Fortune’s Heart

Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!

Leanne Banks

A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune

Cindy Kirk

Lassoed by Fortune

Marie Ferrarella

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune

About the Author

Dedication

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

Chapter Eighteen

Lassoed by Fortune

About the Author

Dedication

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

Copyright

Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!

LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realizes how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didn’t break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance, because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and a four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou. Visit her website, www.leannebanks.com.

This book is dedicated to my husband, Tony,

for takeout and tolerance, super editors Gail Chasan and Susan Litman,

and genius plotter Marcia Book Adirim.

Chapter One

Stacey Fortune Jones was sure she had the cutest date at the New Year’s Eve wedding reception for her cousin Sawyer Fortune and his bride, Laurel Redmond.

“Your baby is just gorgeous,” Sherry James, one of her neighbors, said as she patted Stacey’s six-month-old daughter’s arm. “She has the best smile.”

“Thank you,” Stacey said. Clothed in a red velvet dress with a lace headband, white tights and red shoes, her little Piper was a true head turner. Stacey had enjoyed getting Piper ready for her first big night out, and it seemed her daughter was having fun. Her big green gaze took in all the sights and sounds of the celebration, and she smiled easily with everyone who approached. “She’s a sweet baby now that she’s gotten through her colic.”

Sherry made a sympathetic clucking noise. “Colic can be hard on both the baby and the parents.”

Stacey gave a vague nod. “So true,” she said. In Stacey’s case, there was no need for the plural. There was no dad to help. He’d abandoned Stacey before Piper had even been born. Thank goodness her parents had let her move back in with them.

“Well, you’ve obviously done a great job with her. She’s the belle of the ball tonight,” Sherry said.

“Thank you,” Stacey said again.

“Oh, my husband’s calling me,” Sherry said. “You take care, now.”

Jiggling her daughter Piper on her hip, Stacey headed for an empty seat at a table to give her feet a rest. Looking around, she couldn’t believe that an airplane hangar could be transformed into such a beautiful reception site. Miles of tulle and lights decorated the space, and buffet tables groaned with delicious food. The sounds of a great band and happy voices echoed throughout the building. The guests, dressed in their finest, added to a celebratory mood. This wedding was the event of the season for the citizens of the small town of Horseback Hollow, Texas. People would be talking about it for years to come.

Although some might consider the choice of an airplane hangar a strange place to hold a wedding, it suited the groom and bride, since this was where the two were running a flight school together. No one had thought Sawyer or Laurel would ever settle down, let alone with each other. But the two stubborn yet free-spirited people had come to the conclusion that they were perfect for each other.

Stacey watched the newly married couple dance together and couldn’t help thinking about the wedding she had been planning with her ex, Joe. Sometimes she wondered if she had ever really known Joe at all, or if she had been in love with an illusion of the man she’d wanted him to be. Now she didn’t know if she’d ever find the love she saw on the faces of the bride and groom. Even though the hangar was filled with family and friends, and her little Piper was in her arms, Stacey suddenly felt alone.

“Hey,” a male voice said. “How’s it going?”

Stacey blinked to find her longtime neighbor, Colton Foster, sitting beside her. She gave herself a mental shake and tried to pull herself out of her blue moment. Colton’s sister, Rachel, was Stacey’s best friend; but Stacey had been overwhelmed with taking care of Piper, so she hadn’t seen him except in passing since the baby had been born.

She’d known the Foster family forever. Colton had graduated several years earlier from the same high school she’d attended. He’d always been quiet and hardworking. He was the firstborn and only son of the Fosters and had taken his responsibilities seriously.

Tonight he wore a dark suit along with a Stetson, but he usually dressed his tall, athletic body in jeans and work boots. He had brown eyes that seemed to see beneath the surface, brown wavy hair and a strong jaw. Stacey knew of several women who’d had crushes on him, but to Stacey, he would always be Rachel’s older brother.

“Great,” she said. “I’m doing great. Piper doesn’t have colic anymore, so I’ve actually gotten a few nights of sleep. My parents adore her. My brothers and sister adore her. She’s healthy and happy. Life couldn’t be better,” she insisted, willing herself to believe it.

Stacey searched Colton’s face. She couldn’t help wondering if he’d heard anything from Joe since he and her ex had been good friends. Colton had even been asked to be one of the groomsmen for Stacey and Joe’s wedding. The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it without asking. Did she really want to know? It wasn’t as if she wanted him back. Still, Piper deserved to know her father, she thought. Stacey’s stomach twisted as she met the gaze of her quiet neighbor. Maybe Stacey just wanted to hear that Joe was miserable without her.

The silence between them stretched. “She’s a cute baby,” Colton finally said.

Stacey smiled at her daughter. “Yes, she is. Someone even called her the belle of the ball,” she said. “How are things with you?”

“Same as always,” he said with a shrug. “Working a lot of hours to keep the ranch going.”

Stacey searched for something else to say. The gap in conversation between her and Colton felt so awkward. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this uncomfortable with him. “I haven’t gotten out very much since Piper was born, so it’s been a while since I’ve seen a lot of people or been to such a big party.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Rachel tells me she drops by your house every now and then. She’s been keeping us updated on how you’re doing.”

“Rachel has always been a good friend. I don’t know what I would have done without her when—” Stacey broke off, determined not to mention Joe’s name aloud. She cleared her throat and decided to change the direction of the conversation. “Well, I’m glad you’re doing well,” she said, almost wishing he would leave. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so awkward.

Another silence stretched between them, and Stacey almost decided to leave despite the fact that Piper was half-asleep in her arms.

“It’s a new year,” Colton finally said. “A new year is always a good time for a fresh start. Are you planning to go back to work soon?”

Stacey sighed. “I’m not sure what to do now. I loved my job. I was a nurse at the hospital in Lubbock, but the idea of leaving Piper just tears me up. Even though my mother would babysit for me, it wouldn’t be fair. My mother is busy enough without taking on the full care of a baby. Plus, I hate the idea of being so far away if Piper should need me.”

“Is there anywhere else closer you could work?” he asked.

“I’ve thought about that, but as you know, the employment opportunities here in Horseback Hollow aren’t great. There’s no hospital here. It’s frustrating because I don’t want to be dependent on my parents. At the same time, I’m Piper’s one and only parent, and I’m determined that she gets all the love she needs and deserves.”

* * *

Colton studied Stacey for a long moment and realized that something about his younger sister’s friend had changed. She used to be so happy and carefree. Now it seemed as if there was a shadow clouding the sunny optimism she’d always exhibited. He couldn’t help feeling a hard stab of guilt. He wondered if the conversation he’d had with Joe over a year ago had influenced the man to propose to Stacey. Maybe he shouldn’t have warned Joe that he might lose Stacey to someone else if he didn’t put a ring on her finger. If they hadn’t gotten engaged, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant and Joe wouldn’t have left her. After Joe had left Stacey pregnant with his child, Colton’s opinion of his friend had plummeted. Now he wondered if Joe had just felt possessive about Stacey. He obviously hadn’t loved her the way she deserved to be loved. Colton had always known Joe’s home life hadn’t been the best when he was growing up, but in Colton’s mind, that was no excuse for how Joe had treated Stacey.

More than Stacey’s outlook had changed, Colton noticed. She just seemed more grown-up. His gaze dipped to her body, and he couldn’t help noticing she was curvier than she used to be. She’d filled out in all the right places. He glanced at her face and saw that her eyes seemed to contain a newfound knowledge.

Stacey had become a woman, he concluded. She was no longer the young girl who’d giggled constantly with his younger sister Rachel. He watched her lift a glass to her lips and take a sip of champagne, then slide her tongue over her lips.

The motion made his gut clench in an odd way. He wondered how her lips would feel against his. He wondered how her body would feel....

Shocked at the direction his mind was headed, Colton reined in his thoughts. This was Stacey, for Pete’s sake. Not some random girl at a bar. He cleared his throat.

Stacey glanced around the room. “There are a lot of Fortunes. I’m still trying to keep all the names straight.”

“That’s for sure. Do you know all of them?” he asked.

Stacey shot him a sideways glance. “I’ve been introduced to all of them. I’m trying my best to remember their names. Between my mother, her brother James and her sister, Josephine, they have thirteen children.”

Colton gave a low whistle. “That’s a lot.”

“And that doesn’t include the wives. Just about all of James Fortune’s children have gotten married within the last year,” she said.

“I’m curious. What made all of you take on the Fortune name?”

She shrugged. “We did it for Mom. I know it sounds weird, but for Mama, finding her birth family has been a big deal. Even though her adoptive parents loved and adored her, there were things about her past that seemed a big mystery because she knew she was adopted. I think that meeting her brother James and her sister, Josephine, makes her feel more complete. For my mom, taking on the Fortune name is a symbolic way of declaring her connection to the Fortune family. Most of us have added the Fortune name out of respect to her. My brother Liam is holding out, though.”

“How does your father feel about it?”

“That’s a good question,” she said. “My father is very stoic. He hasn’t said anything aloud, and he has loved my mother pretty much since the dawn of time, but I have a feeling he may not like the name change. I’m not sure he would ever say it, because he’s supportive of my mom. He would always have her back, but I wouldn’t blame him if this pinched his ego a little bit.”

“Speaking of your Mama Jeanne,” Colton said. “She’s coming this way.”

Stacey smiled. “Betcha she wants to show off her grandbaby. Watch and see.”

Stacey’s mother wore her snowy white hair on the back of her head, and she sported a nice but not fancy dress. Jeanne Marie Fortune Jones was one of the most welcoming women Colton had ever met. Everyone in Horseback Hollow loved the nurturing woman. Jeanne extended her arms as she got close to Stacey and the baby. “Give me that little peanut,” Mrs. Jones said. “It’s time for me to give you a little break.”

“She’s been fine,” Stacey said, handing over the baby to her mother. “I think she is half-asleep.”

“Already? At her first party?” Mrs. Jones adjusted Piper’s headband. “I need to introduce her to a few people before she totally zonks out.” Mrs. Jones glanced at Colton. “Good to see you and your family here tonight. We’re glad you could make it,” she said.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “It was nice of you to make sure we were invited.”

“Well, of course you’re invited. You’re like family to us. What do you think of little Piper here?” she asked, beaming with pride.

“She’s a pretty little thing,” Colton said, although babies made him a little uneasy. Seemed as if they could start screaming like wild banshees with no cause or warning.

“That she is,” Mrs. Jones said. “I just want to make sure James and Josephine get to see her. You take a little break, Stacey.”

Stacey nodded and smiled as her mother left. “Told you she wanted to show her off.”

Colton glanced at Stacey’s mother as she joined her Fortune siblings at a table and bounced the baby on her knee. The other woman, Josephine, smiled at the baby and jiggled the baby’s hand.

Stacey smiled as she looked at her mother and her aunt and uncle. They were still learning about each other, but they were growing in love for each other, too.

“So, how does it feel to be a Fortune?” Colton asked.

“I don’t know,” Stacey said. “It may take some time to figure it out.”

“Well, it must be nice not to have to worry about money anymore,” he said.

Stacey shook her head and gave a short chuckle. “You must not have heard. My mother gave back the Fortune money. She didn’t feel right about accepting it.”

“Whoa,” Colton said.

Stacey nodded. “Her brother James wanted to give her a lot of money. But she felt that money rightfully should go to his children. Mama doesn’t want her relationship with James and the rest of the Fortunes tainted by her taking money from him.”

Colton shook his head. “Your mama is an amazing woman. That was an honorable thing to do.”

“I think so, too, but not everyone agrees with her decision,” Stacey said. “For Mama’s sake, I hope everything will turn out okay.”

* * *

At that moment, Jeanne Fortune Jones was in heaven. Sharing her grandbaby with her newly discovered brother and sister, with family all around, Jeanne felt complete. Jeanne had always known she was adopted. Her parents had loved her as if they’d given birth to her, perhaps more. Yet even with all that love and adoration, something had been missing. Now she knew what it was—her brother and sister. Joined together in the womb as triplets, separated for most of their lives, the three of them were back together again. To Jeanne, it all seemed a beautiful circle of life.

Her often-stern-faced brother James cleared his throat. “Jeanne, I still wish you would accept the money I tried to give you earlier. It feels wrong. Won’t you reconsider?”

Jeanne immediately shook her head. Her conviction was clear as crystal on this matter. Jeanne knew that James’s children had turned their backs on him because they’d misunderstood James’s attempted generosity toward Jeanne. Now, after months of an angry, silent divide, James and his family were being reunited. “Absolutely not. I refuse to be the cause of a rift between you and your children. Besides, you earned that money. I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

James sighed. “But I feel guilty that I have so much and you have so little.”

Jeanne shook her head and smiled as she looked down at her sweet granddaughter. “I’ve been around long enough to know that there are all kinds of riches. I have a wonderful husband, loving children and this beautiful grandchild. And now I have the two of you. My life couldn’t be happier. I feel like I’m the lucky one.”

“Do the rest of your family members feel that way?” James asked doubtfully.

Jeanne thought of her son Christopher and his resentment. Chris just had some growing up to do. He would realize what was truly important in due time. At least, she hoped he would. “Mostly,” she said. “Look at how most of my kids have accepted the Fortune name. They know I would do anything for them, and they would do anything for me.”

Jeanne noticed her sister seemed quieter than usual. “Are you okay, Josephine? Is this party too much for you?”

Josephine shook her head. “No. It’s a grand party. You Texans know how to pull out all the stops,” she said in her lovely British accent.

Jeanne Marie studied her refined sister in her luxury designer clothing. Who would have ever thought that she, Jeanne Jones, could be related to a woman who had married into the British royal family?

The thought made her laugh. She and James and Josephine had been joined in the womb. That was the ultimate equality. But more important than that, Jeanne knew herself, her heart and her family. She was beyond happy with her life. She sensed, however, that James and Josephine might not be so happy with theirs, but she hoped she was wrong....

“All of my children are single. I hope they will find love someday,” Josephine murmured under her breath.

“Of course they will,” Jeanne said, patting her sister’s hand. “It just takes some time.”

Josephine looked at Jeanne with a soft gaze. “I’m so glad we found each other.”

Jeanne squeezed her sister’s hand. “I am, too.”

* * *

From across the room, Stacey enjoyed watching her mother with her siblings, but then she caught sight of her brother Chris striding toward her. His face looked like a thundercloud. “Uh-oh.”

“I need to talk to you for a moment,” Chris said, and gave Colton a short nod. “Excuse us.”

Stacey lifted her lips in a smile that she suspected resembled more of a wince. “Excuse me,” she said, and followed Christopher to a semiquiet corner of the airplane hangar.

“Do you see how chummy Mama Jeanne is being with James and Josephine? It makes me sick to my stomach to see her being so nice to them,” he said.

“Well, of course she’s being nice to them. She’s thrilled she finally found out that she has brothers and a sister. You know Mama has always wondered about her birth family.”

“That’s not the point,” Christopher said. “I don’t understand how she is all right with the fact that her brothers James and John grew up with boatloads of money. And her sister, Josephine, was married to British royalty, for Pete’s sake. It’s not fair that they’re so wealthy and she’s had to watch every dime.”

Chris had always been ambitious, pretty much since birth. The status quo wasn’t going to be enough for him. Stacey had long known he wanted more for himself and the whole family. Chris and their father, Deke, had rubbed each other wrong on this subject on more than one occasion.

Stacey hated to see her brother so upset when she knew her mother was thrilled with the recent discovery of her siblings. “Mama’s life hasn’t been so bad. She has all of us kids and a great husband. They both have good health and would support each other through thick and thin.” She couldn’t help thinking about how Joe had left her high and dry once he’d learned she was pregnant. Her father wouldn’t dream of doing anything like that to her mother.

Chris’s eye twitched, and Stacey could tell he wasn’t the least bit appeased. “It’s still not fair. Tell the truth. Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to worry about money? Think about Piper. Wouldn’t you like to know she would have everything she needs?”

“Piper will have everything she needs. Her life may not be filled with luxury, but she will get what she needs,” Stacey insisted, feeling defensive because she wasn’t making any money right now.

“Yeah, but you gotta admit things could be easier,” he said.

Stacey sighed. “They could be,” she admitted, but shook her head. “But I can’t let myself go there. I’m going to have to make my own way. There’s no fairy tale happening for me.”

“I’m not asking for a fairy tale. I’m just thinking Mom should at least get a piece of the pie,” he said. “Seems to me that Mom’s new brother and sister are greedy and selfish.”

“It’s not James Fortune’s fault that we aren’t getting any Fortune money. James gave her money, and Mama chose to give the money back. James may be a little stiff, but he seems nice enough. He really didn’t even have to offer the money to Mama in the first place, but he did. I bet if any of us really needed financial help that he would be glad to help.”

Chris tilted his head to one side in a thoughtful way, and Stacey could practically see the wheels turning in his mind. “You may have a point. I think I’ll have a word with Uncle James.”

Stacey opened her mouth to tell him to think it over before he approached their new relative, but he was gone before she could say a word. Stacey twisted her fingers together. She wished Chris wouldn’t get so worked up about this, but she feared her discussion with him hadn’t helped one bit.

Sighing, she glanced away and caught sight of the bride and groom, Laurel and Sawyer, snuggling in a corner, feeding each other bites of wedding cake. The sight was so romantic. She could tell by the expressions on their faces that they clearly adored each other. Her heart twisted. She wondered if anyone would ever look at her that way.

Stacey gave herself a hard mental shake and reminded herself that her priority was Piper now. She surveyed the room, looking for her baby, and saw that her new aunt Josephine was holding Piper in her arms. Mama Jeanne was sitting right beside her. Stacey knew her mother would guard the baby like a bear with its cub. Stacey told herself she had a lot to be grateful for with such a supportive family.

Feeling thirsty, she navigated her way through the crowd toward the fountain of punch and got a cup. She took several sips and glanced up. Her gaze met Colton’s. He was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. She felt a little dip in her stomach. What was that? she wondered. Why was he looking at her that way? And why did her stomach feel funny? Maybe she’d better get a bite to eat.

She wandered to one of the food tables and nibbled on a few appetizers.

“Everything okay with Chris?” Colton asked from behind her.

She turned around and was grateful her stomach didn’t do any more dipping. “I’m not sure. Chris has some things he needs to work out. I wish I could help him, but he can have a one-track mind sometimes. Unfortunately, I think this may be one of those times.”

“You want me to talk to him?” he asked.

“He might listen to you more than he does me, but I think this is something he’s going to have to work out on his own,” she said and rolled her eyes. “Brothers.”

He chuckled and looked at the dance floor. “I’m not the best dancer in the world, but I can probably spin you around a few times without stepping on your feet. Do you want to dance?”

She blinked in surprise. Stacey couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced except with Piper. His invitation made her feel almost like a real human being, more than a mother. She smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

Stacey stepped into Colton’s arms, and they danced a Western-style waltz to the romantic tune. Of course she would never have romantic feelings for Colton, but she couldn’t help noticing his broad shoulders and how strong he felt. It was nice to be held, even if it was just as friends. Taking a deep breath, she caught the scent of his cologne and leather. Looking into his brown eyes, she thought she’d always liked the steadfast honesty in his gaze. Colton was Mr. Steady, all male and no nonsense. Looking closer, she observed, for the first time, though, that he had long eyelashes. She’d never noticed before. Maybe because she’d never been this close to him?

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

She felt a twinge of self-consciousness. “Nothing important.”

“Then why are you staring at me? Do I have some food on my face?”

