September, six weeks later

“Have you heard from Eli?” Delene asked.

“Nope, and I don’t expect to.”

Friday night at Leo’s was its usual crowd of cowboys, bankers, lawyers, doctors, and other singles looking for love in a small town in Texas.

Looking for love in all the wrong places, she thought.

She certainly was. Somehow the world seemed a little less colorful these days, music less melodious. Her parents were home, and everything at the ranch was back to normal.

And normal was boring.

The men in her town were boring.

Books, especially romances, couldn’t hold her attention.

Television was dreadful.

There were only so many hours a day she could ride.

“I’m surprised,” Tina said, pulling Marti from her mental whining. “You guys were so close.”

Marti shrugged. “It was fun while it lasted. We knew going in that we were in it for a good time, and that was all.”

“What utter bullshit,” Delene said. “I’m surprised your breath smells minty fresh with all the crap you’re spewing.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Marti lifted her beer.

Delene rolled her eyes. “You’ve always been a shitty liar, Marti. I’m still astounded Eli believed you.”

“Of course he did. I told him the truth.”

“Oh, so you told him that you loved him, and thought that by kicking him in the nuts, he’d leave with a clear conscious and have a wonderful life?”

“I’m not in love with him,” she said forcefully.

“Yeah,” Tina said. “Shitty liar.” She looked at Delene. “Does she think we don’t remember the last six weekends of tears and ice cream?”

“Shut up,” Marti said, without any malice in her voice. She sighed. “I’m leaving.” She stood.

“Where you going, Marti?” Chad asked. “The night’s just getting started.”

Before she could answer, Delene tugged at her shirt hem. “Don’t look now, but the man you’re not in love with just walked in the door.”

Marti froze, afraid the Delene was lying and terrified that she was telling the truth.

“Hey, everyone. Hi, Marti.”

Eli’s deep voice rattled through her, grabbed her heart, and squeezed. Her back stiffened. Hell, everything in her stiffened. He couldn’t do this to her. She was just now barely able to sleep without him infiltrating her dreams.

There was a chorus of greetings from their usual gang.

“Hi, Marti,” he repeated.

She turned to look at him. Her stomach fell to her knees, while her heart jumped into her throat. The air left her lungs. Damn it. He wore pressed khakis and a white oxford shirt with the long sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm—his very muscular, sexy forearms. His hair was a little longer, his face shaved smoother than a baby’s butt, and his mouth—his full, luscious mouth—tugged at the corners with a smile.

“Hi, Eli. You’re looking well.” Through sheer will, she kept her voice steady.

“You, too. Mind if I join you?”

She shrugged. “Not my table. Help yourself.” She stood. “In fact, I had just accepted Zack’s invitation to dance, right, Zack?”

Zack looked up in confusion. “What?”

Delene elbowed him…hard. “You and Marti were just going to dance, remember?”

“Huh?”

Delene jabbed him again.

“Oh, right. Come on, Sweetcheeks.” He grabbed Marti’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.

“Thanks, Zack,” she said, when they were away from the table.

“Sure. Don’t know what’s going on, but being a guy, I’m thinking I don’t want to.”

“It’s probably better,” she agreed.

* * *

Eli watched Marti and Zack dance. She wore a pair of tight jeans that show all her assets. Her top was low and clingy, and it was all he could do not to stomp out there and jerk her away. Marti’s laugh rose above the music, burning his gut with searing jealousy. His pulse pounded in his ears like a base drum. He didn’t believe for one minute that Marti was over him, that she’d forgotten him.

The last six weeks had been hell. He went to sleep thinking about her. Woke up thinking about her. His dreams were filled with her laughing, sighing, and always making love with him.

His apartment was too quiet, too still. Food didn’t taste as good. When he walked the streets, he thought of things he wanted, no, needed to tell her. He’d picked up the phone more times than he wanted to count. Once, he’d actually waited until she’d answered, but his voice had failed him, and he’d hung up. All his insecurities from childhood came rushing back. He wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough to keep someone like her.

A couple of times, he’d gone on dates set up by friends and family. One of the women, Ruth Smith, was a friend of the family that his mother had been pushing on him for years. Ruth was sweet, pretty, and wanted nothing more than to be the society wife of a prominent doctor. She’d laughed at all his lame jokes, never disagreed with anything he said, and left him in the driver’s seat when it came to sex. She’d let him know she wouldn’t say no if the opportunity arose. It hadn’t.

He’d been so bored.

He needed a woman who challenged him, drove him crazy with her mouth, and stood on her own merits. Someone who didn’t give a crap about who Elias Boone was in society. Someone who didn’t care that he was worth millions.

He needed Martha Gale Jenkins.

Another laugh from the dance floor had his teeth gritting. He stood and grabbed Delene’s hand. “Dance with me.”

She looked with surprise, and then a smile slowly crossed her lips. “Okay, Doctor. Let’s give my friend a taste of her own medicine.”

He led them onto the dance floor in time for a slow, crooning Tim McGraw song. Putting an arm around her waist, he held her and began to move.

