Catie’s family had taken pity on her and let her sleep through the night, even after Angie had shown up. The next morning, she showered and dressed. After a delicious Colorado breakfast of a Denver omelet made with fresh eggs gathered that morning and a thin cut Angus steak from the Bay Ranch on the western slope, Catie took Ladybird on a long ride, recapturing the beauty of her family’s property in Bakersville. How had she stayed away so long? She and Ladybird got reacquainted, and within a half hour, they were riding as though she’d never left. She moved fluidly with her mare, galloping over the hilly knolls of her family’s property. After two hours, she found herself at the border of McCray Landing, Chad’s property, which he owned jointly with his brothers, Zach and Dallas. McCray Landing was the biggest and most successful beef ranch in Colorado. Bay Crossing, on the western slope, wasn’t as big, but Catie’s family also owned this property outside Bakersville which they called Cha Cha Ranch—for Caitlyn, Harper, and Angelina. Cha Cha—God, she hated that name—was small potatoes compared to McCray Landing. It had been gifted to Maria by a distant uncle when Catie was a toddler. The family had decided to make the move because there were better chances for good schooling for the Bay kids near the big city of Denver. Hands now ran Bay Crossing, and Wayne and Harper traveled to the western slope several times a year to keep up with things. Angie and Harper—at eleven and nine years older than Catie, respectively—remembered living on the western slope, but to Catie, Cha Cha was home and always would be.

The vastness of McCray landing still amazed Catie. Here she was, standing on the border, and she saw no cattle, no houses, no nothing. The ranch was that big. Dallas, Zach, and Chad all had their own places, though Dallas and his family had moved into the big ranch house when Laurie McCray had passed on a year ago. A tear trickled down Catie’s cheek. Best friends with Catie’s own mother, Laurie had been one of Catie’s idols growing up.

She sniffed. She should have come home for Laurie’s funeral. Maria had told her Laurie would understand how busy she was, but an anvil of guilt settled in Catie’s stomach as she looked upon the land that had once been Laurie’s.

She should have been here.

For Laurie, and for her own mother, who had lost her best friend.

And for Chad.

As the baby of the McCray boys, he had been very close to his mother.

But would he have wanted her here?

Tears fell again, for a different reason this time. For the kiss Chad had told her to forget.

She’d try like hell, she would, but she knew right now she’d never forget the intoxication of that meeting of mouths.

“Come on, Ladybird.” Catie hugged the mare with her thighs, urging her into a trot. “Let’s get back. I have a party to get ready for.”

She’d look her best tonight. Not like some reincarnated dishrag who’d just spent over ten hours on a plane and two more hours in Harper’s truck. Tonight, Chad would notice her again. She was determined to get another kiss, even if he wanted to forget the first one.

---

Catie had brushed her clean and soft hair until it shone and applied just a touch of blush and reddish lipstick. She never used mascara. Her black eyelashes were long and thick. But today she made an exception. She wanted to knock Chad McCray’s Stetson off his head, and she couldn’t help but notice that Amber had painted the stuff on last night. Maybe Chad liked that.

Her nails she kept clipped short, nothing like Amber’s long red acrylics. Was that what Chad liked? Well, she’d find out, and if so, maybe she’d pay Miss Amber a visit.

Then again, taking care of Ladybird and her other ranch duties wouldn’t allow for long fake nails. Chad would just have to take her as she was.

She donned a red sheath sundress that showed lots of thigh and red sandals with three-inch heels. Took her from five-nine to six-feet, but Chad was six-feet-four. Wouldn’t matter an iota. Catie had grown comfortable with her height in Europe. She’d been mistaken for a model more than once. She smiled. Freckle-faced Catie-bug Bay, mistaken for a model. Did her heart—and her ego—good.

Guests had begun arriving a half hour ago, but Catie wasn’t in a rush. She’d make an entrance, truth to tell. If only she knew whether Chad had arrived yet.

She sighed. It’d be rude to keep her guests any longer. After all, her mother had planned this shindig as a welcome home for her. She bit her lips to plump them, ran the brush through her dark waves once more, and left the security of her bedroom.

She walked down the stairs, her heart thumping at the thought of seeing Chad. Of kissing him again. She ambled through the sprawling ranch house to the patio doors, where friends and neighbors were milling about in the giant backyard. She noticed the oldest McCray, Dallas, and his wife, Annie, with two little toddlers who must be their twins, Laurie and Sylvie. Something else she’d missed. The birth of Chad’s nieces. Why on earth had she stayed away?

“Catie, my God!” Annie McCray said, her New Jersey accent as pronounced as ever. “You look gorgeous, hon.”

“Speak for yourself,” Catie said, smiling. She liked Annie. And Annie was the picture of gorgeous. Long black hair that fell in ringlets and violet-blue eyes. Dressed in her signature peasant skirt and blouse, she could have walked right out of a gypsy harem. “It’s so good to see you.” She gave Annie a quick but firm hug. “This must be one of your twins.”

“Yep.” Annie picked up the pretty little girl at her feet and balanced her on her hip. “This is Sylvie.”

“She’s beautiful, Annie.”

“She looks just like Dallas,” Annie said. “The other one’s more of a Dallas-Annie combo, but they both really look more like their pop. Dallas!” She waved him over. “Bring Laurie over here to see Catie.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Catie said, admiring the pretty child. “I see a lot of you in her. Look at all that hair.”

The child’s hair fell in dark ringlets, like Annie’s, but her black eyes were all McCray.

“It’s not as curly as mine, thank God,” Annie said. “That’s what Dallas’s hair would look like if he grew it longer.”

Dallas walked over, holding the other twin. He was as ruggedly handsome as ever, his black hair reaching his collar, the gray at his temples strangely appealing. Several days’ growth of beard covered his jawline. “Hey, little bit,” he drawled, “sure is good to see you home.”

“Good to see you, too,” Catie said. “So this is little Laurie?”

“Yeah, this is ma’s namesake. She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Like her mama.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “I already told her they’re both dead ringers for you.”

“Nah. Laurie, here, she has Annie’s cute little nose.” Dallas smiled, his eyes crinkling.

Annie laughed, loud and boisterous, like the Jersey girl she was. “They both have your hair and your eyes.”

“I’d’ve loved them to have Annie’s pretty eyes,” Dallas said. “But heck, we’re not done yet, honey.” He winked at his wife.

Catie should have been embarrassed by the innuendo, but Annie was so open and fun, there was no reason to be. She laughed as Dallas took Sylvie from Annie’s arms and led the two girls inside the house to get them a drink.

“They’re both beautiful,” Catie said, and they were. Beautiful little McCray girls. A sigh, louder than she wanted, escaped her throat. What she would give to bear the next McCray baby.

As if she’d read Catie’s mind, Annie said, “Chad’s here, hon.”

“Is he?”

Annie had always known about Catie’s crush, and she was the only person in whom Catie had confided about it.

“But he came with the new manicurist in town, Amber something.”

Annie put her hand on Catie’s forearm—a gentle, comforting gesture, but it embarrassed Catie. She shrugged away.

“Why should I care who he’s dating? I’ve been gone four years.”

“I know. I know,” Annie said. “But I also noticed how you’ve been searching this party since you and I started talking. I just assumed—”

“Oh, Annie.” Catie sighed. “I saw him last night. Harp and I stopped off at the Bullfrog for a drink. He was with Amber then.”

“So you know.”

“Yeah. And I’m fine, really. That crush on Chad was a long time ago.”

“He’s still single, and no closer to commitment than he was four years ago when you left,” Annie said. “Dallas and Zach give him crap about it, but he’s bound and determined not to get serious. So if that’s any consolation, I doubt he’ll ever get serious about that blond powder puff.”

Catie let out a giggle. Annie always made her feel better. “I was thinking the same thing. I mean, she’s pretty and all, but that hair color has got to be fake.”

“Straight out of a bottle, I’d bet,” Annie agreed.

“And the nails… Of course, that’s her job,” Catie said.

“Fake as they come,” Annie said, “and certainly not suited to life here in Bakersville. She’ll find that out soon enough.”

“So what’s Chad doing?”

“He’s playing the field, like he always does. Amber’s new in town. Trust me, that’s her only appeal. He’ll grow tired of her. I’ve seen it time and time again.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Catie shrugged and let out a breathy sigh. “So I have I.”

“How about the rodeo queen thing? Can you imagine?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Dallas, Zach, and Chad have been tapped to judge it this year.”

“Really?” Catie’s heart lurched. “When is it?”

“Next week, I think. I could check for you. Hey, you should enter.”

Catie’d been thinking the same thing. After all, she’d been mistaken for a supermodel more than once in Europe. But rodeo queen? Was she too old?

“Do you know the requirements for the contest, Annie?”

“Heck no. But Dallas might, since he’s judging. When he comes back, ask him.”

“I will do just that,” Catie said.

When Dallas returned with the twins, she pounced on him. “Tell me all about the rodeo queen competition, Dallas. Just what are the qualifications?”

“Heck, it’s nothin’ but the tarts of Bakersville struttin’ their stuff, little bit. You don’t want any part of it. You’re way better than that.”

Annie clicked her tongue. “Don’t give her that, Dallas. She’s genuinely interested. Look at her. She’s gorgeous. She just might take the thing.”

“Oh, I have no doubt of that.” Dallas smiled. “That’s not what I mean. You’re too classy for a beauty pageant.”

“But think of the good I could accomplish,” Catie said, searching for something halfway intelligent to say. “I could do charitable work, and…”

“This ain’t Miss America.” Dallas guffawed. “It’s the Bakersville Rodeo Queen.”

“Good God, Cowboy, quit giving the girl crap and tell her the rules.” Annie took one of the twins from Dallas.

“All right, all right, Doc. Simmer down.” He turned to Catie. “It’s for single ladies between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two.”

“Good. I qualify.”

“Sure you do,” Dallas said. “And you’re mighty pretty. As pretty as any woman around. But do you really want to strut around in a bikini in front of a bunch of lecherous old judges?” He grinned.

Catie laughed. “You and your brothers are the judges.”

Annie swatted him, but Dallas kept grinning. “Need I say more?”

“Ha-ha,” Catie said. “Where do I sign up?”

“It’s pretty late, little bit. But I can probably get you in. I know the judges.” He winked. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure, Dallas. As sure as anything. Thanks.”

“All right, consider yourself entered.”

Annie smiled and winked at Catie, and Catie curved her own lips upward in what she hoped was a saucy grin.

“I’ll help you prepare, hon. We’ll get Dusty, too. And no doubt your big sister has a few tricks up her sleeve. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll be the belle of Bakersville.”

---

Amber’s honeyed gaze was getting tiresome. She was a sweet girl, but where the hell was Catie? This was her damn party, after all. Chad’s black lab, Marnie, panted at his feet. He gave her a quick pet. “Thatsa girl. You thirsty? I’ll see about gettin’ you some water.”

“Hey, Chad.” The husky drawl came from his brother Dallas.

“Dallas, hey.”

“Who you got here?”

“This is Amber Cross. Amber, my brother Dallas.”

“Nice to meet you,” Amber said.

“You too.” Dallas shook Amber’s hand and patted Marnie’s soft head. “Has this brother of mine told you what he’s doing next weekend?”

“What am I doing next weekend?” Chad said.

“Judging the rodeo queen competition. How quickly you forget.”

“Damn.” Chad thumped himself on the forehead. “I actually did forget. Is there something I need to do?”

“Just get ready to eye the beauty of Bakersville, little brother.”

“Rodeo queen?” Amber’s light brown eyes lit up. “What’s that about, Chad?”

“Bakersville’s answer to a beauty queen, honey. Nothin’ you’d be interested in.”

“Why not?”

“That’s my cue to leave, I think.” Dallas walked away, chuckling.

“Damn, brother,” Chad said under his breath. Now he’d started something.

“I just might enter this contest,” Amber said.

“Can’t. You’re too old.”

“What do you mean I’m too old? You don’t even know how old I am.”

“You have to be between eighteen and twenty-two. And single.”

“Well, of course you know I’m single,” Amber said. “What makes you think I’m too old?”

Jesus. He’d walked right into that one. “Now, honey, you’re beautiful, but you can’t possibly be—”

Amber’s face reddened, and she reached into the small pocketbook hanging at her hip. She pulled out her wallet and then her driver’s license and shoved it in Chad’s face. “I’m twenty-one, you dumb cowboy. Twenty-two next month. So I qualify. And I’m entering.”

“Christ,” Chad muttered. Twenty-one? He’d had no idea.

Twenty-one. Catie’s age.

Damn.

Somehow, though, with Amber, the age didn’t pack quite as much of a wallop as it did with Catie. Maybe because he remembered what Catie looked like at five. He shook his head.

Damn it all to hell.

“Clearly, I look like an old bat to you,” Amber yammered in his ear.

“No, that’s not it at all,” Chad said. “I just assumed… Aw hell, there’s no getting out of this one, is there?”

“Afraid not, Chad,” she said.

“Let me get you a drink, then,” he said. “I’ve found women find my foot in my mouth much more charming when they’ve had a drink.”

Amber’s lips curved upward. Yep, the McCray charm worked every time. “All right, I guess.”

“Forgive me, then?”

“Sure, I suppose.”

“Let me get you that drink. What’ll you—” His mouth dropped open.

In a clingy red sundress leaving nothing to the imagination stood Catie Bay. Nothing to the imagination except the hue of those pert nipples protruding through the silky fabric. Pink? Or a deeper crimson? Maybe a dusky brown? And the color of the curls between her legs. Were they dark mahogany, like on her head? Or black as onyx?

His jeans tightened around his groin. Damn, her legs went on forever. Those luscious thighs disappeared under that clingy red skirt, and all Chad could think about was the sweet, moist spot at their apex. Would that taste like lime and raspberries too?

“A cosmo,” came a voice from far away. “Or white wine, if they don’t have mixed drinks.”

Who was that?

Amber. Right. He’d offered to get her a drink. A bar had been set up on the deck…where Catie was headed.

“Right. I’ll get it.” Not looking at Amber, he headed toward the bar. And Catie.

“Hey, little bit.”

“Hey yourself,” Catie said, leaning down to pet Marnie, “and I thought you promised not to call me that anymore.”

Chad chuckled. “Old habits die hard, Catie.”

“Caitlyn.”

“Right. Caitlyn. Drinking ’ritas again?”

Catie smiled. Had she always had those cute little dimples?

“I’m sticking to iced tea tonight. For a while, anyway.”

The bartender handed her a tall glass of tea. “There you are, gorgeous.”

The muscles in Chad’s jaw tensed. Who the hell was he, anyway, calling her that?

“See you later, Chad.” She walked away, her hips swaying gently beneath her silky sheath.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.

“You can keep your hands off her, first of all,” Chad said, between clenched teeth.

“Sorry. She your girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Your sister?”

“Hell, no.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“She’s…aw, hell, I don’t have to explain myself to you. Give me a…what the hell is that froufrou pink martini called again?”

“A cosmo?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. A cosmo. And a Fat Tire. Damn, make that two.”

He chugged the first one and took the remaining beer and the cosmo back to Amber.

And there was Catie again, chatting away with Amber.

Damn it all to fucking hell.