Her lips twitched, and she told herself to get over her self-consciousness. After all, this was Colton. He might as well be one of her brothers. “If you must know, Mr. Nosy, I was thinking that you have the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a man. A lot of women would give their eyeteeth for your eyelashes.”

Surprise flashed through his eyes, and he laughed. It was a strong, masculine, happy sound that made her smile. “That’s a first.”

“No one else has ever told you that?” she asked and narrowed her eyes in disbelief. Although Colton wasn’t one to talk about his romantic life, and he certainly was no womanizer, she knew he’d spent time with more than a woman or two. “Can you honestly tell me no woman has ever complimented you on your long eyelashes?”

“Not that I can remember,” he said, which sounded as if he was hedging to Stacey. He shrugged. “The ladies usually give me other kinds of compliments,” he said in a low voice that bordered on sensual.

Surprise and something else rushed through Stacey. She had never thought of Colton in those terms, and she wasn’t now, she told herself. “What kinds of compliments?” she couldn’t resist asking.

“Oh, this and that.”

Another nonanswer, she thought, her curiosity piqued.

The song drew to a close, and the bandleader tapped on his microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have less than a minute left to this year. It’s time for the countdown.”

A server delivered horns and noisemakers and confetti pops. Stacey absently accepted a noisemaker and confetti pop and looked around for her baby. “I wonder if Piper is still with Mama Jeanne,” she murmured, then caught sight of her mother holding a noisemaker for the baby.

“...five...four...three...two...one,” the bandleader said. “Happy New Year!”

Stacey met Colton’s gaze while many couples kissed to welcome the New Year, and she felt a twist of self-consciousness. Maybe a hug would do.

Colton gave a shrug. “May as well join the crowd,” he said, and lowered his head and kissed her just beside her lips. Closer to her mouth than her cheek, the sensation of the kiss sent a ripple of electricity throughout her body.

What in the world? she thought, staring up at him as he met her gaze.

“Happy New Year, Stacey.”

Chapter Two

Colton couldn’t get Stacey Fortune Jones off his mind.

Even now as he was taking inventory in one of the feed sheds with his dad, he wasn’t paying full attention. He told himself it was because beneath Stacey’s sunny smile, he sensed a deep sadness. That bothered him, especially since he wondered if he could have prevented it. He remembered the day he’d told his friend Joe, Stacey’s ex, that Stacey was a special girl. If Joe didn’t want to lose her, then he’d better put a ring on it. The very next day Joe had proposed, and Stacey had gone full speed ahead with the wedding plans. The result had been a disaster and Colton still blamed himself. If only he’d kept his mouth shut. He’d known Stacey was crazy about Joe. Colton had thought Joe had just needed a little nudge. How wrong he’d been.

His father turned to him. “Did you input that last number I gave you?”

Colton bit the inside of his jaw. “Sorry. You mind repeating it?”

“What’s wrong with you?” his father asked. “You seem as if you’re a million miles away. Did you catch that virus that’s going around?”

Colton shook his head, thinking the only virus he had caught was the guilt virus. He’d been fighting that one for a while now, and it had only gotten worse when he’d seen Stacey at the wedding. “No. I was just thinking about that extension course I’m taking and if we’re going to want to spend the money on the improvements to the ranch that I’ve been learning about during my last lesson.”

“Well, we’ve already got these e-tablet gizmos. Part of me likes that you’re keeping us up to speed, but these e-tablets weren’t cheap.”

“Yes, I know,” Colton said, his lips twitching in amusement. “You sure like playing solitaire on yours when you’re not using it for work, don’t you?”

His father shot him a mock glare, then made a sound somewhere between a cough and a chuckle. “All right, you’ve made your point. Let’s get back to work, so you can take a break. You’re acting like you need it.”

“I don’t—”

“Then what’s the last number I gave you?” his father countered.

Colton frowned. “Okay, give me the number again,” he said, but he sure didn’t want a break. He needed to keep busy so he wouldn’t be thinking about how he had contributed to ruining Stacey’s life.

Despite his father’s encouragement to take a break after doing inventory, Colton drove his truck out to check some fences that had been questionable in the past. Although January wasn’t the busiest time for the ranch since the foals wouldn’t come until spring, there was still plenty to do. Keeping the mamas healthy, safe and fed meant he had to stay on top of the condition of the fences and the pastures.

Colton checked several stretches of fence and only found one weak area. He made a note of it and returned to the family ranch. He’d been born and raised in the sprawling ranch house. After he’d turned twenty-five, they’d added an extra wing so that he could have some privacy. The fact that his room was farther from the center of the house usually worked for him, but there were times he just wanted his own place. Someday soon he would broach the subject with his father. Colton had a lot of money in the bank and in investments, so he could easily fund the purchase of a new home, but building Colton’s home seemed like a matter of pride for Colton’s father, Frank. All too aware of ranch finances, Colton didn’t want to provide any extra strain. His father was still strong and healthy, but his back wasn’t the best. Colton wanted to ease his burdens, not make them worse.

As he climbed the steps to the porch, he thought of Stacey again and made a decision. He was going to try to find a way to help bring back her sunny disposition. There had to be a way. Passing by the den, he saw his sister Rachel watching a reality matchmaker show on television. Those kinds of shows drove him crazy. He couldn’t understand why Rachel watched them. The couples never ended up staying together. Obviously he didn’t understand the female psyche.

Colton shrugged. Maybe he should pick Rachel’s brain. Not only was she female, but she was also Stacey’s best friend. Perhaps she could give him a few ideas. He grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, then returned to the den and sank onto a chair.

“How’s it going?” he asked when Rachel couldn’t seem to tear her attention from the television show.

“Pretty good,” she said, glancing at him. “I’m taking a little break from making lesson plans for student teaching. How about you?”

“Good,” he said. “It’s quiet. No trouble. Have you heard anything about Dad’s back?”

“Not lately,” she said. “I wish he would go to the doctor. I don’t see how he’s going to get better if he doesn’t try to do anything about it.”

“I try to keep him from doing things that might hurt him, but I can’t be by his side every minute,” he said.

“True,” she said. “He’s lucky you’re around as much as you are.” She shot him a playful smile. “Colton, the saint.”

“Yeah, right,” he said in a dark voice. “Listen, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” she asked, glancing back at the television. “Mom told me to tell you there’s a potpie in the fridge if you want to heat it up for dinner.”

“I’m not asking about dinner. I want to know what women want,” he said.

She swiveled her head around to gape at him. “Well, that’s a loaded question.”

He lifted his shoulders. “Seems pretty straight-on to me. What do women want?”

Rachel laughed. “There’s no one perfect answer. It depends on the woman.” She looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. “Who do you have in mind?”

Colton resisted the urge to squirm under her inquisitive gaze. He’d rather die than admit he had Stacey on his mind. “Forget I said anything,” he said and started to rise.

“Now, wait just a minute. You asked me a question. The least you can do is give me a chance to try to give you some suggestions.” She looked at him suspiciously. “Although I can’t help wondering who you’re trying to please. And I don’t have to tell you that nothing stays secret in Horseback Hollow for long.”

“I know,” he said.

Rachel sighed in frustration. “Well, there are the die-hard regulars,” she said. “Roses and flowers.”

Colton shook his head. “Nothing that obvious.”

“Hmm,” Rachel said. “The truth is that what most women want is a man who listens.”

Colton frowned and shook his head. “That can’t be it.”

Rachel stared at him for a long moment. “I have an idea,” she said, picking up her cell phone and dialing.

“What are you doing?” he asked, but his sister wasn’t paying any attention to him.

“Stacey,” Rachel said, sliding Colton a sly glance. “My brother needs a consultation. Can you come over?”

Colton nearly croaked. “Stacey?” he echoed.

Rachel nodded. “Great,” she said into the phone. “See you in a few minutes.” She disconnected the call and smiled at Colton. “This is great. You’ll have advice from two women instead of just one.”

Oh, Lord, what had he gotten himself into? “I think I’ll heat up some of that potpie,” Colton said, hatching an escape plan.

“Don’t go too far. Stacey will be here soon,” Rachel said, then shot him a crafty glance. “And don’t take off for your bedroom. I know where to find you.”

Colton stifled a groan. This was why he needed his own place. He was too accessible. Colton heated the potpie and returned to the den, telling himself he would set a mental time limit of fifteen minutes for the insanity about to ensue. He scarfed down as much food as possible during the next few moments.

A knock sounded at the door, but Stacey didn’t wait for anyone to answer. She’d been bursting through that door as long as he could remember. “Hey, Rachel, I’m here,” she called as she made her way to the den. Dressed in a winter-white coat, she carried her baby on her hip with ease. Piper wore a red coat and cap, and her cheeks were flushed with good health. She stared curiously around the room with her big, green eyes.

“Give me that sweet baby,” Rachel said, rushing to reach for Piper.

Piper allowed herself to be taken from Stacey, but the baby watched to make sure her mama was in sight. Rachel unfastened the baby’s coat and took off her cap.

Stacey shrugged out of her own coat and glanced from Rachel to Colton. “What’s this about a consultation? Why on earth would Colton need a consultation from us?”

Rachel’s face lit with mischief. “Colton asked me what women really want. We need to brainstorm Colton’s love life.”

Stacey looked at Colton in confusion. “I always thought Colton got along as well as he wanted to in that department. I’ve heard from a few girls who—” She cleared her throat. “Well, they seemed to like him just fine.”

“Thank you, Stacey. I have gotten along just fine in that department, despite my sister’s opinion,” he said in a dry voice.

Rachel jiggled the baby on her hip. “Well, this one must be different if you’re asking me what women want,” Rachel said.

Colton checked his watch. Thirteen minutes to go. This was going to feel like an eternity.

“Who is this girl?” Stacey asked, curiously gazing at Colton.

“He won’t tell,” Rachel answered for him.

Colton figured his sister was good for something.

“Well, what kind of woman is she? Country or city?” Stacey asked.

“If she’s here, she’s only one kind,” Rachel said. “Country. We have no city to speak of.”

“Hmm,” Stacey said, and Colton again resisted the urge to squirm. “You could take her to dinner.”

“Out of town,” Rachel added. “People are so nosy here.”

“Flowers would be good,” Stacey said.

“He said flowers are too obvious,” Rachel said.

Stacey frowned. “Too obvious?” she echoed.

“What if I just wanted to cheer her up?” Colton asked. “What if I don’t necessarily want to date her?”

Rachel scowled. “Oh, that’s a totally different matter. You don’t want to be with her?”

Colton ground his teeth. “That’s not the priority.”

“So, you may want to be with her in the future?” Rachel asked.

“Let’s deal with the present,” he said in a grumbly voice.

“In that case—” Rachel said.

“Just visit her,” Stacey said firmly. “And let her talk, maybe about what’s been going on with her. Try and keep the conversation light. Nothing heavy.”

“Small talk,” Rachel said cheerfully.

Colton frowned. “What the hell is small talk besides weather?”

Both Stacey and Rachel laughed. “Nothing too deep,” Rachel said. “You can even talk about clothing.”

Colton scowled. “Clothing?” he echoed.

Stacey and Rachel exchanged an amused glance. “Work on it,” Rachel said. “Read the paper. There may be something there you can chit-chat about.”

“You could take her to get ice cream,” Stacey said.

“In the winter?” Colton asked.

“I love ice cream any time of year,” she confessed.

“If you really want to cheer up a woman, you could take a DVD of a chick flick and watch it with her,” Rachel added.

Colton made a face. “If you say so,” he said.

“Well, you asked,” Rachel said with a bit of a testy tone. “Is this girl sick or just depressed? I know you said flowers are too obvious, but you could just happen to have some extra chocolates in your truck. Chocolate makes just about everything better.”

“Except labor pains,” Stacey said. “Chocolate doesn’t help with labor pains.”

Colton cleared his throat. He didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed in. “I think I’m done with my dinner now.”

“I’ll take your plate,” Rachel said. “You take Piper.”

Colton pulled back.

Stacey shot him a look of surprise. “Oh, for goodness’ sakes. You’re not afraid of a baby, are you?”

“Of course I’m not afraid,” he said, lying through his teeth. She was cute, but she was so little.

“Then, you can hold her,” Rachel said, pushing Piper into his arms. “She’s not radioactive.”

Colton held the baby away from his body, staring into her face. She squirmed in his hands.

“You need to hold her closer,” Stacey said. “She feels insecure in that position.”

“I’m not gonna drop her,” he said.

“I know that, but she doesn’t,” Stacey said.

He sat and gingerly set her on his lap, and she stopped wiggling.

Piper cooed at him, lifting her finger toward his face. She seemed to stare at his every feature. What amazing concentration she had. He inhaled and caught a whiff of sweet baby smell. Colton felt a strange sensation inside him, as if the baby was trying to communicate with him. She was a cute thing. He felt an odd protective feeling for the child even though Piper wasn’t his. It was as if he was suddenly driven to keep her safe. At the same time, he was terrified she was going to start screaming any minute.

“You look so nervous, Colton. I can take her,” Stacey said, lifting the baby from his arms.

Colton felt a huge sense of relief. At the same time, he wouldn’t mind breathing in Piper’s sweet scent again.

“So, did our advice help?” Stacey asked as she shifted Piper onto her hip.

Colton couldn’t stop his gaze from flowing down her curvy body, then up again. A flash of what her nude body might look like slid through his brain. Colton gulped. Stacey—his sister’s friend, the literal girl next door—was unbelievably sexy. Colton wondered if he was going insane.

“Isn’t she sweet?” Stacey asked.

Colton lifted his head in a round nod. “Sweet,” he said. But frightening, he thought, although he would never admit it in a million years. Colton was no baby expert, and he had no idea what to do with a tot like Piper. For that matter, he wasn’t sure what to do with all the forbidden thoughts he was having about Stacey.

* * *

Later that night when Stacey had finally put Piper to sleep, she headed for her own bed after she’d washed her face and brushed her teeth. She couldn’t shake the image of Colton holding Piper. The baby had taken to Colton almost immediately. He didn’t know it, but Stacey did. Colton had looked wary about Piper, but the baby had clearly found him fascinating. She’d stared into his face as if she’d wanted to memorize every feature.

Stacey had found herself watching him more than she ever had in the past. Crazy, she told herself and closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. She counted backward from two hundred and finally fell asleep and into a vivid dream. Piper was crawling down the aisle of a chapel wearing her christening gown. Her sweet baby finally reached the altar, and Joe stood, with his back to Stacey.

“I do,” Joe said.

Her heart pounding, Stacey tried to scream, but no sound came from her mouth. She felt utterly helpless.

“Joe,” she whispered. “Joe...”

Stacey rushed toward the altar. “Joe,” she called.

Stacey watched Joe bend over to pick up Piper. Her heart melted. Joe was going to love Piper. Her baby was finally going to have a daddy. It seemed to take hours, but Stacey finally reached her groom and touched his shoulder.

He turned, but her groom wasn’t Joe.

It was Colton.

Alarm rushed through her.

Stacey awakened in a sweat. Joe? Colton? This couldn’t be. “Colton,” she whispered aloud and sat up in her bed. Why was she dreaming of Colton? Why was she even thinking of him? He was her neighbor, her best friend’s brother. Ridiculous, she told herself. Beyond ridiculous. She shook her head and tried to push away the image of the tall, sexy cowboy.

Stacey forced herself to relax. She’d learned to seek sleep when her baby slept. Taking several deep breaths, she told herself not to think about Colton. She shouldn’t think about his wide shoulders and his insanely curly, dark eyelashes. She shouldn’t think about his strong jaw and great muscles and dependability. He was the kind of man who would always stand beside a friend and support him or her.

Colton was also a man who was clearly interested in another woman at the moment. Why else would he have sought Rachel’s help about what women really want?

The reality of that made Stacey feel a little cranky, although, for the life of her, she couldn’t say why.

“Go to sleep,” she told herself. She would be so busy tomorrow with Piper that she would truly regret one minute of sleep she’d lose thinking about Colton.

* * *

The next day, just after Stacey put Piper down for her afternoon nap, she heard a knock at the front door. She knew that her mother had gone to a sewing circle meeting and her father was outside working, so she wanted to catch whoever was at the door before they awakened Piper. Heaven knew, Stacey cherished nap time.

She raced toward the front door and whisked it open. Colton stood on the front porch holding a pie. Surprise and pleasure rushed through her. “Well, hello to you. Come on inside.”

“I can’t stay long. My mother fixed a batch of apple pies, and she thought your family might enjoy one,” he said, following her.

“We certainly will. This will go great with the dinner I’m fixing tonight. Please, tell her I said thank you. Would you like some coffee?” she asked.

“No need,” he said. “I really can’t stay long. You’re fixing dinner, you say? Do I smell pot roast?”

“You do,” she said, and took the pie to the kitchen and quickly returned. “Since I’m not bringing home the bacon right now, I try to help around the house as much as possible. I fix dinner and clean while Piper naps. It’s the least I can do. I’m also thinking about doing some after-school tutoring in math and science. I can have kids come here and Piper’s not walking yet. I hear once the babies start walking, it’s a whole different ballgame.”

“I’m sure it is,” he said.

Stacey looked up at Colton and noticed his eyelashes again. When had he become sexy-looking? she wondered. Although she’d certainly always known Colton was male, she just hadn’t thought of him as a man. And she shouldn’t be thinking that way now either.

The silence stretched between them, and Stacey felt heat rush to her face. “Are you sure I can’t get you a cup of coffee? It’s the least I can do with you bringing over a pie.”

“Trust me. I didn’t bake that pie,” he said in a dry tone. “But I’ll take a cup if you’re insisting. I’ll be working outside, and it won’t hurt to get warmed up before I face the cold.”

“Just a moment,” she said, and returned to the kitchen to pour Colton’s coffee. As she reentered the den, she gave him the cup. “Any problems or just the regular endless chores?”

He nodded. “I need to do a little work on some fences. My dad’s back isn’t what it used to be, so I try to tackle anything that may cause him pain.”

“That’s nice of you,” she said. “He refuses to go to the doctor, doesn’t he?”

Colton nodded again. “He doesn’t believe in it. Says it’s a waste of time and money. The last time he went to the doctor, he nearly died from a burst appendix. And we almost had to beat him into going.”

“I remember when that happened,” Stacey said. “It was a long time ago. I’m sure someone has told him that there have been huge advances made in medical science.”

“All of us have told him that, but he’d rather eat nails than admit he’s hurting.”

“Maybe you can persuade him to go to the doctor if you take him out for lunch in Vicker’s Corners sometime,” she suggested.

“Possible,” he said. “Rachel might have better luck with him than I would. He has always let her get away with murder.”

Stacey laughed. “She would disagree and give you half a dozen examples of when she has gotten in trouble. But even I know he has been harder on you.”

“Yeah,” he said. “But I always felt as if I had good parents. I’m sure you feel the same way, too.”

“True,” she said. “My father can be a little remote sometimes, but he’s as solid as they come. After I had Piper, both my parents insisted I come back here to live with them.” A slice of guilt cut through her. “I just wish I could give Piper what I had growing up.” She felt the surprising threat of moisture in her eyes and blinked furiously. “It just wasn’t meant to be.”

Colton squeezed her arm. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. From where I sit, it looks as if you’re doing a dang good job. That baby is surrounded by people who love her. That’s more than a lot of kids can say.”

The tight feeling in her chest eased just a little from his words of encouragement. “Thanks. I have my share of doubts.”

“Well, stop your doubting. You’ve got a healthy baby, and she’s doing great,” he said. “Besides that, you’ve got a slice of Olive Foster’s famous apple pie in your future tonight.”

“The only way I’ll get a slice is if I hide it until after the meal,” she said.

