BRIDLETON

Becky Barker

Original copyright © 2010 by Becky Barker for Cerridwen Press.  Second edition, 2011.  ISBN 978-1-4524-3567-1 All rights reserved.  Cover art by Rachel Conner

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Author’s Note:  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

Trademarks Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Stetson, John B. Stetson Company. Future Farmers of America: Future Farmers of America DBA National FFA Organization

Dedication

This one’s for the two newest loves in our lives, Aaron Michael and Aidan Matthew, born February 7, 2008.

Chapter One

Thinking only of the distress call that had her racing across two continents, Andrea Bartell paused in the library door of her childhood home. Her gaze immediately focused on the silver-haired woman sitting behind a massive walnut desk.

Great Aunt Nanette, who’d been more like a mother to the Bartell brood, looked alive and well. Andrea fought a dizzying wave of relief as she stared at the much-loved matriarch. Nanna’s wrinkled, leathery skin creased in a cautious smile. Aquamarine eyes, a Bartell family trait, glittered with genuine warmth.

“Welcome home, dear. We’ve been expecting you.”

The calm, matter-of-fact statement staggered Andrea’s breathing for an instant. She’d been in Paris when she gotten the telephone message about a dire family emergency. She’d been frantic when she couldn’t get details from anyone here in Texas. All sorts of horrible scenarios had gone through her mind, especially that Nanette might be dying or dead.

She’d been sick with worry, unable to eat or sleep for the last twenty-four hours. A wild mixture of emotions churned inside her now. Relief mingled with frustration, confusion and exhaustion.

“I got a message about an emergency,” she said, “and I’ve been trying to reach you for the past two days!”

“I returned calls to the apartment where you were staying in Paris and your cellular telephone but I couldn’t reach you. You know I don’t talk to those answering machines.”

Andrea shook her head at her aunt’s eccentricity. Then another terrible thought struck. “Zack and Chey?”

“Your brother and sister are fine,” assured Nanette. “The emergency is of a financial nature.”

“Financial?” Andrea repeated the word numbly. She’d skipped out on a major ad campaign to help deal with family finances? The idea was so crazy it wouldn’t register in her sleep-deprived brain. She didn’t know a thing about the ranch finances.

Striving for calm, she swung her gaze around the familiar book-lined room until she noticed the other occupant. Noah Courtland stood silent but watchful. The sight of him packed quite a punch.

A crushing tightness filled her chest, squeezing out her breath in a silent whoosh. All the fine hairs on her body stood on end as she came face-to-face with the reason she hadn’t been home in the past five years.

Andrea’s blood did a slow burn and then quickly chilled. Her pulse raced and her heart battered her ribs, momentarily rattling her composure. She’d loved him and hated him, wanted him yet despised him. He’d been both a dream come true and her worst nightmare.

Noah had worked on the ranch for over a decade and was the ranch manager now. Standing at the fireplace with an arm stretched casually across the mantel, he looked big and tough, his expression unreadable.

Time had brought a hardening to his features that hadn’t been there when she’d left. He’d gotten broader of shoulder, more muscled and mature. His skin stayed bronzed and his fair hair bleached blond by hours of working in the sun. His demeanor was that of a confident, self-assured man. A man used to getting his own way. He looked different yet achingly familiar.

“Noah.” She greeted him with a small nod of the head, not allowing him the slightest glimpse of her chaotic emotions.

It annoyed her that being near him could still threaten her composure. He was just a man, and not a particularly handsome one. His jawbones were too prominent while his lean face held deep grooves at each cheek, a too-stubborn chin and firm, straight mouth. His brooding gaze and unnerving scrutiny rattled her nerves.

He had an untamed look about him, every inch the rugged outdoorsman who’d spent his thirty-plus years wrangling with the elements. A breed of man far removed from the type she’d surrounded herself with these past few years.

He returned her greeting with a nod. “Drea.”

His low, sexy drawl drew out the two syllables of her nickname as no one else ever did. Despite the years that had passed, she still heard it occasionally in her dreams. The lazy pronunciation sounded so painfully intimate it made her breath hitch again. Shaken, Andrea refused to show any reaction and shifted her attention back to her aunt.

She stepped further into the room, moving with a willowy, long-legged grace that was second nature to her after years of walking the fashion runways of the world. The hardest lesson she’d learned in her profession was to maintain her poise no matter how tangled her emotions.

Still, it was a relief to sink into a big, cushioned armchair in front of Nanette’s desk. Sighing inaudibly, she tried to block out thoughts of Noah and direct her full attention to her aunt.

“You look like death,” said the elder Bartell in a voice husky with age. “What have you been doing to yourself?”

Andrea lifted a brow. Her aunt had never sugarcoated anything. She’d always been autocratic and demanding. She was also very loving, fiercely loyal and totally devoted to her family.

“I was working until I got a message about a family emergency.” She dropped her purse and kicked off her shoes, stretching the tired muscles of her feet and ankles. “I’m guessing you didn’t try too hard to reach me because you knew I wouldn’t race home to discuss money issues.”

“There’s an emergency financial situation here at Bridleton and it’s imperative that I discuss the matter with you. It’s not something we can deal with over the telephone.”

“Why didn’t you just ask me to come home?”

“I stopped asking three years ago when all I got were excuses,” said Nanette, her tone heavy with disapproval.

Andrea felt Noah’s disapproval as well. He didn’t utter a sound but she felt the intensity of his gaze singeing her skin. She refused to even glance his way.

“I’ve been busy with work,” she said. The excuse sounded as lame as usual but she was too tired to come up with a better one. “The modeling profession offers a limited window of opportunity.”

“Isn’t your window about to close?”

The barb stung. Inwardly Andrea flinched yet she didn’t let it show. At twenty-eight, she knew her career had already peaked. Her agent still got her decent assignments but her time in the limelight had diminished.

When she didn’t comment, her aunt continued, “Aren’t you tired of bouncing from coast to coast and country to country?”

Andrea hadn’t been home in years but she phoned regularly and knew that Nanette still helped with ranch business. “You’re more than twice my age and you haven’t retired.”

The atmosphere in the room crackled with tension as the two strong-willed women stared at each other, neither batting an eye. Nanette’s scowl deepened. “I didn’t bring you here to argue.”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I’ve decided if the family can’t or won’t work to get Bridleton in the black before the end of the summer, I’m turning over controlling interest to Noah.”

The declaration hit Andrea square in the heart, staggering her breathing and draining the blood from her face. Her aunt couldn’t be doing this. The idea wounded her beyond tears and tantrums and objections. Pride wiped all expression from her face. She wouldn’t let either of them see how much the threat of disinheritance hurt and confused her. Stomach rolling, she lifted her brows in disdain. Bridleton had long been a bone of contention between her and Noah. He’d always been obsessed about the ranch and she’d hated coming second in his affection.

She glanced at him, their gazes locking. A shiver coursed over her at the dark determination in his expression. Her mind whirled while she returned his steady regard. The property valued in the millions. Before coming to work for her grandfather he’d been a poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks. What had he done or said to prompt this decision?

Shifting her gaze back to her aunt, she said, “You swore you’d never allow Bridleton to leave the family.”

“That was in better times. The property value is depreciating daily,” she explained. “Since you and your siblings don’t care to make this a permanent home, I want to leave it to someone who does care.”

Andrea didn’t try to control the contempt in her gaze as it settled on Noah again. She’d once accused him of being willing to sell his soul for Bridleton. Now he seemed to be doing it by preying on the vulnerability of an elderly woman.

“Let me get this straight. Noah has been managing the ranch for the past few years. Now that the value has depreciated, you’re going to reward him?”

Looking directly at Noah, she challenged him with unblinking intensity until his eyes narrowed. He had the most incredible blue eyes. As clear and blue as the summer sky, they’d always fascinated her but she refused to be hypnotized by their startling clarity now. She also refused to be intimidated.

Bridleton included one hundred thousand acres of prime Texas ranch land. Coupled with the main homestead and dozens of smaller properties, it held tremendous emotional and financial value to the family and community. Still, she knew that didn’t mean it had any great value in today’s shaky real estate market.

The ranch had always been Nanette’s greatest passion. There’d never been anything or anyone who could tempt her to part with it, though plenty had tried. Was she serious about giving it to Noah or was this just a plan to exert control over her wayward family?

Andrea flashed him a congratulatory smile that made his jaw clench and his eyes glitter angrily. Five years ago she’d accused him of using both her dead sister and herself to get his hands on their inheritance. Now it seemed he’d decided to use a different Bartell.

“Bridleton still belongs to you,” she said, switching her attention back to Nanette. “I don’t really have any say in the matter, so why did I have to come all the way to Texas to hear this news?”

After a brief, pregnant pause, her aunt began to grumble. “I thought you might care. Bridleton is your home and your heritage.”

Andrea kept her tone bland even though her insides shook with emotions she didn’t have the energy to examine more closely. “I’m sorry but I’m too tired to even get my mind around it right now.”

She already knew the most important detail. Noah’s obsession with Bridleton and his iron determination to make it his own. He’d had years to exploit the situation. Another dark thought crossed her mind. “When I called yesterday, I spoke with someone named Meredith Courtland.”

“Meredith is my cousin Seth’s wife. He’s serving in Iraq.” Noah drew her attention to him again. Their gazes clashed in silent battle but Andrea forced herself not to react.

“Noah doesn’t have a wife,” said Nanette. “I hired Seth’s wife to cook and keep house for us when Rosemarie retired.”

The unbidden wave of relief Andrea felt underscored her physical and emotional exhaustion. For some illogical reason the thought of Noah being married had upset her as much as the thought of Nanette being at death’s door. That shook her confidence as nothing else could have done. To hide her reaction she faked a yawn and covered her mouth with her hand. Rising from the chair, she smoothed a crease from her slacks and turned toward the door. “I think I’ll take a nap. I hope I can still have my old room.”

“Of course,” snapped Nanette in exasperation. “This is still your home, whether or not you take an interest in it or anything that goes on here.”

“Oh I have an interest. Your emergency call upset me but I understand why you weren’t more specific. You wanted to disinherit me in person. What’s the point if you can’t witness the effect?”

The words were cruel yet she didn’t attempt to soften the truth. She heard Nanette’s sharp inhalation and Noah’s low growl of censure. She didn’t look at either of them. She’d inherited her share of Bartlett arrogance and used it when she was feeling threatened or wounded.

Turning at the doorway, she threw him one last scathing glance but spoke to her aunt, “Am I the last one home?”

“Cheyenne and Zackary arrived earlier in the week.”

The thought of seeing her big brother and baby sister lifted her spirits considerably. There was a genuine smile in her voice when she responded.

“I can’t wait to see them.”

She and her siblings had shared letters and phone calls over the past few years but with Cheyenne in college and Zack traveling the globe on engineering projects they rarely got together for personal visits.

“You’d better get some rest first or you’ll scare the daylights out of them. You look dreadful,” said Nanette.

Andrea didn’t appreciate the criticism, especially in front of Noah. Her temper spiked, her self-control slipped and she glared at her aunt.

“After I got the emergency message I worked twelve straight hours to fulfill my obligations in Paris. Then I flew to New York, showered at a friend’s place and got the first available flight home. I’m so tired I don’t know whether it’s yesterday or tomorrow or even next week.”

Nanette remained unsympathetic. “Don’t blame me for not taking better care of yourself. You don’t have to cross an ocean to make a living. Surely you had the opportunity to rest somewhere along the way.”

Andrea clenched her jaw in anger, her control slipping another notch. “I spent most of the time worrying myself sick about you.”

Her aunt flinched at that, which made Andrea feel guilty and even more miserable. She dearly loved Nanette even though she hadn’t been very good at showing it these past few years. The last thing she wanted to do was cause more hurt feelings.

Turning lightly on her toes, she left the room and headed down the wide, elegant hallway toward the front of the house. Her stocking feet slid over the polished hardwood floor, the soft sound echoing in the silent opulence of the foyer. With sheer force of will, she pushed the confused, angry thoughts from her mind. Taking a deep breath, she drew in the scent of the house and allowed herself the simple pleasure of being home.

When she reached the winding staircase, she wrapped her hand around the newel post and closed her eyes. Memories of love and laughter bombarded her. Her dad and his two wives had never made much time for their offspring but her Granddad Bartell and Aunt Nanette had been wonderful surrogate parents.

They’d given her the very best upbringing a child could want. They’d been strict disciplinarians but they’d tempered it with love, respect and pride in their family. The house had always been filled with warmth and happiness.

The sound of someone approaching had Andrea opening her eyes. A red-haired woman with fair skin approached from the back of the house. She wore jeans and a gray tee shirt and carried a stack of clean linens.

“You must be Meredith.”

“And you’re Andrea. Please don’t let me disturb you.”

Andrea managed a smile. “No problem. I just lost myself in memories for a minute. My siblings and I used to slide down the banister even though it was strictly forbidden. We weren’t supposed to run in the house either but this hallway was our playground. We raced, slipping on the hardwood floor, always giggling, always on the lookout for one of the adults. We got by with sliding down the banister for years until Cheyenne fell and cracked her head.”

Chey, their father’s child by a second marriage, had been much younger but she’d always wanted to do everything her older siblings were doing.

“Poor Cheyenne,” said Meredith.

“I think it hurt her pride more than her head.”

Meredith smiled in understanding.

Andrea continued to reminisce. “Big brother Zack was our superhero, of course. He would jump from the newel post to the chandelier and then swing on it like a pro. We cheered him on but weren’t quite brave enough to do it ourselves,” she explained, glancing from the post to the chandelier, wondering how it had held his weight.

“Nanna, that’s our nickname for Aunt Nanette,” she explained when the other woman looked confused. “She caught him one day and he got the big lecture on setting a good example and the responsibilities of the eldest Bartell heir,” she said.

Caroline, the second oldest, had sworn on her life that he’d only done it once. She’d lied but she’d always been so damned honest that no one doubted her word. Her big sister had been loyal to the core, the best of the best.

Just thinking about her made Andrea’s throat constrict with grief. After all these years the thought of Caroline’s death still hurt so much. They’d been close in age and even closer in heart, sharing life and friends and secrets.

How could she not have known her sister was suffering? Had she been so self-centered she’d missed the signs? How could she have let a man like Noah Courtland come between them?

No matter how many times she asked herself the same questions, there were never any satisfying answers. She’d known coming home would be one of the hardest things she’d ever have to do. Sometimes, especially when she was this tired, the memories threatened to overwhelm her.

“I really need some sleep,” she said, forcing her lips into a smile.

Meredith returned the smile. “I’ll leave you to it. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to yell.”

“Thanks.”

Meredith headed up the stairs. Andrea turned at the sound of the front door opening. She greeted her brother and sister with a squeal of excitement.

“Chey, Zack!”

“Andrea!” they called in unison.

She hurried toward them and Zack quickly swept her up in his arms. He whirled her in circles until she was laughing and dizzy. Andrea hugged him fiercely, gave his cheek a loud kiss and then turned to do the same with Cheyenne. They shared a group hug and laughter at the simple pleasure of being together again.

Once they’d caught their breath, she stood back and asked, “What have you two been doing? You smell kind of horsy.”

“We went for a ride after lunch,” said Chey.

Although a few inches shorter than Andrea’s five foot ten, the sisters looked a lot alike. Cheyenne shared a slim build, the Bartell eyes, a straight nose and full mouth set in an oval face. Due to her mother’s genetic influence her features had a more delicate attractiveness. Her dark-brown hair had blonde highlights and was cut in a short, sassy style while Andrea’s remained long and heavy.

“Are you suggesting we stink?” teased Zack, a masculine version of the Bartell traits with a broader nose, longer face, broad shoulders and lean frame.

“Well you know what they say, if the shoe fits…” Andrea ended the sentence with a dramatic pause and then a giggle. “Geez, I’m so tired I’m getting giddy.”

“Have you talked to Nanna yet?” asked Chey.

Her smile turned to a frown. “Yes but it’s going to take a while to wrap my mind around the conversation. Let’s not discuss it now. I just want to catch up on news and chat with you guys.”

“How ‘bout we go continental and hit the pool deck with tea and cookies?” said Zack. “I smelled ‘em as soon as I walked through the door and I’m starving.”

“Are you ever not starving?” teased Cheyenne.

“Not too often,” he conceded with a grin.

The three of them joined arms and moved toward the kitchen, where they helped themselves to tall glasses of sweet tea and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. They headed outside to a table on the backside of a wraparound porch, asking Andrea about her flight and her trip home.

The afternoon sun bathed them in warmth. The scent of honeysuckle wafted around them on a gentle spring breeze. The porch overlooked a tiled patio area that surrounded an in ground swimming pool half full of dirty water. Beyond that was a weed patch that used to be the vegetable garden and still further a grass-invaded tennis court. The signs of neglect both angered and shamed Andrea. She mourned the loss of a once-vibrant home but she understood why nobody had bothered to keep it all maintained.

“This place needs a lot of new Bartells to bring it alive again,” she said as they took seats under the umbrella of the glass table. “How about you, Chey? Weren’t you getting hot and heavy about Ben or Dan or someone the last time we talked?”

“Don, and he’s history,” Cheyenne replied sharply. “He cheated.”

“‘Nuff said. We Bartells don’t tolerate cheats,” said Andrea, her thoughts going to Noah. “Any serious plans about procreating, big brother?”

“Hell no,” said Zack. “Not even considering it.”

He offered her the plate and she took a cookie, savoring every bite. She rarely indulged with high calorie desserts because she loved them a little too much. In high school she’d battled some serious self-esteem problems due to being chubby. She’d nearly starved herself to get thin. Nanette and Caroline had saved her from anorexia but now she stayed thin by eating carefully.

“Wasn’t there someone who wanted you to marry him and have a bunch of crumb snatchers?” Chey asked her.

“My agent.”

“Not gonna happen?”

“Still undecided. Definitely not soon enough to populate the property, especially if Nanna’s ready to give it to Courtland. I said I didn’t want to discuss it but did she give either of you any details?”

“Said she’d explain when we all got home,” offered Zack.

Andrea let the subject drop. “So, Zack, are you done traveling for a while? Bored with living in lush tropical paradises?”

“Paradise is fine if you can get past the heat, humidity and insects,” he said, reaching for a second cookie. “But I’m done with the foreign engineering projects. It’s getting harder and harder to deal with the governments and all the political factions.”

“Not to mention the risks,” added Chey. “I worried every time I heard about another American being kidnapped.”

Zack flashed her a smile. “I’ll be staying closer to home. It sure beats living in barracks with communal bathing facilities and taking anti-malaria drugs.”

Chey grimaced and turned to her. “What about you, Drea? Do you have to get back to work very soon? It would be great to have you here all summer. I’ve missed you guys so much!”

Andrea reached out a hand and grasped Cheyenne’s. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy these past few years and super sorry I missed your graduation. As Nanna pointed out to me earlier, I’m getting older and my modeling career is waning. I can’t afford to turn down assignments.”

“Why not change professions or go native?” Chey asked with a grin. “I know the money wouldn’t be as good but I’m sure you could find work somewhere in Texas.”

“Sure, Drea, you could be one of those fancy underwear models.” Zack flashed a wicked grin. “You see ‘em struttin’ around on TV all the time these days.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “Modeling underwear on the international scene is a whole lot different than doing it at home where everyone thinks you’re either a hussy or a sex kitten.”

“Good point,” said Chey. “Better keep your clothes on here in the states.”

They laughed at the silly joke and tears welled in Andrea’s eyes. She’d forgotten how much she loved spending time with her brother and sister. How fun it was to laugh with them and share stories. How much she’d missed them.

“I guess I’m even more tired than I thought,” she whispered. “I’d better take myself to bed before I go from giddy to maudlin.”

“We’ll talk later,” Zack promised. “You’re not planning to head right back to work, are you?”

Andrea shook her head. “I finished in Paris and don’t have anything else lined up for a while. I won’t make plans until I hear what Nanna has to say.” She drank the last of her tea and rose from the table. “What are you guys going to do the rest of the afternoon?”

“Zack volunteered us to clean the pool.”

Andrea laughed at her sister’s lack of enthusiasm and then covered her mouth as a huge yawn escaped. “Excuse me. Have fun with cleaning and I’ll see you later.” As she crossed the porch she smiled at their teasing exchange.

“Stop whining,” Zack told Cheyenne. “You’re spoiled, college girl. Life in the city has made you soft. It’s time to restore some of that Bartell family grit.”

“I’ve got grit.” She heard her sister’s indignant response as she headed back indoors. “It’s the grime and slime I try to avoid.”

Andrea put her empty glass in the kitchen sink and passed through the dining room to the hallway. Nanette came from the opposite direction, dangling her cast-off shoes in one hand and her purse in the other. She waved them back and forth, her expression gently reproving.

“Some things never change, huh?” Andrea said lightly, reaching for her things.

They transferred shoes and purse from old hands to young. Then Andrea threw her arms around her aunt and hugged her tightly. She’d been so afraid she’d lost her. It felt good to be close again even though her aunt’s body seemed unusually slim and frail. They hugged each other tightly.

Silver hair rested against sable and Nanna whispered in her ear, “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve missed you.”

It was an unexpected declaration for a woman who rarely verbalized her feelings. Andrea tightened her grip, feeling a new wave of relief that her Nanna was alive and well.

“I missed you too.”

Nanette patted her hair and gently eased her aside. “Go to bed, you’re dead on your feet.”

Andrea smiled and nodded then turned to watch as her aunt headed toward the kitchen. Were her shoulders more stooped? With all the other hoopla she’d neglected to ask about her health. Surely a person nearing eighty had medical problems. Might that be the reason she wanted them home? Some horrible diagnosis?

Shaking her head to clear it of nagging questions, Andrea whirled around and slammed into someone else. Since her hands were full at her sides, there was nothing to protect her torso from the hard impact with Noah’s rock-solid chest. The contact knocked the breath out of her and shot a jolt of electricity along her nerves. She cursed the chemistry that made her body sing at the contact with his.

Chapter Two

Andrea didn’t have to look up at many people but she tipped her head to lock gazes with Noah. Long-buried memories surfaced with a vengeance, the scent of him enveloping her like a lover’s cloak, making her skin sizzle with sensation. He always smelled outdoors fresh and purely male, uniquely Noah.

The warm, hard body she remembered had gotten broader, hotter and harder. Big, calloused hands grasped her waist, steadying her yet making her head swim as the heat of his touch seared her through the thin fabric of her shirt.

For a short, terse moment they stared into each other’s eyes, neither apologizing for nor commenting on the jagged sting of attraction that crackled between them. Andrea’s breasts tingled, nipples beading with arousal even though she hated the idea of reacting to him. Her lungs constricted, forcing her to drag in more of his scent with every breath she took.

“There’s something you should know,” he told her in a low hard tone. “Your aunt isn’t planning to disinherit you, so don’t be cruel to her. Your grandfather had a clause in his will that requires you, Zack and Cheyenne to agree on any transfer of the property.”

Andrea sucked in a breath, struggling to clear her thoughts and make sense of what he’d said. “Nanette can’t do anything without our approval?”

His mouth tightened into a grim line. He stared into her eyes with unnerving intensity. “No.”

The feel of him had every cell in her body quivering and her brain seemed to have gone to mush. “And you’re thinking we’ll all just turn over our inheritance and home to you?”

“You’ve sure as hell made yourself scarce these past few years. Why should you care if I buy the place?” he asked with an arrogance that brought her blood to a quick, bubbling boil.

“When hell freezes over!” she snapped, jerking herself out of his grasp. Turning on trembling legs, she brushed past him without another word. Sheer determination kept her head high and spine rigid as she climbed the tall, winding staircase without a backward glance.

On the second floor she paused to drag in a long, calming breath. Deep-breathing exercises had helped her in plenty of stressful situations. Inhale, exhale, she chanted, inhale, exhale, striving to regulate her breathing. It helped a little.

Then she turned toward her bedroom and opened the door into her past. The wonderfully familiar surroundings calmed her as nothing else could have done.

Decorated in peach and cream with a touch of turquoise, the room welcomed her with a rush of happy memories. Her favorite books lined one wall amidst a scattering of stuffed animals and framed pictures. The four-poster bed still reminded her of exotic movies with sheer, lacy fabric draped over the canopy.

She’d chosen the decor during high school when she’d made the momentous decision to stop being a tomboy and become a young sophisticate. She’d wanted light, airy elegance and she’d gotten it.

Someone had opened the French doors, allowing a sweetly scented breeze to fill the room. The same someone must have carried her suitcases upstairs. She glanced at them but didn’t have the energy to unpack. Instead she dropped her shoes and purse beside a padded wicker chair, reached into a dresser drawer and found an old nightgown. Next she shed her stale, wrinkled clothing, letting every item lay where it fell, and dropped the sliplike gown over her body.

The full-length mirror reflected a weary, too-thin woman with pale skin and dark circles under her eyes. Andrea pulled the pins from her heavy pile of hair and let the thick waves fall down her back. Relief from the too-tight hairdo was immediate and she sighed with pleasure. Next she collapsed across the bed, snuggled her face against the lavender-scented pillow and closed her eyes on an even heavier sigh.

A tidal wave of emotion washed over her at the exquisite pleasure of being home in her own bed. God but she loved this place, the sounds and scents that were as much a part of her as her own heartbeat. She loved every inch of it with every fiber of her being.

She’d shoved it all aside to establish a career but she’d never stopped yearning for home and the simplicity of youthful dreams. Noah held too great a part in those old dreams so she’d ruthlessly buried them with her sister five years ago. She hadn’t been home since Caroline’s funeral.

Andrea couldn’t think about him or her reaction to the feel of him. Surely exhaustion had accounted for her body’s fierce response. It wouldn’t happen once she felt more in control. As soon as she’d rested, she’d be better prepared to tackle all the new problems and maybe some old ones.

* * * * *

Noah strode out of the house and headed to the main barn without stopping or speaking to anyone. Anger vibrated through him, his body humming with pent-up frustration. No other woman had ever made him so hot yet so furious in such a short space of time. With just one haughty look Andrea could make him burn with both anger and desire.

She’d been a thorn in his side for as long as he could remember. As kids they’d always been competing in some way, on horseback, in the show ring or among their peers. As teenagers she continued to challenge him on every level, physically, mentally and emotionally. Just three years his junior, she’d wanted to do everything and anything he did and do it better.

She could sit a horse as well as anyone he knew. She could rope and ride and work the ranch with the best of them. Andrea had been the rare woman who spoke his language until she’d decided to shake the Texas soil off her boots and follow a career path he’d never understood.

She’d gone away to college, and he’d missed her more than he’d thought possible. When she’d come home they’d succumbed to the long-simmering sexual attraction and become lovers. He’d ached for her day and night, totally enslaved by his desire and her wild, uninhibited loving.

Worst of all, he’d been stupid enough to start dreaming about a future together.

Then it had all been shattered by Caroline’s death, Andrea’s bitter accusations and lack of faith in him. She’d shown her true colors, what she really thought of him as a man. It had been ugly and he’d never let himself forget.

Hard-learned lessons made the most lasting impact.

The barn was dark after the brilliance of the sunshine but Noah didn’t need much light to find his way around the familiar building. A stack of hay needed to be distributed to the horse stalls, so he tackled the hot, heavy chore.

Before long he’d worked up a good sweat but all he could smell was the scent of Andrea. It clung to his clothes and his senses. The perfume she wore was unique, created especially for her by her college roommate who’d majored in chemistry.

The scent never failed to arouse him, going straight to his head and then his groin. The surge of desire he’d felt earlier had caught him by surprise and thrown him off balance. The feel of her sparked vivid memories of baby-soft skin, steamy summer nights and even steamier sex.

His chest heaved with exertion, his heart racing, by the time he’d finished tossing around fifty-pound bales of hay. Furious with himself and the memories crowding in on him, he picked up the last bale and threw it as far as he could throw. It slammed against the wall with a satisfying thud.

“What’s got your skivvies in such a knot?”

Stiffening, Noah turned to glare at Sam Allwood, a cowhand older than dirt and as dogged as a mule. Sam moved out of the shadows and studied him from beneath the rim of a dusty straw hat. The beady brown eyes were alive with curiosity but his weathered brow creased in concern.

When he didn’t answer right away, Sam continued speculating, “Somethin’s sure got you riled.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Noah insisted grimly, turning his back to Sam’s too-observant eyes.

“Seeing how you come from the big house,” he paused to spit tobacco juice in a can, and then continued, “I’m guessin’ it might have something to do with that expensive-lookin’ woman what climbed out of the fancy little car. Who is she?”

Noah clenched his jaws. He didn’t want to have this conversation but avoiding it would make it more of an issue.

“Nanette’s niece Andrea.”

“Her brother’s girl by his first marriage?”

Sam had started working at Bridleton after Andrea left home but he’d learned plenty about the family since then.

“Yeah, she and Cheyenne are stepsisters.”

“She the one had you drowning your sorrows in whiskey when I first came to work here? I put ya to bed a few times. Heard plenty of mumblin’ about somebody called Drea. Course you talked about Caroline too. Never did know which one drove you to drink.”

Noah hated any reminders of that stretch of personal weakness. “Both, but Caroline’s dead.” He snapped out each word with enough force to warn any sane person to back off but Sam didn’t take the hint.

“Andrea the one Ms. Nanette worries about jet-settin’ all over the world?”

