“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

Kailey laughed. “News flash, Duggan. You’re on Brandt land. I’m already home. Maybe I should walk you back, huh?”

She was so quick, a little feisty, and he liked that about her. A lot. “If you want to kill my reputation with a single blow, sure. Big bad rodeo star needs an escort home in the dark.”

Not that he couldn’t find a few things to do in the dark with her.

He had to stop thinking that way.

“I guess we’ll just part ways here, then,” she replied, pushing herself to her feet.

“I guess.” He’d taken maybe half a dozen steps when she called out to him.

“Hey, Rylan.”

He turned and faced her, and the image of her standing in the twilight among the waving grass did something crazy to his pulse.

“I’m glad we cleared the air.” Kailey turned and started walking away, her hips swinging a little with each step.

He was glad she was happy about it, because to his mind things had just become a whole lot more complicated.

The Cowboy’s Homecoming

Donna Alward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters and the family dog), DONNA ALWARD believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist. An avid reader since childhood, Donna has always made up her own stories. She completed her arts degree in English literature in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2001 that she penned her first full-length novel and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript, and now writes warm, emotional stories for Mills & Boon.

In her new home office in Nova Scotia, Donna loves being back on the east coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta, where her career began, writing about cowboys and the West. Donna’s debut romance, Hired by the Cowboy, was awarded a Booksellers’ Best Award in 2008 for Best Traditional Romance.

With the Atlantic Ocean only minutes from her doorstep, Donna has found a fresh take on life and promises even more great romances in the near future!

Donna loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website, www.donnaalward.com, or follow @DonnaAlward on Twitter.

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Contents

Cover

Excerpt

Title Page

About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Crooked Valley Ranch had changed since Rylan had last been here.

He drove slowly up the driveway, the Ford 4x4 and hybrid camper he towed behind moving easily over the gravel lane, not a pothole to be seen. Duke must have had it leveled this spring, he mused.

Ry touched the brakes and stared at the house. A fresh coat of white paint was on the front porch and flowers bloomed in a profusion of color in front of crisscross lattice skirting. The barns could use a new coat of paint as well, but there was an air of neatness and organization that had been missing before, too. It looked as if his sister hadn’t been kidding. Crooked Valley Ranch was on its way up.

“I’ll be damned,” he breathed, a smile touching his lips. He never would have thought his dyed-in-the-wool military brother, Duke, would turn out to be a rancher. But if outward appearances meant anything, Duke was doing a damned good job revitalizing their granddad’s spread.

Rylan scowled a little, chafing against the demand-presented-as-a-request he’d received from Lacey. Duke was staying on at Crooked Valley. Hell, he was married and had a baby on the way—a family to support. Lacey had taken over the administration aspect of the operation, and she and the ranch manager, Quinn Solomon, were planning a June wedding. Joe Duggan’s will required all three of his grandchildren to take their place at the ranch before the year was up or else the place would be sold. Lacey had totally guilted him into coming “home,” as she’d put it.

“It’s not forever,” she’d assured him. “Just use this as your home base. That’s all we ask. We’ve never asked anything else of you, Rylan. Please help us keep it in the family. Once everything’s settled, Duke and I will find a way to buy out your third.”

Roots. He tried to avoid them whenever he could. Still, it kind of stung that Lacey had just dismissed him as having no interest in the ranch. Not that he wanted his part of it, but that they hadn’t expected it of him. No one ever expected anything of him, did they? He should have been used to it by now.

He pulled into a big vacant spot next to the horse barn and cut the engine, which also cut out the comforting sounds of the music he’d had blaring on the radio during the drive from Wyoming.

Truth was, he’d known since February that this day was coming.

His arrival must have made some noise, because a little girl came rushing out of the barn, brown curls bobbing. Amber, Quinn’s daughter. Rylan grinned. Little-known secret: he liked kids. Kids were easy, and honest, and thought being a grown-up meant doing what you wanted to do and not what someone told you. At least with kids, he never had his choices judged. To them, he was “cool.”

“Hey, short stuff!” He hopped out of the cab and slammed the door.

“Hi,” she offered, but stopped short, tilted her head and stared at him. “Are you going to be my Uncle Ry now?”

Yep, blunt honesty. He grinned back at her. “Looks that way. I’m okay with it if you are.”

She nodded. “I gots a dog. Her name is Molly.”

“Congratulations.”

With a happy giggle, Amber turned around to run back to the barn, but stopped when she saw Quinn coming around the corner. Rylan liked Quinn, and he was happy for his sister. They’d make this work out somehow... He knew his brother and sister didn’t realize it, but he actually did care about their happiness. That was the only reason he’d come back.

That and the heavy sense of inevitability that told him he probably should face his demons at some point.

And then a blond head appeared, the streaky strands of hair twisted back in a braid. His gut clenched. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe he could be that lucky. He wasn’t ready for the confrontation he knew would be coming.

The woman came around beside Quinn, both of them talking, and he recognized the long legs, curvy figure and slight sway to her walk. Kailey Brandt. He held back a groan. Why did she have to be here right at this particular moment? Why couldn’t he have had time to prepare, to work out something to say?

He hadn’t spoken to her since Valentine’s Day, when she’d hopped into his truck and had gone back to the motel with him after the benefit dance at the Silver Dollar. He’d slipped out the morning after, before she woke. It had been a coward’s move and one he wasn’t proud of. He figured he deserved whatever she would sling his way. He’d just hoped to avoid it for a little while longer.

“Daddy, Uncle Ry’s here!” Amber’s sweet voice broke the silence and both Quinn and Kailey looked up. Quinn’s face broke out into a smile while Kailey’s...

Damn. His gut twisted again. She looked ready to commit murder.

“Rylan,” Quinn greeted him, holding out a hand. “Glad you’re finally here.”

Rylan shook his hand. “Me, too, Quinn. Congratulations on your engagement. Glad my sister isn’t marrying some pansy-ass.”

Quinn laughed. “To the point. And a compliment, I think.”

“It is.”

His gaze slid over to Kailey. Her lips were set in a thin, unrelenting line, her eyes as cold as January ice.

“Hello, Kailey.”

She looked down at Amber, who was within earshot, then pasted on the falsest smile he’d ever seen. “Why, hello, stranger.”

Quinn frowned, looking from Rylan to Kailey and back to Rylan again. “Okay, I’m just a guy and even I can tell there’s some friction here. What’s going on?”

Kailey patted Quinn’s arm. “Nothing. Nothing at all. I’d better get back home now. Chores to do and stuff.”

Without so much as a nod goodbye, Kailey marched off in the direction of her truck. Rylan noticed it was a year or two newer than his, a V8 with a crew cab and lots of power to tow a trailer full of stock. He had no doubt she could do it, too. She was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. And one of the toughest and most capable.

Quinn’s voice was low. “That have something to do with Valentine’s Day?”

No sense making excuses. Rylan met his gaze evenly. “Probably,” he admitted.

Amber bounced away to play with Lacey’s pup, Ranger, and Quinn blew out a breath. “You know, Lacey insisted that you guys were adults. That I needed to let things be. But let me tell you this. That girl is one of my best friends.”