“Well, that’s a no-brainer,” he said, and leaned toward her in a way that seemed much sexier than it should. “Hide the pie. Indulge yourself.”

Stacey’s heart raced at Colton’s instruction. A naughty image of how she could indulge herself with Colton raced through her mind, but she immediately slammed the door on her thoughts. After all, the last time she’d indulged herself she’d gotten pregnant.

Chapter Three

“I’m sorry I can’t go with you,” Rachel said to Stacey on her cell phone. “My friend Abby called me at the last minute to babysit, and it’s her anniversary.”

“I understand. You and I can catch up later,” Stacey said, even though she dreaded attending Ella Mae Jergen’s baby shower. Ella Mae was married to a hotshot surgeon, and the couple owned houses in both Lubbock and in the next town past Horseback Hollow. Ella Mae was pregnant with her first baby. The shower was a big deal for Horseback Hollow because Ella Mae had been born and raised there and her parents still lived in town. The shower was being held in the Jergen’s mansion in the next town. Stacey couldn’t help feeling intimidated.

Ella Mae, however, had been supportive of Stacey and had attended the shower for Piper, so Stacey was determined to return the favor.

“What’s wrong?” her mother asked as Stacey put a pot of beans on for dinner while she held Piper on her hip.

“Nothing,” Stacey said.

“Doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” Jeanne said, and put a lid on the beans. “Let me hold my grandbaby.”

All Stacey had to do was lean toward her mother, and Piper extended her chubby little arms to her Gabby. Stacey checked the chicken and vegetables. “Looking good,” she murmured.

“You don’t have to cook every night,” her mother said as she clucked over Piper.

“I’m not contributing to the household with green stuff, so I want to contribute in other ways,” Stacey said.

“I don’t want you overdoing it,” her mother said.

“I’m not. I’m young and healthy,” she said.

“That sounds like something I said when I was younger,” her mother said. “You still didn’t answer my question about your conversation with Rachel.”

Stacey sighed. “Ella Mae’s baby shower is tonight.”

A brief silence followed.

“Oh,” her mother said, because she knew that the Jergens were wealthy and anything they did had to be, oh, so perfect. “Do you want me to go with you?”

Her mother’s offer was so sweet that it brought tears to her eyes. Stacey put down her spoon and went to her mother to hug her. “You’re the best mother in the world. You know that, don’t you?”

Jeanne gave Stacey a big squeeze, then pulled back with a soft chuckle. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you always do the right thing. I wonder if I can do half as many right things as you have,” Stacey said, looking into her mother’s eyes and wishing that just by looking, she could receive all of her mother’s wisdom.

Her mother slid her hand around Stacey’s shoulders and gave her another squeeze. “You’re already doing the right thing. Look at this gorgeous, healthy baby. You’re a wonderful mother.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Stacey said, feeling as if she’d just received the highest praise possible.

“You don’t have to go to Ella Mae’s baby shower. Just drop off a gift,” her mother said.

“No,” Stacey said with a firm shake of her head. “She came to my shower. I should go to hers.”

Jeanne pressed her lips together. “If you’re sure...”

“I am,” Stacey said. “And you already said you don’t mind watching Piper. Right?”

“Not at all,” her mother said. “You don’t ask me often enough. I love my little Piper girl.”

Stacey’s heart swelled with emotion. “I’m so blessed,” she said.

“Yes, you are,” her mother said. “Now go get ready for Ella Mae’s shower. You hold your head high. Don’t forget it. You’ve done the right thing, and you’re a good mother. Just make sure you’re the second one out the door.”

Stacey looked at her mother in confusion. “Second one out the door?”

“I never told you this before, but if you ever go to a party that you don’t want to attend, then you can be the second one to leave. You don’t want to be the first, but being the second is fine,” her mother said.

Another word of wisdom Stacey swore to remember. “I’ll be watching for who leaves first.”

“And if anyone starts making insinuating comments about Joe, then pull out Piper’s baby pictures. That should shut them up right away.”

Stacey smiled at her mother. “Thanks, Mom.”

Stacey raced to her room to pull on a black dress and boots. She put on some lip gloss and concealer, then threw on a colorful scarf and her peacoat.

“See you later, Mom,” she called, then headed for her Toyota. Thank goodness snow and sleet had stayed away from Horseback Hollow during the past week. She started her car and got to the end of the driveway before she realized she had forgotten the gift for Ella Mae’s baby.

Stacey backtracked and collected the gift, then returned to her trusty car. She headed out of Horseback Hollow toward the next town, then took several turns down several back roads until she reached the gated driveway for Ella Mae’s house. The gate lifted to allow her entrance, and Stacey rode down the paved drive to the front of the Jergen mansion. The windows of the house were lit, and the front door was open. Stacey knew what she would find inside. A crystal chandelier and exquisite high-profile designer furniture and decor.

Stacey was accustomed to homemade decorations and freshly painted rooms. Mama Jeanne decorated her home with family photos and mementos. The Joneses’ home was warm and welcoming, but furniture had been chosen for durability, not how pretty it was.

A man approached Stacey as she paused in the driveway. “May I park your car, ma’am?”

Stacey blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m the valet for the evening,” he said.

Stacey blinked again. Heaven help her. Valet? Don’t fight it, she told herself. Let him park the car. She would have to park her own all the nights thereafter, and that was okay.

Stacey accepted a nonalcoholic basil-something cocktail. She would have preferred a beer. She joined in with the socializing and the games and predicted that Ella Mae would have a boy. Stacey suspected that Ella Mae’s husband would want a boy right off the bat, so she hoped Ella would be able to seal the deal with a male child.

When it came time for the big reveal of the baby’s sex, it was done via cake. Blue. Stacey had been correct. Everyone cheered.

Ella Mae circled the room with her posse and stopped to visit with Stacey.

“I’m so glad you could come,” Ella Mae said. “I know you’ve been busy with your baby.”

“So true,” Stacey said. “You’ll learn soon enough.”

“Well, I’ll have help,” Ella Mae said. “I’ll have a husband and a nanny.”

Stacey lost her breath. She felt as if she’d been slapped. She took a careful breath and remembered what her mother had said. She pulled out her cell phone. “Have you seen my Piper? She’s just gorgeous, don’t you think?” she asked as she flipped through the photos.

“What a darling,” one of Ella Mae’s friends said. “She’s beautiful.”

Stacey nodded. “And good as gold.”

A couple moments later Ella Mae and her pack moved on. Stacey watched the door and saw two guests leave. It was time for her to go. On the drive home she decided to stop at the Superette to pick up some bananas for Piper. Piper loved bananas. Luckily, the Superette had quite a few. Then she headed to the only bar in town, the Two Moon Saloon, with the intention of drinking half a beer. She would be fine driving after drinking a whole beer, but Stacey wouldn’t risk anything. Since she’d become a mother, everything had changed. She couldn’t take any chances.

She went to the bar and ordered a beer. The first time in nearly a year and a half. She took a sip and felt so guilty she asked for a glass of water. Sensing the gazes of several men on her, she sipped at her water and wondered if coming here had been a good idea after all.

The bartender put another beer in front of her. “The guy at the end of the bar bought this for you.”

Stacey glanced down the bar but didn’t recognize the man. “Oh, I can’t accept it. I don’t know him.”

“I can’t take it back,” the bartender said.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Stacey took another sip of water and eyed the door.

“Fancy meeting you here,” a familiar male voice said.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, and stretched both of her hands toward Colton.

“Problem?” he asked, glancing down at her hands clutching his arm.

“I just went to Ella Mae Jergen’s baby shower. She made a snarky comment about my missing baby daddy. I came here for a beer, but I couldn’t make myself drink it. And some guy bought me another beer. Save me,” she said.

Colton chuckled and gently extracted her fingers from his arm. “Hey, Phil, buy Stacey’s admirer a beer on me.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I was just going to drink half a beer, but I felt guilty after the first sip. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a drink at a bar?”

“Apparently too long,” Colton said.

“Maybe,” she said.

“You don’t have to give up living just because you had a baby,” he said.

She nodded, but she didn’t really agree.

Colton lifted her chin with his finger. “Your life is not over. You can still have fun,” he said.

“I have fun,” she said, unable to resist the urge to squirm. “I have lots of fun with Piper.”

Colton shot her a doubtful glance. “You need to start getting out more. And I don’t mean baby showers.”

Stacey lifted her eyebrows at Colton’s suggestion. “You don’t mean dating, do you?”

“You don’t have to date. You just need to get out. You’re acting—” He broke off.

Stacey frowned. “I’m acting how?”

Colton scrubbed his jaw. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“Well, spit it out,” she said. “I want to know.”

Colton sighed. “You’re acting...old.”

Stacey stared at him in disbelief. “Old?” she repeated. “I’m acting old?” She couldn’t remember when she’d felt so insulted. “I’m only twenty-four. How can I be old?”

“I didn’t say you are old,” Colton said in a low voice. “I said you’re acting old.”

“Well, I have a baby now. I need to be responsible,” she said.

“I agree, but you don’t have to stop living your life,” he said.

Stacey paused, thinking about what Colton had told her. “You’re Mr. Responsibility. I can’t believe you’re telling me to cut loose and be a wild woman.”

“I didn’t say you should be a wild woman. I just said you need to get out more,” he said.

“Hmm,” Stacey said. “I’m going to have to think about this.” She paused. “I wonder who I could call if I decide to get out. If I decide I want to have half a beer.”

“You can call me,” Colton offered. “Remember, I’m Mr. Responsibility.”

In her experience, Stacey knew that Colton was Mr. Responsibility. He always had been and she valued that quality in him now more than ever. But lately, when she looked at Colton, she couldn’t seem to forget what it had felt like to dance in his arms on New Year’s Eve. And that almost kiss they’d shared. Almost, but not quite. She wondered what a real kiss from him would feel like. Stacey almost wished he’d kiss her and she would be disappointed, so she could stop thinking about him so much.

* * *

The next day, Colton showed up unexpectedly at the Joneses’ house. Stacey was happy to see him even though he seemed intent on asking her father’s thoughts about some issue with the cattle. She brought Colton and her father some coffee. Colton tossed her a smile but kept talking with her father.

Stacey couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of the time he was spending with her father. She knew Piper would awaken any moment, and her time would then be divided. Hurry up, Dad. But she knew the mental urging was useless. Her father was usually stone quiet, but when it came to talking about the ranch, once he got going, he didn’t stop.

She checked her watch and felt her stomach clench as she waited for Piper to call out for her. Finally, her father took a potty break. Hallelujah.

“Better today?” Colton asked her as he headed for the door, where Stacey waited on the porch.

She nodded. “I guess so. Sorry if I freaked out on you last night.”

“You didn’t,” he said. “It’s like I said. You just need to get out more. I know your mama would be more than happy to watch Piper for you every now and then.”

“I don’t want to burden her,” Stacey said as she stepped out of the front porch with him. “They’ve taken Piper and me in. I don’t want to take advantage of them.”

“You wouldn’t ever do that,” he said. “Listen, how about if I take you to the bar and grill in town? What’s a good day for you?”

Surprise rippled through her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on your, uh, relationship with your new girlfriend.”

He hesitated a half beat. “She won’t mind,” he said. “When do you want to go?”

“I think Thursday may work. I’ll have to ask Mama first. Can I get back to you?”

“Sure,” he said, and squeezed her arm just like one of her brothers would. “Remember to smile.”

She stared after him as he started to walk away. “Wait,” she said, and he turned around. “Do I frown that much?”

He paused. “You used to seem a lot happier,” Colton said. “I hate to see you so sad and burdened.”

“My life is different now,” she said.

“But is it sad?” he asked.

She took a deep breath and thought about his question. “Not really.” She smiled. “I’ll call you about dinner at the grill followed by a beer. I appreciate the pity date.”

“It’s no pity date,” he said. “We’ve known each other a long time. We should be able to cheer each other up. You may have to do it for me sometime,” he said.

“That’s hard for me to imagine,” she said.

“You never know,” he said, and her father returned to the den, ready to talk ranching.

Stacey gazed at Colton. There was more to him than she’d ever thought. Stacey wondered what it would be like to go on a real date with Colton. She wondered how it would feel to be the object of his affection. Rolling her eyes at herself, she shook her head and went to the laundry room to wash another load of baby clothes.

The next day, Stacey played with Piper, after cleaning the house and fixing dinner. She couldn’t help thinking about Colton’s offer for an evening out. It wouldn’t be fancy, but it would be a relief. She debated calling him ten times over, then finally gave in. He didn’t pick up, so she hung up. Five minutes later, she called again. He still didn’t answer, but this time she left an answer.

A half hour later, he returned her call. “Hello?” she said as she stirred soup for dinner and held Piper on her hip.

“Need an escape?” Colton asked.

She gave a short laugh. “How did you know?”

“Saw the hang-up, then heard the desperation in your voice mail,” he said.

“I’m not that desperate,” she said, even though she really needed an evening out.

“I know. Everyone needs an escape hatch every now and then,” he said.

“What’s yours?” she asked.

“If I really want to get away, I can go into town or even Vicker’s Corners,” he said.

“But you don’t have a baby,” she said.

He chuckled. “That I don’t,” he said. “It won’t be fancy. Tomorrow night okay? What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Five-thirty,” she said.

“Early night?”

She laughed. “These days I only do early nights,” she said. “You have a problem with that?”

“None at all, I’ll see you tomorrow at five-thirty.” He chuckled. “Call me if you need to escape earlier.”

Stacey couldn’t help smiling. “I’ll pace myself. Bye for now.”

The following day, Stacey’s afternoon fell apart. Piper woke up early from her nap, and Stacey feared she’d burned the baked spaghetti casserole. She was having a bad hair day, and Piper was so cranky, Stacey wasn’t sure she should ask her mother to babysit for the evening.

“Are you teething, sweetie?” she asked Piper.

Piper’s sweet face crumpled in pain. Stacey sighed. “Mama, she’s so fussy. I’m not sure I should leave her with you.”

Her mother extended her arms to Piper, but Piper turned away. “Oh, come on, you sugar,” Jeanne said to Piper. “I’ll take care of you. Rub your sore gums with something that will make you feel better.”

“No rum,” Stacey said.

“I wasn’t thinking of rum,” Mama Jeanne said with an innocent expression on her face.

“No whiskey,” Stacey added.

“I would never numb a baby’s gums with whiskey,” her mother said. “But bourbon...”

Stacey sighed. “Let me find the Orajel. I should have given it to her earlier.”

“You know what your doctors say. You need to stay on top of the pain. You’ve told me that too many times to count when my hip was hurting.”

“You’re right, Mama. I should have done better for Piper,” she said, feeling guilty.

“Well, don’t leap off a ledge. She’s not suffering that much,” her mother said, snatching Piper from her arms. “Go put on some lipstick and blush. You look worn out.”

Piper fussed and squabbled, but didn’t quite cry. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’ve had a lot more babies than you have, sweetheart,” Jeanne said.

“I’m working hard to meet a high standard,” Stacey muttered.

“Hold on there,” her mother said, putting her hand on Stacey’s arm. “You’re a great mother. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I didn’t have to take care of my babies by myself. I had your father to help me, and trust me, he walked the floor many times at night to comfort all of you.”

“I just feel bad that Piper won’t have the kind of mother and father I had,” Stacey said.

“Piper’s getting plenty of loving. Her mama needs to stop trying for sainthood. Enjoy your evening out. It will be good for you and your baby.”

“If you say so,” Stacey said.

“I do. Now, go put on some lipstick,” she said.

“Colton won’t care. He’s just taking me out to be nice,” Stacey said, halfway hoping her mother would deny it.

“Maybe so, but it will make you feel better. That’s the important thing,” her mother said.

“Right,” Stacey said, and headed to her room to remake herself for a trip to the grill where she would eat a burger and fries. This was how her life had evolved. Her big exciting night within a month was a trip to the grill.

Pathetic, she thought, but couldn’t deny she was just glad to get away from the ranch. She put on lipstick, a little blush and some mascara. At the last moment, she sprayed her wrists with perfume.

“Stacey,” her mother called from down the hall. “Colton’s here.”

A rush of excitement raced through her, and she rushed down the hall. Colton stood there dressed in jeans, a coat and his Stetson. “Hi,” he said. “You look nice.”

“Colton is afraid of Piper,” her mother announced.

“I’m not afraid of her,” he corrected. “She just looks so happy in your arms that I don’t want to disrupt her.”

Stacey chuckled under her breath. “You can go after a bear on your ranch, but a baby brings you to your knees.”

Colton scowled at her. “I can shoot a bear.”

Both Stacey and her mother erupted with laughter. “We should give him a break,” her mother said. “Y’all enjoy yourselves.” She lowered her voice. “Drink a beer for me.”

“Mama,” Stacey said, shocked.

“Oh, stop. Even a mother of seven likes to kick up her heels every now and then. See you later,” she said, and returned to the kitchen.

Stacey met Colton’s gaze. “I never expected that.”

“Me either,” Colton said, then lifted his lips in a crafty grin. “But I liked it.”

Colton helped her into his truck and drove into town. “So, have you figured out what you want on your burger? Cheese, onions, mustard...”

“Cheese, mustard, grilled onions and steak sauce,” she said. “I don’t need the whole burger. I want the bun and fixin’s.”

“And French fries?” he asked.

“Yes, indeed,” she said.

“We can take the burger into the bar if you want your beer with your meal,” he said.

“The bar is loud,” she said. “I can have a soda or water with my burger. It will be nice to hear myself think.”

“Does your baby scream that much?” he asked.

Stacey shook her head. “Piper’s much better now that she’s done with her colic. But now she’s teething. I need to remember to soothe her gums. I forgot today.”

“Must be hard. All that crying,” he said.

“She sleeps well at night and usually takes a good long nap. I’m lucky she’s not crawling right now. She’s really a good baby, Colton. I could have it much harder,” she said, wanting Colton to like Piper.

“Yeah,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced.

“Is my Mama right? Are you afraid of Piper?” she asked in a singsong voice.

“I’m not afraid of a baby,” he said, his tone cranky. “I just haven’t been around babies very much.”

Stacey backed off. She wanted the evening to be pleasant. “How do you like your burger?”

“As big as I can get it. Mustard, mayonnaise, onion, pickle, lettuce and tomato,” he said.

“You can have half of mine,” she offered.

“We’ll see. Maybe your appetite will improve now that you’re out of the pen,” he said.

She laughed, but his teasing made her feel good. “You are so bad.”

“And you are so glad,” he said.

“Yeah,” she said. She couldn’t disagree.

Colton pulled into the parking lot of The Horseback Hollow Grill, and he helped her out of his truck. His gentlemanly manners made her feel younger and more desirable. They walked into the grill and had to wait a few minutes for a table. Maybe more than one person needed an escape tonight, Stacey thought.

They sat, ordered, and the server delivered their sodas. Stacey took a long, cool sip of her drink and closed her eyes. “Good,” she said.

“Simple pleasures are the best,” Colton said.

Stacey looked at Colton for a long moment and shrugged her shoulders. “So, talk to me about grown-up stuff.”

His eyes rounded. “Grown-up stuff?” he echoed.

“Yes,” she said. “Movies, politics, current events.”

“Well, politicians are as crooked as ever. There are blizzards and tsunamis. Wait till summer and there will be hurricanes, mudslides and fires.” He grimaced. “I hate to admit it, but I haven’t seen a movie lately. Rachel is watching the reality shows. I watch a lot of the History Channel,” he said.

“What about movies?” she asked. “Do you like James Bond?”

He nodded. “I did see the most recent one. Lots of action.”

