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  She blinked, trying to clear the haze in her head that was simply filled with Jack. “You’re not... We’re not...”

  “Not tonight,” he answered easily. “Not ever, if you’re not ready. I would never force a woman to do anything she didn’t want.”

  “You’re talking about wanting to sleep with me,” she stated, wishing she could take back the incredulous tone in her voice. It made her sound terribly naive and guileless.

  His lips curved up, just a little bit. “Don’t sound so surprised. You’re a desirable woman.”

  No one had ever come right out and said that to her before. She’d rather die than admit that those simple words touched emotions deep inside her. That they meant more to her than he’d ever understand.

  “There are no expectations, Amy.” He ran his thumb across her cheek. “No...context. Just you and me.”

  He was so devastatingly sexy and patient she was sure he was using some reverse psychology trick on her, because she was very, very close to wrapping herself around him and saying to hell with the consequences. But something about him made her step back. Maybe it was the look on his face when he spoke about losing his safety net. Maybe there was the niggling sense at the back of her mind that for all his confidence and successful exterior, there was something vulnerable about Jack. A soft spot that he guarded well. There was more to it than losing his ski career. More than a busted knee.

  He kissed her forehead then. “It’s only for a few weeks. I don’t want you to do anything you might regret later. Be sure.”

  Right. Finally, common sense intruded on the heels of his last words. It was only for a few weeks. This thing with Jack was simple chemistry. There was no room for fantasies or getting carried away.

  There was letting go of the safety net and then there was BASE jumping headfirst off a cliff. And while she totally looked at this time as a way of breaking free of her routine, of using it as an experiment, she was still too cautious to play daredevil with her heart—especially with a man who came right out and said he was temporary. That so wasn’t the fairy tale she had in mind.

  “Thanks, Jack,” she murmured, sliding out from between his body and the cupboard. “I’m a bit tired. I thought I’d call my mom and then make an early night of it. I’ll see you in the morning?”

  “Good night.”

  Halfway up the stairs she felt slightly guilty about leaving him with the dishes, but she’d had to get out of there before she threw all her good sense out the window and ignored all the warning bells.

  And when the sound of dishes clanking in the sink echoed up the stairs to her open door, she shut it and ran a hot bath.

  Chapter Five

  Despite lying awake until half past one, Jack was up early the next morning and out at the barns, catching up with Miguel and Raffy. Miguel was his main horseman, while Raffy looked after the cattle operation, but the two of them worked together more often than not, a real Mutt-and-Jeff routine that kept the rest of the hands in good spirits. This time of year required fewer staff, so when Jack strolled through the horse barn, his boots echoing on the concrete, he could hear the sounds of a recent country hit on the barn radio and the wheezy sound of Raffy’s laughter as Miguel told him some story. Jack was relieved to hear the laughter. Miguel was also Rosa’s husband, and the family had been through a lot since the accident.

  “Boys,” he greeted, turning the corner into the barn office.

  Two coffee mugs sat on the table, steam rolling off, and a paper bag with muffins. “Get you a cup, boss?”

  “That’d be great,” he said, pulling up a stool to the table. “Whose muffins? Bet you’re missing Rosa’s baking, Miguel.”

  “I can live with store-bought muffins for a few weeks, I guess,” he answered quickly, and Jack saw the strain around the man’s eyes.

  “You been sleeping okay, amigo?” Jack accepted the cup of black coffee and snagged a muffin.

  “Naw, not so much. It’ll be better when Rosa is home from the hospital.”

  “You need help with anything? Getting her room set up, wheelchair, that sort of thing?”

  “You’ve already done more than enough, Jack,” Miguel said, staring into his cup. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Jack put down his cup. “You’re family. That’s all there is to it. If you need anything, you say the word. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Raffy—short for Raphael—nodded. “That goes for me and Isabel, too. Izzy’s gonna fix you up with some freezable meals and stuff.”

  “Worst part is gonna be keeping that woman occupied,” Miguel lamented. “She ain’t used to sittin’ much and she’s awful worried about how you’re gonna keep things going here.”

  “You tell her not to worry. I brought in some temporary help. A friend of my brother’s from Canada. But it’s just temporary, mind. You make sure she knows her job is safe.”

  A friend of his brother’s seemed the easiest way to explain his relationship to Amy, but Jack knew it wasn’t true at all. On Christmas Eve he’d been trying to come up with a way to spend more time with her—he enjoyed her company—and she’d conveniently offered to help him out, saving him the trouble of coming up with a proposition.

