“I heard you were planning on leaving,” Marsha said, taking Dominique’s hand and leading her to the sofa.

Dominique sat and stared at the white-haired woman. “How could you know that? I barely decided myself a few hours ago.”

“I have a sense about people. I know things have been difficult with Charlie.”

Denise took a chair and watched them without speaking. Dominique had no idea why the mayor had brought her along, but decided to simply go along with things until she could get the two women to leave.

“More than difficult,” she said. “Impossible. That’s why I’m leaving.”

Since their fight, her daughter had been ignoring her calls. Dominique had gone by her house twice. Even though Chantal’s truck had been parked out front, her daughter had refused to come to the door.

Dominique had been forced to retreat. Now she knew that she’d abandoned their relationship too long. They had nothing in common. While she didn’t completely understand all that May had told her, she did believe she was at least partially responsible for the chasm between herself and her daughter. She also knew she’d been wrong about the rape. When Chantal had needed love and support, Dominique had offered criticism.

“I had a daughter,” Marsha said. “A sweet girl I drove away through unreasonable discipline and too-strict rules. Her teenage years were difficult, to say the least. It got so bad, she ran away and refused to see me ever again. I lost her because I was a fool.”

Dominique stared at the older woman. “How is that possible? You’re not like that.”

“It was a long time ago,” Marsha admitted with a sad smile. “I let her go and by the time I realized I’d lost her, she didn’t want anything to do with me. She died young and I never got that second chance.” She looked away and drew in a breath, then turned back to Dominique. “You still have Charlie. You’re here. Don’t give up. Because you never know what life is going to send your way.”

Dominique thought about the cancer she’d beaten and how afraid she’d been. She knew the prognosis could have easily gone the other way. Chantal had a dangerous job. What if something happened to her?

Denise leaned toward Dominique. “I realize you don’t know me from a rock.” She smiled. “But I have a feeling Mayor Marsha wanted me here because I have six kids. If you’d come by when they were younger, I might have begged you to take a few. At least for the weekend.”

Dominique blinked. “Six children? On purpose?”

Denise laughed. “Not exactly. The last one turned out to be triplets. Unexpected, to say the least. But wonderful.”

Six? She couldn’t begin to imagine what that must have been like. There wouldn’t have been a moment of quiet. Although Dominique had to admit her days recently had too much silence in them.

“Chantal doesn’t like me,” she said flatly, knowing there was no point in avoiding an obvious truth. “She thinks I’m selfish and cruel.”

“Are you?” Marsha asked quietly.

Dominique stiffened. She was about to protest the question when she realized there was no point. She was already leaving. Why would she care what these people thought of her?

“Perhaps a little,” she admitted softly. “Certainly selfish. I’m an artist. My career was important. Of course it’s gone now.”

“You could start by calling her Charlie,” Denise told her. “It’s what she calls herself.”

“She did mention it. Charlie is a horrible name.”

“She would argue the same about Chantal.”

Dominique pressed her lips together. This Denise person was overstepping her bounds.

Denise drew in a breath. “The thing I can tell you about having children is you get back so much more than you give. I know things are difficult with Charlie right now, but she’s a wonderful, giving woman with a big heart. I don’t think it’s going to take very much to change her mind. Tell her that you were wrong and that you’re sorry. Ask for a second chance. If you mean it, if you’re sincere, she’ll give it to you.”

Dominique wanted to point out that Chantal also needed to apologize to her. After all, Chantal had been the one to walk away. But she’d tried that argument before and no one seemed to care about the wrongs done against her.

She thought about what May had said. Her advice had been to care about Chantal. It was what Denise was telling her, as well. Her years of training had taught her that if more than one person made the same criticism, she should listen and correct what she’d been doing. Perhaps that lesson applied to this situation.

Marsha touched her hand. “What have you got to lose, Dominique?”

She thought about the silence and realized there was only one answer. “Nothing.”

* * *

“YOU HAVE the better horse,” Clay said.

Charlie laughed. “I’m the better rider. Face it, pretty boy. You’re not the best at everything.”

“I never said I was.”

“It’s implied. You have a swagger when you walk.”

He grinned. “You like my swagger.”

The normally competent, in-charge Charlie Dixon turned away, but not before he saw her blush. Clay held in a chuckle. He got to her. She might not admit it, but he knew it and she knew it. The best part was she got to him, too.

He guided his horse next to hers, along the trail that followed the fence line of the ranch. The day was warm, with a few white clouds passing across the blue sky. Up on the mountains, the first leaves were starting to turn. Fall was rapidly approaching.

“We’re getting the fall alfalfa into the ground this week,” he said.

She glanced at him. “Your first crop.”

“It’s going to be a good one. The forecasts are for a late frost, so even with having to replow fields, we should have time. The plants need six weeks of growth before the first frost to survive.”

“Someone’s been doing research.”

“I want to know what I’m doing. Nate is the pro, but I make the decisions.”

His farm manager wasn’t a topic he wanted to get into. The situation with Candee still pissed him off. But Nate had sworn he wouldn’t play around with anyone’s teenager again. Clay had agreed to give him another chance and he would abide by that decision. He just wished it sat better in his gut.

“You’ll soon be the Fool’s Gold alfalfa king,” she teased. “You won’t have time to be a volunteer firefighter.”

“I’ll make time. I’m serious about my commitment, Charlie.”

Her smile faded. “I know. I wasn’t saying you weren’t. You were good at the fire, Clay. Everyone noticed. You followed directions, you took charge when necessary and then you backed off.”

