Call her shallow, but walking into a black tie affair on the arm of a drop-dead handsome guy beat walking in alone. As they entered the elaborate ballroom of the Grand Manor Hotel, Marti smiled and waved to a few people she knew. Eli acknowledged a couple of doctors with head tosses.

“I was right,” he whispered, bending to her ear.

She liked the way his breath feathered across her cheek. “About what?” she asked, her voice breathless.

“Walking in with the hottest chick in the room on my arm does make this easier.”

Her heart cartwheeled. She squeezed his arm. “And here I was thinking that being on the arm of such a handsome guy would make all my friends jealous.” She waved to Delene across the room, whose eyebrows shot high. “As far as I can see, my plan is working.”

He gave her a warm smile. “These poor men having to just make do with their dates after I snagged the best one.”

“You know it.” She laughed, not remembering a time lately when she’d last felt so carefree. Last fall’s broken engagement had hit her hard, personally and emotionally. “Where are we sitting?”

Pulling a card from inside his jacket, he said, “Table five.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Near the front. Now, I am impressed.”

He laughed and let her lead the way toward the front of the room. After they found table five, he asked, “Can I get you a drink?”

“Please. Dirty martini.”

“Brave choice.” He touched her bare shoulder.

His fleeting caress stirring the lava pit of lust inside her.

“Be right back.”

She set her purse on the table. There were no other patrons sitting there at the moment, but there were a couple of clutch purses, similar to hers, lying near place settings.

“Now, don’t tell me we are lucky enough to have Ms. Marti Jenkins at our table,” a masculine, Texas voice drawled.

She turned and spun into the arms of Jason Montgomery. “Jason! What a nice surprise.” She pulled his wife in for a hug. “Lydia. You look wonderful. I wondered if you’d be able to get away from the kids tonight.”

Jason and Lydia had adopted her sister’s children after a horrible accident took their parents’ lives. Then they’d had a baby of their own within a year.

Lydia laughed. “We are so lucky to both have parents here in town. My folks have the children. Jason’s folks have the rest of the Montgomery grandchildren.”

“Oh my goodness,” Marti said. “That’ll make for a wild time at their house this evening.”

“My folks love it,” Jason said. “Go figure.” He looked at his wife. “Drink?”

“Red wine, please.”

He glanced at Marti.

“My date’s bringing mine.”

He wandered off toward the bar as she and Lydia were joined by Paige Montgomery, Lydia’s sister-in-law, married to Cash Montgomery. Their conversation quickly drifted off onto the dresses worn for the evening. The men came back carrying drinks and the three couples took their seats, which left two open seats at the table.

“Any other Montgomerys joining us?” Marti asked.

“Not that I know of,” Jason said.

Cash shook his head. “Nope. The rest of them are on the other side of the room. Heaven knows I see enough of them at Sunday lunches. I don’t want to see them on Saturday night, too.”

The group at the table chuckled, while Jason playfully slugged Cash’s arm. Shortly, a tall man with a limp and a petite lady joined the table. As one, all the men stood for the new woman.

“Gracious,” she said in a thick Southern accent. “I’m so glad the Montgomery men were taught their manners.” She tapped Eli’s arm. “And you, sir, where are you from?”

“New York, ma’am,” Eli said.

“Ah, a Yankee in our midst,” she replied with a grin.

“Only visiting,” he assured her. “We’re not invading, or at least not yet.”

Her laugh was soft and gay.

Marti felt the urge to pop Dr. Cora Bell Lambert. How dare she be petite and cute!

“I believe some of you know my date. Dax Cooper. Dax, this is Marti Jenkins. She owns the ranch that backs up to the Landry place. I don’t believe I know your Yankee, Marti.”

Marti forced a smile on her face, but when she turned toward Eli, the forced smile melted into a genuine one. “This is Dr. Eli Boone. He’s here covering for Hank Kelley while he does something. What is it again, Eli?”

“An advanced training experience,” he explained to the table.

Each man retook his seat once Cora Bell was seated.