“Warning received,” Rylan acknowledged. “I’ll make things right. I don’t have any intention of hurting her, Quinn.”

“Intentions are funny things,” Quinn replied. But he let the matter drop, thankfully. “Have you been inside to see your sister yet?”

“No.”

“She’s thrilled you’re here. Just so you know.”

Unease settled over Rylan again. He’d come to Crooked Valley as requested, but he fully intended to do his own thing and on his own schedule. That was the agreement. None of this convincing-him-to-stay crap. He’d be on the road most of the summer anyway, hitting as many rodeos as possible in his run for the National Finals title. He had a real chance this year and he wasn’t about to blow it.

“I’ll park the trailer and make my way up in a bit.”

Quinn nodded. “I’ll see you later then.”

He gave Ry a clap on the shoulder before moving on toward the rambling farmhouse. Rylan looked after him, vague memories stirring in his brain. He’d been little but he still remembered. He remembered Grampa Joe and Grandma Eileen and learning to ride the horses and the sound of his dad’s laughter. Grandma had made the best chocolate cake he’d ever had, and Grampa Joe had bought Ry a pony to ride since he was younger and smaller than Duke. The pony’s name had been Daisy and he’d doted on her from the first moment, feeding her treats of apples and carrots, and brushing her every day.

His early childhood had been absolutely perfect.

There were other memories, too. He remembered how it had felt to hear the news that his father was never coming home. It had been incomprehensible to imagine a world where Dad wouldn’t come thumping in, dropping his duffel and looking so tall and important in his uniform. Ry had spent hours in the barns, sitting with the horses, smelling their warm, pungent hides and trying to make sense of it all. He’d told Daisy all his feelings, burying his face in her coarse mane when things got to be too much for him to understand.

And then even that had been taken away when their mother had moved them to Helena and that small house on a postage-stamp lot. The city, for God’s sake. No fields, no chocolate cake and no Daisy.

He would never invest that much of himself in a place again. No commitments meant no disappointments, and that was just how he liked it.

He got back in the truck and found a nice level spot to park his camper.

* * *

KAILEY HAD THOUGHT a lot about what she’d say to Rylan Duggan the next time she saw him. She’d also known that Lacey and Duke had asked him to come to Crooked Valley. His presence here would ensure that the ranch stayed in the family, and with two of the three Duggan siblings invested in it now, his agreement was especially important. She understood that.

But to her knowledge he hadn’t agreed, and he certainly hadn’t advised anyone of his arrival. He’d just shown up, wearing those faded jeans and a cocky grin that had made her traitorous body stand up straight and pay attention.

She hated him for that. Almost as much as she hated that she was just that weak to fall for a sexy smile and fine ass. Well, falling for it and acting on it were two different things. He wouldn’t get the chance to burn her again.

Dust puffed up in clouds behind her tires as she drove along a dirt road parallel to the Brandt ranch. Just beyond the next ridge was the bend in the Crooked Valley Creek, where the water slowed, creating the perfect summer swimming hole. She needed some peace and quiet, some tranquility, before she went home. The last thing she wanted to do was take this mood inside.

Sometimes it really sucked being in her late twenties and still living with her parents. Yet it made no sense to do otherwise, when she spent 90 percent of her time working the ranch. The ranch that was going to be hers someday. That had always been perfectly clear. She was an only child. Without her, the ranch would have to be sold.

She loved Brandt Ranch. She truly did. But having the weight of it on her shoulders had come with a price.

Finally, she slowed and pulled off the dirt road, driving carefully down a path that was no more than two tire tracks through the grass. It opened up into a wide, grassy knoll that led to the water. As she climbed out of the truck, she could hear the comforting warble of the creek and the sound of the birds in the nearby trees and bushes.

She picked her way down the bank to the edge of the water and dipped her fingers in. “Brrr.” She shivered and pulled her hand back out. It was only May and the creek was higher than usual, fed by the runoff from the mountains. There’d be no swimming today.

But the sun was warm and there wasn’t a soul around for miles. She closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the tension out of the tight muscles, but she could only see Rylan in her mind, his weight resting on one hip, looking calm and sexy and as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

It was her own stupid fault. She’d anticipated a no-strings night of fun when they’d hooked up a few months ago. She’d needed it after putting on an “I’m so over it” show for Colt Black. No one had known how serious their relationship had been, or how hurt she’d been when he’d rebounded so quickly and found another girl. Newly single and at the benefit for Quinn and Amber, Colt had danced with her and asked if they could be friends again.

And to demonstrate how very over him she was, she’d flirted with Rylan, danced with him, fallen under his spell despite herself. By the time she’d awakened in an empty bed the next morning, she’d fallen for him. Hard. And she’d seen Rylan Duggan for who he really was.

A heartless bastard.

Worse than that, she hated herself for her moment of weakness. Maybe Rylan had left her high and dry, but she’d put herself in that position all on her own. She’d rather just forget that whole night had ever happened.

Letting out a huge sigh, Kailey sank into the warm grass and lay back against the ground, letting it cushion her body as she turned her face up to the sun. The water was cold, but the sun’s rays were gloriously hot. She unbuttoned her plaid shirt, letting the fabric fall away from her chest and abdomen, exposing her skin to the sun. She let the rays soak in, restoring her calm and her confidence. It made her feel feminine, when so often she felt like one of the guys, smelling like the barn and sweat. She loved every second of it, but once in a while a woman liked to feel like a woman.

She’d definitely felt like a woman in Rylan Duggan’s arms. After he’d left her at the motel, she’d come to the conclusion that she not only didn’t need Rylan, but she didn’t need anyone at all. Maybe someday the right man would come along and sweep her off her feet, treat her the way she should be treated. Like an equal. With respect. Someone who wouldn’t mind that she already was tied down—to her ranch.

Kailey sighed heavily, a deep, cleansing breath. And if her Prince Charming never showed up, well, that was all right, too. She was fine just the way she was.

Except she sometimes wondered if that were true. First it had been Carrie, now Lacey. Both deliriously happy. And somehow Kailey felt as if she was missing out on something important.

One thing she knew for sure, she thought, as she stretched out in the sun. Rylan Duggan was not the thing she was missing out on. She’d learned her lesson there.

If she had her way, he’d be hitting the road for his next rodeo before any of them had time to catch their breath. In and out of her life as quickly as he had been the last time.

* * *

ON RYLAN’S FIRST night home, Lacey pulled out all the stops, just as Ry had known she would. Duke and Carrie came for dinner, and Quinn and Amber practically lived at the ranch, though the official move-in wasn’t until after the wedding in June. Lacey had made potato salad and Caesar salad, and Quinn was grilling rib-eyes for the prodigal celebration. It was nice but unnecessary. He didn’t want any fuss made.

Good luck with that.

They had asked all sorts of questions about Rylan’s latest rodeo conquests and were well into the meal when Duke brought up the subject of Rylan’s camper.

“I noticed you set up your RV,” Duke said as he cut into his steak. “That’s a great little rig. You must like it when you’re traveling.”

