Fairy tales do come true

Meeting a cowboy in an online book group feels like a fantasy to Honor Crosby. Six months later, after one less-than-perfect meeting, the rich city girl arrives at Luke McKaslin’s Montana ranch, anxious to see if their chemistry works offline. Even as Honor falls for Luke, a broken engagement has her wary of trusting any man. Faced with clashing expectations, Honor struggles to believe that love is still the greatest treasure. And that she and Luke have a fairy-tale ending in their future after all.

The McKaslin Clan: Ensconced in a quaint Montana town, the McKaslins rejoice in the powerful bonds of faith, family...and forever love.

“I can’t say that I’m glad I’m stuck in Montana, but something good has come out of this.”

“Maybe after you have fun with us and get in your social time, you’ll change your mind about Montana?” Luke said.

“I’m not sure it can be done,” Honor quipped. “But I’m liking the chance to actually make new friends.”

“Good. I’m going to change your mind.”

“Is that a warning or a threat?”

“Depends on which one will work.”

“Neither.” She tipped back her head and laughed. “I’m not going to change my mind. I’m a California girl. I miss the beach.”

“We’ve got riverbanks.”

“So not the same.”

They laughed together. He liked Honor as much in real life as he had online. As he watched her walk away, his throat tightened, making it hard to swallow. A swirl of her blue dress’s hem, a clip of her fancy shoes and a flip of her sleek honey hair and he was hooked just a little bit more.

It’s never going to happen, he told himself. Did that stop him from liking her more?

Not a chance.

JILLIAN HART

grew up on her family’s homestead, where she helped raise cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time. After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel. When Jillian isn’t working on her next story, she can be found puttering in her rose garden, curled up with a good book or spending quiet evenings at home with her family.

Montana Cowboy

Jillian Hart

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Direct my steps by your word.

—Psalms 119:133

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

“My life stinks.”

Honor Crosby could sympathize with the teenage boy trudging ahead of her through the woods. Some bug swooped at her. She batted it out of her face and ignored the flutter of something high up in the trees and tried not to think of what might be lurking overhead. A giant mosquito, a gross spider, who knew? And worse, her poor shoes. They were sinking in the squishy carpet of dead pine needles and moss, an aspen leaf skewered on one heel.

“Sure, but you don’t have to make life harder than it has to be,” she told the kid with his hangdog expression. “You waste more time trying to put off your work than actually doing it. If you jumped in and got your studying over with, you’d have more free time.”

“I don’t want to study at all. It’s summer. I don’t need to get into that stupid school and I don’t need a tutor.” He hung his head. Jerrod Lambert wasn’t a bad kid—not at all. Just an unhappy one.

Understanding filled her as she remembered being a teenager trying to handle her parents’ pressure to succeed. She knew where Jerrod was coming from, but the Lord was a great comfort and she prayed Jerrod would lean on his faith more to find solutions to his problems instead of running away from them.

“I’m not so bad of a tutor, am I?” she asked.

“Much better than the last one, but that’s not the point.” Jerrod blew out a sigh as he tromped through the underbrush and broke out into the bright sunshine. “I’d rather be dirt biking.”

“And I’d rather be at the beach club with an icy soda in one hand and my e-reader in the other.” For an instant, the remembered roar of the ocean, the sweep of the waves on the sandy shore and the chime of cheerful conversation felt so real she could almost feel herself there, where she belonged.

She missed home and her posse of friends so much she almost stumbled when her heels hit the manicured lawn. Leaving home had been an impulsive decision and not the most brilliant one she’d ever made. Montana, she mused as she pulled the leaf off her shoe heel. What had she been thinking?

“Honor?”

“What, kiddo?”

“What is it like at Wheatly?”

“It’s one of the best Christian schools in southern California.” She’d gone there as a teen and returned after college to teach English. She loved the school and the community of teachers and staff that felt more like family than coworkers. She missed them sorely, too. With the current economy, her job had been cut, since she’d been the newest teacher there. Her dearest wish was to return to her beloved Wheatly and teach once again. Maybe when the economy improved? A girl could hope. “I hated leaving. Actually, I didn’t really leave. I substituted there for most of last year.”

“And then I came along, needing tutoring.”

“Once you’re there, you’ll love it. I promise.” She tromped up the stone steps, ignoring the rugged scenery and architecture that surrounded her—high mountain peaks, stone masonry and a sprawling log-and-glass estate that simply could not compare to Malibu. Nothing on earth could.

“If I pass the test, that is. You sound like my dad.” Not encouraged, Jerrod’s head hung lower looking like a prisoner on his way to death row, dragging his feet across the deck. “I won’t tell if we don’t work this afternoon. My dad would never know.”

“But I would.” She opened a glass-framed door. “In you go. It won’t be so bad, I promise.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” Unconvinced, he plodded into the air-conditioned library and slung himself into an overstuffed chair. “I’d rather be dirt biking.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Honor quipped, not quite able to relate. She was no outdoors girl…unless hanging poolside counted. She plucked a book off the Chippendale writing desk and handed it to the bummed teenager. “Start reading, kid. Think of it this way, if you ace the entrance exam on the first try, then you won’t ever have to deal with another tutor.”

“You’re not seeing the problem.” Jerrod blew out a sigh. “I’m wasting my summer in here.”

“I get it.” She slipped into the upholstered chair behind the desk, where her laptop sat. “Sorry, but you still have to read the book.”

Another beleaguered sigh and the tome opened, the teenager bowed his head and at least it looked as though he were reading.

She knew exactly how Jerrod felt. This was her summer, too. She hadn’t planned to spend most of it being a private tutor, but at the time it seemed like a brilliant option to get away from a certain man. Little did she realize she would be hidden away at the Lambert family compound in the middle of the wilderness. Literally. Forests stretched in every direction and the nearest town was forty minutes away.

Which meant email was her best link to civilization. Since her student was busy and she’d caught up on all her work, she turned to her laptop. Her best friend and roommate’s message filled the screen.

Totally missing you! Kelsey wrote. We’re off to the movies. Wish you were here!

Me, too, she thought with a pang. Onto the next email.

We’re sitting in the theater, read Anna Louise’s message, sent from her phone. Kelsey had to go and buy the jumbo popcorn. Can’t stop eating it. Miss you!

Yeah, she could almost taste that popcorn. She gave a little sigh, glanced out the wall of windows overlooking a shocking amount of trees. Just three more weeks, she told herself. Jerrod will take his exams, my job here will be done and I’m back home.

She went on to her next email.

Honor, we missed you at the book chat last night, Luke’s message read. Where were you?

Luke McKaslin. Her online buddy—well, she didn’t know what other word to use to describe him. She gave a little sigh of exasperation, or was it confusion? She didn’t know which.

When she’d arrived here in March, stuck in the middle of nowhere, she’d gone into serious withdrawal, so she went looking for social connections online. She’d kept up with her friends and joined Good Books, a social network and a site devoted to books.

That was where she met Luke, or Montana Cowboy as he was known on the book site. She’d made a lot of online friends on the site, and Luke was one of them. Okay, a special one of them. They’d just hit it off right from the start.

Mrs. Lambert had a big barbecue, she typed. I meant to get away and sneak onto my computer, but I had a surprisingly good time. I miss being social, so I couldn’t make myself break away. How did the book discussion go?

She hit Send. One of her great loves in life was books. She loved reading. Always had, always would. Maybe that’s what she liked about Luke best. He felt the same way.

A beleaguered sigh drew her attention.

“Are you really reading that book or just staring at the same page?” she asked Jerrod. “Maybe you’re napping?”

“Sorry.” He shook his head and at least made the appearance of making an effort to read.

Funny kid. She squinted at her screen, smiling to see Luke’s next email. He must be sitting at his computer, too.

The discussion wasn’t as lively without you, he wrote. Still missing home?

You know it, she tapped out. I know you like living in Montana, but how do you do it?

I’ve always lived here, came his reply. So it’s hard to say since I don’t have much to compare it to. I read a lot. I ride my horse. I hang with the cows.

That’s about what I expect from a cowboy. Honestly. If she wasn’t a California girl and she wasn’t not looking for a boyfriend—and she so, so wasn’t—then Luke’s gentle humor would be just the thing to spark her interest.

