Katy still felt that kiss the next morning as she sat at the little breakfast nook table in the guest house with Alice, poring over all the information Alice had brought her. They both sipped their coffees and Katy did her best to concentrate, despite the fact that her mind kept wandering back to the night before.

And that kiss.

That kiss kept stealing the show.

“Katy?” Alice nudged her gently and that was how she discovered she’d been staring off into space.

“Sorry.” She gave her head a little shake. “I guess I didn’t sleep all that well last night.”

Alice’s smile was understanding. “Do you want to take a break. We can discuss all this later if—”

“No, no.” Katy shook her head. No amount of napping would help right now, though it was true that she needed more sleep.

But who could sleep after a day like yesterday? So much had happened and her emotions had gone into a tailspin trying to sort themselves out. All night she’d tossed and turned, replaying things they’d said, what Dax had said, how she’d responded.

It was stupid, really, since in the long run none of it would matter. She rubbed at her throbbing temple as she reminded herself yet again that she’d be gone tomorrow. After that this would all be a memory—a distant, sweet memory.

She cringed as her stress headache grew worse. Yeah, that thought definitely wasn’t helping.

Alice’s hand reached out and covered hers. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

No! She forced a nod. Because really, how could she explain to Dax’s little sister that after spending a grand total of twenty-four hours with him, she’d a) fallen head over heels and b) gone insane with jealousy over Ellen, quite possibly the nicest woman on the planet.

Oh, it wasn’t like she wanted to claw Ellen’s eyes out or anything. She was just jealous, plain and simple. Jealous for the life the cute redhead could have with Dax that she could not.

And yes, she was jumping to assumptions. Maybe the two of them would never get together. But they could, and that’s what was making her head feel like it was in a vice this morning.

It would never have occurred to her to be jealous if it hadn’t been for that Deputy Leo guy. He’d been nice, but his words… Oh, his words. She wondered if he had any idea how they’d haunted her all night. She had half a mind to call up the nice deputy and chew him out.

It had all started harmlessly enough when he’d sidled up to her and introduced himself. They made some polite chit-chat and then he’d gotten this low, knowing tone as he’d asked her if she was there with Dax.

Which, of course she was. The entire town had been watching them and Dax hadn’t exactly tried to hide the fact that he was holding her hand and fussing over her with that blanket. So she’d nodded and his grin had grown as his gaze had turned to Dax and Ellen, who had their heads together as they talked in private.

She was not a jealous woman by nature and she didn’t think anything of it, until Leo said, “That’s great news for me.”

“How so?” she’d asked.

“If Dax is with you, that means maybe someone else will have a shot with Ellen.”

He might as well have set off fireworks at her feet. Her whole world had burst into flames of crazy, irrational jealousy as she continued to watch them together. She saw the way Ellen touched his arm, the thoughtful look on his face.

They looked so easy together, so comfortable.

She’d assumed because they were friends but what if… Oh, what if?

Leo had continued to talk as if he hadn’t just thrown a grenade into her perfect little bubble. And now today, her body was still suffering the aftereffects of that explosion.

She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat…Her whole body was in chaos over this man and she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to book an earlier flight and run away as fast as she could, or if she wanted to drag her feet and torture herself with more heated glances and thoughts of what could have been.

For the millionth time she found herself mentally cursing that charming deputy. He was the one who’d spoiled her perfect night. She’d been caught up in a magical bubble of giddy perfection. Really, could he have planned a better night? Dinner had been a revelation—the conversation had ranged from easy, fun small talk to intimate bonding. She hadn’t realized she could feel so close to someone so quickly.

That had never happened to her before. But then, she’d also never fallen head over heels in an instant either. She stared down into her cup of coffee as if life’s answers might be found there.

If this truly was love, then she felt certain she could say this had never happened to her before. This was new and it was…well, it was terrifying. It was too overwhelming and she had no idea what to do about it.

What do you mean, what are you going to do about it? a voice of reason nagged. You’re going to get on a plane, return to your normal life, and forget all about Dax Deckland.

She accidentally let out a scoffing noise. Yeah, right. As if it would be that easy.

Katy heard Alice shifting beside her, probably concerned that her client was acting insane when they were just supposed to be going over possible seating arrangements and crunching some numbers.

Maybe she could ask Alice about what that deputy had said…

She glanced up and saw Alice’s frown of concern. Oh, what the heck. It wasn’t like she had a lot of pride left to protect at this particular moment.