Rylan nodded. “It’s smaller than some, but there’s only one of me. Doesn’t take long to set up and suits me just fine.” Truthfully, he’d had something bigger but it had been a pain in the ass, heavier to haul, more space than he’d needed. He’d sold it in February and had bought the smaller set-up. On the heels of his latest win, he’d been flush with cash for a few weeks.

Including over Valentine’s Day.

“I made up the spare room with fresh sheets,” Lacey broke in, handing a basket of buns to Quinn. “Same one you slept in at Christmas.”

Rylan put down his fork. “Not necessary, sis.” He smiled. “I’m happy in the camper.”

“Rylan Joseph Duggan. You are not sleeping in a camper!”

He raised one eyebrow as all eyes turned to look at her. “Wow,” Quinn said. “You’ve got the mother voice down cold.”

“Can I sleep in your camper, Uncle Ry?” Amber speared a piece of steak that her father had cut for her. “I’s never been camping.”

“We’ll see, pumpkin.”

Lacey regarded him with disapproval. “Rylan, really. There’s no need to sleep in the yard when there’s a perfectly good room here with your name on it.”

Right. Just what he needed. To horn in on her relationship with Quinn. Maybe the manager hadn’t formally moved in yet, but it was clear as the nose on Rylan’s face that the three of them had a cozy little vibe going on. Besides, the wedding was in less than a month. The last thing he wanted was to be smack in the middle of their newlywed love nest.

“I like it,” he contradicted mildly. “I’ve got my own space. My own privacy. And I won’t be invading your privacy either.”

“There’s a much better mattress on the bed upstairs.” Lacey frowned. “You surely didn’t come all this way to sleep in that contraption.”

“I prefer it.”

“What if you have to go to the bathroom in the night?”

Rylan couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing and smiles bloomed on faces around the table. “Really? What am I, five?”

Amber lifted her chin. “You can’t be five, Uncle Ry. I’m gonna be five in two weeks.” She rolled her eyes.

“See?” He reached over and ruffled Amber’s hair. “Five, huh? Guess that means you start school in September.”

“Real school,” she replied importantly.

Amber’s insertion into the conversation had mollified Lacey a little bit. “You’re sure?” she asked. “There’s lots of room.”

“I’m sure. I also know how to do my own laundry. Make food.”

Quinn stepped in. “You’re going to want to take advantage of the food thing. Your sister’s a heck of a cook.” Rylan watched as Quinn turned a tender gaze on his fiancée. “Even when you don’t want it, she’s going to press food on you. You might as well accept it and enjoy.”

Lacey turned pleading eyes on him. “Yes, Rylan, please eat your meals here.”

“I can probably do that,” he conceded. The small concession would get her off his back, and he’d eat a lot better than if he cooked for himself.

Duke joined the conversation. “You’re always welcome at the bunkhouse, too, Ry. Carrie and I have room. At least until the baby comes.”

Which would be in a few months. Carrie was already glowing with motherhood, her hand resting on her rounded belly. And Rylan smiled through it all, feeling incredibly claustrophobic and smothered.

“I’ll stick to the camper for now, but thanks for the invites.” His jaw felt tight and he forced himself to relax it. “Heck, I’m going to be rodeoing a fair bit of the time anyway. Easier to just hook up and go, you know?”

This would be his home base. No commitments, no ties. He was still going to run this life the way he had for the past several years. On his terms, coming and going as he pleased.

He knew at times it must have seemed as if he didn’t care for his family, but nothing could have been further from the truth. That he was here was proof of that. He wanted this for them, if it was what would make them happy, and he was strangely happy that he could finally do something right rather than merely being an afterthought.

He just hoped they could accept that he needed to run his life his own way, too, and understand when the time came for him to leave again.

Chapter Two

Kailey stared in the boutique’s mirror and had to admit that Lacey had fantastic taste.

The bridesmaid dress was turquoise blue, a slightly brighter shade than a robin’s egg. The light material draped and flowed in an utterly feminine way, fluttering to a hem just above her knees. It was strapless, leaving Kailey’s shoulders bare, and she realized she was going to have to rectify the farmer tan she had from working outside in T-shirts by employing some self-tanner. But she loved it. She completely and utterly loved it.

Lacey came back to the dressing room with a box in her hands. “Oh my gosh! That’s so beautiful on you!” She put the box on a padded seat and put her hands to her mouth. “Oh, Kailey. You’re stunning.”

Kailey felt a blush climb her cheeks. Not that she didn’t like dressing up for a night out, because she did. Occasionally it was nice to feel like a girl. But this was different. It felt so formal. So...foreign. The only wedding she’d been in before had been Duke and Carrie’s, and that had been so low-key that she’d just worn a pretty red dress from her closet and a flower in her hair.

“It’s not too much?” Kailey looked down, hitched up the bodice just a touch. She had to admit, she liked the way the fabric crisscrossed her breasts and waist.

“It’s perfect.” Lacey beamed at her. “And don’t worry about wearing heels you’ll break your neck in. Here. I got you these. My present to you.”

Lacey picked up the box again and handed it to Kailey.

Kailey opened the lid and found a gorgeous pair of cowboy boots nestled inside, with matching blue accents inlaid on the boot shaft.

“Wow. Just...wow.”

“I figured you might not wear the dress again, but you might find some use for these.”

Kailey took the first one out of the box and slid it on. It was a perfect fit. “There is nothing more comfortable than a good pair of boots,” she decreed, looking up at Lacey and smiling.

“I’m going to be wearing a pair, too,” Lacey replied. “Under my dress.”

Kailey had seen Lacey’s dress. It was sweet, in a similar style to Kailey’s only long and white and with frothy light material on the overskirt. Simple and very, very sweet—just like the bride. “The boots can be your something blue,” Kailey suggested, and Lacey grinned.

“I might have thought of that.” She looked at Kailey. “So what do you think? Alterations? Or is it fine as is?”

It fit perfectly. “I think we can take this home today, don’t you?”

Lacey nodded. “I can’t believe it’s only a few weeks away. Sometimes it feels like it’s all happened so fast, and other times it seems to be taking so long!”

Kailey smiled in return, though it felt forced. She kind of understood what Lacey meant but in the totally opposite way. Valentine’s Day seemed like ages ago, yet the time from then to now had gone so fast. Quinn and Lacey had been busy falling in love and she’d...

She’d been busy, all right. Thinking she’d seen something in Rylan Duggan that didn’t exist. Thinking he was...different.

“I should change,” she suggested, annoyed that she’d allowed Rylan to sneak into her thoughts. “We still have errands to run, right?”

With two and a half weeks until the big day, Kailey was spending more time than usual away from the ranch, fulfilling her maid of honor duties. Not that she minded, but it was a busy time of year. They’d be making the first cut of hay soon, not to mention rodeo season picking up. She didn’t often travel with the stock, but she had the final say on which animals traveled and she was in charge of making the arrangements.

“Right,” Lacey replied, taking the boots from Kailey as she reluctantly removed them. “K, you’re going to knock Rylan’s socks off in that dress.”

