Before Quinn started soldering the fuel tank, he returned a couple of calls that had come in while his phone had been silenced. One was from a guy in Bozeman, but it turned out he didn’t have the fuel tank model Quinn needed, after all. The lead in Billings was more promising, but in the end Quinn decided the tank they were offering had seen too much hard use to be a safe bet.

This morning Faith had hauled out everything he’d need for the soldering and left it in the stall. He missed having her there as he got started. She likely would have wanted the experience, but she and Cody had an appointment with the minister this afternoon to go over their vows.

Plugging in the soldering iron, he got to work. With critical jobs like this, his focus was so complete that he lost track of time and his surroundings. Only two things affected him that way—working on his bike and scratchboarding.

He’d finished the soldering and was ready to test the job he’d done when he caught a movement from the corner of his eye and he glanced toward the open stall door.

Kendra leaned against it, watching him.

He nudged back his hat and smiled. “Howdy.”

“Howdy, yourself.”

“How long have you been there?”

“A while. Didn’t want to interrupt.”

“You could have. It’s not like I’m doing heart surgery.”

“Bladder surgery?”

He laughed. “Yeah, that fits. I’m about to find out whether the surgery was successful. You can come in, if you want.”

“Okay.” She walked in and stood on the far side of the bike.

“Are you finished with your lessons?” He picked up the gas can.

“Only one today, after all. The second person cancelled.”

“Too bad. I would have liked to watch.” After putting some gas in the tank, he crouched down, inspected the tank and swore under this breath.

“That doesn’t sound promising.”

“It’s not. Still leaks, damn it.”

“Will you solder it again?”

He shook his head. “There comes a time when you just need to replace a part. I had a hunch that would be the case, but I wanted to try this first.”

“How tough will it be to get a fuel tank for a bike this old?”

The comment made him smile. He stood. “Watch your language. She doesn’t think she’s old.”

“She?”

“Yeah. I know it’s silly, but—”

“No, it’s not. Does she have a name?”

“Cassandra.”

“I like it.” She folded her arms and surveyed the motorcycle. “Goes with the classy red paint job. She looks like a Cassandra.”

He was struck by how naturally Kendra fit into his space, as if she’d been there all along. “I had the strangest feeling just now.”

“Oh?” She glanced up.

“Like I’ve known you for way more than a few months.”

She met his gaze. “I’ve thought that, too. Like I can speak my mind because you’ll get it.”

“Same here. Or that you might even guess what I’m thinking before I say it.”

She nodded.

“Which means you probably know that if I didn’t have gas on my hands right now, I’d come over there and kiss you.”

Heat flared in her eyes. “We can fix that problem.” She walked around the bike. “How about if I kiss you, instead?”

Hot damn. “Okay.” His heartbeat kicked into high gear. “I promise not to touch you.” He curled his fingers into his palms.

“Thanks.” Her mouth tipped up at the corners. “I don’t want to smell like gas at tonight’s deal.”

“Understood.”

“But I’ve been thinking about this all day.”

“Me, too.”

She cupped his face in her warm hands and her eyes darkened to navy. “I want to know what it feels like without the mustache.”

His breath hitched. “Be my guest.”

“Technically, you’re mine.” Dipping her head under the brim of his hat, she touched her soft lips to his.

Oh, yeah, he was hers, all right. She had carte blanche to do whatever she wanted with him. He held on for dear life, his nails biting into his palms as he controlled the fierce desire rolling through him.

She could have made it a chaste kiss, a friendly gesture to test how this worked without the facial hair. But oh, no. She used her tongue to drive him crazy. If her tightening grip and her mounting enthusiasm were any indication, she was going a little crazy, too.

When he began to shake from the effort of keeping his hands to himself, she let him go.

Stepping back, she gulped for air.

So did he, while she stared at him and he stared right back.

She drew in a breath and pressed a hand to her chest. “I should go. I have stuff to do.”

“What’s the…” He paused to clear his throat. “What’s the verdict?”

“On what?”

“Kissing without the ‘stache.”

“I liked it.” She took another deep breath and smiled. “I liked it a lot. Later, Quinn.” She skedaddled out of the barn.

Later. He stood immobilized for an embarrassingly long time. Later. Maybe she’d meant to tease him. He’d used the same parting shot earlier. Or maybe…

Don’t count your chickens, Sawyer. But he couldn’t seem to help it. He’d be alone with her after the party tonight. That moment couldn’t come soon enough.

Amazing what one kiss could do. Kendra’s energy level spiked as if she’d been swilling espresso all afternoon. She moved through the party preparations like a whirling dervish, outpacing Faith, who’d come up to the house to help her.

Jo arrived a half-hour early to lend a hand and found Kendra and Faith lounging in the living room talking about baby furniture. “You’re all ready?”