She cleared her throat. “If this is too weird to talk about, feel free to ignore the question.”

Alice widened her eyes in obvious surprise. “Okay.” She drawled the word like Dax had a tendency to do and even that reminder of the hottie cowboy was enough to make her heart hurt.

She cleared her throat once more and shifted in her seat. Mercy, this was hard. She felt ridiculous bringing it up. This was stupid. She wasn’t in junior high anymore and—

“Is Dax into Ellen?”

Alice stared at her for a moment in surprise. Then her nose scrunched up in confusion. “Ellen Rhinebeck?”

Before she could answer, Alice was shaking her head and Katy slumped over the table in instant, and absolutely ridiculous relief.

“No, of course not. They’re just friends,” Alice said.

She should not feel this giddy. It was so stupid. She knew that rationally, but reason had taken a backseat to insanity ever since she’d arrived in this state.

She nodded, trying to play it cool. Alice was clearly not fooled. She leaned forward again so Katy was forced to look at her. “Hey,” she said. “I don’t know where you got this idea in your head, but trust me—I have never seen Dax look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

The words brought stupid tears to her eyes—the stupidest part? She didn’t know if they were tears of happiness or sadness. Or maybe both.

Alice frowned at her. “Seriously, why would you even think that? Those two have been friends for ages, but that’s it. Just friends.”

Katy nodded. She believed her. It was the impression she’d gotten too. “Thanks. Deputy Leo had said—”

“Ugh.” Alice’s loud groan cut her off. With a smile of amusement she shook her head. “Don’t listen to Leo. I love that guy but he has an ego the size of Alaska. He can never understand when a woman isn’t into him. He probably hit on Ellen once and when she wasn’t into him, he blamed Dax.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure what else to say to that. It sounded reasonable enough, and now she just felt that much more ridiculous for believing him.

Not to mention, she was an idiot of the highest caliber for caring so much in the first place. What was she going to do? Set up an electric fence around Dax so no other woman could go near him after she left?

Of course not.

And that…that was the crux of the matter.

Alice sighed. “What is it now?”

Katy glanced up in question and saw Alice’s knowing smile. “You’d perked up for a bit there but all of a sudden you got this look on your face as though someone just told you Santa Clause doesn’t exist.”

Katy let out a short laugh despite herself. “Am I that obvious?”

Alice nodded. “Yeah, you’re pretty much an open book.”

Katy stirred the spoon in her coffee even though the sugar had long since dissolved.

“Look, I know he’s my brother and all, but you can talk to me,” Alice said. She gestured toward the pamphlets and spreadsheets on the table. “Just consider it one of the many perks we offer here at the Twilight Guest Ranch.”

Katy found herself laughing despite her miserable state. “I already told your brother, you should think about putting that in your brochures. Therapy included. That could be your niche.”

Alice laughed. “Brilliant!” Then she grew serious and her empathetic expression almost made Katy tear up all over again. “It’s obvious there’s some sort of connection between you and my brother…” she prompted.

Katy nodded. There was no denying that much. “There is a connection.”

Alice arched her brows, clearly looking for more. “And I’ve assured you that there’s no one else in his life. There hasn’t been for ages, honestly.” She shrugged. “So what’s the problem?”

Oh Alice. Oh, sweet, young, optimistic Alice. She swallowed down a sigh. “The problem is, we live in two different worlds.”

“Ah,” Alice said, sounding so much wiser than her years. “I figured as much. But if this is serious between you two, maybe there’s a way—”

She stopped when Katy shook her head. No, she wouldn’t even go down that path. Everything in her rebelled at the idea. Hadn’t she spent the better part of her adulthood forging her own path, making sure she didn’t compromise or settle for a man?

There was no way she would give up her hard-earned success, the business she’d worked so hard to build. No way. It wasn’t an option.

Oh no. There they were again. The dreaded tears she’d been fighting all night and all morning. Much as she knew she was right, her tear ducts had zero interest in logic.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m being so silly.”

Alice immediately interjected. “You’re not—”

“I am.” And she was. There was no doubt about that. “I shouldn’t be getting jealous over Ellen. It’s so stupid. Dax is free to date whomever he wishes.”

Alice frowned. “But he clearly wants to date you.”

She sighed. “Anyone but me, I meant.”

She could see Alice wanting to argue with her but this was not a point she would concede. She couldn’t. It was a slippery slope, and she knew it well. Once she started to compromise, she would be relinquishing control. This was her life they were talking about. And yes, she had feelings for Dax, but she couldn’t let these emotions take control.

