Cass couldn’t believe she was doing this. The last six hours had been surreal. It had taken some fancy persuading and a video call to Matt’s grandmother before she made the decision to visit his home as his make-believe fiancée for one week. In exchange, Matt—he’d suggested they forego formality, considering they were supposed to be engaged—would return her wedding ring and forgive her father’s debt.

She grimaced at her wavy reflection in the rectangular glass window of the jet as it sped them across the country.

Texas.

About as far from her home in Toronto as it was possible to get. What was she going to do on a ranch for a week? Cass was a city girl; she’d never even been camping in her twenty-six years.

A low murmur and the answering giggle turned her attention to her companion. He was smiling up at the flight attendant, eyes crinkled at the edges with humor, and a beguiling dimple showing itself in his darkly tanned cheek. Strong-looking hands rested on a flat belly above an impressive silver buckle and his long legs were bent awkwardly in the aisle between the seats. She would’ve felt bad for him, except that he was forcing her into this impossible farce.

“Want anything?”

Matt’s amused voice startled her. His eyes reminded her of the pet dog her parents had bought for her seventh birthday. It was only a stuffed animal, but she’d loved Farley. His soft white body and dark brown eyes had empathized and seemed to give sympathy to a lonely little girl.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked, tilting his head just enough for a lone blond curl to dip beguilingly onto his forehead.

The flight attendant snickered, then quickly covered her mouth.

Cass’s lips pressed together, biting down on the harsh words she ached to say. She ignored him to smile at the attendant. “Water, please. It’s rather dry, isn’t it?”

Matt’s lips quirked, acknowledging her dig. “Wait until we land. You thought Vegas was hot? That ain’t nothing compared to San Antonio.”

Lovely, she couldn’t stand the suspense.

“How far away from the city is your ranch?” Maybe she could plan a day trip and turn it into three.

“Not far,” he said, handing over her bottle of Perrier. “As the crow flies.”

Their fingers brushed and a flush broke across Cass’s chest. Of course he noticed. She frowned and twisted the cap off the bottle, wishing it was his neck. “What does that mean? A couple of hours? More?”

He lifted his gaze from his perusal and grinned. “Even doing over the speed limit it’s a ten-hour drive, honey. I guess you’re stuck with me for the duration.” He lifted his glass in a salute, then leaned back in his seat, a relaxed smile tipping that annoyingly perfect mouth.

Ten hours.

She was going to go crazy out there. Suddenly, she had a horrifying thought. “There’s internet, right?”

* * *

Matt lugged the princess’s three overflowing suitcases into the back of his pickup and shook his head. Who needed that many outfits for a week? She could fill the local Salvation Army with those things. He inhaled a deep breath of Texas air and felt his stress melt away. The truth was, he missed his home. If not for Granny’s wishes, he would have been happy to be back.

He looked to where his new fiancée stood near the passenger door, as though waiting for him to open it for her or some-damn-thing.

“It’s unlocked. Get in,” he told her, smirking when she jumped because he slammed the tailgate shut.

She looked up at the door, then at him with eyes as deadly as any rattler. “I would have if you didn’t drive a freaking semi.” Her voice rose with each word to near banshee status.

He glanced around to see if they had created a scene, but thankfully most passengers were long gone already.

“Relax. All you had to do was say so.” He reached her side in a couple long strides and reached past her to open the door. She flinched, and he hesitated. What the hell? Did she think he’d hit her or something?

Careful not to startle her further, he placed his hands on her hips and met her widened gaze. Her eyes really were incredible. They reminded him of a pool they had on the ranch. It was hidden in the hills, fed by a fresh water spring, the deepest blue he’d ever seen—until now.

He cleared his throat. “Put your hands on my shoulders. I’m going to lift you into the cab.”

She blinked. Then slowly, one tortuous moment at a time, her fingers drifted over the muscles of his arms.

And he forgot to breathe.

“I’m ready,” she whispered.

Oh, God. So was he.

Disturbed by how quickly she’d affected him, he hoisted her into the truck and shut the door on her startled expression.

He had a feeling it was going to be an interesting week.