Zach cursed as Dusty ran away from him, her shirttail billowing in the winter breeze. The Colorado winter was mild, an Indian summer that had continued through January. No snow to speak of yet. Zach wanted to run after her, to find out what was wrong, but he was so hard he couldn’t move.

What was it about this woman? He wanted her like he had never wanted anything. Clearly, she felt it too. So why did she keep running away?

He fished his keys out of his pocket, turned on the engine of his truck, and opened the windows, letting the January breeze flow through the cab. He thought it might help him cool off, but he didn’t hold much hope. He wanted to go after her, but she was out of sight now, and he had no idea where to look.

What could be troubling her? Was it his fault? He was the one who’d forced her to talk about her mother earlier, but she had seemed okay with that. Maybe it was the money thing. She and Sam were sharing a hotel room. Were things really that tight for them? Only one person, besides Dusty, had the answers. He grabbed his cell phone and dialed Chad.

“Hey, Zach,” Chad said into his ear.

“Hey. Have you seen Sam this morning?”

“Yeah, he’s right here with me. We’re checking out some of the livestock, and then we’re going to head out for a bite of lunch. You want to meet us?”

“That’d be great, little brother.”

“Hey, I’m taller than you are.”

“You’re still my little brother. Where should I meet you?”

“M and D’s Barbecue. In about half an hour.”

“Great. I’ll be there.”

And I will find out what is going on with Dusty. Figuring out that sweet little thing had somehow become a priority for him.

---

M and D’s had the best barbecue in the nation. At least in Chad’s vocal opinion, and Zach agreed. Sam, however, had tears in his eyes and water running out his nose after the first few bites.

“I told you not to get the spicy sauce,” Chad said, laughing at his friend. “A Montana boy can’t take all the pequin and jalapenos.”

“Peking what?” Sam said, reaching for his water glass.

“Not Peking, you moron. This ain’t China. Pe-keen. As in hot chile peppers.” Chad motioned to their waitress. “We’re gonna need lots more water here. And a few Kleenex, please.” Chad turned to his brother. “You’re quiet today.”

“Ain’t much to say.” Zach munched on his ribs and turned to Sam. “O’Donovan, you’re red as a beet.”

“Really, I’m fine.” Sam coughed and drank more water.

“Dusty and I worked with Diablo this morning,” Zach heard himself say.

“Yeah?” Sam wiped his hands on his napkin. “How’d she do?”

“Okay, I guess. She sang him a lullaby.”

Chad erupted in laughter. “You’re kidding.”

“He’s not kidding,” Sam said. “It’s an old Irish lullaby our mama used to sing. It seems to work on bulls. At least it works for her.”

Chad rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say.”

Zach continued. “She did well with him actually. He seemed to respond. Truthfully, I was the one who got a little nervous. She reached out to touch him, and I freaked.”

“Dusty has good instincts,” Sam said. “You don’t have to worry about her with the bull. After all, he’s in a pen, and she’s not stupid.”

“I know she’s not. She’s not afraid, either.”

“Nope. There’s not much that scares Dusty.”

“Why is that?”

Sam fidgeted, but said nothing. Zach sensed a story there, but Sam wasn’t going to offer it.

“She seems intelligent, too. She did an amazing calculation in her head yesterday,” Zach said.

“Yeah, she’s a whiz with numbers,” Sam said.

Zach touched his napkin to his lips. “Tell me, why didn’t she finish college?”

“She told you about that?”

“Yeah, she said she only went for a year. Was it money?”

Sam cleared his throat. “I think it’s best if you ask her about that. It’s not my story to tell.”

“Are there problems at your ranch?” Zach asked.

“Nothing we can’t handle.”

“Look, I care about your sister. I only want to help her.”

“Care about her? You hadn’t seen her in seventeen years until yesterday.”

“I…like her.”

“Aw, geez,” Sam said. “Not you too.”

“What do you mean by that? She said she didn’t have a boyfriend.”

“She doesn’t.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I’m just tired of chasing away her potential suitors, that’s all.”

“You mean there’s a lot of them?” A wave of possessive jealousy punched Zach’s gut.

“More than you can imagine. My baby sister’s a regular stud magnet. And she’s usually not interested, so I’m the one who has to get rid of the persistent ones.”

A thrill tingled through Zach. So she wasn’t interested in most of them, but she definitely seemed interested in him. Then again, she had run away from him twice now.

