Dallas hurried through her morning chores, mucking stalls, feeding the horses and chickens, and worrying about her ability to perform her first assignment as a member of the Brotherhood Protectors.

Percy Pearson, the white-haired ranch foreman, stepped out of the barn office into her path. He planted his hands on his narrow hips and pinned her with his piercing blue eyes. “Hey, what’s this I hear about a wedding?”

Her body stiffened. Holy hell, news travelled fast around the ranch. “I don’t know,” she hedged. “What did you hear?”

“Got a call from Hank Patterson asking if we could use a little help around the ranch. One of his buddies from the service needed a place to stay while he planned his wedding to one of our guests.” Percy’s brows lifted. “Imagine my surprise when I found out that guest was you.”

Heat rose in Dallas’s cheeks. She’d never been a good liar, but this act would be her first as an undercover bride. She had to lie to a man she respected in order to keep the fakeness of the pending wedding from getting to the person responsible for sabotaging other weddings. She sucked in a breath and figured the wave of warmth blooming on her cheeks could be attributed to the blushing bride syndrome, of which she had no experience. “You heard right. I…uh…I’m getting married.”

Percy’s brow furrowed, and he stared through slitted eyes. “You are? You don’t sound convinced.”

She swallowed hard and forced a smile to her face. “It’s all so new and sudden.” Not a lie. “I’m having a hard time believing it myself.”

“We didn’t know you were engaged to be married.”

“Because I wasn’t when I arrived a couple weeks ago,” she admitted. Again, the truth. “Hank Patterson showed him how to find the ranch today, and he came to…pop the question.” Again, not really a lie, but the statement still stuck in her craw.

“I take it you said yes.” Percy’s frown deepened. “That’s kind of sudden, isn’t it?”

“Not as sudden as the wedding date.” Dallas cringed inwardly. Who would believe anyone would want to get married a week after the proposal?

“So, when is the wedding?”

“Next weekend.” There. She’d said it.

Percy’s eyebrows shot up. “A week? You’re getting married in a week?” He shook his head. “Girl, what are you doing mucking stalls and feeding the animals? Shouldn’t you be planning a wedding?”

Dallas gave a nervous laugh. “I suppose, only I don’t have a clue where to start.” Again, it didn’t hurt when she was telling the truth. She really had no idea what went into a wedding.

“Do you have a dress? What about the cake? Where will it be held? Hell, if I’d known you were getting married next week, we could have left all the tables and chairs in place from Hannah and Taz’s wedding.”

Another nervous laugh and Dallas held up her hands. “My f-fiancé will be back in a while, and we plan on starting today. Hank’s wife will help me find a dress. And the rest…I guess will fall in place. If the event were just up to me, I’d hire a Justice of the Peace and call it done.”

Percy’s frown slipped back over his forehead. “Are you sure about this wedding? I mean, I don’t get the feeling you’re keen on the idea. Do you even love the guy?”

Dallas bit down on her tongue, the pain reminding her she had to hold true to the operation, or she could be setting up herself for failure before it had even begun. “Yes. I l-love Viper, I mean, Vince.” She shrugged. “I’m just not used to all the touchy-feely stuff most women experience.”

“Hell,” Percy said. “I’m not a woman, but I know a marriage won’t last if you don’t love each other.”

“You’re right,” Dallas agreed, glancing to the side, praying for someone else to interrupt their conversation, or looking for an escape route, but finding neither. “We know we love each other and want to start our life together as soon as possible.” So we can catch a murdering son of a bitch who preys on newlyweds.

“Have you told anyone else on the ranch?” he asked.

“Not yet. I can barely process all I have to accomplish before the big day.”

“Then let me be the first to congratulate you.” He held out his hand.

When Dallas took it in hers to shake, he pulled her into a hug.

“I wish you a truck-load of happiness.” He set her to arm’s length. “And I’ll remind you that if you decide he isn’t the right man, you can back out of the wedding up to the moment you stand in front of the preacher. I’ll have your back and get you out of the church or wherever you plan on having it. No questions asked.”