Noah sighed. “Yes,” he said, moving back down the aisle between the stalls. He headed toward the tack room, knowing Sam would follow and that he probably wouldn’t be satisfied until all his questions were answered.

“Why are they all comin’ home, anyways? Some special occasion I don’t know ‘bout?”

None of the ranch staff knew about Nanette’s plans. Most of them knew times were tough and money was tight. It was the same for everyone in the area. Four straight years of rotten weather had nearly devastated the local economy.

Bridleton was no exception. It was just bigger, a major employer for the community, and a good part of that local economy. If it failed half the families in the area would be affected one way or the other; families of men who’d dedicated their lives to keeping it productive.

He’d be damned if he’d let it happen. Too many people depended on him to save their jobs, homes and way of life. He’d do anything to keep this place from bankruptcy.

“I don’t know of any special occasion,” he finally said, hoisting a saddle and tack over his shoulder and then heading back toward Rowdy’s stall. The big bay gelding greeted him with a toss of his head and an impatient dance.

“Ready to go, are you?” he asked, his tone dropping to a low croon as he spoke to his horse.

Stepping into Rowdy’s stall, he slipped the bridle bit between the horse’s teeth and tossed a blanket over his broad back. Work had been slow this past week because of heavy rain. Life-sustaining rains. He’d never thought to see the day when mud excited him but the thrill had been nearly as good as sex.

That errant thought brought back the image of Andrea and her cool, beautiful eyes looking at him like he was white trash. Damn, she could infuriate him faster than any woman he’d ever known. The sight of her never failed to send blood coursing through his veins in a fiery rush, be it in anger or arousal. He could still feel the imprint of her breasts against his chest and it made him furious all over again.

Rowdy snorted as Noah pulled the cinch too tight. He mumbled his apology and then waited until the big horse exhaled before tightening it again.

“Tell Trace we’ll finalize plans for tomorrow once he’s done for the day. I might go to town after supper but I won’t be late.”

Trace Mitchem had been the ranch foreman for more than a decade. He knew the land and the ranch operation better than anyone.

“I’ll tell him to watch fer yer truck.”

Sam followed as Noah led Rowdy out of the barn and into the late afternoon sunlight. Once he’d mounted he settled into the saddle and gathered the reins.

“I’ll get the gate.” Sam ambled ahead of horse and rider, his bowed legs giving him a rocking motion.

Noah glanced briefly toward the house, his gaze zeroing in on Andrea’s bedroom. He knew the location well enough. How many times had he climbed onto her balcony and then lost himself for hours in the seductive sweetness of her body? Memories, sharp and vivid, sent a jolt of desire arcing to his loins. The hot sting of arousal had him shifting restlessly in the saddle, trying to subdue the ache.

He’d never forgive her for promising to love him forever then turning around and calling him a cheat. He’d never forgive her for destroying what they shared, nor for having so little faith in him. Desire sung through his veins but she’d taught him not to equate physical desire with emotional commitment.

There were other women willing to take the edge off his desire. It was just a physical craving and didn’t have anything to do with the future. He didn’t allow emotion to cloud his judgment these days. That’s one lesson he’d learned the hard way but he’d learned it well.

Nowadays all his emotional energy was reserved for saving Bridleton. In the long run nothing mattered as much as the land he loved and the continuation of an American legacy. It might not be his by birthright but it had become his passion. Second only to the woman who’d walked out on him five years ago.

* * * * *

Andrea fell to sleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow but sleep wasn’t particularly restful. Unchecked, her subconscious began to stir up mischief. Her dreams drifted to Noah and erotic memories of the way he’d always made her feel.

Her body began to hum with arousal as those memories seduced her. He was such a passionate, sensitive lover, never seeming to get tired of caressing her. His kisses grew hungrier with each touch of skin on skin.

Breasts swelling, nipples tingling, she felt his slow, thorough adoration as he caressed with his lips and teeth and tongue, especially his tongue. Such a hot, wet, wickedly adoring tongue that lapped at her nipple like a cat slowly savoring cream. It spiked need from her breast to her womb.

His big, calloused hands tugged her close against his hard body. She arched like a bow, rubbing her softness against his rigid flesh.

Need spiraled through her, a deep, gut-wrenching need that only Noah could satisfy. Andrea moaned softly, shifting restlessly against the sheets. Her arms clung to him, her body trying to lure him but she couldn’t get close enough. He kept slipping farther and farther away until she was alone and bereft, her body trembling with unsatisfied desire.

She woke with a muffled cry of frustration, her body damp and trembling. It took a few minutes to orient herself and then she started swearing. Damn! Not again. Not here, not now. Kicking the sheet from her body, she sucked in a long, deep breath. It was just a dream. Just a stupid, recurring dream she’d thought she’d banished years ago.

It had only sneaked up on her tonight because of the bizarre circumstances. Because she’d been near him again, touched him, smelled him. Because she’d felt the same strong pull of attraction she’d always felt for Noah. Because she was physically and emotionally exhausted.

All the excuses and explanations in the world didn’t satisfy the deep, desperate craving of her body. She could rationalize all she wanted but her limbs were still quivering. Her breasts were swollen, her nipples aching.

Needing to shake off the effects of the dream, she climbed from the bed and crossed to the balcony doors. After sliding them open, she shivered slightly when she stepped into the cooler night air.

Her nightgown was white satin with thin straps and a mid-thigh hem. It left most of her body exposed so she crossed her arms protectively over her chest and gazed into the star-studded sky. She didn’t know the exact time but supposed it was a few hours before dawn.

Inhaling deeply, she tried to pull herself together and shed the remnants of her dream. Then she caught the whiff of cigarette smoke. It reminded her of Noah and the memories surged back with a vengeance. His habit was just one of the many things they used to argue about.

Searching for the origin of the scent, she turned to the right, where her balcony connected with one from the master bedroom. He stood with his back to the railing, his shadowed gaze directed at her. Shirtless and barefoot, he wore only his jeans. Even in the pale light, she could tell the jeans were unsnapped and riding dangerously low on his hips. The knowledge kicked her heart rate up another notch.

His upper body gleamed bare and broad and gorgeous in the moonlight. Pale hair swirled on his chest and dipped beneath the waistband of his jeans. A shaft of desire struck low in her belly. The arousal she’d just gotten under control throbbed to life in a heartbeat.

Knowing better yet unable to help herself, she spoke softly to him, “I thought you gave up smoking.”

She watched his spine stiffen. He took another long drag, exhaled slowly and then took his time snuffing out the cigarette. Andrea wondered if he would ignore her. Common sense told her they’d both be better off if he did. Strong but dangerous yearnings made her hope he wouldn’t.

His voice went deep and husky when he finally responded. “I gave it up for a woman once,” he drawled.

Her pulse pumped into overdrive, her chest going tighter. He’d given up smoking for her. Fear kept her from voicing any further questions but he continued to speak, finally lifting his head to return her stare.

“But I found out she wasn’t worth it,” he said in a bitter tone.

The comment pierced her like a knife. She shivered and reacted with a challenging taunt. “Your mistake.”

“My mistake,” he returned in a low growl.

Then he totally shocked her by moving toward her with slow, determined steps. When no more than a foot separated them, they stared at each other in a wild tangle of emotions. She couldn’t halt the onslaught of more memories, memories of other nights when he’d come to her bedroom by way of the balcony. So many other nights when they’d lost themselves in sensual exploration.

Renewed arousal smacked her like a bolt out of the blue. Need clawed at her as she stared into his equally needy expression. His eyes glittered, his expression and stance wooden, yet she could sense that his hunger matched hers. She felt the simmer of his heated desire and memories engulfed her again. Nobody had ever wanted her with the same ferocity of desire as Noah.

It was wrong, all wrong, and totally insane to give in to the madness. They hated each other. She hated wanting him and knew he hated it just as much. But when his arms reached for her she didn’t hesitate. When he gathered her so close she could feel every corded muscle in his body she didn’t resist.

Trembling, she pressed her face to his shoulder as his hands cupped her buttocks and pulled her against his fiery heat. She closed her eyes and gave her body over to his handling. The rasp of his zipper was the only sound she heard above the violent thud of her heart and their ragged breathing.

Tension strung them tight as a bow. Blood roared through her body, her pulse pounding in her ears. The air sizzled as their gazes locked. His touch seared her flesh when he spread his legs and drew her into the cradle of his thighs. She grasped his shoulders as he rested his weight against the railing.

His hands bunched her gown until she felt his calloused grip on her skin. He lifted her onto his lap and a tiny silk thong was all that separated their straining flesh. Andrea sucked in a ragged breath, legs shaking as her body and mind warred. She moaned, a low, keening sound of need. Her fingers dug into the smooth flesh of his shoulders as the thought of protection seeped through the sensual clouds in her brain.

“Noah!” The cry echoed in her head yet barely escaped her lips. “Protection.”

His response was to suck in a harsh breath and ease his grip on her. A tremor rocked his big body and he shuddered against her.

For several long minutes neither of them tried to move. Chests heaving from exertion, they fought for breath and control. As she inhaled, she drew in the scent of his smoky breath mingled with the faint scent of alcohol. Is that what had brought him to her side of the balcony? Had whiskey put a dent in his iron self-control? Or had he been battling the same erotic memories she’d been experiencing?

Sweat quickly chilled to goose bumps over her body. The deep, sexual need turned to even deeper self-disgust. Apparently he felt the same. Without a word he set her aside, steadying her until the strength returned to her legs.

Despite his gentleness, she felt his anger. Waves of anger and resentment rolled off his solid frame. They stared at each other as he readjusted and zipped his jeans. Without a word, he turned and walked away from her.

Andrea wrapped her arms around her midsection but that didn’t begin to ward off the chill. She watched Noah’s muscular shoulders and ramrod-straight back as he crossed the balcony and disappeared into the next room.

What the hell had they almost done? Had they both taken leave of their minds? Raw, unprotected sex on an open balcony? What if other restless sleepers had overheard them? How could she explain the inexplicable? Her only excuse was a brain gone to mush from jet lag and exhaustion. That’s the only way she could have let a wayward dream nearly become a nightmarish mistake.

She went back inside her room, closing and locking the doors then pulling the blinds. Moving in a daze, she took a long, hot shower, scrubbing the scent and feel of Noah from her skin while hot tears streamed down her face. She rarely cried but the ache she felt went soul-deep. All she wanted to do was collapse into bed and pretend they’d never touched.

* * * * *

Noah hefted another pitchfork of manure-laden straw and tossed it into the wheelbarrow. Cleaning horse stalls was dirty, backbreaking work and he’d sentenced himself to several long hours of it.

His head pounded like a sonofabitch. His muscles throbbed from lack of sleep and brutal physical exertion. Drea deserved part of the blame but she wasn’t the one who’d narrowed the final distance between them. His lack of control made him furious even while the memory of her sleepy, sexy warmth sizzled through his body, making him crave satisfaction.

He planned to ignore that throbbing.

Sweat collected on his brow so he took off his hat and swiped his shirtsleeve across his forehead. As he shoved his hat back in place he noticed movement to his right. Then he stiffened at the sight of Andrea strolling toward him. She was the last person he would have expected to show up in the barn this morning. He supposed the slow, practiced gait and seductive sway of her hips was normal for her now but it did crazy things to his libido.

For an instant, her elegant beauty stole his breath and made his body hum with pleasure. Then his defenses snapped into place and the inevitable rush of resentment knotted his gut. He hated her cool, calm composure, especially this morning.

“Stay back or you’ll ruin your prissy clothes,” he warned.

She paused two stalls down from him and lifted an arrogant brow. “Good morning to you too.”

Her sarcasm had him grinding his teeth. He picked up the pitchfork and started shoveling again. Despite the ripe smell of horse manure, he caught a whiff of her perfume. The scent kicked him where he was most vulnerable. He ground his teeth and tightened his hold on the fork, determined to ignore his body’s involuntary reaction.

“And my clothes aren’t prissy,” she argued.

She was good at disagreeing with him. She’d done it since the first day they’d met. What she called plain, he called fancy. If he saw black, she saw white. They rarely agreed on anything. Her flowery dress was as out of place in the barn as a bed of flowers but he wasn’t going to argue.

His head already hurt. He was bone-tired and beyond irritable. Hoping she’d disappear if he ignored her, he heaved another pitchfork-full of straw onto the wheelbarrow.

After a short, strained silence, she demanded his attention again. “We need to talk.”

Noah groaned, his mouth tightening. “If you want a postmortem about last night, forget it,” he snapped, scooping up more dirty straw.

From the corner of his eye he watched her cross her arms over her chest in exasperation. “Don’t get snotty with me, you’re the one who came to my side of the balcony,” she reminded.

“That I did.”

His response made her tone grow more hostile. “We almost had unprotected sex last night, Courtland. Like it or not, there’s a need for some discussion on the matter. It can’t happen again. As far as I know, you might have had sex with dozens of women.”

The insult snapped his head around and stoked his anger a notch higher. He’d never met anyone who could fire his temper as fast as Andrea. His gaze clashed with hers as he buried the pitchfork in a pile of straw and moved toward her.

“Are you asking me if I’m diseased?” he asked on a growl.

“Are you?”

Damn, she made his blood boil when she used that snooty tone. It always made him blindingly furious.

“You’re the one who’s been sleeping in beds all over the world. If either of us is diseased, my bet’s on you.”

She stiffened, her lips thinning and her expression tight. Her eyes flashed green fire. Good. He’d take honest emotion over indifference any day. They squared off, each glaring at the other, fists knotted and tempers frayed.

“I guarantee you I’m healthy,” she shot at him. “I’m also on birth control but you obviously forgot the need. You never were very good at remembering it!”

Another direct hit. The reminder slammed into Noah, churning up old memories of insatiable loving. She was the only woman who’d ever shattered his control to the point of forgetting protection, and he wasn’t proud of the fact.

He could tell Drea regretted her loss of composure as soon as the words left her mouth. She turned her head and drew in a deep breath. She wasn’t wearing a bra and the action made her breasts heave in agitation. He watched, clenching his teeth against the memory of them naked, the nipples budded. Better to forget how they’d felt and tasted last night.

His breathing grew a little ragged. “If I swear it won’t happen again will you get the hell out of here?” he heard himself snarling.

“That’s just a tiny portion of what we need to discuss,” she said, her gaze latching on to his again.

“I’ve got work to do. Your questions can wait.” He grasped the handles of the wheelbarrow, ready to haul it out of the barn, but she blocked his way.

“I’m not budging until I get some answers.”

She could be as stubborn as a mule. Noah knew it but he didn’t care about sparing her feelings, so it was best to avoid any discussion right now.

“Why are you mucking out stalls anyway? Self-imposed penitence?”

Her guess wasn’t far off the mark. His loss of control last night gnawed at his gut. He didn’t regret holding her and caressing her. His body craved a whole lot more but the reminder of how needy he’d felt pumped his frustration higher. He held his tongue and held the handles of the wheelbarrow in a death grip.

“You’re in my way.”

They glowered at each other but neither moved an inch.

“I want to know what’s going on around here,” she demanded. “I’ve never seen the buildings looking so shabby. Paint is beginning to peel. Half the stalls are empty and the whole place has an air of disrepair. It never looked like this before you took over as manager.”

Her accusation sent another burst of fury through him. The fuse on his temper got shorter but he couldn’t let it ignite.

She hammered him with more questions. “Why is the livestock so low? And where’s Black Baron? I didn’t see him anywhere.”

Her knack for summing up the situation didn’t surprise him but it ticked him off. They bred quality show horses at Bridleton to supplement the ranch’s income but a lot had changed in the past couple years.

“Baron’s gone.” His low, tight-lipped response would have intimidated men twice her size. She didn’t bat a lash.

“Gone off the property for breeding?”

“He’s gone for good. Sold.”

Her eyes widened in amazement. Baron had been their highest-earning stud and she knew how much that horse meant to him. What she didn’t know, and wasn’t likely to care about, was that he hadn’t had a choice.

“Why? Because he was getting older? Was he injured? Unable to breed? It doesn’t make sense to sell one of your best assets. What kind of manager are you anyway?”

Her last insolent question snapped his control with the speed of a bullet. Too angry for words, he thrust the wheelbarrow aside and lunged at her. She squealed as he wrapped his arms around her thighs, lifted her and threw her over his right shoulder.

“Noah! Have you lost your mind?”

The shock in her voice rose to a squeal as she pounded her fists against his back. She tried to kick her legs. He tightened his grip and held her immobile. His head throbbed mercilessly and his muscles screamed in protest but he set off for the house in long, angry strides.

“Where are you going? Put me down, you jerk!” Andrea wailed. After bouncing against him for a few yards she stopped pounding and clutched his belt to steady herself.

Noah’s eyes smarted when he strode out of the barn into the early morning sunshine but he didn’t slow his progress. Nor did he respond to Drea’s insults. She’d only been home a few hours yet he was already fed up to his eyeballs with her superior attitude. It was time to set some matters straight.

“Noah! You’re insane!”

“Keep screeching like a banshee and you’ll wake everyone on the property,” he warned.

That shut her up. She went quiet and still. Her hands clutched his hips and the heat of her touch branded him. The softness of her breasts against his back burned holes in his flesh. The sweet, sexy scent of her engulfed him. Her warm, squirming body was nearly his undoing but he hardened himself against the erotic pleasure.

He didn’t slow his angry strides until they reached the patio at the back of the house. Then he hefted her off his shoulder and dropped her into a metal lounge chair. His breathing labored, he braced his hands on the chair’s arms and thrust his face within inches of hers. She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.

“Just shut up and listen,” he orderly roughly. “If you’d have listened to your aunt these past few years you’d know what’s happening around here. She tried to tell you and Zack. She all but begged you to come home yet you couldn’t hear the worry in her voice because you were too damned wrapped up in yourself. You’re a spoiled, self-centered brat.”

Andrea’s eyes went wide and she started to respond but he didn’t give her a chance.

“We had three straight years of drought. After the first year the water levels were dangerously low. After the second year our grazing land disappeared. After a third we couldn’t raise enough grain to feed the livestock so we had to sell the majority of our stock for below-market prices.

“The property was heavily invested in stocks that bottomed out. Nanette’s financial cushion disappeared overnight. We’ve sold what we could, rented out what we could and laid off all the extra help.”

When he halted his tirade to take a breath, Andrea responded in a strangled voice, “Why didn’t she tell us?”

“She’s an old woman and pride’s about all she has left. She refused to beg her family to care,” he ground out. “She sold Trace property that wasn’t tied up in the ranch. She sold all her personal valuables and has been trying to do the work of a person half her age. Trace and I haven’t seen a paycheck in six months but we’re doing everything in our power to save Bridleton from the bankruptcy facing other landowners in the area.”

“So what good will it do to give you controlling interest? If you aren’t even earning a decent wage, where are you going to get enough money to pull the place out of the red?”

Noah straightened abruptly. He’d offered to buy controlling interest of the property in a last-ditch effort to protect the Bartell name from the indignity of bankruptcy. If or when he had a free hand in the running of the place, he intended to bring it back to prosperity with more blood and sweat.

“She’s eighty years old and wants to make sure someone cares about her birthright. She doesn’t trust her family to do that so she’s depending on me.”

“Bankruptcy is a real possibility?” Andrea asked in a faint tone.

“Bridleton’s just a breath away from going under but I’ll be damned if I’ll let it happen. The early rains this year have given us a chance and I plan to grab it with both hands. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

He paused for another breath, staring straight into her eyes and daring her to condemn him. When she didn’t make a sound, he continued in a dangerously low rumble.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to save Bridleton but you damn well better help me or you’ll really lose your inheritance. Think of someone besides yourself for a change and maybe we can save your family’s birthright.”

With that Noah spun around and strode angrily back toward the barn. Venting had eased his resentment some but the burden of saving the property still weighed heavily on his shoulders. The scent of Drea clinging to his skin didn’t make the burden any lighter.

Chapter Three

Andrea watched Noah’s departing figure and struggled to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell while her hands gripped the arms of the chair. She’d never met a man who could stir her emotions into turmoil faster than him, roller-coastering from fascinating to infuriating in a heartbeat. For the last few years she’d kept her emotions tightly in check. Less than twenty-four hours back at Bridleton and she felt like an emotional pincushion.

“Hey.” Zack’s voice drew her attention to the kitchen door. He walked toward her with a steaming cup of coffee.

“Morning,” she said, then cleared her voice of its huskiness.

He handed her the mug. “Looks like you need this more than me.”

She accepted it with shaky hands, took a sip and then took a long swallow. “You heard?”

“Most of it. Can’t say I blame Noah for being frustrated. He’s been shouldering the bulk of responsibility for this place too long.”

“Have we really been so selfish by following our own career paths?”

Zack sighed. “I suppose.” He pulled up a chair beside her. “I never cared much for ranching so I guess I shirked my duties to the family and our extensive holdings.”

“Me too, I suppose. At least the shirking part.” She drank more coffee and felt the warmth and caffeine spread through her veins. “Wow, this is truly delicious.”

“Yeah, Meredith might be an even better cook than Rosemarie.”

“Amazing.”

They sat quietly for a minute and then she asked, “What now?”

“I had a little of my Bartell trust fund left so I’ve hired contractors to paint the buildings, make repairs and do some landscaping,” he explained.

“That’s personal money, Zack.”

“Not really. It originated from the property so I don’t mind pouring it back into the place.”

“Wouldn’t the money be better spent on bills?”

“Maybe but if we have to put the property on the market we’ll want it to appraise high.”

“On the market?” she repeated faintly. The idea made her stomach ache.

“Or we could go public and sell shares.”

“We can’t sell Bridleton.”

“Better to sell than to go bankrupt.”

She downed the rest of the coffee, her thoughts grim. “I’m not ready to let it go,” she finally said with determination. “It’s Nanna’s home. And what about Chey? It’s her only home too.”

He frowned. “Nanna said Chey’s dealing with some serious abandonment issues and she’s partying hard. Hell, we probably contributed to that too.”

“I suppose.” Andrea gazed around her thoughtfully. “We did bail when she was still in high school and still grieving for Caroline.”

“I don’t have much more cash to sink into the place,” he said. “I just poured all my savings into a partnership with an engineering firm in San Antonio.”

“Zack!” she exclaimed, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “Congratulations! That’s great news. I know how hard you’ve worked and how much it means to you. “

“Thanks, Sis.” He gave her a boyish grin. “It was a huge decision for a guy who never stays in one place too long but I know it’s right for me now. I’ll have a couple weeks to help with spring chores here and then I really need to be in the city. Timing stinks, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe, maybe not. I guess we have to find out what Nanna has on her mind. Maybe things aren’t as bad as Noah claims.”

Andrea knew Zack’s skeptical expression mirrored hers. Noah wasn’t the type of man to cry wolf. He’d known some serious hardship in his life. If he said things were bad then they really were bad.

“Let’s get more coffee and see if Nanna’s ready to tell us why we got the call to circle the wagons,” said Zack.

She smiled at his phrasing but wondered how much truth it held. Maybe they needed to rally the family and save their home from hostile forces. Would Noah become more hostile if they tried to save their inheritance? Would they have to battle him as well as the fickle elements and sluggish economy? Did they even want to try?

* * * * *

An hour later Nanette watched as her family and Noah settled around the dining room table for breakfast. Meredith brought in hot covered dishes of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast before heading back to the kitchen. The woman was a marvel and worked for little more than room and board while her husband served in the military.

Coffee perked on a nearby buffet. The scents mingled as a familiar beginning to a new day. She welcomed it more than she had any in the past few years.

Zack sat to her right. Her nephew had grown into a fine young man. Her brother, his grandfather, would have been proud even though he seemed to share some of his father’s wanderlust. Maybe now that he’d seen a little of the world he’d be happy to settle in Texas.

Andrea sat at her left. She looked a little rested but still had dark circles under her eyes. Despite her innate love of the ranch she’d followed her mother’s footsteps into the modeling profession. Nanette hoped she’d gotten that particular dream out of her system. Drea’s emotional roots went deep into Bridleton’s soil—if she could just recognize the importance of those roots. She wouldn’t find happiness traveling the world. Family and home were her true passions.

Chey sat next to Zack. So young and beautiful and restless. She looked hungover and sleep-deprived again. She’d grabbed a cup of coffee as soon as it finished perking. This last year of college she’d partied hard and barely passed her classes. As the youngest and a stepchild, she’d always craved acceptance and attention from her siblings. Now she desperately needed direction and support before her unruly lifestyle took an irreversible toll.

Noah sat opposite her at the big table. He looked exhausted. Even more so than usual. Her heart ached for him too. He’d always been on the outside looking in. He might not realize it but he badly wanted to belong to their slightly dysfunctional family. No matter how hard he worked it never seemed enough. Nanette hoped he’d see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

She hated how they’d all become so emotionally insecure and wondered what she could have done to prevent it. While everyone filled their plates and began to eat she also wondered how best to tell them her news. Most things were better handled on a full stomach so she delayed a little longer.

Before the men took second helpings, Zack offered a plate to Andrea. “Bacon, sis?”

“Not in this lifetime,” she replied, deadpan.

He chuckled and Nanette smiled too. They all knew how vigilantly she watched her weight since making the transformation from overweight teen to svelte adult.

“You’re too thin, even for a model. You could use some fat,” he teased.

“Well I’m not planning on taking it from a pig,” she declared.

“They’re raised here on the ranch. At least for our consumption,” put in Nanette. “We do our best to keep them lean and healthy.”

“I’m not disputing the quality of the meat,” Andrea said, giving her a small grin. “I just don’t want it in my body.”

“That’s really unkind, you know,” Zack argued. “You’re eating unborn chicken and you’ll have a drop of cow’s cream in your coffee so you’re blatantly discriminating against the pig. It’s an animal that’s given its life to sustain our family for generations.”

Andrea paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and leveled a bland stare at him. “Did you really finish your job in South America or did they request you leave their continent?”

Zack threw back his head and roared with laughter. The banter brought a smile to Chey’s face and it warmed Nanette’s heart. She glanced at Noah to find him staring at Andrea with a longing she’d be willing to bet he didn’t even recognize.

“Damn but I’ve missed harassing you in person,” Zack admitted. “It’s not nearly as much fun over the phone or Internet.”

The smile Andrea gave her brother was a mix of exasperation and adoration. Then she flashed a conspiratorial smile at Cheyenne. “Speaking of the Internet, do you think we can develop a spam filter for his stupid email jokes?”

“Great idea,” said Chey. “Maybe it’ll quarantine the dumb forwards too.”

“Hey, I resent that. I only send you guys my best stuff.”

Andrea gave Cheyenne a wink and Zack a smug grin. He shook his head and turned to her. “It’s a sad thing when the eldest progeny gets no respect.”

“It is,” Nanette agreed.

She hated to destroy their camaraderie but they needed to discuss the future. After taking a fortifying drink of coffee, she broached the subject.

“I know you’re all wondering why I called you home. It’s because I’ve been having some heart problems and the prognosis is not good. The doctors have given me a few months but at my age tomorrow’s never a given.”

The room went quiet for a few seconds, then forks dropped to plates and cups dropped to saucers. Next came the inevitable barrage of questions.

“You had a heart attack?” asked Zack.

At her nod, he continued, “When?”

“It was just a mild one a few weeks ago but then my doctor suggested lots of tests.”

Next Chey wanted to know what caused the attack.

“I have some major arterial blockage.”

“But that can be corrected, can’t it?” asked Andrea. “They can do bypass surgery.”

Nanette shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. “I’m too old to be considering surgery. I’ve lived a long, full life and I’m not afraid of death but I need to know I’m leaving Bridleton in capable hands. It may not be worth the fortune it used to be but it’s my duty to pass it on to someone who cares enough to protect it.”

“You think Noah’s the only one who can do that?” asked Andrea.

“Noah’s devoted years of time and energy to the ranch. I’m not giving away your inheritance but I want controlling interest to go to someone living and working at Bridleton. As far as I’m concerned anything else is unacceptable and I’m hoping you’ll all be reasonable about this.”

She glanced briefly at each face. “If any of you decide to make your home here then I’ll change my mind accordingly. Otherwise I’ll expect you to back my decision. At my death you’ll still share forty-nine percent interest in the property.”

A thoughtful silence fell over the room. Noah was the first to break it, excusing himself to get back to work. After he’d gone Andrea turned to her.

“What can we do to help?”

“Anything, everything,” she replied. “Noah needs all the help he can get and I can’t pull my weight with ranch chores anymore. I’ve tried to keep up the bookwork but I tire so darned easily.”

“I’ll tackle the books this afternoon,” said Andrea. “I’m no bookkeeper but I took some business courses. I can handle the basics.”

“Rest as much as you can,” put in Cheyenne. “I’m home for good. I’m not having much luck job hunting so I should be able to help around here all summer.”

Zack said, “I’ve got a couple weeks before new job responsibilities kick in.”

“I’ve cleared my schedule for a while,” added Andrea. “Let’s just take it one week at a time and see how it goes, all right?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Nanette, feeling a huge burden lift from her shoulders. She hadn’t been sure they cared enough to pull together. It warmed her heart to have them rally around her. “It really is wonderful to have you all home.”