She wasn’t a kid anymore, and she couldn’t afford to lose herself to the whims of her hormones and her heart. She’d built a life, a good life—a life she’d worked hard for. She couldn’t just go and change all of that because of a man.

An image of Dax filled her head. Even if he was a crazy attractive, sweet, kind, one-in-a-million kind of man.

She forced a smile for Alice’s sake even though her heart was still aching in her chest. “Look, it was stupid of me to be jealous, but the fact of the matter is, I am jealous. Not because Ellen is pretty or any of that, but because she would fit into his life in a way that I never could.”

When Alice opened her mouth she cut her off again.

“And vice versa.”

Alice clamped her mouth shut.

Katy focused on the coffee in her hands as she tried to explain. “I’ve worked hard, Alice. I love my company, I love what I do. I love having complete control over my life and my future and—”

Alice’s sigh made her stop and look up in surprise.

Alice flashed her a smile but there was a sadness to it. “Sorry, but now it’s my turn to be jealous, I guess.”

Surprise had Katy setting down her mug, forgetting temporarily about her own heartache and the current state on insanity in her heart and in her brain. Her new friend looked so sad she found herself reaching out as Alice had done to her.

“What is it, Alice?”

Alice shook her head, as if shaking off whatever sad thoughts had brought her down. “I’m being ridiculous, is all. I love my life here at Twilight, I do. It’s just that…” A wistfulness swept over her features and Katy recognized it. It was seriously like looking in a mirror at her younger self—the one who’d fled New York with grand ambitions of making a name for herself, on her own terms.

“You want more,” she said quietly.

Alice’s gaze was startled and she looked like she might protest but then she bit her lip and let out another sad sigh. “Yeah,” she said. “I want more.”

They were quiet for a moment. Katy had so much she wanted to say but she wasn’t sure it was her place. After all, she didn’t know all the circumstances, but from the talks she’d had with Dax, she could imagine the younger girl’s situation was complicated.

She knew that the ranch was struggling financially, she knew that it fell upon the siblings to save it. She also knew that this whole guest ranch idea, which was the saving grace for this property, had been Alice’s idea.

Dax had talked with pride about how Alice had brought it to fruition with the help of James and Cole.

The memory of Dax’s proud bragging made her lips curve up in a smile. Even though he hadn’t tried to hide his misery at having to share his land with a bunch of tourists, he couldn’t disguise his obvious pride in his little sister’s brains and her fortitude.

Not just anyone could make something like this happen. It required so much more than just vision and intelligence. It required strength and the kind of persistence and doggedness that most people just don’t have. Or at least, in Katy’s experience, they often don’t have that as well as the vision and intelligence.

But Alice, she clearly had it all. The intelligence and the gumption. That was rare. “I know this sounds cliché,” she said. “But you could do anything you wanted, Alice Deckland. You’ve got what it takes.”

Alice grinned at that. “Yeah, but…” She gestured around her. “I’m needed here.”

Katy nodded. She assumed that was the hold-up. “I bet Dax would understand if you wanted to spread your wings.”

Alice’s smile faded and Katy caught the hint of sadness. “That’s the thing about Dax. He would totally understand. In fact, if he so much as suspected that I wanted to get out of Lulu and try my hand at something new, he’d support me one hundred percent.”

Katy watched her struggle with emotion. “And that’s a bad thing?”

Alice’s laugh was rueful. “It is a bad thing, actually. Because if Dax was a jerk maybe I could leave him here by himself to run the show, but—”

“But he’s not a jerk.” In a weird way, Katy felt her pain. It would have been so much easier to walk away if Dax was the kind of controlling, manipulative, alpha male she’d dated in the past. If she could tell herself that he was the chauvinistic cowboy she’d first thought he was, she could get on that plane without a backward glance.

“He’s not a jerk,” Alice echoed, her love for her brother written all over her face. “Please don’t say anything to him.”

“Of course not!” Katy was honestly offended. She held up her hand in a scout’s salute. “Scouts honor.”

Alice arched her brows in surprise. “You were a Girl Scout?”

“No,” Katy laughed. “Why? Is that a prerequisite for having honor or something?”

Alice was laughing too and Katy was glad to see some of her sadness fade. “I’m sorry to unload like that. I do love what I’m doing here.” She glanced down at the work that spoke for itself. “But I have to admit that I envy you. I’d love to be doing this—” She gestured to the work. “But for Hollywood celebrities and at different venues.”