  Her behavior at dinner last night had been a surprise, though. The dynamic, bubbly Amy Wilson was a bit of a front after all. He’d caught glimpses of different sides of her yesterday. A capable, intelligent and efficient side as she took over Rosa’s desk and tackled the work with barely a batted eyelid. And a softer, far more innocent side last night as she let down her guard.

  He understood far better than she knew. After all, he’d built a shell around himself after Sheila left him. It was easier to let people think he was a bit of a playboy, easier to hide behind the facade of a sharp businessman, than to let the painful reality show.

  The blown knee had been nothing. Nothing compared to the way Sheila had broken his heart. He’d put it all on the line for her, and she’d stood by while Chase—her husband and Jack’s coach—had used his fists to get his point across.

  “Man or woman?” Raffy asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. It took him a second to realize Raffy was asking about Amy.

  “Woman, and she’s a looker, so keep your wandering eye in check or I’ll have a word with your wife.” Jack let a grin crawl up his cheek. Miguel was close to fifty and he suspected that Raffy was a little older than that. Both had kids that were grown and moved away. Still, they knew how to turn on the charm.

  “Friend of your brother’s, my eye,” Raffy said shrewdly. “First time you’ve brought a girl here, though. Is it serious?”

  “It’s not like that. She’s a temp. She’s going to be studying hospitality management next year. It’s a good gig for her for a few weeks.” Even as he said it he knew he was being a big fat liar. There was definitely more going on, whether they ever acted on it or not.

  Miguel’s face fell. “Rosa’s going to be out a few months, boss.”

  “I know, buddy. I know. It’s fine. When Amy goes home, I’ll make other arrangements. It was too hard to get someone else on short notice, especially at Christmas. And I was thinking...when Rosa’s up to it, we can set her up with a laptop at home for some light work. Answering email, that sort of thing. It might keep both of you from killing each other.”

  “I think she’d like that. For now...” Miguel’s voice fell off. “She’s in a lot of pain.”

  Jack put his hand on his friend’s arm. Miguel had been the first person Jack had kept on when he’d bought the ranch. It had been Miguel who’d taught him the ropes with the horses, had taken him on his first trail rides. Who’d sat around a campfire at night and said nothing at all—just let Jack be Jack. He’d do anything for this man who was like a second father.

  “You need some time off, chief?”

 
“No, sir.”

  “If you ever do, you’d better tell me. We’ll manage.”

  “That’s right,” Raffy agreed. “Speaking of, I’ve got a herd to move today. Stacks are nearly gone in that east pasture. Gonna move them one over today.”

  “I should finish up, too. It’s nice today. Thought I’d put the horses out in the south corral, let them soak in some sun, enjoy the free space. Farrier’s coming to look at Gem’s hoof crack, too.”

  “I’m going into town in a few hours. You need anything, make a list and bring it on up to the house.”

  “You got it.”

  Raffy shrugged on his jacket and pulled a pair of worn gloves from the pocket. “Catch you fellas later.”

  After he was gone, Jack stood up. “You need some help this morning?”

  “Nope. Got it all under control.”

  Jack nodded. “That’s good.”

  “Good to see you back here, Jack. You always show up looking tired and leave looking ten years younger,” Miguel said.

  “Don’t I know it.” Jack grinned. “Must be the good company.”

  “It’s the wide-open space and the horses, and you know it. You gonna get this girl out on horseback while she’s here? Pretty little view from the crest above the creek. But then you know that....”

  “You doing a little matchmaking, chief?”

  Miguel’s rusty laugh rang through the room. “I know better than to try that. But I’m gonna enjoy watching you tumble when you meet the right woman. It’s gonna be right humbling for you, son.”

  “Go on,” Jack replied, laughing. “I’ll see you later.”

  “You bet.”

  Jack whistled on his way out of the barn and back to the house. Not in a million years had he ever considered himself a rancher. And he had a lot to learn. But one thing he’d come to realize for sure—it was in his blood. Maybe he lacked knowledge and experience, but those would come in time. When it came down to brass tacks, he’d rather have a pair of dirty boots and a golden sunset over the Montana hills than a skyline from a boardroom window anytime.

  When he opened the front door, he heard a string of cursing coming from the kitchen. His grin grew, blossoming into laughter as he caught the edges of a conversation Amy was apparently having with one of his appliances. He took off his boots and walked in his stocking feet to the kitchen.

  “Okay, you hunk of junk. The blue light is on so you’re on. Now I’m going to press this button and so help me God you’re going to work or I’m gonna kick you in the...”

  “Good morning,” he said.

  She spun around, a hand pressed to her chest in surprise as her cheeks blossomed an adorable pink. “Um...good morning?”

  He laughed, something he found himself doing around her more than he normally did.