If. That was a very big if. Thinking of Kip, she shook her head. Yep, she was off the market. For a long, long time.

There aren’t any cows or horses here, not that I would know what to do with them. I never hit that horse crazy phase a few of my friends went through.

I’ve never left mine, he answered. But if you’re missing hanging with people…

You mean instead of trees? She typed, biting back her smile.

My sister is getting married tomorrow. I know it’s last minute, but Bozeman is only a few hours’ drive for you—

A few hours’ drive was considered not a big deal in Montana. That always cracked her up.

—but it will be fun, you’ll get in some social time and I think you’ll like my sisters.

I’m sure they’re nice. But that didn’t mean she should meet some man she didn’t know, at least face-to-face. Online he was nice and she felt safe chatting with him. He was respectful and funny and friendly. But in person? Who knew what he could be like? Hadn’t she believed in the man Kip pretended to be?

You couldn’t always tell who someone was behind the mask they wore.

I get it, if you don’t want to come. It’s your day off. You might not want to spend four hours of it in the car.

Yes, that’s true. And it was. She didn’t want to drive that far, but wouldn’t it be fun to meet him? He’d always come across as an amiable guy. Not overly ambitious, and decent in a country boy sort of way. She’d absolutely looked up his profile on the website when she first “met” him. His picture had been friendly—really great smile, honest violet-blue eyes and talk about handsome. At thirty, he was five years older than her, and he was solid.

She’d liked that.

“Jerrod, are you asleep?”

“Whaa?” His head snapped up. He looked around and picked up the book he dropped. “Sorry.”

This wasn’t the first time she feared that kid wasn’t going to pass the entrance exam. But at least she wouldn’t be stuck in this isolated—but lovely—spot the rest of the summer. Three more weeks and she would be in her car driving toward the state line. Woo-hoo! She couldn’t wait.

Luke’s email popped on her screen. Too bad you can’t come. You’ll be missing out on some pretty good cake.

Cake? Why didn’t you say so? Now I’m really tempted. Plus, I could get out of this house. Didn’t a change of scenery sound like just the thing? She was tempted to accept. She had fun chatting with him online. Would it be even more fun in person? She did miss having friends and going places. Maybe she would say yes—

A knock rapped on the door. Mrs. Lambert sashayed in. She was tall, lean and eternally youthful thanks to a good dermatologist and Botox injections. “Honor? May I have a word with you?”

“Yes.” She gave thanks that Jerrod’s nose was studiously in his book—or at least it appeared that way—as she rose from the desk. She tapped into the hallway.

“I saw you and Jerrod. Coming in from the forest.” Olive Lambert drew herself up. “He ran off again, didn’t he? And you didn’t inform me.”

“It was just for a few moments. He didn’t go far.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? He’s fifteen. He’s old enough to learn the value of self-discipline. If he can’t do it for himself, then you will do it for him.” Concern softened harsh words, but not enough. Olive Lambert was a woman used to setting the standards and getting her own way.

In the library, Jerrod’s head bowed lower. Honor couldn’t see his face, just the tense corner of his jaw. The poor kid. “He’s doing well over all. You know he is. He’s worked hard all week.”

“When he wasn’t trying to sneak off to ride his bike,” Olive interrupted. “You need to keep a better eye on him. Let’s try a little harder, shall we?”

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Jerrod’s head bobbed lower, his total misery palpable.

It hadn’t been an easy time for the Lambert family, with their impending divorce. She’d watched the fallout when her parent’s marriage failed, so she understood. She wished she knew how to make it easier for her student.

“Of course.” She watched Olive tap down the wide corridor, heel strikes knelling on imported marble.

Well, that could have gone better.

Inside the library came the thud of a book slamming shut in frustration. Jerrod stayed in his chair, firsts clenched, muscles bunched in his jaw, upset.

Lord, please help me find a way to help him. He was a good kid.

“I didn’t mean to get you into trouble,” he muttered, resigned. “I just wanted to get out of this house.”

“I know. You’ve been studying so hard.”

“I don’t want to fail it again. It’s embarrassing taking the makeup exam as it is.” With a frustrated sigh, he opened his book. “I’m tired of being stuck here. There’s hardly anything to do. I wish—”

He didn’t finish that thought. Instead, he launched out of his chair with his book in hand. “I’m going outside.”

“Okay, but—”

“I really need to get this book read. I know, I know.” Jerrod rolled his eyes and shouldered open the door.

Funny kid. When she glanced at her screen, a picture of a gorgeous wedding cake—three beautifully decorated tiers—stared at her, a picture embedded in Luke’s email.

Chocolate, chocolate chip cake, he wrote. Cream cheese frosting. Lots of icing flowers, as you can see. Voted by all four of my sisters as the best-tasting cake in existence. Tempted?

Very, she wrote, hesitating. Luke was nice. He was friendly and funny and kind-hearted in his comments on the website and in the messages they had been sending back and forth over the last few months. She’d had fun corresponding with him. Maybe it would be fun to meet him?

Then again, maybe she’d regret it. Luke McKaslin could be too good to be true. She clicked her way to the Good Books site and his user profile. His picture was a casual shot of a muscular, lean man sitting on a front porch step with one arm slung around his black border collie.

A Stetson shaded his strong, chiseled face. His bright violet-blue eyes radiated honesty and good humor. His high cheekbones, perfect sloping nose and square jaw could have been carved out of granite and were softened by the wide generous curve of his smile.

A big-hearted smile, she decided. Wide, approachable, a totally-good-guy kind of smile.

The fact that he was completely gorgeous didn’t enter into the equation. She wasn’t looking for gorgeous. She wasn’t looking at all. Period. She was taking a break from romance. Unequivocally.

But friendship? Yes, that was something she could definitely do. Luke McKaslin and his amiable, country-strong qualities made her want to drive two hours just to meet him.

She stared at his info at the end of his message. A video chat? Sure, why not.

“Honor?” Luke’s handsome face filled her screen—iron features, vivid, almost-purple eyes and yet it was his warmth that struck her most. “Hey, it’s good to actually talk at you instead of type.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” He was a perfect stranger, and yet he wasn’t. She thought of all the notes they’d written back and forth about books and, lately, about life. She knew he lived on a ranch northeast of Bozeman. His dog’s name was Nell. His younger brother had died years ago fighting forest fires. He ran a dairy with his older brother. “I feel as if I should be typing something.”

“Me, too. This is new, talking instead of typing, but it’s nice. You look different from your profile picture.”

“I do?”

“Blonder. More serious.”

“It’s because of summer,” she explained, since the sun tended to lighten her hair. “And Montana.”

“You’re still not liking Montana?” He nodded, scattering light brown hair with sun-made highlights. “It’s a beautiful place to visit, but it is different living here. I thought you might get used to it by now.”

“I’m still counting the days until I leave. I miss home.”

“Sure, I get that. It’s not just where you are, it’s who you’re with.”

“So, you really are like all those emails you’ve written.”

“Yep. Nell didn’t sneak onto the computer and do it for me. Right, girl?”

A bark rose in the background, echoing in what appeared to be an eating area off the kitchen. She could just see the edge of kitchen cabinets. A dog’s nails tapped on linoleum. “Nell wants to know if you’re

really coming. Brooke’s wedding should be a lot of fun.”

“Most weddings are a happy event, but a lot of fun? Not so much.” She thought of her sister’s recent wedding, with all the stress, the preparations and pressure.

“That’s because you haven’t been to a McKaslin family wedding.” Twinkles sparkled in his eyes. Amiable, good-humored and decent, that’s how Luke came across to her. He raked one hand through his thick hair. “We know how to have a good time. You wouldn’t happen to be hiding any champion volleyball skills, would you?”

“I play on my church team. Or I used to, before I moved here.”

“Okay, now you have to come. Because Brooke is a whiz at volleyball and she thinks she has tomorrow’s game won hands down.”

“Volleyball at a wedding reception?”

“Now you think I’m hokey and you wouldn’t get near me with a ten-foot pole.” Dimples tucked into the corners of his generous smile.

A perfect smile. Good thing she wasn’t interested or she might be a little dazzled. “I make no judgments,” she reassured him. “You’ve just talked me into it.”