“Not that I’m explaining anything to Dr. Montgomery or Ms. Montgomery,” Eli said to Lydia and Paige, the first, a physician and the second, an advanced practice nurse. “You are both aware that keeping up with medical advances is tough,”

Both women acknowledged his comment with a nod.

“I sure do,” Dr. Lydia Henson-Montgomery said “I’m doing a six-week advance training on burns later this year. How much longer will Hank be gone?”

“Just three months. The course was an intensive six-month program. When I talked to him last, he was exhausted. Said he might want to take a couple of additional weeks off at the end before he comes back.” Eli shrugged. “Fine with me if he does. Things here are flowing nicely.”

Talk turned away from medicine and onto the weather, as safe a topic as can be and one that held the attention of all the ranchers and farmers in the area. Rubber chicken was served and consumed, along with bottles of red and white wine to help wash it down. The cheesecake held no appeal, so Marti passed it off to Eli.

“No cheesecake?” he asked with astonishment.

“I’ve eaten my horse’s weight in that stuff. I’m over it.”

Eli ate his piece and hers, and then moaned. “Shouldn’t have done that. I’ll have to add a couple of extra miles to my jog tomorrow.”

“You want to start that exercise program tonight?” Marti asked with a tilt of her head toward the dance floor. “Music’s starting.”

Eli shoved back his chair and held out a hand. “Trip the light fantastic with me?”

“Man. That’s an old one.”

“Blame my grandmother,” he said with a laugh. “She loved to dance.”

Grasping his hand, she stood. “Lead on.”

His hand was broad, and thick, and very warm. Her breath caught at the warmth of his hand. Her heart galloped across her chest. She licked her lips nervously. Luckily for her, he was leading her to the dance floor so his back was toward her, and he couldn’t see her reaction to his touch. Once on the floor, he twirled her and caught her with a hand at her waist. Holy crap.

Eli was a smooth dancer, guiding her around the floor with a polished ease that hinted at either hours of dances or formal instruction. She wasn’t sure which, maybe both. Interestingly, she wasn’t surprised at how he danced. Everything about the way he carried himself and spoke to others hinted at an exclusive—meaning wealthy—background. But if that was true, why was he here in this podunk little town? She loved Whispering Springs, but she grew up here and knew all the town’s secrets. What did her town look like through the eyes of an outsider? Not just a person from outside Whispering Springs, but from outside of Texas?

When the first slow song began, he pulled her flush to his body and she completely lost her train of thought. He wrapped his arm around her waist, settling his hot fingers against the flesh uncovered by the deep vee design of the dress’s back. Her insides melted as lust pooled low in her gut.

If he could do that with a touch, heaven help her if he kissed her. She might go up in the flames.

They swayed to the music, her head resting on a broad shoulder. His masculine scent filled her nose as she drew in a deep breath. His cologne was a spicy aroma she’d never smelled on a man. But then, wasn’t it true that how a cologne smelled on one man might be different on another because of body chemistry? Whatever the reason, the scent blended with all his oozing testosterone to make her dizzy with lust.

As the song came to end, he leaned her into a deep dip. When he pulled her up, he hugged her, then released her, much to her disappointment. “How about some fresh air?”

Before she could answer, a male voice said, “Well, I’m surprised you’d show your face at this event.”

Marti’s heart dropped. “Hello, Mr. Roth.”

Eli’s arm wound around her shoulder and he eased her closer.

“Your grandmother would be so ashamed that you’d sully her event by coming.” He made the comment with his nose so high in the air Marti could almost count his nose hairs.

“Sir—” Eli started.

Marti stopped him with a gentle elbow in his side.

“My grandmother was my greatest champion, as I am hers. She would be proud that I’m here representing the Jenkins family.”

Roth scoffed. “I notice your parents aren’t here. Probably still embarrassed by you. Of course, it’s their fault you’ve turned out the way you have.”

Roth’s wife tugged at his arm. “That’s enough, Teddy. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Teddy,” Eli said with a sneer. “That really is enough.”

