Ten minutes later, they turned onto a gravel road. There was a moderate, ranch-style house on the left surrounded by a cluster of trees and a white fence. Emerson wondered if they might be going there, but they continued past it another quarter of a mile until finally, Riker pulled over to the side and killed the engine. They both got off the bike.

She removed her helmet and looked around. The moon was full—a bright, shiny coin casting enough light so she could make out a structure in the distance. A trace of moisture lingered in the cool air. The only sounds came from katydids and crickets, chirping a muted melody. She caught a whiff of honeysuckle, mixed with the scent of freshly cut grass. A feeling of awe struck her as she looked up at the blanket of glittering stars, like someone had thrown handfuls of diamonds into the sky. Out here, it was easy to see why Texas was known as Big Sky Country.

“Where are we?”

“You’ll see,” Riker said evasively. She looked in the distance and jerked slightly when she saw movement.

She caught hold of his arm. “What’s that?”

He laughed. “Only chickens.”

“Oh, is this a farm?” She laughed hesitantly, feeling a little foolish for getting spooked so easily. Especially since she was used to animals on the ranch. Being out here with Riker felt different, more isolated. At the ranch, there were always scores of workers around. Here, she and Riker were alone. Her heart picked up its beat as she glanced at his strong profile, the lean shape of his jaw accentuated in the moonlight.

“Yes, it’s my family’s farm. When I was younger, my dad raised goats and hogs, but now he only has chickens.” Sparks zinged through her when he took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

The excitement in his voice ignited delicious shivers over her flesh. She wondered if Riker felt it too—this incredible attraction brewing between them.

He led her around the side to a set of stairs leading to the top of the one-story structure. “Come on.”

“Up there?”

“Yeah.” He glanced back over his shoulder, his voice ringing with confidence. “Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”

When they got to the top, Riker released her hand, smiling broadly. “What do you think?”

Emerson glanced around at a terrace with lounge chairs and tables. Terra-cotta pots filled with colorful flowers were spotted around. On the far side, underneath a covered roof was a gas grill and long wooden table.

Riker nudged her. “Look up,” he said softly, his voice tinged with pride. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

Her breath caught when she looked up at the numberless glittering stars against the ebony sky. She’d thought the sight was spectacular from the ground, but up here, the stars looked big enough to touch. “It’s incredible,” she breathed, and she meant it. Nothing thrilled her more than taking time to appreciate the wonders of nature. It was refreshing to know that Riker shared that same appreciation. She walked over to the handrail, looking out over the dark landscape. Her eye caught on the shadows of the trees. Then she saw intermittent pops of light. “Lightning bugs.”

Riker came over and stood beside her. “When I was little, I used to love running in that field and catching lightning bugs.”

She turned to him, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the stillness of the night. “It must’ve been wonderful to grow up here.”

“It was,” he answered, but she caught a flicker of something on his face—pain, regret? It vanished as quickly as it had come. He motioned to the chairs. “Shall we?”

They scooted the lounge chairs side-by-side and adjusted the backs so they were partially reclined, their faces turned to the sky.

He pointed. “Look, the Big Dipper.”

“Yep, if you take the two outermost stars of the dipper and go up—”

“It’ll point to the North Star,” he finished.

“Exactly,” she chimed, a smile stretching over her face.

“Okay, I want to know all about you,” Riker began. Her breath caught when he took hold of her hand, his thumb rubbing sensuous circles over the top of it.

Things were moving fast, maybe a little too fast. It had been fun and games at the rodeo. When she told him she wanted to kiss him, she was reacting partly out of defiance to her mama and out of frustration that Finley had pinned her in a corner and manipulated her to kiss him. But now … well, things felt different. As far as Riker knew, she was Starr Andrews. Did she want to tell him her real name? She certainly didn’t want to tell him about the merger and how her parents were determined to marry her off to Finley. “What do you want to know?”

“What type of work do you do?”

“I manage the front office of a veterinary clinic.” She glanced at his handsome face, could see the wheels turning—figured he was trying to figure out how she could afford an eighty-thousand-dollar car on an office manager’s salary.

“Which clinic?”

She stiffened. If she told him that, he could look her up. She laughed lightly. “You don’t wanna hear about my dull life.”

“Yes, I do, and from where I’m sitting, you’re anything but dull.”

The compliment sent warmth rushing over her. “Oh, no. We’re not going to talk about me. First I want to hear about the Titans. I figure you owe me that seeing as how I took the brunt of the food attack so you could catch the ball and save face with your fans.”

He let out a throaty chuckle, rubbing a hand across his neck. “You’re not gonna let me live that down, are you?”

“Not in this decade. So, let’s hear your story, Mr. Star Quarterback.”

He released her hand and shifted, tugging at his shirt like he was uncomfortable talking about himself. His modesty made her like him even more.

“So this is your first year?” She picked up on the conversation Gary, her ranch hand, had started. “How many years did you sign on for?”

“Four.”