Dallas’s eyes stung. “Thank you, Percy. Knowing you care means a lot.”

“I just know you deserve the best. And if he’s not the best…well, you know where I stand.” He dropped his hands from her arms. “Now, go get cleaned up. Your fiancé is on his way, and I want an introduction.”

“You’ve got it. I think you’ll like him. He’s retired Special Forces.”

“I don’t care if he’s a retired garbageman as long as he’s good to you and treats you like the princess you are.”

Dallas snorted. “I’m no princess. Ranger training kicked anything resembling princess out of my system.”

Percy smirked. “You like to think that, but I’ve been watching you. You might be all tough and hardcore, but inside, you’re as feminine as they come.” He held up a hand to stop her from commenting. “And that’s not a bad thing. The toughest people I know happen to be female. You don’t have to be able to kick everyone’s ass to be strong. You have to be smart and know when to kick ass and when to ask for help. Take Hannah, our boss…she’s one of those people. She takes in a lot of strays, but she has the strength of heart and mind to make their lives better. You’re like her.”

Dallas’s chest swelled. “Thank you. That’s the nicest compliment anyone has ever paid me. I think the world of Hannah and all she’s done for the veterans and horses here at Brighter Days.”

Percy’s face softened. “Yes, she’s done a lot. We all love her and wish her all the happiness her heart desires with her new husband.” He grinned. “Now, we get to do the same for you.” Percy hugged her again. “Congratulations.”

At that moment, a truck pulled into the drive.

Percy stepped back and shaded his eyes with a hand. “This your man?”

Dallas’s pulse kicked up, and her breathing became a little more ragged.

Viper stepped down from his truck and headed their way.

“Good. I want to meet the man who has stolen our girl’s heart.” Percy waited for Viper to close the distance between them.

Dallas’s gaze connected with Viper’s. She prayed she’d given a sufficient performance to the foreman who was now acting like a protective father.

Again, her heart swelled at Percy’s concern. Her own father would have done the same, if he knew she was getting married. Only he hadn’t lived long enough to see her graduate from Ranger training. He also hadn’t been around to help her pick up the pieces when she’d been discharged from the Army.

Percy took half a step in front of Dallas and crossed his arms over his chest. “You looking for someone?” he demanded.

The corners of Viper’s lips twitched, but he didn’t let loose with a smile. “As a matter of fact, I am.” He tipped his head toward Dallas and winked. “I’m looking for my fiancée.”

“Is that so?” Percy remained planted between Dallas and Viper.

Dallas fought the urge to giggle.

“I understand you two are planning to get hitched,” Percy said.

Viper nodded, his face poker-straight now. “We are.”

“Then what’s the all-fired hurry that you have to do it within a week?”

Dallas couldn’t resist the smile forming on her lips. It was Viper’s turn to be interrogated. She was curious to see how he handled the older man’s questions and prayed his answers matched hers.

“Sir,” Viper started. “When you know exactly who you love, you don’t want to wait another day to start living the rest of your life with her.” He held out his hand to Dallas. “Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

Dallas stared at his open hand for a moment before she took it and stepped around Percy, her cheeks heating and her pulse pounding so loudly against her eardrums she could barely hear herself think. “Uh-huh,” she muttered.

Viper slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close against his side. He then held out his hand to the foreman. “You must be Percy Pearson.”

“Maybe I am…maybe I’m not.” Percy didn’t take the extended hand. “I’m not sure I approve of a wedding taking place so quickly. We didn’t even know Miss Dallas had a boyfriend.”

“I didn’t talk about him because I didn’t know he felt the way he did,” Dallas added quickly. “When he showed up at the ranch and proposed, I couldn’t believe he came to do what he did.”

Percy snorted, apparently not ready to concede. “How do you two know each other? Did you meet in the Army?”

Viper and Dallas answered as one, “Yes.”

Viper went on to add, “We met while deployed.”

“Ain’t it against regulations to hook up when you’re both deployed?”