Roth looked at Eli. “I hear you’re a respectable man with an excellent future. Don’t waste it on a whore like this.” He gave Marti the evil eye and walked away with his wife, who looked over her shoulder and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

Marti nodded and turned to Eli, mustering a determined smile. “A breath of fresh air sounds perfect right now.”

Eli’s face was a mask of fury.

She tugged on his arm to get him away from the Roths before a more public confrontation occurred. “Let’s go.”

The ballroom had doors leading to an exterior terrace littered with tables and chairs and benches. They were not the first to escape the overheated room.

Eli laced his fingers through hers and led her off to a solo bench in the shadows. Once there, he put his finger under her chin and lifted her face.

“I don’t know what that was all about, but I think that man needs to see a psychiatrist,” he said and then pressed his mouth to hers.

The kiss was a light touch of lips. Nothing over the top or too intense, perfect for calming her embarrassment of the situation.

“I’m proud to be seen with you, regardless of what that ass said. Thank you for coming with me tonight.”

Marti rested her head on his hard chest. “I’m so sorry for Teddy Roth. I didn’t expect him to be here this year. He’s done a pretty good job of avoiding anything that has to do with my family.”

“Whatever his beef is, that outburst was inappropriate.”

She looked at Eli’s beautiful face and sighed. She sat on the bench and pulled him down next to her.

“Last fall, I was engaged to be married to Theodore Roth, their son. Obviously, the wedding didn’t happen.”

“You don’t have to explain,” Eli said. “I’m not here to pass judgment.”

“No, I want to. Really.” Her hands squeezed into fists.

He lifted the hand closest to him, uncurled the fingers, and kissed the palm.

Butterflies flittered in her stomach. This man was much too polished for a rough cowgirl like her. She wanted to jerk away, sure her work-roughed hands would be a turn-off. She didn’t, but she swore to do more hand care treatment in the future.

“Take your time or say never mind. It’s totally up to you.”

She drew a deep breath. “About a week before the wedding, I went to Theodore’s condo in town to drop off some presents. He wasn’t expecting me, but I had a key, so no big deal. I thought I’d let myself in and lock up when I was done.” She paused.

“Let me guess,” Eli said. “He wasn’t alone.”

She nodded slowly. “He wasn’t, but the person he was with wasn’t who I expected.”

“Your best friend,” he guessed.

“Close. His best friend Scott. They were making love. Theodore was horrified that I’d found out. Scott was glad. They’ve been lovers since their freshman year of college. They wer, and are, deeply in love with each other, but Theodore knew his parents would never accept Scott.” She drew in another deep breath. “I was furious at both of them. I had no interest in being Theodore’s beard.”

She turned to look at Eli. “I should have been more upset to find out Theodore had been unfaithful, but what I felt was anger that I’d be duped. Theodore begged me to go through with the wedding. The Roths are quite wealthy—well, maybe filthy rich would be a better way to put it. He promised me complete control of his trust fund to marry him. I don’t even know how many millions that might have been and frankly, it didn’t matter. He said he’d give me all that money, and he would find a job somewhere else, so we’d be married in name only, me being a very rich wife with a husband whose job required him to live elsewhere. I, of course, would have to stay in Whispering Springs because of the ranch. Getting the picture?”

“I am,” he replied in a very deep voice.

“That plan was insane. I would never marry for money. Never! Our ranch gets by. We aren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination, but I don’t have to eat Ramen Noodles for dinner every night.”

“Ah, yes. The good old college days. Ramen Noodles when the allowance ran short.”

She grinned. “So you understand that?”

With a chuckle, he nodded.

“Anyway, the three of us—Theodore, Scott and I—talked the rest of the day and into the next day. They’d been together for years. Scott wanted to marry Theodore, who was, and probably still is, terrified of his parents’ reaction to the news that he loves a man. I believe Theodore loved me, but not like he loved Scott. I could see it when he looked at the other man. The love simply poured from his eyes. It broke my heart. I wanted a man to look at me the way Theodore was looking at Scott. I couldn’t hate Theodore for being in love with someone else. Hell, I’m surprised Scott didn’t hate me for trying to break them up—not that I knew there was anything to break up,” she added in a rush.

