Did I mention I love Montana? This is the perfect day. I know the day when I’m lying on my deathbed and looking back over my life, I’ll be looking to this moment and smiling as I remember the warm breeze in my hair, the strong horse between my legs, and the sexy view of the cowboy in front of me set against the stunning mountainous backdrop.

We spend the morning exploring the ranch, riding along the slow-moving river where the fat trout wiggle along against the current. We pass the cattle grazing in the fields where the twins are hanging out. They both jump on their horses—even the two black horses look like twins—to come and say hi.

Tito gives me the best compliment when he says, “Montana really suits you.”

“It does?” I ask, perking up in my saddle as I fix my cowboy hat.

Ronin nods. “You look like you’re at home.”

And that’s exactly how I feel.

“How’s the herd?” Lachlan asks as he looks over the fifty or so cows.

“Riveting as usual,” Tito says with a playful grin. “You know… as long as you like to talk about eating grass and taking shits all day.”

I laugh as I look at a fat cow who’s chewing away without a care in the world. That’s the life.

“At least you have Ronin to talk to,” Lachlan says with a laugh.

Tito grins. “He’s the one who keeps talking about taking shits.”

“In my defense,” Ronin says, “it would have been a Guinness World Record holder if they would have returned my calls.”

“Okay,” Lachlan says, smiling at me. “We’re going to be on our way.”

The twins and I wave to each other as Lachlan’s horse starts trotting away. He whistles for Posh to follow and she does.

“The Guinness Book of World Records doesn’t have a category for biggest shit,” I hear Tito say behind me as I leave.

“Well, they should,” Ronin mutters back. “Where do you think everyone is when they’re reading that book? It should be the first thing listed after the title.”

I’m still giggling to myself as we put them far in the distance. The ranch is truly spectacular. We cut through a beautiful meadow, and I watch the bees dancing between the flowers before Posh scares them away with her big hooves. A gopher’s head pops out of the long grass, and I laugh when he stares at me with an annoyed look on his face like I just woke him up from his mid-morning nap.

The sun starts to get warm on my face and shoulders, and I close my eyes, enjoying the heat of it on my cheeks as I smell the warm earth mixed with the sweet smell of the wildflowers.

Lachlan looks back over his round shoulder to make sure I’m still on my horse and smiles. I’m suddenly very aware of my heartbeat as he tips his cowboy hat to me with a grin.

“Want to try a little faster?” he asks.

I’m still a little unsure and nervous of being on the horse, but I want to get to the lake as fast as possible after watching his muscular back swaying on his horse with his sexy cowboy hat on. I know what’s going to happen at the lake, and my body is stirring in anticipation for it.

“Okay,” I say nervously as I tighten my grip on the reins and gulp. “I’m up for anything.”

“That’s my sweet girl,” he says with a smile.

I’m grinning like a madwoman as he turns back around and starts moving faster. He lets out a sharp whistle and my horse starts speeding up to follow him.

“Oh, shit,” I whisper as Posh starts really moving. “Please don’t let me fall. Please don’t let me fall.”

But after a few yards, I start to relax and enjoy it. Posh settles in on a steady rhythm, and the adrenaline shooting through my veins jets up to my cheeks, curling them into a permanent smile as the warm breeze races forward, brushing against my skin and into my hair.

Lachlan slows down and lets me catch up, grinning as I reach his side. “Having fun?” he asks.

I’m having the time of my life. I wish I could fully explain to him the intense feelings rushing through me, but I can’t. There are no words.

It breaks my heart to know that I’m going to be on the bus later, but… I shouldn’t think of that. I don’t want anything to ruin this moment.

“What are we doing next?” I ask, feeling breathless as we race across the meadow.

He points up to the huge mountain on our left that’s looming over us. “Want to ride up to the top?”

“No!” I shout in a panic before we both start laughing. “Maybe next time.”