“We are!” Kendra got up to hug her.

“Someone must’ve put a quarter in Kendra today.” Faith came over for her hug. “I couldn’t keep up with her.”

“Well, you’re supposed to take it easy, anyway.” Jo stepped back. “Is the morning sickness bad?”

“Nah. It goes away pretty quick. I think it worries Cody more than it does me.”

“And it won’t last forever. I’m excited for you.” She glanced at Kendra. “And you, too. Here I thought Mandy and Zane would be the first.”

“So did I, but Faith and Cody had other plans.”

Faith blushed. “Honestly, we didn’t expect it to happen so fast. We just—”

“You just wanted a baby.” Kendra put her arm around Faith’s shoulders. “So did I when Ian and I decided to get married. We—”

“I’m here early, like I promised!” Deidre came in with a flourish as she always did.

“Me, too,” Jo said. “Turns out everything’s done.”

“Well, cover me with feathers and call me a bluebird. Guess we can start drinking.” She pulled Faith into a bear hug. “Except for you, sweetheart. Congratulations on the bambino. I should’ve guessed you’d be the first.”

“Well, we—”

“You wanted a baby. And we’ll all get to spoil him or her. You’re not telling which, right?”

“Right.”

“So I suppose we’re not allowed to get out the Sacred Ouija Board?” She looked over at Kendra, eyebrows raised.

“No Ouija board. They don’t want to know so that’s that.”

Faith’s brow furrowed as she glanced at Kendra. “What’s a Ouija board?”

“It’s kind of a game.” She was surprised that Faith didn’t know, but then again it made sense. Faith had been raised in a bunkhouse and hadn’t had girlfriends until she’d started working at Wild Creek Ranch.

“Never heard of it.”

“Let’s show her,” Deidre said. “We don’t have to do the thing about the baby, but we could ask it something else. I have a million questions about Quinn Sawyer.”

That struck fear into Kendra’s heart. Just her luck Deidre would be in the middle of asking those embarrassing questions when Quinn came through the door. “I don’t know where it is.”

“Sure you do,” Jo said. “It’s in the game closet. I put it away myself the last time we—”

“I’ve rearranged that closet since then.” She gave Jo the evil eye. “I’m pretty sure I tucked it somewhere else.”

“Why?”

“Because…it’s falling apart, and…we should get a new one.”

“A new one?” Deidre looked shocked. “This one’s part of our history! If we redo the tape, it’ll be—” The front door opened as Judy and Christine came in. “Aha! Reinforcements. Guys, Kendra’s talking about getting a new Ouija board.”

Judy’s mouth dropped open. “Why would you do a dumb thing like that?”

“She’s just kidding,” Christine said. “She wouldn’t, really.”

Kendra sighed. “No, I wouldn’t really. I just—”

“That’s a relief.” Judy put down her purse. “Is it still in the game closet?”

“Yes, but—”

“Let’s get it out. It would be perfect for tonight. We can initiate the newbies into the wonders of the Sacred Ouija Board.” She headed down the hallway.

“Wait!” Kendra hurried after her. “Let’s not.”

“Why?”

“Quinn’s coming to the party.”

“He is?” Judy opened the closet door and turned back to her. “Excellent. But what’s that got to do with the Ouija board?”

“He’s a guy.”

“I noticed that. I’m quick that way.” She opened the closet door and pulled out the Ouija board, which sat right on top of the stack. Carrying the tattered box, she started toward the living room. “I can’t imagine getting a new one, but I’ll admit a few more pieces of tape would improve the situation.”

“Let me grab some out of my office.”

“I’ll go with you.” Judy followed her inside. “How’s it going with Quinn?”

“We’ve kissed. Twice.” She opened her desk drawer and took out the tape dispenser.

“That’s all?”

She closed the drawer and glanced at Judy. “I think that’s a lot, considering I haven’t kissed anyone since Ian.”

“True. Was it fun?”

“Yes.”

Happiness bloomed on Judy’s round face. “That’s wonderful. You deserve this.”

“Jo said that.”

“Jo’s right and you need to mellow out and enjoy yourself.”

She took a deep breath. “Good advice. Let’s tape up this battered relic and introduce it to the next generation of true believers.”

Twenty minutes later the box was repaired and Faith’s attendants –Mandy, April, Nicole and Olivia—had all arrived. Drinks were being served when a recently shaved and showered Quinn walked through her front door.

He moved smoothly into the flow of activity, his smile relaxed and easy as he greeted everyone. She stood with a wine glass in each hand, mesmerized.

At last his gaze found hers. And held. In that second she was many things—dizzy, shaky, hot and breathless. But mellow? Not a chance.