When Heather got off the plane in the Salt Lake City airport, she was exhausted, but her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for the familiar face she so badly needed to see. Her parents weren’t thrilled about her flying across the country, but they knew at her age, they had little they could say about it.

As soon as she saw Michael standing off to one side, his cowboy hat in his hands, she rushed toward him, dropping her carryon bag at her feet as she flew into his arms. After they’d embraced for a moment, he whispered, “We need to hang out watching other couples. See if we should let them be together.”

She laughed softly, lifting her face for his kiss. “You know what? I like the way you think.”

“That’s a good thing. I would hate it if you thought I was insane.”

“Well, let’s not go that far . . .”

He leaned down and picked up her bag, nodding in the direction they needed to walk. “Let’s get out of here. It’s a three-hour drive to Mom’s house, and it’s already four in the afternoon. We don’t want to get hit by a snowstorm.”

“Is it snowing?” She hadn’t even thought to look. She had been more focused on him than she’d realized. She glanced toward the window, but she couldn’t really see much. The tarmac was clear, but the mountains in the distance looked snow covered. Of course, for all she knew, they were snow covered year-round.

“Not at the moment. There’s a dusting on the ground, though, and a little more at home. Do you drive in snow?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I never have. When it snows in Texas, the entire world shuts down. When would I learn?”

“Well, the world doesn’t shut down for snow around here,” he said with a grin. “Let’s go get your stuff.” They’d agreed she’d stay for a week, getting to know his family and the area.

She was excited to finally be with him but nervous as well. What if his family didn’t like her? “Your mom really doesn’t mind me staying?”

“Are you kidding? She’s been after me to marry for years. She heard there was a woman coming to visit me, and she was walking on air. She even made a new quilt for the spare room for you.”

“I hate that she went to that kind of trouble . . .”

“Trust me. She was thrilled to do it.”

They got to the baggage claim, and she spotted her suitcase pretty quickly. She walked over to pick it up, but his hand was there before hers. “I got it. You just step back.”

She grinned. As independent as she was, she’d always wanted to be with someone who would take care of her. It was odd, and she knew it. “Thank you.”

As soon as they were in his truck, she leaned back, looking all around. “I didn’t realize that Salt Lake City was surrounded by mountains. It seems like there should be a huge lake and nothing else here.”

He laughed. “I can see that, but there are mountains in every direction.”

“It all looks amazing.” The mountains weren’t the kind she’d seen in Colorado; they were more of a black rock and not nearly as pretty in her opinion.

“Are you hungry? Did you eat on the plane?”

“I had some pretzels. I’m due for a real meal.”

“Okay, we’ll find something.”

“Is your mom expecting us to eat there?” she asked.

“Nope. I told her you’d probably be hungry when you got off the plane.”

Heather grinned over at him. “You think you know me so well.”

“I do know you well.” He reached over and entwined his fingers with hers. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I am, too. I feel out of my league, and it’s weird that I’m staying with your mother, but I’m glad I’m here.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Tell me about your family.”

“My dad died about five years ago, and I now run the family ranch. I’m the oldest son. I have two brothers and two sisters. My sisters are super excited to meet you. Karen is married with two little ones, and Isabelle is in college, but she’s out for the semester.”

“I’m sorry about your father.”

He nodded. “He had stomach cancer. By the time they caught it, it was way too late.” Michael had always felt like his father had been taken from him way too soon, but he didn’t add that. He wasn’t ready to talk about that with anyone outside his family. He pulled off the interstate and onto a side street, heading for a small family-owned restaurant. “I love to come to this little café whenever I’m in Salt Lake. Do you trust me?”

“I sure hope so since I just flew across the country to see you.”

He grinned. “I guess you do.” Pulling into the parking lot of the place, he stopped the truck. “Have I told you yet how happy I am that you’re here?”

“Once or twice. Tell me again!”

“I’m happy you’re here!”