“And lots of violence,” she said.

“Yeah, but the good guy wins.”

“That’s most important,” she said, and the server delivered their meals.

“That was fast,” she said.

“Burgers are what they are known for,” Colton said, and took a big bite out of his.

Stacey took a bite of her own and closed her eyes to savor a burger someone else had cooked for her. “Perfect amount of mustard and steak sauce,” she said. “But all I need is half.”

“You sure about that?” Colton teased, taking another big bite.

“I’m sure,” she said, and enjoyed several more bites of her burger. She ate a little more than half and stopped. “Oh, no. Now I’m full. How can I eat the fries? Let alone drink a beer?”

“You need to learn to pace yourself,” Colton said as he stared at his fries.

Stacey liked the wicked glint in his eyes that belied his practical advice. “Maybe I should fix some fences. Maybe that would help my appetite,” she said, unable to force herself to eat even one French fry.

“Relax. We can hit the bar in a few minutes. There’s no rush. Rest your belly,” he said.

Not the most romantic advice, but Stacey stretched and took a few deep breaths. “I may have to take lessons from you on pacing myself.”

“I’m available for hamburger-eating pacing lessons,” he said with a mischievous grin that made her stomach take an unexpected dip.

A few minutes later, Stacey gave up on her fries, and she and Colton walked to the connecting bar. Colton ordered a couple of beers, and Stacey took a sip. Country music was playing in the background. If she closed her eyes, she could almost time travel back to over a year ago when she and Joe had just gotten engaged. She’d been unbelievably happy. Her future had been so bright. She’d clearly been a big fool.

Stacey hiccupped. “Oh, my,” she said and hiccupped again.

“Drink too fast?” he asked.

“I didn’t think so,” she said, but hiccupped again. “It’s just been so long since I sat down and drank even half a beer.”

“Maybe you need one of those sweet mixed drinks,” he said. “I’m not sure the bartender here can do that for you.”

“It depends on whether he has vodka or not. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t keep cranberry juice on tap.”

Colton laughed. “You’re right about the cranberry juice. I see Greg Townsend over there. He’s the president of the local ranchers’ association. Do you mind if I have a word with him?”

“Please, go ahead,” she said. “Let me catch my breath.”

“I’ll just be a minute,” he said.

Stacey closed her eyes, took a breath and held it. She counted to ten. Memories of how foolish she’d been with Joe warred with her enjoyment of her evening with Colton.

“Can I buy you another beer?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.

Stacey opened her eyes to meet the gaze of a man she didn’t know. “Excuse me?” she said. He was tall and wore a Stetson. He also had a beard. She wasn’t a big fan of beards.

“Can I buy you another beer?” he repeated, extending his hand. “I’m Tom Garrison. I haven’t seen you around here before. I work at the Jergen’s ranch.”

“Oh, I know the Jergens,” she said and briefly shook his hand. “Well, I know Ella Mae.”

“And you are?” he asked.

“Stacey,” she said, suddenly noticing her hiccups had disappeared. “Stacey Jones. Stacey Fortune Jones,” she added, because the Fortune part was still very new to her.

“A pleasure to meet you, Stacey Fortune Jones,” he said. “I’m kinda new in town and a little lonely since it’s winter. Maybe you could show me around.”

“Oh,” she said, shaking her head and feeling uncomfortable. “I’m super busy. I have a little baby.” She figured that would put him off. Most men were afraid of babies who weren’t their own.

“I like babies,” he said. “I’m good with them.”

Stacey began to feel just a teensy bit nervous. She searched the room for Colton. “Good for you, but, like I said, I’m super busy.”

“I don’t see a ring on your finger. That must mean you’re not taken,” he said, moving closer.

“Well,” she said, trying to shrink against her bar stool. She wished Colton would return. He would know how to take care of this pushy man. “Like I said, I’m extremely busy...”

“I could give you a good time,” he said. “Make you laugh. Maybe more...”

“Or not,” Colton said, suddenly appearing next to the pushy cowboy. “She’s with me.”

Stacey breathed a sigh of relief.

“She was sitting here all by herself when I saw her,” Tom said.

“For all of two and a half minutes. Go stalk someone else,” Colton said. “Trust me, she’s not your type.”

“She’s everybody’s type,” Tom grumbled, but walked away.

“Hmm,” Colton said. “Can’t leave you alone for even two minutes. There you go, seducing the new locals.”

“I didn’t seduce anyone,” she protested. “I was just trying to get rid of my hiccups.” She frowned. “I think my beer is flat.”

“You want another one?”

“No. I just want to go home,” she said and stood. “I’m glad you came back when you did. This was good enough for me. I won’t be wondering how the other half lives. I’d rather eat a meal I’ve prepared and watch a good TV show.” She met his gaze with a lopsided smile. “I’m getting old, aren’t I? An old mama.”

Colton shook his head. “Nah. You’re just growing up. And you’re the hot kind of mama, so keep up your guard.”

Chapter Four

Colton wasn’t sure his evening out with Stacey had been all that successful. She’d been quiet on the way home. He was bummed that he hadn’t been able to cheer her up more. He wondered if he’d made things worse. He focused on his work at the ranch during the next couple of days and avoided the inquiring glances from the rest of his family.

As he drove home after a long day outdoors, his cell phone rang. It was Stacey. He immediately picked up. “Hey. What’s up?”

“I’m trying to find Rachel,” Stacey said. “I need her help.”

“I’m just pulling into the drive. Let me see if I can find her and I’ll call you back,” he said.

Colton strode into the house and called for his sister. “Rachel,” he called. “Rachel.”

No answer. His parents didn’t even respond.

He looked through the house and called a few more times. Sighing, he stabbed out Stacey’s cell number. “Hey,” he said. “No sign of Rachel or my parents.”

“Darn,” Stacey said. “My parents have gone to a town meeting.”

“Oh, mine must have gone to the same meeting. This place is like a ghost house,” he said and chuckled. “I think my voice may be echoing off the walls.”

“Oh, bummer,” Stacey said.

He heard the despair in her voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Rachel was my last hope since my parents are out, and my sister Delaney isn’t feeling well.”

“Last hope for what?” he asked, pacing the hallway in his house.

“Well, you know my brother Toby took in three foster kids,” she said. “He called me tonight and said the youngest is feeling bad. He has no experience with sick kids, so he asked me to come over and I said I would. But I don’t want to expose Piper to anything. I don’t want her to get sick.”

“Yeah,” Colton said. “That’s rough.”

She sighed. “I hate to leave Toby hanging. Would you mind watching her for a little while so I could help him out?”

Colton froze. The idea of taking care of a baby terrified him. He could do a lot of things, but he had no experience with babies. But he couldn’t leave Stacey in such a bind, could he? Well, darn. He inhaled. “Okay, I’ll do it, but you need to give me lots of instructions. This isn’t like roping a calf.”

“She’ll be easy. I promise. I’ll write down lots of instructions and put them in the diaper bag,” Stacey said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“Yeah,” Colton said, and headed back to his car. It occurred to him that he would rather get stomped by a bull than take care of a baby.

He drove his truck the short distance to the Joneses’ ranch and pulled in front of the house. His family had celebrated with the Jones family many times. Their home was as familiar to him as his own.

But a baby wasn’t familiar to him at all.

Colton ground his teeth, then forced himself to present a better attitude. He could handle this. He’d handled far more difficult situations. Piper was just a six-month-old baby. How hard could it be, he asked himself, but he was sweating despite the freezing temperature outside.

He stomped up the porch steps and lifted his hand to knock on the door, but it swung open before his knuckles hit wood. Stacey looked up at him with a hopeful expression on her face as she held her baby on her hip. “She should go to sleep soon,” Stacey said. “She’s just a little worked up tonight.”

“Worked up,” he repeated, feeling more uneasy.

Stacey fluttered her hands. “Oh, it won’t last long,” she said. “She’ll get tired. Let me grab my coat, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

She thrust Piper into his hands. He stared at the baby, and she stared back at him. Mistrust brewed from his side, and he saw the same mistrust in the baby’s eyes. “What am I supposed to do with her?” he asked.

“Rock her, walk her. Feed her only if you’re desperate because she’s already been fed.” Stacey buttoned a peacoat and handed him a diaper bag. “This is my complete bag of tricks,” she said. “This will be a breeze. You’re going to surprise yourself. Trust me. Thank you so much,” she said, and rushed out the door.

Colton resisted the urge to renege. Barely. After Stacey was gone, he looked at Piper. She let out a little wail. Colton dived into the diaper bag, skipped everything and went straight for the bottle.

Piper sucked it down, then stared at him and gave a loud, powerful burp.

“Whoa,” Colton said, backing away from the sound. “How’d you do that?”

Piper squirmed and fussed.

Colton bobbed up and down. “Hey. Your tummy’s full. You should be better.”

Piper whined in response.

Colton grimaced. He had been hoping food would be the quick fix. It usually was for him. He patted her back and continued to walk. Piper whined and occasionally wailed. Colton had no idea how to please the baby.

Oh, wait. Maybe she had a messy diaper.

Eewww, he thought. He didn’t want to change a diaper. That was just too gross. But maybe that would turn the trick and the baby would stop fussing.

Groaning to himself, Colton went to the magic diaper bag and pulled out a diaper, a packet of wipes and a changing pad. “Okay. Okay,” he said to Piper as he set her down on the pad. “Give me a break. This is my first time.”

Piper stuck her fingers in her mouth and gazed up at him with inquisitive green eyes.

At least she wasn’t crying, he thought and lifted her gown. “Okey, doke. We can do this,” he said because some part of him remembered that he’d seen a few people talk to babies. It wasn’t as if they understood. Maybe they just liked the sound of a human voice.

Who knew?

He looked at the diaper, and for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out which was the front and the back.

Piper began to squirm and make noises. They weren’t fussy, but they were getting close.

“I’m getting there,” he promised. “Just give me a little extra time.”

He pulled open the dry diaper, then carefully unfastened the baby’s dirty diaper. Colton glimpsed a hideous combination of green, yellow and brown.

“Oh, Piper. How could you?”

The baby squirmed and almost seemed to smile.

Heaven help him.

Colton pulled out a half dozen wipes and began rubbing her front and backside. Six wipes weren’t enough, so he pulled out some more and cleaned her a little more. Afterward, he tossed some baby powder on her and put on the disposable diaper.

Sweat was dripping from his forehead. “There. We did it.”

Piper began to fuss.

“Well, thanks for nothing,” he said, picking up her and the dirty diaper. He wondered if there was a special hazardous-waste disposal container in the house for the baby’s diapers. He didn’t see one, so he tossed it in the kitchen trash and felt sorry for the poor fool who lifted the lid to take out the garbage.

He jiggled Piper, but she was still fussy. He wondered if he shouldn’t have fed her. He cruised the hallways of the house. Piper never broke into a full cry, but he could tell she was right on the edge.

Desperate, he tried to sing. “Mamas, don’t let your babies—”

Piper wailed.

“Not a good choice,” he muttered and jiggled her even more. He walked and talked, since talking worked better than singing did. She calmed slightly, but he could tell she still wasn’t happy. This female was definitely difficult to please.

After thirty minutes, she was still fussy and Colton was growing desperate. He headed for the magic diaper bag and sat down to dig through it. Piper sobbed loudly in his ear as he searched the bag.

“Give me a break,” he said. “I’m trying.” He dug his way all the way to the bottom and grabbed hold of a bottle. Pulling it out, he stared at a bottle labeled, “Last resort”.

Colton was pretty sure he was at his last resort. He opened the bottle and found a wand. “Well, damn,” he said, and began to blow bubbles.

Piper immediately quieted and stared at the bubbles.

Colton continued to blow, and Piper began to laugh. It was the most magical sound he’d ever heard. He blew the bubbles, and she giggled. Her reaction was addictive.

“Well, who would have known?” he muttered under his breath. Maybe everyone should come armed with a bottle of bubbles. He blew bubbles past the time he was tired from it, and Piper finally rested her head on his shoulder. Colton wasn’t taking any chances, though, and he kept up his bubble blowing.

Finally, he glanced down and saw that Piper’s eyes were closed—half moons with dark eyelashes fanned against her creamy skin. She was one beautiful kid, he thought. The spitting image of Stacey. He gently strolled through the hallways again.

Weariness rolled through him. He’d been up before dawn and trying to work through a mile-long list of chores his father shouldn’t do. The sofa in the den beckoned him. He wondered if he could possibly sit down without waking Piper.

Colton decided to give it a shot. He slowly eased down onto the sofa. Piper squirmed, and he froze. Don’t wake up, he prayed. He waited, then leaned back, inch by inch. “We’re okay,” he whispered. “We’re both okay.”

Colton relaxed against the side of the sofa and slinked down. He rested his head backward and moved the baby onto his chest. “Don’t wake up.” He rubbed her back until he fell asleep.

* * *

“Stick out your tongue, Kylie,” Stacey said to her brother’s youngest foster child.

Redheaded Kylie reluctantly stuck out her tongue. Stacey saw no signs of strep. “I’m sorry you feel bad, sweetie,” she said.

“I can stick out my tongue,” Kylie’s older brother, Justin, said and fully extended his tongue from his mouth. The boy’s expression had a disturbing resemblance to a rock singer.

“Not necessary, but thanks, sweetie,” she said.

Stacey turned to her brother Toby. “Her temperature is normal, and her lymph nodes feel fine. I would give her some extra liquids and try to help her get some extra rest.” She rubbed Kylie’s arm. “Do you feel achy?” she asked.

Kylie shook her head. “No, but my head hurts.”

“I’m so sorry,” Stacey said. “I bet a cool washcloth would feel good. If she can’t sleep, she can take some children’s Tylenol. In the meantime, Kylie needs some rest, comfort and cuddling.”

“Does that mean I get to use the remote for the TV?” Kylie asked.

Stacey laughed. “I think you are definitely due the remote.”

“But I wanna see SpongeBob,” Justin said.

“You can see SpongeBob anytime,” Toby said, rubbing Justin’s head. “Let’s just pile on the couch and watch what Kylie wants to watch.”

Her brothers sighed but scrambled onto the couch. “I hope it’s not a princess movie,” Brian, the eleven-year-old, said.

“I want Monsters,” Kylie said.

“Again?” Brian said in disgust.

“Kylie gets to choose tonight. If you don’t like her choice, you can get ahead on your homework or read a book,” Toby said.

Stacey did a double take. She still couldn’t quite get used to seeing her bachelor brother turn into an instant dad by agreeing to take on these three kids. Then again, Toby had always had a generous heart, so she really shouldn’t be surprised. Stacey knew he’d met the kids when he’d volunteered at the Y. When he’d learned their mother had died at an early age and that their father wasn’t around, he’d tried to give them some extra encouragement. When their situation had gone from bad to worse and the aunt who’d been caring for them was forced into rehab, Toby had stepped forward to take them into his house by becoming a foster dad.

“Well, I’d better head back to the house. I couldn’t find anyone except Colton to take care of the baby while I was gone,” she said, packing up her little medical bag.

“Colton?” Toby echoed, giving a startled laugh. “You asked Colton Foster to take care of Piper?”

Stacey lifted her hands. “He was my only choice. Everyone else was busy, and I didn’t want to leave you in the lurch.”

Toby sighed. “Well, tell him I said thank you. I’ll feel better about Kylie now that you’ve checked her.”

“You still need to keep an eye on her. You should check her temperature and symptoms in the morning. It’s a shame the kids’ regular doctor is out of town,” she said. “I wish we had a clinic in Horseback Hollow. Maybe I could get a job there,” she said. “That’s wishful thinking,” she murmured, then looked up at her brother and squeezed his arm. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Toby said, but raked his hand through his hair. “This situation definitely has its ups and down. It all goes along smoothly for a few days, then it seems like we hit a big bump in the road.”

Stacey pulled on her coat and walked to the door. “Regrets?” she asked in a low voice.

Toby shook his head firmly. “I did the right thing, and they’re good kids. They make me laugh every day.”

“Well, I admire you, Toby. Not many men would do what you’ve done,” she said. Three kids, all redheads with tons of energy.

“I think I’m getting a lot more out of this than I expected,” he said.

She gave her brother a big hug. “Call me anytime, and bring the kids over to visit Piper. When they’re well,” she quickly added.

“I’ll do that,” he said and opened the door. “Drive safely,” he instructed, protective as ever.

“Good night. Get that cool washcloth for Kylie. See if it helps,” she called over her shoulder and got into her car.

Stacey drove toward her house, growing more nervous with each increasing mile she covered. It wasn’t that Piper was a bad baby, but at times she could be demanding and very vocal. Stacey hoped the baby had calmed down enough to fall asleep. She supposed that if Colton had really needed anything, he would have called her. As she pulled in front of the house, the lights from inside welcomed her. She got out of the car, climbed the stairs and opened the door.

She paused for a long moment, listening for the sound of Piper. All she heard was quiet. Stacey breathed a sigh of relief. Piper must have fallen asleep. She was surprised the television wasn’t on. She would have expected Colton to turn on a ballgame once he’d put Piper in her crib.

Stepping into the den, she caught sight of Colton napping on the sofa with Piper asleep on his chest. Her heart swelled with emotion. If that wasn’t the sweetest sight she’d ever seen, she thought. Seeing her daughter being held by a good strong man reminded Stacey of everything Piper was missing on an everyday basis. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked furiously to keep them at bay.

First things first, she thought. Get the baby to bed. She gingerly extracted Piper from Colton’s chest, praying the baby wouldn’t awaken. Then she tiptoed to the small nursery in the room next to hers and put Piper down in her crib. Piper gave a few wiggly moves, and Stacey held her breath. Then the baby sighed and went back to sleep.

Stacey returned to the den and touched Colton’s shoulder. He didn’t awaken. She gave him a gentle shake, then another. The man was dead to the world. He must be worn out, she thought. He’d probably put in a full day at the ranch, yet he’d still agreed to watch Piper for her.

A rush of sympathy flooded through her. Stacey had lived on a ranch long enough to know it involved hard backbreaking work and long hours. It wouldn’t hurt him to rest a little longer, she thought, and pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa and put it over him.

Backing away, she pulled off her coat and hung it in the closet, then returned to the den. Sinking onto the chair across from the sofa, Stacey allowed herself the luxury of looking at Colton while he was unaware. She wondered why she’d never noticed how attractive he was before. Sure, she’d known him her entire life, but she wasn’t blind.

He was as strong as they came. Broad shoulders and she’d bet he might even have a six-pack. She blushed at the direction her mind was headed. He had a bit of stubble on his chin. His hard masculinity was at such odds with those eyelashes, she thought.

She wondered what it would be like to sleep with him and wake up with him. Would he be grouchy or sweet in the morning? She wondered what kind of lover he would be. She’d only had one, Joe. Their lovemaking sessions had often felt rushed to her, and although it wasn’t something she discussed, she’d never felt completely, well, satisfied after sex with Joe.

Stacey wondered if Colton was the kind of man to take his time with a woman. Although she hadn’t paid much attention, she’d heard of more than one woman he’d left more than happy after a night together. Lately, she was becoming much more curious about Colton. She kept reminding herself that he was interested in someone else, but that didn’t seem to take the edge off her...curiosity.

At that moment, she heard the front door open and her father talking to her mother. “That meeting went on forever,” he grumbled.

“Everyone has a right to speak their mind,” Jeanne said.

“Well, they could speak a little faster,” he said, and closed the door firmly behind him.

Stacey saw Colton jolt awake at the sound. He glanced around. “What the—” He broke off and shook his head.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hey,” he said, rising quickly.