Her praise pleased him. “I listened.”

“A rare quality in a man.”

They continued on another half mile or so, then Charlie reined in. “Want to take a break?”

“Sure.”

They dismounted and put their horses in the shade, then settled by the tree. Clay sat across from her, wanting to be able to see her while they talked.

Her short hair fluttered in the slight breeze. He could see a couple of freckles on her cheeks and amusement in her blue eyes. She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, but the more time he spent with her, the more attractive he found her. The sexier she was to him.

“You’re staring at me,” she said.

“I like the view.”

She reached out and punched him in the arm. The blow was hard enough to get his attention.

“Stop it,” she told him. “You’re acting like an idiot.”

“You can’t take it when I treat you like a girl instead of one of the guys.”

“Maybe.”

Her admission surprised him.

“Leftovers from the rape?” he asked.

“No. I was having trouble being girlie back when I was fourteen.”

“There’s a difference between girlie and feminine.”

“Not much of one.”

“You’re strong, Charlie. You don’t need to always be protecting yourself. It’s okay to let the other sides of you show once in a while.”

She plucked a blade of grass and tossed it at him. “I’m not wearing a dress.”

“No one’s asking you to. I’d prefer you to wear nothing at all.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.

He’d thought she might resist, but she shifted easily, leaning toward him. He tugged a little more until she was off balance, then eased back onto the grass, bringing her with him.

She was stretched out, half on top of him, her gaze locked with his. Everything about her tempted him, but he wasn’t going to be the one initiating this time. He was going to let her do all the work.

“You can kiss me,” he told her.

She raised her eyebrows. “Can I?”

“Sure.” He stretched out his arms, then tucked his hands behind his head. “I’ll be right here.”

“I could also beat the crap out of you.”

He smiled. “In your dreams. Or na**d. Naked would work.”

“You’re a strange man.”

“No. Most guys think about women na**d. Especially the woman they want to have sex with.” He needed to touch her, but held back. “At the fire?”

She glared at him. “You did not think about me na**d.”

“Sure I did. You looked great, by the way.”

She muttered something he couldn’t hear, then sighed. “You make me crazy.”

“Good. Now shut up and kiss me.”

She surprised him by doing just that. Leaning in and pressing her mouth to his.

Her lips were warm and yielding. She moved slowly, as if finding her way. Until then, he’d always been the one to take charge, to make the moves. But he knew that being able to be the aggressor would chase away any lingering ghosts.

So he stayed as he was, even as his fingers itched for the feel of her body. He wanted to run his hands up and down her back, to find the more interesting places and linger. Instead he forced himself to relax, to let her lead the way.

She kept the kisses light, then drifted across his jaw to his neck. She unbuttoned the front of his shirt and explored his chest with her lips and tongue. The feel of her teeth on his nipple sent electric jolts through his body. The blood already heading for his groin quickened its pace.

She pulled his shirt free of his jeans, then sat back on her heels and studied him.

“You’re just going to lie there?” she asked.

“Uh-huh.”

She tilted her head and then rested her hand on his erection. “I can do anything I want?”

“Even if it kills me.”

She chuckled. “I don’t want you dead.”

“What do you want?”

Color stained her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “Were you smart enough to bring condoms?”

“Oh, yeah. Front pocket.”

She reached into his pocket and pulled out two condoms. “You’re ambitious.”

“I’m a guy with a hopeful attitude.”

She glanced around. “We’re outside. Anyone could see.”

“No one’s around. Besides, you’ll like it.”

She returned her attention to him. “And you’re really not going to do anything?”

“I’m going to come inside of you, Charlie. With you on top.”

He figured his words could send the afternoon in one of two directions. If she was still fighting demons, his verbal image might scare her into backing off. But the woman he knew and liked was tough. She had a sexual side she’d kept locked away for a decade. He was counting on her body winning over her mind. If he was right, he was in for a hell of a ride.

She stared at him for several very long seconds, then shrugged. “Okay.”

With that, she pulled her shirt over her head and unfastened her bra. Before he could blink, she’d pulled off her boots. Jeans and panties quickly followed. She stood next to him, na**d and beautiful, sunlight dappling her body. His dick throbbed out a drumbeat of need.

He swore but didn’t move. Rules were rules and this was all about her.

She knelt next to him and reached for his belt. When it was undone, she went to work on the button at his waistband. He watched her work, eager to feel her hands on his body. Then she shifted direction and pulled off his boots.

“You’re going to have to help a little,” she told him as she started tugging on the hem of his jeans.

Rules were meant to be broken, he told himself as he shoved down his jeans and briefs and kicked them away. Then he lay back on the grass and put his hands behind his head again.

She stared at his erection. “Nice. How does it work? Me being on top. Do I climb on or what?”

“You straddle me and we take it from there.”

He was aware that they were both na**d. That her br**sts were well within reach and that he could have his fingers between her legs in a heartbeat. He remembered the taste of her and how she’d given herself to him. His arousal flexed as blood pulsed. Need pushed at the base of his groin.

He wanted her to touch him. To rub and stroke and suck and lick. He wanted the release, but first he wanted to hear her scream in pleasure. He swallowed against the pressure in his throat and knew that if this killed him, it would be a hell of a way to go.

Charlie knelt next to him. “So it’s all up to me?”

“Uh-huh.”

Her blue eyes danced with amusement. “You have to do what I say?”

“You’re letting this go to your head, aren’t you?”