Hayden gripped the door handle, her palms sweaty. How had she gotten talked into coming all the way to Wyoming with Austin?

Just a little bit longer and a little bit longer…that’s how.

Gradually he’d coaxed her into staying, with tiny commitments that made sense when considered individually. About to be transported onto his family’s ranch, she would be the only thing mucking up its perfection.

It was hard to ignore the grin on his face or how he sped up as they rounded curves he’d learned to drive on. The hand-painted sign they’d passed about five minutes ago had proclaimed Compass Ranch was just a few miles down the road. There were no other stops between here and the place and people he loved so much.

Austin snapped her out of her mounting terror when he admitted, “My parents are going to freak out. I’ve never brought a woman home with me before.”

“Wait.” She froze. “You’re not going to introduce me to them, are you?”

“Why the hell wouldn’t I?” He took his eyes from the road to squint at her as if she’d lost her mind.

“Because they might get the wrong idea. I’m not staying. And, well…” She waved her fingers at her face, which had blossomed into even more violent shades of purple with hints of a sickly yellow that morning. “I look like this.”

“Like a survivor?”

“Like someone who makes bad decisions.” She cleared her throat and peered out the side window instead of at him. Fertile, thriving land rolled by. No wonder his family had settled here and made so much out of it.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to pressure you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I promise they would adore you, but I get it if that’s just too much right now. I have my own place on the ranch. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you like.” He reached over and squeezed her hand.

She nodded.

They were quiet then until he pulled through an unmarked turn that seemed to be a back entrance to the ranch. She appreciated that, since rolling up to the front door in his rig would have drawn attention she couldn’t evade.

He stopped on a hard-packed dirt patch beside a brick red barn with white trim that looked like it had been there since the days his grandfather JD ran the place. Smaller than the horse stable he’d told her about, it seemed like it wasn’t used much except maybe for storage. Was this where he parked his truck when he wasn’t working?

“Would you mind opening the bay for me?” He tossed her a key, which she snatched out of the air. Glad to be of use for once, she climbed down from the truck and stretched, trying not to wince at the stiffness in her ribs. It was better than the steady ache that had been there before, but still sore.

She trotted over to the door, unlocked it, then gritted her teeth as she yanked it open. Though it was huge, it rolled easily on well-greased hinges. When the way was clear, Austin inched forward, somehow managing to park perfectly in the tight spot.

After shutting the bay and securing it, he joined her. The solid hold he took on her elbow felt familiar already. Welcome. He used it to guide her around the corner.

“Come on up.” He opened a door in the side wall, revealing a steep set of stairs that culminated in a landing and an antique door.

“You live in a barn?” She tilted her head as she studied the gorgeous weathered planks of the exterior. It had stood up to many storms in its existence. “That’s not a criticism, by the way. I lived in a shack. This is way nicer. It has a certain…flair.”

“Thanks and, technically, yes.” Austin held his hand out to her and she took it. They climbed up to what would probably have been a hayloft back in the day. “My cousins and I completely renovated it the summer after I bailed out of college. I was thrilled to come back, but I needed my own apartment. No twenty-year-old really wants to live with their parents, do they?”

“I suppose not.” She had chosen independence, too. That had obviously been a mistake. When he unlocked the door at the top of the stairs and ushered her into his space, she whispered, “Holy cow.”

“None of those live here these days. Just me, sorry.” He looked around as if seeing his home with fresh eyes while she took it in for the first time.

Wide reclaimed lumber, whitewashed and distressed, warmed the entire place. Rustic furniture, an antique book collection, plush area rugs, and a variety of plants added to the inviting atmosphere. It seemed like a secret nook where she could hide. Forever, if necessary.

Suddenly, she was afraid that’s exactly what Austin’s apartment could become for her if they let it—a sanctuary where she could withdraw from the world and huddle in the corner without really making any of the progress she’d hoped for when she’d bolted from Bobby Joe and the unsatisfying life she’d been trapped in.

Hayden trailed Austin through his kitchen, admiring the open-concept living area. “These retro appliances are amazing. They really fit in here.”

“Funny enough, they were stashed in the barn. We found them when we were cleaning it out and realized they still worked. It seemed smart to save money at the time. Now I can’t imagine it with modern ones.” He pointed to a photograph on the wall. In it a handsome cowboy twirled a young woman wearing an apron around in her kitchen. The fabric of her skirt billowed, showing a hint of her fabulous legs beneath. “That’s Vivi and JD. You can see this oven in the background.”

Hayden couldn’t explain why such a happy moment frozen in time caused tears to sting her eyes. Maybe because she had believed she’d found something that would last a lifetime and longer, but it hadn’t even endured a decade. She dragged the tip of her finger across the white enamel edge of the stove before joining Austin in his cozy living room.

“I get that you’d rather have peace right now and don’t want to go see my parents.” He massaged the back of her neck gently, letting her know he really did understand. “But would you mind if I ran over to the main house to tell my parents and Jake that I’m home and let them know the trip went fine?”

For her it had gone better than fine. She’d fled into the night with nothing, yet somehow ended up here, with him and the chance at a new life. She wouldn’t deny him anything, especially not such a simple request. “Of course not. I didn’t mean to keep you from them.”

“You’re not.” He reached down and bracketed her shoulders in his palms. The series of simple touches drove her mad as she recalled what it had felt like as he’d kissed her the night before. “I won’t abandon you in a strange place. I’ll just be a little while, okay? My computer is on the desk over there. Feel free to start doing some research and trying to catch up with your dad. Or go lie down and rest if you’d rather. Make yourself at home. There’s a messaging app on the laptop. You can reach me through it if you need anything. I’ll see it on my phone. Okay?”

“Sure, that sounds perfect.” She smiled softly as his heat soaked into her bones. The memory of sharing that warmth with him the night before heated her further.

Hayden rose onto her tiptoes and stole another taste to hold her over until his return. Plus it felt like he deserved a reward for being so damn gracious. He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets as he kissed her, but the sensual rake of his teeth over her bottom lip as her heels sank back to the aged floorboards made it clear that there was a lot more to him than she’d seen so far.

Was she ready for Austin to unleash himself? Probably not.

At least one of them had some self control.

“See you soon,” he rasped, and tipped his hat in her direction before slipping from the apartment. She listened to his boot-steps as they descended the stairs, then spied on him through the giant octagonal window in the dining nook as he strode across the grass in the direction of his parents’ house. She could easily stare at him all day.

When he disappeared from view, she sighed and turned to his computer.

If she didn’t start looking for her dad soon, she might forget why she should. Was she making the same mistake again? Trusting a man too much? Putting too much faith in him? Counting on him to take care of her when she was plenty capable of fending for herself?

Damn it! She’d better get to work.