Kailey scowled. “That is so not the objective.”

“Oh, of course not.” Lacey’s face looked a little too innocent to be believed. “But you have to admit it’s a nice little side benefit.”

“Whose side are you on, anyway?” Kailey turned her back so Lacey could undo the hook and eye at the top of the zipper.

“Hey, I love my brother. Don’t get me wrong.” Lacey’s fingers were cool against Kailey’s skin as she undid the clasp. “But that doesn’t mean I agree with everything he does. Like hurt my new best friend.”

Kailey swallowed thickly. She loved it in Gibson, had lived here all her life. And she and Carrie had been good friends for years. But she had to admit, that with the exception of Rylan, she was very, very glad that the Duggan siblings had come to live at Crooked Valley. Duke and Lacey’s friendship had become really important to her.

“That’s sweet,” she said, trying to make her voice sound breezy. “But you don’t have to worry about me. That’s water under the bridge.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Ouch. Not that she mistook Lacey’s meaning. Clearly the family was aware of what had happened on Valentine’s Day. And she knew that all Lacey meant was that she was glad Kailey had moved on. But it stung a little, too, that Lacey was glad there was nothing between them. It felt as if the Duggans wouldn’t support her having a relationship with Rylan... After all, blood was thicker than water. Maybe they thought she wasn’t good enough for their little brother.

She locked herself in the changing room and frowned. What the heck was wrong with her, thinking like that? She didn’t want a relationship with Rylan, for Pete’s sake! What she wanted was for him to satisfy his inheritance requirement and then just leave again.

And good enough? She pulled on her jeans and zipped them, her movements quick and efficient. Jeez, she let one guy catalogue all her faults as a girlfriend and suddenly she doubted herself. Honestly, there were days she wished she’d never met Colt Black and his charming face. Or Rylan and his charming face, too. Boy, she was a sucker for the lookers, wasn’t she?

But today that didn’t matter. Today was about Lacey’s wedding, so after she put the dress in the garment bag and paid the balance at the counter, she and Lacey started back to Gibson for lunch. This afternoon they had appointments to put in the final order for the cake and flowers. Lacey was the perfect blushing bride-to-be, radiant and happy during the preparations. There hadn’t been a single bridezilla moment, and for that Kailey was eternally grateful.

The Horseshoe Diner was doing a bustling business over the lunch hour, and Kailey and Lacey found themselves at a table near the back, close to where the ancient jukebox sat. Lacey, being ever conscious of fitting into her wedding dress, ordered a salad with dressing on the side. Kailey didn’t worry so much about what she ate, considering the physical labor she did each day. She ordered a cheeseburger with bacon and hot peppers and then, at Lacey’s horrified expression, asked for a side salad instead of fries.

She would not look at her watch and worry about chores. She deserved a day off. This was Lacey’s wedding after all. Things could run without her for a few hours.

Their food came as they were discussing the merits of having both a white and chocolate layer in the wedding cake. Kailey was just considering the best way to pick up her cheeseburger when the front door swung open and Rylan and Quinn strode through.

Lacey had her back to the door, so it was Kailey who saw them first, and her heart sank as she watched Quinn scan the room for an empty table. There weren’t any that Kailey could see, and she looked down, hoping the pair wouldn’t see them sitting there. Not that she’d mind Quinn, but Rylan? No thanks.

No such luck. A quick glance showed her that they were on their way over, Quinn leading the way with a big smile. Of course he was smiling. Lacey was there. Rylan didn’t look quite as pleased. Apparently he wasn’t looking forward to seeing her any more than she was looking forward to seeing him.

“Is there room for two more here?” Quinn asked, and Lacey’s head snapped up in surprise, her face flushing with pleasure.

“Of course there is!” She patted the chair next to her. “Our food just arrived. I’m sure yours won’t take long.”

Quinn gave her a quick kiss and sat while Rylan stood by Lacey’s chair. “May I?” he asked quietly, politely. Unenthusiastically.

“Be my guest,” she answered coolly, wishing now that she’d gotten the fries. And a big soda. And a hot fudge sundae to bury her head in.

“Thanks,” he murmured and took the seat beside her.

He and Quinn ordered and Kailey noticed that Lacey wasn’t eating, instead saving her salad for when everyone had their food. She looked longingly at her burger, still hot from the grill, the scent of the beef so delectable her stomach growled in anticipation. With a little chuckle, Rylan leaned over. “Eat it. It won’t be as good cold.”

“That would be rude,” she replied, trying to ignore the delicious shiver that skittered down her spine at the quiet words uttered so closely to her ear.

“Not if we say it’s not.” He sat back, picked up his glass of water and took a sip. “Seriously. Eat. Don’t let us interrupt your lunch.”

She still felt awkward, but she picked up the burger—she needed both hands—and took a first delicious bite. Closed her eyes and simply enjoyed the explosion of flavor happening inside her mouth.

When she opened her eyes again, Rylan was watching her, a look of fascination on his face, and something more, too. Hunger. For her? Or for her lunch? She grabbed her paper napkin and scrubbed it across her lips, looking away from him.

“It’s that good, is it?” he asked, the note of teasing slightly strained.

“Always,” she replied, taking a drink of water. “I’m afraid I’m not one of those fancy dish people with the fresh this and that, and herb and goat stuff and whatever. A good beef burger with bacon and cheese and some jalapenos and I’m a happy girl.”

“Not champagne tastes then.”

She met his eyes evenly. “Not really. My tastes tend to be rather...ordinary.”

She could see in his eyes when he got her meaning, and she felt a little bit small for implanting the barb in such an innocuous way.

She hid by taking another bite of her burger while Quinn and Lacey chatted about wedding stuff.

Moments later Quinn’s and Rylan’s meals arrived, and she watched with envy as Rylan picked up a crispy fry and dipped it in a little dish of ketchup. He’d ordered a club sandwich, and didn’t waste any time helping himself. Likewise, Quinn picked up his pulled-pork bun and took a hearty bite. Out of sorts, Kailey wondered why men could order such meals and it was all manly and if a woman did the same thing, she got sideways looks. It was a stupid double standard. Especially considering what her daily calorie burn tended to be. Scowling, she took another huge bite of her burger.

“You should see Kailey’s dress.” Lacey’s sweet voice interrupted the meal, and Kailey nearly dropped the half of the burger she had left in her hands while she chewed what had ended up being too big a bite. “She looks beautiful. The color is just perfect.”

Kailey struggled to finish chewing and finally swallowed the mouthful, feeling as if she had no table manners at all. “Lace, I’m not sure the guys are interested in bridesmaid dresses, you know?”

Quinn put his arm along the back of Lacey’s chair. “Aw, there’s nothing wrong with being excited about the wedding,” he replied, looking at Lacey with such devotion it was nearly sickening.

Kailey wasn’t usually so cynical. Maybe it was because Rylan was beside her. And Rylan had been the one to leave her alone in a motel room after what was the most romantic night of the year—Valentine’s Day. Perhaps if it had been underwhelming, it wouldn’t be so difficult to put in the past. Trouble was it had been amazing. Rock-her-world amazing.