* * * * *

Andrea spent the next few hours poring over the ranch’s account ledgers and familiarizing herself with the bookkeeping system. Noah hadn’t exaggerated about the state of their finances and a sick sense of dread enveloped her with each new stack of bills. She made a call to New York to transfer funds from savings to checking. Her trust fund had been spent on a small apartment in New York but she’d been subletting while she lived abroad. The leasers had an option to buy so she called them to initiate a sale.

Despite earning great money as a model, she hadn’t saved nearly enough to bail the property out of trouble, but she’d invested well. It would take a little time to convert her holdings to cash so she had to be satisfied with starting the process.

While writing checks to pay the most outstanding debts, she wanted to include back pay for Noah and Trace but couldn’t stretch the money far enough.

“Drea?”

Andrea looked up from the pile of paperwork scattered all over her aunt’s desk. She stretched and offered a smile. “Hi, Nanna. Did you have a nice nap?”

Her aunt frowned. “Yes, even though I hate spending so much time in bed. I always seem to drop right off to sleep.”

“They say the body heals itself while you sleep.”

“I don’t know about that but it sounds better than just wasting what’s left of my life,” she replied as she took a seat across from the desk.

“You won’t reconsider having the surgery? You don’t have any health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes that would hinder your recovery, do you?”

“No, no. Other than some clogged arteries I’ve always been healthy as a horse. I’m just too old for that nonsense.”

“I don’t think age is as much of a factor these days. You might breeze through the surgery and live to be a hundred.”

Nanette gave her a hard stare. “I’m glad you want me to live another twenty years but I wonder if it’s out of love or if you just want me to keep managing Bridleton.”

After a brief, heavy silence, Andrea answered with a wry grin, “A combination of both, I think.”

Nanette returned her smile. “I always could depend on you for honesty. But whether I live a day or a decade it’s time to pass the reins of Bridleton to your generation. As of today, I’m officially retiring.”

“Well I hope you’ll be available as a consultant for a very long time because we’re sure going to need your advice.”

“I’ll think about it but there’s not much advice I can give at this point. We have bills to pay and not enough income to cover them.”

“Did I mention ‘unpaid’ consultant?”

Nanette’s short bark of laughter warmed Andrea’s heart. Whatever the next few weeks held in store, she really wanted to protect Nanna from further worry and work. Noah’s lecture had left her feeling selfish and guilt-ridden.

Her aunt grunted and rose from the chair. “Just keeping a roof over my head will be sufficient payment. And I’m really fond of Meredith’s cooking.”

“Noah says the rains this spring have provided some relief and hope for a better growing season. I know you’ve been operating on a shoestring and we can continue to do that a little longer. I have enough money to pay off the major creditors and the rest will have to wait until we’re in the black again.”

“Providing we can get there.”

“I’m sure our ancestors fell on a few really hard times. The weather in this part of Texas always swings from drought to floods. It couldn’t have been any easier for our relatives but there are no wimps in the Bartell family. We’re strong and resilient. We can save Bridleton.”

“From your lips to God’s ears,” mumbled Nanette. “I’m turning the control of the ranch over to your generation. I intend to spend the rest of the summer lounging around the pool, providing we can afford to maintain it, and sipping sweet tea, providing we can afford to buy the tea bags.”

Andrea gave her a smile. “I promise you’ll never be without tea bags.”

“Your decision to stay the summer is more than I expected,” she said, her voice going gruff. She cleared her throat, turned toward the hallway and added, “Now I’m going to investigate the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. Lunch at noon.”

Andrea considered her aunt’s words when she was alone again. She hadn’t promised to stay the whole summer, had she? Nanna must have misunderstood. Or maybe the decision had been made for her. She’d spent five years trying not to fret about the property, but now that she was home, saving her inheritance had suddenly become the most important thing in her life. What was happening to her? Career burnout? She’d certainly grown tired of the jet-setting lifestyle. Maybe it was the depth of her roots in the Texas soil or a deep-seated devotion to family.

Or a tall, tanned man with a body to die for?

No! Panic clogged her throat at the thought of spending the next few months working closely with Noah. She’d given him her heart and soul once and his betrayal had devastated her. She couldn’t survive another love affair with him yet the passion between them remained strong. The memory of last night’s encounter made her shift in her seat, feeling restless and needy.

Regardless of the physical desire, she’d never trust him again with her heart. For all she knew he had several lovers or even a fiancé. He’d always had women fawning all over him so there were bound to be a few special ones in his life now. The thought had her grinding her teeth and that foolish reaction annoyed her even more.

Deciding she’d done all the accounting she could handle for the day, she put away her checkbook, raised her arms above her head and stretched some of the stiffness from her shoulders. The action pulled the silk of her blouse tight against her unbound breasts. Her nipples tautened and tingled at the sensual caress. A needy shiver ran through her body. She blamed Noah for rekindling a passion in her that had been tempered for years. Why was he the only man she’d ever known who could stir her desire from cool embers to scorching flames in the space of a few seconds?

“Have you found any miracle cures for our financial woes?”

Noah appeared in the doorway, his cynical tone startling Andrea. She dropped her arms and crossed them over her chest, hiding her pouting nipples but unable to hide the blush on her cheeks.

“You know there aren’t any miracles. Not unless Nanna is storing some extremely valuable antiques in the attic. A couple of Chippendales or a Monet would be nice.”

He didn’t move any further into the room but leaned a shoulder on the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. Every small movement, every ripple of powerful muscle, reminded her of last night, of the way their bodies fit together so perfectly, so tightly, so hotly.

“She already ruled out hidden treasures,” he assured her.

Andrea chided herself for being distracted by his blond good looks. She needed to keep her mind on business and clarify a few things. “You said she’d exhausted all efforts to raise cash. Is that why you’ve moved into the house or is it a little premature possessiveness?”

His gaze remained unflinching as it locked with hers. “I moved in when Trace bought the manager’s house.”

“Convenient, huh?” She couldn’t disguise her irritation.

“Convenient for what?” he challenged. “Convenient to have room and board? Yeah. To utilize one of the five empty bedrooms and be close if Nanette needed me? Yeah. Why are you really grousing? Because I’m not family so I shouldn’t be living in the family home?”

Andrea glared at him. It had been a real shock to find him sharing a balcony with her last night, learning that he slept right next door to her room. The thought of continued proximity was even more disturbing.

“I just want to make it perfectly clear that sex is not part of the employee package,” she insisted, voice tight. “Sleeping in the room next to mine doesn’t equate to an open invitation and I’m not handing Bridleton over to you just because you’ve taken up residence.”

His gaze narrowed and his expression went grim. “I suggest we drop the subject of sex and discuss how you plan to save the property.”

“Zack and I are putting all our available funds to work. It won’t put us in the black but it’ll pay taxes and the most pressing bills. Beyond that, the ranch will have to turn a profit.”

His tight expression eased a little. “That might be possible if we have enough help. Trace and I are already working sixteen-hour days. We have a few full-time employees and some part-timers but we need more.”

“Chey, Zack and I are going to help. It’s been a while but Granddad made sure we all had a working knowledge of the ranch.”

He looked skeptical but didn’t argue. Straightening, he turned to leave. “Whatever you say…boss.”

His emphasis on the word “boss” had her gritting her teeth. They couldn’t save Bridleton without him and he’d still be giving the orders but technically he did work for her whether he liked it or not.

“You are an incredibly annoying human being,” she said.

“Right back attcha, baby.”

Andrea’s pulse lurched. How many times had he thrown that phrase at her in the past? More than she could count. Over the years it had evolved from a kid’s taunt to a teenage challenge and then a lover’s vow. What now? What new phase would their relationship enter now?

“If you’re gonna help, I need someone to drive the tractor while I spread hay to the cattle in the east pasture. I’m gonna grab a bite to eat but I’ll be at the equipment shed in about an hour. You’d better change clothes.”

With that, he turned and left the room.

It took a few minutes for her to reclaim her composure. Noah always had that effect on her. Apparently in their revised relationship she became the boss who followed his orders. Just as well since she had no idea what needed to be done.

Zack and Nanette shared a quick lunch with her but Noah had already left the house and Chey didn’t make an appearance. Zack promised to rouse their youngest sister and get some necessary chores done before the contractors arrived to start painting. Andrea gave them a brief update on the business she’d handled earlier and then excused herself to help Noah.

Most of her old clothes were still stored in her dresser so she searched for a comfortable pair of jeans. What used to be skintight now fit loosely but her tee shirt, socks and boots fit fine.

Her hair hung halfway down her back. It had always been an asset to her modeling career but it wasn’t very practical on the ranch. She quickly braided it, slathered sunscreen over every inch of visible skin and slapped a hat on her head. It wouldn’t do to keep the ranch manager waiting so she hurried out of the house.

Once outdoors, she tilted her head back and soaked up some sunshine. The house stayed cool by design yet she welcomed the warmth as well as the familiar scents of the ranch. Texas was the only place she ever felt truly warm and it seemed like she’d been cold for a very long time.

As she walked the hundred yards from the house to the barnyard, she glanced back at the French Colonial-style home. Designed in the late 1800s by a New Orleans architect, it sat atop a small rise of land and sported a wraparound porch. Several bedrooms had balconies with all the railings a match to the ones on the lower story.

The house sat like a slightly defective jewel in a bed of overgrown velvet lawns with an abundance of untended flowers and shrubs. Gleaming white in the sun, the spots of peeling paint made it look bruised and battered but a new paint job would easily restore its elegant beauty. Zack’s decision to spend money for renovations would make a world of difference and bring back its showplace appearance. She desperately hoped they wouldn’t have to put it on the market.

Halfway across the yard, a wild chorus of barking greeted her. Bert and Ernie, the family’s Blue Lacy herd dogs rushed toward her. Their sleek, dark silver coats glistened in the sunlight as they danced circles around her. She knelt and hugged their necks while they yapped in excitement.

“Hello guys. It’s been a long time but you never forget do you?” she crooned, petting them as they vied for attention. “You both look as healthy and energetic as always. What’s your secret, huh? Lots of exercise and no stress? I hope Noah doesn’t work you too hard. He can be a slave driver.” She took their low whines to mean they agreed. Standing again, she said, “Speaking of which, I’d better go find him or I’ll be in the doghouse with you.”

The rumble of the old tractor engine grew louder as Andrea approached the shed where Noah worked. She slowed her stride and watched as he wrestled to connect the heavy hitch between the tractor and the wagon. Bending over the iron tongue, he had his back to her. She got an up-close-and-personal view of his tight rear end packed in even tighter jeans. The flex of cheek and thigh muscle made her heart thump and her temperature rise.

Get a grip! She scolded herself and shifted her attention higher. But the ripple of arm and shoulder muscles reminded her of Noah’s incredible physical strength. The way he’d anchored her body to his last night. The heat and hardness of him as he’d carried her this morning and the unwelcome sizzle of attraction she felt whenever they touched.

Shaking her head to rid it of the mental images, she reminded herself that she’d met hundreds of attractive men. There was nothing wrong with a healthy sexual response to a fine specimen of the opposite sex. There’d never been any lack of desire between her and Noah. Just a whopping lack of trust, commitment and fidelity.

Had Caroline been equally attracted to him? Had he responded just as passionately to her big sister as he had to her? Had he been sleeping with them both at the same time? Had Caro been carrying his baby when she died? Andrea’s stomach clenched at the thought. Even though she’d adored her sister, a dark, raging jealousy at the thought had gnawed at her for years.

She’d asked Noah, point-blank, if he’d slept with her sister. He hadn’t denied it. The sting of that pain still stabbed her in the heart. It would be wise to remember the pain any time she felt the pull of attraction.

Time had tempered the survivor guilt, the resentment and her possessiveness. Coming home had churned up all the old insecurities, leaving her plagued by turbulent emotions. Her body had become a battleground for what she wanted versus what she knew would destroy her.

“What?”

Andrea snapped out of her reverie at Noah’s question and wiped all expression from her face. “I didn’t say anything.” She yelled to be heard over the noisy old tractor engine.

He gave her a strange look that likely reflected the look she’d been giving him. Time to snap out of her trance and pay attention.

The dogs wanted to go with them but he gave them a firm order to stay. They gave her soulful looks and sat back on their haunches.

“You remember how to drive this thing?”

She put a foot on the chassis and grabbed the steering wheel, pulling herself into the flat, unpadded metal seat. “It might take me a minute.”

Noah stepped up beside her and grasped the back of the seat for support. She felt his gloved hand against her buttocks. A quiver danced along her spine. He loomed over her, his chest pressed to her shoulder. His hot breath teased her ear as he leaned close enough to give a quick refresher course on gears, gas and brakes. Andrea did her best to concentrate on what he said rather than how his closeness made her feel. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

“Drive out to the far west pasture.”

She pulled in air and asked, “Aren’t you riding on the wagon?”

He gave her a quick, searching glance. “I’ll get the gates first.”

The tractor lurched when she shifted into gear and Noah threw his other arm across her lap to anchor them both. Her blood pressure lurched with it, shooting heat throughout her body. He kept her caged by his arms while the engine coughed and chugged. Metal clanged against metal and the wagon creaked as they swung into slow, laborious motion. Andrea’s heart pounded in a matching rhythm.

The rise and fall of her breasts pressed them against his arm so she didn’t take another deep breath until they reached the first gate. He jumped down to open it, giving her a little breathing space. Once she’d driven through he latched the gate and returned to his position beside her.

This time he kept more distance between them, holding the seat but standing upright rather than leaning toward her. They traveled another mile or so before the tractor hit a pothole in the dirt road. It tilted sideways, throwing him against her and causing him to lose his footing. His hand brushed her right breast as he grappled to steady himself again. Andrea’s nipples tightened and she felt a pull deep in the pit of her stomach. She went utterly still as his whole body pressed so close to hers she could feel his erection.

For a long, heart-stopping moment, neither of them so much as twitched. Andrea felt like fused dynamite waiting for a match strike. The seething sexual energy coursing through her came dangerously close to igniting. She shuddered and locked her fingers around the steering wheel to keep from reaching for him. Her strangled sound of denial had Noah cursing.

“I’ll get the next gate,” he said as he jumped off the tractor.

She dragged in several deep, cleansing breaths as he strode ahead of her. When he neared the gate she finally put the tractor in motion and followed. Once they’d passed through to the next field Noah jumped onto the wagon and began wrestling with bales of hay. Dozens of longhorn cattle bawled in greeting and began to gather around for the fresh supply of food.

A field of bluebells framed the pasture to the north. Andrea stared at the slowly undulating blossoms, letting the familiar sight calm her nerves. She shut off the tractor and crossed the tongue to the wagon, being careful to dodge the wickedly long, curling cattle horns. She’d always loved the longhorns. They were as hardy as the Bartells had always been on this sometimes unforgiving land. Right now the grass for grazing was minimal. That’s why they needed to supplement with hay.

Noah stripped the wire off the bales and pitched hay toward the hungry livestock. She moved closer to help him.

“I’ll get it. You aren’t wearing gloves,” he said.

“Give me your hook.”

He handed her a vicious-looking hay hook and they worked together for the next few minutes. He pulled the hay free of the wires and she separated it into sections with the hook. Then she flaked off chunks small enough to handle herself. She’d forgotten how dusty and itchy the job could be but she didn’t complain. They worked in harmony and emptied the wagon in less than fifteen minutes.

Andrea had just hefted the last flake of hay over the edge of the wagon when she turned and slammed into Noah. The collision knocked her off balance. She would have tumbled backward into the collection of pointed horns if he hadn’t snatched her into his arms. His abrupt action made them lose their footing and stumble. He landed on his back with her sprawled across him.

Momentarily stunned by the bone-jarring fall, neither of them moved a muscle. Their hearts pounded against each other at a thundering pace. Every cell in her body responded to his closeness and she felt his equally fierce response. Andrea pressed her hands against his chest to wedge some space between them.

She stared into his beautiful blue eyes and watched the pupils dilate. The fall had knocked off his hat. His hair looked tousled and sexy as hell. She wanted to run her fingers through it as she had so many times in the past. His body felt even sexier, making hers instantly respond. Desire nearly got the best of her but she shook her head in denial.

“You all right?” he asked, his tone low and hoarse.

“Fine,” she said, slowly lifting herself off his prone body. He just lay flat on the wagon, staring at her with a resounding wariness. Andrea swallowed hard, licked her lips and tried to speak in a normal voice. “Is the ground too soft to turn the wagon around out here?”

“It’s okay now the wagon is empty.”

She nodded and moved back to the tractor on shaky legs, welcoming the loud, chugging sound of the engine as it flared to life. Noah stayed flat on his back, staring at the sky until she stopped for the first gate. Then he hopped off and on the wagon as they retraced their path back to the homestead. Deeply shaken by the intensity of the desire between them, she wondered how she could survive working so closely with him.

To her relief, Trace hailed them as soon as they’d returned to the barnyard and shut down the tractor. He moved toward her with a broad smile on his normally taciturn face. Tall, dark-haired and dark-eyed, he’d never been much with words but he’d been an integral part of Bridleton for as long as she could remember. She considered him part of the family.

“Hey, stranger!”

She jumped off the tractor and ran toward him. “Hey yourself, Trace!” He wrapped her in a bear hug and squeezed until she grunted and bubbled with laughter. “It’s great to see you!”

“You’re the one’s the sight for sore eyes,” he argued, setting her on her feet again. He held her by the shoulders and studied her intently. “I’d forgotten just how pretty you are.”

His flattery warmed her heart and she laughed again. “Even with a dusty face and wild hair?”

“Even so.”

His simple, heartfelt compliment brought a rush of unexpected tears to her eyes, the result of too much emotional upheaval for one day. She knew the purely feminine reaction would embarrass him so she blinked furiously.

He teased a smile out of her with his next comment. “You’re a bit on the skinny side,” he said, squeezing her arms and giving her a once-over glance.

“Occupational hazard,” she replied.

“Then you need a new occupation,” he said.

“As of this morning, I’ve committed to working the ranch a while.”

“It’ll put some muscle on you. Meredith’s cooking will do the rest.”

Andrea laughed. “I’m not sure I want a lot of muscle and fat but I plan to stay strong. You’ll have to tell me what I can do to help.”

“Anything you can do will help,” he assured her. After a long glance at Noah, he took her by the arm and led her toward the barn. “Right now I can use another pair of hands untangling some rope. The tack room is a mess and I can’t sort out the half of it.”

She went with him, never looking back. The two men had shared some silent exchange but she didn’t care as long as it meant putting distance between her and Noah. She needed time to regain her composure. Some time spent in Trace’s company might be the best therapy. He’d been in his mid-twenties when her granddad hired him. She been a chubby, insecure young teenager but he’d always treated her with quiet respect. Right now that’s just what she needed.

On his face she noted the same signs of stress she’d seen on Noah and Nanna. They were all exhausted. Andrea silently vowed to ease some of the strain.

Chapter Four

A round of thunderstorms moved through the area later in the day, putting an end to some of the outdoor work. Zack took the opportunity to make a quick trip to San Antonio. Noah and Trace joined the rest of the family for a late dinner, both having showered and changed into fresh clothes.

Although ruggedly handsome in their own ways, neither of them would win any modeling competitions. The thought made Andrea smile as she and Cheyenne took seats opposite them at the table. Meredith served steaming bowls of steak, mashed potatoes, hot rolls and mixed vegetables. The delicious aroma filled the room as Nanna offered grace. Then everyone filled their plates.

Unused to eating such a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, Andrea took small portions. She slowly savored every bite and grinned when Trace started teasing her.

“You won’t get fattened up on that bit of food.”

“Compared to yogurt and lettuce it’s a real feast,” she argued. “How do you all keep from weighing a ton?”

“Just burn it off, I guess,” he said.

Cheyenne picked at her food. “Men really get an unfair advantage with the metabolism,” she grumbled.

“It’s all about the physical activity,” put in Nanna.

“Yeah, where were you today?” Andrea asked Cheyenne. “I thought Zack planned to recruit you for chores.”

“He mostly lectured me about my reckless lifestyle and neglected responsibilities,” she stated flatly.

Andrea put down her fork and focused on her sister. She’d never seen Chey looking so miserable. “Why the lecture?”

“He thinks I’ve been drinking too much and going to too many wild parties.”

“Have you?”

Cheyenne broke eye contact and poked at the food on her plate. “Maybe, but it’s not like I’m hurting anyone or that I have much else to do. I hate the city but I can’t find a decent job around here. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Good grief, don’t you know how much we need you?”

Chey looked startled by the passionate sincerity of her tone. “What can I do that would make a difference? Clean the pool? Mow the yard? That won’t help pay the bills or save Bridleton.”

“But it still saves time and money,” insisted Andrea. “We’re understaffed, overworked and desperate for an extra pair of hands. Right?” She glanced at the men for corroboration.

Noah nodded and gave Chey a rare smile. Trace added his laconic agreement. “We need all the help we can get.”

Andrea picked up one of Cheyenne’s hands and glanced at the neat, polished nails. “Of course, you can say goodbye to your lovely manicure.”

Chey laughed softly. “I have lots of time for primping.”

“What about your art? I have to apologize again for not making it to your graduation but I’m so proud of you. Your artwork is truly amazing. I’m hoping we can put those talents to work once we get all this spring ranch stuff caught up.”

“Really?” Chey sounded surprised again. “What do you have in mind? I’ve been told repeatedly that there are few practical purposes for my art degree.”

“Well,” continued Andrea, “you have the artistic talent. I know and love fashion. You probably don’t remember but Caroline and I used to have big plans to design our own line of clothing. We planned to call it the Bartell Collection. I imagine some of her old sketches are still around here. If you’re willing and interested we could come up with new plans.”

Chey thought it over a minute and then said, “I do remember all those sketches of Caroline’s. And you have lots of connections in the industry. That’s invaluable.”

“Hopefully,” agreed Andrea. She’d given the idea serious thought over the last few months. “I can run the idea past my agent and see how much support we’d garner from the New York front.”

“Is this the same agent who wants to marry you and use you for a broodmare?”

Andrea almost choked on her tea, wishing she hadn’t shared that bit of information in one of their late-night transcontinental phone calls. She shot a glance at Noah. His eyes briefly glittered before he dropped his lashes. A flash of anger? Jealousy? Possessiveness? Whatever the sentiment, it sent a quiver of emotion over her as well as alerting everyone at the table to the tension between them.

“Same agent, totally new plan.”

Nanette glanced back and forth between them. “Sounds like the man wants to be more than an agent, Andrea. Anything serious?”

She shook her head. “It’s a combination of personal and professional. Lloyd Rubbens is a very successful agent and a genuinely nice man. He offered me a partnership as well as a marriage proposal.” She’d asked him to give her more time but he’d be demanding an answer soon.

“Are his proposals separate but equal?” Cheyenne teased.

Andrea shook her head. “Is anything ever that simple?”

Cheyenne took a hint and changed the subject. “So how can I help the most with ranch business?”

“You could put your computer skills to work. All the breeding records for cattle and horses are in longhand. I have to warn you, both Nanna’s and Noah’s handwriting is nearly indecipherable. The data needs to be updated and transferred to electronic format. If you can take over the job it’ll free up more of our time.”

“I’d like to learn a little about the computer too,” said Nanette.

They both agreed to help her with some basic skills.

“We can start right after dinner if you like,” offered Cheyenne. “You know the stock better than me and, according to Drea, I’ll need help deciphering. We can teach each other.”

“No party tonight?”

Cheyenne grinned. “I guess I’d better start earning my keep. Especially if Meredith keeps feeding us so well.” She gave the housekeeper a smile as Meredith brought apple pie to the table.

Everyone added their compliments for the meal. Andrea refused the pie. “It looks and smells yummy but I’m really stuffed. My stomach isn’t used to being so full.”

She sipped coffee as the others enjoyed dessert. Before long they’d all finished their meal and began excusing themselves from the table. Noah and Trace headed to the barns for one last check on livestock. Nanna and Cheyenne went to the office to study ranch records. Andrea helped Meredith clear the dishes and load the dishwasher, enjoying a friendly, low-key conversation.

The first yawn caught her by surprise. She apologized for the second and the third. “Excuse me, Meredith. I promise it’s not the company but just an exhausted mind and body.”

“I really appreciate your help but you’ve done enough. I can finish now. Just head on up to bed. The ranch will be a muddy mess tomorrow so you’ll need all the rest you can get.”

“I always need all the rest I can get,” chimed Andrea. She’d suffered with insomnia for years and never felt completely rested. “I didn’t even do that much today but I’ll take your advice and call it a night.”

“Sleep well.”

“Thanks, you too.” Andrea left the kitchen and briefly stuck her head in the door of the library to say goodnight to Nanna and Cheyenne. Then she went upstairs to her bedroom but didn’t turn on the light.

The curtains of her French doors were open wide. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the murky sky. She moved closer to watch Mother Nature’s awesome light show. The dark, swirling passion of a thunderstorm had always enthralled her. Even though she knew how dangerous they could be she still got caught up in the vivid displays of light and the black, rolling clouds. Tonight the tumultuous weather matched her mood and her emotional state.

Cheyenne’s mention of Lloyd weighed heavily on her mind. Before the worry of the ranch had become a consideration she’d been thinking of retiring from modeling. She’d given a lot of thought to the design business and following the old dream of fashion design. She had a knack for it but not the artistic skill. Lloyd had the connections to launch a new line with resounding success. He could make or break a new venture.

What she didn’t know was whether he’d help her if she rejected his marriage-slash-business proposal. In fact, he could possibly destroy the Bartell Collection dream before it could even be presented.

Now she’d promised most of her waking minutes to the ranch. And Noah. The thought of him had her stepping a little closer to the doors and glancing toward the balcony outside his room. She stayed in the shadows and watched as he stood out in the storm. At first all she could see was the glow of a cigarette.

Then a flash of lightning illuminated him. Naked from the waist up, he stood tall and strong while rain glistened on his hair and sun-darkened skin. She watched in fascination as he put out the cigarette, looked up to the sky and then in her direction. Even though she knew he couldn’t see her, she felt his gaze on her flesh. Her body quivered in response.

By the time the next flash lit the night he’d disappeared into his room. She’d known he wouldn’t come to her tonight. It made her feel both relieved and rejected.

* * * * *

Over the next few days Andrea took orders from Noah without complaint, determined to prove she could be a productive member of the ranch staff. He never asked her to do more than she could handle nor half as much as he was willing to do himself. As in the past, they learned to work in harmony, each complementing the other to get the daily chores done.

While modeling she’d become accustomed to the physical strain of long hours on her feet, yet working the ranch challenged her in ways she’d totally forgotten. Her three hundred dollar French manicure was ruined the second day. The sun and wind irritated her eyes and wrecked her hair even though she loved the feel of both on her skin.

The only breaks they took from sunrise to sunset were for meals. Zack and Cheyenne shared chores closer to the house. Painting had begun on all the buildings and landscapers worked to get the property back into prime condition. Chey and Nanna spent hours trying to get the financial records in order. No one mentioned selling the property but they all knew it was a distinct possibility if they couldn’t turn a profit.

Andrea hit the shower, ate dinner and collapsed shortly after dark each night. The insomnia she’d suffered while working abroad disappeared completely at home. She went to bed exhausted, slept like the dead and rose again when her alarm rang at six in the morning.

Their spring schedule was grueling, yet she ended each day feeling proud of what they’d accomplished. The tension between her and Noah continued to escalate. Sometimes the stinging desire caught them by surprise. It always left her feeling needy yet most days she was too tired to dwell on it. Saturday came and went in the same manner but by Sunday everyone needed a day of rest.

Meredith didn’t work on Sundays so the family enjoyed a breakfast buffet of muffins and bagels. Chey and Zack slept late while Nanette went to church. Andrea woke at her usual early hour. She entered the dining room just as Trace and Noah finished eating. They all exchanged good mornings.

“You’ll have to excuse me,” said Noah, rising from his seat. “I need to get to the fairgrounds.”

“Fairgrounds?” asked Andrea as she poured herself coffee and grabbed a bagel.

She couldn’t help but notice how great he looked this morning. He’d dressed simply in dress boots, jeans and a long-sleeved blue plaid shirt but she’d always loved him in royal blue. It brought out the color of his eyes and highlighted the bronze of his skin. He looked so good she wondered if he had a date. The thought instantly darkened her mood.

“There’s a horse show at the fairgrounds arena and I promised to judge.”

As teens they’d both ridden and competed at a local level. A lot of 4-H members and Future Farmers of America students got together throughout the summer for informal competitions. Many past participants served as judges. Local merchants donated ribbons or trophies.

“You’re judging shows now?” She asked the question as she moved to the table with the bagel in one hand and the cup of coffee in the other. It had been a long time since she’d attended a show but she’d always loved them.

“When I have time.”

“Is it a special event?”

“No, just a fun show, but concessionaires and craftsman set up on the grounds for the weekend. Today they’re opening the horse competition to adults so it’ll get more rowdy.”

“Mind if I tag along?” She surprised them all with her impulsive request.

Noah gave her a long, considering glance.

“Unless you have a date,” she qualified.

“No date but I have to leave in a few minutes.”

“I can eat on the way to town.”

“You can’t go like that.” He nodded toward her shorts and tee shirt. “Not if you want to help me in the arena.”

She hadn’t thought about helping him but her spirits lifted at the idea. Suddenly the day looked very promising.