“Listen, thank you for taking care of Piper,” she said, also getting to her feet.

“No problem,” he said, rubbing his face. “I guess I’ll head home—”

Her mother and father entered the den. “Well, hello there, Colton. It’s good to see you.”

“Colton agreed to watch Piper while I checked out Kylie for Toby. He said she wasn’t feeling well and their doctor is out of town, so he wanted me to come over and make sure she was okay. She just had a headache. I think Toby may be a little nervous fostering those three kids. Can’t say I blame him.”

“I’m glad Kylie is okay. It sure was nice of you to come over here and look after Piper,” Jeanne said.

“That, it was. She can run you ragged at bedtime,” her father said sympathetically.

“Daddy,” Stacey said in an accusing tone.

“But she’s a cute one and we love her,” her father added.

“Of course we do,” her mother said. “Why don’t you join us for some hot chocolate before you leave? I can have it ready in no time.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Colton said, appearing a bit embarrassed.

“I want to,” Jeanne said. “Now sit down and relax, and I’ll have that hot chocolate for you before you know it.”

Colton sighed and sat down on the edge of the sofa. “Is there anyone who can say no to your mother?”

“Not for long,” Stacey said, laughing. “How was Piper?”

Colton nodded. “She did fine,” he said in a noncommittal tone.

Stacey read between the lines. “She was a beast, wasn’t she? I was afraid of that. Even though I’d fed her, she seemed unsettled.” Stacey sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“I wouldn’t call her a beast,” Colton said. “Now,” he added and chuckled, “amazing how something so small can get you so twisted trying to get her to calm down.”

“How did you get her calm?” she asked, curious.

“You mean after I gave her the bottle in your magic bag and changed the toxic dump of her diaper?” he asked.

“Oh,” she said, cringing.

“Yeah, I might need to take the kitchen trash out tonight before I leave,” he said.

Her mother entered the room with cups of hot chocolate filled with mini-marshmallows. “This will help you sleep better once you get home, Colton,” she said.

“I think Piper may have worn him out, so he may not need any help falling asleep,” Stacey said.

“Oh, dear,” her mother said, wincing. “She’s gotten so much better during the last month. Did she have a rough night?”

“I wonder if she sensed that I was in a tizzy about getting over to Toby’s house,” Stacey said.

“Well, I speak from experience. Babies can sense our moods. Especially their mom’s moods. At the same time, she may have just had a little tummy ache. Can I get you something to eat, Colton?”

“No, I’m fine, Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Fortune Jones,” he corrected.

Her mother smiled. “That was sweet,” she said. “But you’ve known me long enough to call me Jeanne.” Her mother looked at Stacey. “Now, what on earth made you think to call Colton to take care of Piper?”

“I was trying to reach Rachel and she didn’t pick up. I was hoping Colton could reach her,” Stacey said.

“Oh,” her mother said with a glance that combined intuition and suspicion. “Colton was definitely the man of the hour tonight, wasn’t he?”

Uncomfortable with her mother’s almost knowing expression, Stacey cleared her throat. “Yes, he was.”

Chapter Five

A couple days later, Colton went into town to get some special feed and pick up a few things from the Superette for his mom. He would almost swear his mother could sense when he was headed into town because she always seemed to have a list of items for him to pick up from the small grocery—well, the only grocery—in town.

Using the term town might have been an exaggeration. Colton may have lived his entire life in Horseback Hollow, but he’d traveled enough to know his birthplace was more about wide open spaces than tall buildings and city conveniences. The town was just two streets long.

Colton glanced at the list his mother had given him and picked up apples, bananas, onions, tomato sauce and pasta. He hoped that meant spaghetti was in his near future. He added a can of green beans to his basket.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” a familiar voice spoke up from behind him. He turned and saw Stacey standing in the aisle.

“Just picking up a few things,” he said. “What about you?”

“Formula and baby food for Piper,” she said. “I just took something to the post office for Mom.”

She glanced at his food items. “Spaghetti,” she said more than asked. “Are you cooking for someone special?”

Confused, he cocked his head to one side. “Someone special?”

“Don’t be shy,” she said with a coy smile. “Cooking for your lady friend. I have a great recipe for spaghetti sauce, but you need sausage and cheese,” she said.

He shrugged. “I haven’t ever fixed spaghetti before unless it was from a can.”

“Well, you’ve got to do better than that for a woman. If you’re cooking for two, you could add some delicious bread and salad and call it good,” she said. “And something chocolate. Women love chocolate.”

Colton opened his mouth to protest, but she didn’t let him fit a word in edgewise.

“I could help you,” she offered. “Why don’t I give you a cooking lesson? If you’re anything like my brothers, you’ve relied on your mother your entire life for your meals, so you never bothered to learn.”

That was a little insulting, he thought. But true.

“You sure you won’t tell me who you’re cooking for?” she asked.

“My lips are sealed,” he said. It was easy to keep that secret since his so-called lady love didn’t exist.

She gave a little huffy sigh. “Okay, well, I can still give you a few tips on your cooking. Is tonight okay?”

“I guess,” he said, trying to recall his parents’ busy schedule. He thought they were playing bridge tonight.

“Okay, I’ll see you around six, and I’ll help you fix a spaghetti dinner that will wrap your lady friend around your little finger. Make sure you pick up some sausage and fresh Parmesan cheese. I’m assuming you already have beef,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said. He lived on a cattle ranch. He darned well should have beef.

“Okay. See you later,” she said and strode away.

Colton stared after her, distracted by the wiggle in her walk and her cute backside. He gave himself a shake. Why had he agreed to a cooking lesson? Especially for the sake of his imaginary girlfriend? He swore under his breath. This was getting worse and worse.

* * *

Stacey paid at checkout and walked to her car with her purchases. She felt a little cranky and wasn’t sure why. Climbing into her car, she started the engine and headed for her house. She turned on the radio to listen to a few tunes to cheer herself up. It didn’t quite work, though. Seeing Colton at the Superette purchasing food to feed the woman he clearly had a crush on made her grind her teeth. It must be nice to have a man work that hard to please you, she thought. She wouldn’t know because no man had ever tried that hard to make her happy.

Frowning, she tried to push aside her feelings. It wasn’t as if she wanted Colton to be cooking for her. Even though she’d looked at him with a little lust the other night, she’d decided that was an aberration. She couldn’t really believe that she wanted Colton. Stacey told herself she was just lonely for some attention. That had to be it.

She returned home and unloaded her car while Piper napped.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” her mother asked. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“I’m fine. Do you mind watching Piper for a little while tonight?”

“Of course not. Do you have plans?”

“I, uh, offered to give Colton a cooking lesson. He said he’s trying to cheer up an unnamed female,” she confessed.

Her mother lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, my,” she said. “How generous of you. You know Colton keeps such a low profile. It’s easy to underestimate him as, well, a romantic possibility.”

“Not really,” Stacey said. “I’ve heard some rumors about girls that liked him just fine.”

“Oh, really,” her mother said and paused. “Well, I think you’re very sweet to help him prepare a dinner for another woman.”

“I’m not doing that,” Stacey snapped, then deliberately took a breath. “I’m just giving him a cooking lesson. He’s like all my brothers except Toby. He can’t cook worth a darn because his mother has cooked for him his entire life.”

Her mother tilted her head. “Are you criticizing me for cooking for my family?”

Stacey closed her eyes and smiled, shaking her head. She went to her mother and gave her a big hug. “Of course not. You’re the best mother any of us could have. But you have to admit those boys like having their meals put in front of them.”

“You’re right about that,” she said ruefully and returned Stacey’s embrace.

Stacey’s cell phone rang, and she pulled it out of her purse. She didn’t recognize the number. “Stacey Fortune Jones,” she answered.

“Stacey, this is Sawyer. We have a situation here at the flight school. We need your help.”

Stacey’s pulse picked up. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s been an accident. My pilot Orlando has been hurt. The paramedics are on the way, but it will take a while, and the doctor’s not in town.”

“Oh, that’s right,” she said, remembering the same doctor who took care of Toby’s foster children covered the whole town. “I’ll be right there,” she said, and turned to her mother. “I have to go. There’s been an emergency at the flight school.”

“Oh, no,” her mother said. “Is it serious?”

“I think so,” Stacey said grimly as she ran to her room to grab her medical bag.

Pulling into the flight school, she stopped her car and ran toward the figures beside the burning plane. Stacey went into nurse mode when she assessed Orlando Mendoza. She checked his blood pressure and pulse and noted that the pilot kept going in and out of consciousness. He’d likely suffered a concussion, and she could see he’d sustained a compound fracture of his left leg and another fracture of his left arm, so she made a temporary brace for each to prevent unnecessary movement and loss of blood. Although she was able to stabilize him until the paramedics arrived, she couldn’t be certain that he hadn’t suffered internal injuries, as well.

Stacey watched the ambulance drive away from the airport, then returned home and took a quick shower. The entire time, she kept thinking about Orlando Mendoza. She’d wished she could do more for him, but it was a miracle he’d survived the crash. She checked in on Piper and her mother and answered Mama Jeanne’s twenty questions about the accident. Unfortunately, Stacey wasn’t sure how everything would turn out for Orlando. This was one more reason Stacey wished there was an emergency facility closer to Horseback Hollow. Her hair still wet, she put it on top of her head and headed out the door to go to the Fosters’ house.

After driving the few minutes to the Fosters, Stacey raced to the porch and knocked on the front door. “I’m sorry I’m late,” she said when Colton answered the door. “Did you hear about the accident at the flight school?”

He shook his head. “I just got in from the field. What happened?”

“One of the planes from the flight school went down and the pilot was injured. Orlando Mendoza. The paramedics were taking a while to get there, so Sawyer asked me to come and do what I could to stabilize him.”

“Oh, man,” Colton said. “You think he’ll make it?”

“I don’t know. He was unconscious most of the time and he had a badly broken arm and leg,” she said, her mind flashing back to a visual of the man.

“Hmm,” Colton said. “Listen, you look pretty upset. We don’t have to do this cooking lesson.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do anything now for him except pray. I could really use a distraction.”

Colton gave a slow nod. “Okay,” he said with a lopsided grin. “If teaching me how to fix Stacey’s spaghetti will distract you, then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Fine,” she said and headed for the kitchen. “Let’s start with chopping that onion. Some key things you need to know about making spaghetti are that you shouldn’t overcook the noodles and you should break up the meat before you put it in the pan. But don’t overwork it,” she instructed.

“I’m taking mental notes,” he said.

“You won’t just be taking mental notes,” she said. “You’ll be doing the work. You remember what you do more than you remember what someone says.”

“That sounds like something my father would say,” he said.

“It’s actually something my father once said,” she said, and met his gaze. “It must be a conspiracy.”

He chuckled. “You must be right.”

“Wash your hands,” she said.

“Yes, Mama,” he said.

She shot him a disapproving look.

“Whoa,” he said, lifting his hand in mock self-protection. “You’ve got lasers shooting from your eyes.”

“One of my superpowers. Let’s get to work,” she said. She noticed that Colton possessed a much better sense of humor than Joe had. Not that she was comparing.

Stacey felt overly aware of Colton’s physical presence in the kitchen as they prepared the meal. His shoulders grazed hers. Her hip slid against his. She put her hand over his to show him how to chop the onion. She couldn’t help noticing his hands. They were large, but there was nothing awkward about the way he used them. For an instant, she couldn’t help thinking about how his hands would feel on her body. The image heated her from the inside out.

Stacey tried to ignore her feelings. She helped Colton drain the pasta, and he was just way too close. Way too strong. And she was way too curious. She looked directly into his brown eyes and glimpsed a spark that mirrored hers.

She could have, should have looked away, but she didn’t.

His nostrils flared slightly, and she couldn’t tell if he was having the same problem with curiosity and self-restraint that she was. “This looks good,” he said.

“It should be,” she said, and turned away to stir the sauce. “It’s best to cook this a longer time, but thirty minutes will do if you’re in a rush.” She lifted a spoonful of sauce and blew on it for a few seconds. She took a tiny taste. “Yum.”

She offered him a sample from the same spoon. Colton covered her hand with his to steady the spoon and took a taste. He nodded. “That’s good. Hard to believe I fixed it,” he said with a half grin.

“Yes, it is,” she said, and threw back her head in a laugh. “I’m surprised at how well you do in the kitchen.”

“You never knew a lot of things about me,” he said.

Her stomach took a dip to her knees, and her sense of humor suddenly vanished. “That’s very true. Maybe you could say the same about what you know about me.”

“Maybe I could,” he admitted and stepped closer to her.

In theory, Stacey could have turned away. In reality, she probably should have. But she was just too curious and too, well, warm. She wanted to feel Colton Foster’s chest against hers. She wanted to feel his arms around her. She wanted to feel his lips on hers.

Stacey gave in to all her bad urges and flung herself into Colton’s arms. His hard chest against her breasts felt so much better than she’d expected. His arms around her gave her a melting sensation. And his kiss made her want so much more. How could his mouth be both firm and sensual? How could such a little taste of him send her into a frenzy?

She opened her mouth, and he took her with a kiss that sent her upside down. She couldn’t resist the urge to wiggle against him. Colton gave a low groan that made her burn. She felt his hand travel to the small of her back to pull her even closer. She was breathtakingly aware of his hard body from his chest all the way down to his thighs.

Oh, yes, she thought. More, give me more.

The force of her need bowled her over. Panic raced through her. This was Colton, and she was getting ready to make a fool of herself.

Stacey pulled back, knowing her face was flaming red. She was embarrassed all the way down to her toes. “Oops. I should go. I really should go,” she managed and refused to meet Colton’s gaze. She wondered how she would survive this, but couldn’t focus on that. She grabbed her coat and ran out the door.

Stacey drove home with her window down so she could cool off. Despite that, when she walked in the door she still felt as if she were on fire. Fanning her face, she pulled off her coat and threw it on a hanger.

She gnawed the inside of her lip as she walked toward the kitchen. She needed a very, very cold glass of water. She just wasn’t sure if she was going to drink it or pour it over her head.

“Stacey?” her mother called from the den. “Is that you?”

She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She walked to the doorway of the den. “It’s me. How was Piper?”

“No trouble at all,” her mother said. Her father was sitting next to her, dozing on the sofa. “She fell asleep like that,” her mother said, snapping her fingers and smiling.

“I’m glad to hear that. Thank you again for looking after her,” Stacey said.

“You know I will look after her anytime,” her mother said.

“Yes, but I don’t want to take advantage of you,” Stacey said.

“It’s not taking advantage,” her mother insisted. “It’s my pleasure. Besides, I know you would never take advantage of me. Enough about that.” She waved her hand. “So, how did the cooking lesson with Colton go?”

Stacey forced a smile. “Great. I think he’s ready to fix my super spaghetti recipe all by himself.”

“Good for him,” her mother said. “You’re a sweet girl to help him do that for another woman. Colton’s a good man. I might not be as generous as you are.”

Stacey managed to laugh. “I’ve known Colton forever. He’s just like a brother.”

“But he’s not really a brother,” her mother said, then shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Can I fix you some hot chocolate?”

“No, thanks, Mama. I think water will do. I’m off to bed,” Stacey said, and went to the kitchen to get that tall glass of ice water. Maybe she should get two.

* * *

The next day, Stacey prepared enough food for a month of meals. Thank goodness, the Jones family had a big roomy freezer.

Her brother Jude dropped by before dinner. “Wow,” he said, when he looked at all the casserole dishes on top of the counter. “Are we feeding the entire town of Horseback Hollow?” he asked.

Stacey shot him a quelling glance. “This would feed far more than the township of Horseback Hollow. Technically, we don’t even live in the township of Horseback Hollow.”

Jude shrugged his shoulders. “True, so why did you cook so much?”

Stacey considered keeping her feelings to herself, but if anyone should understand, it would be Jude. Everyone knew he fell in love or like at the drop of a hat. She’d always thought of him as a Romeo. “I’m cooking to distract myself from something that’s bothering me. I have a crush on Colton Foster,” she whispered.

Silence followed. “Colton Foster? When did this happen?”

“Recently,” she said. “I didn’t plan it. And I think he has feelings for another woman.”

“Who?” Jude asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s been cagey about it.”

“You’ve talked to him about another woman and you still have a crush on him?” he asked in disbelief.

“It didn’t happen exactly like that. Don’t fuss at me,” she said. “I thought you would understand.”

“Hell, no,” Jude said. “Don’t jump into a new romance. It’s not in your best interest.”

She gave a double take at his advice. “Says the guy who falls in love or like at least once a month.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt. Colton’s a good guy, but if he’s involved with another girl...”

“I didn’t say he was involved,” she said. “He just said he wanted to make her happy.”

Jude winced. “That’s a big deal, Stacey. Guys don’t talk about making a woman happy if they aren’t already pretty committed.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” she murmured as she bundled up another casserole for the freezer.

Jude squeezed her shoulder. “I’m just looking out for you.”

She took a deep breath. “I know. It just seems ironic for you to be warning me away from my feelings for Colton.”

“Maybe I’m changing in my old age,” he said. “Or maybe I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Stacey thought about Joe and frowned. “I know it may sound crazy, but I feel as if my engagement to Joe was a lifetime ago.”

“I still wouldn’t mind kicking him into next week,” he said. “He shouldn’t have abandoned you.”

“He couldn’t handle the commitment,” she said, and only felt a twinge of sadness over the situation. She had begun to realize that Joe’s abandonment was his issue more than hers. “It’s taken a while for me to realize this, but I wouldn’t want him if he stayed with Piper and me out of obligation. At the same time, I feel terrible that Piper doesn’t have the daddy she deserves. But the truth is, I’m not sure Joe deserves her.”

Jude studied her for a long moment. “Dang, girl. You’ve grown up.”

She smiled at her brother. “You think?”

“Yeah,” he said, and waggled his finger at her. “Just don’t go falling for the local cowboys. I don’t want you to get hurt.” His gaze slid to the pot on the stove. “Can you share any of that soup? The smell is killing me.”

“That bad, huh?” she asked, smiling at his description.

“Have a little pity,” he said.

“Tell the truth,” she said. “When was the last time you prepared a full meal for yourself or anyone else?”

“Grilled cheese and canned soup count?”

She shook her head.

He sighed. “A long time.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Maybe you’re due for a cooking lesson.”

“I’ll tell you a secret, Stacey. It’s my goal to never need to cook for myself. That is the goal of most bachelors,” he said.

“Well, at least you’re honest,” she said, and planted a kiss on his cheek. She fixed a large container of soup for him to take home. She spent the next hour storing meals. Piper awakened, and Stacey gave her a half bottle of baby food and her bottle. Afterward, it was time for baby calisthenics. Stacey set Piper on her belly and watched her do dry swimming. Piper grunted and groaned as she exercised.

When Piper’s groans turned to cries, Stacey whisked her up in her arms and walked to the kitchen with her. Stacey finished wrapping up her meals for storage and put a few portions in the refrigerator. Her father was always grateful when she packed a lunch he could take outdoors.

Tucking Piper into a baby pack, Stacey began to clean the public areas of the house. She took care of the den, foyer and kitchen and began to feel tired. Pulling Piper from the sack, Stacey sank onto a chair in the den and told herself not to think about Colton.

Even her Romeo brother, Jude, had warned her away from her feelings. But Stacey couldn’t keep her mind off of Colton. She wanted to be close to him. Very close.

She concentrated on rocking Piper, then burping her. Stacey knew she needed to focus on Piper. Her baby needed her love and devotion.

Unfortunately, Stacey was all too aware of her own needs. How was she supposed to make those needs disappear?