“Yeah? Good.” His smile broadened. His dimples dug a little deeper.

Wow. The impact was enough to knock her off her chair. She glanced over the top of her computer screen, totally forgetting her charge. Jerrod sat seemingly engrossed in his book on the porch. The poor kid needed a change of scenery, too. “Is it okay if I bring a guest?”

“Bring anyone you want. The more the merrier. I’m looking forward to meeting you in person, Honor.”

“Me, too.” She tried to ignore the dazzle of his dimples one more time. “You’ll email me directions?”

“Absolutely. Whoops. That’s my brother. It’s milking time. I’ve got to head to the barn. The cows are waiting.”

“Okay. Give Nell a pat for me.”

“Will do.” He leaned in, sincere. “Goodbye until tomorrow, Honor.”

“Goodbye.” She closed the lid of her laptop, realizing she was smiling. Really, truly smiling.

Montana might have a highlight, after all.

“Hey, Jerrod,” she called. “How would you like an outing tomorrow?”

Chapter Two

“Is that Honor?” His sister, Colbie, elbowed Luke in the ribs, her quiet whisper startling him out of the minister’s sermon.

Keeping one ear on the service, he glanced over his shoulder. A lean woman with sleek blond hair closed the church door carefully, making little noise as she took a step.

“That’s her.” He’d know her anywhere. Her heart-shaped face, her graceful movements and the openness in her big blue eyes as she scanned the sanctuary. His heart kicked when their gazes met.

A tentative smile touched her lips. Recognition roared through him so hard, he gripped the pew back for support. The lanky teenager who was with her led the way to the back row, where they quietly took a seat.

“She’s really pretty.” Colbie waggled her brows, her attention focused on the pulpit. “And she drove all that way. That’s all I’m saying.”

“She doesn’t like me like that,” he whispered in argument, knowing what his optimistic half sister was thinking. Honor was lonely, that was all, he wanted to make that clear, but this wasn’t the time or the place. He tried to concentrate on the message, but the minister’s words echoed in his head, which had strangely emptied the instant Honor Crosby had walked through the door.

Across the aisle his other half sister, Brandi, gave him two thumbs-up.

Yikes, he thought. Couldn’t a man invite a lonely lady to church without everyone leaping to conclusions?

Fine, those conclusions may be right, but two months of chatting online at a book site and through email didn’t make for anything more than a friendship. Just because he was a little sweet on her didn’t mean she felt the same way. How many messages had she written where she mentioned being homesick? Tons. No, Honor Crosby wasn’t sticking around. After her job was done, she would be jetting back to Malibu where she so obviously belonged.

“Let us pray,” intoned Pastor Bill. Rustling filled the sanctuary as heads bowed and hands clasped.

“Love her shoes,” Brooke whispered, his other sister leaned in, pressing against his other elbow.

“Did you see her handbag?” Brianna added.

“Shhh!” Lil, tucked in her wheelchair, gave them a withering look, reminding them this was the Lord’s house. They all fell silent.

Colbie reached over to pat her mother’s hand. They were a mishmash family these days, a combination of the remains of three families divorce and deceit had broken. Luke thought of his father, ground his teeth and added a prayer of his own. Lord, please help Dad to stay away. Brooke deserves a happy, trouble-free day.

Amen chorused through the sanctuary. Beside him, his sister the bride beamed as the first notes of the final hymn rang out. He couldn’t concentrate the way he usually did because he kept listening for one voice, a voice he’d heard only once last night during their video chat. Her presence tugged at him like gravity and no matter what he did, it remained, a pull on his heart he couldn’t stop or explain.

Finally. The last chorus. His tongue stumbled over the familiar words while his pulse galloped unsteadily. A few more moments and they would meet face-to-face. He’d be with her, in the same place, in person, and the prospect made his palms sweat. The woman who’d caught his attention with her funny remarks on Good Books. The woman who typed with him back and forth during a chat on a bestseller they’d both loved and it took more than an hour before either of them realized they were the only ones left in the chat room. It had ended and everyone else had left and they hadn’t even noticed.

He hadn’t noticed because he’d been smitten. Instantly. When he’d known nothing about her but her sense of humor and her opinion on a book. Her personality had shone through the words she’d typed, and he’d been interested. Not that he wanted her to know. It wouldn’t be wise to get involved with a woman who wouldn’t be sticking around and who, in no way, felt the same. How many times had she called him a friend?

He’d learned the hard way that was the hint women used when they liked you, but didn’t see you as boyfriend material and never would.

“Luke?” Someone nudged him in the ribs. Colbie, this time, and laughter danced in her eyes. “Earth to Luke. Come back to the planet.”

“I wonder what has his attention?” Brooke asked from his other side, laughing, already knowing the answer. “Or who?”

Couldn’t a guy keep one little crush a secret? He shook his head. This was the downside of a big family. Everyone was in your business. He did his best grimace. “For your information, I’m concentrating. I’m a very pious man. This is church, Colbie.”

“Right.” Laughter bubbled out of her. “Your scowl doesn’t come close to scaring me.”

“Not at all,” Brooke agreed. “Hunter has a much better one.”

“Thank you,” came a gruff acknowledgement from the pew behind them. Older brother, Hunter, cracked a rare smile. “I’m proud of it. I do my best.”

“It shows,” Lil quipped from her chair. Multiple sclerosis may have slowed her body, but her spirit was as bright as ever. “That’s why you don’t have a single pretty lady coming to see you.”

“She’s coming for the wedding,” he corrected for the tenth time that morning. “She’s a friend. Nothing more.”

“Sure, you don’t want to put that kind of pressure on it.” Middle-aged and with a sleek cap of dark hair, Lil was a substitute mom and a good one. “You just let it happen naturally.”

“How many times?” he asked, raising his eyes to the ceiling. “Friend, not girlfriend.”

“I certainly hope not,” laughed a melodic alto as warm as a summer morning.

He’d know that voice anywhere. Honor. She swept up the aisle in a pretty summer dress, looking amazing. His crazy pulse lurched to a stop. He turned, not daring to breathe but her nearness stuck him, anyway, like a punch to the gut.

“I’m not ready for anything that serious. I’m a free bird these days.” Honor’s warm, flawless smile made it impossible not to like her. “Hi, Luke. This is Jerrod. Sorry we were late.”

“No problem. You never know what is going to delay you on a Montana highway.”

“That’s the truth! We got behind this huge semi carrying the biggest concrete tube thing I’ve ever seen. It must have been for a water or irrigation system or something, but it went twenty-six miles an hour and was nearly impossible to pass.”

“She’s a California driver, too,” the teenager added with an eye roll. “Fearless. She tried passing like six times. Good thing she decided against it or we’d be in a ditch.”

“He spent the whole way giving me advice. We don’t have big concrete tube things in L.A. At least not one I’ve met on the road.” She stopped to take a breath, clearly nervous, too. “I was afraid we’d be late for the wedding. I bought a gift, but it’s in the car. I didn’t want to bring it in for the service.”

“I told you it wouldn’t matter,” Jerrod added in a friendly way. He looked like a good kid.

“I know, but I was worried about all the crackling. You know, the wrapping paper? Luke knows because I told him that I tend to be a klutz.”

“I think you exaggerate.” After seeing her grace and charm, he didn’t believe for one moment her funny stories she’d typed at him were true. “You’ve been misleading me all this time, haven’t you?”

“Me, mislead you? No way. I’ve been totally honest.” She hesitated, bit her bottom lip and rolled her eyes heavenward, perhaps aware God was watching her especially close in church. “Uh, I’ve been mostly really honest,” she corrected.

Making them all laugh. Making him like her more.

“I’m Colbie,” his sister spoke up, apparently eager to start the introductions.

Sure, he thought, nodding. Easy to read the hope on his sister’s faces. He stepped up, finishing the introductions. “Meet the twins, Brianna and Brandilyn.”

“Hi,” Bree and Brandi chorused identically.

“My brother, Hunter. And Brooke, the bride.”

“Good to meet you, Honor.” Brooke was the only one in the group who knew about his correspondence with Honor and, he suspected, understood his feelings about her. Brooke gave a toss of her dark hair, smiled and grabbed the arm of the man beside her. “This is Liam, who is about to become my husband in thirty minutes.”