“Give me ten minutes,” she said, setting down her cup before brushing past him and hurrying down the hallway toward the stairs.

“Only five, I’m running late,” he yelled after her. “I’ll pull my truck around front.”

She couldn’t reply with a mouth full of bagel but she rushed up the stairs. As soon as she stepped into her bedroom she shed her clothes. Knowing they’d be in the sun all day, she dressed much like Noah in boots, jeans and a long-sleeved red shirt over a sleeveless white tank top. She grabbed her sunscreen and a stretchy for her hair, sliding it on her wrist before heading back down the stairs. Trace met her at the front door with a travel mug of coffee.

“You’re a prince among men,” she said after swallowing the last bite of bagel. “I gobbled that so fast I need to wash it down.”

Noah pulled his pickup to a stop near the front porch as the two of them exited the house. The sight of his truck gave her pause. She’d helped him pick it out when they’d still been wildly in love. He’d chosen the style, she’d chosen the color. Blue again because it suited him so well. She remembered how proud he’d been to purchase his first brand-new vehicle. It still looked good.

Trace walked with her, opened the passenger door and helped her climb into the cab. She gave him a smile of thanks. “Are you going with us?”

“Not now but I might wander in there after a while.”

Noah revved the motor and put the truck in gear.

“Okay, see you later!” She slammed the door and they were on their way.

“Seat belt,” he reminded.

Andrea dropped the sunscreen on the seat and handed him the coffee mug while she found and secured her belt. She glanced back at him in time to see him swallow a big gulp of her coffee.

“Hey! That’s mine.”

He handed it back to her. “You gave it to me.”

“For safekeeping.”

“Then you should have said so.”

Andrea stared at him a minute, wondering at how easily they’d fallen back into the good-natured bickering that had been so much a part of their relationship in the early days. Somewhere during their long week she’d realized staying angry with him wasted too much energy. She’d never forgive him for past sins but she respected his work ethic and she’d gotten tired of the open hostility.

Her hair hung heavily down her back. The early morning temperature crept toward seventy degrees, so she wanted it off her shoulders. After taking a big swig of coffee she gave the cup back to him.

“Here, you can finish it. I need to braid my hair.”

A heavy silence fell between them as he drove over several miles of Bridleton roads to access the main highway. Andrea slowly wove her hair into a French plait then wrapped the ends in a bun and secured it to the nape of her neck.

“I forgot a hat.”

“You can buy one at the fairgrounds.”

She made a face. “I forgot to bring any money.”

“Then I’ll buy it and you can owe me.”

Her frown deepened. The Bartells already owed him too much. Hopefully they could remedy that soon but she hated being dependent on him all day for cash. She didn’t even have her debit card.

He shot her a glance. “It’s no big deal.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

“But you’re thinking it.”

“You’re reading minds now too?” she taunted.

“When you forget to be snooty and prim, your face is pretty expressive.”

“It’s not snooty to be mature and responsible.”

“Call it what you want,” he replied smoothly, handling the big truck with ease. “But it’s not a maturity issue. You were born snooty and prim.”

“And you were born too stubborn for words.”

Her heated reply hung in the air for a long minute. Noah didn’t comment. He gave her a quick, hard look and then switched on the radio. Andrea drew in a deep breath, wondering how this one man managed to needle her more quickly than an army of persnickety photographers.

As a soulful country ballad filled the air, her heart stuttered. She hadn’t heard much country western music these past few years and it had always been her favorite. She listened to the words of a love gone wrong and stared at the window, trying not to think of the past and how many hours they’d spent making out in this very truck. Had Noah made love to a lot of other women on these tan leather seats? Who had taken her place once she’d left? One special woman or several? It wasn’t her concern, so why did the question nag at her?

Better to concentrate on the scenery.

The rains had brought lush green to the area along with fields of blue bonnets, wild mustard and bountiful wildflowers. Golden wheat waved brightly in the sun. Miles and miles of redwood fence bordered Bridleton, with longhorn cattle grazing as far as the eye could see. At one time they would have numbered in the thousands but not anymore. Noah assured her their livestock was of the highest quality and still in demand for breeding. She hoped this year’s crop of calves would make a difference.

“The property looks prosperous enough, doesn’t it?”

“It’s a start,” he said. “The rain is crucial but too much now could destroy all the grain we just planted.”

“It’s a constant challenge, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“So why do you do it? Why fight the endless battle with the weather and markets and money woes?”

He shot her a searching glance. “Why not? Every job has its ups and downs, good times and bad.”

“I suppose.”

“Is modeling all you hoped it would be? No downside?”

“Of course there are negatives. Sometimes there are long hours, insufferable designers and demanding photographers.”

“But?”

But what? Andrea gave the answer some serious thought. Why had she stayed in the business? What had kept her working after the glamour faded? She’d never really enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle. Nobody in the business cared much about the person wearing the designs so why hadn’t she changed professions once she’d realized she wasn’t suited for the international modeling scene? Pride? Stubbornness? The inability to admit she might have been wrong in following her mother’s footsteps?

The answer didn’t take a lot of soul-searching. She’d stayed because she couldn’t face coming home. She’d known it would be so different from the idyllic days when her family had been intact and she’d been madly in love. The excitement, the wild anticipation of each day had been seared into her heart and she hadn’t wanted to come home and face the pain and disillusion.

When she’d finally come home it hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared. Maybe because she’d matured. Maybe because the heartache had dulled. Whatever the reason, she’d started to feel whole again. Had started to look forward to each new day even if it meant long, hard hours of work. She loved spending time with her family, laughing with the ranch hands, and being an integral part of the effort at Bridleton.

“Is it so hard to think of anything good about your work?”

His question snapped her out of her reverie. “I earned great money, got to visit some wonderful places and met a lot of fascinating people.”

“It’s all you thought it would be?”

She thought about all the youthful dreams she’d shared with him. Dreams of parading down the most famous catwalks of the world with cameras flashing and people gasping in awe. Dreams of glitz and glamour in the elite circle of fashion design. Dreams of leaving the imperfect, insecure country girl behind her and gaining celebrity status. She wondered if Noah still believed she’d been crazy to seek the limelight.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of the things I wanted to and had some really satisfying experiences.”

“Are you eager to get back to it?”

Andrea turned more fully toward him. They’d worked together the past few days with only the occasion flare of tempers. When the sexual tension had gotten out of hand they’d made a point of heading in different directions. Maybe he hoped she’d get discouraged and quit.

“Are you so eager to be rid of me?”

He took his attention from the road again and shot her a quick glance. “Can’t you answer a simple question without getting all defensive?”

She started to snap back a response but realized it would make her sound more defensive. Turning her gaze forward again, she managed a calm reply. “No, I am not eager to get back to modeling.”

Noah made a sound between a grunt and a chuckle. She decided they got along better when they didn’t talk. Before long they left the highway and turned onto the main street of Carville. The tiny town looked like thousands of other towns around the country. It had one stoplight at the main intersection, a combined police station and town hall, a bank, a hardware store and a couple of churches. The local entertainment included a bowling alley, a restaurant and a few bars.

As they drove through the streets she noticed how little anything had changed. The buildings looked shabbier and the pavement more cracked. A few buildings looked vacant and others had realty signs posted. Despite the general air of neglect trees flowered along the sidewalks and the rain had obviously encouraged everyone to plant annuals. Color bloomed wherever she looked.

“Everything sure looks colorful,” she noted. “Is that a new water tower?”

“Historic drought makes you appreciate the life-sustaining value of water. The water supply is back to safe levels now but during the dry years the town council voted to put up a second tower.”

“Catch it while you can?”

“Yeah,” he said as he braked at a four-way stop. The fairgrounds and arena had been developed on an old cattle auction site just outside of town. Noah’s truck converged with several trucks pulling horse trailers.

Despite the recent rains dust whirled across the drier ground while potholes pooled with muddy water.

“Couldn’t we do more to conserve water at the ranch?” she asked.

“Zack’s studying the pros and cons of building a small reservoir or burying storage tanks to feed irrigation tiles. But it’s a long-term plan and it’ll cost a bundle.”

“One pro is plenty of land,” said Andrea. “But the big con is there might never be a bundle of money.”

“Zack suggested selling shares in the property or taking out a mortgage.”

Andrea didn’t like either suggestion. She wanted to know Noah’s opinion but his expression didn’t offer a clue. He’d gotten a little too good at hiding his emotions behind an impassive mask.

“I’m guessing you’re not too fond of either option.”

“No.” He glanced her way. “But I don’t own the place.”

His tone held an underlying thread of frustration. For the first time since she’d come home Andrea put herself in his position and tried to imagine how he felt. He’d devoted years of his life to Bridleton with more sweat and backbreaking work than anyone could expect yet he had no control over the most vital decisions. It had to grate.

The unfairness of it tugged at her conscience until she reminded herself of how he’d tried to seduce his way into the family. If he’d been more faithful to just one Bartell, he’d be part owner now.

* * * * *

Noah watched as the first class of entrants walked their ponies into the arena. He especially enjoyed the youngest riders. The five- and six-year-olds had very little control over their mounts but they all looked proud as peacocks in their brightly colored western gear. Their friends and families cheered from the bleachers opposite the judge’s stand. Ten little riders circled the arena in slow procession, straightening their spines as they approached where he and Andrea stood.

“Too cute!” she whispered. “Were we ever so young and innocent?”

“I doubt these little cowpokes are innocent. They’re just on their best behavior.”

“I think they all deserve a trophy.”

“Only one trophy for each class,” he reminded.

He gave the order for them to trot and each child urged his or her pony into a faster gait. After a couple of turns around the arena, Noah gave the order to walk again and then stop and relax their reins. He went to each rider, giving them tips on how to sit better or exert more control over the pony. When he’d made a complete round he moved back to Andrea and took a microphone in his hand.

While he addressed the crowd Andrea made her way around the arena, handing every entrant a blue ribbon and praising them for a job well done. Noah waited until she’d finished her rounds and announced the first place winner. More cheers erupted and he presented the small trophy to a freckle-faced boy whose eyes lit with joy.

Noah’s heart thudded against his ribs when Drea flashed him a big smile. Damn, he’d forgotten what it was like to have that beautiful smile aimed at him. How amazing it felt to share simple pleasures with her. It warmed him deep inside and threatened his hard-won composure. He’d learned to relate caring and sharing with heartache. It wouldn’t do to forget those lessons.

The mental warnings didn’t keep him from enjoying the rest of the morning’s youth classes. Andrea worked the arena like a pro, not surprising since she’d started competing an early age herself. She offered advice and praise yet deferred to him when it came time for the final judging. The horses kicked up plenty of dust and dropped some manure but she moved around the ring with style and grace.

At noon he announced a lunch break. Participants and bystanders rushed toward the concession stands. He leaned back against the judges’ table and watched Andrea cross the arena. While she strolled back to him she tipped her hat off her head and brushed dust from her jeans. They hugged her hips and accentuated her long, long legs. The thought of having those legs wrapped around his hips sent a jolt of fire through his body. Whoa, boy, don’t go there, he warned himself.

The sun beat down on them relentlessly. The temperature neared ninety but a stiff breeze brought a little relief from the heat. Sweat had his shirt sticking to his back. As Andrea slowly approached, she started unbuttoning her blouse. His pulse kicked into a higher gear.

He watched, eyes shadowed by the brim of his hat, while she stripped off the shirt and tied the sleeves around her waist. The white tank top hugged her unbound breasts, making him wonder yet again how someone so slim could have such full, round breasts. Her every move captivated him and sent the blood surging through his veins.

Dynamite in tight-fitting jeans. Trouble with a capital T. Mind-blowing, world-rocking, crazy-to-even-consider-messing-with-her trouble. He wished he didn’t know how explosive the passion could be between them. How incredible the sex could be. His body tightened more at the thought. Which meant he damned well better stop thinking about it. He didn’t want the incredible, unpredictable sex or her kind of trouble in his life anymore. He didn’t like losing control and she’d always pushed him to the limits.

The thought had him shifting his gaze to her breasts again. The tank top hugged the firm mounds and boldly displayed her nipples. He licked his lips and swallowed hard. Every male on the fairgrounds would be zeroing in on the erotic sight. A shaft of possessiveness shot through him but he swiftly smothered it.

“Ready to get something to eat?” he asked.

She gave him a quick smile. “I sure could use something cold to drink but I need to bum more money.”

He could tell she hated asking him for anything. She’d picked out a cheap straw hat this morning but she’d blushed with embarrassment when he paid for it. The blush had totally baffled him. He never would figure out what made her tick.

“You’re in luck. Judges get to eat free.”

“I’m not a judge.”

He cocked his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you call what you’ve been doing all morning?”

“Grunt work?” she said.

Her sassy response surprised a chuckle from him. He straightened and reached for her arm, turning her toward the concession area. They fell in step and she matched his long strides with ease.

“You’re a pretty good grunt,” he said, “and a good sport. I think you awed all the little girls and boys.”

“The kids are fun and easy. The afternoon classes are bound to be less genial and lots more competitive.”

He agreed. “The people who know me personally will expect favors and hold grudges.”

“Hmm…I guess the next part of your job could be high-risk.”

“Maybe you should have the final say next go-round.”

She pretended to give it some thought. “Does it pay well?”

“All you can eat and drink.”

“Well, I’m in need of sustenance but I think I’ll leave the dirty work to you and keep my grunt job.”

They moved into the crowds and several people greeted them but no one stopped their progress. The people who knew him best were likely shell-shocked to see Drea and him together. Their teamwork would be the talk of the town for days but that didn’t concern him much.

He asked what she wanted to eat.

“What are you having?”

“The smell of barbeque had my mouth watering all morning. I’m gonna have a couple big sandwiches and onion rings.” He guided her to a tent with picnic tables and a serving counter. “You want something here?”

“This is fine,” she said, glancing at the crude menu. “The grilled chicken sounds good. “

They waited in line and placed an order, chatting casually with the servers and other customers. Several people welcomed Drea home and commented on the work being done at Bridleton. She fielded questions with friendly politeness but without divulging any real information. Then they moved to an empty table in a shaded area.

“There’s no way both of us can get our long legs under this table,” she said as they set down their plates and drinks opposite each other.

“If we both shift our legs to the right we should avoid a tangle.”

They managed but a bit awkwardly. Neither of them spoke much while they ate and Noah noticed she didn’t make eye contact. It crossed his mind she might be embarrassed to be seen with him or by the fact people might assume they were a couple again. Too bad. Not his fault. She’d invited herself.

After finishing his meal and downing his last drink of cola he felt feminine hands drop to his shoulders. Recognizing the perfume immediately, he tilted his head back to greet Shelly Hastings. She gave him an intimate smile.

“Hey, cowboy, long time no see.”

He swung his legs over the bench and rose, turning to her. “Hi, Shelly. Good to see you. You remember Andrea Bartell?”

She shot a curious glance at Drea. “Zack’s little sister?”

“That I am,” said Andrea. She stood too, and offered a hand to Shelly. “You’re Chet Hastings’ daughter, right? You moved to California for a while?”

“Right. I married young and left home but now I’m divorced and helping Dad run the Circle H. We’ve been so busy with spring roundup I haven’t had time to socialize.” She gave him another warm smile and he returned it. What she didn’t say out loud was that he hadn’t been to visit her in the last couple weeks. Even though they had a pretty open relationship, his conscience pricked.

“Well I’ll give you two some privacy,” said Andrea, still not looking at him. Her expression and tone remained pleasantly neutral toward Shelly as she tossed her trash in a nearby can. “Are the restrooms still buried under the grandstand or do I have to find a porta potty?”

“Still under the grandstand,” said Shelly.

Drea turned to go. “Thanks, nice seeing you.”

Noah didn’t like the tug of regret he felt watching her walk away from him. Nor did he like the number of male glances she attracted with her confident sashaying stride. “We’re due back in the arena soon,” he called. She acknowledged his reminder with a wave.

“So that’s the infamous Andrea.”

He dragged his attention back to Shelly but he didn’t care for the speculative gleam in her dark eyes. “That’s Andrea. Didn’t you graduate with Zack?”

“Yes but I remember his sister being pudgy with pigtails and braces. I guess ugly ducklings do turn into swans.”

He nodded but didn’t comment.  “Is she the reason you haven’t been to see me lately?”

He held her steady gaze. “Part of the reason. We’ve been slammed too. Zack, Drea and their sister Cheyenne have all moved home to help with the ranch. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for the first time in years.”

“That’s good to hear. I know you really needed more help.”

He gathered up his trash and tossed it in the can then took Shelly’s arm. When his gaze followed Andrea’s retreating form it roused her curiosity even more.

“She seems nice, she’s beautiful and she’s certainly wowed the crowd today. How involved are the two of you?” Shelley asked.

He knew she wanted him to deny involvement but he wouldn’t lie. “It’s complicated.” After a long pause, she said, “Aren’t they always?”

“Not with you and me,” he reminded her.

Shelly smiled. “No, it’s never been complicated and I don’t want it to be. You know you’re always welcome at my place.” She dropped her voice. “Or in my bed if you’re experiencing some serious frustration. No strings attached.”

He chuckled and brushed a finger across her cheek. “I know, and that means a lot.”

“Not commenting on the frustration part?”

“I’m dealing but thanks. The sixteen-hour days don’t leave much time for anything else.” He wished the long hours of work lessened the frustrated desire but he didn’t want to have that discussion.

Shelly took a hint and changed the subject. “I hear the announcer testing the microphones, so you’d better get back to the arena.”

“Are you competing this afternoon?”

“I think the competition is way out of my league,” she teased.

Noah flashed her a surprised look but she just gave him a wink and turned toward the grandstand. He left her at the bleachers and returned to the arena.

As the afternoon progressed clouds began to blot out the sun and the wind whipped up whirlwinds of dust. A storm slowly approached, making the horses restless and less cooperative for their riders. By the time the final class finished it was sprinkling. The bleachers cleared and everyone hurried to load their trailers.

Andrea had pulled her long-sleeved shirt back over her arms and struggled to keep her hat on her head. She’d fought the wind and continued helping him without complaint. Noah had to shout at her to be heard over the thunder.

“I have some things to finish up here. You can wait in the truck.” He started to hand her his keys but she shook her head.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll catch a ride with Trace.”

He nodded and watched as she turned to run across the arena. He saw Trace on the other side of the track and felt an unreasonable sting of jealousy. Grinding his teeth, he cursed himself for feeling anything.

Chapter Five

Sunday’s rain and the resulting mud made it impossible to get around the ranch on wheels so the next few days all the staff worked on horseback. Andrea loved to ride and it came easily to her but her muscles protested loud and long. By Wednesday night every inch of her body ached. She grabbed a quick sandwich and headed for bed before dark.

After a long hot shower she slipped a pale blue nightgown over her head. The hem fell just above her knees and the fine cotton fabric clung to her damp curves. She towel-dried her hair and combed out the tangles, noticing the streaks of sun-spun gold. Her hairdresser couldn’t have done a better job with expensive frosting techniques. Still, her hair badly needed conditioning. She promised to give it more attention when she had time. Tired of the endless braids, she left it loose and flowing over her shoulders.

Tomorrow she planned to sleep late. Noah had ordered her to take a day off and she hadn’t argued. The tension between them had escalated since the horse show. Every touch, every glance, shot sparks. They’d both reached their limits of tolerance.

She kept visualizing him with Shelly Hastings. Were he and the shapely brunette involved in a serious relationship? The smiles they’d shared suggested they were lovers as well as friends. So why had he come to her balcony that first night home? Had he been cheating then? Was it beyond him to be faithful to one woman? Had he since ended things with Shelly? Andrea chastised herself for caring. She shouldn’t let it bother her but it did. Not being able to get it out of her mind made her irritable as hell.

Dusk had fallen, leaving her room bathed in shadows. Tossing back the covers of her bed, she stretched out on the cool sheets. What started as a sigh became a long moan. Her butt and thighs were seriously sore from so much riding. If she had any money she’d offer every penny to a masseuse with magic hands.

Not seconds after that thought a tall, broad-shouldered form appeared at the sliding door of her balcony. When Noah let himself into her room her heart began to thud against her chest. Despite her exhaustion her body came alive with anticipation. Her skin tingled, her breasts plumping, nipples hardening.

He’d come straight from his shower. His hair and skin still glistened with dampness. His jeans rode low on his hips, an obvious afterthought as they weren’t even fastened. She wondered if he was naked under the denim, and the possibility sent heat surging to the very core of her.

“Thought you might need some liniment tonight,” he said, showing her the bottle in his hand. “It stinks but it works, and you aren’t used to riding as much as you have this week.”

For a few long seconds Andrea watched him with half-closed eyes, unable to think of a thing to say. Her fertile mind tangled masseuse and Noah together in sheer erotic fantasy. When she didn’t respond he walked quietly to her bedside table and put down the bottle.

She didn’t know whether to make him leave or beg him to stay. Working so closely with him yet rarely being alone had made her ache for his undivided attention. He hadn’t said or done anything suggestive but everything about him left her wanting. His self-discipline, his determination, the potency of his impressive physical strength had given her an irresistible yearning to spend more time with him.

He turned to go and she reached out a hand to halt him. He paused, glancing down at her fingers resting on his forearm. She didn’t move them and he didn’t shift out of her reach. Time stood still as they silently weighed the pros and cons of inviting more intimacy.

“We’re both exhausted,” he said.

“Yes.” Her response was little more than a breathy whisper, her throat tight, her mouth dry.

Noah seemed torn too. He looked toward the door and then down at her. After a long heart-stopping moment he said, “I could help you with the liniment.”

His hands. On her body. An erotic fantasy.

“Yes.” She managed another monosyllabic response.

He moved back to the table, opened the bottle and poured liniment in his hands.

“Turn over.” His voice sounded strained to her ears but the deafening cadence of her pulse made it hard to be sure.

Andrea rolled onto her stomach, giving him room on the bed but he didn’t sit beside her. He put one knee on the mattress and leaned over her, starting at her ankles and working the lotion onto her calves with slow, unhurried strokes. His calloused hands chafed her skin while his open-palmed caresses soothed the tender flesh. Her fingers and toes curled when he applied more lotion to her thighs, slowly working his way up to her buttocks.

She felt the coolness of air and then the heat of his touch as his hands slid beneath her gown to bare skin. Her heart pounded in her chest as her breasts swelled even more, her nipples poking at the sheets. It took all her willpower to keep her legs from thrashing against the sheets as he continued the slow, thorough seduction of her senses.

The liniment had a pungent odor but the scent got all tangled with the clean, spicy scent of the man leaning over her. She would never smell it again without remembering the feel of Noah’s hands on her body, rubbing and calming while totally inflaming. Andrea heard a low, purring sound and then realized it came from somewhere deep in her soul.

“You like that?” His voice had gone hoarse.

She liked it all right. And wanted more. So much more. The throbbing between her legs increased with every stroke of his long, strong fingers. He kneaded her buttocks with a firm, tight grip that almost drove her over the edge. When he grasped her hips she undulated, allowing his fingers to brush her belly. Tension sung across raw nerves. Her body tense, her breathing ragged, she finally flipped onto her back and out of his reach but that didn’t slow his sensual assault.

He grasped her by the knees and continued to rub the soreness out of her joints. Her gown hitched upward and uncovered the soft curls at the apex of her thighs. She watched his eyes go dark with passion as he gazed at her bared flesh.

When his hands caressed higher on her legs she moaned again. He gave her one last, searching look before easing them apart and dropping his head. With his mouth near the nest of hair, he blew cool air on the overheated flesh. Then his tongue dipped into her damp softness and continued to caress her. Andrea clutched at the sheets, tension escalating and making her mindless with need. His hands slid under her hips, tugging her closer to his mouth while she rocked beneath him. She moaned and twisted, grasping fistfuls of his hair as he drove her higher and higher.

A long, low cry of release filled the night when he pushed her over the edge. As she panted for air he nipped and licked and teased her with his tongue until a second orgasm trembled over her. She screamed and nearly came off the bed.

“So sexy, so damned sexy.”

His gruff whisper barely penetrated her satiated senses. Andrea collapsed against the bed, limp and exhausted but he didn’t stop there. He slowly pulled her nightgown over her arms and tossed it aside. While her chest heaved he cupped her breasts and lapped at her nipples like a hungry cat, his tongue lashing with long wet strokes, his mouth hot and searing. First one and then the other, he bathed them with caresses. Then he sucked each one deeply into his mouth, drawing her body as tight as a bow.

Weak and trembling, Andrea didn’t think there was any way he could rekindle her passion but Noah proved her wrong. When her breathing quieted a little he used his teeth to pluck at her nipples, sending stinging tension throughout her body. Her legs began to shift restlessly and he pinned them with his strong thighs. She felt the roughness of denim against supersensitized skin and she wanted him naked.

Grasping the waistband of his jeans, she tugged them low enough for him to kick them off his legs. As she’d suspected, he was gloriously naked without them. She felt the hard ridge of his erection as he eased himself across her hips again. Her breath caught in wild anticipation at the thought of having him buried inside her. A deep throbbing ache pulsed between her legs.

“Noah!” she coaxed, arching her body closer to his in feminine demand.

“This time you have to tell me what you want,” he ordered gruffly. “Tell me you want me inside of you. Deep inside of you. Tell me!”

“Yes, I want you! Please, Noah, please!”

The words barely passed her lips before he thrust into her welcoming heat. She gasped and shuddered, her body quickly adjusting to the thickness of him and the depth of his penetration. For a long throbbing minute they both stilled, each absorbing the pure pleasure of the intimate penetration. Then he began to thrust faster and harder. She matched his movements with all her strength but quickly spiraled into another orgasm and then another. By the time he stiffened and cried out his release she was quivering with a different, amazing sort of exhaustion.

She closed her eyes, her body going completely limp. Sometime later she felt Noah stirring and his weight being lifted from her chest. Then she sank into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

* * * * *

Late the next morning Andrea began to dream of Caroline, her beloved big sister. Memories conjured images of Caro the last time she’d seen her alive. She’d been racing through the house, sobbing and hysterical. Andrea had asked her what was wrong but all she’d say was “ask Noah”. She’d warned Drea to be careful or her heart would be broken too. Then she’d dashed out of the house and jumped into her sports car, driving with a wild recklessness that had gotten her killed.

A sob woke her from the awful, recurring dream. Of hearing that her sister had slammed her car into a tree and died instantly, taking her unborn child with her. Trembling and sweating, Andrea tried to shake off the guilt and heartache that always accompanied the memory.

The family hadn’t known about the pregnancy, nor the identity of the unborn baby’s father. Andrea had blamed Noah, accusing him of carrying on affairs with both Bartell sisters. He’d denied it but had obstinately refused to discuss Caro, her baby or the wreck. Devastated by his duplicity and unable to cope with the emotional strain, she’d left home without a backward glance.

Now she sat up in bed and swiped tears from her cheeks. A knock at her door had her grasping the sheet to cover herself. When it swung open Noah appeared, stilled and stared at her for a minute before speaking.

His expression turned grim. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re upset about last night,” he charged gruffly.

She started to explain the nightmare but he cut her off.

“Nanette asked me to wake you for lunch.”

He pulled the door closed, effectively ignoring any response she could have made. She sighed and fell back against the pillow. Damn. Double damn.

He’d been so incredibly tender last night, so attuned to her needs, so unselfish with his loving. She’d wanted him so badly and he’d given her what she wanted, plus a whole lot more. Her skin still prickled in all the intimate places he’d kissed and caressed.

Maybe the dream was a subconscious warning to beware. Caroline advising her from the grave? She didn’t dare fall into the same old trap or make the same mistake. It would surely kill her this time. Their breakup had cost her half her heart and soul. She couldn’t afford to lose the other half, couldn’t trust Noah with more than her body.

Did he even want more? Had he ever wanted anything but her willing body? She’d never known what he wanted more, her heart or her inheritance. Neither time nor experience had changed that basic fact. He remained an enigma despite all the years they’d known each other.

Her stomach chose that minute to growl hungrily, so she climbed from bed, quickly freshened up and pulled on a simple yellow sundress. The soft cotton fabric felt cool and comfortable against her skin. Her hair, now a wild tangle of kinky strands, couldn’t be brushed into any acceptable style so she pulled it off her neck and clipped it to the back of her head with a giant plastic claw. After applying a touch of makeup to her eyes and lips she headed downstairs.

Everyone had gathered in the dining room and took their seats after she arrived. Zack planned to drive to his office in San Antonio so most of the conversation flowed around his new engineering firm. They also discussed various ongoing projects and the completion of most of the property upgrades. She and Chey made plans to go over some fashion designs later in the day.

“How’s the computer work going?” she asked.

Chey responded, “Nanna and I got all the financial information transferred to the computer but it will take a while longer to get the livestock records done.”

“We’d both feel better if you take a look at the spreadsheets when you have time,” said Nanette. “We think we’ve set things up right but I don’t know much about the computer and Chey doesn’t know much about the finances.”

“I’ll take a look after lunch but I don’t know much more than you guys. I guess however we set it up will have to be our new norm.”

When they’d finished eating and everyone started heading in different directions, Andrea asked Noah if he could spare her a minute. He seemed hesitant but followed her to the ranch office. She quietly closed the door behind them before heading to her aunt’s big desk.