“Anyway,” she continued, “I realized I wouldn’t be marrying Theodore, and then the awareness came to me that I wasn’t that upset. I should have been, but I wasn’t. I think I was getting married because I was twenty-nine, almost thirty, and so many of my childhood friends were married and having babies. I loved Theodore, but I wasn’t in love with him. I was in love with being married. Does that make sense?”

Eli nodded. “That must have been a difficult day.”

“You have no idea. Theodore begged me not to tell his folks, or anyone for that matter.” She looked at Eli. “I’m only telling you because first, you got sucked into Teddy Roth’s vitriolic wrath tonight, and second, you’ll be leaving Whispering Springs. I trust you’ll keep this under your hat.”

“Of course.” He put an arm around her and hugged. “They did me a great favor, you know.”

“They did?”

He pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “You are free to see me.”

She smiled. “I like how you think.”

Snaking an arm around his neck, she pulled him in for a long, wet, open-mouth kiss. Her lips parted and he slipped his tongue inside to caress hers with long strokes.

His heady scent intoxicated her as it had on the dance floor. He pulled her close, smashing her breasts against his chest with a hard tug. His hands found the naked flesh of her back in the low vee of her dress. He ran his fingers and palms across her skin, slipping fingers under the edges of the satin material.

Her heart raced and jumped with each stroke of his tongue against hers, each touch of his fingers on her back. Overcome with all the sensations, she could barely take it all in, barely catch her breath. This reaction, this complete submission of her body was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She was out of her league, in waters much too deep for a simple cowgirl like her.

She pulled away and dropped her forehead on his shoulder. She drew in a deep breath, willing her heart to slow, demanding the storm of emotions inside to cease. Nothing worked. A quiver rattled her, and a shiver ran down her spine.

“Are you cold?”

His deep, sensual voice did nothing to calm the emotional tempests inside her. If anything, his question fed fuel to her fires.

“No, no,” she said, her voice a tad breathless. “I’m fine.” More like she was on fire.

They sat in the quiet for a moment while they gathered their thoughts, and their breath.

“So, what happened to Theodore and Scott?”

She put her head against his chest, relieved to have a moment to collect herself. His heart pounded in her ear. It made her happy to know she’d caused his heart to race like hers.

“I did love Theodore, maybe not in the way I should, but I did care for him. I wanted him to have a wonderful life. Marrying me wouldn’t do that. We called off the wedding. No specific reason was given, but the rumor around town was that I had been found in a bed with the best man.” She chuckled softly. “How ironic, huh? Theodore and Scott left Texas and moved to Vermont. I talk to them often. They’ve married and are very happy.”

She looked up at him. “Of course, his parents don’t know. And although I might gossip as much as the next woman, I don’t want Theodore and Scott’s personal life to be fodder for the gossip mill. I wouldn’t have told you, but I felt you deserved a sane explanation of that completely insane conversation you had to witness. Plus you don’t really care about the town gossip. My family knows, of course, as does my best friend. But they’ll never say anything. They all know what kind of person Teddy Roth is.”

With a sigh, she rested the back of her head on the stone wall behind them. “The Roths know he has a great job there and is happy. But Teddy will never forgive me for driving his son away, or at least that’s his version of the story. He tells everyone that Theodore was so distressed and mortified by my indiscretion, that he left not only Whispering Springs but Texas. Now, people in town just nod and let Teddy rant, but most pay him no mind. Maybe someday, Theodore can tell his parents about Scott, but until then, it’s not my place.”

“It’s not fair,” Eli said.

“What isn’t? The Roths’ reaction to Theodore leaving?”

“No. I mean, it’s not fair that you have to take all the heat, while he gets off scott-free, no pun intended.”