“A multi-million-dollar contract. You must be good.” There was no sense in beating around the bush. Gary had already brought those points out.

He shrugged. “I guess that remains to be seen.”

She caught the tension in his voice. “The pressure’s on, huh?”

His features tightened. “Yeah, something like that.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great. You strike me as someone who sets his eye on a goal and doesn’t stop until you achieve it.”

His eyes locked with hers. “That’s exactly what I do.”

The promise in his tone reverberated through her to the point where she was tempted to throw caution to the wind and tell him her real name, let the chips fall where they may. Then she’d tell Mama that she wasn’t marrying Finley—that she’d barrel race as often as she pleased and live her own life, on her own terms. A smile touched her lips. “I’ll have to watch you play when the season starts.”

“I’d like that,” he uttered, his eyes going to her lips.

He was going to kiss her! The knowledge sent a slow, delicious burn simmering in her stomach. He leaned forward. She also leaned in, the pull to him was like an invisible magnet. Time seemed to stand still as their lips closed the remaining distance. At the last minute, however, she drew back. She couldn’t do this! She couldn’t fall for him while she was pretending to be someone else. This was no longer a game, but something real.

A puzzled look flickered over his face, like he was wondering if he’d misread her signals. She smiled to soften the rejection. “How did you end up with the Titans?”

He let out a breath, relaxing into the chair. “I got a scholarship to Texas A&M and was lucky enough to win a few awards.”

“I’m sure luck had nothing to do with it,” she retorted and could tell from the look on his face that it was true. While Emerson didn’t follow football very closely, she knew enough to know that a player didn’t get signed on to be the starting quarterback of the Titans unless he was uncommonly good. She shook her head, putting it all together. “It’s fortunate that you got signed on to a team so close to home. I’ll bet your family is elated to have you here.”

She saw it again—the look of pain. This time, he wasn’t as quick to hide it. “What?” She peered into his eyes, willing him to tell her more. For a second, she thought he might clam up and was relieved when he spoke.

“I don’t come home often.” He hesitated. “In fact, tonight’s the first time I’ve been back in months.”

Even though she was just getting to know Riker, she could tell he loved it here. “Why?”

He took in a breath, balling his hand into a fist. “My mother died of a heart attack a little over a year ago.”

“I’m sorry.” The vulnerable tone in his voice made her want to wrap her arms around him to soothe away the tension.

“My dad remarried.” His voice hardened. “My poor mom would roll over in her grave if she knew how quickly my dad transferred his affections to another woman.”

She blinked, unsure what to say. No wonder Riker hadn’t been back home.

He forced a smile. “I’m sorry, you don’t wanna hear all this.”

She put a hand on his arm, the warmth of his skin seeping into hers. “Yes, I do. Is it just you and your dad?”

“No, I have two younger brothers—Michael and Gavin.”

“I’m sure they miss you.”

A wistful look came over him. “I miss them too.” His eyes narrowed. “But I won’t visit, not while she’s there.”

The venom in his voice caught her off guard. They sat in silence, the still of the evening settling around them. Finally, Riker spoke. “You probably think I’m terrible.”

She angled to face him. “Not at all.” Of all people, she had no right to judge anyone for having a complicated relationship with family.

“Tell me about you.” He touched her cheek, sending tantalizing shivers circling down her spine. “Do you have any siblings?”

“An older brother,” she croaked. It was hard to concentrate when he was this close, gazing at her with those mesmerizing eyes. Tonight, they were liquid pools of deep blue, streaked with silver from the moonlight.

“How did you first get into barrel racing?”

It was a loaded question. She couldn’t tell him straight out that a worker at the ranch had introduced her to it, much to her mama’s chagrin. In fact, the poor woman had gotten fired because of it. Emerson loved to explore the ranch. She’d seen Lisa racing and had been so enthralled that she begged her to teach her. Even after all these years, Emerson still carried the guilt of that poor woman losing her job because of her. “A friend taught me.”

Interest lit his eyes. “A friend?”

“Yes, her name was Lisa. I saw her race and knew I had to try it.”

The warmth of his smile sounded in his voice. “You’re good. My mother would’ve been super impressed.”

“Thanks,” she responded automatically, then caught what he’d said. “Did your mother race?”

He smiled broadly. “Yep. Sure did.”

“What was her name?”

“Irene Dylan, but she started racing before she married my dad.” A smile played on his lips. “She got known under her maiden name and kept it for racing—Irene Bentley.”

Her eyes bugged. “World Championship winner Irene Bentley?”

Pride shone on his face. “Yes. She won two back-to-back titles. When I was born, she put her racing on the back burner and mostly did it for fun, exhibitions, that sort of thing.”

She shook her head, trying to take it all in. “Wow. I’m sure my performance was paltry in comparison to your mom.”

He trailed a finger along a tendril of her hair. “Your performance was outstanding.” He leaned closer, a smoldering expression on his rugged features. “In fact, I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” A playful lilt came into his voice. “We should continue our dance … now that we’ve gotten rid of the monkey.”