“Why isn’t she interested? Are they all losers or something?”

“Nah. She’s just…” Sam stopped. “Look, you really need to ask Dusty these questions, man. I’m not comfortable with this.”

“Fair enough.” Zach stopped pushing. He would ask Dusty. Tonight. “By the way, Dusty and I ran into Angie this morning. She invited us all to some shindig tonight in the Westminster Room at our hotel. Dallas and Chelsea are going.”

“Hang out with our self-important older brother and his prima donna wife? Count me out. Besides, Sam and I were going to cruise the bars.”

“Look, I don’t want to hang out with Dallas any more than you do, but cruising the bars? Grow up, will you?”

“And stop having fun? I’m not that old, bro.”

“Then put off your cruising until tomorrow. Dusty and I need the two of you to go to the Bay thing tonight.”

“Aw, Zach. Name one reason why we should go hang out with Angelina Bay. And Chelsea. God.”

“Free beer?”

Chad smiled. “Now that’s one good reason, brother.”

---

The Westminster Room at the Windsor Hotel could have doubled for the Queen’s parlor at Buckingham Palace. At least that’s how it seemed to Dusty. The Bays were apparently as rich, or richer, than the McCrays. Dusty felt underdressed in her black skirt and creamy silk blouse, though Zach had assured her she looked gorgeous. Most of the women wore cocktail attire. Not that Dusty had any cocktail attire.

Zach looked luscious in black trousers and a white oxford, no tie. A smattering of ebony chest hair peeked out from his collar. Sexy. Sam and Chad had already arrived and were hanging out at the bar, having engaged a few available women. Dusty shook her head.

“Your brother’s a bad influence on my brother.”

“Darlin’, my brother’s a bad influence on everyone. But I think Sam can take care of himself.”

“If you say so. It seems the two of them are cut from the same cloth.”

“Both about six-four, good looking, what do you expect?”

“I expect my brother to act his age.”

“Yeah, well, good luck with that.”

Dusty sighed. “Now what?”

“We pay respects to our hostess, I guess.”

“You can’t wait to see her, can you?”

“Now just a minute—”

“Cool off. I’m just joking.” Dusty smiled at him. “I can charm the pants off anyone. Just look how I fared with Diablo.”

“Darlin’, I don’t doubt it for a minute. Come on.”

Zach grabbed her hand and led her to Angelina, who was talking to a tall, nice looking man. Angelina looked quite pretty, much to Dusty’s dismay, in a dark plum satin dress that fell below her knees, accented by strappy black sandals. Dusty felt frumpy in her skirt and blouse and black pumps. Angelina’s hair had been let loose from the Mary Ann bunches and fell in dark waves to her shoulders.

At least my hair is just as nice as hers, Dusty thought, and longer. She shook her head, the red-blond waves falling midway down her back.

“Zach!” Angelina gushed, leaving the dark-haired man. “I’m so glad you came. And Donna. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Dusty,” Zach said, his lips pursed. “Thank you for having us.”

“Make yourselves at home. We have plenty of food and drink. The deejay’ll be firing up in a half hour or so. I hope you’ll save me a dance.”

“Sure.” Zach cleared his throat. “Come on, darlin’,” he said to Dusty. “Let’s get a drink.” He led her to the bar.

“What would you like?” Zach asked her.

“A glass of Merlot sounds nice,” Dusty said.

“Merlot for the lady,” Zach said, “and Wild Turkey neat for me.” Zach placed a ten dollar bill in the tip jar.

“I changed my mind,” Dusty said to the bartender. “I’ll have what he’s having.” What the hell? She needed a little something wild to get her through this evening. There was Mary Ann to deal with. And Zach was eventually going to ask her why she had run that afternoon. She was surprised he hadn’t brought it up yet.

“You want to sit down?” he asked.

“Let’s go see what Chad and Sam are up to.” She gestured to a table where the two men were chatting with two young women.

“Darlin’, we’d be third wheels.”

“Come on.” She pulled on his arm. “They’re our brothers.”

“So?”

“I’m sure they’re dying to talk to us.”

“Doesn’t look that way to me.”

She led him to the table anyway. “Hey, Sam, Chad.”

“Hey, Dust.” Sam turned to his companions. “This is my baby sister, Dusty. Dusty, meet Sydney Buchanan and Linda Rhine.”

“And this is my big brother, Zach,” Chad said. “You all want to sit down?”

“We’d love to,” Dusty cooed.