Kailey had often wondered if she should trust her own judgment with men, and the incident with Rylan pretty much had cemented the answer.

She was better off sticking to horses and bulls.

“What color is it?”

Rylan asked the question and she really, really wished he hadn’t. “Blue,” she answered. “It’s blue.”

Lacey laughed. “You can’t just say blue. There are lots of blues out there.” She turned her attention to Rylan. “It’s kind of a turquoisey sky blue. It looks great with her hair and tan.”

Kailey put her forehead on her hand. Her tan? Really? Because she was only tanned around her neck and from the biceps down...like every other rancher in these parts.

“Sounds nice,” Rylan answered.

Lacey and Quinn started talking about something to do with Amber, leaving Rylan and Kailey silent on their side of the table again.

“Sorry,” he offered quietly, eating another fry. “If I’d known you guys were here, I would have suggested somewhere else.”

“It’s just awkward, that’s all. We’re going to run into each other occasionally. We might as well get used to it.”

She wiped her fingers on her napkin, then picked up her fork and speared a slice of cucumber from her salad.

“Kailey...I’m sorry.”

“For?” She crunched the cucumber, determined to ignore the weird flutterings in her tummy.

“For being such a jerk that morning.”

She looked up quickly, checked to see if Quinn or Lacey had heard. Luckily, they were still engrossed in their own conversation. “This isn’t the place to discuss it.”

“I get the feeling you don’t want to discuss it at all, and that’s fine. But I do owe you the apology.”

Dammit. It was easier to hate him when he wasn’t doing the right thing.

Scratch that. The right thing would have been sticking around, at least until coffee. They could have agreed to go their separate ways or...whatever.

“Noted.” She stuck her fork savagely into the lettuce.

“Noted, but not accepted?” he asked. “I mean it, Kailey. I was totally in the wrong. Wouldn’t it be better if we could get along? As you said, we’re going to run into each other. And possibly more than occasionally. I’d like to put it behind us.”

She would, too, but she wasn’t sure she could until she understood why. Why had he felt the need to rush out before sunrise? Or was he really just a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy? She’d certainly seen that type before...though she hadn’t pegged Rylan as that kind. On top of Colt’s rather quick moving on, it had left her feeling, well, disposable. Not worth the trouble of sticking around, even for breakfast.

Sitting in the diner with a lunchtime crowd audience didn’t seem the right time or place to ask him why. But he was right. Their ranches were side by side. She was good friends with Carrie and Quinn, and Rylan’s brother and sister.

Then there was the fact that he wasn’t planning on staying at Crooked Valley forever. He was here to fulfill the terms of his grandfather’s will, so Lacey and Duke could keep the ranch in the family. Surely she could suck up her personal feelings for a few months. Couldn’t she? She’d gotten pretty good at hiding her feelings over the years. She’d had to when she’d taken a bigger role at the ranch and had become the boss of a largely male workforce.

“Consider it behind us,” she replied, pushing away her salad. She really wished Lacey would get a move on. Not that she was in the mood for more wedding details, but it would get her away from Rylan.

Rylan, whose gaze she could feel glued to the side of her face. When she couldn’t stand it anymore, she sighed.

“What?”

“Thank you,” he said simply.

She looked at him and felt her animosity threaten to abandon her. He didn’t look cocky or insincere in any way. In fact, his eyes were completely earnest and his lips open just a little, so she could get the full effect of their bowed shape. The bottom one was just a little fuller than the top, and she remembered them being surprisingly soft and...capable.

He was as attractive as ever, but she’d learned her lesson and learned it well. Rylan Duggan was trouble, and trouble was the last thing she needed.

“You’re welcome.”

Lacey was finally finishing up her salad and Kailey figured she might escape without having to speak to him again, but once more Rylan picked up a new thread of conversation.

“I could use some advice,” he said, pushing away his plate. All that was left on it were the four toothpicks that had held his sandwich together, and the little dish that had contained his ketchup.

“Advice about what?” she asked. She hoped to God it wasn’t anything personal. An apology was one thing. But they hadn’t made that many amends yet.

“On the stock situation at Crooked Valley.”

That made her sit back. “Oh?”

He kept his voice low. “Quinn and I have been talking. He’s doing okay, but really, Quinn’s a cattle man. The little stock we’ve sent to competition has been handled by Randy. And I know Brandt stock. It’s top-notch. I wanted to run some ideas past you.”

Nothing he might have said would have surprised her more. On one hand, it was nice to know he respected her knowledge and opinion.

On the other hand, it made her wonder if the apology had really been meant to soften her up into giving him free advice.

Well, either way, it wouldn’t hurt to state the obvious. “What Crooked Valley needs is some new breeding stock. A new stud, a couple of mares. But mostly a good stud that you can make some money off of breeding fees. That’ll help pad your program so you can grow it.”

“That’s what I thought.” He frowned.

“And Quinn probably knows that, too, but truth of the matter is Crooked Valley can’t afford to outlay that much money right now. It’s risky, even if the money was in the account. Am I right?”

He nodded. “Yes. According to Duke, our grandfather thought it would be fun to breed some rodeo stock. But it was more of a side thing than a focus, and it’s never paid its way or lived up to its potential.”

“I know Quinn and Duke have talked about selling it off.” Kailey made herself smile. What she’d said about potential was absolutely correct. There were a few mares in the stables that she’d love to get her hands on, breed them with Big Boy. If the Duggans did decide to call this side of the operation quits, she hoped she could get first dibs on some of the unrealized potential in the barn before it went to auction.

“I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”

Did he realize he’d said we? He was a temporary addition to the Crooked Valley operation, wasn’t he? Or perhaps he used the concept as cavalierly as he used his women.

And maybe she hadn’t quite accepted his apology. She bit down on her lip. It wasn’t like her to be this nasty, even in her thoughts. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like anything that Rylan Duggan made her feel.

Quinn coughed, interrupting their conversation. “Sorry to break this up,” he said. “But, Ry, I’ve got to get back.”

“No problem,” Kailey replied. “It wasn’t anything important.”

Rylan got up and reached back in his hip pocket for his wallet. She watched as the muscles in his shoulders and back shifted beneath his shirt, remembering what those very muscles looked like without the covering of cotton. He took out some bills and threw them on the table. “Lunch is on me, ladies. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”

Kailey’s face flamed. He was smiling his charming smile and smoothing everything over, wasn’t he? And it would be so easy to fall for that again.

Instead, she reached inside her purse, took out a twenty and dropped it on the table before picking up one of his bills and handing it back to him.

“I can pay my own way,” she said quietly, and without looking back, headed for the exit.

Kailey strode to Lacey’s car, anxious to get going and away from Rylan but trying to look more purposeful than actually running away. That was what he did, not her.

Her breath hitched a little, surprising her, and she gulped, trying to shut down the flood of emotion. She wasn’t acting like herself. The Kailey she knew was able to let things roll off her like water off a duck’s back. She took things in stride, put them in perspective.

That she couldn’t in this one particular instance bugged the hell out of her.

“Hey, wait up!” Lacey’s quick steps sounded behind her and Kailey, almost to the car, slowed.

Lacey was slightly out of breath. “Did someone light your tail on fire or what? And what was that whole deal with the bill, anyway?”

“I’m sorry.” Kailey looked at Lacey and wanted to confide, yet held back. This was Rylan’s sister. Blood did run thicker than water, or so she’d heard. “I shouldn’t let it get to me so much.”

“You really don’t like Ry, do you?” Lacey put her handbag over her shoulder and studied Kailey.

It was probably the opposite—that she’d liked him too much. “It’s not that...” Her voice trailed off, unsure of how to explain.

Over Lacey’s shoulder, she saw Quinn and Rylan hop into Quinn’s truck and pull away from the curb.

She sighed. “How much do you know about Valentine’s Day?” Kailey asked her friend.

Lacey grinned. “I know that as I was leaving with Quinn, you were leaving with Rylan.”

That’s right. There’d been another, more successful, romance budding back in February. One that had ended with a far better result. “You went home with Quinn, and I had a romantic night at the Shady Pines Motel. With your brother.”

Lacey blushed a little. “I know, I know,” she said, flapping her hand as Kailey lifted an eyebrow. “I asked.”

“I won’t go into the gory details.” Kailey would spare Lacey that trauma. No one wanted to think of their brother that way! “But here’s the thing. I met Rylan at Christmas when he spent the holiday with your family. He’s a good-looking guy, Lace. Charming, too. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been interested. I’d been seeing someone off and on, but that had gone south in a big way. So when he was back less than two months later, and we were both at that Valentine’s Day dance...”

“One thing led to another.”

“It certainly did. It wasn’t something I’m in the habit of doing, either. I was more interested than I probably let on.” She gulped. It had sort of been...revenge sex. It just hadn’t been with someone random. She’d chosen. She’d chosen Ry.

“He didn’t return the sentiment?”

Kailey looked her friend straight in the eye. “Maybe we can finish this conversation in the car? Away from public consumption?”

At Lacey’s nod, they got inside the little sedan. Kailey turned in the passenger seat and faced her friend. She had to be honest here, even if Rylan was Lacey’s baby brother.

“Okay,” she continued. “When I woke up, he’d taken his things and checked out. His truck was gone...it was like he had never been there.”

Now Lacey frowned, a wrinkle forming between her perfectly groomed eyebrows. “He ran?”

“Like he couldn’t get away fast enough. And he hadn’t left enough cash with the room key, so I had to pay the difference.”

It had been the singularly most humiliating moment of her life. If he’d hung around, she might have been able to avoid going to the office and seeing Lyle Tucker behind the desk. The small smirk on his face had only added insult to injury as far as Kailey was concerned. It was enough to turn her off romance for a good long while.

“Oh, ouch,” Lacey said, frowning. “Hey, I love Ry. He’s my brother. But that was pretty crappy behavior.”

“Yeah, it was.” Kailey sighed. “And I know I should get over myself and just...I don’t know, put it behind me. Not let it get to me.”

Lacey looked far too hopeful for Kailey’s liking. “Could it be you still care for him?”

There was a very real chance of that, but Kailey would never admit to it. “I barely know him,” she replied. “And I’m very aware of how that makes me sound considering what we shared.” And what they hadn’t shared. Her shoulders slumped. “I made a mistake, that’s all. And I’m trying, really I am. We were chatting about the stock and stuff and doing fine until he insisted on paying the bill.” She sent Lacey a sheepish half smile. “I’m afraid it set me off, since he stiffed the motel, you know?”

“Maybe if you just talk to him—”

Kailey cut her off before she could finish the sentence. “No way. What’s done is done. It’ll be fine. I just need to put on my big-girl panties.”

Lacey laughed. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, Duke is Quinn’s best man. You won’t be paired up for the day or anything.”

It didn’t. Because that was just for the ceremony, and maybe a few pictures. The rest of the night Duke and Carrie would be pasted together. And Kailey, the maid of honor, would be the old maid of the group.

Ugh.

“Speaking of...” She changed the subject. “Let’s get these errands done. We’re supposed to be focusing on your wedding, not my romantic drama.”

The mention of wedding errands was enough to set the efficient Lacey into action, and they talked about lace versus satin ribbon for the flowers and cake flavors as they headed down Main Street.

It was just too bad Kailey couldn’t get Rylan’s gray-blue eyes out of her mind, or the sound of his voice. She knew Lacey and Duke needed him to keep the ranch in the family, but honestly she hoped he wasn’t around much. Then life could get back to normal.

Chapter Three

Rylan pulled into the Crooked Valley yard at quarter past seven. Too late for dinner—though if he asked, Lacey would probably have leftovers—and still with enough daylight left that he could chill for a bit before falling into bed.

It would be good to move around for a while, loosen up the tight muscles that came from driving the better part of the day. The past two weekends he’d competed, both times in the money, once at the top. But it hadn’t been easy, either. He’d twisted his knee a little yesterday during an awkward dismount, and the rides had been tough, beating his body around enough that he felt it through his ribs and shoulders.

But he was home now. And while he wouldn’t admit it to Lacey, it was nice to have a home base. Not that working in Wyoming had been bad. His boss had been good to him. Paid him well.

Ry’s needs were simple and he’d been careful with his money. As a result he had a rather nice little nest egg built up for a rainy day.

A rainy day that might have arrived. He still had some thinking to do before making any firm decisions. Still, it didn’t hurt for a man to have his ear to the ground.

But first he had to get unhitched. He could hear the dogs, Molly and Ranger, barking inside when he hopped out of the truck and moved to disconnect the camper. It took very little time for him to have it level and ready, just the way he liked it.

No one was home, so he went in the back door and emptied his dirty clothes from his duffel into the washing machine. After petting the dogs and putting some water in their bowl, he took a quick scrounge of the fridge and found leftover meatloaf. Ry sliced a huge hunk and put it between two slices of homemade bread for his dinner, then grabbed a beer from the fridge before heading back outside.

It was quiet. Almost too quiet. What he’d really like to do was go for a swim, let the cool water soothe his tired muscles. With more than an hour of daylight left, he shoved the last crust of bread into his mouth, washed it down with the beer, and struck out for the western edge of the property.

He’d discovered the bend in the creek quite by accident a few days after he’d arrived at the ranch. He’d been out riding, familiarizing himself with the place, and he’d started following the creek toward the property line. He knew at some point the land became Brandt property, but he didn’t know when and where. It took him a good half hour to make his way to the spot he’d found before, where the rushing, burbling sound faded to a soft lapping. It was wide enough, deep enough to swim. With the warm sun bathing his face, he stepped through the tall grass to the edge and prepared to strip to his briefs.

And halted, with his hands on the button of his jeans. There was already a pile of clothes on the ground, a heap of denim and a pale green T-shirt next to running shoes. Women’s running shoes.

He snapped his gaze to the water at just the right moment to see a woman surface in the stillness, parting the water with a soft splash and then swiping her hair back off her face.

Kailey.

His body reacted in a typical way and he shifted his weight to the other foot, unsure of what to do. What were the chances of him getting out of here without attracting her attention? Slim to none, he would imagine. Standing here staring was another ill-advised move... Damn. It didn’t really matter what he did, it would be wrong. After leaving Kailey the way he had, he’d come to expect it from her.

He took a step backward and dry grass crackled beneath his feet. Maybe she wouldn’t hear. He’d approached after all, and she hadn’t been the wiser. But no such luck this time. Her head snapped around and she saw him standing there, next to her mound of clothing, and he could see her blush even though they were several yards apart.

“Sorry,” he called. “I’ll go.”

He’d turned halfway around when her voice stopped him. “What are you doing here, Rylan?”

He hesitated and faced the pool—and her—again. “I was going to go for a swim. I saw this place a few weeks ago and thought it would be perfect.”

“It is. Don’t go. I’m done anyway. If you don’t mind turning your back for a few minutes, I’ll leave you in peace.”

He swallowed, hard. Looked down at her clothes. He didn’t see any underwear, and he let out a relieved breath. He wasn’t sure his body, or his imagination for that matter, could take knowing she was skinny dipping.

“Don’t get out on my account. Really, I’ll just go back home.”

He’d taken two more steps when she called after him. “Are things going to be this awkward between us forever?”

Forever was a long time. He called back, “I’m not staying forever, so I doubt it.”

She didn’t answer, but he heard a splash and dared to look over his shoulder.

She’d disappeared again. Lord, but the woman knew how to get under his skin. Far more than she realized.

The water parted and she popped up again. Screw it, he thought. He was tired and hot and achy, and he wanted a swim. She could stay or she could go, but she didn’t own sole rights to the swimming hole.

He went back to where her clothes were and began unbuttoning his shirt. Kailey had switched from treading water to floating on her back. Only little bits of her were exposed. The tips of her breasts in a white bra and he could just see the edge of matching white underwear.

He took off his jeans and was suddenly very self-conscious. Tighty whities left nothing to the imagination. At all.

There was only one thing to do. He jogged to the water and splashed his way in up to his thighs before diving under.

He surfaced with a bellow. “Janey Mac, that’s cold!”

He scrubbed the water away from his face and saw Kailey floating nearby, an amused smile on her face. One thing was for sure, the cold water had gone a long way in helping his uncomfortable situation. He shivered as goose bumps popped up on his skin.

“Janey Mac?” she asked, the surface swirling around her as she tread water.

He grinned. “Something I remember my grandfather saying when I was just a little boy. And my gram would always give him this strange look and call him Joseph.”

She nodded. “I remember that. I miss them, you know.”

He knew it would be strange for him to say “me, too.” He hadn’t seen his grandparents in years. He’d avoided this place like the plague, had written it off as simply a part of his past. Being here again, though, had brought back a lot of memories. “You knew them better than I did. Of course you miss them.”

He gave a little shift of his body and used his arms to propel himself around, not really swimming, but not treading water either. “It’s a bit better when you get used to it,” he observed, and Kailey nodded.

“I’m kind of dreading getting out. The air is going to be cold.”

“Do you come here a lot?” he asked.

“This is my first time swimming this year. It’ll be warmer in the middle of summer. Unless we get a really dry season. Then the creek goes down and there’s not much good swimming at all.”

“I just got back from Washington. Felt like a dip would blow some of the dust off.”

She leaned back, let her toes pop out of the water. “You haven’t heard of a shower?”

“This sounded nicer.”

They were quiet for a few minutes and Ry decided it was one of the strangest silences he’d ever encountered. On one hand, it was surprisingly comfortable. And on the other, he knew she had a zillion burning questions. Probably starting with asking why he’d run out on her that morning. He hoped to God she didn’t actually ask.

“How’d you do?” she said finally, as she started to push herself off in a breast stroke.

“Huh?”

“At the rodeo. How’d you do?”

He shrugged, the air cold on his shoulders. “I did all right. In the money.”

He’d won, but he wasn’t going to brag.

“You’re really good. I’ve seen the standings. And a couple of our guys are pretty excited you’ve shown up next door. You could probably come over and sign autographs.”

Maybe she really was warming up to him after all. Maybe she’d gotten over whatever had been bugging her that day at the diner when she’d refused to let him buy her lunch. “That’s pretty generous of you to say,” he observed. “Considering.”

“Considering what? That I think you’re a jerk?”

And just like that she was beneath the water again. The girl could swim like an otter.

She emerged at the other side of the swimming hole. “Maybe it is time for me to go,” she said, and struck out for the edge.

“Kailey, I get that you’re mad, and you have every right to be. I’m sorry. I have no excuses for my behavior.”

Her feet touched bottom and she started walking her way in. “It says something when a guy can’t even hang around for breakfast.” She was stomping now, making an unholy racket as she splashed her way toward shore. “Or when you stiff the motel on part of your bill.”

“Wait, what?” He put his feet on the bottom and stared at her. What was she talking about?

“You underpaid. I had to drop off the room key, which would have been humiliating enough. But there was still twenty bucks owing.”

He’d been sure he’d counted out enough twenties before leaving the money on the desk in an envelope he’d found in a drawer in the room.

But it had also been five in the morning. And dark.

She was standing on the edge now, in her white bra and panties. Which theoretically covered as much as any two-piece bathing suit, maybe more. But then there was the issue that it was white. And soaking wet.

And see-through.

“Kailey,” he said, his voice rough. “For the love of God, I hope you have a towel.”

She stared at him for a few seconds before what he’d said registered. But it was long enough for him to get a good long look at what was beneath the transparent fabric. And long enough for him to remember what it had been like with her back in February in the dim light of the motel room.

Amazing. Incredible. Scary as hell.

It was that last part that kept him grounded, tempered the need pounding through him to have her again. Cold water or not, he knew it was best for both of them if he stayed submerged right now.

She spun away and trotted off to where she’d left her clothes, then bent over to retrieve a towel she’d brought. He groaned a little, wondering if she’d bent over like that on purpose just to torture him.

When she turned around again, she had the towel wrapped around her. Well, around her middle, anyway. It was short and only went to the tops of her thighs. He could still see the lovely, long expanse of leg beneath it.

Kailey Brandt was trouble. And he was starting to believe she didn’t realize that about herself.

She was also angry. And beneath that he suspected she might be a little bit hurt. That’s what bothered him most of all. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. Hadn’t known he actually could.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “Kailey, me leaving that morning was all on me. It had nothing to do with you.”

“Really?” Skepticism was ripe in her tone.

“Really,” he insisted. What could he say that would be close to the truth but not the truth? He was scrambling and the moments strung out until Kailey let out a huff.

“You’re a liar, Rylan Duggan. What was it, anyway? Was I too clingy? Too sweet? Did you think I’d expect a proposal in the morning? Was I unsatisfactory as a lover? I mean, I haven’t had that complaint before, but sometimes people don’t gel for whatever reason and—”

“No!” He cut her off, ran a hand over his wet hair. “Shut up, Kailey. Just shut up.”