“And you’re not even dressed yet.” Honor looked concerned. “Do you need help? I come with experience. I’ve pitched in at all my sisters’ weddings.”

“I’ll take you up on that.” Brooke nodded, looking as if she liked Honor very much.

In fact, all his family did. Not hard to figure why. They had hopes for him—marital hopes—except for Hunter who stood in the back, practicing his scowl.

“You’d best come with us, dear.” Lil reached out her hand.

“I saved the best for last.” Luke cleared his throat. “Lil is a gem.”

“So I see. So good to meet you.” Honor took Lil’s hand with a warm squeeze as she addressed the woman in the wheelchair. “Luke has told me about you all, but especially you, Lil. It’s easy to see why he has such a soft spot for you.”

Lil beamed at the compliment. “He’s the special one. Luke is always there when we need him.”

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” She shot a glance at the tall, sandy-haired man blushing a little from the compliment.

“She exaggerates,” he confessed.

“So I see.” Now she had something else to like about Luke. He was humble. Wouldn’t that be a change for the better? She thought of her dad—always extolling his superiority in the boardroom, on the golf course or at the dinner table. Her brother was a chip off the old block. And Kip? She winced at the memory of her rocky year dating a man who turned out to be exactly like her father.

“Oh, there’s the music lady,” one of the twins called out. Standing side by side, they were identical from their sleek blond hair, heart-shaped faces all the way to their black heels. They wore different dresses—one blue and the other lilac—but the style was the same.

“I’ll go help!” The twin in lilac broke away, tapping down the aisle toward a woman hefting a cello case.

“Well, kids.” Lil clapped her hands. “Time to get this show on the road. Hunter, you have your checklist?”

“I’ll get busy.” The darker, burlier version of Luke gave a grim nod, pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and left.

“Luke? You’ll make sure the musicians are set up?” Lil gave her chair a turn. “The rest of you, come with me.”

“Jerrod, why don’t you…?”

“Sit here and finish reading A Farewell to Arms?” he finished, crooking one eyebrow.

She laughed. “You are a funny kid. I was going to say why don’t you go sit outside?”

“Really?”

“As long as you stay close, I don’t see why not. Keep within sight of the front door.”

“Cool.” He reached in his pocket and hauled out his iPod.

“I can keep an eye on him.” Luke’s voice rumbled near her ear. “I’ll be seating guests.”

“I’d appreciate that. I was hoping there would be kids his age here.”

“Bree’s fiancé, Mac, has a teenage brother. Probably a few years older, but Marcus is a good kid. They might get along just fine.”

“Good. I like your family, Luke.”

“They’re all right. I’ll keep ’em.” A faint blush crept across his high cheekbones. “Although I am sorry. They took a lot of interest in you. I’m afraid they think—”

“—that you and I are an item?”

“Yep. And when they get you alone, they might, uh—”

“—try to sell me on you for my boyfriend?”

He nodded, relieved that she understood.

“Don’t worry. I’m from a big family, too. I totally get it.” She tried to ignore the pinch of pain she felt every time she thought of her family.

“You haven’t written about your family much.” His tone dipped pleasantly. “At least you haven’t shared them with me.”

“Guilty.” Another painful pinch. “Let’s just say my parents aren’t happy with me. I feel the same toward them.”

“Ah, I’ve been there.” The pinch of sadness creasing his face spoke the truth, but she couldn’t picture it.

“I don’t believe it. Your family is great.”

“I’m talking about my folks. Mom—” He hesitated, as if needing strength to talk about it. “Let’s just say we don’t know if she’s going to show up today for Brooke’s wedding. She wanted Brooke to come to Miles City to get married. And then there’s Dad—”

He fell silent and shook his head. A muscle jumped along his jaw. “Dad got out of federal prison not too long ago. He’s made bad choices in his life, and one of them is how he treats people. We’re praying he doesn’t show up today.”

“Nothing can hurt like family.” She reached out to squeeze his hand, meaning to let him know he wasn’t alone, she knew exactly how that felt, but a snap of awareness jolted through her at the first brush of her skin to his. His strong fingers curled around hers, holding on, and the snap deepened. It became an emotional hook that dug into her heart.

Really weird, she thought. What was happening? Before she could analyze it, Luke released her hand, unhooked her heart and the snap of awareness faded.

“You say that like you know.” Luke hiked up his shoulders like a man determined to handle a tough situation. “I thought you were good with your family.”

“No family is perfect, although mine tries to be.” She glanced down the aisle to where sunshine gleamed on the wood floor. On the other side of the open double doors, Jerrod sat hunched over his player, sitting on the front step as promised. Did she really want to talk about her past? “I don’t miss that, but I miss them.”

“I always wondered if there was more to your story than you were telling me. You didn’t come to Montana to work just because Mrs. Lambert is your mother’s friend, right? There’s another reason.”

Too personal, she wanted to tell him. She’d been careful during their correspondence to keep things safe. That’s how she wanted life these days—safe, predictable and level. But one look at the caring on his perfectly chiseled face, and she knew why he had been so easy to chat with online and why she looked forward to his emails. Luke McKaslin was a caring man. She’d been with him in person for less than ten minutes and it shone through as clear as daylight.

She felt comfortable enough with him to admit the truth. “We had a disagreement over whether or not I should give my boyfriend back his engagement ring.”

“Your b-boyfriend?” He stumbled over the word. “Now that’s something I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I simply didn’t want to talk about it.” She gave a little shrug. “Too painful. Besides, he’s my ex-boyfriend now, which is the reason my family is disappointed in me.”

“And that’s why you left California?”

“Mrs. Lambert was looking for a tutor, she was moving to their summer home and I thought, perfect timing. Why not?” She’d been substituting and the offer had been the chance for a steady paycheck. “God seemed to be nudging me along, so I packed up and came.”

“I’m glad you did, otherwise we never would have met.”

“Ditto.” She liked his smile, she decided. It was his most impressive feature, and there were many of those to choose from. “I can’t say that I’m glad I’m stuck in Montana, but something good has come out of this.”

“Maybe after you have fun with us and get in your social time, you’ll change your mind about Montana?” He arched one eyebrow in a challenge.

“It’s going to take more than that. I’m not sure it can be done,” she quipped, taking a step backward, moving away from him. “But I’m liking the chance to actually make new friends.”

“Good. I’m going to change your mind.”

“Is that a warning or a threat?”

“Depends on which one will work.”

“Neither.” She tipped back her head and laughed. “I’m not going to change my mind. I’m a California girl. I miss the beach. There’s no beach in Montana. No ocean.”

“True, but we’ve got riverbanks.”

“So not the same.”

They laughed together. He liked Honor as much in real life as he had online. His throat tightened, making it hard to swallow as he watched her walk away. A swirl of her blue dress’s hem, a clip of her fancy shoes and a flip of her sleek honey hair and he was hooked just a little bit more.

It’s never going to happen, he told himself. Did that stop him from liking her more?

Not a chance.

“Honor, there you are!” Brooke popped her head out of the inner door. “Don’t think I’m going to let you out of your offer.”

“Good, because I was beginning to worry you were starting without me.”

“Not a chance.” Brooke shone with happiness. She’d had some tough times, but God had turned those hardships around. He’d brought Liam into her life, and for that Luke would always be grateful. Brooke deserved true love and a happily-ever-after.

“Luke? What are you doing standing there?” Brooke flashed her smile his way. “Guests are arriving!”

“Wow, I guess so.” He glanced over his shoulder at the familiar faces of his cousins coming up the steps. A photographer waved at him from the back, setting up. He had things to do, but he stole one moment longer to take in the sight of Honor Crosby as she hurried up to Brooke. The two women talked low, their voices a ring of merriment. Honor’s gentle alto stood out above the other sounds in the church. His heart gave a little lurch.

She slipped through the doorway and out of his sight. He raked a hand through his hair, wishing he didn’t feel anything at all for her. Just wishing he was in control of his emotions.

“Hey, Luke.” Cousin Spence McKaslin ambled up and clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re glad this day has come for Brooke. No one deserves happiness more.”

“That’s the general consensus. Glad you could make it. Hi, Lucy,” he greeted Spence’s blond-haired, sunny wife. “It’s good to see you again.”

“We wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world. I didn’t see a table set up for gifts anywhere.” She held up a beautifully wrapped box. “Where can I put this?”

“That was on my to-do list. Sorry.” He dug in his pocket for the paper Lil had written out for him. Best get to it. “I’ll take that for you.”

“I’ll seat them.” Mac, Bree’s fiancé, ambled up in his suit and tie. “Spence, I was just in your bookstore the other day…”

As the trio headed up the aisle, Luke’s thoughts turned to Honor. How was she faring being stuck in a room with his sisters? And what exactly were they talking about?

He thought of Lil, dear Lil, and hoped his name didn’t come up because he knew what the subject would be.

Chapter Three

“Poor Luke. He has been single for so long.” Lil held out the gossamer bridal veil. “Ever since Sonya.”

“Sonya.” Brooke shook her head, obviously disapproving of this former girlfriend. “She led him on and then let him down.”

“That’s too bad,” Honor said sympathetically, trying not to sound too interested. It would only prolong the discussion, the one that would extol all of Luke’s virtues as a possible future boyfriend.

A boyfriend she didn’t want. No way, no sir. She was a happily single woman these days and that’s the way it was going to stay. She grabbed the comb off the built-in dresser.

“He’s the sweetest guy.” Brooke ducked, awaiting her veil.

“The sweetest,” Cousin Katherine agreed as she took the veil carefully from Lil.

Brooke nodded. “I never thought he would get over what that woman did to him.”

“Neither did I,” Colbie agreed.

“Us, too,” the twins chimed in.

What did that woman do? Honor wanted to ask, but she was afraid to. The women surrounding her might see it as a sign of interest. Romantic interest. She doubted they understood the friend thing she and Luke had going on. Maybe a change of subject was in order.

“Aren’t you nervous, Brooke?” she said the first thing that popped into her head. “Do you have cold feet? A jittery stomach?”

“No, not a bit. Everything is calm and my feet are warm.” Brooke stopped to check her reflection in the mirror. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, and stop trying to change the subject.”

“Hey, a girl’s gotta try.” She held up her hands in a what-can-I-do gesture. “You look stunning.”

“It’s the dress. Colbie and Lil made it for me.” Brooke brushed at the delicate satin of the princess-cut gown, which showed off her willowy figure adorably. “I never thought I would be the one to marry before you, Bree.”

“You know I want a spring wedding,” the twin in blue answered dreamily. “Now that I’m engaged and Brooke is getting married, I wonder who will be next?”

“Not me,” Colbie announced as she stepped back to check the drape of the wedding dress and gave a single, satisfied nod. “It’s the single life for me.”

“Me, too!” Finally, a comrade in arms! A like-minded ally.

“Oh, you two.” Lil shook her head. “I’m disappointed in you. Love can be the greatest adventure. You have to keep your heart open for it.”

“I’ll keep mine closed, thank you very much.” Colbie’s violet eyes sparkled with humor. “I prefer to be closed-up. It keeps the troublemakers away.”

“And men tend to be troublemakers,” Honor agreed.

“I can’t argue there.” Katherine finished pinning the veil and stepped back to admire her work. “When I first met Jack, disaster. Trouble of the highest magnitude. His teenage daughter had shoplifted from the bookstore and I had to march out into the parking lot and tell him so while he was in his uniform sitting in his cruiser.”

“I mistook Brice for a burglar,” a voice added cheerfully as a door swung open. A blond beauty stood in the doorway. “Hysterical. I’ve never lived it down. I’ve been sent in to tell you everything is ready out there. The guests are seated. The minister is ready to go. The quartet is playing.”

“Wonderful. We’ll bring the bride right out, Ava dear.”

“Okay! Don’t worry, Brooke. No need to be nervous.” Ava propped the door open before she left. “Getting married is the most amazing feeling. I’m so happy for you.”

“She’s our boss at the bakery,” the twin in the lavender explained.

“She’s also our cousin,” the blue twin added. “Are you ready, Brooke?”

“Absolutely.” Brooke looked ethereal with bliss as she took one final look in the mirror. “I’m breathless.”

“You’re a princess, my dear,” Lil enthused. “Just perfect.”

“Flawless.”

“Beautiful.”

The McKaslin sisters chimed their compliments, gathered around the bride, clearly about to line up for the procession. Time to find Jerrod in the church and settle in for the ceremony. Honor slipped out the door, unable to look away as the sisters embraced the bride, their happy voices echoing down the hallway.

That never would have been me, she thought as she tripped into the vestibule. She never would have felt joyful marrying Kip. Just the proof she’d needed to know she made the right decision.

“Honor.” Luke offered her his arm, the consummate groomsman. “May I escort you to your seat?”

“I would love that.” As she slipped her arm through his, emotion fluttered in her heart. Light, sweet and full of peace, that feeling stayed with her as she stumbled forward at his side, her feet barely touching the ground.

This is what I get for skipping breakfast, she thought as she seemed to float down the aisle. Light-headed, shivery, quick, swooping pulse. Those were definitely signs of low blood sugar and not romantic interest, and they were easily remedied. Big relief there.

“Don’t believe a single word they said about me,” he advised.

“You mean you’re not nice? You’re not a good guy?”

“Okay, I sure try to be.” A grin carved into his features, softening the rugged planes of his face and bringing out those swoon-worthy dimples. “But I’m sure that wasn’t the gist of the conversation.”

“How did you know you were even mentioned?”

“Uh, cuz my sisters meddle. Lil is the worst.”

“They did happen to mention you were single and available, but don’t worry, I thwarted them at every turn by changing the subject.”

“Did it work?”

“Eventually. I’m persistent. Others see it as stubborn, but that’s not entirely a bad thing.” A little breathless, she was glad when Luke stopped at the end of a row. “I finally steered the conversation back to the bride. She looks beautiful, by the way, so prepare yourself.”

“I have no doubt.”

Luke’s eyes had little flecks of gold in them, stunning against the violet-blue, so stunning she couldn’t seem to look away. Definitely strange, too, she thought, more light-headed, still. Perhaps she’d break into the candy she kept in the bottom of her purse. That ought to chase away her symptoms. She slipped her arm from his. “Thank you for escorting me.”

“My pleasure.”

Oh, but those dimples could dazzle any woman. Good thing they didn’t have an effect on her. No way, no how. Her shoes tapped against the floor as she scooted into the row. “I’ll see you after?”

“I’ll hang back so you can follow me,” Luke said as he pivoted, talking over his shoulder. “I drive a white truck. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out for you in the parking lot.”

“Thanks,” she said, but he was gone, hurrying to seat a latecoming guest.

The other groomsmen were lined up at the front, the groom a calm, content-looking man who joked with his best man. The low rumble of their laughter blended with the din of the crowd and the rise and fall of notes from the quartet. Finally the crowd hushed as the minister took his place and the processional music began.

“Are you sure the cake will be good?” Jerrod whispered to her as he put his iPod on pause. Apparently he knew where his priorities were.

“Positively.”

As quietly as she could, she unlatched her handbag and dug out a roll of candy. She offered it to Jerrod first, who happily took a few, ripped the paper farther down on the roll and popped the sweet-tart lozenge into her mouth. Flavor exploded on her tongue. Take that, low blood sugar.

An adorable little girl with bouncy brown curls paraded down the aisle, tossing rose petals from her fancy white basket. She looked like a cherub with angelic cheeks and sweet button face. Her snowy lacy dress swung around her knees. Completely adorable.

“That’s Madison, my niece,” whispered the woman who’d visited the dressing room. The baker, cousin Ava, leaned over the back of the pew, eyes wide with curiosity. “Isn’t she adorable? I hear you are dating Luke?”

“Not dating,” she corrected way too fast and way too defensive. Best to blame that on the low blood sugar, too. “Everyone has the wrong idea. Luke and I are just friends.”

“Sure. I know what you mean. That’s the best place to start.”

Not sure how to argue with that, she held her tongue. The little ring bearer strode down the aisle, a cute little boy sure of his duty.

“My nephew, Tyler,” Ava informed her.

The bridesmaids came next, strolling down the aisle carrying bouquets of daisies. Each dress was a different color—blue, lilac and gold. When they reached the front, Honor noticed Luke standing alongside the best man, shoulders set, back straight, striking in his dark suit. Incredibly fine-looking.

Her heart gave another swoop, so she popped a second candy into her mouth. That was absolutely the last time she was skipping breakfast.

* * *

Exultation flitted in the air like the scent of roses from a nearby border row as friends and family descended the church stairs and streamed toward their vehicles, buckled in and zoomed off. Honor beeped the remote, her car door locks popped and Jerrod dropped into the passenger seat. She went up on tiptoe, looking around for a sign of Luke. White pickup, he’d said. She frowned, seeing at least ten white trucks gleaming in the lot. Now what?

“Over here!” called a familiar voice.

She whirled around, shading her eyes with her hand as she squinted into the hot noon sun. “There you are. Did you know there are at least a dozen white pickups in this lot?”

“Sorry.” He eased behind the wheel, leaving the door open so he could holler across the roof of a departing car. “I’d planned on finding you in the crowd, but you made a fast dash toward the exit.”

“It was hard not to. It was like being a salmon in a river current. I decided to go with the flow.”

“The McKaslins and friends are a desperate bunch when we get hungry.”

“I know, right?” She slipped into the leather seat, scorching from sitting in the sun. Yikes. Her fingers seared when she touched the steering wheel. “Is it very far?”

If so, she’d likely melt.

“Not too far. Follow me.”

She eyed the mad dash of vehicles toward the exit. “I’ll try.”

“Not to worry. I’ll keep my eye on you.” He winked. Why did the man have to have a dazzling wink, too? His door closed and his truck’s engine roared to life.

“I’m dying,” Jerrod commented. “Air conditioning. Quick.”

“I doubt it will help in time. We may be a puddle of carbon-based goo before we reach the street.”

“No kidding.” Jerrod fanned himself, not that it would help, and whizzed down his window. The instant the engine turned over, he took charge of the a/c controls.

“So, not too bad so far, right?” She buckled up.

“At least we’re out of the house.” Jerrod frowned at the hot air spewing from the vents. “You’re sure there’ll be kids my age here?”

“That’s the word.” She checked her mirror, saw the grill of Luke’s truck lumbering closer and smiled in spite of herself. “You miss your friends back home.”

“You know it.” Jerrod leaned forward to catch the tepid air from the vents.

Luke motored by in his gleaming truck. She caught a flash of his smile as she pulled out to get in behind him. Here’s where her California driving skills came in handy. She nosed in front of a Buick jockeying for supremacy and angled in behind Luke’s tailgate. Skills honed from mall parking lots. Good to know they hadn’t gone rusty.

Her cell chimed. She scrambled for the Bluetooth earpiece and answered before it went to voice mail. “Hello?”

“Nice maneuvering back there. That was the minister’s car.”

“Oops!” She felt a twinge of guilt as she glanced in her rearview at the Buick idling behind her. “Between that and missing all but one percent of Sunday service, I’m in need of serious penance.”

“I’ll say. And before you ask, there’s not an afternoon service you can catch.”

“How did you know I was going to ask?” She flipped on her right blinker when his started to blink.

“I know you don’t like to miss church.”

“That’s right.” How many Sunday mornings had she ended a chat session because she needed to dash off to church? “It’s weird because you and I know each other, but at the same time we don’t. We’re strangers who are, well, strangers.”

“True. We just technically met.” His trunk made a neat turn onto the street.

She pulled up, took advantage of the clear road and turned after him. “So, tell me about where we’re going. You mentioned volleyball.”

“Shh. That’s top secret, remember? If anyone asks—”

“—I’ll deny any knowledge—”

“—or you’ll be disavowed.”

“Why do I suddenly want to hum the Mission: Impossible theme?”

“I don’t know, but I have the same urge.”

This was why she’d liked typing at Luke. He was fun. She scooted through a yellow light keeping on his tail, breezing through the intersection before the red. Perfect timing. “So, how does the volleyball team selection work in your family?”

“Don’t worry. When we choose sides, I’ll call you first.”

“You’re just going on my word that I can play. What if I’m exaggerating or have an overinflated opinion of my own skills?”

“That’s a risk I’m ready to take.”

“Aren’t those fateful words? Like pride goeth before a fall? Doom happens when you least expect it?”

“And here I thought you were an optimist. A glass-half-full kind of girl.”

“It depends on the day,” she quipped, following him through a housing development. “I’m always more positive on a full stomach. We were running late, so I missed breakfast.”

“The truth comes out. The concrete irrigation pipe being transported wasn’t the only reason you were late.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t bring it up, but yes. I couldn’t decide what to wear. It’s been so long since I really got to dress up.” She scooted into a spot at the curb behind his truck. A slope of lush lawn led the way to a lovely brick Tudor, shaded by maples. Must be their destination. She hated turning off the engine, now that the a/c was finally blowing glacial cold.

“You’re one of those fashionista types, aren’t you? Always shopping?”

“Could be, but I’ve known worse.” She gave Jerrod a nod, who opened his door and spilled out into the heat. “I’m nothing like my mom and sisters. They are serious fashion divas.”

“And you are—”

“—a mild clothes fanatic. Nothing compared to if you put me in a bookstore, then look out.” She opened the door to sunshine.

“Same here.” Luke, towering over her, flipped his phone shut and held out his hand. “I can’t walk outta there without doing some damage.”

“Don’t expect me to find anything wrong with that.” She placed her hand in his, palm to palm and—zap! There went that zing of emotion charging through her again.

See, it has to be low blood sugar—again, she thought as she rose from her seat. The candy was out of her system, which was crashing. Proof she needed lunch and needed it fast. Because it definitely, absolutely, under no circumstances could be related to the fact that handsome, impressive, drop-dead gorgeous Luke McKaslin was holding her hand.

Probably best to ignore the fact that the sensation stopped when she released his hand.

“This is the groom’s grandfather’s home.” Luke led the way up a few steps. A curving walkway ribboned through grass to the shady sanctuary of the charming house. “He was generous enough to host the reception. I don’t think he truly understood what he was getting into, the poor man.”

“Yes, since I’ve met some of your family. Shockingly scary.”

“Tell me about it.” Luke rolled his eyes. On the front porch, a swing squeaked. A couple sat hand in hand watching over the little kids playing soccer on the large side yard. “Hey, Danielle. Jonas.”

“Hey, yourself,” the handsome, dark-haired man answered. “Didn’t know you were bringing a date.”

“I’m not,” Luke answered easily, opening the screen door for her. “This is my friend, Honor.”

“Hi, Honor,” Danielle smiled warmly. “A friend, huh?”

“Inside quick,” Luke whispered in her ear, steering her and they tumbled inside the gracious foyer, chuckling together. “I thought they would be better behaved about this, but I’m afraid this is only the beginning. It’s sort of embarrassing.”

“Don’t worry about it. They mean well.” She remembered the caring way his sisters and Lil had talked about him in the dressing room. Clearly his family loved him.

“That’s the problem. You know what they say about good intentions? That’s one road that can lead to no place good.” He took her by the elbow and steered her past a crowded living room, which opened to the right. Several “Hi, Luke”s rang out and a bold, “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your girl?” They kept going, bypassing the kitchen, too. Caterers bustled around marble counters and sunshine sparkled on a wall of windows, leading the way to the deck.

“Maybe you want to escape while you can or disavow all knowledge of me.” Luke released her elbow.

“It’s tempting.” She took a step back, surveying the man and the French door he held open for her. Maybe the zinging sensation she kept feeling had nothing to do with low blood sugar.

Wasn’t that a frightening thought?

The sun kissed her with its blazing warmth as she tapped her way across the spacious deck. Across the stretch of lawn, a pool glistened to the right. A volleyball net staked out a section of grass to the left and the laughing shrieks of children rang in the distance as little kids ran around clutching helium balloons. One slipped away and wafted up in the air. The beauty who’d been the flower girl tipped her head back, curls swinging, to watch it fly away. A yellow Labrador bounded up to her and kissed her cheek.

The delicious scent of barbecue smoke drifted on the breeze from a built-in grill. An elderly man stood behind it, a long handled spatula in hand. Must be the groom’s grandfather.

“Come and get it,” he called heartily. “Lunch is ready.”

“Just in time. My stomach is grumbling.” As proof, it gurgled. “Embarrassing.”

“Or perfect timing.” Luke leaned in, the smoky notes in his voice ringing low and mesmerizing. “C’mon. In this family you snooze, you lose. The McKaslins love their food.”

“So I see.” Caterers buzzed in and out of the kitchen, migrating to two cloth-covered tables loaded with choices.

She took the plate Luke handed her and scooped a hot dog bun out of the bag. Little kids ran by her, looking for their moms. The yellow dog bounded after them, skidded to a stop, lifted his nose into the air and breathed deep.

“Don’t even think about it, Oscar.” Liam, the groom, grabbed the Lab by his collar. “Good behavior, remember? Or you’ll be banned to the house.”

Oscar’s head tilted, he gave a whine of apology and irresistible chocolate eyes blinked sadly.

“C’mon, I’ll get an extra hot dog for you.” Liam seemed like a really nice guy, kind and strong. A very nice combination. She thought of gentle, sweet Brooke and nodded. It was a good match. A very good one, indeed. The newlyweds met in the center of the deck. Soft touches, loving smiles and rippling laughter.

Just the way love should be. Again, she thought of Kip and the wedding he’d wanted—big, fancy, expensive, a showcase. Without love, it would have been a shell of what a real wedding ought to be. She’d definitely done the right thing in fleeing Malibu even if she wasn’t exactly happy here.

She caught sight of Jerrod ambling into view with a taller, older teen boy carrying a soccer ball. Jerrod looked as though he was having a good time. Good, she thought. Exactly what he needed.

“What would you like, missy?” the elderly gentleman asked, his spatula poised and ready over the grill.

She eyed her choices.

“A hot dog, please,” she said with a smile, laughing when Luke held out his plate for one, too.

They were so alike, it was kind of fun. She was so, so glad she’d decided to come. Here, with Luke, she didn’t miss home. He was exactly the friend in person he’d been online. She couldn’t ask for more than that.

Chapter Four

Laughter dominated the conversation buzzing around her as she took a bite of her hotdog. She couldn’t help taking a moment to drink it all in. Happiness buzzed in the air, family and friends chatted, laughed, joked. Best of all, the happy newlyweds sat together, their happiness so infectious it made Honor start to think love wasn’t such a bad thing, after all.

“This isn’t the kind of wedding reception you’re used to, is it?” Luke dragged a potato chip through a puddle of dip on his plate.

“You have no idea.” She reached for her cup of punch, sucked it down and reached for the mustard bottle. “You have no idea what I’m used to.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Not sure you’re tough enough to handle it.” She eyed the man beside her at the picnic table, considered his muscled form and shook her head. “No, I don’t think you can. Most men run.”

“I’m not most men. Give it a shot. Just see if I bolt.”

“You do look tougher than most.” She didn’t have to ask to know Luke’s strength wasn’t honed in a gym but through hard, physical work. “I knew something was off the instant I walked into church.”

“Off?” A dimple etched into his cheek.

She really needed to stop noticing his dimples. “Where were the nerves, the tempers and the frantic craziness? When my oldest sister got married, we lived in a frenetic state for four months pre-wedding.”

“Was it a fancy wedding?”

“An exquisite one.” She squirted mustard along the length of the bun in an even stripe. “A fairy tale come true. The wedding planner had to hire extra help to pull it all.”

“Sounds like a fancy affair.”

“The fanciest.” She didn’t mention her father was one of the most sought after financial managers in the state. His clientele ranged from movie stars to corporate multimillionaires.

“Something tells me you were expecting something spiffier.” The wind ruffled Luke’s thick, sandy hair. “Hope we didn’t disappoint. I did warn you.”

“I’ve been to a lot of spiffy weddings.” All three of her sisters’ weddings, cousins, friends, her father’s clients. “Not one has been as genuine as this one. Brooke and Liam clearly love one another.”

“They do.”

Silence fell between them. At the next picnic table over, the bride and groom nestled together, sharing a private moment despite the family surrounding them. The groom leaned in to whisper something, and Brooke’s smile blossomed and the love that filled her eyes when she gazed upon her new husband was singular. Never had Honor seen anything as pure and true.

“And here I’ve vowed to stop believing in the existence of true love.” She dug her fork into the remnants of potato salad on her plate.

“I know what you mean,” Luke agreed.

“Those two had to prove me wrong.” She sighed a little, watching the couple. “What am I going to do now? Start believing again?”

“Brooke and Liam have that effect,” he agreed lightly. “Where did your disillusionment come from, your former fiancé?”

“Partly. Marriage is a big business in my family. Not that there isn’t love.” She looked quick to clarify. “But money trumps love if it ever comes down to it. You should have seen my parents’ divorce.”

“Mine was pretty ugly, too.” He blocked out those old memories. Not worth thinking about. It was why he’d always thought long and hard before getting serious in a relationship. Not that it was a fail-safe plan. Sonya had broken his heart. Love could turn out better, like it had for Brooke and for his other sister, Bree, but there was a pattern in his family. One of romantic disaster. He was afraid of repeating it.

Picking the right woman seemed to be the key, he’d decided. The trick was in finding her.

“That’s why I’m single.” She took a small bite of hot dog. “I worried that Kip and I didn’t have what it took to make it last. There were too many problems.”

“Like what?”

“Just about everything.” She swiped a dab of mustard from her lip.

Pretty lip. He leaned in a little closer, wanting to hear her better. The rest of the party faded away, the din of cheerful conversations silenced until there was only Honor with the breeze tousling her hair and the golden sunshine adoring her. Zip, there she was. The center of his attention.

“Kip went to college with my sister and one day she bumped into him, found out he was all alone on the West Coast without family and invited him to Thanksgiving dinner.” She set down her hot dog and picked up her fork. “He was charming and his interest in me was flattering. When he called me up a week later to ask me out, I accepted.”

“Was he a nice guy?”

“He was. He was also really ambitious.” She shrugged her shoulders in a what-can-you-do gesture. “He was polite, he worked hard to ingratiate himself with my family and he seemed happy to be with me. It seemed like the sort of relationship I’d been hoping for.”

“You’re using ‘seemed’ a lot. I get the sense that was the problem.”

“Exactly. He did everything right and he said everything right, but something felt off. Something felt missing. I didn’t know what. I just chalked it up to him being so busy with his work. My father liked him and had offered him a job. Which was his goal all along, apparently.”

“Oh, I get it. He’d set his sights on the boss’s daughter.”

“And not really me.” A dash of pain flashed in her eyes, but she shrugged it away. She’d been hurt.

He hated that. He knew what it was like to find out the one you were falling in love with wasn’t as devoted as you thought. “How did you find out?”

“It was the first time we met with our wedding planner. He kept texting, answering his phone, leaving to sort out some problem at work. He had a high-pressure job, I got it, but when he came back and was sitting near me, he wasn’t there. He was bored, not with the plans but with me. It wasn’t me he loved.”

“It was the successful life he was trying to build?”

“That’s it.” Her hand landed on his arm, reaching out to him.

As he looked down at her slender fingers against the white cuff of his shirtsleeve, his heart tripped.

“Kip never actually loved me. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, it was more that I was a necessary step to what he wanted his life to be,” she explained. “As my husband, his future at the company would be secure.”

“Ouch.” He winced, understanding. She’d loved the man and wanted his love in return. He’d been in a similar situation.

“After the wedding planner, we had a heart-to-heart. Kip didn’t have time to talk, so we argued and in his anger the truth spilled out. I was stunned.”

“Did you break off the engagement right away?”

“Yes, but my family pressured me to reconsider. Everyone loved him. He fit in so well. My sisters and mom kept saying it was just wedding jitters, that what I was feeling was perfectly normal. After the wedding I would be a happy bride. Not to worry.”

“I’m glad you didn’t give in.”

“Me, too. I didn’t want to marry a man who loved success more than he would love me. My family was devastated with my decision.”

“They love you. They must want what’s best for you.”

“They were convinced Kip was it. That’s the hard part.” She stirred her fork around in the remains of her potato salad, and he could feel how hard it had been for her.