“Yes, sir,” Viper answered. “I said we met while deployed to…”

“Afghanistan,” Dallas finished. “We were both at the same base. We met in the—” She scrambled in her head for where they could have met.

“—chow hall.” He smiled down at her. “She was frowning at the mystery meat. I offered to take it off her hands.”

“The meeting was love at first bite,” Dallas finished, laughter bubbling up inside her. Yes, she’d been in chow halls with what the cook called meat that looked more like shoe leather.

She gazed at Viper with more interest. They shared common experiences, having been in the military and deployed to places that served reconstituted food no one knew what it was originally.

They’d both been in chaotic combat situations and knew what losing members of your squad was like. They’d both worn the uniform proudly.

Pretending to know each other shouldn’t be much of a hardship.

Finally, Percy took Viper’s hand and shook it. But he held on longer than necessary, his eyes narrowing. “You hurt my girl here, and you’ll have me to answer to.”

Viper met the older man’s gaze straight on and answered, “I’m glad to know she has someone else looking out for her. Rest assured, I’ll do my best to keep her safe and happy.”

Dallas had always prided herself on her independence and her ability to look out for herself. But she had to admit, if only silently, that the protective tug-of-war between the two men made her feel cherished. The only other person who’d ever made her feel that way had been her father.

Her chest swelled with something she didn’t want to put a label on. Not yet. Both of these men were relative strangers to her. She hoped to remedy that situation and get to know them better over the course of her mission.

“Now, if you’ll excuse us,” Viper said, “we have a lot of planning to do if we want to get married next weekend.”

Dallas touched Percy’s arm and leaned close to whisper, “Thanks for looking out for me.”

Percy lifted his chin. “We watch out for each other at Brighter Days.”

“I’ll be back later to help with chores,” Viper promised.

“You know anything about horses?” Percy asked.

“A little. I grew up on a ranch near Malta.”

Dallas studied Viper more closely. Yes, she could see the cowboy in him…the quiet strength, loyalty and good manners. He knew how to wear a pair of jeans and she bet he could ride a horse. Her heart skipped several beats.

Percy nodded. “Good. I have some that need their hooves cleaned.”

“You’re on,” Viper said.

Dallas waited until they were out of Percy’s hearing before she leaned close to Viper. “Do you really know how to work with horses?”

He cast a sideways glance down at her and winked. “We have a lot to learn about each other if we’re pulling off this charade.”

Dallas swallowed hard at the way his glance made her insides scramble. No man had the right to look that sexy. Especially if he was her partner.

“Are we heading for the courthouse?” Dallas asked.

“We are. After we shower and change.”

She frowned and planted her hands on her hips. “Are you telling me I smell?”

“If you mean by smell, that you have the lovely aroma of horse manure, then yes.” He grinned. “You’re in luck. I just happen to like the earthy smell of horse manure. But I do know for a fact, others might not appreciate it the way I do. Especially on the woman I’m taking to the courthouse to sign up for a marriage license.” He steered her toward his truck. “But first, I have something for you.”

“For me?” Dallas stumbled a little.

Viper cupped her elbow until she righted herself. “The item’s not from me,” he said. “It’s from Sadie, Hank’s wife.”

The way Dallas’s brow furrowed made Viper want to kiss away the lines. The sudden thought shook him to the core. He hadn’t wanted to kiss any woman since the day his wife died.

“What would Sadie be sending me?” Dallas asked.

Viper opened the back door and unhooked the garment bag from the hanger. “Check it out. I’ve seen it, and it’s going to look great on you.”

“She sent me clothing?” Dallas unzipped the bag and her eyes widened. “A dress?”

“That’s right. At least now we won’t have to shop for one before we go to the courthouse.”

“I don’t know…” Dallas stared at the dress. “I told you, I’ve never worn a dress.”

“It can’t be too complicated.” Viper stared at the emerald green dress inside the garment bag.

“But don’t you have to wear high heels with dresses?” She looked up. “I don’t even own a pair of high heels.”