“Sydney’s a barrel racer,” Sam said. “I’ve been telling her all about you.”

“Are you competing?” Dusty asked.

“Yeah. Day after tomorrow. You?”

“Day after tomorrow. Good luck to you.”

“You, too. Though I doubt you’ll need it. Sam told me about your best time. Thirteen point nine seconds is awesome.”

“Sydney’s real good, too,” Sam said. “Her personal best is fourteen point one.”

“That’s exceptional,” Dusty said. “I see you’ll be some real competition.”

“You want to dance, darlin’?” Zach asked her. “They’re firing up the music.”

“Sure.” Dusty shivered as Zach took her hand and led her to the small dance floor. “I didn’t know you danced.”

“I don’t. But I wanted to get away from that table.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to hang out with you.”

“So we’re not going to dance then?”

“Depends on what they play. In fact, excuse me for a minute.”

Dusty watched as Zach approached the deejay, whispered to him, and handed him a folded bill. As he walked back toward Dusty, the harmonious voices of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill began to sing “Like We Never Loved at All.”

“This is our dance, darlin’,” he said, taking her into his arms.

He didn’t try to hold her in the traditional dance pose. Both of his arms went around her body and pulled her close. She had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck. As her body met his, she melted into him. Soft cotton shirt. Warm hard man. So good.

“Mmm,” she heard herself say.

“What’s that?” he whispered.

“Nothing. It’s just…this feels so nice.”

“Sure does.”

He pulled her even closer, and she snuggled her cheek against his shoulder, breathing in his crisp masculine scent.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he whispered.

She chuckled softly. “Yes.”

“Have I told you how much I want to kiss you?”

“No.”

“In that case. I really want to kiss you. I can’t think of anything else when I look at those sweet lips of yours.”

Dusty’s skin tingled. She sighed into his chest, her nose nuzzling the exposed black hair. Without thinking, she brushed her lips against it.

“That’s nice, darlin’.” He reciprocated by leaning down and pressing his mouth to her neck.

She shuddered.

“You want to go up to my room?” he asked.

Her heart beat so hard against her chest, she was certain he could feel it. “Can’t we get something to eat?”

“Sure. If you want to.”

When the song ended, he took her to the buffet line and they filled their plates with prawns, oysters, bruschetta, and myriad other goodies. They replenished their drinks and sat down at an empty table.

“Great spread,” Dusty said.

“Angie never does anything halfway,” Zach replied, munching on a chicken wing.

“It was nice of her to invite us.”

“I suppose so. I’d rather be at a quiet dinner with you.”

Her cheeks warmed. “You make me feel all…”

“All what?” The corners of his mouth crinkled. God, his smile was something out of heaven itself.

“All…I don’t know…mushy inside.”

“Good.”

He sucked an oyster off its shell, and the slurping sound made Dusty want to grab him and kiss him senseless.

“Tell me something, darlin’. Why do you keep running from me?”

“It’s complicated—” she began, but thankfully was interrupted by Sam and Chad, accompanied by Sydney and the other girl. Dusty couldn’t remember her name. Lori? Lila? She had to stop drinking Wild Turkey.

“We’re heading out,” Chad said. “We’re going for a late supper at Amici’s. You all want to come?”

Dusty started to answer, but Zach beat her to it. “No, thanks. We have plans.”

“We do?” Dusty said after they’d left.

“Sure we do. Don’t we?” He winked at her.

“Could you excuse me for a few minutes? I need to use the ladies room.” Dusty scurried away, trying to ignore Zach’s bewildered look. When she reached the restroom, she grabbed onto the counter and stared into the mirror, breathing deeply.

Get a grip, she told herself. Get a grip.

---

There she went, running off again. Zach shook his head. He wanted this woman with a passion he’d never known. She was so damned beautiful, and kissing her was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. And he had experienced a lot. He was going to make love to her tonight. He had to. He’d been nursing a case of blue balls since he first laid eyes on her.

“Where did your date wander off to?”

Angelina’s voice. Sheesh, just what he needed. He turned to face her.

“Ladies’ room.”

“You look a little lonely over here.”

“I’m fine.”

“Can we chat for a minute?”

“What about?” Zach checked his watch. He looked over Angelina’s head to the door of the ballroom. Damn, Dusty wasn’t going to take off again, was she?

“Oh, I don’t know. Things.”