“It must have taken a lot of courage to stand up for what you wanted with all that well-meaning pressure.”

“I don’t know about courage, but it wasn’t easy. That’s why I took the job tutoring Jerrod. It got me away from the situation. I could regroup, figure out what I wanted and get my head together.”

And the pieces of her heart, he figured. He knew how that felt, too. “Is it working?”

“I’ll let you know.” She smiled, nothing could be prettier. His pulse fluttered, because he’d never seen a more beautiful woman. Her expressive blue eyes just blew him away.

“Hey, you two!” Colbie trotted over, changed into a T-shirt, athletic shorts and tennis shoes. “Let the game begin. Girls against guys.”

“No way.” He dropped his fork on his plate. “We talked about this, remember? Honor’s on my team.”

“Not anymore. As the entertainment director of this reception, I have unilaterally changed my mind. Sorry, buddy.” Colbie winked at him. “This is for Honor’s own good.”

“My own good?” Honor sounded surprised as she took a last sip of punch. “Is Luke a terrible player?”

“No, but we’re better. This way you’ll be on the winning team, and we’ll get to know you better.” Colbie gave a wink and bounded off to drum up more players for the match.

“This is already spiraling out of control.” Luke shook his head. “That’s what happens when a woman takes over.”

“I’m sure if your sister heard that and believed you meant it, she wouldn’t take that well.” Honor hopped up from the bench, reached over to steal his plate and stacked hers on top. “I’ll take these in. I need to change. I don’t want to play in my dress.”

Before he could answer, she breezed away. Brandi caught up to her, asking her about who designed her dress, some fancy name he’d never heard before, and the pair tapped off in the direction of the house, leaving him behind like he was yesterday’s laundry.

Well, at least he knew where he stood. He shook his head, pushed off the bench and dodged his cousin’s son, dashing off to play with the other little kids in the sprinkler. Around him rang the happiness of his family, who were still seated and relaxed, talking merrily.

“She’s nice.” Colbie returned to sidle up to him. “Are you mad about the team thing?”

“Not mad, but something tells me you guessed she was a ringer.”

“Bingo. I see that look in your eye. You care for her.” Colbie patted him on the arm.

“And here I hoped it didn’t show.”

“You have two choices. You can try harder to hide it or you could let her know.”

“She doesn’t feel the same way I do.”

“Yet.” Love gentled her words. Colbie was a great sister, always looking out for him. “Maybe she’ll change her mind.”

“No, and it’s just as well. She’s leaving for home in a few weeks.” He caught a glimpse of her through the open French doors, where she stood in the kitchen stacking the plates on the counter and chatting with Uncle John.

Honor was a city girl and not the farm girl he was looking for. Not the kind of woman who would fit into his life on the ranch. His chest ached with disappointment, but he’d known that about her all along.

It was his heart giving him troubles, because his head knew for absolute certain she was not the woman for him.

“You’d better go change.” Colbie’s sympathy gentled her words. “And don’t be sad. The right woman is out there. I know it. You deserve the very best.”

“So do you.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

* * *

“I don’t believe it! You don’t like Montana?” Bree spiked the ball, sending it flying over the net. The other team members jockeyed into position as the blur that was the ball soared straight up in the air.

“It’s not that I don’t like Montana, it’s that I don’t get Montana,” Honor explained as she punched the ball and it arced over the net.

“What’s not to get?” Kelly, Luke’s cousin, asked as her husband, Mitch, volleyed the ball back to Honor’s side.

“Where’s the beach?” She rocked up on her heels, watching as Colbie dove for the save. “Where’s the ocean? Where’s the mall?”

“No ocean or beach, but we’ve got a mall,” Colbie quipped as she sent the ball up into the air.

“Two hours’ drive away from the Lamberts’. Four round trip.” She moved in to smack the ball with her fist, sending it flying straight at Luke. He was simply where her gaze went. Where she naturally aimed the ball. This wasn’t the first time.

He knocked it back, his violet-blue gaze so intense it was all she could see. She tripped over her own feet and wham! Down she went. When she hit the ground shock ricocheted along her bones as her knee rammed into the earth. The ball thudded next to her.

“Are you okay?” Colbie towered over her, grabbed the ball. “You went down so fast, I couldn’t do anything.”

“It won’t be the first time I’ve tripped over my feet.” She sat up and a shadow tumbled over her. A tall, broad-shouldered shadow. Her breathing hitched when she squinted up at Luke, who offered his hand.

“Let’s get you up and see the damage.” His fingers wrapped around hers. “You weren’t kidding about being a klutz. I didn’t believe you.”

“I can be a hazard to myself.” She found herself rising through the air and on her feet, breathless from the ascent. Maybe, just maybe, she had to admit, it may have something to do with the man. His callused palm, his touch, the snap of feeling that went way too deep.

“You’re bleeding.” Luke released her.

The zing faded predictably. When he knelt down to inspect her knee she had to face facts. She could no longer blame her reaction to him on low blood sugar. Didn’t that spell trouble?

“Doesn’t look too bad. Mostly just grass burn. You’ve scraped a few layers off.” Luke gazed up at her, his head tilted back, exposing the whirl of a cowlick at his crown. “What we need is a Band-Aid.”

“I’m tough. I don’t need a bandage.” Her voice sounded thick to her own ears and a little breathless. A bandage might up the chance of Luke touching her again. What she didn’t want was to prove her hypothesis. That this man affected her in ways she wasn’t ready for. It would be best to deny it, if she could. “What I need is to score the winning point. We’re almost there.”

“Yeah!” agreed Colbie, one arm around the ball, balanced on her hip. “As long as Honor’s okay, let’s do it. You men are toast.”

“Hold up one minute.” Not to be rushed, Luke held up one hand. Only then did Honor notice his Aunt Dorrie hurrying over with a box clutched in one hand.

“I saw you go down, dear.” She bustled up, panting a little. “This was all I could find on short notice. Do you need an antibacterial cream?”

“Thank you.” It was hard not to like Luke’s family. “It’s just a scratch, so I should be fine.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want this to put a kink in your date. There’s nothing like a wedding date.” Dorrie’s eyes sparkled, she handed Luke the box and patted Honor’s cheek. Kind, thoughtful, completely lovable. “So glad you’re here.”

Definitely impossible not to like.

“This won’t hurt a bit.” With a crackle, Luke freed a Band-Aid from its wrapper and knelt before her. She knew both teams watched, that everything had come to a standstill the moment Luke had rushed to her side of the net. That didn’t stop her heart from wobbling dangerously as the big, tough Montana cowboy applied the bandage to her knee with care. At the warm brush of his fingertips against her kneecap, the zing returned so strong, dizziness rushed through her head.

There’s only one solution, she thought. Stop with the touching.

“There.” Luke rose up to his six-foot-plus height, shading her from the sun. Light danced around him, burnishing gold highlights into his sandy hair. Irresistible.

Whoops, where had that thought come from? It was a big mistake. She needed a friend. But the way he was looking at her with more than concern and a lot of caring totally panicked her. What were his expectations? What was he hoping for?

Worse, what if he’d been hoping for more than friendship with her?

“Guess I’ll get back to my side,” he said, backing away, taking his shadow with him. The sun tumbled over her, too bright suddenly for her eyes.

I wish I was ready to believe again, she thought as Colby’s hand settled on her shoulder. To put faith in love.

“Sure you’re okay?” she asked, as if she was wondering about more than the skinned knee.

“I’m great.” She cleared her throat and wished she didn’t feel a twinge of emotion. “Let’s finish this.”

“As victors,” Colbie agreed with an understanding smile. She seemed to notice everything that had gone on and didn’t judge. Just cared.

Yes, she absolutely wished she was ready for a relationship that was more than friendship. Judging by the panic racing through her veins, she wasn’t even close.

“Let’s go!” Luke’s cousin Aubrey called as she caught the ball, stepping back to serve.

“C’mon, we can do this!” Lucy cheered. “Three more points.”

“Two after this,” Aubrey said as she served, sending the ball streaking over the net. The opposing team dove, but failed to set it. It whammed against the ground, cheers went up, but all Honor could see was Luke. His rugged stance and the remembered caring she’d seen.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.