.

Her pregnancy had been a surprise. They had taken precautions, but she had gotten pregnant anyway. She still couldn’t bear to think about the night she told Kirk and how hurtful he had been.

With a long sigh, she picked up her phone and took a couple of pictures of Scotty drawing to try to get Kirk out of her thoughts.

Mike arrived home after one, stomping his feet to shake snow off his boots and finally sweeping into the room, bringing cold air with him. He swung Scotty up to hug him.

“Sorry to be gone so long.”

“We’ve been fine and I had a good time with your smart son.”

“I’ll grab a bite to eat and then take him out to build a snowman. You don’t have to go.”

“It sounds like fun,” she said, glancing outside at the snow-covered ranch.

He headed into the kitchen. “Did you and Scotty have lunch?”

“Yes. I made some macaroni for us both.”

Fifteen minutes later, after a quick sandwich, Mike returned to the family room. “So, Scotty,” he said, “we can go outside now if you want.”

“Yes,” Scotty answered, jumping to his feet.

“Get all your snow gear on and whatever we’ll need for a snowman. I’ll get two lumps of coal for eyes and a carrot nose. How’s that? You find an old hat, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” he said over his shoulder as he ran out of the room.

“Are you going out with us?” Mike asked. “You don’t have to.”

“Right now, the cold air sounds refreshing. It’ll be fun,” she said, standing. “I’m not fragile. My stomach is fragile at breakfast time—that’s all.”

“Better get bundled up, then. It’s cold out there and the wind is blowing.”

“Sure,” she said and they walked down the hall together and again she was aware of him so close beside her. “I’ll see you and Scotty where—back door, outside?”

He nodded. “Scotty is about to pop to get out in the snow. It all looks wonderful to him.”

She laughed. “Oh, to be a child again—”

He grinned. “I kinda like some of the things that come with adulthood,” he said, a teasing note in his voice that made her think of their kiss and her cheeks grew warm. “I think you do, too, or you wouldn’t be blushing now,” he added softly, looking at her mouth.

“I’ll see you outside,” she said, her voice breathless, betraying her feelings.

“Sure,” he said, heading for his suite.

Lost in thought about him, she stared at his back. She didn’t need another attraction in her life and she was risking one every hour she spent with Mike. His kiss set her on fire and made her forget everything else. He was likeable, fun, discerning, capable—caring—something that wrapped around her heart at this moment in time when she was vulnerable from being hurt. Mike held far too many appealing qualities all contained in over six feet of sexy male with thick black hair and dark brown eyes. Or was she just making another misjudgment based on assumptions and wishful thinking, projections of her hopes?

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