The atmosphere in the room crackled like the lightning of a brewing thunderstorm. She often wondered what it was about their chemistry that put her senses on high alert whenever he was near. Why did her body respond so intensely to this one man? Her skin prickle? Her nerves sing? They both knew they were ill-suited for a long-term relationship. Most of their lives had been spent in one competition or another, yet hormones or chemistry or some wicked trick of fate kept the physical attraction sizzling.

He moved to the fireplace and stretched an arm across the mantel. She supposed he’d put in five or six hours work already and then showered before lunch. Clean-shaven and too sexy for words in tight, faded jeans that accentuated narrow hips and strong thighs, he looked better than any male model she’d ever met. His chest-hugging green tee shirt revealed every powerful ripple of muscle when he moved. His hair, almost silver from the sun, had a natural tendency to wave when it grew longer. The whole male package did crazy things to her libido when she really needed to keep a clear head.

“Don’t you ever wear a bra?”

The question had her sucking in a breath and balling her hands into fists. His brooding gaze made her nipples pucker against the soft fabric of her dress. A shaft of desire arrowed to the pit of her stomach, making her feel raw and exposed. She glared at him and he glared right back. Instead of making things better between them, the wild sex they’d shared last night had left them both feeling more restless and irritable.

“What’s wrong with my breasts?”

“Not a damn thing.”

“Then why are you criticizing?”

“It’s a helluva distraction, especially if you want to discuss business.”

In her world of fashion she only bothered with a bra if she had to model it. “It’s not like I have size Ds to support. My breasts are modestly covered.”

“If you say so,” he replied, sounding unconvinced. When he directed a stare to her chest her nipples strained against the bodice of her dress. Andrea tugged on the fabric, annoyed that he’d managed to rattle her composure.

“I didn’t ask you in here to discuss my breasts,” she said in a clipped tone. “I just wanted to give you your paycheck.” Reaching into the desk, she pulled out a legal-sized envelope. “The contractors Zack hired didn’t cost as much as he’d estimated so we have more operating funds. I gave Trace his back pay and wanted to give you yours too.”

When Noah made no move to accept the envelope Andrea walked toward him and placed it near his hand on the mantel. Up close she could smell his clean male scent and feel the heat of his powerful body. Her heart began to beat a little more rapidly when she got closer. Feminine wariness warned her to back off as quickly as possible. Pride kept her from bolting. For a long minute they stood close and stared at each other while tension swirled around and through them.

Andrea finally broke the simmering silence. “How ‘bout we call a truce on personal comments and concentrate on business?”

He nodded in agreement. “What do you want to discuss?”

“I want to know if we’re on schedule or if you feel we need more staff. I don’t know how much needs to be accomplished by now.”

“You, Zack and Chey have been a big help.”

“We have a vested interest in saving this ranch,” she reminded softly.

“Yeah,” he said. “Do you think you can handle another couple weeks? It would really put us back on track.”

“Zack’s time will be limited but I’ll work and Chey can help more with ranch chores once the bookkeeping is updated.”

He nodded in agreement. “Cheyenne seems to be doing great. Until you got home nobody had time or knew how to deal with her. You gave her just what she needed, some respect and a little renewed confidence.”

Andrea’s response was simple and heartfelt. “I love her.”

Noah reached out a hand and cupped the side of her face, slowly stroking her cheek with his thumb. She resisted the urge to close her eyes and purr.

“And you’re fiercely loyal to those you love.”

She stared into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. Then he surprised her by offering them.

“I guess that means you never loved me.”

Her breathing faltered. She’d loved him and told him often. “You betrayed our love.”

He brushed his thumb over her lips, making them tremble slightly.

“No, I didn’t.”

They continued to stare into each other’s eyes, both searching for truth. Andrea couldn’t see one tiny fleck of guilt or remorse in his expression. He didn’t elaborate or offer any further defense, only the same unqualified denial he’d given her five years ago. Could she have been wrong all this time or was he just a master at deception? Had her refusal to turn Bridleton over to him renewed his interest in an intimate relationship?

It all came down to the question of his true character. Was he really the type of man who’d sell his body and soul for a piece of prime real estate? He could be obstinate and arrogantly self-assured but that didn’t make him cold or calculating. He worked hard, respected his elders and the people who worked with him. She knew he had a passionate and protective nature. Was he just incapable of fidelity?

Noah gently tugged her closer until their bodies aligned, hard muscle to soft curves. Her breasts brushed the solid strength of his chest, her nipples tickling with arousal. A shiver of awareness spiraled to the core of her. She lifted her hands and splayed them on his chest, her fingers involuntarily flexing against him. He wrapped one arm around her waist, drawing her still closer as his thumb pressed her mouth open.

“I want a kiss.”

The succinct demand made her heart pound wildly in her chest. It also reminded her that they’d shared some incredible sex but they’d never kissed. Not even once. Somehow kissing seemed more personal, more intimate, more forgiving, which seemed simple yet irrational. Would it be insane for her to indulge?

Noah took the decision from her when he took her mouth with his. He rubbed his lips against hers in a hard caress and then licked slowly before prodding with his tongue. Her lips parted, not only allowing but inviting. His hand slid to the back of her head, angling her closer while he delved the depths of her mouth with an impatient tongue. Their tongues dueled for endless minutes until she caught his and sucked greedily. He tasted of coffee and mint and man.

His whole body bucked in response, going hard and hot against her as he tightened his grip around her waist. Andrea felt the hard ridge of his erection pressing against her abdomen. The denim of his jeans and the cotton of her dress did little to buffer the strength of his desire. Her body surged against his in matching demand. They strained to get closer. Their mouths locked, their breathing erratic as passion threatened to rage out of control.

Noah dropped his hand from her head to her thigh, tugging her skirt up until he reached bare skin. He lifted her leg and she locked it around his hip. They gasped for air but then got lost in another kiss. His hand cupped her buttock and kneaded the flesh, reminding her of the massage he’d given her last night. And everything else he’d given her. She wanted it all and more. Her body quaked with longing. She moaned low and long, coaxing in the most primitive fashion.

When he shifted the hard ridge of his erection to the core of her femininity she nearly came undone. He rocked against her, sending her blood pressure skyrocketing. A low rumbling groan escaped him. She pressed herself closer to his straining flesh, making urgent, needy sounds of her own.

Their impassioned moans nearly drowned the sound of the telephone ringing. The ringing eventually stopped but it brought home the fact that they weren’t alone in the house. There wasn’t even a locked door between them and anyone who happened past the office.

“Hell!”

His pithy curse echoed in Andrea’s head. She’d been thinking more like heaven but it was a hell of a time and place for them to be spiraling out of control. Dropping her head to his shoulder, she slowly lowered her leg until both of her feet were solidly planted on the floor. It took a little longer to regain enough strength to stand unassisted.

When he finally set her from him they stared at each other in consternation.

“Have we totally lost our minds?” she whispered.

He shook his head as if to clear it, and she knew he was having an even harder time reining in his desire. Raking a hand through his hair in agitation, he turned and paced across the room. She moved behind the desk and dropped into a chair. For just a minute she crossed her arms on the surface and rested her head on them.

The phone rang again, startling Andrea. Her hand shot out to stop the annoying sound. “Hello.” She didn’t even bother to identify herself.

“Andrea, it’s Lloyd. What’s happening out there in the Wild West? I expected to hear from you last week. You never explained your family emergency.”

She cringed at her own thoughtlessness. Even though she and Lloyd had more than a professional relationship, she’d neglected to contact him since she’d hit Texas. Out of sight, out of mind apparently.

“Lloyd, I’m really sorry I didn’t call. I’ve been crazy busy.”

“Busy doing what?”

“Family stuff,” she said, glancing at Noah. He’d taken a seat across from her. His expression was tight, his gaze steady and mocking.

“So when are you coming home?”

Lloyd’s question caught her by surprise. She was home now. New York had never really been more than a place to live, work and play. It wouldn’t do to try to explain. He’d never understand. He lived and breathed for New York.

“I’ve decided to stay here a while.”

The phone went quiet, Lloyd’s way of gaining the upper hand on any conversation. He knew his silence would shout his displeasure more than words. The tactic brought a smile to her face. She glanced at Noah, so down-to-earth, so masculine, so incredibly sexy. Lloyd was sexy too, in a fashion. His sexiness was enhanced by spray tans, hair stylists and a small fortune in clothing.

She got temporarily lost in the comparisons of the two men and nearly jumped out of her seat when he spoke again.

“You can’t afford an extended vacation,” he finally said. “Your career is at a tenuous stage right now and you can’t be away from the cameras too long.”

She knew the truth in what he said, just as she’d known the decision to save Bridleton would put her career at risk. It made her a little sad yet she hadn’t been really happy with the travel and workload for a long time. Being home again had given her a new focus. Her family had to come first now.

“Right now, Bridleton is more important to me.”

Another long silence from long distance. “I’ll be on the next plane out there.”

“No! No!” She heard the panic in her own voice and managed to calm her tone. “This is not a good time, Lloyd. I’m incredibly busy with absolutely no time to entertain guests. As soon as I can get free for a day or two I’ll fly to New York. I know it’s really unprofessional to cut back without discussing the matter with you first but I’m not going to change my mind.”

“I’ve always considered our relationship more personal than professional,” he replied quietly. “You know how I feel about you.”

Andrea closed her eyes and sighed. She wondered if Lloyd would run in the opposite direction if she took his proposals seriously. He liked to flirt and party and escort her around the city. He’d even tried to press her into a more intimate relationship. She hadn’t wanted to spoil their friendship. Maybe he believed she’d been playing hard to get all this time. Maybe she’d completely misread his feelings. Regardless, she didn’t want to have this discussion with Noah listening to every word.

“I really can’t talk right now, Lloyd. Our time difference is two hours so I’ll call you back about ten your time, if that’s not too late.”

Another long pause was followed by his grudging, “‘Til then.”

After replacing the receiver Andrea looked at Noah. His expression was grim, his tone even grimmer. “Is he the reason you’re on the Pill?”

She felt herself blushing. “I’m on the Pill for reasons unrelated to birth control.”

He didn’t comment but stared at her with brooding intensity. “For the record, I’ve never had unprotected sex with anyone but you,” he assured roughly.

The confession distracted her for a few minutes. They’d had unprotected sex last night just as they’d done in the past. If he’d planned a seduction he’d have brought protection with him to her bedroom. Wouldn’t he?

She hoped he told the truth. “Nor have I.”

He didn’t need to know she hadn’t had sex with anyone but him. Shaking her head, she forced her thoughts in another direction. “We need to focus on the ranch right now.”

At his nod, she continued, “You said you sold Baron. Who bought him?”

“Shelly Hastings.”

That made her grimace. “How successful can our breeding operation be without him?”

“We have four of our best mares carrying his seed. They’re all due to deliver soon. It’ll take another couple years but we should have healthy new breeding stock with the best of bloodlines.”

Andrea should have known he had a plan. He loved that horse and wouldn’t have parted with him unless absolutely necessary.

“I’ll bet Shelly is happy to let you visit him.”

As soon as the words left her mouth she wanted to recall the catty comment. “Sorry, I have no right to make that kind of remark.”

“Apology accepted.” He rose in a slow, easy flow of muscle that made her mouth go dry. “I’d better go check on those mares right now.”

She didn’t want him to leave her. “What about the longhorn stock? How decimated is our breeding herd?”

“The prime stock numbers will double this year. They’re a hardy breed and mature fast. In another year we could be on firm financial ground again if we avoid a major catastrophe.”

He turned to leave. She wanted to go with him but she didn’t ask. Instead she said, “Don’t forget your check. I’m sorry you had to wait so long for it. “

He glanced toward the mantel, then at her. Without commenting, he moved to the desk, took hold of her arms and pulled her to her feet. She kept her hands at her sides, waiting and wondering what he would do next. He cupped her face again, this time with both hands. She could feel renewed tension radiating from his big body. At first she thought it was passion but then she realized he was angry. Very quiet, very controlled and simmering with fury.

“You can keep the check. It’s an attempt to put me in my place and remind me who’s boss. I can do without it. I know exactly where I stand.”

Andrea hadn’t meant to offend him. She started to protest but he silenced her with a swift, hard kiss. As he dropped his hands, he flicked his thumbs over her breasts until her nipples pebbled. “When you’re done with New York tonight, come and see me.”

She watched him turn and leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Trembling, she dropped into the chair and crossed her arms over her breasts. Her body throbbed with coiled tension, her nipples tender.

Damn, now she’d made him mad again. Just when she’d thought they were making progress, working so well together. She licked her lips, tasting his kisses and wanting more. It had been the same five years ago. They’d been insatiable, lost in sensuality and nearly blind to the rest of the world.

At least she’d been blind and insatiable.

As a person who’d gone from a plump, insecure teenager to an anorexic twenty-two-year-old model, she’d never had the bone-deep self-confidence some women took for granted. Her confidence had all been surface and for show.

Noah had introduced her to wanton, uninhibited sex and she’d loved it. Loved him beyond all reason. It had been both thrilling and frightening to have him choose her over the many women who wanted him. She’d been so proud and so deeply in love.

What had nearly killed her was not knowing whether he felt the same. She didn’t think of herself as the type of woman who inspired undying devotion. She’d never been without doubts or really believed their relationship could work.

She tried blocking all thoughts of him to concentrate on the updates Chey and Nanna had made. Forcing herself to refocus, she booted up the computer and studied spreadsheets. Most of the handwritten data had been transferred, making it so much easier to study their finances. The influx of cash from her checking and savings had paid the most outstanding bills. Zack’s money would ease the crunch for a while.

The sale of her apartment would be finalized in a couple months. That would give them a financial cushion but it wouldn’t be enough to pay for the upgrades they needed, like Zack’s reservoir plans. The ranch had to be profitable again. She sure hoped it was possible.

Nanette interrupted her thoughts when she entered the office. After taking a seat across from Andrea she added her thanks for supporting and encouraging Cheyenne.

“It’s been a joy working with her and it’s another load lifted from Noah’s shoulders.”

“He’d been doing the paperwork too?”

“I’m afraid so. Most of it. I didn’t have the stamina to help with the ranch chores and take care of the business end. Now that you’re helping him Cheyenne and I are making good progress on the backlog of files. It’s good for her to stay busy and share the responsibility around here. She needs purpose in life. I think your plans for fashion designing are perfect.”

Andrea smiled. “Thanks, Nanna. I know you never approved of my mama’s career or mine but it might benefit us all at some point.”

“I never disapproved as much as I didn’t understand,” explained the older woman as she cleaned her glasses with a handkerchief. “My old-fashioned upbringing, I guess.”

“Well I just told my agent I’m taking a leave from modeling. Since he’s not very happy with me right now, I’ll wait a while before mentioning the Bartell Collection.”

“Wise choice,” replied Nanna, rising from her chair with stiff-jointed movements that accentuated her age. “I won’t keep you. You can catch up on what we’ve been doing. Just holler if you need something clarified.”

“I will, and I hope you can stop worrying so much.” Her aunt’s acceptance of the shift in control had been a pleasant surprise. Now it appeared the shift had been more from Noah to Andrea. How did he really feel about it?

Nanette chuckled. “There’s always something to worry about. Right now I’d better get back out to the pool. Trace and Cheyenne are working on it and they might come to blows if there’s not a mediator to intervene in their squabbling.”

“Why are Trace and Cheyenne squabbling?”

The older woman sighed. “They’re totally infatuated with each other but don’t realize it yet.”

“Trace and Cheyenne?” Andrea repeated in amazement. She hadn’t seen any signs of an attraction.

Nanette shook her head. “First Caroline and now Cheyenne. He’s a good man, one of the really loyal, dependable ones. What a shame.”

Andrea stared at her in shock. “Trace and Caroline? They were a couple?”

Her aunt’s brows furrowed in a frown. “Yes, dear. I don’t think it was common knowledge but I knew. Most of the family knew. Of course, you and Noah were so wrapped up in each other that summer you probably didn’t notice. I always wondered what happened to trigger Caroline’s anger and, consequently, her death. I hope the tension between Trace and Cheyenne isn’t a hangover from that horrible accident. I never believed for a minute that Caroline intended to harm herself. She just let her temper get the best of her and it cost her and her baby their lives.”

“But Trace seemed so much older than Caroline,” Andrea protested weakly.

“He’s only eleven years older than Cheyenne. He thinks it makes a huge difference. It’s sad that he worried about being too old for Caroline but then outlived her and their child. We never really know what’s in store for us, do we?”

Nanette made a few more comments and headed for the door, leaving Andrea to stare after her in disbelief. Trace and Caroline? They’d had an affair? He’d been the father of her unborn child? Nausea churned in her stomach at the thought. It made her sick to remember all the vile accusations she’d hurled at Noah back then, her own loss of temper and five years of heartache.

Had she been the only one who hadn’t known the truth? If Noah knew, why hadn’t he defended himself when she’d accused him of cheating? Dear heaven, all these years she’d blamed him for her sister’s death. Even today, all he’d said in his own defense was that he hadn’t cheated. She’d still doubted him.

How could he not resent her? Given what she’d learned today it wasn’t surprising he got furious when she attempted to run things. He must hate her, hate wanting her too. Or could that be faked? Men had different attitudes about sex. What a mess.

Chapter Six

The conversation with Lloyd didn’t go well. Andrea hadn’t expected him to be pleased by her decision to take time off work. She didn’t even mention the word retirement, though she’d been thinking along those lines. She hadn’t liked his continued threats to fly to Texas. The last thing she needed right now was another man in her life. She didn’t know what to do with the one who shared her balcony. The one who’d told her to come to him tonight. The one she’d falsely accused of betraying her.

She’d told herself she shouldn’t go yet she’d put on a sheer red silk teddy after her shower. It didn’t leave much to the imagination even though black lace framed her breasts and thighs. Not her usual sleeping attire. With every movement the silk teased her flesh, teasing her nipples and keeping her in a heightened state of arousal. Or maybe it was just the simmering desire and wild anticipation that kept her aroused. She’d probably go up in flames the instant Noah touched her. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate humiliation? He’d know she’d been thinking about him and wanting him all day.

The house had grown quiet, the night dark. Andrea moved to her balcony doors and looked into the starlit sky. She pulled on a sheer robe that matched her teddy, compared herself to a moth being drawn to flames and opened the door. Neither common sense nor practical arguments could keep her from Noah’s bed.

Barefoot and treading softly, she crossed the balcony to the door of the master bedroom. It stood open, an invitation she didn’t resist. The room was dark except for moonlit shadows so it took a minute for her eyes to adjust.

“Drea.” Noah’s husky voice directed her toward the bed. When she drew closer she could see him much better. His dark form was stretched out on a snowy white sheet, every inch of him gloriously naked. Her pulse kicked into overdrive. As she watched, his body reacted to her arrival with a very satisfying display of arousal. She relaxed a little at the evidence of his desire. A smile spread across her face as she stepped to the edge of the bed and reached for his jutting erection.

Noah reacted swiftly, catching her hand and dragging it up his chest. “If you touch me, I’ll explode,” he warned with a dark edginess in his tone. “I’ve been on the verge all day.”

“I might like that,” she whispered. “I might like that a lot.” She pulled her hand free and shifted from his reach. Then she leaned over his body and lapped at his straining flesh with her tongue, drawing a low, keening moan from deep in his chest. When she took him into her mouth, slowly licking, he shuddered violently. She cupped his soft sac with gentle fingers while her mouth grew more demanding.

The low, animalistic sounds he made urged her to suck harder. He threw his head back against the pillow, his hips straining closer to her mouth as his body stiffened with tension. Andrea savored the knowledge that she could arouse him to such a fever pitch of excitement and used her tongue and teeth to bring him to the peak of pleasure. He cried her name in a gruff plea, leaning forward to grab her head as she brought him to a swift, hot release.

He stifled a shout of satisfaction and collapsed against the bed. A few heartbeats later he grasped her shoulders and dragged her over his chest. She felt the harsh rise and fall of his breathing and the quaking of his big body. He felt hot, sweaty and wonderful. Andrea pressed her cheek against his neck and kissed him softly.

“I guess you can tell I’ve been hot and horny for you all day,” he said in short, panting breaths. “The memory of that kiss kept me so hard I could barely think or walk.”

She smiled and flicked her tongue across his lean jaw and then into his ear. “I don’t mind,” she whispered.

He fingered strands of her hair, brushing them off her face. “When I can catch my breath, I want to see whatever this little number is you’re wearing. It looks fire engine red and feels even better.”

“French silk,” she said, running her tongue across his cheek until she was close enough for a kiss. Noah clutched the back of her head and dragged her mouth onto his, kissing her with a rough, devouring hunger that stole her breath.

While they kissed, he slid his hands over her hips and under the hem of her teddy to cup her buttocks. She moaned into his mouth as he kneaded and caressed and pulled her more deeply into his embrace.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he said on a gasp when the kiss ended. “I never could.” Then he rolled her onto her back, pinning her body with his and dropping his mouth to her breasts. He licked her through the silk until her nipples pearled and her legs thrashed restlessly. Andrea wanted his mouth on her bare flesh. She wiggled and shimmied out of her robe but he stopped her and pressed her onto her back.

“I’ll take care of this,” he promised, using his teeth to oh so slowly peel one shoulder strap down and then the other. As he uncovered each breast, he lavished the nipples with wet kisses and tiny stinging bites that had them puckering and throbbing. Her chest heaved, her hips rocking beneath him as he continued the sensual assault, kissing his way down her belly to the top of her thighs. He nibbled and licked and drove her nearly crazy with desire before sliding back up her body. Already hot and hard again, he spread her thighs and settled his weight between them, plunging deeply inside her and making them one. Andrea locked her legs around his hips.

“Yes!” He buried himself to the hilt. “This is where I wanted to be all day,” he whispered roughly. “This is what I need more than your money or your home.” He trapped her gaze as they lay locked in passion, both breathing erratically, both straining and spiraling out of control. “Why is that so hard to understand?”

She didn’t have a chance to react or respond. Noah began thrusting in and out of her in such a frenzy of desire she couldn’t do anything but ride the wave of erotic pleasure until they both collapsed, replete and exhausted.

Neither of them spoke or moved for a very long time afterward. He rolled to her side as they fought for breath, hearts pounding and limbs trembling. When they finally quieted he left the bed and returned with a damp washcloth. She didn’t say a word or make a move while he tenderly bathed her and slipped the teddy back over her cooling body. He grabbed her robe then scooped her into his arms and carried her back to her own room. After placing her on the bed and pulling a sheet over her, he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

“It’ll be dawn in a few hours and we both need some sleep. There’s no way in hell we’ll get any if we stay together.”

He turned to leave but she caught his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me about Trace and Caroline?”

Tension pulsed between them with the reminder of the old pain and heartache, of her ugly accusations and the denials she’d refused to accept. He looked torn about discussing it.

After taking a long, steadying breath, he said, “I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“And when I asked you if you’d had sex with Caroline. Why didn’t you deny it?”

He sat down heavily on the bed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I couldn’t because it wouldn’t have been true.”

Her heart stopped and her stomach knotted. “So you were involved with Caroline and me at the same time?”

“Hell no.”

His terse denial helped ease some of the tension gripping her body but she shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand any more now than I did then. Talk to me. Tell me why you didn’t deny it five years ago when I desperately needed to hear it.”

He stared into her eyes. “I didn’t explain because of another promise.”

“To Caroline?”

“Yes.”

“I think maybe death negates some promises,” she argued.

He turned his gaze toward the doors. “I suppose you’re right. I’ve thought about it a lot and I don’t believe she’d want you hurt,” he said, glancing back at her. “We were fourteen when we made that promise. We decided to experiment with sex so we got together one night in the backseat of my mom’s old car. It was the first time for both of us and over in a heartbeat. We were so embarrassed we couldn’t look at each other for a year. We laughed about it later but I never told a soul.”

It was just that simple for him. He’d made and kept a promise. Andrea should have been angry but instead she felt proud of him, his honesty and his honorable nature.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Noah ignored the apology and reached out to cup her breast. In an abrupt change of mood, he gave her a slow smile. “Believe me, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

Her voice and expression tightened. She didn’t want to right her wrongs with sex or let him shrug off a long-overdue apology.

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you when Caroline died. I know now I made a terrible mistake. I should have known it then but I wasn’t confident enough to see beyond the pain and jealousy.”

He stared into her eyes, never flinching. “You finally learned the truth?”

“Nanna told me about Trace and Caroline. I guess I’m the only one who didn’t know the big secret.” She felt like a stupid fool but ignorance didn’t excuse her behavior and lack of trust.

“I’m glad you learned from someone besides me,” he said, studying her in the dim light. “But what happened between us was never really about Caroline.”

She gave him a confused frown. “What do you mean?”

“You and me, and your leaving.” He spoke to her softly, as though explaining to a child. “Caroline’s death was just the excuse you needed. If it hadn’t happened something else would have triggered your flight. You believed you had to follow in your mom’s footsteps to be a success. Marriage to me would have meant personal failure to you.”

She stiffened at the unexpected accusation. “That’s not true!”

His gaze never wavered as he rose from the bed. “You considered ranch life too average, and thought your social position was a notch above the rest of us.”

“I am not that kind of snob!”

A long, pregnant silence followed her heated declaration. Then, very quietly, Noah said, “Yeah, you always have been.”

The absolute certainty in his tone kept her from responding with more denials. From his point of view she’d been the villain. It would take time to come to terms with that fact. She couldn’t blame anyone but herself for five years of heartache and bitterness.

Sighing heavily, she asked, “So where does that leave us?”

“Right here, right now, in your bed or mine until the passion dies. You made it impossible to have anything else.”

A quiver raced over her at his implacable tone. “Just a long-term sexual relationship?” she asked softly, knowing it was her own fault he couldn’t see a future for them.

“You can turn the place over to me and go back to New York,” he said flatly. “You can stay and fire me or we can keep things the way they are now. You made it clear a marriage proposal from me would be suspect. You’d always doubt my intentions because you’ve never trusted me with anything but your body.”

With that he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him while she stared at the ceiling and did a lot more soul-searching. The only thing she knew for certain was she loved Noah Courtland—wildly, passionately, deathlessly loved him—but he’d never believe it. She didn’t have a clue how to prove it.

* * * * *

Work went smoothly for the rest of the week. The weather pattern changed and daily sunshine dried up the mud. Zack planned to move to the city on Monday so the family decided to spend Sunday lounging around the pool and cooking on the patio.

Andrea didn’t think her thong bikini would be appropriate for the family get-together. Instead she chose a basic turquoise one. It wasn’t much more than a few triangles of fabric held together by gold rings and it didn’t cover much. She wanted to even her tan without adding new tan lines.

If it drove Noah crazy, all the better. They hadn’t made love for days. Even though they worked together daily, he hadn’t made any intimate gestures or suggestions. He hadn’t invited her back to his bed. It made her restless and hungry for his touch yet she hadn’t figured out how to get past the latest glitch in their relationship.

Cheyenne met her in the upstairs hallway wearing a modest white bikini. The sisters left the house, hit the pool deck first and laid claim to a couple of padded lounge chairs. They coated all their exposed skin with suntan oil. Nanna joined them wearing a skirted suit under a terry wrap and carrying a pile of extra towels. She took a seat under an umbrella chair.

“Are you okay to swim?” Andrea asked her.

“My doctor said not to overdo but I might get in the water to cool off a little later.”

“Are you still feeling so weak?”

“Not since I’m resting more and restricting my activities. I miss working with the livestock but I’ve enjoyed learning a few new things.”

“Has Chey introduced you to the Internet and email?” Her laptop had WiFi.

“Yes, and my goodness I had no idea what’s happening in the cyberspace. And I thought television had gotten a little too risqué.”

“Nanna got her first email spam for male enhancement products and accidentally clicked on a porn site,” Chey explained, giggling.

Andrea laughed and Nanette grinned but clucked her tongue in disapproval.

“Speaking of males, think there’s any chance the guys will have teeny-weeny tight trunks?” continued Cheyenne.

They turned at the sound of the men approaching from the direction of the house. Zack, Trace and Noah all wore wide-legged cotton swim shorts.

“Sorry, little sis. Not gonna happen.”

“Just as well,” said Nanette. “We don’t need any blatant displays of manhood.”

Chey let out a long-suffering sigh. Andrea watched her gaze zero in on Trace. For just an instant her sister’s eyes turned stormy with emotion. Then she dropped her lashes to cover her reaction and plopped sunglasses over her eyes.

Andrea’s gaze targeted Noah. His black trunks fit snugly against a slim waist and hard stomach. Her pulse accelerated as she studied the swirling gold hair on his chest that arrowed down his body. She knew at least three photographers who’d give their firstborn to take shots of such a gorgeous male form and even more for nude shots. She couldn’t allow herself to think of nude, aroused photographs.

Her mind flashed back to how he’d looked the last time she’d entered his bedroom. Gloriously naked and aroused. Talk about a blatant display of manhood. Her cheeks flushed a little at the memory.

“Whatever you’re thinking, it must be wicked,” said Zack. “You have a glazed look in your eyes.”

“It’s the sun,” she said, skillfully dodging as he tried to flick her with a towel.

He continued to taunt her. “Don’t move too fast or you’ll lose that poor excuse for a bathing suit.”

“It’s called a bikini. Women’ve been wearing them for generations now, big bro. Get with the program.”