“You’ll have to be a little more specific, Angie.” He sipped his Wild Turkey and the liquor burned his throat. Good stuff.

Angelina licked her lips and tugged on the lower one with her teeth as she eyed him. “Honestly, Zach, I had forgotten how handsome you are. You look great tonight.”

“Thanks.” She wanted something, and she wasn’t going to get it.

She smiled coquettishly. “You’re not going to return the compliment?”

“You always look great, Angie. You know that.”

“It’s nice to hear it sometimes.”

“Okay. You look beautiful. Now what is it that you’re after?”

“What makes you think I’m after anything?”

Zach chuckled under his breath. “We’ve known each other for years. You come over here, all flirty and fluttery. You want something.”

“You do know me, don’t you?” She curled her lips upward. “I thought we might be able to get together and talk.”

“About what?”

“About us.”

“There’s no us, Angie. You broke up with me, remember?”

She sighed, her lips twisting into a pout. “Zach, I made a huge mistake letting you go.”

“Nah, it wasn’t a mistake. Things were never right between us.” He checked his watch again and glanced to the door. No Dusty.

“We could try again. We could recapture it.”

“Recapture what? There was never much more between us than friendship, no matter how hard we both tried.”

“Of course there was. Don’t you remember our lovemaking? That was phenomenal, Zach. Don’t you ever wish we could go to bed again? Just once?”

“I’m sorry, Angie.”

“My room’s right upstairs.”

“So’s mine.” Zach shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Where the hell is she?

“Okay, we’ll go to yours.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I’ll make it worth your while. I haven’t been able to think about anything except your luscious body.”

“Christ, Angie. Shut the fuck up, will you?”

Dusty entered the ballroom and he silently thanked God.

“It’s over, okay?”

“You’ll change your mind.”

Angelina walked away, swinging her considerable assets. She was a beauty, no doubt. Funny thing, though. Zach wasn’t even slightly tempted. Instead, he couldn’t take his eyes off the golden-haired goddess walking toward him. She looked a little flustered, but she was still the most delicious thing he’d ever seen.

“You all right, darlin’?”

“Fine.” She plunked down in a chair. “I think I’ve had a little too much Wild Turkey, to tell you the truth. I don’t usually drink hard stuff.”

“Why did you tonight?”

She sighed. “I thought it would help me feel a little more at ease. You know, with Angelina and all.”

“Angelina is nothing compared to you.”

“That’s sweet of you to say. But you and she—”

“That’s over.”

“I know. I just… Never mind.”

“What is it, darlin’?”

Before she could answer, his brother Dallas and his wife approached the table. “Hey, Zach. Who’s this?”

Trust Dallas to get straight to the point. “Dusty O’Donovan. Her pa used to work at the ranch back in the late eighties. You remember?”

“Can’t say that I do.”

“Sure you do. Her brother Sam was best friends with Chad.”

“Sounds vaguely familiar.” He held out his hand. “Dallas McCray.”

“Nice to see you,” Dusty said. “You look a lot like Zach, don’t you? Except you’re a little gray around the temples, and your nose is slightly larger. But still a very nice nose. And both your eyes are brown, of course.” She hiccupped. “Excuse me.”

Zach cringed as the blond woman next to his brother pursed her lips. What the hell was wrong with the bitch tonight? He thought Dusty’s hiccup was charming. She was a little tipsy. Otherwise she probably wouldn’t have mentioned Dallas’s gray hair or his nose. But hell, it wasn’t a damn secret. Dallas was still a chick magnet at thirty-five. Of course, Chelsea kept him on a short leash.

“This is my wife, Chelsea,” Dallas said.

Chelsea held out her hand to Dusty. “Chelsea Beaumont McCray, of the Kennebunkport Beaumonts.”

“Oh God,” Zach said under his breath.

“Charmed,” Dusty said.

Zach’s smile widened. Oh, his little darlin’ knew how to deal with Chelsea.

“That’s a lovely outfit,” Chelsea cooed to Dusty.

Damn. Dusty was sensitive about her appearance tonight. Why couldn’t Chelsea leave well enough alone?

“Thank you,” Dusty said sweetly. “You look splendid as well. I’ve never seen a lovelier shade of pink.”

“It’s Vera Wang,” Chelsea said. “And it’s not pink, it’s bashful.”

“Excuse me?”

“Bashful. The color?”

“Oh. Of course.” Dusty put her hand on Zach’s forearm.

A slight touch from her, and his loins ignited.

“It was lovely to meet you both, but I’m extremely tired. I worked with Zach’s bull all day and—”

“What?” Dallas said, his tone incredulous. “You let her near that brute, Zach?”

“I was with her the whole time.”

“You don’t have the sense God gave a goose. If Pa were here—”

“Well, he’s not. And you ain’t him, Dallas. The big brother routine got old twenty years ago.”

“I wasn’t in any danger,” Dusty said. “I’m good with bulls.”

Chelsea eeked out a small disgusted sound. “I can’t bear the beasts myself. They’re ugly. And they smell.”

“Only if they’re not properly cared for,” Dusty said.

“Pooh,” Chelsea said. “You couldn’t pay me to go near one of them.”

“I’m betting if the price were right, you’d hang with the bulls,” Zach said.

Dallas looked at him sternly but said nothing.

Chelsea laughed it off. “Maybe. If the price were the new suede outfit I saw today. Only four thousand three fifty.”

Dusty visibly cringed.

“But tomorrow the vendor’s having a sale,” Chelsea continued. “Twenty-eight percent off in honor of his daughter’s twenty-eighth birthday. So like a good girl, I’ll wait until then to have it.”

“I’m sure three thousand one thirty two is a fair price,” Dusty said.

“Where’d that number come from?” Chelsea asked.

“It’s twenty-eight percent off of your original price.”

Chelsea’s heavily lined eyes widened. “How’d you do that?”

“In my head.”

“Dusty’s a math whiz,” Zach said.

Dallas pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in a few numbers. “Damn. She’s right.”

“Of course she is,” Zach said.

“What’s the square root of seven hundred eighty-nine?” Dallas asked.

“I don’t think…” Dusty began.

Zach watched her adorable face blush. Was she embarrassed by her ability?

“Ha,” Chelsea said. “She can’t do it.”

“Twenty-eight point zero eight nine, rounded,” Dusty said indignantly.

“Damn,” Dallas said again.

“Are you some kind of idiot savant?” Chelsea asked.

Dusty’s forehead wrinkled. “Excuse me?”

Zach gritted his teeth. “Damn, Dallas, can’t you keep a lid on her mouth?”

“Dallas!” Chelsea whined.

“Jesus Christ, Chelsea,” Dallas said. “That was just rude.”

“You’re not taking her side, are you? It was a valid question, certainly not rude. You saw Rain Man.”

“The woman’s obviously not autistic. She’s just good with numbers.”

“Well, sorry.” Chelsea flounced away, her bashful skirt rustling.

“What you see in her is beyond me.” Zach looked down at Dusty’s sad brown eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s no big deal, Zach.” Dusty looked away.

“Hell yes, it is,” Zach said.

“Please accept my apology,” Dallas said. “I know it’s no excuse, but she’s been in a mood all night.”

“Fine,” Dusty said, as she turned to Zach. “I’m exhausted, so would you mind excusing me?”

“I’ll take you to your hotel, darlin’.” Zach nodded to Dallas. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Zach wanted to take her up to his suite, but he had no intention of bedding her while she was upset about the run-in with Chelsea. And she had admitted to being tipsy. So much for his plan to make love to her tonight. He wanted to be sure she was completely sober and aware so she’d enjoy every mind-blowing minute.

Besides, he wanted her to trust him. If he took her back now, without pressuring her for more, maybe she’d stop running and tell him what was going on.

But he did give her a scalding good night kiss at her door. He was only human, after all.

---

“What’d you find out?”

Chelsea McCray licked her lips. “Not much more than you already know. Her father worked at McCray Landing a while back. And she’s some kind of weird mathematical genius.”

Angelina curled her mouth into a snarl. “What’s he see in her, anyway?”

“You’ve got me.” Chelsea fidgeted with her small pink bag. “Pretty enough. But she’s clearly nothing more than a step above common trailer trash.”

“I’ll get rid of her one way or another,” Angelina said.

“Are you sure you want to marry into this family, anyway? Laurie’s enough to make a saint swear, the way she coddles those three boys. She and I have never gotten along.”

“But Chelsea, she and my mother are like this.” Angelina held up two fingers side by side. “I’ll get along fine with her. And I’ll put in many good words for you.”

“Honey, I don’t need any good words. I couldn’t care less if the shrew likes me. I have her firstborn. And his wallet. That’s all I need.”

“And I’ll have her second born,” Angelina vowed.