The sun bright in her eyes, Riley tentatively stepped away from the plane as the pilot hopped out and started to clear the cargo area of people’s baggage. Grabbing her phone from her purse, she took it off airplane mode, and immediately noticed a message from Addison.

A friend will pick you up. His name is Max. See you soon! it read.

Now that wasn’t very informative. Sighing as the sun continued to bear down on her, unprepared in her thick wool blazer, she walked over to the back of the plane to get her things. Her suitcase and duffel bag had already been set down on the ground, but before she could reach for them, hurried footsteps from behind caught her attention.

“I’ll get those,” a male voice said, making her whirl around.

The frame of a large, broad man momentarily blocked out the sun, leaving Riley staring up, stunned. Built like an action hero, with tousled brown hair and matching eyes, he gave her a friendly smile before reaching around her and grabbing her luggage.

“You must be Riley. Either that, or I’m currently stealing a stranger’s luggage,” he said.

“Max?” Riley blurted out, mostly just to say something, anything.

“That’s me,” he replied. “Addison sent me to pick you up. My truck is right over there,” he said, nodding to somewhere behind him.

But Riley was barely listening to what he was saying. Her heart began to thud, her throat turned dry, and the only thing she could focus on was how Addison had apparently sent a male model to pick her up as some sort of cruel joke. As if she didn’t know that Riley hadn’t had a decent date in what seemed like forever. Dangling a prime male specimen in front of her was just… unfair!

Rugged, with thick, dark brows, a square jaw and long, straight nose, there was a striking symmetry to Max’s face, and a kindness in his eyes. Cocking his head at her, he gave her a long look, one she thought might hold a hint of appreciation.

Unaware that she was even doing it before it was too late, Riley started fussing with her hair, surely a mess from a day of sleeping on planes. God, her make-up must have been even worse for wear, and she was suddenly very thankful she had eaten a couple of mints earlier.

Shaking her head to try and get her brain back into gear, she let out a nervous laugh.

“Right,” she said. “Of course.”

Picking up her bags as if she hadn’t had to pay overweight fees at the airport thanks to her indecisive packing, Max led the way. And she’d be damned if his ass in that worn pair of jeans he was wearing wasn’t a sight to see.

Before she even knew it, they were sitting in his truck, her bags in the back, and the airfield was in the rearview mirror. It still hadn’t completely hit Riley that she had actually left Chicago behind after having confronted Shannon the way she had. And now, her reaction to the man sitting behind the wheel next to her was confusing her even more.

“Have you been to Black Oak before?” Max asked, his low, growly voice cutting right to her core.

“Uh, no,” she replied. “I’ve never even been to Utah before. But since Addison doesn’t seem to be coming back to Chicago anytime soon…”

“Oh, I was supposed to tell you she’s sorry she wasn’t here to pick you up herself,” he said. “It’s kind of my fault, actually. She’s watching my little one while I took care of some business in town.”

“Oh, you have kids?” Riley couldn’t help but ask.

“Just the one,” he replied, a wide grin spreading over his face. “Olivia. She’s eleven months.”

“That’s a very pretty name,” Riley commented.

“I’d say thanks but I didn’t pick it,” Max shrugged.

“Well, you can pass the compliment on to her mother,” Riley joked, even as there was a distinct sting to finding out the man she was currently drooling over had turned out to be unavailable.

“She’s not in the picture, so that might be a little difficult,” he replied.

Max was trying to keep up his smile, but she could see it was with some difficulty.

“I’m sorry,” Riley quickly said.

Yet she had to admit there was a part of her that wasn’t all that sorry. Which was, of course, ridiculous. What did it matter if Max was in a relationship or not? She had come here to relax, and to get away from everything complicated.

And she had the distinct feeling Max had the potential to become very complicated.

“Have you lived here all your life?” Riley asked, changing the subject.

“I moved around a bit after finishing high school, and I’ve actually only been back a couple of weeks or so,” he replied. “I’m staying at the guest house on the ranch until I find the right place for me and Olivia.”

“Oh, you’re staying at… the ranch,” Riley parroted, not knowing what else to say.

Addison had somehow forgotten to mention Riley wouldn’t be their only visitor. Or was it deliberate? As deliberate as having Max be the one to pick her up? Riley told herself she was making connections that didn’t exist.

The world doesn’t revolve around you, Riley, she reminded herself.

“Yeah, Gage and I go way back,” Max said.

“So you’re a shifter, too?” she tentatively asked.

Riley already knew Black Oak was a prominent shifter town, and that Addison’s new man belonged to the local bear clan. Since the public had learned about the existence of shifters, the veil of mystery hanging over this genetically peculiar part of society had lifted somewhat, people had mostly put aside their fears and prejudices.

Still, Riley felt just a little uncomfortable asking the question.

“I am,” Max nodded.

Twisting around in her seat, Riley was overcome with curiosity. Sure, Addison’s former boss and current boyfriend’s brother had been a shifter, and a prominent one at that, but Riley herself had never had close contact with any shifter, as far as she knew.

“Is it true you can outrun a car?” she asked, hoping she wasn’t being offensive somehow.

Max just chuckled.

“Only as a bear,” he replied.

“But even when you’re not a bear, you still have… certain advantages?” Riley prodded.

She never could resist her thirst for information, even in situations where she knew it would be better to keep her mouth shut. But Max didn’t seem to mind the questions, and she loved to listen to him talk. There was something soothing about that deep, grumbly voice of his.

Max grinned to himself as he deftly maneuvered the winding roads unfurling in front of them. Soon enough, they became enveloped by trees on either side, gold peeking through the green canopy. Riley sighed at the relief of the shade, feeling her blouse stick to her back.

Flicking a glance at her, there was a teasing tone to his voice as he spoke, which drew an immediate reaction from Riley. Her stomach clenched, and she couldn’t help but study the appealing curve of his mouth.

“There are some perks,” Max said. “Want me to show off?”

Riley’s voice came out a little breathier than she had wanted.

“Go right ahead,” she replied.

“Your heart is beating a little faster than normal. I’d say around 120 beats per minute,” he started. “I recognize the perfume you’ve applied to your wrist, and behind your ear. Chanel?”

Nodding, Riley could feel her eyes widen.

“That’s awesome,” she exclaimed, earning another chuckle from Max.

“Just the way I was born,” he replied, casting another glance her way.

Their conversation flowed easily from there, with Riley still catching herself staring at him now and then, but the nerves were mostly gone. Before she knew it, they were pulling up to what looked like a massive estate, with a backdrop of deep green forests and mountains jutting up into the sky.

Max hopped out first, circling around to open the truck door for her. As she stepped onto the grass, the door to the house swung open to reveal Addison, a huge smile on her face and a toddler on her hip.

Riley felt like she had tumbled into a whole other world as she studied her surroundings, and her old friend, who looked so well-rested and happy, it made her want to take a nap.

Maybe coming here was a good idea, after all.