Noah and Trace exchanged greetings with everyone. Noah gave her a long, thorough glance then turned and dove into the pool. Trace followed and Zack quickly lost interest in bickering. He went to the diving board and challenged the other two men to a competition.

Andrea adjusted her chair to a reclining angle, flipped her braid over her shoulder and relaxed. The sun quickly warmed her body. Her skin tingled as the heat bathed her limbs. She’d forgotten how much she enjoyed the sensation and how arousing it could be. Other than during photo shoots, models avoided the sun. It damaged and aged the skin but she didn’t care today. It felt good to do something just because it felt good.

Closing her eyes, she half listened to Chey and Nanna discussing an upcoming social function in town. The men did a lot of splashing and yelling with an occasional spray of water showering their way. For the next half-hour she drifted in a lazy-day trance.

Her skin prickled in all the sensitive areas Noah had given so much attention earlier in the week. The kiss of the sun simulated his caresses and sensitized every nerve ending. A smile curved her lips at the thought.

“That’s another wicked little smile,” teased Chey. “What wicked little thought prompted it?”

Andrea decided she’d better quit daydreaming. No way would she discuss her current thoughts with her baby sister and great aunt. “I’m thinking I’m getting very good at breaking rules,” she said.

“Professional-type rules?”

“Yeah. And boring habits. I didn’t even realize how structured and boring my life had gotten until I came home.”

“I’ve been telling you to come home ever since you left.”

Chey and Andrea chuckled at Nanette’s reminder but it also reminded them of why they needed to be home.

“You haven’t told us what your cardiologist had to say on Friday.”

Nanette took a sip of tea. “He’s still preaching about the bypass operation.”

Andrea sat up and gave Nanna her full attention. “Then he obviously thinks you’re a good candidate for the surgery. He wouldn’t encourage you if he didn’t think you’re strong enough.”

“I’m just too old for that nonsense.”

“You’re not too old,” insisted Chey. “I’ve been doing some research and people in their nineties are having bypass surgery. You’ve always been active. You don’t smoke or drink and your general health is good. Why not improve your quality of life?”

“Those kind of operations cost a lot of money.”

“Is that what’s stopping you?” asked Andrea.

“Not entirely,” said Nanette. “The doctor assures me I can get government assistance for medical issues. I’ve just never considered the option. I’m not a welfare case.”

“Well, first thing tomorrow morning we’ll do some serious research,” declared Cheyenne. “There’s not much we can’t find on the Internet. We’ll get ourselves better informed and check out the possibilities.”

“If you decide to have the surgery, we’ll find a way to pay for it,” promised Andrea. She didn’t know how but she refused to consider the alternative at the risk of losing her Nanna. “Now that Chey and I are home we can help you through recovery too. There’s nothing we can’t handle if we stick together.”

She made the declaration with heartfelt sincerity and realized she’d never said anything truer. Her family meant the world to her even though she’d spent the last few years avoiding the fact. Whatever the cost, protecting them was worth every penny.

“Well we don’t need to worry about it today,” said Nanette. “Today is for relaxing and enjoying.”

“I’m fine with that,” said Cheyenne. “But I’m getting hot already.” She yelled at the men in the pool, “Hey, guys, how about a volleyball game?”

At her suggestion Zack went searching for the necessary equipment. When he found it, they stretched the net across the middle of the shallower end of the pool and started pairing off teams.

“How ‘bout Trace and I take on Noah and the girls?” said Zack.

“You sure you don’t need him to defend against us? It might take all three of you,” shouted Cheyenne as she jumped into the pool. She disappeared underwater and then popped back to the surface. “Come on, Drea! Let’s show ‘em some action!”

Andrea smiled at Nanna. “I think Chey’s bragging might be a little misplaced.”

“Probably,” her aunt agreed. “Do you think that suit of yours can hold up to water sports?”

“Probably,” she said, laughing. “I guess we’ll find out. If you see a piece of turquoise flying through the air you might want to cover your eyes.”

The chill of the water stole her breath as Andrea used the ladder to ease herself into the pool inch by inch. It felt frigid against her hot skin.

“That’s the hard way,” Trace told her. “Just hold your breath and jump.”

She ignored the advice, having always preferred a slow transition. “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.”

“Come on, come on, you’re such a sissy!” shouted Zack.

“I’ll sissy you with a spike to the head if you don’t quit harassing me, big brother! You never were any good at volleyball.”

His shout of outrage got drowned out when she made the final dip underwater. With a hard kick off the ladder, she dove to the center of the pool and surfaced beside Cheyenne. Bouncing on her toes, she grinned at her brother on the opposite side of the net and shouted, “Bring it on!”

Trace’s serve was swiftly returned and the volleys flew back and forth with a lot of jumping, splashing and good-natured ribbing. Nanna moved to the side of the pool, dangled her feet in the water and cheered for both teams. It didn’t take long to realize Noah and the women were too much for Trace and Zack. Chey, by far the most agile player, took pity on them. After the first game she dove under the net to level the competition.

Fifteen minutes later, Zack’s team won the second game. The third game would be the tiebreaker but they were all running low on energy. They took a few minutes to just relax in the water.

“How ‘bout we call it a draw and get the grill fired up?” suggested Chey. “I’m hungry but I want to get a quick shower before we eat.”

“You don’t know the meaning of quick shower,” said Zack.

She made a face at him. “I’ll bet I can shower, change and be back on the patio before you even get the steaks on the grill.”

“It’s a bet.”

“I’ll take some of that action,” said Trace. “I’m gettin’ mighty hungry myself. I’m for any plan that gets the food on the table faster.”

“Then let’s get with it,” said Zack. “I may not be the best volleyball player in the world but I am the best barbeque chef.”

A chorus of groans echoed the outrageous boast. He waved them off and climbed from the pool, followed more slowly by Trace and Chey. After offering Nanette a hand up Zack passed out dry towels. Andrea didn’t want to leave the water just yet. She might be slow getting into the water but she was equally slow to get out of it.

As the others gradually moved from the pool deck toward the patio, she floated toward the deep area. Her breath hitched as she felt Noah’s hair-roughened arms circling her waist. He tugged until her body spooned against his, her back to his chest. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, letting him support her weight while she floated.

“I’d forgotten how much fun you are,” he whispered, nibbling on her ear. “You don’t play enough.”

“Says the pot to the kettle.”

For long, leisurely minutes they floated, enjoying the sun and water and each other. Andrea had missed the closeness. She missed touching him and feeling his body next to hers. While the others worked on the patio, she basked in the comfort of Noah’s arms.

Goose bumps danced over her skin as he planted kisses across one shoulder and then the other. When he sucked on the back of her neck she felt the pull deep in the pit of her stomach. Reaching down, she grabbed his thighs and sank her nails into the taut flesh. He moaned, a long, low, needy sound that matched the way she felt.

Noah reciprocated by bringing both his hands up to cup her breasts. He used his thumbs to slowly rub her nipples into hard knots. A tremor quaked through her. She wanted him badly. Almost badly enough to try some inventive activities in the pool. Reaching between them, she palmed his growing erection. It thrilled her to feel the fierce, immediate response.

His low growl of warning didn’t keep her from stroking him harder, so Noah gradually moved to the edge of the pool where they couldn’t be seen from the patio. He turned Andrea in his arms and pulled her close. She wrapped her legs around his hips and rubbed herself against his fully aroused flesh. Up and down, back and forth, she rocked in a torturous rhythm. He slipped his hands under her suit and gripped her buttocks, kneading the supple flesh. They teased each other until their breathing grew labored.

“Take off your top so I can taste you.”

The command shocked Andrea out of her passion-drugged arousal. “I can’t take off my top,” she said, glancing toward the patio.

Her refusal made Noah stiffen and ease his grip on her. The passionate intensity of his gaze changed to brooding darkness. “Nobody can see us.”

“I’d still be exposed!”

“What’s the big deal? You’ve been taking your clothes off for strangers all these years? Why not for me?”

Andrea hardly believed her ears. She slammed her hands against his chest and pushed herself out of his reach. “You big jerk!” she yelled and then lowered her voice to an angry whisper when she remember the others. “I’m not a stripper! I get paid to wear clothes, not take them off! If that’s what you think of me then it’ll be a cold day in hell before you see this body naked again!”

Turning abruptly, she dove underwater to the ladder and hauled herself out of the pool. Knowing she needed to rein in her temper before joining the family, she snatched up a towel and dried off with rough, jerky movements. Take off her bra! He expected her to undress for him in broad daylight? With her family standing just yards from them? After barely touching her for days? After telling her they had no future and suggesting he wouldn’t care if she went back to New York?

Did he really equate modeling with public nudity? Stupid redneck assumption! Unbraiding her hair, she fingercombed the tangles and shook it until it flowed over her shoulders. Still fuming, she asked herself if he’d always been so damned arrogant. First he’d accused her of being a snob and now he compared her to a stripper? Unbelievable. What a big fat jerk!

Andrea slipped her feet into flip-flops just as he hauled himself from the pool.

“Drea.” His tone coaxed but she ignored him.

She started to wrap the towel around her sarong-fashion but changed her mind. Unashamed of her profession or her body, she decided to flaunt it even though the wet fabric exposed more than it covered. Let him get a really good look at what he’d be missing. Maybe her family would be too busy to notice the thinness and clinginess of her bikini.

When Noah reached for a towel she left the shrub-enclosed pool deck and walked the few yards to the patio. She arrived just in time to see a visitor round the corner of the house. The sight of Lloyd stopped her in her tracks.

“I knocked at the front door,” he told Trace, Zack and Nanette. “When I didn’t get an answer I followed the voices back here. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” said Zack as he fired up the grill. “Judging by the Yankee accent, I’d guess you’re a friend of my sister’s.”

“Lloyd,” Andrea spoke to draw his attention and then joined them on the patio. A look of genuine pleasure lit his eyes when he saw her. It went a long way toward smoothing her ruffled feathers.

“What a beautiful vision,” he declared. “Like a mermaid rising from the sea.”

“It’s the bikini,” Zack drawled laconically. “Looks like bits of seaweed.”

Andrea shook her head at his taunt but flashed Lloyd a grin. He opened his arms and she hesitated. “I’m all wet and I smell of chlorine.”

“I’ll risk it,” he teased, shortening the distance between them. He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you like hell.”

Andrea put her arms around his neck and hugged him back, welcoming the affectionate greeting. Her ego had taken quite a beating since she got home and his open adoration eased the sting a little. He kissed her and she returned the kiss but felt guilty. Though it was good to see him, the direction of her life had taken a three hundred and sixty degree turn since they’d parted. She needed to discuss a lot of things with him but didn’t want spectators when she explained the changes.

How she wished she could respond to him as strongly as she did to Noah. Lloyd was a really decent, successful man who did his best to make her happy. She admired him and enjoyed his company. So why couldn’t she love him?

“I didn’t think mermaids had long, skinny legs,” Trace muttered loudly enough to be heard. The comment put an end to their embrace. Andrea glanced his way. He and Nanette sat on the left side of the patio near where Zack worked with the grill.

“Cretins!” she responded to the continued teasing. Lloyd gave her another supportive squeeze.

Chapter Seven

“Just cretins and jerks, that’s what we are,” said Noah as he approached from the pool. She and Lloyd turned their attention to him and another shaft of guilt hit her. Not because her boyfriend had arrived unexpectedly but because her pulse leapt at the sight of Noah’s mostly naked body.

“You the jerk?” Lloyd asked, half-friendly, half-serious.

Noah’s expression remained blank. “So I’ve been told.” He shot a glance at Andrea, his gaze touching on the masculine arm linked around her waist. Then he looked Lloyd in the eyes again. Arrogance laced his next question. “And you are?”

Lloyd slipped his arm off her waist and reached out a hand. “Lloyd Rubbens.”

“Noah Courtland.”

The two men briefly shook while sizing each other up in a purely male fashion. Andrea didn’t like the sudden flare of testosterone, so she turned Lloyd’s attention to her brother. “The head cretin over there is Zack.”

Their guest took a couple steps from her and offered a hand to Zack then to Trace, who introduced himself. Next he turned to Nanna. “And I’m guessing you’re Andrea’s Aunt Nanette.”

She offered her hand and gave him a smile. “That I am. Welcome to Bridleton, Mr. Rubbens.”

“Lloyd, please, and thank you. I’ve heard so much about the place it’s nice to finally see it.”

They all turned as the kitchen door opened and Cheyenne made her reappearance. She wore a short denim skirt and white tank top that accentuated her trim, youthful figure. Lloyd moved toward her next. “And this gorgeous creature must be Andrea’s baby sister.” He accepted her outstretched hand and brought it to his lips.

“I don’t know who you are,” Chey replied flirtatiously, “but I already like you.”

Andrea laughed and made the introductions.

“I’ve always heard things are bigger in Texas but is everyone so tall?” asked Lloyd.

He stood eye to eye with Andrea when she went barefoot but he got a lot of teasing from his taller clients. Knowing how sensitive he could be about his height, she moved closer to him. He slipped his arm around her waist again and they shared a warm smile. The interaction caused a brief, heavy silence on the patio. She felt a stab of remorse when Noah’s expression tightened. Then she remembered his insult about stripping and frowned.

“I’m ready to slap some steaks on the grill,” said Zack, breaking the awkward moment. “It’s medium rare unless I hear any different.”

Noah glanced his way. “None for me, thanks, Zack. I’ve got other plans.” His gaze briefly locked with Andrea’s before he bid them goodbye and headed into the house. She forced herself not to react or watch him leave.

“Probably gonna go visit Baron.”

Trace’s suggestion had her targeting him with a glare.

“Needs to scratch an itch, I suppose,” said her brother.

Cheyenne coughed to cover a sputter of laughter. Andrea stiffened in annoyance. She wanted to strangle both men for implying Noah would go directly to Shelly Hastings’ place.

Lloyd distracted her with a question. “You have your own royalty in Texas too?”

Andrea offered him a smile and forced herself to relax. She hadn’t wanted Lloyd at Bridleton and didn’t want him involved in the little drama. Nor did she want to offend him. Having a friendly, adoring male at her side made her feel good. At least, temporarily.

“Only with livestock,” she explained. “Baron is a breeding stallion.”

When he looked puzzled, she changed the subject. “It’ll take my brother at least fifteen minutes to char our steaks. I’d like to shower off the chlorine. If you want, I’ll show you to the guest room so you can freshen up. I’m sure you had a long, hot trip.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

They excused themselves and went inside the house. She gave him a brief tour until she heard Noah come down the stairs and leave by the front door. Then she showed Lloyd the downstairs guest room, dodging a more intimate embrace with the excuse that dinner would be ready soon.

* * * * *

Late in the evening, Andrea and Lloyd strolled across the yard to the front porch. After a pleasant, casual dinner on the patio, she showed him around the main homestead of the property. City born and raised, he’d never touched a horse or cow, so she gave him a quick lesson in their overall operation.

“We breed and raise longhorns for the beef market and to sell to other breeders. Some ranchers in the area raise the longhorn bulls for rodeo stock.”

“For bull riding competitions?”

“Yes.”

“You said you used to ride in the rodeo, didn’t you?”

“No, I used to ride and compete in western pleasure classes but never anything as risky as rodeo riding. That takes serious dedication and there’s a big difference.”

“So you sell a lot of cattle to the beef industry?”

“Yes.”

“Did we eat some unfortunate cow earlier?”

Andrea laughed. “Yes, that’s something you get used to early in life on a ranch. We raise cattle and some pigs for human consumption. They aren’t pets.”

“And you raise horses for pleasure riding?”

“Mostly but some of the horses, like Baron, are thoroughbred champions. We still have a waiting list for his offspring. Unfortunately he had to be sold due to our financial crunch.”

“Where are all his offspring?”

“Some of the yearlings and two-year-olds are in the pasture beyond this barn,” she said as they approached the one closest to the house.

“You sure have a lot of barns.”

“Not all the buildings are barns,” she explained. “Several of them are used to store equipment. The big round ones on the other side of the corrals are grain silos.”

She pushed through the double barn doors with Lloyd by her side. Although it was an old structure, Noah and the ranch staff kept it as clean as some newer, stainless steel facilities. Buyers didn’t want animals born or raised in unsanitary conditions.

Rows of stalls spread in either direction. At their entry, horses’ heads popped over the stall gates to welcome them.

“Friendly crowd,” he said.

“They’re curious and they’re always hoping for treats.”

“What sort of treats?” Lloyd held back a little as she moved between the rows of stalls.

“They especially like carrots and apples. Don’t you want to touch one? These are mostly mares. They’re very gentle and in the late stages of pregnancy. A few already have new foals.”

Lloyd stepped closer to her and touched one satiny head, patting it like she did. He remarked about the size of mares as well as their offspring. When they’d finished the tour they washed their hands at the big industrial sink and left the barn. He took her hand as they strolled back toward the house.

Most of the evening they’d kept their conversation impersonal but she knew he was impatient to discuss her career and their relationship. She didn’t want to invite more intimacy yet neither did she want an audience. Deciding she couldn’t delay much longer, Andrea led him to the front porch swing, sat down and patted the cushion beside her.

Lloyd hesitated. “I was hoping for a little more privacy.”

She returned his steady gaze but didn’t acquiesce. Having subtly dodged his attempts to kiss and hold her since his arrival, she didn’t want to encourage him now. “The sunset is amazing. Why don’t we enjoy it while we talk?”

He studied her upturned face for a long time. When her expression remained resolute, he sat down beside her. As they set the swing in motion he took her left hand in both of his.

“Pretty awful, huh?” she said. “My hands are getting calloused and my fingernails are long gone. There’s not much hope of improvement anytime soon.”

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on the palm. Instead of the warm, tingly feeling she should have experienced, the caress made her restless.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” he asked. “You’ve been avoiding me in every sense of the word. I thought we had an open, honest relationship with a promising future. Then you got an emergency call and forgot I existed. Now I don’t know what to think. Are you pissed because I came out here after you asked me not to? Or is there a lot more going on you aren’t mentioning?”

She looked into his dark, serious eyes, searching for the right words to explain without hurting him. “No, I’m not angry with you at all.”

He rubbed a thumb across the top of her hand. “I wish you were.”

When she gave him a confused look, he continued, “Anger is strong, healthy emotion. You were vibrating with it when you came from the pool today. I’m guessing all that passion had been generated by the man you swore you loathed.”

She sighed heavily. Lloyd knew all about her past relationship with Noah. It shamed her now to remember the foul things she’d accused him of doing and of the times she’d maligned his character. Explaining could lead to a discussion she’d rather avoid, so she skirted the real issue.

“Nothing’s ever simple with him. I’m usually in a temper for one reason or another when he’s near. It’s been like that since we were kids.”

“So what happened today?”

“He insulted me and my profession.”

Lloyd gave that some thought. “He doesn’t approve of modeling? That’s why you’re thinking of taking some time off?”

“Heavens no. I don’t plan my life to suit him,” she said, gently pulling her hand from his grasp. He shifted his arm to drape it across her shoulder. She didn’t resist when he tugged her closer but she didn’t completely relax.

“So what are your plans? I have a couple offers for you to consider but you’ll need to be back in New York for a few weeks.”

Andrea went quiet for a minute, wondering whether or not to mention the Bartell Collection idea. The timing couldn’t be worse since she needed to break up with Lloyd tonight. It wouldn’t be fair to let him go on believing they had a future as a couple. What she didn’t know was if he’d still work with her once she destroyed their personal relationship.

As they watched the sun dropped off the horizon, putting on an awesome light show. She decided to put a kernel of an idea in his very sharp, business-oriented mind. “I told you Chey’s a fabulous artist, didn’t I?”

He chuckled. “Only a few thousand times, and I’ve seen her work, remember. She’s extremely talented.”

Andrea grinned. “Well, we’re thinking once things settle down here at the ranch we’d like to approach the fashion industry from a different angle.”

“Designing?”

He sounded intrigued rather than dismissive. That buoyed her spirits. Someone of his caliber behind the sales force would guarantee attention.

“My designs, her illustrations.”

“How solid are your plans?”

“Infancy stage. But I’ve done some research and I have a head full of styles waiting to be put to paper. We’re still months, maybe years away from a launch.”

“You’ve been thinking about this a while?”

“Yes.”

He took offense. “And you never mentioned it to me?”

“I had to make sure Cheyenne wanted to be involved before I invested more time and energy.” She’d also needed to come home to bring the dream to life again but she didn’t try to explain.

He mulled that over for a minute. “Speaking of investments, you’ll need capital, manufacturing space and staff as well as marketing incentives.”

“I’m thinking small and elite, not a full-scale clothing line for all occasions.”

“Eveningwear? You always enjoyed modeling evening gowns the most.”

“That’s where I plan to start. Who knows if it’ll branch out to more.”

Lloyd loved new, challenging projects and she couldn’t ask for a better agent or partner in any business venture. She just didn’t know how interested he’d be once she broke things off with him. He’d didn’t hold grudges yet his enthusiasm could wane.

“I know a couple New York-based designers who went out of business last year,” he added. “We might be able to lease office space complete with manufacturing equipment.”

Her pulse skipped at his assumption. Better to be up front with him now. “I’m not planning to move back to New York, Lloyd.”

The statement drew him out of business mode and back to the present. He stared at her for a long time. “That had the ring of permanency.”

“I’m selling my apartment to help with finances here. The move to Bridleton is permanent. If I do any modeling, it’ll have to be local. And if or when Cheyenne and I go into business, this will be our home base.”

“You love New York, Paris and Rome,” he argued, his tone taking on a strange timbre. It sounded as panicked as she’d ever heard from him.

“I can love them and Texas too. When I came back to Bridleton I realized my heart and soul are entwined with my roots here. I love this land, this property and my family. It’s home and I don’t want to leave again. At least not for extended periods.”

He ignored her statement and offered alternatives. “I knew you had a soft spot for the place but I never imagined how grand it would be or how beautiful. You could keep your New York apartment and I could sink capital into Bridleton if that’s what’s worrying you.”

Bridleton needed the influx of cash but not from an outsider and not under false pretenses. She had to make him understand.

“I came here with the intention of checking on Nanna and returning to the city as quickly as possible. I wasn’t home two days before I changed my mind and realized this is where I belong. I know it sounds like a crazy career shift but I love working the ranch. I always have. Modeling challenged me in ways I needed at a younger age, but it doesn’t define me.”

“You can retire from modeling and accept the partnership I offered you until you’re ready to design full-time.” Now his tone held a note of desperation. “You could work both coasts and visit here as often as you want.”

“I want to help save the ranch.”

“If you’re selling your apartment and abandoning your career to save Bridleton I can make you a better offer. Accept my marriage proposal and I’ll sink all the capital you need into the place as a wedding present. It could be our winter home.”

Andrea dropped her head to his shoulder and gazed at the changing hues of the evening sky. How she wished she could accept the proposal and all the positive aspects of marrying a man who adored her. Lloyd was smart and interesting and devoted to her happiness. His money would certainly ease the financial situation for her family. But she didn’t love him and she respected him too much to cheat him out of that.

“It’s not that simple.”

“It could be.”

The sound of footfalls rounding the porch from the back made Andrea lift her head and straighten in the seat. It didn’t surprise her to see Noah step beneath the pale light above the front door. He reached for the handle and then looked toward the swing. Without so much as a glance at Lloyd, he speared her with his steely gaze.

“I’m going to bed now. Are you coming?”

The question took her by surprise, hanging in the heavy night air. Her breath caught at the blatant possessiveness in his tone and words. His straightforward question left no doubt about the intimacy of their relationship. She felt Lloyd go rigid beside her and wanted to cushion the blow for him but she couldn’t delay much longer.

She decided to deal with Noah first before a he incited a full-blown testosterone war. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

He dipped his head in approval and went inside, letting the screen door slam behind him.

When Lloyd found his voice, it bristled with anger. “You’re sleeping with him?”

She avoided the question. “He knows we have to be up early.”

“That was not the attitude of a concerned coworker,” Lloyd charged in disbelief. “You’re going from my arms to his bed?”

“Of course not,” she insisted. “I’m furious with him right now.” Noah’s display of primitive possessiveness hadn’t improved her mood either.

“But you’re lovers?”

She searched for the right words. It embarrassed her to try to define their dysfunctional relationship. “I guess it depends on your definition of lovers.”

“You’ve had sex with him? That would be my definition,” he groused.

“Yes. We have but there’s no future in it for either of us. It’s complicated,” she argued. “Nothing is ever easy with Noah. Nothing is ever clearly defined. He makes me absolutely crazy and he’s such a stubborn, hardheaded, arrogant man.”

Escalating temper spiked his next words. “I tried to seduce you into my bed for months. You’re here a couple weeks and you’re sleeping with him?” He shifted so they no longer touched. “So I came all this way to get dumped?”

“Be fair, Lloyd. I told you not to come,” she reminded, glad to move beyond the question of sex. “I wanted to discuss our relationship when I could get to New York. To talk to you on your home territory, but you refused to wait.”

He stood and took a step from her then stared into her eyes. “Don’t try to lay the blame on me. He’s obviously the reason you haven’t contacted me. Are you in love with him?”

Andrea held his gaze. Her voice turned low and troubled but she didn’t hedge. “Hopelessly.”

He took deep breath and slowly let it out again. “I’m sure I’ll hate myself for asking but why hopeless?”

She plucked nervously at the fabric of her shorts. “Because I burned some bridges when I left here five years ago and I may not be able to rebuild the trust.”

“But you’re determined to try?”

Until that very minute she hadn’t realized just how determined she felt about it. Lloyd forced her to identify her emotions.

“I won’t give up without a long, hard fight. And then only if I have no other choice. We Bartells are a stubborn lot.”

“And you think he’s worth it?”

“I know he is. Otherwise, why bother?”

The absolute certainty of her tone reverberated in the quiet of the night. Lloyd turned his head. “Then I guess I’d better leave before macho man comes back down here and throws you over his shoulder.”

She couldn’t let that go unchallenged. “He’s a good man, Lloyd.”

“That’s not what you’ve been telling me for the last five years.”

Andrea clasped her trembling hands together. “I know and I’m ashamed of the error in my judgment. I was wrong about so many things. I don’t know if it’s too late to rectify my mistakes but I’m trying.”

He stared at her for another long minute laden with silence. Then he started down the steps without commenting.

She rose from the swing. “You don’t have to leave tonight. It’s too late to go back to town on unfamiliar roads and there’s not a decent hotel in miles.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

She wanted to say something apologetic, to soothe him somehow. They’d been friends for years and it hurt to have him go like this, yet she knew he wouldn’t appreciate the sympathy right now. She’d give him time to come to terms with the change in their relationship and then call to check on him. Despite the breakup, she hoped they could remain friends.

She called out to him softly, “Be safe.”

When his taillights finally disappeared from view she went into the house, closed the door and turned off the lights. The downstairs was quiet. Everyone else had gone to bed because they’d all planned an early night. Dawn would arrive soon enough, so she climbed the stairs too.

A dim nightlight lit the upstairs hallway but cast shadows around the six bedroom doors spread over the entire second floor. Light shone under Cheyenne’s door and the faint sound of music could be heard. Nanette’s and Zack’s doors were closed and dark.

As Andrea turned toward her room she saw Noah standing at the door. Still fully dressed with his arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the doorframe and watched as she slowly approached.

Though the others couldn’t hear them, he kept his tone low and quiet. “He go back to New York?”

“Yes.” She stepped within touching distance and stared into his eyes. “Did you go to her?”

After the briefest pause, he answered, “No.”

“But you were tempted?”

“I respect her too much to use her that way.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Yes, I was tempted,” he said on a low rumble of complaint. “She would have welcomed me without question but I didn’t go.”

His attitude crackled with challenge and pent-up frustration. Tension mounted as they stared at each other in the darkened hall. Her body had an immediate reaction to his confession. It sung with need. So close she could smell him, feel his heat and almost taste him. Her breath caught in her throat when he dipped his head and whispered gruffly in her ear.

“Why did you let him hold you and kiss you earlier?”

She bristled at the criticism. “He’s a nice guy and we’ve dated for months. I was trying to gently break things off until you hit us with your bomb.”

“While you were being gentle with him did you give a thought to how I felt? How seeing him touch you might affect me? Or isn’t that important?”

“It is and I did,” she said. “But I didn’t invite him here and I’m not responsible for the bad timing. I handled the situation as best I could. And I imagine you felt the same way I did when Shelly slipped her hands over your shoulders at the horse show and gave you a lover’s smile.”

That gave him pause. “You think?” he grumbled low in his throat. “Did you feel murderous? When I saw his hand on your skin earlier I wanted to tear him apart. Do you have any idea how that feels? That kind of jealousy? It’s poison and it eats at a person.”

Heart pounding against her ribs, she squared off with him. “I do know,” she argued back, voice rising to a louder whisper. “I felt like that for five years when I thought you’d slept with Caroline.”

“Not my fault,” he reminded harshly. “How do you think I felt with you halfway around the world for the same five years? I didn’t know who might be touching you or sleeping with you.”

His remark made her catch her breath. Had he really cared? Had he thought about her often? Had he, like her, imagined the worst? Then she remembered the stripper accusation. “Well I didn’t make a habit of getting naked for anyone.”

“So you said.”

“It’s the truth, damn it.” Her voice rose sharply. As they stared at each other, she remembered her sleeping family.