Her heart turned a flip as she clucked her tongue. “Still bagging on the poor monkey?”

“Yep, finally got rid of the wretched monkey between us,” he teased. He pumped his eyebrows. “So, how about it?”

She grinned thinking how she wouldn’t mind being in his arms again. “But there’s no music.”

“We’ll make our own,” he said huskily as he stood and pulled her to her feet. His eyes moved over her face like he was memorizing every detail. For a second, her breath left her, and she was consumed with his nearness. He encircled her waist, then pulled her close in a forceful quick movement. She felt the hardness of his muscular arms wrapped around her, marveled at how protected she felt, yet so very much alive. His scent, so distinctly masculine, invaded her senses—musk and the clean smell of rain.

“You are so beautiful,” he uttered, his eyes holding hers.

Her heart raced full speed as she parted her lips, lifting them to his. She wanted to kiss him, here and now. Wanted it more than anything she’d wanted in a very long time. Riker would understand her racing under an assumed name. His mother had done the same. He slid his hand up her back and through her hair, pulling her closer. A jolt of electricity raced through her as his lips covered hers. She had the sensation of soaring high amidst the glittering stars. This is what she’d been longing for—the passion, the brilliance, swirling embers of fire scorching elation through her. She threaded her fingers through his hair, welcoming it full force when he deepened the kiss.

“Hello,” a voice called from below.

She stiffened. Drew back. Saw the surprised look on Riker’s face.

“Riker? Is that you?”

They heard heavy footsteps. A few seconds later, a man came into view.

Emerson knew at once that this had to be Riker’s dad. Same height and build, only a little thicker around the middle. Same angular jaw. Same commanding presence. Although Riker’s dad had closely cropped, dark hair, sprinkled with silver.

Emerson saw the surprise on the man’s face as he looked at the two of them … together. It was obvious that they’d been kissing. Heat splashed her cheeks, and she felt like a teenager again.

She moved to step away, but Riker kept hold of her. “Hey, Dad.” She looked at him, saw the muscle in his jaw flick. She could feel the tension swelling in him.

Emerson expected Riker’s dad to react negatively to his son’s cool attitude and was surprised when a wide smile broke over his face. “Hey, I wasn’t expecting you.” He looked at Emerson. “Who’s this?”

“Starr Andrews.”

She cringed at Riker’s use of her fake name.

The man extended his hand. “I’m James, Riker’s dad.” He gave her a firm shake. “It’s good to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” She didn’t want to act too friendly to the man considering how Riker felt about him right now. But neither did she want to be rude to someone she’d just met, especially someone who was being so congenial.

James looked at Riker. “Marley saw the headlight from your bike when you passed. She told me about it when I got out of the shower. I thought I’d better check it out and see who was on the property. Why don’t y’all come to the house? Marley made some blackberry cobbler.” He gave Riker a beseeching look. “It would mean a lot to me and the boys. We’ve missed you.”

“Thanks, but I need to get Starr back,” Riker clipped.

James nodded in disappointment. Even in the dim light, Emerson could see his sadness. She felt his desperation to reach out to his son. Suddenly, she was irritated with Riker for being so stubborn. Sure, he was upset about the marriage, but that shouldn’t keep him from reaching out to his brothers. Furthermore, Riker wasn’t going to use her as an excuse to ditch his family. She smiled brightly, turning to him. “You know what? I’m in no hurry.”

Riker’s eyes popped before narrowing. What’re you trying to pull? he seemed to be saying.

“I think we should stay a while. I’d love some blackberry cobbler, and it would be nice to meet your brothers.”

James rewarded her with a large smile, bringing his hands together. “That’s wonderful. I’ll go tell Marley to get out two more bowls. See y’all in a few minutes.”

After he left, Riker spun around. “What was that about?” he seethed. “I told you why I don’t want to step foot in that house.”

He was intimidating—all raw muscle and fury, his blue eyes blazing. But he was thrilling too. Being out here with him under the stars gave her a sense of empowerment. In some way she couldn’t explain, she knew she needed to help him bridge the rift with his dad. “Yes, I know. I understand your frustration. If I were in your shoes, I’d be ticked too, but it’s important to go and see your brothers. They can’t help what happened.”

He stepped back, running both hands through his hair. “You don’t even know me. How can you presume to know what’s best for me or my brothers?”

He was right. After all, Riker didn’t even know her real name. Still, the kiss they shared had been real, and the sorrow on his dad’s face had struck her heart. Even though Riker was furious with her, she still felt like it was the right decision. She got up in his face. “Well, you certainly seemed to know me well enough to kiss me.”

He shook his head. “That’s different.” He shot her a superior look. “And for the record, you did your fair share of kissing too.”

She couldn’t deny that—didn’t want to deny it. In fact, she wanted to kiss him again.

His lips thinned in defiance. “I won’t do it.”

She lifted her chin, clamping her arms over her chest. “Fine. Suit yourself. I’m going to have some cobbler. You can stay here or you can come. It’s up to you.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.