“Next time,” he says with a grin as he looks up at it. We both spot an eagle that’s high up in the sky, gliding through the air on enormous wings, and watch it as it slowly turns in a wide circle.

The natural beauty is filling my heart so much that it feels like it’s going to explode. Whenever I feel like I can’t possibly take anymore, we trot over a ridge or around a hill and there’s more breathtaking scenery to add to it all.

I’m flying when we finally get to the lake and tie up our horses. I inhale the earthy smell of the water and smile as I take off my socks and shoes and step onto the hot sand. The lake is like a hidden treasure, all tucked away in the forest. Beautiful cedar trees line the rim of it, making it feel even more secluded than it is.

Lachlan pulls some carrots out of his saddle bag and feeds them to the hungry horses as I walk up to the water’s edge, smiling at the ducks that are floating on the water. The lake is about the size of a baseball field and is prime real estate if you’re a duck.

I roll up my jeans and step into the warm water, enjoying the refreshing feeling of it on my legs as I watch the minnows swimming over to investigate the strange creature invading their peaceful habitat. They dart away whenever I wiggle my toes only to return a few seconds later. They’re curious little fishies.

Lachlan pulls out a woolen blanket and lays it on the sand. He watches me with a content look on his face as he sits down on it.

The water is nice, but being close to Lachlan is nicer, so I say ‘bye to the fishies and join him on the blanket.

“From the horses,” he says, handing me a carrot.

I smile as I take it. “Thanks, Posh and Chopin,” I say, tipping my hat to them.

We both crunch into our carrots as we watch the peaceful lake, enjoying the beautiful moment.

The scenery is gorgeous, but it’s hard to concentrate on anything but him. I love the sound of his breathing. I love the heat of his skin and the smell of his body. Being next to him is like eating your favorite food in your favorite place while your favorite song is playing in your ears. It’s like all five of my senses are being pampered and spoiled.

“This is really nice,” I say, sliding my hand into the warm sand and letting it tumble over my skin. “Thank you for taking me here.”

“Thank you for coming,” he says, smiling back at me. “Tomorrow I’ll take you west to Sliver’s Canyon. There’s a beautiful river that flows through it with trout so fat you can feed a whole village. They move so slowly that you can pluck them out of the water with your hand.”

I turn away from him as my chest tightens with guilt. Why is he making it so difficult for me? It’s already hard enough.

My stomach suddenly feels sick as my chin dips to my chest. I take off my cowboy hat and run a hand through my hair.

“Lachlan,” I say as my eyes start burning. I squeeze them closed, not wanting to ruin this moment with tears. “I won’t be here tomorrow.”

“You’re still planning on going back to that place?” he asks, looking frustrated as he pinches his lips together.

“Yes,” I try to say, but it comes out as a whimper.

He throws his hands up in frustration and turns away, shaking his head angrily.

Our last hours together can’t be like this, especially not after last night and this morning. I don’t want this to ruin it all. I don’t want to leave but I must. Why can’t he see that?

His body is tense, and he’s turned away like he can’t even look at me.

“Please don’t be mad,” I say softly, trying not to cry. “We only have a few hours left together, and I don’t want to spend them fighting.”

His body softens when I place my hand on his leg. Relief floods into my bones when his hand touches mine and our fingers intertwine.

“Lachlan, look at me. Please.”

With a deep breath, he turns and looks at me. His jaw is clenched tight, and I’m shocked to see his eyes watering.

“Don’t be mad,” I whisper. “Please don’t be mad.”

He just watches me as I lean over and gently kiss his lips.

“Call me sweet girl one more time.”

He doesn’t.

“Call me sweet girl or I’ll tell Caleb that you loved his band.”

His lips curl up into the faintest of smiles. “I’ll tell him that you have a poster over your bed and that you sang his songs to me all day.”

With a long exhale he relaxes his jaw. “Okay, sweet girl. There’s no need for that.”