His admission of jealousy should have pleased her but it didn’t. He sounded fed up with the emotional merry-go-round and the constant battles. She didn’t blame him. All their disagreements and casting of blame just fed the frustration.

Sighing, she leaned her back against her bedroom door and silently declared a truce. “I’m too tired to argue anymore. I need sleep.”

Some of the tension drained from him and he shifted until they stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Quietly, he said, “We need to talk about something else.”

“It’ll have to wait. My brain is mush.”

“It can’t wait.”

The tone of his voice suggested he had a totally different subject on his mind. She might be too exhausted to discuss their relationship but she didn’t want to discourage him from talking to her. He’d never been great at sharing his thoughts. She nodded in agreement.

“Sit,” she said, sliding down the door until she sat flat on the floor with her legs stretched in front of her. Noah did the same, sitting hip to hip. The contact made her nerves sing but she ignored the sexual desire. It felt good to just be close. She wanted a lifetime of sitting, talking to and touching him. She wanted the emotional and physical connection even though he didn’t believe in happily-ever-after for them.

“What’s on your mind besides tearing apart New Yorkers?”

“Nanette.”

Andrea sighed. “I’m worried about her too. I know she should have surgery but Cheyenne says she equates government assistance with welfare even though she’s paid taxes for decades. I have no idea how long it will take to sell my apartment and I have no idea how much longer she can afford to wait. The longer she waits the lower her chances of a full recovery.”

He nodded slowly. “I have a solution.”

Andrea watched as he ran his hands up and down his thighs. The uncharacteristic show of nerves made her stomach muscles tighten. She hoped she could listen to his suggestion without getting physically ill. She didn’t need any more surprises today.

“I want to buy some acreage on the far east side of the ranch. You know the area. It’s the three hundred acres between Bridleton and the Hastings property.”

Her heart stopped and she thought it might never start again. She knew the exact spot he’d always wanted. As young lovers they’d dreamed of starting their own ranch there. It was a perfect location for a house, stables, enough tillable ground to support a small spread and plenty of grazing.

“You want to leave Bridleton and start your own ranch?” The thought made her mouth go dry. Remembering all the times she’d accused him of selling his soul for Bridleton, she wondered what they’d do without him. She couldn’t imagine him not being part of the main ranch.

“I think of it as buying a chunk of Bridleton.”

“You know how badly you’re needed here now.”

His voice roughened. “I’m not talking about quitting on you now. I want this place to prosper before I leave but it’s still Bartell property. Now that Bartells are running it again I can look to the future.”

With his offer to help, he’d added a new worry to her list. Did he resent her and her family? He’d spent the last few years working tirelessly to save their inheritance. Then they’d come home, started making plans and giving orders. Did he want to be free of her as well as the responsibilities of the property? He’d told her they didn’t have a future, so did that extend to Bridleton? Did he want to wash his hands of the family and settle down with someone else?

“Have you had the property appraised? Do you have a price in mind?”

He nodded. “I can make a decent offer according to current appraisal. Not as much as it would have been worth a few years ago but enough to cover a lot of Nanette’s surgical expenses.”

Her pulse pounded in her ears, nearly deafening her. Even if he’d saved all his salary for years he couldn’t afford that chunk of property. No local bank or mortgage company would lend so much for unplanted, undeveloped acreage right now. How could he make such an offer? Where would he get that much money?

The first thought that popped into her mind was Shelly Hasting. Her dad’s property bordered the land he wanted. Did Noah want to wash his hands of everything Bartell and plan a future with someone he admittedly respected? Someone who wouldn’t give him as much grief as her and her family?

“I’m sure Nanna would agree to sell you the acreage. Right now it’s just unproductive grazing land with high taxes.”

“I’d need full approval from the whole family,” he reminded. “It should be fine with Zack and Chey too,” she said.

“And you?” he asked, turning his head to gaze down at her.

She’d sworn to never allow it. Never let him own a piece of Bartell land. It might break her heart to see him share it with another woman but she knew he deserved to be happy, whatever path he chose. The family owed him a debt of gratitude they could never repay. His decency and loyalty couldn’t be faulted.

“I have no objections.” Silently she qualified, no objections unless he planned to move there with Shelly.

“It would put the property in the black and help with medical costs.”

A mixed jumble of emotion overwhelmed her. Tears clogged her throat. She wanted to throw herself into Noah’s arms and sob like a baby. She loved him so much and she’d misjudged him so badly. How could she ever expect to right that sort of wrong? How could she ever expect him to forgive her? It scared her to be so emotionally dependent on him now.

When she went quiet for too long, he asked, “What do you think?”

She slowly pushed herself to her feet and cleared her throat. “I think it’s the perfect solution. We can discuss it in the morning before Zack leaves and before Nanna is awake. Then we’ll have a family discussion and present the idea to her. It’s bound to be a relief and lessen her financial worries.”

He stood beside her, their faces close. She turned her head, feeling way too exposed to have him scrutinizing her now. “We really need to go to bed.”

With a touch of his hand on her cheek, he turned her head back to him. “Is that an invitation?”

She wanted to hold him and be held but her conscience wouldn’t allow it. She’d promised Lloyd she wouldn’t go from his arms to Noah’s bed. Added to the fact she felt emotionally raw, she needed to be alone.

“We should get some sleep.”

Andrea felt his gaze on her face for a while longer but he didn’t touch her again. After another long pause he said good night and turned away. She dragged in a harsh breath and opened her door. There’d be no standing on the balcony tonight. No sneaking into each other’s rooms. She needed to do a lot more soul searching before they shared a bed again.

Chapter Eight

The next few days passed in a blur of activity with Andrea splitting her time between ranch chores and family business. Zack stayed over an extra day to meet with their lawyer, Donald Roats, and sign a contract for the sale of the acreage to Noah. Mr. Roats, a longtime family friend, was a third generation attorney serving the ranching community. Thin and balding but sporting a neatly clipped beard, Andrea thought he looked more like an English butler than a lawyer. He assured them he could expedite the sale of their property through his title company.

Everyone gathered in the ranch office late Monday afternoon to sign the contract. Mr. Roats notarized it and Noah wrote a check that made Bridleton solvent again.

“You don’t have to pay the full amount today,” said Mr. Roats as he studied the check. “An earnest money amount is standard and would suffice.”

“What’s the point of that?” asked Noah.

“Well the title on the land is clear but it’ll take at least a month to process the deed and finalize the transaction. We’ll schedule the final closing then.”

“No need to delay payment,” said Noah. “We’ve agreed and the contract’s signed. Unless somebody objects we’ll consider it a done deal now.”

After a glance at his aunt and sisters, Zack smiled and offered his hand. “Congratulations, you’ve just bought yourself some acreage and the taxes on it,” he teased. “With the family’s blessing, I might add.”

Noah shook his hand and Mr. Roats’. Then he reached for Cheyenne’s and Andrea’s in quick succession. He looked so serious and businesslike she wondered if he might be struggling with emotion. After years of backbreaking work, he’d realized a dream that would impact the rest of his life. It had to be an emotionally powerful moment for him but men of his nature didn’t like exposing their vulnerabilities.

When he turned to Nanette she looked back at him with pride and happiness shining in her tear-filled eyes. He stepped closer and gently wrapped his arms around her frail form. Andrea had to swallow hard to keep from choking on her own tears. She knew the two of them shared a strong bond of affection as well as years of trust and loyalty. It warmed her heart and made her ache for the same unquestioning devotion from him.

“Next there’s a matter of power of attorney, right, Andrea?” asked Mr. Roats. “Regarding Nanette’s upcoming surgery?”

After discussing it earlier, they’d learned Nanette’s doubts about the procedure had been based on their financial situation rather than the medical risks.

“I’ll leave you all to handle the rest of the family business,” said Zack. “I’m heading to San Antonio.”

“And I need to get back to work,” said Noah. He slapped his hat on his head and threw up a hand in farewell.

Zack gave each of the women a quick kiss on the cheek and shook the lawyer’s hand before following Noah out the door.

Andrea turned to Mr. Roats. “We hope Nanna’s not incapacitated for long but I’ll need power of attorney for ranch business just in case.”

He nodded and produced the necessary paperwork from his briefcase along with the living will forms Nanette requested. They asked Meredith to witness the signing of the paperwork. Then she saw the lawyer to the door, leaving the Bartell women alone.

“You don’t look too relieved, Nanna,” said Cheyenne. “What’s still worrying you?”

“Only spending that much-needed money on my old, tired heart,” she grumbled.

“I did a little more research last night,” said Chey. “The operation is less invasive now and the recovery time is much shorter these days. You’ll have to cover some of the cost but not nearly as much as we thought. Bridleton can stay in the black.”

“You’re sure?” she asked, her expression hopeful.

“Absolutely,” put in Andrea. “And the spring orders for livestock are already pouring in along with calls from horse buyers. You need to stop worrying about this ranch and take care of yourself. We’re going to be fine.”

Nanette’s features softened and she smiled. “Promise?”

“Promise,” the sisters chimed in unison.

They laughed and after a brief discussion put a call in to Nanette’s cardiologist. He’d told her to call him as soon as she made a decision. Once they’d set the plan in motion they spent a quiet evening updating breeding data and getting a few extra hours of sleep.

On Tuesday Andrea and Cheyenne juggled phone calls from buyers along with necessary calls in preparation for their aunt’s surgery. They also kept an eye on the mares in the foaling barn while the rest of the ranch staff rounded up livestock scattered over thousands of acres.

By late Wednesday afternoon Andrea freed enough time to get outside and help with chores. She set out to join the round-up crew as they collected the last of the strays and herded them back to the main pastures. The process had taken twice as long this year due to being short-staffed and having the longhorns spread over vast grazing areas of the ranch.

Atop a big palomino mare named Golda, she followed a three-mile trail leading to the far eastern corner of the ranch. A small herd of cattle had to be gathered from the land Noah wanted to buy. She hadn’t visited the area in years but followed a familiar old dirt road. It didn’t surprise her to see Sam, with the dogs, slowly herding a few dozen cattle in her direction.

Skirting the worst of the billowing clouds of dust, she circled the livestock until she could shout at Sam.

“Is Noah with you?”

He spat a stream of tobacco juice to the ground before yelling back, “He’s over yonder in the clearing. Probably needs some help.” He tilted his head in the general direction and she nodded.

“I’ll be back!”

He waved a hand in response and whistled to Bert and Ernie. She reined her mount to the right and nudged the mare into a steady canter and then a gallop across the flat land. The burst of speed knocked the hat off her head and loosened strands of hair from her ponytail but she didn’t mind. She hadn’t ridden at top speed for years. It felt amazing to race with the wind rushing over her body while the landscape passed by in a kaleidoscope of brown, green and gold.

This area of the ranch was safe for full-out galloping, so she enjoyed every minute of it. She’d forgotten how much she loved the speed and the muscled strength of a horse beneath her. Loved the feeling of being weightless and defying gravity. Promising herself more pleasure rides, she leaned low and patted Golda’s neck.

A few surveyors’ stakes with red flags dotted the flat terrain. They served as markers for the appraisal Noah had ordered on the property. Fencing would follow once the sale could be finalized. The three hundred acres accounted for a small percentage of Bridleton but parting with it brought bittersweet emotion.

“Old dreams die hard,” she whispered aloud. She and Noah had marked this land for their future. Now he didn’t have any faith in their future.

As she neared a clearing backed by a heavily wooded area, she caught sight of Noah and another rider. Andrea started easing back on the reins and gradually slowed her pace to a trot and then a fast walk. When she got closer she recognized Shelly Hastings astride Baron. The big black stallion’s coat glistened in the late afternoon sunlight. He tossed his head and sniffed the air as they approached, a truly magnificent animal.

Noah stood on the ground, stroking Baron’s neck while talking to both horse and rider. They turned their attention to her as she drew near.

“Andrea,” they each greeted her. Golda continued to prance so she kept a distance but returned their greeting with a smile.

Raising her voice above the squeaking of leather and the heavy breathing of her mount, she said, “Baron looks great.”

When Golda had calmed more Andrea moved close enough to hear Shelly’s response. “I was just telling Noah he doesn’t get as much exercise as he needs but I don’t have the time or the staff to spare right now.”

“And I was telling her she should sell him back to me,” he said.

Baron chose that minute to bob his head as though agreeing. Andrea smiled but the sound of Noah and Shelly’s shared laughter winded her as much as galloping across the fields. She loved hearing him laugh and longed for the time when they’d shared the same easy camaraderie.

Would Shelly sell Baron to Noah? Despite knowing how much he loved the horse he’d raised from a colt, she didn’t want him to go into the breeding business and become Bridleton’s biggest competitor. Especially not in partnership with Shelly or the Hastings’ ranch. People in this part of the country knew and trusted them. They’d make a strong, experienced team. It would take her years to rebuild the ranch’s reputation without him, if it could be done at all. The sobering thought made her next words sharp and succinct.

“Sam said you needed help.”

Noah gave her a long, searching look and then pointed toward a copse of evergreens. “I’ve got a heifer separated from the herd. She has a dead calf and won’t budge.”

Andrea looked in the direction he indicated and saw the cow in the woods. Moving a little closer to the others, she asked, “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll have to take the carcass to the pasture near the barn. Once we have her penned we can dispose of it.”

“She’s not going to like it.”

“Can you help, Shel?” he asked.

When the other woman dipped her head in agreement he grabbed his reins and mounted Rowdy with awesome, athletic ease. Andrea watched, enjoying the fluid beauty of his movements. She’d always thought him big, strong and attractive but astride a horse, he stole her breath. Their gazes met for a brief sizzling instant.

“If you two can back her far enough from the carcass, I’ll scoop it into a grain bag.”

“What if she charges?” asked Shelly.

“Don’t take any chances. She probably won’t challenge Baron but if she gets aggressive we’ll leave her out here a few more days.”

They all turned to the tree line. The women eased their mounts closer together and side by side they approached the cow. Naturally skittish, the heifer took a couple steps backward when faced with the three horses and riders. She bellowed in complaint but continued to retreat as they sidled between her and the calf.

Noah dismounted and gathered the carcass. The cow snorted and stomped, trying to get around them. Their horses shifted as she shifted, blocking her path. She bawled loudly and stomped the ground but didn’t lower her horns or attempt to charge them. Once Noah turned to go the women slowly withdrew from the woods and let the cow follow him.

“Thanks,” said Andrea. She wanted to follow Noah but their neighbor wanted to talk.

“This is a gorgeous location for a house, isn’t it?” asked Shelly.

“It is,” agreed Andrea. She hadn’t really seen it in years but she and Noah had spent many happy hours in this very clearing. They’d envisioned it with a house, a barn and corrals. She wondered if he’d shared those dreams with Shelly or discussed old lover’s secrets with the other woman.

“Noah has great plans for the property.”

Shelly’s comment answered her question and made Andrea feel restless and twitchy. She dropped her reins for a minute to pull back her hair and replace her stretchy with swift, impatient movements. Not wanting to hear anything else, she slapped her hat on her head and said, “I’d better follow them back to the barns.”

“Sure,” said Shelly, reining in Baron. “I’ll catch you later.”

Andrea waved then nudged Golda into a canter to catch up with Noah and the bawling mama cow. He kept the pace slow and steady, trying to avoid the worst of the dust clouds being stirred by the rest of the herd. It allowed her plenty of time to study him on horseback. His straight back and broad shoulders were impressive but she favored his tight rear end in equally tight jeans. He rode with the ease of a man comfortable with his body and his world. He knew what he wanted and didn’t mind working for it.

Was she the biggest fool in the world to love him so desperately? Especially since he’d already told her they had no future? He’d gone all jealous and possessive about Lloyd but that could be attributed to basic male competitiveness. In the equine world a stallion challenged another stallion even if he had two dozen mares of his own. Homo sapiens weren’t too dissimilar in nature.

Did Noah have Shelly as well as her? Were the two of them planning a future together? Would Shelly be the woman helping him establish his new ranch? Andrea couldn’t help being suspicious and having doubts. He’d handed the family a check for a couple hundred thousand dollars. Money like that didn’t grow on trees. He couldn’t have earned that much money in the last five years and she hadn’t heard about any big lottery wins. He hadn’t mentioned a secret backer but nobody had asked him either.

What if the situation at Bridleton had been an attempt to defraud them all? Had he taken advantage of Nanette’s health issues to force the family to sell acreage they’d sworn never to sell? Was Shelly his partner in crime? If not, how in the world could he come up with so much money?

Women got conned every day by men they desperately wanted to believe. Conned with great sex and an appearance of caring. Was Noah the type of man who’d be a part of such a deception? Her heart said no but her head told her he should be fed up with her, her siblings and their heritage. Although they’d always depended on him they’d never really accepted him into the Bartell family. She didn’t blame him for wanting to be rid of them all and build his own legacy.

The man she’d known years ago had wanted marriage and a half-dozen kids. He’d hated the label of bastard and hated being an only child. Had his dreams changed or just been on hold while he took care of Bridleton? She’d shared his dreams back then, wanting marriage and a big, happy family. The thought of having his baby still made her ache with yearning.

How in the world could she convince him she still fit into those dreams? How could she do that without knowing what was in his heart? Would it help to pour out her heart to him and beg? Could the trust ever be rebuilt between them? She’d hurt and misjudged him badly. He’d accused her of being a snob but that wasn’t what had made her balk at commitment. Her insecurities had been the biggest obstacle they’d faced.

Maybe sex was the real answer. Maybe that was the straighter path to a man’s heart. Lots and lots of sex until he couldn’t stand the thought of being without her for even one night, she mused as they ambled toward the main corrals. That particular solution made her squirm in the saddle but it brought a smile to her face.

* * * * *

Noah snapped out terse orders for his small crew while he stoked the fire to heat the branding irons. “Get those heifers out of the corral! Push them as far back in the pasture as possible! Make sure the chutes are clear so nothing spooks the calves! Get a seat for Doc while he gives the injections!”

Inoculating and branding the new calves was another dirty, exhausting spring chore but he was happy to have more help this year and a lot more healthy calves. He glanced up as Andrea and Cheyenne approached the branding area. Dressed in jeans and long-sleeved shirts with their hair tucked under hats, they looked like twins. Both were beautiful, long-legged and sexy as hell. They looked too feminine to be of help but there was a lot of strength in their slender frames. What they lacked in physical stature they made up with sheer grit.

Neither of them complained as much as his cowhands and they didn’t balk at any chore he gave them. It usually made him proud. Today it annoyed him to hell. He’d been getting pricklier by the hour since he stopped visiting Andrea’s bedroom and it had been a damn long dry spell. Despite his decision not to make the next move, he didn’t care much for abstinence. His body hummed with excitement just looking at her. Seeing her and working with her day after day had kept him in a constant state of irritability and arousal. If she felt the same, she didn’t show it.

“Why are we still branding calves with those nasty hot irons?” asked Cheyenne. “It stinks and it hurts them.”

“Not to mention how much their mamas hate hearing them bawl,” added Andrea. “I’m always afraid they’ll come charging to the rescue and gouge somebody with those wicked horns. Couldn’t we just put a tag in their ears?”

“If you want rustlers to cut off their ears,” he said, noticing their grimaces as they lifted hands to their own ears. “Freeze branding is more common these days but we’d need all new equipment. Right now we use what we’ve got.”

“Freeze branding?”

“It’s done just like it sounds with quality, lasting results but all different equipment,” he explained. He lifted a branding iron with interlocking B’s for Bartell’s Bridleton. In the past he’d envisioned it with a C to incorporate his name but that no longer interested him. He’d have his own personal brand soon.

“Where do you want us?” asked Cheyenne.

“You can help Doc with the inoculations. He’ll tell you how to keep count and register the shots.”

She nodded and headed inside the barn.

Noah would have liked to have kept Drea with him but it wasn’t safe near the chutes where he’d be working. Calves got spooked or tried to bolt so he wanted her clear of the actual branding area. Trace was on horseback in the open field, separating calves from cows. Noah told Andrea she could help him. For a long minute she just looked at him with her big, beautiful eyes. He stared back, wondering what she was thinking. She’d always been an expert at hiding her feelings.

His fingers itched to touch her. He balled them into fists. His gaze strayed to her mouth. He wanted to plunge his tongue between her lips and feel her greedily suck it. He shifted his gaze to her chest. Nipples hardened as he watched, the swelling nubs rising from rounded breasts. Her breasts had always been so damned sensitive and responsive. He wanted to taste them too.

It pleased him to watch her reaction but he wasn’t immune to the heated desire that flared between them. His body hardened, his jeans getting uncomfortably tight. Tension sung through him as blood pulsed through his veins.

“A few nights,” he groused, growing equally aroused and agitated. He took off his hat, ran a hand through his hair and then slapped the hat back on his head. “A few nights without you and I’m aching like a randy teenager.”

She dropped her gaze to her gloves, slowly pulling them on. He wanted her whole body gloving his. Heat suffused him at the thought. Blood pumped into his groin.

“I didn’t lock my door.”

“You didn’t invite me.”

“That never stopped you in the past,” she charged, pinning him with a heated gaze.

There! A little temper, some genuine emotion. She’d missed him even if she didn’t admit it. He needed to know she cared. Needed to know their relationship, however dysfunctional, mattered to her. She’d walked out on him five years ago. He’d sworn not to let her walk all over his heart and pride again but his body had a mind of its own.

“From now on I only come by invitation,” he said, his expression challenging her to make a commitment, even a small one.

Andrea raised a haughty brow but her eyes sparkled with amusement and a smile tugged at her lips. He watched, fascinated by her facial features. Then he realized what he was doing and shook his head in frustration.

“Consider this an open invitation,” she said, casually dropping her hand as she passed by him. Her fingers brushed against his crotch, lighting him on fire. His blood pressure skyrocketed, making his ears ring. It was a good thing he had his back to the rest of the crew because it took a few minutes to control his arousal. He promised himself to make her pay for that bit of teasing.

Many long, hot, dusty hours later, they called it quits for the day. Noah sent everyone home for supper, told them to get some rest and be back at first light tomorrow to finish the job. He did a few evening chores and closed the barn for the night. It was nearing sundown when he headed for the house but stopped in his tracks at the sight of Andrea standing near a small black convertible. A low groan escaped him at the thought of her and Shelly having a private conversation. They’d exchanged pleasantries on a couple occasions but as far as he knew the only thing the two women really had in common was him.

Andrea held her hat and gloves in her hand and her posture looked rigid with tension. She’d loosened her hair to let it fall over her shoulders and down her back. For an instant he allowed his gaze to sweep over her slender back and hips then down her long legs to her boots. Just looking at her gave him a swift kick in the gut.

He wanted her that badly.

What he didn’t want or need was them having a discussion about him. Shelly had always been a good friend and an occasional lover but there’d never been anything more serious between them. She knew how he felt about Andrea. He hoped she could be trusted with things he’d told her in confidence. With women, a man never could be sure where he stood. A woman who felt scorned could turn meaner than a snake. He hoped neither of them felt that way.

Before he reached the car Shelly revved the engine, waved goodbye and headed down the drive. He slowly made his way toward Andrea, dreading the inevitable discussion.

“Why was she in such a rush?” he asked.

Drea turned to him. She locked her gaze on his face and quietly studied him. “Your girlfriend didn’t need anything in particular. She just wondered if everything was all right since you haven’t returned her calls for a couple days.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Did you tell her everything is okay?”

“I did.”

Noah returned her searching gaze. Whatever had passed between the women, she didn’t plan to tell him. That much he could figure for himself. What he couldn’t tell was how the conversation had affected Andrea. Was she upset? Hurt? Angry? Pissed at him? Did she think he’d lived like a monk all the years she was gone?

That thought led him in a totally new direction. To what he had done since she’d returned. What they’d done together. What he still wanted to do so badly. In a flash, he was hot again. He hadn’t corrected her when she called Shelly his girlfriend. Would she renege on the invitation she’d given him earlier?

She answered his unspoken question by stepping very close to him and brushing her lips across his in a soft, tantalizing kiss. When he tried to grab her she quickly dodged out of reach and headed to the house.

“See you later, big guy,” she called over her shoulder.

Her husky whisper kicked him in the gut. Just when he thought he knew what to expect from her she surprised him again. Life was never boring with Drea around.

He’d forgotten.

Over the past few years he’d gotten used to his mundane existence. He’d settled into a normal, uninteresting lifestyle and forgotten what it was like to have her near. He’d forgotten the wild anticipation that always surged through him at the sight of her. He’d forgotten how much he loved her deep-throated laughter and her flirtatious banter. How she lit up his world with her energy and independent spirit.

Watching her sashay up the walk reminded him of how much he loved just watching her move. She always got to him. Always challenged and excited him, always left him wanting more. All the other women he’d ever known paled in comparison. She tempted him like no other yet kept him off balance so he never really knew where he stood with her.

He couldn’t do much about that. What he could and would do was make her pay for all the sexy flirting and teasing. His heart pounded riotously at the thought as he followed her into the house. The others had gathered in the dining room for a quick bite to eat. They were too tired for much conversation and once they’d eaten they all headed to their bedrooms for an early night.

After his shower Noah followed through on the promise of retribution when he found Andrea still in her shower. She gasped as he joined her but he quickly smothered her objections with hot, hungry kisses. He cupped a breast in each hand, massaging the creamy soap into her equally creamy skin. Then he plucked at her nipples until they budded into tight knots. He let water sluice the soap off while he kissed his way down her neck and throat then teased each nipple with his teeth. After putting an arm around her waist he nudged her backward so he could part her thighs and run his fingers through the tight, damp curls.

By then she was squirming and whimpering. He used his fingers and thumb to tease her while he greedily sucked at first one nipple and then the other. She writhed against his hand, her body coaxing for deeper penetration. When he thought she was close to climaxing he stopped his caresses and demanded another long series of kisses until her body calmed a little. They kissed deeply, passionately while water continued to pour over them. Then he thrust his fingers into her hot, wet depths again and drove her higher.

Each time she strained for a climax he taunted her by calming her and then driving her higher, keeping her strung as tight and needy as he’d been all day. He teased her until neither of them could stand another second of the searing hunger, until he felt the sting of her nails digging into his shoulders. Then he buried himself in her as deeply as possible, feeling whole for the first time in days. He wanted to prolong the deep, intimate connection but he needed her too badly, needed the hard, thrusting movements to relieve a more primal longing. Too quickly, both of them spun out of control. They swallowed each other’s cries of release.

When his legs stopped trembling and he regained some strength Noah wrapped Andrea in a fluffy towel and carried her to bed. They’d both worked hard all day and needed sleep. Her eyes closed as soon as her head hit the pillow, so he pulled the covers over her and said good night. As he turned to leave she spoke to him so softly he wasn’t sure he heard her right.

“What did you say?” he asked, turning back to the bed. He studied her lovely features as her thick, wet lashes lifted and she looked directly into his eyes.

“I said I love you,” she told him, louder and stronger. “You probably know that already. I don’t suppose I ever stopped loving you but I love you more now than I thought it was possible to love someone.”

His heart pounded wildly in his chest. Blood roared in his ears. The last thing he’d expected from her was a confession of love. Passion, yes, and plenty of it. Love, never again. He didn’t dare trust her yo-yo emotions, no matter how much he wanted to. But the desire to do so waged war within him and spiked his temper.

“You said that five years ago.” His harsh reminder held a mix of anger and disgust. “There’s no such thing as real love without trust and acceptance.”

“You don’t think I trust you?”

“I know you don’t. What was your first thought when you saw me with Shelly out at the property I’m buying?”

She didn’t answer but her expression spoke louder than words.

“You’re never going to trust me because you’ve never really loved me. You just want what you think you can’t have. What you’re feeling, what you’ve always felt for me, is lust. It took me a while but I finally came to terms with the truth. You’d better face it too, or we can put an end to this right now.”

He watched her facial features go blank. Then her expression changed to the cool detachment he hated so much. Sighing heavily, he raked his fingers through his hair. Damn if he knew what he wanted anymore. He couldn’t have it both ways. Either he accepted the emotion or stopped trying to evoke it.

In a gruff voice, he asked, “Do you want to end this between us?” He didn’t breathe again until he heard her response.

“No.”

He left her then, returning to his own cold bed and berating himself for being so torn up about her declaration of love. He’d sworn to never let her get under his skin again but he’d known, even then, the warning came too late. She’d stolen a part of his heart and soul the day they’d met in grade school.

The Bartells and Bridleton owned the rest of his heart. As an only child in a single-parent household he’d yearned to become a part of the big, loving Bartell family. That hadn’t changed but he wasn’t a kid anymore and circumstances had changed.

Now he needed to either let go of the dream for good or take a leap of faith and trust that Andrea knew her own heart. Did she have what it would take to be his wife and the mother of his children? To build a home from scratch? She said she loved him but would her feelings change when life got tough? When he made his home somewhere besides Bridleton? He’d believed it possible once but now he just couldn’t be sure enough to put his future on the line.

Chapter Nine

On the second day of branding the temperature soared well into the nineties, making everyone hotter, grittier and more short-tempered. The cows bellowed louder and longer, protesting being separated from their calves. Even the best cutting horses in the country had trouble staying ahead of the herd. Once in the branding chutes the calves kicked, bolted and generally made the job more difficult.