---

He was walking toward them, Marnie at his heels. It had taken every ounce of strength Catie possessed to act so nonchalantly at the bar. She was secretly thrilled when the hunky bartender called her gorgeous and hoped Chad had noticed. Then Amber had called her over, and it would have been rude to ignore her. She really was a nice girl, even though her platinum blond hooks were sunk in the cowboy Catie wanted more than her next breath of air.

“Thank you, Chad,” Amber said, when Chad handed her the cosmo. “Did you know Caitlyn’s entering the rodeo queen contest too?”

“Christ,” Chad said. “What is it with you two? That contest is stupid.”

“Then why’d you agree to judge it?” Catie asked.

“I got forced into it?”

“By whom?” Amber asked.

“By my brothers. By the mayor of Bakersville. By the whole damn universe. Sheesh.”

“Calm down, goodness,” Amber said. “According to Caitlyn, it’s quite an honor to judge the thing. And an honor to win, as well.”

“Catie, what the hell are you filling her full of?” Chad took a swig of his beer.

“Nothing, Chad. I’ve lived here almost my whole life, and you know what a huge thing our rodeo is. It’s the pride of Bakersville, and it’s every little girl’s dream to represent the town at the rodeo.”

“I’d bet it was never your dream,” he said. “Your dream was to ride like the wind atop your mare. Ladybird, right?”

“Well, I have to admit, I never considered it before. But I’ve been gone for a while, Chad. I think it would be an honor to represent my town as rodeo queen. I think it would mean a lot to Amber, too, being new here.”

“Yes, it certainly would,” Amber said. “Do you know who else is entered?”

“I have no idea,” Catie said. “I just got back in town. Chad probably knows, don’t you?”

“I haven’t the foggiest.”

“But you’re a judge.”

“So? Doesn’t mean I give two damns, sugar.”

Sugar. He’d called her sugar again. Oh, the sweet sound of it. And from Amber’s pursed lips, clearly she’d noticed, too. Course it probably didn’t sound nearly so sweet to her. Catie couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, I expect you’ll be a terrible judge then,” she said. “Thank goodness Zach and Dallas will take this duty more seriously.”

Chad let out a belly laugh. “You’re kidding right, Catie?”

“Caitlyn.”

“Christ. Caitlyn. Do you really think Zach and Dallas care any more about this thing than I do?”

“This is a tradition in Bakersville. It’s part of our history. It’s a…a…” Catie grasped for words. “It’s as true to Bakersville as the Miss America pageant is to Atlantic City. Just ask Annie. That’s where she’s from!”

“I can’t imagine Dr. Annie having anything to do with pageants of any kind, Catie.”

She scoffed, and he rolled his eyes.

“Caitlyn. And as far as this one, I got roped into judging, and I’ll do it, but neither of you better expect any preferential treatment from me. I intend to be fully fair and impartial.” He shook his head. “Of all the silly nonsense. Especially you, Catie. I’d’ve thought you’d have more sense.”

Anger seethed in Catie’s gut. It was as much an insult to Amber as it was to her, but if he thought she’d have more sense, why did he insist on thinking of her as a child? How dare he belittle her? “You’ve already told me I’m just a kid. I believe those were your words last evening, if I recall correctly. So it makes perfect sense that I’d want to take part in this silly tradition. Amber, I’ll leave this jerk to you.”

Catie stormed off, across the yard, her sandals tapping on the patio, through the kitchen where the caterers were readying the buffet, up the stairs, and to her pink and horsy room. She flopped onto her bed and let the anger give way to sadness. She hugged her stuffed horse as tears fell.

Tears for missing four years of her life in Bakersville. Tears for Laurie McCray, her second mother, whose funeral she hadn’t attended. Tears of jealousy for Annie, who had her handsome McCray boy and his children. Tears for Amber, whom she liked, and who might have been a friend under different circumstances. And mostly tears for her unrequited love. Even four years in Europe hadn’t erased him from her heart.

She sobbed and sniffed into her pillow as she realized the bitter truth.

Nothing would ever erase Chad McCray from her heart.