She sat up and chuckled. “I’m not worried about it. Life is good. I love where I am. I mostly feel sorry for Theodore. His mother is a wonderful lady. Sometimes, like tonight, I suspect she knows the truth and can’t tell her husband. How she puts up with Teddy is a good question.” Placing her hand on his chest she said, “So that’s my story. What’s yours?”

“There you are,” said a female voice.

Marti looked up to find her friend Delene Younger walking toward them. “You disappeared when that horrible Teddy Roth said something to you. We were all worried. Do you need me to go kick his ass for you? I will, you know.”

Marti laughed and stood. Eli rose with her. “Thanks, Delene but I’m good. Have you met Eli Boone? Eli, this is Delene Younger, one my bestest buddies. Delene, this is Dr. Eli Boone. He’s covering for Hank Kelley while he does some additional training.”

Delene extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, doc. You friends with Hank?”

Eli shook her hand. “I am. Met him back in med school, and then ended up in the same residency program.”

Delene whistled. “So, you’re one of those fancy Harvard doctors, huh?”

Eli laughed. “Harvard, yes. Fancy, not so much.”

“Where’s your date?” Marti asked. “And better yet, who’s your date?”

Delene rolled her eyes. “I’m here with Zack, only because I couldn’t find anyone else with a tux.”

“Right,” Marti said. “And you probably really looked hard, huh?”

Delene gave Marti’s shoulder a gentle shove. “I did look. I swear. Besides, nobody fills out a tux like Zack.” She pumped her brows in an exaggerated fashion.

Marti looked at Eli, who wore a puzzled expression. “Delene and Zack dated in high school. They were the ‘it’ couple. Now, none of us can figure out what’s going on with them.”

Delene sighed. “Nothing. I needed a date. He has a tux. He wanted a free meal. Plus, he made me wash his truck today so we could bring it tonight.”

Marti rolled her eyes. Beside her Eli choked back a laugh.

Delene looked over her shoulder. “I’d better get back before Zack decides to head home. You know cowboys. He wanted to leave as soon as I’d taken my last bite of cheesecake. Said it was past his bedtime, and sadly, I don’t think he was kidding.” She hugged Marti and said, “Call me tomorrow and we can…” She looked at Eli and back to Marti. “Gossip.”

After Delene left, their little corner of the terrace seemed too quiet. “You ready to head back in?” Eli asked.

“Actually, Zack had a point. It is getting late. Maybe we should say our goodbyes and head out.”

Eli checked his watch. “It’s only a little after eleven.”

“Eleven!” she said with a mock gasp and slapped a hand to her chest. “Why, I turn into a witch hag at midnight. Hurry.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. “You could never be a witch hag,” he said in that low, sexy tone that melted every bone in her body.

She shivered again, not from the cold, but from the fire that flared inside her. “I haven’t forgotten about your marriage. You can tell me the story later, but I can be assured you’re not married now, right?”

“Marti,” he said, his voice like rough gravel. “I wouldn’t do this if I was married.” He turned her in his arms and took her mouth in a rough, demanding kiss.

He took a step forward, and she took one backwards until she was pressed between the hard, cold concrete wall of the building and the hard, hot concrete wall of his chest. Good thing he held her tightly, otherwise, she was likely to slide down the wall to the floor. He moved his hands to her ass and jerked her up against his stiff cock. Without conscious thought, she jutted her pelvis against his.

He pulled his mouth away with a groan.

“You have to give me a moment. I’d rather not point the way, if you get my drift.”

She smiled. “Lucky women. We can hide our arousal.”

“Sometimes,” he said. “Like right now? I can smell yours.”

She swallowed hard. “You can?”

“Oh yeah. Like the sweetest nectar. And your eyes.”

“What about my eyes?”

“Honey, every emotion shows on your face. Your eyes are big and dilated. Your lips… Oh my God, your lips are swollen and red and—” He released her and took one step back. “That isn’t helping.”

She couldn’t help it. She grinned. She’d known most of the men in this part of Texas all her life. She liked them all just fine. But none of them affected her like this Yankee did, and she was mighty pleased she wasn’t alone in this…whatever this was.