She grinned, getting out of the truck and walking around to the front to meet him, their hands gripping one another. “What kind of food do they have here?”

“It’s a little Italian place, and the family who runs it is actually Italian. They have the best chicken fettuccini alfredo I’ve ever had. And the garlic bread is to die for!”

“Sounds yummy. I’ll give it a try.”

Once they were seated with their menus, she read hers over, deciding that she would go with his suggestion. She put the menu down and saw him watching her. “I can’t believe we’re actually together again,” she said softly. “It felt like it was never going to happen.”

“How was the recital? Did the kids do well?”

She nodded. “They did really well. I was getting nervous toward the end there because none of them could seem to remember the right places to put their feet . . . but when it all came out in the end, it was great. The children were sweet, and their parents were thrilled.” For a minute she considered telling him about Tricia being ready to take over her school, but she changed her mind. She wasn’t quite ready to tell him, because she needed to know if he was serious about her first.

For a little while as they sat waiting for their food, there was an awkward silence, but then they both started talking at once, and it was as if they’d never been apart. “How’s your brother feeling?” Heather asked.

“Oh, he’s fine. Trying to train that stallion again. I really wish he’d sell the thing and be done with it. I don’t know why he’s so obsessed.” Michael shook his head. “He was sorry to pull me away from you so quickly, and he’s excited to get to know you.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”

“Good because Mom has a party planned for tomorrow evening. She’s having everyone over for a game night. If you can survive a Muir game night, then you’re in.”

“In what?” she asked.

“No idea, but you’re in it!” He grinned at her, taking her hand in his. “The drive to my house is long, and we’re an hour behind you. You may want to sleep while I drive.”

She shook her head. “Nah. I’m too nervous to be tired.”

“Nervous? About what?”

“Meeting your mother. Do you have any idea how many men have taken me home to meet their mothers?”

He frowned. He didn’t like thinking of her with any other men. He was feeling very territorial where she was concerned, and that was a new thing for him. “How many?”

“None. You’re the first, so meeting your mother makes me nervous. Doesn’t that make sense?”

“I guess it does.” He grinned at her, pleased with her answer. “I’ve only met the mom of one of my girlfriends. Well, one since high school.”

“And who was that?”

“You. Don’t you remember?”

She laughed. “I thought you meant other than me. Stop trying to mess with my head!”

During the long drive, she regaled him with the errors her students had made during the ballet. “And then little Susie tripped over her own feet and fell into Abigail, who fell into Tiffany. It was pretty funny.”

“No one was hurt I hope?” he asked, grinning at the picture her words painted.

“Nah. I wouldn’t be laughing about it if one of the girls had been hurt. It was just silly.”

“Did you bring your leotard?” he asked.

“Nope. I left it in Texas, but I did bring my leg warmers. I figured I’d need them here more than there.”

He turned the car into a long driveway with a huge house at the end. “I live in the guest house at the back of the property. Mom is still in the main house. This is my ranch.” He looked at it through a stranger’s eyes, noting that it was time to replace the sign out front.

“It’s huge.” Her own parents’ home was half the size.

“Come on. Mom’s waiting up for us.” He grabbed her luggage from behind the seat and led her to the front door, knocking once and going in. “Mom! We’re here!”

An older woman with short brown hair and green eyes hurried into the kitchen. “You must be Heather!”

Heather nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I appreciate you letting me stay with you.”

“You are welcome any time. I’ve seen how happy knowing you has made my Michael.”

“He’s made me happy, too.” Heather glanced over at Michael, who was looking everywhere but at her.

“I’m going to take your luggage to your room. You two get acquainted.”

Mrs. Muir walked over to the stove. “I’m going to make some tea. Would you like some?”

“I’d love some. It’s a little colder here than I’m used to.”

“Yes, I heard you’re from Texas. It’s a lot warmer down there. It’s supposed to get down to five degrees tonight.”

Heather shook her head. “I can honestly say that I don’t ever remember being anywhere that cold.”