By late afternoon the last of the calves had been inoculated and branded. Trace turned the final stragglers into the pasture while Noah readjusted gates and fences near the corral. The vet bid them farewell and all the cowhands slowly made their way back toward the barnyard.

One lone mother cow still bawled at the pasture fence.

“I’m really sick of hearing that old cow holler,” said Cheyenne as she moved to where the others were gathering around the corral fencing. “I swear I heard it in my dreams last night. At first I was a little sympathetic but now I’m ready to have her butchered and grilled.”

Her grumbling brought smiles to a few weary, weathered faces.

“Now, Miss Cheyenne,” said Sam. “She’s deservin’ of a little extra sympathy. She holds us responsible for stealin’ her stillborn calf so she’s thinkin’ we done her wrong.”

“Or maybe she’s just protesting on behalf of all the mamas separated from their calves today,” said Trace as he joined them in the shade of the elm at the corner of the corral.

A sympathetic expression briefly crossed Cheyenne’s features but then the cow let out another bellowing complaint, grating on everyone’s frayed nerves. “I might have to go out there and strangle her myself. Then she can join her calf in longhorn heaven!”

A collection of tired chuckles followed her heated, useless threat. Andrea smiled and glanced across the corral toward the pasture fence where the cow stood. The rest of the cattle had gone back to grazing peacefully but the old mother cow just stood there glaring in the direction of the humans.

In a sweeping glance across the now-empty corral area, Andrea also noticed one of her leather work gloves on the ground a few yards inside the fence. Reaching to her back pocket, she realized she’d dropped it when she dismounted earlier. Gloves, like hats, were never taken lightly on the ranch. They were a necessity and she only had one pair that fit well.

Any or all of the men would offer to collect it for her but they were bone-tired too. They’d been on their feet all day while she’d spent most of her time in the saddle. A short walk would help her stretch the kinks from her muscles. At least that’s what she told herself as she mustered the energy to go after it.

Moving toward the fence, she climbed one rung and swung her leg over the top, then stepped to the ground inside the corral. “I dropped my glove,” she explained to the others as she slowly made her way across the bare, hard dirt. After picking up the glove she slapped it on her hand to shake off the dust and then tucked it in her pocket.

She turned to head back to the barn but caught her boot in a rut and twisted her ankle. Thrown off balance she fell hard, landing face-first in the dirt and knocking the breath from her body. Stunned and with her ears ringing, she lay still for a few seconds until her head cleared. At the same time she heard the unmistakable sound of wood splintering. A lot of wood splintering. The next thing she heard was a chorus of warning shouts.

By then the ground beneath her vibrated from the thundering hooves of an angry, two-thousand-pound cow. Andrea looked up to see the crazed heifer closing the distance between them with frightening speed. The rogue cow had her head to the ground, her horns tilted downward like swords, charging right at her. She tried to scramble to her feet but her legs got tangled and she couldn’t move quickly enough.

She screamed. The others were over the fence in a rush attempting to distract the charging animal but it paid no attention. Andrea watched, horrified, as the cow’s wickedly sharp horns aimed straight for her head.

Then, suddenly, Noah raced between them, grabbing one of the horns, throwing his weight against the cow and trying to change her maniacal charge. Andrea screamed hysterically as the cow lifted its massive head, tossing him in the air as if his two hundred pounds was lighter than a fly. She saw the other horn catch him in the chest midair. Blood gushed and he got thrown hard, landing flat on his back.

By then several of the men had lassos in the air, roping and wrangling with the cow to pull her away from them. Andrea’s scream lodged in her throat as she stared at Noah’s motionless body. She could barely breathe as she crawled on hands and knees to reach him.

Please, please, please, God, no! she prayed silently. Let him be all right. I can’t live without him. Please let him be okay!

“Noah! Noah!” Her voice held a rising panic as she reached him and tried to see the extent of the damage. So still. So frighteningly still. She’d never seen him look so pale and lifeless.

“Please, Noah, please!” She ran her hands over his chest where the cow’s horn had ripped through his shirt and sliced his skin. Her stomach roiled at the pool of warm, sticky blood. He’d hit the ground so hard. His lung could have been punctured, his head concussed. He could be bleeding internally. A horrifying list of possibilities raced through her mind.

In the background she heard someone shouting for first aid, someone else shouting to call for help. Another suggestion to call the vet back to the ranch. She placed a hand on Noah’s heart and leaned over to listen for the sound of breathing. When his warm breath sighed over her skin, she felt like sobbing. She cupped his face in her hands and coaxed him to respond.

“Noah, please, talk to me!” The words sounded hoarse and desperate to her own ears. She didn’t want to frighten him but she was far from calm herself. Trying again, she kept her tone soft and soothing. “Noah, darling, please, please!”

After what seemed like an eternity later he opened his eyes and looked directly at her. His expression was confused at first, and then his features tightened with memory and alarm. He reached up and grabbed her arm.

“You’re okay?” he asked, his tone gruff, his eyes dark with concern.

Tears streaked through the dust on Andrea’s face. Annoyed at the blinding moisture, she swiped them away. “I’m fine. I promise,” she said, her hands dropping lightly to his chest.

“Then why are you crying?”

“Because you scared the hell out of me,” she whispered. “That old cow gored you and knocked you unconscious.”

Noah reached his free hand to his chest, feeling the wound. He started to sit up.

“Lie still,” she said. “You might have a concussion or internal injuries. You shouldn’t move until we get a backboard out here and get you to the emergency room.”

He ignored her protests and carefully sat up, rubbing his chest. “It’s just a scrape. It’s not deep. I’ve had worse.”

“You’re bleeding profusely,” she argued, pressing her hand over the wound to stop the flow of blood. “You should be still.”

“Probably needs stitches.”

The others had gathered around them. Noah reached a hand to Trace and he pulled him to his feet. He swayed briefly but steadied himself then turned and offered Andrea a hand. She shook her head in frustration, grasping his hand and letting him help her to her feet. Her left ankle protested but held her weight.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“You’re the one who’s bleeding,” she snapped in irritation.

Noah had the nerve to laugh at her. “You always did hate being scared, didn’t you, Drea? Did that mean old cow give you a bad scare?” His words and tone teased but his eyes and expression were stone-cold serious as he studied her face.

She swiped the last of her tears from her face and glared at him. “The cow didn’t scare me half as much as you did. What the hell were you thinking, trying to wrestle that stupid beast? It’s ten times bigger than you!”

He didn’t bother to respond but she read the message in his eyes. She’d been in danger. He’d done his best to protect her. That’s the kind of man he was, the kind who’d won and kept her heart despite years of separation. The kind of man a woman could depend on in any circumstance, however difficult. A wave of love washed over her, so overwhelming her knees nearly buckled. She hoped he could see it in her eyes, believe it with his heart, but she’d always felt so unsure and vulnerable with him.

Then Doc showed up and half a dozen people tried to explain the situation. Noah wanted the vet to stitch his wound but the doctor refused, ordering him to the emergency room for a complete checkup. Andrea expected him to refuse so she insisted her ankle needed medical attention too. That swayed his decision.

Doc cleaned and covered the wound with gauze to stem the flow of blood while everyone talked a mile a minute. Nanette, who’d handled dozens of emergencies in her time, showed up and insisted she and Sam could supervise the evening’s chores. That freed Trace and Cheyenne to drive the wounded to the county hospital.

Andrea’s plan to accompany Noah to the hospital backfired a little when he demanded she have her ankle x-rayed. Chey stayed with her and Trace stuck by Noah in their individual waiting areas. She strained to hear what the doctor told him but all she could hear was the drone of male conversation. A nurse’s aide distracted her with a bunch of questions and then a technician wheeled her to the lab for an x-ray, eventually returning her to the cubicle. After an interminable wait they heard Noah being given parting instructions on how to care for his wound.

When the same doctor, a young, attractive resident, came to her cubicle, he flirted shamelessly with Cheyenne but refused to tell them anything about Noah’s condition. He prodded and twisted her foot, studied the x-ray of her ankle and then diagnosed a mild sprain.

“I could have told him that if he’d asked how it actually felt,” grumbled Andrea when they finally joined the men in the waiting room. “I can put weight on it without any pain.”

Trace stood as they approached. “He didn’t even ask if it hurt?”

“He was too busy flirting with Chey,” she explained.

“I can’t imagine why,” put in Cheyenne. “I’m filthy and I stink.”

“Think a little dirt can turn off a man’s interest?” challenged Trace. Andrea tuned out their bickering and focused on Noah as he came to his feet more slowly. When their gazes locked each searched the other’s expression for signs of pain.

“I’m fine.” She answered his unspoken question and silently asked one of her own.

“Me too,” he said. “Sore but no major damage. Just a few stitches and a tetanus shot. Doc could have done that and saved us a trip.”

“Better to be safe,” said Chey as she and Trace herded them toward the parking lot. “I never want another scare like you two gave me this evening, do you hear? And I’m positive I want that nasty old cow slaughtered.”

“Not the heifer’s fault,” Trace argued. “She’s just doing what nature created her to do.”

Cheyenne didn’t want to hear it. “Stomping and goring people? If that’s natural I’ll eat my boots. The animal is a menace.”

Trace defended the mama cow again as he drove them home. They continued to squabble, jumping from subject to subject. Noah sat quietly in the front seat of the truck because he needed more leg room. Andrea sat in the cramped backseat of the club cab with her legs tucked to the side. She badly wanted to touch him and hold him but knew she’d have to wait. Patience is a virtue, she kept reminding herself.

Nanna and Sam met them at the front door where Cheyenne briefly provided details of the emergency room visit. Once everyone had answered questions they decided to head for bed. It was going on midnight before Andrea could shower off the dirt and grime of the day. Her ankle felt tender but her boot had protected it from serious damage or the accompanying discomfort. Every other inch of her body ached from a long day’s work and her none-too-gentle collision with the ground. She imagined Noah felt a whole lot worse.

As soon as she’d cleaned up she donned an old, modest yellow cotton nightgown and robe and then headed across the balcony to his bedroom. When she entered the dimly lit room she saw him coming from the bathroom, gloriously naked, rubbing his hair dry with a towel. Her breath hitched at his lean, sculpted beauty. A huge white bandage marred the masculine good looks and made her stomach roil. He’d risked his life for her today. The knowledge was humbling.

When he caught sight of her he tossed aside the towel and gave her a slight smile. “If you’ve come to be ravished, I might not be in top form tonight.”

With that, he slowly crossed the room and eased himself onto the bed. By the time Andrea reached his side he’d stretched out full length and dropped his head to the pillow. Her gaze swept over his impressive form with slow admiration. A frown quickly transformed her features when she focused on the darkening bruises on his otherwise golden skin.

“You didn’t get your stitches wet, did you?” she asked, stepping close and running a light finger over the edge of the bandage. The skin around it had turned an ugly purple. “Were you supposed to shower?” She hadn’t heard all the doctor’s instructions and he hadn’t mentioned them.

“I was filthy. The ER doc gave me some plastic stuff to protect the bandages.”

The explanation seemed to take all his strength. Andrea wanted to comfort him, give him support and generally help in any way possible. She knew there wasn’t anything else to do. He needed rest but she didn’t want him out of her sight.

“Mind if I sleep with you tonight?” she asked softly.

Noah opened his beautiful eyes and stared at her for a long, silent minute. The deep, powerful connection between them didn’t need to be explained. It just existed. He patted the bed beside him. She switched off the bedside lamp, took off her robe and carefully slid into bed with him.

After leaning over to brush a soft kiss across his lips, she settled into her side of the bed, her hand on his arm. She needed the contact as much as she needed her next breath, needed to feel the heat of his body. A deep-seated contentment settled over them. It only took a couple minutes for Noah’s breathing to drop into a slow, steady rhythm of sleep.

Did he love her half as much as she loved him? His actions today spoke louder than words. He’d have done his best to save anyone in the same situation. He’d have tossed a rope or managed a distraction, not thrown himself in the animal’s path.

He cared deeply. She knew that for a fact. He’d shrugged off her declaration of love and accused her of not trusting him but he didn’t trust her either. Not the soul-deep trust people shared when they made a lifetime commitment. Her fault, of course, because she’d abandoned him once. Could they ever get past the past?

Despite being exhausted, it took her much longer to get to sleep. She couldn’t get over the fact that she could have lost him today. Really lost him. Nor could she easily forget how she’d felt when she’d seen him lying so still and lifeless. Her stomach churned every time she remembered. She had to find a way to make things right between them again. She had to find out if he could ever love her the way she needed him to love her. Find out if they had any real chance for a future.

* * * * *

The midday sun shone through the sliding doors of Noah’s bedroom the next day when Andrea pulled the blinds. She turned and smiled as he slowly came awake, rubbing his eyes, stretching his long, lean body and carefully pulling himself into a sitting position.

“I smell caffeine,” he mumbled when his gaze settled on her.

She nodded toward the bedside table where she’d place a mug of strong, hot coffee. He grunted in pain as he twisted to reach for it and she quickly moved to his side.

“Sit still and let me help.”

He eased himself back and accepted the mug, sniffing, sipping and then downing a long swallow with a quiet sigh of pleasure. She watched with a smile, noting how wonderfully disheveled he looked. Hair tousled and with heavy-lidded eyes, he appeared more relaxed than she’d seen him in a very long time.

“Why didn’t someone wake me? There’s work to be done.” He glanced at the sunshine streaming through the doors. “Half the day is gone already.”

His husky grumble deepened her smile. She pulled a straight-backed chair close to the bed, sat down and crossed her legs. “Zack came home early this morning. Nanna called him and he brought a couple friends to help while you recuperate. Chey’s in her element giving them all orders. She told him to take his motley crew out and cut hay. Trace is managing the baling and Sam’s orchestrating the storage in the barn loft. They’ll survive without us for a couple days.”

Noah didn’t argue, which meant he didn’t feel well enough to jump out of bed and get busy. At least she had a captive audience even if she didn’t feel very confident in what she was about to propose. Instead, she stalled.

“I can go get you something to eat if you’d like. I wasn’t sure if you’d want breakfast or lunch. Meredith said she’d be happy to supply either.”

“The coffee’s fine for now. At least until you tell me what’s on your mind. Then I guess I’ll decide my next move.”

Andrea dropped her gaze. He knew her too well. She wondered, for the millionth time, if he loved her. She hoped so since she was about to make an offer that put her pride, heart and inheritance on the line.

Her smile turned stiff. “Do you despise me as much as you always despised your absentee father?”

His brows furrowed in a frown. “What in the hell brought that on? Why would you compare yourself to that worthless bastard?”

“Well, we both abandoned you. Maybe in different degrees but I’m wondering if you resent me too. You never forgave him. Is it impossible to forgive me?”

He stared at her for a long, silent minute. She returned his steady gaze, trying not to show how much his answer meant to her. Heat crawled up her neck and cheeks. Nerves and muscles tensed, she held her breath for his response.

“No.”

She bit her lip. He wasn’t going to give her any help. She’d been the one to destroy their relationship. Now she had to repair it or put an end to it forever. Stalling, she said, “That’s it? Just no?”

“What do you want from me, Drea?”

She took a deep breath and then a deep plunge into the unknown. “First I want you to understand I’m not a snob. Not the way you think. I never believed marrying you was beneath me. I’ve always been insecure and needy. Maybe it’s because my parents never stayed around much. I’m not sure what a shrink would think but I’m a lot more confident now. The façade you hate so much is my defense system. If I have a suspicious, untrusting nature it’s because I don’t have much faith in my ability to attract and hold a man like you.”

The rush of words left her feeling drained and more emotionally exposed than she’d felt in her whole life. Dropping her lashes to conceal the vulnerability, she waited breathlessly for his response.

He reached out a hand and clasped one of hers, drawing her to the side of the bed. When she’d settled next to him, he said, “We both have some abandonment hang-ups.”

She studied his face. “You think I don’t trust you but I can’t help being jealous of Shelly. She’s had you for the past five years and that worries me. Seeing the two of you together on the land you once declared our future home, it hit me hard. I do trust you. With my life,” she whispered, bringing his hand to her lips. “But I’m the jealous, possessive type too.”

“Would you like to know what we said to each other out there?”

Andrea felt a fine tremor in his fingers and she gazed into his darkened eyes. Her throat started to clog so she responded with a nod.

“We watched you galloping toward us looking so strong and sure and beautiful. Shelly said you’re a natural on horseback but I couldn’t respond or take my eyes off you. The sight of you stole my breath.”

She swallowed hard. Noah never wasted much time with words but when he did, he melted her into a puddle. She held his gaze and her breath as he continued. “She asked me how much I loved you.”

Hesitantly, fearfully, hopefully, Andrea asked, “What did you tell her?”

He replied with a simple, “More than life.” Her chest constricted, and she closed her eyes as tears threatened. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.”

“I love you,” he said. “With all my heart. You say you love me too but that doesn’t guarantee we’re good for each other.”

“What’s still worrying you?” she asked.  “What if I hadn’t come up with the money to buy that acreage? How would you feel then?”

Andrea blinked back tears and tightened her grip on his hand. She knew her answer was crucial to their future but she didn’t quite understand what he wanted to know. Suspicion reared its ugly head. Had someone else put up the money for the land? Did he feel guilty because Shelly Hastings or some development company had backed him?

“I’d be disappointed if you wanted the land for anything other than personal use but we desperately needed the money. We didn’t ask questions or sell it with conditions. It’s yours for whatever reason you bought it.” She prayed he hadn’t bought it for Shelly.

“I wouldn’t betray the family’s trust that way,” he assured her. “It’ll be my ranch. I just wonder how much your love is tangled with what I have instead of who I am.”

Suddenly his question made sense. She understood and empathized. Despite being a supremely self-confident man, Noah’s emotional insecurities matched her own.

“Just understand one thing. I love you. Nothing will change that,” she promised. “If we lost Bridleton and every other material possession, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you. I promise you on my life. I lost you once. I won’t chance it again.”

After the briefest of hesitations he gave her a deep, beautiful smile. The undisguised love shining from his eyes made her heart jump with joy. Tears threatened again. She dropped her lashes to keep the tears from overflowing and leaned down for a kiss. Their lips met in long, sweet proclamation of a shared love.

When the soft kiss grew deeper Andrea leaned closer and clasped his head between her hands. She started to press her body onto his but remembered his injury. Pulling back, she whispered, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Noah’s hands grasped her waist, holding her tightly yet at a comfortable distance. “Just one more kiss,” he teased against her lips. “Then we need to talk before you get me all hot and bothered.”

She kissed him deeply and then slowly, regretfully released him and moved back to the chair. “You totally distracted me from the speech I’ve been practicing all morning.”

“Before you finish your speech,” he said. “Aren’t you the least bit curious about how I came up with all that money?”

“Of course I am, but if the answer involves Shelly Hastings, I’m not sure I want to hear it.”

He shook his head and gave her a wicked grin. “Shelly’s not involved. I should have explained but my stupid pride kept getting in the way.”

“Okay then, how could you afford it?”

Instead of a direct answer he asked a question. “You know my mom died a couple years ago?”

“Nanna told me. I’m sorry. I know how close you were.”

He didn’t respond but nodded. “When she died, I learned my biological father had given her money in exchange for keeping quiet about his identity. Even to me,” he said in disgust. “All my life I thought she was being loyal to her true love but it was all about money.”

His mother had always worked hard to support them but had never married. She’d refused to tell him his father’s name even though she’d bragged about a wealthy man in her past. It had left Noah feeling abandoned and resentful.

“At least you finally got some answers,” she said. “Yeah, I got a name and some answers. The old bastard is dead now too.”

“Any stepbrothers or sisters?”

“Not that I know of. He had a couple ex-wives but nobody who gave a damn. From what I’ve been told, he wasn’t a very decent man.”

“That’s sad.”

“Don’t waste your sympathy on him. He left my mom as soon as he learned about the pregnancy.”

She’d often wondered why Noah’s mother refused to tell him his father’s true identity. He’d been raised, much like her, by his granddad as a surrogate father.

“He just handed her a check?”

“He calculated what would cover her hospital expenses plus the average cost of raising a child through college age and general insurance needs. I guess he had a head for numbers. Mom banked the money and only used it for emergencies. She left me a letter with all the details. I just hadn’t decided what to do with it.”

“Until you thought Nanette might lose Bridleton.”

“Yeah. That’s when I asked her to sell me controlling interest.”

“I didn’t care much for the idea back then but I’m sure happy you cared enough to make the offer and put up with all of us until we realized what we wanted.”

“I’ve always cared,” he reminded.

Her smile deepened. “I know. And the money doesn’t make up for a past without a father but it’s a strong start for the future.”

“What do you want for your future?”

“A lot of things,” she said. “But mostly I’d like you to marry me and help me make a couple babies. After that I’d like to spend the rest of our lives creating our own legacy.”

When his eyes flared hotly she dropped her gaze to where her fingers nervously plucked at her tee shirt. A long, tense silence settled over the room, making her even more nervous.

“So you’re proposing to me? Marriage?” He demanded clarification.

“If you’ll have me.” She lifted her gaze and stared back into his eyes. Her cheeks flushed with hot color and her chin quivered slightly but she didn’t blink.

“This is my life,” he told her impassively. “The long days, hard work and constant frustrations. It’s a lot of heavy responsibility to a lot of people. You think you can be satisfied, long-term, with ranch life? You won’t weary of the constant demands on your time here? You won’t miss the city, your prissy clothes and your jet-set lifestyle?”

Her tone was equally honest and serious with her reply. “Of course I would miss New York and my career. It’s a big change but I’m ready to make it. Marriage doesn’t mean I have to give up my plans for designing. Life doesn’t have to be one-dimensional.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. What about you? Will you get tired of me if I’m around all the time? Get bored if I’m not jet-setting or focusing on a career? I’ll be just another cowgirl working the ranch. They’re a dime a dozen in this area.”

“There’s none like you,” he swiftly corrected. “I’ve looked. Are you sure you won’t be bored out of your mind in a couple years?”

“The only guarantee I can give you is that I love you. Always have, always will.”

Another tense silence ensued as they stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Andrea thought her heart would pound right out of her chest as she waited for his reply.

“I guess a man can’t ask for much more, can he?”

When a slow smile spread across his features, she felt a heavy weight lift from her chest. Noah reached out a hand and she grasped it tightly.

“There’s more,” she whispered, her voice thick with tears.

“You’re all I need,” he swore softly. “All I’ve ever really wanted.”

“Oh, Noah!” she cried softly. “You’re all I want or need. I’m just sorry it took me so long to realize the simplicity of it.” Andrea brought his hand her to mouth and pressed a hard kiss on his calloused fingers. He tried to pull her onto the bed with him but she drew back, laughing.

“Wait. I have something to show you.” She turned to the bedside table and picked up a sketch pad. When she showed it to him she watched his expression change from puzzlement to a broad grin.

“Is this the first of the Bartell sisters’ new fashion line?” he asked.

“Yes, I’ve had the design in mind for a long time and Cheyenne drew it up for me.”

“I didn’t think the groom was supposed to see the wedding dress before the ceremony,” he teased.  “You’re not supposed to see me in it,” she explained. “I hope you don’t mind that I told Chey about my proposal before I asked you.”

“Pretty sure of me, huh?”

She sighed heavily. “You’re a hard man to pin down but I hoped you’d be interested in some wedding plans.”

Noah wrapped a hand around her thigh. He held her gaze while he started to caress her. “I’m interested, willing and able,” he teased lightly, his expression filled with love and adoration. “But those tiny shorts you’re wearing, that thin little shirt and no bra are driving me crazy right now. Any chance we can find a way to make love?”

Andrea laughed softly and, tossing the sketch pad on the table, she leaned closer. “You’re on the injured reserve but I think I can find a way to pleasure you without hurting you.”

“Pleasure me? Mmm…I like the sound of that.” She ran a hand over the sheet covering him until she found hard, straining flesh. “Tell me what else you like, big boy,” she teased.

“What I love,” he corrected softly, cupping her face in his hand. “What I love, who I love, is you. Always have, always will.”

Her breathing faltered. “Promise?”

“You bet,” he replied, drawing her face toward his.

“But don’t expect me to give up my fashionable clothes,” she whispered against his lips.

A low chuckle escaped him. “I’m gettin’ real fond of your fancy duds,” he teased, then captured her mouth in a deep, devouring kiss that sealed the promise for their future.

Epilogue

“So what do you think, Nanna?”

Andrea twirled from the full-length mirror in her bedroom to show her aunt the wedding gown she and Cheyenne had created.

Nanette studied the strapless white satin gown with the snug-fitting bodice and pleated waistline. It dropped into a flowing, tea-length skirt adorned with an unusual pleated ruffle.

“Absolutely gorgeous.”

Cheyenne smoothed the silk of her turquoise maid-of-honor gown. “What else could it be with a phenomenal design team and an internationally famous model wearing it?” she added, tongue-in-cheek.

“Well that’s a given. I do have a flair, don’t I?” said Andrea in a haughty tone that had all three Bartell women giggling like schoolgirls. When tears filled her eyes she quickly swiped them away. “I think I might be getting a little giddy.”

“You’re allowed. It’s your wedding day,” said Chey.

“I hope you’re not expecting any wedding night advice from me,” said Nanna. “Never been there or done that. I should have a tee shirt.”

After another round of giggles Andrea dabbed her eyes with a tissue and protested, “You both need to behave or I’m going to ruin my makeup.”

Cheyenne gave her a wink. “For some reason I don’t think Noah will give a hoot about your makeup.”

The mention of Noah brought a deep, contented smile to Andrea’s face. She’d thought she loved him six years ago and had fallen in love again six months ago. But now, after her proposal and the decision to marry, he’d made her fall more deeply in love each passing day.

She ached with love for him and couldn’t wait to be his wife. Whatever life had in store for them, they’d be all right as long as they had each other. Unlike some brides, she had no last-minute doubts, only a few bridal jitters.

“There she goes again,” Chey said on a heavy sigh. “She gets all dreamy-eyed and drifty when she thinks of Noah. It’s like a disease.”

“She’s got it bad,” said Nanette.

Andrea flashed them a smile. “She’s got it good.”

A knock at the door interrupted more laughter.  “Hey, women,” Zack scolded. “Stop horsing around. The guests are all seated, the preacher’s here and the music started. It’s time to go downstairs.”

“We’re almost ready,” said Chey. She slipped an old-fashioned veil over Andrea’s head. Noah’s only request had been for her to wear her hair down, so Chey secured the veil and smoothed it into place. “Perfect.”

Andrea hugged her sister and then her Aunt Nanette. “Thank you both for all your help. For the old, the borrowed, the blue and everything else.”

She added a little prayer of thanks for her Nanna’s successful surgery and her remarkable recovery. Having her share this special day would make the memories even more precious.

Cheyenne handed her the bridal bouquet of yellow roses, then picked up a smaller matching bouquet.

“Noah’s ring?” asked Andrea.

“Got it,” Chey assured her.

“Then I guess we’re good to go.” Turning to Zack, she gave him a once-over. “Ever think of going into modeling, big brother? You look pretty good in that tux.”

His brows creased in a frown and the women convulsed in giggles again.

“Have ya’ll been doing some premature celebrating? Hitting the champagne bottle while the rest of us have worked our butts off been getting this cart and donkey show on the road?”

Andrea gasped in mock outrage. “Cart and donkey show?”

Zack grinned and offered her his arm. She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and he patted it gently. “Whatever you’ve been doing it sure looks good on you, little sister,” he whispered gruffly.

“Well that’s better,” she said with a smile.

They made their way down the stairs and to the double doors leading to the formal garden. The late September weather had cooperated for their special day. A clear blue sky and mild temperatures awaited them along with a profusion of neatly trimmed shrubs and brilliantly colored flowers.

Looking handsome but a tad uncomfortable in his tux, Trace took Nanna’s arm and accompanied her outside. He seated her on the front row of chairs and took his place as best man at Noah’s side. When the next song began, Cheyenne followed them down the aisle. She moved with slow grace through the small gathering of friends and ranch staff.

At the crescendo of the wedding march, the doors opened wide and Zack escorted Andrea down the flower-strewn white aisle runner. She looked toward the rose-covered archway of the gazebo where Noah stood. Once their gazes met she smiled and tension drained from her body. The steadfastness of his love and adoration shone from his eyes. Her breath caught at the purity of it. Bridal jitters vanished. His love guided her forward as she knew it would do for the rest of her life.

The End

About the Author:  Becky Barker is a multi-published author whose steamy romance novels have been translated into more than a dozen foreign languages, into electronic format, and have been re-issued in trade paperback as well as large print library editions. Her personal hero is a former Marine who helped her create three pretty wonderful children. Rachel and her husband, Jerramy; Amanda and her husband, Jay; and Thad and his wife, Dara, all live within a few miles of Mom and Dad in rural Ohio. Besides spending time with her family, Becky enjoys music, gardening, water sports and reading. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at BeckyBarker.com or by emailing: write@beckybarker.com

Other books by Becky Barker:

Bridleton, Back in His Arms, Born To Fly, Captured by a Cowboy, Dangerous, Impossible Match, The Last Real Cowboy, Renegade Texan, Sassy Lady, To Trust Again, Western Dreams, On Wings of Love (reissue), Cade’s Challenge, Terms of Surrender (novella), A Matter of Trust (reissue), Chameleons, Undercover Virgin, Hanchart Land (reissue)

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue