“Hell, no!”

Lincoln McCall refused to be pushed around. With over a decade in the Texas National Guard, he’d discovered his backbone a long time ago in the deserts of Iraq and the occasional activations on the home front during floods and storms. So his brother was wasting his time trying to coerce him into making a move on one of the bridesmaids. Just because his twin exchanged vows with his soulmate two hours ago didn’t mean Linc was looking to do the same.

Hell, he was all for hooking up at a wedding, just not with this particular woman.

She was damned dangerous.

And uninterested, which didn’t bother his ego at all. Nope. Not one bit.

Zip.

“Ah, come on, bro.” Logan, slapped his shoulder and increased his grin to goofy. An expression the guy adopted since meeting his bride last summer when their father had hired the pretty graphic artist to work on a campaign for the family’s nationwide sporting goods company. Other than one hiccup, the two had pretty much been inseparable ever since. “Go over there and have fun. You know you want to talk to her.”

Linc regarded his smirking twin. Although fraternal and not identical, they resembled each other too much not to be considered brothers. Same with Mac, except their younger brother’s eyes were brown, not gray, and instead of working in the family business, he was currently off the grid with his Delta Force unit, no doubt in some Godforsaken hellhole risking his ass for their country.

At least the guy had been able to congratulate the happy couple over the phone last night.

“Yeah.” Chloe stepped closer, her white satin gown making a swooshing sound as she…tripped.

Beautiful and klutzy.

Thank God Logan had quick reflexes…and great health insurance.

“Ack!” She reached out and simultaneously grasped his and Logan’s shoulders to steady herself. “Sorry. I should’ve worn the boots like my sister suggested.” She laughed. “Anyhow, Linc, I was just going to point out that this time you could talk to Ashley without falling into the pool with her like you did last October at our engagement party.”

He shook his head at the happy bride and groom sporting identical grins. “You two are as bad as Mom and Dad, and Aunt Leanne and Uncle Alex. They practically pushed me in Ashley’s direction five minutes ago. Forget it. It’s not happening.”

If he had known Logan and Chloe’s wedding reception would unleash the matchmaking hounds of central Texas, Linc would’ve encouraged his twin to hold it somewhere other than Amity, the ranch he co-owned with Logan and Mac.

Much easier to explain his disappearance from a banquet hall than his own property.

Try as he might, Linc couldn’t stop his gaze from flicking across the decked out pavilion to the woman in question, noting how well the silky blue dress hugged her curves to perfection and deepened the brown of her eyes.

A weird warming sensation hit his body. He held back a grunt. That strange phenomenon only occurred whenever he stared at the girl he used to meet in secret back in his youth.

He could still picture her lounging on the porch swing in a tank top and shorts, golden tan on her mile-long legs, her warm, open, pretzel-brown gaze the same shade of her long hair that brushed back and forth on the floor boards as she swayed. “I don’t think your eyes got the memo, bro.” Logan chuckled.

Bastard.

Ignoring the dig, he continued his appraisal.

She sure grew up gorgeous—a little taller and into her curves, and although her hair wasn’t as long now, it still fell past her shoulders in a curtain of brown silk he’d been itching to touch for four months now.

Ever since the pool soaking Chloe mentioned.

“It’s true, Linc.” His sister-in-law’s voice brought him back to the present. “Your gaze has been straying to Ashley all day. Isn’t that right, Joseph and Cady?”

Ah, hell…

Lincoln stiffened before he turned to find the groomsman and bridesmaid next to the newlyweds, smiling at him.

The former extreme sports enthusiast used to tempt fate with Logan, until a few years ago when he’d ended up paralyzed from a dirt bike accident. Now Joseph was happily married to the physical therapist whose magical hands he claimed had healed him, and together they were the parents of a beautiful little girl.

“It’s true.” Joseph cocked his head and nodded toward the corner. “You’ve been checking her out since you two took the plunge last October.”

It was his daughter’s fault. Ashley had jumped to avoid the tiny running speed demon and ended up knocking them both into the pool. Once the initial shock of hitting the water fully dressed wore off, he’d been immediately aware of the familiar curves plastered against him, and that the girl from his adolescent fantasies had matured into the erotic adult version.

“Don’t pay them any mind.” Cady stepped forward to touch his arm, then stilled.

Shit.

Linc’s heart dropped to his knees. This wasn’t good. The last time that happened she’d predicted the end of his brother’s bachelorhood. The woman was gifted with the ability to read people from just a touch. To see into their past, or their future. So Cady was either about to jump on the matchmaking posse, or remark about his death-defying incidents from his two deployments.

“Interesting.” Cady tilted her head while her mouth curved into a smile. “Second time around.”

That didn’t clear things up. Did she mean Ashley or death? Considering her full grin and the sparkle in her dark eyes, he figured she meant the former.

“Most interesting.” She released him before stepping back to slip her arm around her husband.

What was interesting?

Jesus, now he knew how Logan had felt last year when they’d met the McCoys for a Welcome Back From Deployment drink, and Cady had stated his brother was about to meet his soulmate.

Logan had brushed it off, until he smacked into Chloe five minutes later. Literally.

Joseph thrust a beer at him. “Here, you look like you could use this.” Damn McCoy chuckled as he pulled Cady in closer to his side. “My wife has that look on her face again.”

“I know that look.” Logan grinned, draping his arm around his wife.

Chloe glanced from face to face. “Okay, I’ll bite. What look?”

His brother nodded. “Yeah. What kind of read you were getting from my brother that was so interesting, Cady?”

Ah, hell.

Now things were definitely getting Déjà-fucking-vu from last year, except it was ass-backwards and he was the one on the spot.

Willing them to go mingle elsewhere, Linc took a pull of his beer. He’d picked out a nice, quiet little corner where he could keep an eye on the matchmaking McCalls, steer clear of a few of the female guests with their gazes full of wedding bells…and his eye on the amorous cowboys circling Ashley and Chloe’s sister, Stefanie, while the two women talked and laughed on the other side of the pavilion. They stood near the tables filled with the McCoy clan, from Kerrville and near Austin. They were a good bunch that had your back, and they always made celebrating fun. Some of the women even helped Kerri with the reception.

Cady’s perceptive gaze settled on him again. “You can’t escape your destiny.”

Linc swallowed a few curses with a mouthful of beer. Yep. Definitely understood how Logan felt last year. And just like his brother, he wasn’t biting either.

“Words I live by.” He raised his bottle and winked.

Twice he’d cheated death overseas. The memory of those incidents haunted Linc’s sleep every damn time he closed his eyes, so he’d made a pact to treat each day like it was his last. To say what he meant. Do what he wanted, and right now, he wanted out of this damn conversation.

“His destiny?” Logan frowned, no doubt recalling the bullet that had missed Linc and killed the soldier next to him last year. “What about his destiny?”

“Confronting his soulmate again,” Cady replied, similar to last year when he’d questioned her about Logan.

Okay, so it was definitely not about death, which was good.

But, that meant it was about soulmates. Not good or bad. Just…interesting, as Cady put it.

The McCalls had a history with soulmates. Not just Logan, but their cousin Cole, too. Linc glanced at the crowded dance floor to his dark-haired, dark-eyed cousin, who looked even more like Mac’s brother than he and Logan. Cole held his wife close, fierce love and affection blazing in their eyes as they swayed. Jordan was the girl from Cole’s childhood. She was the same age as him and Logan, and he remembered her as a beautiful, tenacious teen. Now, she was a widow who reunited with her Cole, her soulmate, after more than a decade apart.

It all hit a little too close for comfort.

Chloe blinked at Cady. “Is Ashley Linc’s soulmate?”

And that was his cue to leave.

The gifted woman hit him with her dark, direct, Creole gaze. “That is something for him to tell.”

Hell, no.