“How about sandals? Surely, you own a pair.”

“If you recall, I only have one foot.” Dallas grimaced. “The best I can do is a flip-flop.” She shoved the bag back at Viper. “I can’t do it. I’m not a girly-girl. And no one wants to see a woman with an artificial leg in a dress.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself.” Viper took the bag and felt something hard at the bottom. “What’s this?” He pulled a pair of low-heeled pumps from the bottom of the bag and laughed. “Sadie thought of everything.”

“But she can’t possible wear the same size shoe as I do.” Dallas held up her hands.

“You tell me.” He handed her one.

The sinking of Dallas’s shoulders almost made Viper laugh. “Are they your size?”

“How did she know?” Dallas sighed. “I’ve haven’t worn a pair of heels since this.” She patted her injured leg, then gave a shrug. “I guess I can give them a try.”

“Think of the outfit as an undercover disguise,” Viper encouraged. “Take one for the team.”

With a glare, Dallas snatched the garment bag and the other shoe from Viper. “If I look stupid in this, I don’t want to hear one chuckle or rude comment.”

Viper choked back his laughter and held up his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Damn right, you better not.”

“You could whip my ass, for one.” He did grin then. “And my mother taught me to be polite to the ladies.”

“Your mother was a smart woman.” Dallas turned toward the house. “I’ll be out in less than fifteen minutes.”

“Take your time. I’ll just put my bags in one of the empty rooms.” He gave her a head start before grabbing his duffel bag and following her into the house. Hank had cleared it with Hannah for Viper to use one of the spare bedrooms while he stayed at the ranch.

Once Hannah and Taz received clearance from the ER doctor, they’d continued on with their honeymoon. They’d be gone for a week and return just in time for the fake wedding.

He set his bag on the floor and pulled out his cellphone. So much for reception. Not a single bar. Viper left the room in search of a landline to make a call to the hospital where Chuck had been taken.

He happened to leave the bedroom at the same time as Dallas left hers—the one beside the room he’d chosen.

She stood for a moment, one foot bare, the emerald dress draped over her arm. A frown pulled her eyebrows low. “Do you want the first crack at the shower?”

He shook his head. “No, I need to make a call.”

She nodded and continued across the hallway to a bathroom before hurriedly closing the door between them.

Viper got the distinct impression she wasn’t happy he’d chosen a bedroom so close to hers. The thought made him smile. For some reason, he liked getting under her skin. And he was definitely succeeding. A lot had to do with the fact she was completely out of her element.

Viper knew more about being a regular female than Dallas. His mother had seen to it that her boys respected and treated women the way she expected to be treated.

Dallas had been raised by her father. Not that he’d done a bad job. He’d raised an independent woman. But he hadn’t filled her in on the more feminine intricacies of being a modern woman.

Viper found himself relishing the task of educating Dallas on those finer points. Not that he didn’t like who she was. He did. Maybe a bit too much. Based on her training, she could hold her own in any situation that required shooting a gun or taking down an adversary with nothing but a knife or her bare hands.

The sound of water rushing from a showerhead came through the door of the bathroom.

His imagination got the better of him as images of Dallas, stripped naked and standing beneath the spray, came to him in a rush. His blood rushed through his veins, angling south to his groin.

She’d be slim, athletic, with finely tapered muscles.

The fact she had a prosthetic leg did nothing to dampen the heat of desire coursing through him. If anything, the strength and determination to come back from such an injury only made his new partner more attractive.

Viper drew in a long, deep breath and let it out slowly in an attempt to ease his racing pulse. Then he continued down the hallway. In the front foyer, he found a small table with a phone resting in a charger. He plucked the phone out of the base and called the number he’d saved on his cellphone from his visit to the hospital earlier that morning.

After a couple transfers, he was finally connected to Chuck Johnson’s room.

“Johnson,” Chuck barked into the phone.

“Hey, Chuck, Viper here.”

“Hey, dude, thanks for getting me out of that car.”

“No worries.”