* * *

The next afternoon while her mother made some calls to her circle group, Stacey folded laundry in the den. Piper took a nap. Stacey did the hated job of folding sheets. Was there any good way of folding fitted sheets? With the television on a news show, she folded several linens.

A knock sounded at the door, and she rushed to keep whoever was on her porch from knocking again. She didn’t want Piper waking from the noise. It was amazing how precious her child’s sleep had become to her, she thought. She wondered if she should start putting a note on the front door when Piper was napping. Or would that be a bit too cranky?

Stacey opened the door and saw Colton on the porch. Her heart took a huge dip.

Colton removed his Stetson. “We need to talk.”

Chapter Six

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you,” Colton said.

Stacey felt her face heat with embarrassment and cringed. “Oh, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interfered. I was supposed to be helping you with your girlfriend and ended up kissing you. I knew you had plans with her, but you and I got close and I stopped thinking about your girlfriend. I was just thinking about you and—”

“Stop,” he said, and took her mouth in a kiss, then pulled back. “There is no girlfriend.”

She stared at him in confusion. “No girlfriend?”

“No girlfriend,” he repeated. “There is no one else I can think about right now. You’re the only woman on my mind,” he said.

Floored, Stacey could only gape at him. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I didn’t want to take advantage of you,” he said and walked away.

Stacey gawked after him, wishing she could produce some magic words, but her tongue wouldn’t even form basic syllables. “Colton,” she finally managed, but he was already in his truck.

She was at a pure loss. He’d given her no chance to respond. How could she tell him how she really felt? How could she let him think their kiss was totally his fault? She raced to the back of the house and found her mother in between phone calls.

“Piper’s asleep. Do you mind watching her for a while?” she asked.

“Not at all,” her mother said. “Is there a problem?”

“I just need to go somewhere,” she said, and didn’t want to hang around long enough for her mother to question her further. Her mother was extremely intuitive. Stacey grabbed her purse, pulled on her coat and headed for her car. As she drove toward the Foster house, she tried to find the words to explain her feelings for Colton. She kept rehearsing several verbal scenarios, but none seemed adequate.

With no great plan in mind, she stomped up the steps to the Foster house and rapped on the door. A few seconds passed, and she knocked again.

The door whipped open and Colton looked at her. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “Listen, we don’t have to talk about what happened again. I know you don’t think of me that way,” he said. “In a romantic way.”

“Stop telling me what I think,” Stacey said. She didn’t know any other way to express her feelings for Colton except for kissing him, so that’s what she did. She pulled him against her and kissed him as if her life depended on it.

Colton couldn’t help but respond. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her to him. He clearly couldn’t resist her. “You feel so good,” he muttered. “Taste so good,” he said, sliding his tongue past her lips.

Stacey felt herself heating up way too quickly. She wriggled against him, wanting to feel every bit of him. She wanted his skin against hers. She slid her hands up to the top of his head and continued to exchange open mouth kisses with him.

“I want you so much,” she whispered.

“What do you want, Stacey?” he muttered.

“All of you. I want all of you,” she said, her need escalating with each passing moment.

Colton’s hands traveled to forbidden places. Her breasts and her read end. Beneath his touch, she felt herself swell like a sensual flower.

“Are you sure about this?” Colton asked, teasing her nipples to taut expectation.

“Yes, yes,” she said, clawing at his chest. “I want you so much.”

“Then you’re gonna get me,” he muttered and pulled her up into his arms and carried her down the hallway. He took her into his bedroom and set her down on his bed.

“You’re sure?” he asked a second time.

“More than sure,” she said, and whipped off her shirt and bra. “Are you?” she asked, daring him.

One, two, three heartbeats vibrated through her, and Colton began to devour her with his hands and mouth. She had never felt such passion in her life. He made every inch of her body burn with desire and need for him. Stacey hadn’t felt this alive in months...or ever.

She kissed his chest and belly...and lower. He groaned and took her with the same hunger.

“You taste so good,” he said.

“So do you,” she said, and pressed her mouth against his in a fully sexual kiss.

“I want to be inside you,” he said, his tone desperate.

“I want you the same way,” she said.

He pulled some protection from his bedside table, and finally, he pushed her legs apart and thrust inside her.

Stacey gasped.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re just—” she said and broke off.

“I’m just what?” he asked, poised over her.

She took a deep breath and laughed breathlessly. “Big. You’re big.”

He shot her a sexy smile. “I’ll try to make that work for you,” he said, and began to move inside her.

They moved in a primitive rhythm that sent her twisting and climbing toward some new high she’d never experienced. She continued to slide against him, staring into his dark, sexy eyes.

When had Colton become so desirable to her? What did it matter? she asked herself and threw herself into making love to him. Stacey clung to his strong shoulders, and with every thrust, he took her higher and higher.

“You feel so good,” he muttered. “So good.”

Stacey felt herself clench and tremble. A climax wracked through her. She could hardly breathe from the strength of it.

Seconds later, she felt him follow after her, thrusting and stretching in a peak that clearly took him over the edge. He clutched her to him and gasped for breath.

Stacey clung to him with all her might. “Two words,” she whispered. “Oh, wow.”

He rolled over and pulled her on top of him. “When did you turn into the sexiest woman alive?”

Stacey laughed. “Me?”

“Yeah, you,” he said, and kissed her again.

She sifted her fingers through his hair, enjoying every sensation that rippled through her. She loved the feeling of his skin against hers, his hard muscles. She slid her legs between his and savored his hard thighs. His lips were unbelievably sensual.

“I’m not sure how this happened,” she said.

“Neither am I,” he said. “But I’m glad it did.”

They made love again until they were breathless. She wrapped her arms around him, shocked by how he’d made her feel. Stacey was in perfect bliss.

* * *

After that second time, Colton looked down at Stacey, all warm, sexy and satisfied in his bed, and felt a triple shot of terror. What the hell had he done? He hadn’t just kissed his sister’s best friend. He’d made love to her. Twice.

He held her tightly against him but was horrified by what he had done. “You’re an amazing woman.”

“You’re a flatterer, but I’ll take it,” she said, cuddling against him.

“This is great, but I don’t want us to have to make excuses to my family,” he said.

A sliver of self-consciousness slid through her eyes. “Oh, good point,” she said and bit her lip. She moved off of him, and he immediately regretted the absence of her body and sweetness.

Stacey quickly pulled on her clothes. “I should leave.”

“Let me walk you to your car,” he said, still full of questions and regrets. He pulled on his jeans and shirt.

Stacey grabbed her coat that had been left on the foyer floor. “I’m glad your mother didn’t discover that,” she said.

“We’re talking about building a separate house, soon,” he said.

“I understand the need for privacy,” she said. “I don’t have it. But I’m lucky to be able to live with my parents.”

“I feel as if I should drive you home,” he said, still upset with himself and overwhelmed by his feelings.

“I’m okay,” she said, but she looked uncertain. The mood between them suddenly seemed awkward.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She pressed her lips together in a closed-mouth smile. “Yes, I am,” she said and shrugged. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Right.” He nodded, thinking they had moved way too fast. Stacey had big responsibilities, and he might not be the right man to help her with them. He hadn’t considered his previous experience with Piper a rousing success. “We’ll talk later,” he said, and helped her into her car.

“Yeah,” she said, but didn’t meet his gaze. She started her car and tore out of his driveway faster than a race car. He wondered if she regretted going to bed with him. He couldn’t blame her. His parents’ ranch wasn’t exactly the most romantic environment.

Colton struggled with his own emotions over what they’d just done. They were friends, weren’t they? If that was true, why had he wanted her so much? Why did he still want her? Whatever was happening between him and Stacey was complicated as hell.

* * *

Stacey forced herself not to look in her rearview mirror as she pulled away from the Foster ranch. She had clearly lost her mind, rushing back to tell Colton that she wanted him, too. Even though he’d said she’d been on his mind, it wasn’t as if he’d said he wanted her in a forever way. She’d better not forget that. She’d been through a similar situation with Joe, although he’d given her an engagement ring. With Colton, he’d made no promises. He’d just taken what she’d eagerly offered, but afterward the expression on his face had been one of discomfort.

Buyer’s remorse, she thought. He’d taken the goods, but now he wasn’t sure he wanted them.

Pain twisted through her. She felt like a fool. Why had she believed Colton was different? She was all too familiar with this scenario. She’d been through it and lived to regret it during the past year of her life. When would she learn? she castigated herself. When would she stop throwing herself at men only to learn they only wanted her for a little while? Not forever. She wondered if she and Colton had just made a big mistake.

How could they go back to being friends now? Was that what he wanted? Humiliation flamed so hot it was as if a hole burned in her stomach. She pulled to a stop in front of her parents’ home and shook her head at herself.

Glancing in the mirror, she saw that her hair was a mess, her lipstick smudged halfway across her face. If her mother caught sight of her, she would know that Stacey hadn’t just been running errands. Jeanne Fortune Jones was one of the most intuitive women on the earth, especially when it came to her children.

Stacey searched through her purse and found an elastic band but no brush. She raked her fingers through her hair and pulled it into the low messy bun she frequently wore. She pulled out a tissue and wiped the gloss off her face, then reapplied just a little to her lips. She checked the buttons on her coat, making sure they were properly fastened.

Holding her breath, she decided to make a dash through the foyer. “Well, there you are,” her mother said from the kitchen. “I was starting to wonder where you’d gone so long.”

“Sorry, Mom,” Stacey said, pulling at the buttons on her coat. “I’ve got to use the bathroom or I’m going to burst. I’ll be out in just a few,” she said, and ran down the hall. She took her time, then hid out in her bedroom a little longer.

“Stacey, dinner’s ready,” her mother called.

Stacey cringed, then stiffened her spine. She could and should focus on Piper. As she stepped into the kitchen, she was relieved to see her brothers Liam and Jude sitting down to the table along with her father and mother. Her father and her brothers were too busy talking about the ranch to notice her. Her mother had put Piper in her high chair. As soon as Piper spotted Stacey, she lifted her hands and smiled in joy.

Even though the baby wasn’t speaking yet, her nonverbal language soothed Stacey’s heart, and she immediately picked up her baby. “Well, hello to you, Sweet Pea,” she said, and sat down with Piper in her lap.

“She’s never going to learn to be happy in her high chair if you don’t leave her in there,” Jeanne said.

“I’ll put her in her seat in a couple minutes. How could I resist that smile?” Stacey asked.

“Your food will get cold,” her mother warned.

Stacey shrugged. “I’m not that hungry.”

Her brother Liam glanced at her. “In that case, I’ll take Stacey’s share.”

Her mother shook her head. “You will not,” she said. “Besides, there’s plenty to go around. Stacey made this meat loaf yesterday, so she deserves a few bites.”

“I hope you didn’t mind putting it in the oven,” Stacey said, rising to get some dry cereal for Piper.

“Not at all. You were just gone longer than I expected, so I started getting a little worried,” she said, and Stacey felt the unasked question in her mother’s voice.

She sighed, knowing she would have to fib, and heaven knew she wasn’t any good at deception. “I ordered something for Piper, and I wanted to see if it had been delivered to the P.O. box yet. No luck, and there was a long line at the post office,” she said. Part of her tale was true. She had ordered something for Piper, but it wasn’t due for days. “Then I stopped by to visit Rachel, but she wasn’t there. She had saved a recipe for homemade baby food I thought I might try. I guess the whole trip was a washout. Was Piper okay while I was gone?” Stacey sprinkled some cereal on the top of Piper’s high chair, then set her child in the seat.

“An angel. She took a long nap and woke up in a quiet mood,” her mother said, and finally took a bite of her own food. Her mother was usually the last to eat. “You need to sit down and eat,” she told Stacey.

“I am,” Stacey said and took her seat. She forced herself to take a bite.

“Did you happen to see Colton when you stopped by the Fosters’?” her mother asked as she took a sip of coffee.

Stacey’s bite of meat loaf hung in her throat, and she coughed repeatedly.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you choking?” her brother Jude asked, then thumped her on her back.

“Water,” her mother said, standing up and leaning over the table to pick up Stacey’s glass of water and press it into Stacey’s hand.

Stacey took a few sips. Everyone looked at her expectantly. “Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I think I tried to breathe the meat loaf instead of eat it.”

Liam chuckled. “Make sure you teach that little one over there a different technique.”

“I will, smarty-pants,” she said, and was determined to take the focus off herself. “The Winter Festival is right around the corner. I can’t decide whether to bake apple/blueberry pies, chocolate pies or red velvet cupcakes.”

“Apple/blueberry,” her father said.

“Chocolate,” Liam said.

“All three,” Jude said.

Her mother laughed. “Aren’t you glad you asked their opinions? Any of those sound good to me, but make sure you bake an extra one of whatever you end up making for us, or there’s going to be a lot of complaining,” Jeanne said, tilting her head toward her husband and sons.

Stacey smiled in relief. She would escape an inquisition this time.

* * *

The next few days, Stacey developed a plan for her tutoring service. She knew her strengths were math and science, so she decided to focus on those subjects as she contacted the local schools. She also sent an email to Rachel since she knew her friend was doing her student teaching this semester.

Her mother caught her reviewing a flyer at the kitchen table and gave a sound of surprise. “When did you decide to start tutoring?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Piper is older, but still manageable. I’m hoping to schedule the sessions during after-school hours. She takes a long afternoon nap, so I’d like to take advantage of that time and bring in a little bit of money.”

Her mother frowned. “If you needed money, you should have asked for it. Your father and I are happy to help you,” she said, squeezing Stacey’s shoulder.

Stacey’s heart swelled at her mother’s support. “You and Dad are already letting me stay here without paying rent. I don’t like feeling as if I’m not contributing.” She sighed. “I don’t like feeling like a deadbeat.”

Her mother sat down beside her. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re no deadbeat. You fix the meals and do the laundry and cleaning here. For goodness’ sakes, I barely have to lift a finger with all you do.”

“Thanks, but—”

“No buts,” Jeanne said. “We know that Joe hasn’t offered any financial support, and he should have. At some point, you may have to confront him about that.”

Stacey shook her head. “I hate the thought of it. He rejected both of us so thoroughly. I hate the thought of asking him for anything.”

“But he is your baby’s father,” her mother said. “He has some responsibilities.”

“I wish he wasn’t Piper’s father. I wish her father was someone more responsible, mature. Someone who adored her.” A lump of emotion caught in her throat. “I wish—” she said, her voice breaking. She took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter what I wish. I’m probably never going to find anyone that loves me and Piper, and I need to stop whining about it. Piper and I are so blessed that my family loves us and supports us.”

“Well, of course we love you,” her mother said. “But you’re young, and you have a long life ahead of you. You’ll find someone—”

“I don’t think so,” Stacey interrupted. “I can’t count on that. I can’t hope for it. I’ve just got to focus on doing the right thing for Piper, and I think tutoring is the right thing.”

“If you’re sure,” her mother said. “And you know I’m happy to babysit for Piper anytime you need.”

“Thank you, but I’m hoping I can do this while she’s napping,” Stacey said.

Her mother studied her for a long moment. “I worry that you don’t get out with people your age very much. You and Rachel see each other now and then, but not that often. I wondered if you and Colton might be getting friendly.”

“Oh, no. He was just trying to be nice and brotherly,” she said, although her teeth ground together when she said it.

“If you say so,” her mother said. “There’s no reason you two can’t enjoy each other as friends.”

“Hmm. We’ll see,” Stacey said in a noncommittal voice. “At the moment, I need to make some copies of these posters and call in some favors from my teacher friends.”

“All right. You sound like a busy girl. Are you still going to make desserts for the Winter Festival?” her mother asked.

“That’s next week and I’ve already got it on my calendar,” Stacey said. “I’ve got it under control.”

Stacey did her best to stay busy during the next days. She didn’t want to think about Colton. She couldn’t help feeling dumped. Thank goodness, no one except she and Colton knew what had happened between them. The longer the time passed, the more she knew, for certain, that now that he’d indulged his passion for her, he was done with her. She would have felt a bit more used if she didn’t recall how much pleasure she’d experienced with him. Every once in a while, a stray image crossed her mind of the way he’d felt in her arms, the way he’d kissed and caressed her. Every time she had one of those thoughts she wanted to stomp it from her mind the same way she would stomp a spider. This was not the time for her to be thinking about her sexual needs.

Darn Colton Foster. Ever since Joe had abandoned her, Stacey had buried all her interest in sex. It hadn’t been that difficult. But being around Colton had brought those emotions back to life, and these feelings were not convenient.

Not at all.

* * *

“Colton, I need you to take my pies to Dessert Booth number three-B at the Winter Festival tomorrow,” Olive Foster said when he walked into the kitchen late Thursday evening.

Colton shook his head. “I’ve got a mile-long list of chores I have to do tomorrow. Maybe Rachel can do it.”

“Rachel is student teaching. She can’t do both,” his mother said. “You’ll only have to be there three hours.”

“Three hours,” he echoed, incredulous. “Why can’t I just drop them off?”

“Because they need people to help work the booth,” she said. “And I’m volunteering to help the handicapped at the festival.”

“You may need to help Dad if he decides to do any of the chores I have planned for tomorrow,” Colton grumbled.

His mother shot him a sharp look. “That’s a terrible thing to say about your father.”

“You know he has a problem with his back, even though he won’t admit it,” he said.

She sighed. “I’ll guilt him into coming with me. That should keep him out of trouble.”

“Kinda like you’re guilting me into working a bake sale?” he returned.

“Colton, you are bordering on being disrespectful. What’s wrong with you lately, anyway? You’ve been as grumbly as a bear with a sore paw. Are you having girl trouble?”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Colton lifted his hand. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with his mother. “Just stop, Mom. I’ll do the darn bake sale.” Hell, he would do ten bake sales as long as he never had to discuss this subject with his mother again.

After lunch, the following day, Colton loaded up his truck with his mother’s apple pies and drove to the Winter Festival. There was already a mile-long line of people waiting to get inside, but since he was a so-called vendor, he walked right in. It took him a while, but he finally found his assigned booth. He set the pies on the card table and turned around to get the second batch.

He was in such a hurry he nearly walked straight into someone just outside the booth.

“Don’t,” she said, and she sounded remarkably like Stacey. He should know since he’d been hearing her voice in his dreams every night. “Don’t knock over the cupcakes,” she said.

Colton grabbed two of the boxes that threatened to fall off the tower of desserts she carried and noticed Stacey was hauling Piper on her back at the same time she carried the desserts. “For Pete’s sake, what are you doing?”

“I brought cupcakes and pies. I couldn’t decide which to bake, so I made both,” she said, striding toward the same booth where he just set down his mother’s apple pies. Stacey frowned, then looked up at Colton. “What are you doing here?”

“My mother guilted me into bringing her pies and working this booth,” he said.

“Well, that’s just great,” Stacey said, clearly disgusted. “Just great.”

“Hey, my mother pushed me into this,” he said. “Don’t blame me.”

“I’m not blaming you for bringing your mother’s pies,” she said, but he could hear she hadn’t finished her sentence. There was more to it.

“You’re blaming me for something,” he said. “I can hear it in your voice.”

“I’m blaming you for not calling me, Colton Foster. That was pretty rotten, unless you just wanted me for a quick roll in the hay,” she said, and turned away from him.

Chapter Seven

Colton thought about responding to Stacey, but he couldn’t find the right words. So he returned to his truck, swearing all the way as he hauled in the second load of pies. How could he explain himself? He wanted her, but he wanted to be sensible. With her history, he thought they should take their time. Plus, there was a baby involved. He didn’t want to mess things up.