Mrs. Muir poured tea into cups and served it with some cookies. “I hope you’re not always watching your figure, because I do like to bake.”

“I probably would be if I didn’t dance as hard as I do. When you’re always twirling around, you don’t tend to put a lot of weight on.” Heather did weigh a little more than she had when she was cheering but not much. She was happy with her weight, which she knew a lot of women couldn’t say.

“Good. I wouldn’t want to see you skimping on my yummy baked goods.”

Michael arrived back in the kitchen then and sat down with them. “Thanks for the snack, Mom.”

“No problem. I’ll eat with you two and then show Heather her room. You two have been alone for long enough today, and now you get to share her.”

Heather grinned, loving that Michael’s mother wasn’t afraid to give him her opinions of anything. “I am pretty sleepy.”

“I’m sure you are. What time did you have to wake up to catch your flight?”

“Six. I had a layover in Dallas Fort Worth, but it was a straight shot from there. It’s been a very long day.”

Michael frowned at her. “I wasn’t thinking about how long you’d been up. You should have told me to grab fast food so you could get to bed sooner.”

“Why would I do that? The Italian place you took me to was amazing. I’m fine. I’m not working in the morning, so I have all the time in the world.”

He grinned at that. “Are you happy to be off work for a while?”

She nodded. “I do love my students, but every once in a while, I need to be able to sleep late.”

“I can understand that.” He covered her hand with his. “Plan on sleeping late tomorrow. I’ll be up before dawn as usual for work, but you don’t have to do anything while you’re here.”

Heather frowned. “I’m sure I’ll at least help your mother with cooking and take some of the burden of having a houseguest off of her.”

“You will not!” Mrs. Muir exclaimed. “I’m thrilled to have you, and you will be lazy this week. It’s your job.”

Heather grinned. “Being lazy has never been something I’m good at.”

“I have a good library of romance novels. You are welcome to immerse yourself in them.”

“I could do that.” Heather actually liked the idea of having some time to read. She couldn’t help but wonder how much time she’d have with Michael while she was there.

“I want to show you around town at lunchtime tomorrow. There’s a little café that’s good, and we can explore.” He didn’t add that he had a surprise for her, because he wasn’t sure if she was ready.

“That sounds like fun.” Heather hid a yawn behind her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m sleepier than I realized.”

His mother got to her feet. “Come with me. I’ll show you your room. You’ll have a private bath and a nice big guest room.”

“Sounds nice.” Heather smiled at Michael. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded. “I’ll come by for you around noon.”

“I’ll be ready.” She wanted to lean down and kiss him goodnight, but she didn’t want to do it in front of his mother. It would just be too awkward.

He seemed to agree. He squeezed her hand as she walked by. “Goodnight.”

“G’night.” Seeing him again made all of the old feelings rush back. She hoped she could sleep instead of lying in bed all night staring at the ceiling and thinking of him. He would certainly be on her mind a lot, though she wished it was different.

Mrs. Muir led her to a large bedroom on the second floor of the house. There was a bathroom off the bedroom. “There’s another bedroom that connects to this bathroom, but no one is staying there. This big old house is lonely now that all my kids have flown the coop.”

“You have a beautiful home.” Heather couldn’t imagine living alone in a place like this, but she had to admire the older woman for keeping it so clean.

“It’ll be Michael’s as soon as he marries. I’ll move into the guest house, and he can rattle around in here.”

Heather frowned. “I think you should get to keep your house.”

“But there’s only one of me, and when he marries, I expect there will be more than two quickly.” Mrs. Muir gave Heather a probing look that had her blushing. Yes, she wanted to be that wife. Yes, she wanted to have those children.

“It will be a change for certain.”

“Yes, it will.” Mrs. Muir stepped toward the doorway. “I’m just down the hall if you need anything.”

“I won’t be afraid to ask.” Heather watched as the door closed and then went for her suitcase. Jammies and bed were all she could think about at the moment.