Delene rested her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. “Came back to claim your gal?”

“Maybe, or maybe I left behind some stuff I need to ship to New York.”

Delene laughed. “You’re as bad as she is. Both of you, a couple of liars.”

Eli snorted. “That obvious, huh?”

“Eli, if this dance is supposed to make her jealous, you need to step up your game.”

“What do you mean?”

Delene slid her arms from his shoulders to around his neck. “Hold me closer like I was Marti.”

He pulled her in.

“Better. Now smile. You look like you’re on a death dance.”

He laughed, and when he did, Marti’s head jerked in his direction. Her lips pressed into a firm, straight line.

“Oh, dear.” Delene chuckled in his ear. “My friend does not like this.”

Eli pulled her tighter. “You’re a good friend.”

“To both of you.”

“Yes, you are. Was she as miserable as I was?”

“I don’t know. Were you mopey, bitching, and impossible to live with?”

“I might’ve heard me referred to as a sonofabitch once or twice.”

She snorted.

“I really miss her, Delene. What can I do?”

“I don’t know. If you’re thinking sweet talk her into moving to New York City, I don’t think that’ll work. She hates crowds. Loves wide open spaces. She’s not made for New York. I mean, I know some people love it there. She wouldn’t. You might talk her into moving, but she wouldn’t be happy.”

“And if she’s not happy, I’m not going to be happy either.”

“Exactly.”

He sighed and let his mind wander. “You’re saying I have to move here for her to be happy?”

“No. Not at all. But, and think about this,” she said gently. “Maybe you aren’t meant to be together. Maybe you had fun, even developed some feelings for each other, but in the long run, you’re two ships that pass in the night.”

“No.” His voice was forceful. “You’re wrong.”

She shrugged. “Maybe so, but I don’t see this working. You work in New York. She lives in Texas. Each of you are where you want to be.” She kissed his cheek. “I love Marti and I want her to be happy. But New York isn’t the answer. Sorry.”

They made their way back to the table of friends. Marti had taken a seat between Chad and Zack, as though flanked by two bodyguards. Eli pulled back a chair for Delene and took the one next to her.

“So, how’s New York?” Chad asked. “Bet you love it. All those single ladies just looking for love.”

“What?” Chad said, and looked at Tina. “Why’d you kick me?”

She sighed and picked up her beer.

“New York is fine,” Eli said. “Quite different from Whispering Springs.”

“Must be nice to be closer to your mother,” Marti said. “I bet you’re seeing quite a bit of her these days.”

He frowned. What did that mean? “Some. My parents don’t actually live in New York, but yes, living there does put me closer in distance to them”

“Wonderful.” Marti’s voice reeked of sarcasm.

“What are doing back in Texas?” Chad asked. “Forget something.”

“Yeah,. I did,” Eli said. “And I came back to get it.”

Marti stood. “I’m going to call it a night. Early day tomorrow. Later, gang.” She whirled on her cowboy boots and rushed to the exit.

“Now, what’d I do?” Chad asked.

Tina put her arm around his shoulders. “I’ll explain it all later.”

* * *

It was difficult to find the Flying Pig ranch truck through blurry eyes, but Marti did. She climbed in, gunned the engine, and floored it out of the lot. How dare he come back and flaunt all his women in her face? Oaky, so maybe he didn’t do that but still… She wanted to…wanted to…Oh, hell, she wanted to kiss him, and hold him, and tell him how much she’d missed him. She’d done a great job hiding how distressed she’d been when he’d left. Well, maybe Delene and Tina knew, but no one else had. She’d been the fun friend they’d always known.

And now here he was, totally wrecking her life again. Damn him.

She flipped on the radio, trying to lose herself in music, but then that Tim McGraw song came on, the one where her traitorous friend laughed and danced with Marti’s guy, and she burst into tears. Damn it.

Mashing hard on the accelerator, she picked up speed, racing for the safety and security of home. Eli wouldn’t be here long, probably just the weekend. She would simply outwait him. She had plenty of things to do that would keep her busy until Monday.

She turned on a backroad that was a great shortcut. There were never any cops, or much traffic, back here. She pushed the truck up to seventy-five, ready to be home.

Out of nowhere, a deer leapt across the road. She slammed on the brakes. The truck fishtailed in the dirt and gravel. Jerking the wheel, she tried to compensate, tried to get the truck straight again. The deer crashed into the driver’s side of the front, smashing in the headlight and hood, busting the windshield, and sending the truck careening into a ditch.

The floorboard jammed backwards and up. The steering wheel crammed down on her thighs, trapping Marti. Red-hot pain shot through her body. Blood dripped off her head into her eyes. The excruciating agony was more than she could take. Her head grew heavy and she sagged against the door window. No one would find her until it was too late. She shut her eyes and waited to die.

* * *

“Marti. Open your eyes.”

The deep male voice was exactly how she’d always thought God would sound, but right now, she was pissed at him. She didn’t want to see him. He’d let her see what real love was and then took it back. Nope. She wasn’t happy with God right now.