He started walking out of the water and as he got closer he could see her eyes swimming with tears. “Aw, Kailey...”

She held up her hand. “Just don’t. I cry when I’m angry. And right now I’m really wound up.”

He reached her and tried not to shiver as the cool evening air touched his wet skin. “You want to know the truth? I liked it. A lot. Too much. And I was afraid that if I didn’t get up and leave that morning that I’d end up staying for breakfast. Or longer.”

“And would that have been so bad?”

“At the time? Yes.”

“Why?”

God, he hated these kinds of conversations. He’d learned long ago that there was no right answer to her kind of question, so he was as honest as he dared to be. “Because I didn’t have anything to offer you. I still don’t. I’m not the kind of guy who hangs around, Kailey.”

“You’re here now. At the ranch, I mean.”

“But only temporarily. Remember?” He didn’t stick around any one place for long. He liked it much better being free to go where he pleased, when he pleased. He called the shots and made his own choices. It had been a long time since anyone had made them for him. His choices, his consequences. It was easier that way.

He scooted past her and grabbed his shirt from the ground, gave it a shake and pulled it on. His shorts still dripped and there was no way he could put his jeans on over top. If she hadn’t been here, he would have simply stripped to the skin and gone for a dip. Now his only option was to stand here and be cold or to take them off and pull on his jeans commando.

“Turn around,” he ordered.

“What?”

“Turn around.”

He could tell the moment she understood his meaning because her cheeks flushed bright pink. Despite it, she lifted her chin a little. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

He could mention that he’d pretty much seen everything of hers, too, through that wet underwear, but he didn’t. If she was determined to prove a point, he’d oblige. With a shrug he pushed down his shorts and stepped out of them, then reached for his jeans and tugged them on awkwardly. His skin was still wet and the fabric clung to his legs. He finally got them buttoned and carefully zipped.

When he looked up her face was bright red, but she hadn’t looked away.

It was better now that he was dressed, and he reached down and grabbed her T-shirt, handing it over. “Here. Get warm.”

She dropped her towel and he caught a glimpse of her abdomen, lean and pale compared to the worker’s tan on her arms and face. Immediately the green shirt got dark, damp spots on her chest.

What he really wanted to do was spread out his shirt or that towel and lay her down on it. That part hadn’t changed. He still found her beautiful, intriguing and sexy as hell. Probably because of her confidence. Or bullheadedness. Two sides of the same coin, he figured.

And then she stripped off her panties and pulled on her jeans and he had to look away. Whatever point she was trying to prove, she’d done it.

“Kailey, I don’t want things to be strained. I can’t apologize forever. I meant it when I said I was completely at fault. I don’t know how else to make amends. What do you want me to do? I’ll do it. The last thing I want is to disrupt anything here.”

She wadded up her underwear and rolled them into the damp towel. “There’s nothing you can do. I don’t actually want to keep punishing you for it. I can’t seem to help myself.”

“I’m not trying to push your buttons.”

“I know that. You’ve gone out of your way to be nice. I just...don’t want you to be nice. I don’t know what I want, Rylan. I have too much pride for my own good.”

He chuckled then. “No wonder we seem to butt heads. All that pride getting in the way.”

“What can I say? I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I’ve had to.”

He didn’t doubt it. He knew for a fact that Kailey was heavily involved in raising Brandt stock, and that took strength and a good amount of backbone. There were still some good old boys who didn’t appreciate a woman running ranch operations and didn’t like taking orders. It was a load of garbage, in his opinion.

But he guessed that what had happened on Valentine’s Day probably also had gotten around town. He sat down on the grass and patted the spot beside him. “Sit for a minute, instead of looking like you’re ready to throttle me.”

She hesitated but then sat, pulling her knees close to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. The pose made her look almost childlike, especially with her tawny hair falling over her shoulders in wet ribbons.

“Did what happened with us make things difficult for you?” he asked quietly.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, stiffing the guy for the room was unintentional, but Gibson is small. If what happened got around...” He let the thought hang for a few seconds before continuing. “I know you’re a woman operating in a male-dominated world. The last thing you need is rumors about your personal life undermining that.”

“I’m not sure if I’m touched by your concern or infuriated that it’s even an issue. I’m sure your reputation wouldn’t suffer for such a thing. You’d be given atta boys. Am I right?”

“It’s a stupid double standard, and I hope I didn’t play a part in it.”

She met his gaze. “Rylan, I’m no angel. I’m in my late twenties and definitely not some delicate, virginal flower. But I certainly don’t make a habit of catting around, and I keep my personal life discreet.” She sighed. “Or at least I try to.”

Rylan hadn’t considered this side of things before, and a pang of regret made his heart heavy. When was the last time he’d truly liked someone enough to care what happened the morning after? He honestly couldn’t remember. He moved around. Got used to the buckle bunnies who followed the circuit and were looking to put another notch on their belts. Up until this year, he’d obliged now and again.

Not since February though. Not since he’d awakened in the dark to find Kailey sleeping beside him. Something had happened. Something that had made him feel wonderful and extremely uncomfortable at the same time.

The urge to stay.

He’d half figured that by leaving the way he did, she’d get a good old-fashioned hate on for him and that would be that. He’d come back to Crooked Valley expecting a cold shoulder. Over and done with, move on.

He could see now his thinking had been flawed. Because Kailey was more hurt and embarrassed than angry, and knowing it brought out every single protective and possessive instinct he had. He wanted to fix it, explain. He wanted... Crap. He wanted to be able to forget about her the way he’d expected her to forget about him. And he couldn’t.

That wouldn’t do anyone any good, and neither would sitting in the middle of a field in semi-darkness.

“Come on. I’ll walk you home,” he suggested. “It’s getting dark.”

“Newsflash, Duggan. You’re on Brandt land. I’m already home. Maybe I should walk you back, huh?”

She was so quick, a little feisty, and he liked that about her. A lot. “If you want to kill my reputation with a single blow, sure. Big bad rodeo star needs an escort home in the dark.”

Not that he couldn’t find a few things to do in the dark with her.

He had to stop thinking that way.

“I guess we’ll just part ways here then,” she replied and pushed to her feet.

“I guess.” He got up and brushed the dirt from the seat of his jeans. “Um, I’ll see you around. I guess.”

“Yup.”

He’d taken maybe half a dozen steps back toward the horse trail that ran along the creek when she called out to him. “Hey, Rylan.”

He turned and faced her, and the image of her standing in the twilight among the waving grass did something queer to his pulse.

“It was good to say my piece. Clear the air, so to speak.”

“Good. It’s probably better if we can be civil.”

She nodded. “Well, see ya.”

Kailey turned and started walking in the opposite direction, her hips swinging a little with each step, her towel and underwear balled up in her hand. Rylan looked down at the cotton in his hands and let out a huge breath before tucking his shorts half into his back pocket, the end trailing out like a handkerchief.

Civil. Clearing the air.

He was glad she was happy about it, because to his mind things just had gotten a whole lot more complicated.

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