“Hey, Colton, you sure you don’t want to share one of those pies with us while we wait out here in the cold?” a neighbor called from the crowd.

Colton paused only a half beat. “I don’t have a fork handy for you,” he said in return.

“I don’t need a fork. I’ll just eat with my hands. I love your mama’s pies,” the neighbor called back.

Colton chuckled despite his black mood and shook his head, walking to the dessert booth he would share with Stacey. His chuckle faded as he reentered the booth and set down the second haul of pies.

“You might want to put those on the table against the wall,” she said as she arranged the desserts on the front table. “We don’t want them to know we have a lot of them. They’ll buy faster if they’re afraid we’ll run out.”

“True,” he said, and moved half the pies to the back table. “Are the cupcakes okay?”

“The frosting on two of them got smashed, but the rest are okay,” she said.

“I can eat the damaged ones,” he offered.

She shot him a disapproving glance. “We may have someone desperate enough to buy them,” she said. “We’re trying to make money for the mobile library, not stuff our faces.”

“I wasn’t suggesting we stuff our faces,” Colton said. “I just wanted to stuff mine.”

Stacey rolled her eyes and turned away, but Piper craned her head around to look at him. He couldn’t deny she was cute. She batted her big eyes at him. Colton hid his face in a game of silent peekaboo.

After a few times of peekaboo, Piper let out a gurgling laugh. It was, Colton thought, one of the best sounds in the world. He played peekaboo again, and Piper let out a joyous shriek.

Stacey whipped around and glared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” he said. “Nothing.”

“Hmm,” she said in a short, disbelieving tone. “The attendees should be coming through soon.” She turned her back to him again.

Piper looked at Colton, and he wiggled his fingers and smiled at her. She smiled coyly, then giggled.

Stacey glanced over her shoulder at Colton.

“What?” he asked.

She made a huffing sound and turned away to arrange a display of cupcakes. Colton couldn’t help noticing Stacey’s backside. He couldn’t help remembering squeezing her curvy hips as he slid inside....

Colton felt his body instantly respond to the memory and visual. He shifted his stance and cleared his throat. “How have you been doing?”

Stacey immediately whipped around and stared at him with a wide-eyed gaze. “Since when?”

Colton shrugged. “Since last week.”

“Oh, you mean since the day we had sex twice in your bed and you rushed me out the door because you didn’t want your family asking questions and then chose not to call me. Even once.”

Colton’s gut twisted. Just in case he’d wondered, he now knew that Stacey had wanted him to call. He’d been unsure about how she’d felt since he’d taken her in his bed. Before, during and afterward, he’d wished that he could take her somewhere more private, but he’d been so hungry for her, and she’d seemed to feel the same way about him. Someone had to get control in this situation, although he was pretty sure he was nowhere near control. He didn’t know if he could trust Stacey’s feelings for him. To be honest, he wasn’t sure if he was a rebound man for her.

“I wasn’t sure you wanted me to call,” he admitted.

She screwed up her face in a confused expression. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, you left pretty fast,” he said.

“After you pushed me along,” she said.

“I was trying to protect you,” he said. “Did you really want to have to explain to anyone in my family why you were walking out of my bedroom with your hair all messed up and your coat on the floor in the hallway?”

Her hostility lowered a couple of notches. “I guess not,” she said and paused. “But that still doesn’t explain why you haven’t called,” she practically spat at him and turned around as the first attendees began to wander toward their booth.

After that, everything turned into a blur. It seemed that everyone who stopped at the booth wanted a pie or cupcake. The cupcakes went first because they were pretty and inexpensive. Every time Colton sold one of those cupcakes, he had to resist the urge to eat it. Red velvet with cream cheese frosting. His mouth watered. He kept hoping he could persuade Stacey to give him one of the defective cupcakes, but they were moving so quickly that he was losing hope. The booth was so tight she brushed against him every time she moved from the front to the back. He didn’t know which was worse, the temptation of Stacey’s body or of her red velvet cupcakes. Another brush of her sexy hips against his and his question was answered. He wanted Stacey a lot more than he wanted cupcakes.

“I need to ask a favor of you,” she said, pulling at the straps of her baby carrier.

He shrugged. “What do you need?”

“To go to the bathroom. I’d prefer to go without Piper. Can you take her for a bit?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said, feeling lame for not offering sooner. “Can I have one of those cupcakes in exchange? Half?” he added when he saw her frown. He needed some sort of consolation for how much he wanted her and couldn’t have her, although he suspected a cupcake wasn’t going to do the job.

“Half,” she said, and eased the carrier from her shoulders. “You want to put her on your back?” she asked.

“That sounds good,” he said, and turned around so she could help strap the carrier on him.

“I’ll put her so she’s facing away from you. That way she’ll keep her fingers out of your hair. I’ll be back soon,” she said.

“We’ll be here,” he said.

Piper made an indistinguishable noise, but she didn’t cry, so he figured he was good. He continued to sell pies and cupcakes, although the cupcakes were growing scarcer. “I need to put this cupcake in a protective place,” he murmured and hid the treat behind his cup of coffee at the back table.

He smelled a peculiar odor, but was too busy to focus on it when a rush of attendees bought pies. Thank goodness, the pies were popular. Colton couldn’t deny, however, that he was ready for this to be over. He’d rather be driving posts in dry ground than this.

Stacey returned, appearing breathless. “Sorry. The restroom was on the other side, and there was a line.”

“There is always a line for the ladies room,” he muttered and turned his back so Stacey could help disengage him from Piper.

“Oh, no,” she said. “Oh, no.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Is she okay? She’s been quiet for a while.”

“That’s because she fell asleep,” Stacey said.

“And that’s bad because?” he asked.

“That’s not the bad part,” Stacey said. “Piper pooped all over your back.”

“Oh, great,” he muttered. Now he understood the source of the strange odor. “I’m glad someone feels better.”

Colton and Stacey shut down the booth until the next volunteers were scheduled to appear. They were mostly sold out, anyway. Stacey helped Colton out of the baby holster, and she took Piper to the restroom while Colton headed home. This was one of the rare instances that Colton didn’t have a fresh shirt in his car, so he drove with his windows open due to Piper’s stink bomb.

He headed straight for the shower, stuffed the shirt in the washer on rinse, then fixed himself a bowl of soup from the Crock-Pot on the kitchen counter. Colton parked himself in a chair in the den to watch an action movie. He wanted to think about anything except Stacey and Piper, and it wasn’t just because Piper had cut loose on him. He had been trying to dodge his feelings for Stacey since they’d been together, and seeing her today had felt like a slap in the face. Even though he saw his orderly life veering out of control when he was with her, he’d missed her terribly, and now he didn’t know what to do.

A knock sounded, and Colton rose from his chair and opened the door. Stacey stood on the front porch holding a small covered plate. “I’m really sorry about what happened with Piper. It doesn’t happen that often, but, well, babies can be messy. I kept back a couple of the cupcakes for you. I hope you’ll accept them along with my apology.”

His chest tightened at the kind gesture. “That was nice of you,” he said. “Would you like to come in?”

She bit her lip. “I have Piper in the car.”

He hesitated. “Bring her in. There’s chicken noodle soup in the Crock-Pot. I’m just watching a movie.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, her gaze searching his.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” he said.

Stacey returned to the car and pulled Piper from her car seat, along with a diaper bag. Colton rushed to take the bag for her. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he was still a little gun-shy with the baby.

Stacey pulled a blanket from the diaper bag and spread it on the floor in the den while Colton ladled soup into a bowl for her and poured a glass of water. Colton returned to find the baby propped against some kind of pillow thing that kept her from falling over.

“Does she like that?” he asked.

“She can actually sit by herself, but she eventually topples. She didn’t get much of a nap today, so I thought she could use a break,” she said, and placed a couple of toys next to the tot. “I’m hoping for an early night.”

“I’ll say,” he said, and set Stacey’s soup on a tray on the end table.

“Thanks,” she said, taking a seat on the sofa. She took a spoonful of soup. “This is good. It’s nice eating someone else’s food for a change.”

“Yes, it is. That’s probably why my mother does most of the cooking. She’s good at it, so we just let her do it,” he said.

“My brothers don’t cook either. I got more interested in cooking when I went to nursing school,” she said. “Then, after I got engaged, I wanted to take my mother’s recipes with me when I got married. But that didn’t work out,” she said, and took another spoonful of soup.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call,” he finally admitted. “I wanted to.” How could he tell Stacey that he feared he was a rebound man for her?

She looked up at him in surprise. “You did?”

“Of course I did,” he said. “I didn’t exactly hide how I felt with you when you were in my bed.”

She looked away. “Well, I have a previous experience with someone who wanted to go to bed with me, but then left.”

His gut clenched. “I don’t want you to feel that way, but it just seemed as if everything was moving fast. It was out of control.”

She nodded. “I wanted you, but I didn’t want to want you.”

“Exactly. I wasn’t ready for what I was feeling,” he said.

She gave another slow nod and took another sip of her soup. “Does that mean you want to forget what we did and go back to being friends?”

“That might be like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube,” he said. “I always want to be your friend, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be more.”

Stacey met his gaze. “Then what do you want to do about it?”

The sexy challenge in her green eyes felt like a velvet punch in his gut. “Maybe we could spend some more time together. Go to Vicker’s Corners, see a movie, take some walks when it’s not freezing. Go for hot chocolate,” he said, and wondered if she would find his suggestions lame.

She gave a slow smile. “That sounds nice, but people are gonna talk. I’m used to gossip, but you’re not.”

“I can handle it,” he said defensively, although Colton had never liked people getting in his business. “I’m just probably not as nice about it as you are,” he said and chuckled.

At that moment, he heard his parents walk through the front door. “Yoo-hoo,” his mother called. “We’re home.”

Piper, who had been surprisingly quiet, looked up from playing with her toy.

Colton’s mother and father came to a dead stop as they glanced into the den. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Foster,” she said, rising from the sofa. Colton also rose. “I stopped by with a few of my red velvet cupcakes, and Colton offered me some of your delicious soup.”

“Good for both of you. I’m glad Colton showed you some hospitality. Frank and I heard there was a mishap with the baby at the winter festival today, but couldn’t get the details.”

Stacey chuckled. “I’ll let Colton fill you in on that. I should be getting Piper home.”

“I’ll just say I’ll wash the shirt I wore today twice,” he said.

His father gave a nod. “Been there, done that. It’s good to see you and the baby, Stacey. I hope you don’t mind if I get some of that soup.”

“Not at all,” Stacey said.

“Oops. Sounds as if there might have been a little mess,” Colton’s mother said. “Don’t rush off,” she said as Stacey put away Piper’s baby paraphernalia. “Let me see that sweet little munchkin. She’s growing like a weed.”

Mrs. Foster extended her arms to the baby and smiled when Stacey handed Piper to her. “What a friendly little sweetheart. Your mother says she’s sleeping through the night most of the time.”

“That’s right. We had a rough time the first few months, and she still has her moments. But don’t we all?” Stacey said.

“I can tell you’re a good mother. I always knew you would be. You just seem to roll with whatever comes your way. I know Rachel is going to be upset that she didn’t get to see you and the baby,” Mrs. Foster said. “Are you sure you can’t stay?”

“I really should go,” Stacey said. “I’m hoping for an early night. It’s good to see you.”

“Same here,” his mother said, then plopped the baby in Colton’s arms. “Here. You carry Piper out to the car. Stacey could probably use a little break from hauling around this little chunk of love after today.”

Colton automatically stiffened but soldiered up. He couldn’t disagree with his mother. After his limited experience with Piper, he was surprised Stacey wasn’t exhausted all the time. From what he could tell, branding an entire herd of cattle would be easier than watching over a baby.

He carried Piper to the car and let Stacey fasten her into her safety seat. Piper fussed a little at the confinement. “You just better get used to this,” Stacey said in a kind but matter-of-fact voice. “You’ll be sitting in a safety seat every time you get in the car.” She shook a toy connected to the front of the seat to distract the baby, and Piper quieted down.

“You’re good with her. I’ll say that much. She can be a handful,” he said, shaking his head.

“She’s curious and sweet, but you’re right. She has her moments,” Stacey said.

“That’s when those bubbles come in handy,” he said.

Stacey stared at him and smiled. “So you did use the bubbles that night you kept her for me?”

“Hey, I had to hit the ground running. That diaper bag is like a bag of tricks,” he said.

“You almost sound as if you’re still afraid of her,” Stacey said. “My little Piper couldn’t terrify a big, strong man like you, could she?”

“Of course not,” he lied because the baby did have the ability to scare him more than a fright movie. “I’m just no baby expert like you are.”

“Maybe she’ll grow on you,” Stacey said softly.

“Maybe,” he said. Piper’s mother was growing on him. He leaned toward Stacey and took her mouth in a lingering, sweet kiss that made something inside him fill up and want more at the same time. “I’m glad you came over. I’ll call you.”

“I’m going to be really upset if you don’t,” she warned.

He liked hearing that bit of testiness in her voice. It made him think she wanted him, too. “No problem,” he said and kissed her again. He pulled back. “You’re habit-forming.”

“That’s good to hear,” she said. “I think your mother is watching from behind the curtains in the front room. She may ask questions. That’s what mothers do.”

“That’s okay. I have the perfect answer,” he said, putting his index finger under her chin.

“What’s that?”

“Nunya. Nunya business,” he said, and her laughter made it worth the inquisition he knew he would face when he went inside the house.

* * *

That night, Stacey slept better than she had in months, partly because Piper slept long and hard, and partly because being with Colton just made her feel better about life. He didn’t have to do much. Just his presence made her feel calmer and more optimistic. She didn’t want to overthink his effect on her. Stacey just wanted to enjoy it.

He called her on her cell the next morning, and she could tell he was outside and the wind was blowing. “Good mornin’,” he said.

“Good morning to you. How long have you been out and about?” she asked as she toted Piper around the kitchen.

“Since a couple hours ago. You know the routine. I have to get up early in order the get the heavy chores done so my father doesn’t hurt his back,” he said.

“I wish you could talk him into seeing the doctor,” she said. “It’s as if he’s in complete denial of this health problem.”

“You’re exactly right. He’s in denial until he ends up in bed for a few days. Then he takes it slow. A few weeks after that, he thinks it’ll never happen again. But enough of my crankiness. How would you like to go into town and get a burger at the grill? Early dinner?”

“That sounds like fun, but my parents are going to be at the winter festival all day, so I would have to bring Piper,” she said. When he didn’t immediately respond, she filled the gap of silence. “We can go another time. We don’t have to go today.”

“No,” he said. “Let’s take her with us. What time will work?”

“I’d like to get her back on schedule with her afternoon nap. Is four-thirty okay?”

“Sure. I’ll pick you two ladies up at four-thirty. See you then,” he said and disconnected the call.

Stacey felt a spurt of excitement and danced around the room with Piper. “We have a date.”

She spent the morning entertaining Piper, then ran laundry and cooked a big pot of chili in the afternoon. She changed her clothes three times and might have changed them once more if Piper hadn’t awakened. Her brother Jude must have smelled the chili from miles away because he stomped into the house an hour after she’d put it on the stove. Her brothers were at the family dinner table more often than not, despite the fact that they had their own places to live.

“Thank goodness there’s food,” he said. “I’m starving.” He looked at Stacey and Piper and gave a double take. “You two look as if you’re headed someplace special,” he said.

Stacey resisted the urge to squirm. “Just going to the grill with a friend,” she said.

“Rachel?” he asked as he grabbed a bowl from the cabinet.

She shook her head. “Nope. Do you mind setting that Crock-Pot on low and putting the lid on it if you leave before Mom and Dad get home? I think they should be here within a half hour,” she said.

“Sure,” he said and grabbed a spoon. “Any crackers or bread?”

“Crackers are in the cupboard.” A knock sounded at the door, and her heart leaped with silly excitement. “Gotta go.”

“Hey, you never said who is going with you to the grill,” he said.

“That’s right,” she said, unable to stifle a little giggle. “I didn’t. See you later,” she said, and ran to the door and threw it open.

“Hi,” she said, thinking it was ridiculous to be so excited about going to the grill in town. This proved the point that she really needed to get out more often.

“Hi to you and Miss Piper,” he said. “You’re both looking beautiful. You ready to go?”

“Thank you, and we are,” she said.

“I’ll carry Piper to the truck. I see you have the magic tricks bag,” he said, gingerly taking the baby in his arms.

“It goes wherever Piper goes,” she said. “Listen, do you mind if we take my car? I’ve already got the safety seat, and it’ll be easier to keep it in there than switch it from my car to yours again.”

“Good plan,” he said. “It didn’t occur to me.”

“Probably because you haven’t spent a lot of time with babies,” she said.

“My mistake,” Colton said. “The education of Colton Foster continues. I’ll let you fasten her into that contraption,” he said after he carefully set Piper into the seat.

As usual, Piper complained about the confinement, and Stacey distracted her. Within a couple moments the baby calmed.

“Have you ever tried to take her on a road trip?” he asked.

“Not unless you call the hour drive to Lubbock a road trip,” she said. “She’s really not a bad rider, but I wonder if she might get fed up with it after several hours. I have visions of throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the backseat to keep her amused.”

“I think my parents must have done that when we took a trip to Dallas one time, although my Dad wouldn’t put up with any foolishness when we got older.”

“My father is the same way, maybe even more so,” she said. “Deke Jones is a stand-up guy, but I have to admit that he didn’t join me for any tea parties when I was a little girl. He was too busy for that.”

“It’s funny the things we remember. My mother showed up for most of my basketball games, but my father only came to a few each season. I always knew they both loved me, and that’s what’s important,” he said.

“Very true,” she said. “Now that I’ve had Piper, though, I find myself wishing she had everything I had growing up and more.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“She has some of it,” Stacey said. “A safe, warm home and family who love her, but—” She broke off, feeling self-conscious.

“But what?”

“Nothing,” she said, feeling her face grow warm with embarrassment. “You’ll think I’m crazy.”

“No. I won’t. Tell me.”

Stacey smiled and shook her head. “I’m hoping I can talk one of her uncles into having a couple tea parties with her,” she said. “I think it’s good for little girls to have good men who are involved in their lives.”

“I’m sure you’re right about that,” he said. “What do little girls eat at tea parties, anyway? I can’t believe they like tea.”

“Juice and cookies,” she said.

“That’s not all that bad,” he said.

“No. It’s the little chairs and pretending that makes it tough for a grown man,” she said.

“Which of your brothers have you targeted for this?” he asked.

“I have a year or two before the parties will begin,” Stacey said. “But I’m thinking Toby would be a natural. He’s already a foster father. If not him, I may be able to con Jude into the job, especially if Piper serves something I’ve made.”

“Sounds as if you’re planning ahead,” he said.

“Once I had Piper, I couldn’t just think about the moment anymore. I had to think about the future, too.”

“Is that why you seem sad sometimes?” he asked.

Stacey looked at him in surprise. “You think I seem sad?”

“Well, different. You used to seem happier,” he said.

She thought about that for a moment. “I worry more,” she confessed as he pulled into the small parking lot for The Horseback Hollow Grill.

He cut the engine and turned to her. “No worrying for the next couple of hours,” he told her. “After all, you’re about to eat a gourmet meal with the handsomest guy in Horseback Hollow,” he joked.

Stacey smiled. The gourmet meal was a stretch, but she was beginning to think that Colton was the best man in Horseback Hollow. She wondered why she’d never noticed until now.

Chapter Eight

“Oooh, what a cute baby,” the server at The Grill said, then glanced at Stacey and Colton. “What a good-looking family. I bet you hear that all the time. I’m Maureen, and I’m new here in Horseback Hollow.” Her gaze returned to Piper. “Look at that chin,” she said, tickling it. “Just like Daddy’s. Now, what can I get for you today?”

“Burger loaded and hot chocolate,” Colton said. “What about you?” he asked Stacey.

“Grilled cheese and hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows please,” she added.

“Will do,” Maureen said and turned away.

“Sorry about that,” Stacey said.

“Sorry about what?” he asked.

“That the waitress said Piper looked like you,” she said, feeling extremely awkward. She didn’t want Colton to feel pushed into a relationship with either herself or Piper.

“She said we have the same chin,” he said, rubbing his own chin and glancing at Piper. “I just didn’t know I already had two.”

Relief raced through her, and she swatted at him. “Stop that. She clearly only has one chin, but there’s no denying those chipmunk cheeks. She looks as if she’s packing a load of acorns.” Stacey rubbed her daughter’s cheek. “But you’re gorgeous, anyway,” she said.

“She is. She looks like you. Minus the chipmunk cheeks,” he said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Stacey said, and Maureen returned with their hot chocolate.

“Anything else I can get you?” she asked.

Colton glanced at Stacey. “We’re good,” she said.

Their food was served just moments later, and Stacey relished her grilled cheese sandwich. Although Piper was well-fortified with cereal on her high-chair tray, she watched every bite that Stacey took.

“She’s getting more interested in food,” Stacey said. “Especially whatever I’m eating.”

“Can’t blame her. What does she get? Dry cereal? She looks as if she wants to reach right over and grab the rest of your sandwich. You’re clearly starving her.”

“Right,” Stacey said, shooting him a mock chastising look. “This is probably more than you want to know, but she’s allowed to have strained and pureed fruits, vegetables and meats.”

Colton made a face. “I didn’t hear hamburger on that list.”

“She doesn’t have any teeth. She’d have to gum it,” Stacey said.

A woman stopped by their table. “Why, Stacey Jones. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Stacey recognized the woman as a member of her church. Stacey had missed quite a few Sundays since Piper had been born. Truth be told, she’d missed more than she’d attended since she’d gotten pregnant. “Mrs. Gordon, it’s good to see you. How is your family?” Stacey asked as she stood and gave the woman a hug.

“We’re hanging in there. My husband has had a terrible time with gout, but we keep plugging. Look at your baby. She’s just gorgeous,” Mrs. Gordon said, and glanced at Colton in confusion. “Colton Foster, right? For some reason, I thought your fiancé’s name was Joe.”

Stacey’s stomach knotted. “He was. Joe moved to Dallas. But Piper is thriving, as you can see.”

“Yes, she is. And how nice for both of you to have big, strong Colton around,” Mrs. Gordon said in a coy voice.

“Hmm,” Stacey said, so ready for the woman to move along. “Thank you for stopping by,” she said. “And please give your husband my best.”

She sank back onto her seat. “Why does everyone have to know everything about everyone around here?” she muttered and took a sip of her hot chocolate. She wondered how long she would be answering questions about Joe and why they weren’t together. At this point, it looked like forever.

After they finished their meal, Colton drove Stacey and Piper back to Stacey’s house. “You’re awfully quiet,” he said.

“I know I said that we have to expect people to talk here in Horseback Hollow because that’s what they do, but I hate having to talk about Joe. People always look at me with pity. Poor Stacey. She couldn’t keep her man,” she said.

“Joe’s leaving wasn’t your fault. He couldn’t handle the responsibility of a baby. He’s the loser in this situation, not you,” he said. “If you need another way of looking at it, aren’t you glad that you and Piper aren’t stuck with a man who doesn’t love you? You deserve better than that.”

“When he first left, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe he would abandon his own child and me. It made me wonder if I ever really knew him,” she said.

“Do you wish he would come back and the two of you could get back together?” Colton asked.

“I did for a while,” she confessed. “It sounded like the perfect ending to a fairy tale that had gotten off track. But I don’t know that I would ever be able to trust him again. I do know that I’m not the same woman who fell for him years ago. I just wish he wouldn’t have rejected Piper. That’s the worst part,” she said.

Colton pulled the car to a stop in the Joneses’ driveway. He leaned toward her. “I’m not sure this little outing cheered you up all that much.”

She blinked at him. “I didn’t know that was the purpose,” she said. “I thought we just wanted to spend some time together. We did that with no meltdowns from Piper, and I had terrific hot chocolate and company.”

“You’re some kind of woman, Stacey, and don’t you forget it,” he said as he lowered his mouth to take hers in a delicious kiss.

Stacey felt her heart race. Her body immediately responded. His kiss triggered all sorts of forbidden emotions and sensations. She slid her hands beneath his jacket to pull him closer. He responded by nearly hauling her onto his lap.

“Damn this console,” he muttered and kissed her again. He slid one of his hands from her waist upward to her breast.

Her nipples turned hard, and she felt her need for him pool in all her secret places. “Oh, Colton,” she whispered and scrubbed at his chest, wishing she could feel his naked skin.

His kiss turned hot with want and need, and she strained toward him, her body and mind recalling how good he’d felt inside her. She wanted him that way again. Now.

The sound of Piper gurgling and talking her baby language penetrated past the mist of arousal crowding her mind. Colton froze. Stacey did the same.

Frustration nicked through her. “This is hard,” she said.

“In more ways than one,” Colton said, his voice taut with forced denial. “Between you living with your parents and me living at the ranch, I feel like a randy teenager,” he said and pulled back.

Stacey felt the same sense of dissatisfaction she heard in his voice. “What do you usually do? How do you usually handle things when you and a woman—” She broke off, wondering if she really wanted to know about Colton’s previous partners.

“That’s part of the reason I want a place of my own,” Colton said. “Privacy. But I’ve felt as if I needed to keep an eye on my father, and I haven’t wanted to tell my parents I want to build. The time is coming sooner than later, though. In the past, the women had their own places or we spent the night in Vicker’s Corners.”

“A whole night?” she echoed. “I’m trying to imagine spending the whole night away from home without a lot of questions.” She sighed. “I wish this were easier.”

He kissed her lightly on the mouth as if he didn’t want to get anything started between them again. “Most good things don’t come easy. Let me walk you and Piper to the door.”

Stacey said good-night to Colton and walked through the door. No sooner had she closed the door behind her than her brother Jude appeared.

“So, you went out with Colton again? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Taken aback by his confrontational manner, she tilted her head at him. “I enjoyed Colton’s company, a grilled cheese sandwich and hot chocolate. Is there anything wrong with that?”

“Well, not really,” Jude said.

“We had a chaperone. Nothing naughty happened. Trust me, nothing naughty can happen,” she grumbled.

“I just want you to be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt like you did with Joe,” he said.

“Colton is nothing like Joe. Nothing,” she said, and took Piper to the nursery. It was true that Colton was nothing like Joe, but Colton had never asked her to marry him. Stacey felt a stab of concern that Colton wasn’t interested in being anybody’s baby daddy, which also meant he wouldn’t want to be Piper’s daddy.

That night when she went to bed, it took her a long time to fall asleep.

* * *

Colton did a last check around the north pasture, then returned to the house. Grabbing a cup of decaf, he sank onto one of the recliners in the den. He halfway watched a basketball game through his drooping eyes. Feeling himself drift for a few moments, he awakened when his father walked into the room and got into the other recliner.

“Hey,” Colton said.

His father nodded.

“You worn out from the second day of the winter festival?” Colton asked.

His father gave a heavy sigh. “Your mother insists on staying for the whole thing, and she wants me to stay with her.”

“Your back okay?” Colton asked.

“A little sore. Nothing unusual,” his dad said.

“Any time you want to go for lunch in Vicker’s Corners, I’m glad to take you. There’s a chiropractor there,” he said.

“Chiropractor?” his father said. “Don’t they crack your bones and put you in traction? Sounds as if that would make you worse.”

“They make adjustments,” Colton said. “They help get your back in alignment.”

“Hmmph,” his father said in disbelief. “Well, that’s not why I came in here. Your mother wants me to talk to you.”

“About what?” Colton asked, feeling curious and studying his father.

His father sighed. “It’s about Stacey and her baby.”

Colton frowned. “What about them?”

“Well, it’s not really any of our business,” his father began, and Colton immediately knew this wasn’t a discussion he wanted to have with his father.

His father cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “You need to be careful with Stacey,” he said. “After what Joe did, she doesn’t need anyone taking advantage of her.”

Indignation rolled through him, and he pushed the recliner into the upright position. “I wouldn’t take advantage of Stacey. What makes you think I would?”

“Well, you look as if you’re getting, uh, friendly with her,” he said. “I mean you look as if you want to be more than friends,” he said, then rubbed his face with his hand. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. Just treat her right. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

Colton met his father’s gaze. “I’ll treat her right. You and Mom don’t need to worry.”

“Good,” his father said. “I’m glad that’s over. Who’s playing tonight, anyway?”

“The Bulls and Lakers,” he said.

His father nodded. “Looks like a close game.”

Colton didn’t respond. His mind was too busy with his father’s remarks. He resented the interference. He was a grown man. Colton stood. “I’m gonna hit the sack,” he said. “Good night.”

Colton headed down the hall and was intercepted by his sister, Rachel. In no mood for anyone else’s comments, he lifted his hand. “Don’t say a word,” he said.

She frowned at him. “About what?”

“About Stacey and me,” he said.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Stacey and you?” she echoed. “What’s going on? I’ve been crazy busy and haven’t had a chance to talk with her for several days.”

“Never mind,” he said, and headed for his wing of the ranch.

Rachel bobbed along behind him. “Are you two seeing each other? That would be so cool,” she said. “As long as you don’t hurt her. You have to swear you won’t hurt her, but I love the idea. I’ll call her right now.”

“She’s got a little baby,” Colton said. “She might be in bed trying to get some sleep.”

Rachel’s face fell. “True. Well, give me the scoop. When did this happen?”

“Rachel,” he said as gently as he could, “it’s none of your business.”

* * *

The next morning, Stacey awakened with a different sense about herself and her life. She realized that in many ways she’d been hiding from the world, ashamed of how her relationship with Joe had ended, embarrassed that she and Piper had been dumped by him. The whole situation had made her feel like that mathematical expression less than.

She was ready to start reclaiming her life. Taking a quick shower and getting dressed, she fed Piper and dressed her in a cute outfit with stockings. She met her parents just as they were headed out the door to church.

Her mother looked at her in surprise. “Where are you two going looking so spiffy? Is there a mother/baby beauty contest I haven’t heard about?”

Stacey laughed in pleasure at the sweet way her mother had voiced her curiosity. “Piper and I are going to church this morning.”

“Oh, my.” Her mother covered her mouth and sniffed. “I’ve been waiting for this day.”

“I hadn’t turned into a total heathen,” Stacey said.

“Oh, no. Not that,” her mother said. “I’m just so proud of you and Piper. I want everyone to see what a good job you’re doing with her. I think you will be an inspiration to many people.”

“I don’t know how inspiring I’ll be if she starts screaming in church,” Stacey muttered. “But I think it’s time.”

“Yes, it’s time,” her father said impatiently and pointed at his watch. “If we don’t get moving we’ll be late.”

“You can sit with us,” her mother said as they were hustled out of the house. “I’ll be happy to take Piper out if she gets fussy.”

“I’ll take her out,” her father said. “Especially if she starts fussing before the offertory.”

“Deke,” her mother said in disapproval. “Shame on you.”

“What? I’m just being a nice granddaddy,” he said and chuckled. He helped Jeanne into his truck, and Stacey tucked Piper into the car seat in her Toyota, then followed her parents to church.

She felt a twinge of nostalgia as she walked into the small chapel her family had attended since before she was born. She’d celebrated so many holidays and Sundays in this place. As soon as she walked inside with Piper in her arms, she saw several familiar faces. She waved at each of her neighbors, then took her seat with her parents.

Piper did well until the minister began to speak. She got a little squirmy, but Stacey couldn’t blame her. There’d been plenty of times she had gotten fidgety when a minister spoke. Despite her squirminess, Piper didn’t let out a peep until the congregation sang a benediction.

“Good job,” she said, praising the baby, and left the pew. Several people greeted her and made a fuss over Piper. There was no mention of Joe, but Stacey was prepared in case someone did. She made her way to the back of the church and found Rachel waiting for her with open arms.

“I decided to come to church at the last minute today. I’m so glad I did. Look at you and Miss Piper,” she said, squeezing the baby’s hand. “All dressed up for church. She must have done well during the service. I didn’t hear her.”

“She, ahem, sang during the benediction,” Stacey said.

Rachel giggled. “Good for her. She’ll be in the choir before you know it. Listen, I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch with you. Changing careers to education and doing my student teaching has made me crazy. I had no idea how much time the lesson plans and parent meetings would take.”

“No worries,” Stacey said. “I know you’ve been busy.”

“Not so busy that I should be the last to know that you are dating my brother,” Rachel said.

Stacey groaned. “Oh, no. Not you, too. It seems as if everyone has an opinion about us seeing each other. And it’s not as if either of us has any privacy where we live.”

Rachel raised her eyebrows. “Privacy?” she echoed. “You want privacy with my brother?”

Stacey shook her head and waved her hand. “Forget I said anything.”

“You sound like Colton,” Rachel said. “He didn’t want to talk about it either.”

“Well, who wants to talk about a relationship when it’s first starting? Who knows where this will go? Colton has a lot on his mind with your father’s back problem. He keeps trying to talk your dad into seeing a doctor, but your father won’t go. Colton says he’s got to stay one step ahead of your dad to keep him from hurting himself.”

Rachel nodded. “My father avoids doctors at nearly all cost.”

“I think Colton wonders if you might be more successful with your father than he has been,” Stacey said, hoping she’d managed to distract Rachel from her questions. “I need to get Piper home to change and feed her, so I need to head out to my car.”

Rachel tagged along. “Well, just so you know, I’m all for this. Colton is a great guy, and you’re the best friend I could ever have. He would be lucky to get you, and in a way, maybe you would be lucky to get him, too. Especially after Joe,” she said.

“I don’t want my relationship with Colton to have anything to do with Joe,” Stacey said as she buckled the baby into her car seat. “I want to leave that behind.”

“Kinda hard to do when Joe is Piper’s father,” Rachel said.

“He’s been invisible for over a year. I need to move on,” she said.

Rachel met her gaze and nodded. “Good for you. But when it comes to my brother, you need to know something,” she said and lowered her voice. “He’s slow at making the moves, so you may have to help him along.”

Stacey bit her lip to keep from laughing at Rachel’s warning. She couldn’t help thinking of the scorching lovemaking she’d experienced with Colton. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she managed.

“Good,” Rachel said. “I’ll call you soon. Maybe I could babysit for you sometime.”

“You may have a hard time squeezing me in with your student teaching,” Stacey said.

“Maybe,” Rachel conceded and gave Stacey a hug. “But I have three reasons to try to make that happen.”

“Three?” Stacey said, hugging her in return.

“My brother, you and me. Wouldn’t it be cool if you were both my best friend and sister-in-law?”

The possibility gave Stacey a jolt. “Oh, Rachel, don’t go there. These are very early days.”

“Well, it’s not as if you haven’t known each other forever.”

“Yes, but I haven’t always had a baby. I’m not at all sure Colton is ready to be a father to a child that isn’t really his.”

“He might need a little persuading, but I think it could be done.” Rachel shivered. “It’s too cold for me out here. I’ll call you.”

Stacey watched Rachel race to her car and tried to unhear the words she’d just heard, but it was like trying to unring a bell. What if she and Colton got married? Was it even a possibility? Her heart squeezed tight with a myriad of emotions. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She shouldn’t even think about it.

* * *

The next day, Colton went into town to get some equipment to repair some fences and overheard a couple of workers talking about something happening at the bar.

“So, what’s going on?” he asked.

“Live music at the Two Moon Saloon on Tuesday,” the worker said.

“Really? I can’t remember the last time there was live music at the bar,” Colton mused.

“And I hear there might be dancing,” the worker said. “I’m taking my girlfriend.”

“Hmm,” Colton said. He wondered if Stacey would be able to go on such short notice. On the way home, he called and left a message about the live music and continued on with his chores.

Stacey must have returned his call while he was out fixing a fence. Her mom would keep Piper. She sounded excited. He hoped that whoever was performing didn’t bomb. The smile he heard in Stacey’s voice did strange things to his gut. He felt a little lighter, a little less burdened as he pulled into the driveway to his house. His conversation with his father had kept him awake for an extra hour last night, but Colton knew he wanted to spend time with Stacey and she felt the same way about him. He knew his mother and father shouldn’t be involved in this decision, and if they intervened again, he would have to speak his piece.

Colton stomped up the steps to the house with the winter wind whistling through his coat. He was dog-tired and all he wanted was a home-cooked meal. If that wasn’t available, he would heat some canned soup and make a sandwich.

“Hiya,” Rachel called as he passed the den. She appeared to be doing lesson plans or grading papers.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“I wish I’d earned my first degree in education. This is so time-consuming,” she said.

“I’m not sure it changes much, sis,” he said. “I never hear teachers talking about how much extra time they have.”

“True, I guess,” she said. “But I like it, so maybe I won’t notice the time.”

He nodded. “I’m gonna get whatever is available in the kitchen.”

“Wait,” she said, scrambling to her feet. “I talked to Stacey at church yesterday,” she said.

“Great,” he said and moved toward the kitchen.

“I also talked to her today. Amazing what I can learn about my brother from his girlfriend,” she said, following him.

He shot her a quelling glance.

“What I mean is I didn’t realize how bad Dad’s back is. Stacey said you’ve offered to take him to Vicker’s Corners to see a doctor, but he won’t do it,” she said.

“That’s right,” he said, opening the fridge and hoping to find something wonderful. He spotted a small bowl of leftover beef stew and snatched it up.

“She also said that you thought Dad would be more likely to go with me to Vicker’s Corners to see a doctor.”

“Right again,” he said. He put the stew in the microwave, then pulled some sliced ham, cheese and bread out of the fridge and went to the counter. “The trouble is you’d have to trick him.”

Rachel frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You would need to make an appointment with him and find some other reason for him to go. You’d take him to lunch, then take him to a doctor’s appointment and beg for forgiveness afterward. He would forgive you within twenty-four hours, less if he got some relief from his back pain.”

Rachel’s frown deepened. “That sounds like a lot of trickery,” she said.

“As if you haven’t done the same ten times over for less honorable reasons,” he returned as he slapped the meat and cheese on the bread and slathered it with Dijon mustard.

“I wish Dad would be more reasonable about medical treatment,” she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

“You and me both,” he said, when the microwave beeped. He grabbed his bowl of stew and sandwich. He would worry about water later.

Rachel poured a glass of ice water and sat down at the kitchen table. She put the glass at the place opposite from her. “Well, sit down,” she said, waving her hand. “We have to figure out exactly when and how I’ll do this trickery.”

“Dad is a sucker for his little girl. Just invite him to go to lunch with you, then take him to a doctor afterward,” Colton said.

“Stacey and I didn’t just talk about Dad,” Rachel said.

A bite of sandwich lodged in Colton’s throat. He coughed repeatedly and washed it down with a gulp of water. “Oh, really,” he said in a deliberately noncommittal tone.

“Yes,” Rachel said. “Stacey said the two of you could use some privacy. What do you say about that?”

“Privacy begins at home,” Colton said.

Rachel made a face at him. “I’m trying to help.”

“Then stay out of it,” he said. “There’s a baby involved. I don’t want to be responsible for messing up that child’s life. I’m taking it slow or not at all.”

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