She turned her head away from the voice. “No. Go away,” she said, or maybe she just thought it. Didn’t matter. God would get the message.

“Marti.” The same voice, but this time, it sounded nicer. “Open your eyes, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? God was calling her sweetheart?

“Listen to me,” the voice said. “I’m here. I love you. I can’t live without you. Don’t you dare leave me.”

“What?” she choked out.

A hand stroked her face. “I love you. Open your eyes.”

Marti forced a slit in her eyes. Bright white light hit her, and she slammed her lids shut. “No, God. I won’t look at you.”

The voice chuckled. “Marti, honey, it’s not God. It’s Eli. Look at me. Wait, I’ll shade your eyes.”

Someone fitted a hat on her head.

“Now, try to open your eyes.”

Marti opened her lids just enough to see Eli leaning over her.

“Hey. You scared all of us.” He took her hand and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “I am so glad to see your beautiful eyes.”

“Don’t have beautiful eyes,” she coughed out.

He smiled. “They look like diamonds to me.” He held her hand tightly against his chest. “Do you know where you are?”

“Heaven?”

He laughed. “Close. Whispering Springs Hospital. Do you remember the wreck?”

She closed her eyes. Tried to remember. “I remember you dancing with Delene, and then I left.” Opening her eyes, she said, “Why did you dance with my friend?” Before he could reply, she added, “You love me?”

“I love you so much it hurts.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I tried. You wouldn’t let me.”

She closed her eyes. “Sorry.”

“Do you remember the accident?”

“A deer. Ran into my truck. I thought I was dead.”

“Not dead. The deer lost the fight, and you were pretty banged up.”

“I hurt.”

“Right now you hurt?”

“No. I hurt when I left the bar. I wasn’t drunk. I hadn’t even had a drink yet.”

“I know, darling. You don’t have to talk right now.”

“Throat’s sore.”

“Yeah. The ET tube can do that.”

“Am I going to die? Is that why you’re here?”

“Open your eyes and look at me.” She did. “You are not dying. You broke your left leg, your shoulder and some ribs. We had to take you to surgery to set your leg and shoulder. You are very very lucky.”

“Did you do the surgery?”

“Doctors don’t operate on family members.”

“I’m not your family.”

“You will be. I do love you, Marti. You’ve had me in a daze since the first day I met you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me.”

It was painful but she shook her head. “Can’t. I love you, but I would make you miserable. Don’t like New York.”

“I thought a prestigious job and a fancy city would make me happy. It didn’t. You make me happy. Where you are is where I will be. If it’s Whispering Springs, Texas, then that’s where I am. If it’s McCarthy, Alaska, I’m there.”

She coughed. “Alaska’s too cold.”

He laughed and kissed her. “I’ll follow you to Mars, if that’s what it takes to convince you. I love you, Martha Gale Jenkins.”

“I love you Elias…I don’t know your middle name. How can I be in love with someone and not know their full name?”

“Elias Jacob.”

“I love you Elias Jacob Boone.”

“Marry me? Make me the happiest man in Texas?”

* * *

November

“Ready?”

Marti looked at Delene and Tina. She’d let each of them pick out whatever dress they wanted to wear today. It honestly didn’t matter to her one bit. The two dresses complimented in style and color and she’d bet Ransom they’d coordinated the purchase through Tina’s dress shop. Deep purple for Delene and a deep pink for Tina. Each carried a long, white rose.

Marti stood and Tina rushed to straighten Marti’s bell-shaped gown, flipping the train of the dress out behind her.

“Your leg okay?” Tina asked. “You hurting?”

“I’m fine. Really,” she added when Tina looked doubtful. “It hurts a little but the cast is off, and I’m headed down that aisle to marry Eli, even if you two have to carry me.”

“You look gorgeous,” Delene said. “Tina, you picked the perfect dress for Marti.”

“I know,” Tina said, still fussing with the skirt. “The minute I saw it, I knew it was the one. Luckily for me, she agreed.”

“I didn’t care what I wore. Seriously. I’d do this in the nude, if it meant marrying Eli Boone.”

“Yeah, well, the guys would have loved the nude part, but I doubt your groom would have. He’s kind of the jealous type.”

Marti smiled. “And so am I. I don’t want you two to know just how good he looks without his scrubs on.”

The three of them giggled.

There was a knock of the door a second before Marti’s dad opened it. “It’s time, honey.”

“I’m ready, Dad. I’ve been ready my whole life for Eli.”

Tina led the way down the aisle, followed by Delene and finally by Marti and her dad. Eli’s face broke into a wide smile the minute their gazes met.

Marti’s breath caught. Lord, how she loved the look of a man in a black tux, especially this man.

She and her Dad stopped at the pew where her mother sat. Marti kissed her mother’s cheek and then her dad’s. Her dad took a seat beside her mother. Marti didn’t need her parents to give her away. She wasn’t going anywhere. Eli had found his way back home to Whispering Springs and the Riverside Orthopedic Clinic, joining his friend in the practice.

Eli took her hand and stared into her eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you.”

They turned to face the preacher to join their lives and live happily ever after in a small town in Texas.