He straightened his shoulders. “What I will tell you is I need another beer, and Logan, you and Chloe need to worry about yourselves. This is your day. Your party. Quit wasting your time on me. Go celebrate. Have fun. Enjoy.”

Before anyone replied, he turned and strode through the crowd of merry-makers toward the buffet table in search of food. Especially since his cousin’s wife Kerri cooked all the food. Connor’s wife was a world-renowned chef who owned and operated a popular restaurant with Jordan, her sister, in south Texas. Every guest here was in for a treat, and apparently they knew it because the line for food was too long. 

All that talk of soulmates made him antsy. He didn’t want to stand in line. And Christ, the last thing he needed was for his parents or aunt and uncle to overhear that talk about soulmates. Thank God they were out of earshot.

Linc got it. He understood. They were all happily married. That’s what they wanted for him, too. But he’d outgrown that “want” by the time he’d returned from his first deployment.

Life was too short. Too unpredictable for promises.

He ought to know. He’d seen it right and left in the military. Hell, he was living proof. It changed his outlook. He went from serious to easy-going. Steered clear of women looking for a relationship. Kept it up-front and casual. No more than two dates. Simple. Clean. Easy.

A good, solid philosophy that had served him well. So why the hell did his gaze keep straying toward the girl from his past?

Ashley had always been beautiful and kind, with the biggest heart. It’s what had hooked him the summer before his senior year in high school.

Linc had been visiting his mother’s godfather, Amity’s previous owner, and was out walking through the vast acreage when he’d stumbled across a pretty blushing brunette. Ash was the only girl he’d ever known who wore her heart in her eyes and her smile. She’d been sixteen and the epitome of sweet, and he’d been smitten from the start.

Since the two of them were never introduced by their families, and Ashley’s mother had warned her to steer clear of the McCall brothers, the two of them often snuck off to meet at the abandoned house he now owned and was repairing that was two miles down the road.

And although they’d been alone, they hadn’t shared more than a few heated kisses. Ashley was special. He’d wanted to take it slow. Treat her right. But he lived hours away, and she lived in Phoenix, only visiting her uncle once a month. Their time was limited and eventually ran out.

Once that summer had ended, he never saw her again…until last year when he returned from deployment to find her widowed and leasing one of the cabins on their ranch for six months.

She pretty much avoided him, and when they were in the same room, the woman acted like they’d never met. Laughed. Joked. Kissed.

God, she’d had the sweetest lips.

And the best laugh. It was full and wholehearted and real. Not fake.

Like now.

He could hear it, but didn’t feel it. Not like before when it had been so full of life. The kind that used to reach inside and spread warmth throughout his chest. Now, it was…hollow. Empty.

His insides twisted at that revelation.

Still, he needed to let things be. She’d made it clear she didn’t want his friendship.

And with four matchmaking couples at the reception, and talk of soulmates, he needed to follow her lead.

But the thing was, they were friends. Their past dictated that, whether Ashley wanted to admit it or not. And he couldn’t, in good conscience, turn his back on her any longer. She was going through what had to be one of the darkest times of her life. And this wedding must be hard as hell on her.

Setting his resolve, Linc cut through the crowded dance floor.

Oh, he knew he should be running from, and not to, the only woman capable of bringing him to his knees. But he was a risk-taker, and he hated how her once warm, open gaze was now guarded and wary.

Unacceptable.

“Well, ladies.” Smiling, he stopped in front of Ashley and Stefanie. “Judging by the amount of cowboys leaving this corner clutching their crushed hearts and bruised egos in their hands, I’d say you’ve had a busy night.”

Stefanie laughed outright, while Ashley merely grinned.

That wouldn’t do. He aimed to get at least an earnest giggle from the woman before the night was through.

And that was just the start.

Over the few weeks remaining on her stay, he was determined to help her find her smile again. Have fun again. Live again.

Mission on.

***

Hell, no.

This wasn’t happening. Why had Linc come over to their corner?