“You think you can get me out of this damned hospital?” He snorted. “You’d think I was injured in that wreck. I keep telling them I’m fine and ready to go home.”

“You had a concussion. They want to make sure you don’t have any bleeding on the brain.”

“My head’s fine but for the splitting headache. I can’t stand hospitals.”

Viper laughed. “I read you. I’m sure they’ll let you out as soon as they’re satisfied you won’t keel over dead on them.”

“I hear you got your first assignment.” Chuck changed subjects. “Hank wouldn’t give me any details, but I’m glad you’re working.”

“Thanks. I’ll fill you in when I can,” Viper promised. “In the meantime, don’t give the nurses hell.”

“Ha! They’re giving it to me.” The man was definitely more coherent than he’d been earlier that morning.

Viper rocked back on his heels, a smile curling his lips, glad Chuck was pulling through just fine. “I’m sure you deserve it.”

Chuck sighed. “Can’t believe I screwed up on my only task for Taz and Hannah’s wedding.”

“Something had to be wrong with the brakes on that limo. You can’t beat yourself up.”

“I should have checked it more carefully.”

“They were working fine when you left the ranch.”

“I should have done something. They almost died on their wedding day.”

“You almost died,” Viper reminded him. “The sheriff’s department had the vehicle recovered and taken to the state crime lab. If the brakes were tampered with, they’ll discover it pretty quickly.”

“That’s what Hank said.”

“What you need to do is get back on your feet and back to work,” Viper said.

“Yeah, sitting around is making me nuts. The only thing that made my day better was a visit from Daphne and Maya. That little girl has me wrapped around her little finger, and she knows it.”

“I’m glad they were able to visit. I’ll talk to you soon. Take care.”

“You, too. These assignments aren’t all about babysitting rich chicks. They can be harder than you think.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” Viper said, biting back another grin. “Out here.”

“Out here,” Chuck repeated.

He headed down the hall to the bedroom where he grabbed clean clothes and waited for the bathroom to be free.

The sound of the door across the hall opening made Viper’s pulse kick up a notch. He waited a few moments before exiting his room, giving Dallas time to cross the hall into her bedroom.

Then he entered the bathroom and closed the door, glad he didn’t see Dallas freshly washed and shiny clean. Already, he was too turned on by her slim body and sassy attitude. The fact the bathroom was steamy and smelled of a floral-scented shampoo and Dallas didn’t help.

After turning the faucet to cool, he stripped down, stepped beneath the showerhead and let the water chill his body and his desire. By the time he showered, shaved and dressed, he was back in control and ready to face anything. Finally ready, he opened the door.

Dallas stood in her open doorway in the emerald-green dress, her auburn hair dried and curling around her chin in a soft wave. She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes wide and worried. “Do I look stupid?”

Holy hell. She looked amazing. Viper’s body immediately forgot the chill of the shower and sprang to attention. “Oh, sweetheart, you don’t look stupid.” Despite the fact she could kick his ass, he crossed the hall and took her hands in his.

She stiffened, her eyes growing wider. “Are you sure?”

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered and bent to brush his lips across hers.

Dallas pulled her hand from his and touched her fingers to her lips. “Why did you do that?”

For a moment, Viper didn’t know what she was talking about. But his confusion ebbed fast when he realized what he’d done. Quick to cover his transgression, he said, “We need to act like we’re in love. You’ll have to get used to public displays of affection.”

Her brow wrinkled. “We’re not in public now.”

“Count this gesture as practice.” And then he swept his lips across hers again, unable to resist.

This time, she leaned into him, her free hand resting on his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt.

When she didn’t draw away, Viper circled her back with his arm and drew her closer until her hips pressed against his and his cock nudged her belly.

Sweet heaven, she felt good against him, reminding him of how very long he’d gone without a woman. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue.

She opened on a gasp.

Viper slipped past her teeth and caressed her tongue in a long, slow, glide that left him breathless, but wanting so much more.

When he finally straightened, he realized he could possibly be in way over his head with Dallas.