I laugh with relief as I lean into his hard body and close my eyes as he wraps his comforting arm around me. He pulls me in tight and kisses the top of my head.

We sit like that for a while until we see a deer on the other side of the lake, creeping along the water’s edge.

“Look,” I gasp as I straighten up to a seated position and stare with mesmerized eyes. I’ve never actually seen a deer in the wild before, and I’ve always wanted to.

My heart is thumping in excitement as she steps to the water, lowers her head, and starts drinking.

“Don’t move,” I whisper, not wanting anything to ruin this moment. This day keeps getting better and better.

I smile, noticing that Lachlan is watching me, not the deer. Crazy cowboy.

A movement in the trees catches my eye and I gasp when I see something more unexpected than a deer. The naked man from the ranch, Kneecap, is creeping through the trees, not making a sound as he moves.

What the hell is he doing?

His eyes are locked on the oblivious deer as he stalks forward. My body must tense up because Lachlan’s eyes dart over to where I’m looking.

“Shit,” he hisses under his breath as he starts to get up.

In a flash, Kneecap starts charging at the deer in a full sprint. He’s buck naked and looking like a caveman. This guy must be part Neanderthal.

“What’s he—” I whisper in a panic as I watch him with my heart racing. Is he going to kill that deer?

The second he bursts out of the tree line, he starts shaking horribly. The deer’s head whips up and she bolts in the opposite direction without taking a second to look back at what’s chasing him.

A horrible ripping sound travels over the lake as Kneecap jumps in the air and an enormous grizzly bear explodes out of his body.

My breath catches in my throat as I suck in a quick intake of air, staring in shock as Lachlan jumps to his feet beside me.

Wha—

My thoughts are scrambling to understand what’s going on as the snarling bear lunges on the deer and kills it instantly.

“But that… was he… where’s…”

I must start at least ten sentences and finish none of them as I stare in disbelief at the vicious bear.

Kneecap turned into him? But that’s impossible…

He’s chomping into the poor deer that was alive a second ago when I finally find my voice.

“What the hell just happened?” I ask Lachlan.

My voice should have stayed hidden because the bear hears it.

I gulp, feeling my blood go cold as he stares at me with hard vicious eyes. He lets out a low snarl as he watches us over his kill.

“Hey!” Lachlan yells at the bear in a deep commanding voice that sends shivers racing through me. “Get out of here!”

Lachlan’s muscles are flexed, and his jaw is clenched as he waves the bear away in a threatening gesture.

Is he crazy?!? We should be sneaking out of here, not throwing down rap battles. We’re not exactly in a position to make any demands. It’s a freaking grizzly bear!

“I said go!” Lachlan shouts even louder as he glares at the horrifying bear.

The bear doesn’t like that. He slowly raises his head from the deer’s still body and curls his blood-splattered lip up, showing off his chilling red teeth.

I’m frozen with fear. Like I literally can’t move.

Unless you count my hands trembling as movement.

“Fuck,” Lachlan hisses under his breath as the grizzly bear steps away from the deer and starts walking along the lake. The hair on his back is standing straight up and his head is low, snarling as he glares at Lachlan.

“Get on the horse and go,” he says as he pulls off his shirt.

“What?” I gasp. He wants me to what?

He keeps his eye on the approaching bear as he quickly unbuckles his pants. None of this is making sense.

“Why are you getting naked?” I ask, staring at him in horror as he kicks off his jeans.

“Jessie,” he snaps. “Listen to me. Get on the horse and go. Now.”

My brain is working as well as my feet are, and I just stare at his back in confusion while my mind unsuccessfully tries to process what he just said.

But when the bear starts running, my survival instinct kicks in, and I’m running toward the horses. I grab the reins and glance back over my shoulder in time to see the monstrous grizzly bear charging around the lake in a full sprint.

And to my horror, I don’t see Lachlan running to catch up to me. I see him kicking up sand as he runs straight at the snarling bear in nothing but his freaking underwear.