Ashley Patterson fought the urge to panic and nearly lost, but at the last second her body remembered how to breathe, and several hefty doses of oxygen helped her to remain calm.

She hadn’t smiled at him or encouraged him, and she was pretty sure Stef hadn’t either. So why was he there?

For the past four months, the man hadn’t shown the slightest bit of interest in her the while she’d lived on his property. Heck, he rarely smiled at her, barely nodded or exchanged more than a polite greeting when their paths had crossed.

So what made the sexy cowboy, with the body she’d discovered was deliciously muscled and hard—thanks to her almost accidentally drowning him last fall—decide to speak to her now?

And why was he smiling? This wasn’t good. His smiles still affected her pulse.

Darn it.

You can do this.

Wrapping bravado around her like a wet towel, she met his incredible gaze. It was okay. She’d faced him before, and each time it was brief. No biggie. “I’m surprised you’re missing your chance, Linc.”

He raised a brow. “What chance might that be, Ash?”

Even after a decade, the sound of his pet name for her on his lips still sent a round of shivers down her body. And now she felt him everywhere.

Not good. Time to get rid of him.

She nodded towards the gaggle of women gawking at the gorgeous cowboy with interest in their eyes, and exposed necklines bursting with mounds of cleavage. “The chance to go hang with your fan club. I’d say it was a safe bet they won’t shoot you down. After all, they’re your favorite type of women. Willing and eager.”

That wasn’t fair or nice, her mind balked at her harsh words.

Stef snickered. “I think that’s my cue to go find another cowboy with an ego that needs crushing. Ashley’s got this handled.”

A second later, she was alone with a grinning Linc.

Ever since his return from deployment last year, he hadn’t really pursued anyone…or so she’d heard. Talk around the ranch had mentioned how the responsible young man, who used to help her uncle—and kiss her breathless—had changed over the last decade. He was still responsible, held some kind of high position in the corporate office of the national chain of sporting goods stores his family owned, and the rank of sergeant in the National Guard, but the man was also a playful risk-taker, out for a good time.

Not that she was keeping track.

Hell, no.

Those were just facts she’d overheard on his ranch. Like the one where he’d never settled down. Probably because the guy didn’t date the same woman long.

Again, none of her business.

Ashley hadn’t meant to hear those things, but she had, and they stuck. Apparently, he liked things carefree and light.

God, she envied him.

Over twenty months ago, her husband had died, and although it no longer felt like she was breathing with an elephant on her chest, Ashley wasn’t ready to jump into the relationship pool again. Not for her mother’s lack of trying. Or Beverly’s, her business partner. They were the reason she’d left California, her home, the law practice, her life, to escape to the one place she’d always felt at peace.

Amity.

The funny thing was, she didn’t really miss California, especially the way everyone had regarded her with pity.

Deep down, Ashley knew they’d meant well, but damn, it had suffocated.

Not here, though. Not on her uncle’s ranch…well, the McCall’s ranch.

“Sorry, that was mean.” Her cheeks heated with a well-deserved blush.

Linc and everyone on the ranch had treated her with nothing but kindness, and respected her privacy. Sure, she could feel their concern, but it wasn’t rammed down her throat at every turn. Here, she had the ability to slowly uncurl from her inner fetal position and start to take steps without someone telling her it was wrong, or overdue.

Here, she called the shots and set the pace in her journey back to participating in life again.

“No worries,” he replied with an easy grin. “It was also true, but don’t fret about my ego. You couldn’t bruise it if you tried.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t have one.”

The absurdity of his statement caught her off guard, and Ashley did something she hadn’t in almost two years. She laughed. An honest to goodness laugh. Not one she felt compelled to force, that only engaged her mouth. This one was real and unexpected.

It felt good. Great, actually.

Judging by the pleased expression lighting his face, he recognized the honesty in her outburst, too.

“I have to admit, I am curious.” He inched closer and cocked his head. “I’d love to know how long.”

She frowned. “How long what?”

“How long are we supposed to pretend we don’t know each other?”