She looked so wistful that Katy couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t have the heart to break it to her that event planning in Hollywood wasn’t nearly as glamorous as she seemed to think. Well, there was an element of glamour, but all the hard work was still there too.

Alice straightened, giving Katy a smile that was strained but determined. “No use sitting around here moaning about it though, right?”

Katy tried to match her smile but she was pretty sure hers didn’t quite add up. In reality, all she wanted to do was sit here and moan. And then maybe cry. Was she wallowing? Yes, in fact, she was.

But Alice was already on her feet. “Come on, Katy. You and I are going to get out of here and shake off this bad mood.”

“How exactly are we going to do that?” she asked, following behind her new friend and apparently self-appointed cheerleader.

“We’re going to work,” Alice said.

Katy sighed. “Oh goodie.”

Normally she loved work; she lived for it. But today she just couldn’t muster up the enthusiasm required. She tried, though. She gave it the old college try as she let Alice lead her from one location to the next. She even managed to put together some coherent comments when she wasn’t on the lookout for Dax.

But, for the most part, she was constantly on the lookout for Dax.

No matter how much she tried to reason with herself that it was futile to spend any more time together, that it would only make this goodbye even harder, there was a very big part of her that was desperate to see him again.

She got her wish when they were walking past the main house and he was riding back to the stables.

Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him in all his masculine glory atop that horse. Holy cowboys, Batman.

He was remarkable.

And she was gawking. She was one hundred percent gaping. Maybe even drooling, she couldn’t be sure.

All she knew for certain was that she could not look away. And she knew the exact moment that he spotted her, despite the fact that his cowboy hat threw his eyes in shade.

But she knew. She felt it. Her blood heated in her veins and she couldn’t hear Alice talking beside her. It was only when Alice touched her arm that she came back to reality.

“Yoo-hoo,” Alice said, laughter clear in her voice. “I was explaining how we could get everyone to and from the airport but I’m pretty sure I lost you somewhere around ‘shuttle buses.’”

Katy laughed, but she never stopped watching Dax as he got off the horse and handed the reins to a teen-ager she’d seen working odd jobs on the property. He strode toward them, his lips curved up in a smile at the sight of her.

If Alice was still talking, she wasn’t aware of it. It took all her power just to keep from swooning like some sort of ditzy schoolgirl.

When Dax reached them, Alice made some lame excuse about needing to look for her phone inside the house. Soon enough they were left alone.

Dax’s gaze searched her face. Now that he was close, she could see his warm brown eyes beneath the brim of his hat and warmed at the emotions that she saw there.

This thing between them—this connection, or whatever it was—it was more than she’d ever expected to experience in life. Ever, let alone with some man she’d only just met.

“How’s your tour going?” he asked.

“Fine.”

There was a silence as she struggled with what to say. Did she apologize for her odd behavior at the end of the night yesterday? So sorry, but I got insanely jealous and temporarily lost my mind. Or did she continue to keep her distance so the goodbye tomorrow morning wouldn’t be any harder than she expected it would already be.

He was the one to finally break the silence. Thankfully, because she wasn’t sure she’d ever gather the right words. “I had a great time last night,” he said.

“Me too.”

He took a step closer and she inhaled deeply, some part of her already trying to memorize his scent and store it away for those moments when she was alone in her LA apartment and missing him like crazy. “I’m going to miss you.”

She saw a flash of surprise in his eyes, but that was nothing compared to her shock. She slapped a hand over her mouth. Oh mercy. She hadn’t meant to say that. It had just kind of…come out.

She opened her mouth to call it back but he moved too quickly, closing the distance between them and pulling her close with a growl that made her heart ache. When he kissed her, she was home. The scent of his aftershave made her want to cry, or maybe that was the tenderness in his kiss.

His lips were firm and gentle as he showed her just how much he would miss her too.

“Come with me,” he murmured when he lifted his head.

Yes. Anytime, anywhere. She shook her head. “Where?”

He glanced around. “Are you and Alice done?”

She shrugged. “I have all the information I need. I can always email her with questions.”

He reached for her hand and was already tugging her toward his truck as her voice trailed off. “Where are we going?”

His grin was wolfish as he glanced over his shoulder. “Miss Katy Hunter, I have one day left in your company, and I don’t intend to waste a single second.”