  “I’m working on the assumption that it’s not a good morning until you’ve had your first cup of coffee,” he suggested.

  “That’s a good assumption.” She frowned. “I can’t figure out your stupid machine.” She muttered something unladylike under her breath.

  Jack liked the look of the “new” Amy before him. Sure, he’d found her incredibly beautiful each time they’d met. And each time she’d been dressed nicely, her hair styled and makeup perfectly applied. But this morning she had her curls bunched in a matted ponytail, her face was devoid of any cosmetics and she wore white pajama pants covered with tiny images of Mickey Mouse and a white T-shirt.

  He fought the urge to go up and cuddle her close, kiss her good-morning and tease away the caffeine-deprived grumpiness.

  He went forward, calmly inserted a coffee packet, clicked the lid shut and pressed a button.

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it. Of course, you can always froth milk over here....” He gestured toward an attachment. “But you might want to start simply first.”

  “We just have a regular old coffee machine at my mom’s,” she explained. “You know, paper filter, coffee grounds, pour water in the top...”

  “We have that here, too, for when we want coffee for the masses.” The first cup finished brewing. “Do you take milk?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Not today. There isn’t any.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  She wiggled her fingers. “It’s okay. I’ll survive.”

  But Jack shook his head. “Get another cup. I have a better idea.”

  This time he inserted a cappuccino-flavored packet in the machine. Before long the liquid sputtered through and the scent of coffee and vanilla wafted through the kitchen. “Try this,” he said, handing it to her.

  “Oh, that’s good,” she said, closing her eyes after the first sip. “I almost feel human.”

  “Breakfast?”

  She shrugged. “No milk, no bread, no eggs.”

  “Looks like I’m taking you out, then.”

  “I’m not much of a breakfast eater. It’s okay.”

  “I am,” he answered definitively. “Besides, I’ve been up and visiting the guys in the barn already. Why don’t you go have a quick shower. The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back.”

  “The guys in the barn?”

  “You didn’t expect the animals to look after themselves, did you?”

  Her blue eyes seemed extra wide. “I guess I didn’t think about there being anyone but us here.”

  “Miguel is Rosa’s husband, and Raffy lives with his wife just this side of town. They kind of came with the ranch.” He smiled at her and sipped at his coffee, very aware that this was his second cup on an empty stomach. He’d better be careful or he’d be wired. He put the cup down and leaned back against the counter. “I knew next to nothing about ranching when I bought the place. Everything I know I’ve learned from the two of them. In a few months Raffy will look like the walking dead when calving season begins. We’ve only got a small herd, but it’s enough to keep us busy, and our big spring event is in late May or early June, when we do the branding and then a short cattle drive to where they’ll graze the summer, including overnight camping. There’s not much peace and quiet that week, but it’s kind of magical, too.”

  “Sounds dirty,” she commented.

  He kept forgetting she wasn’t a farm girl. Though why he expected her to be, he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like he was the poster boy for Western life or anything.

  “Dirt washes,” he replied, but he felt a little let down that she didn’t share his enthusiasm. He wasn’t sure why. Amy was temporary, just the way he liked it. Nothing too serious. Nothing too deep.

  “Speaking of, I’d better take that shower if we’re going out,” she suggested. “And check the email. I’m waiting for the chef you hired to send me a shopping list. Ten people plus you and me for four days, right?”

  “Sounds about right. Then we’ve got a few days off before a smaller group comes in for the weekend.”

  She was back to all business again. Jack knew he should be relieved, so why was he annoyed at her persistence to keep things so straightforward? He thought he’d broken through a bit last night when they’d kissed. Not that he was going to force the issue, but even so. She didn’t need to be nervous. He wasn’t going to hurt her, after all.

  She was so very determined to do things right that he got the feeling she was not going to have any fun at all. And that wasn’t the idea behind bringing her down here. It was possible to do both. He’d learned how. The least he could do was pass along the favor.

  * * *

  THE DRIVE INTO town was gorgeous. Amy kept staring out the window at the tall evergreens blanketed with snow. The sky was crisply blue and the air as clear as glass and just about as sharp, sitting at just a few degrees above freezing. She was used to the cold, after all, and this was the perfect winter’s day.

  Jack sat beside he
r, his eyes focused straight on the winding road, but his hands relaxed on the wheel. He’d been 100 percent sexy this morning, hadn’t he? His cheeks wind-kissed from the cold, smelling like the outdoors and dressed all manly and stuff in his jeans and flannel shirt. So different from the guy in the tux she remembered. That guy had been smooth and in charge. This Jack was just as in charge as ever, but there were rougher edges about him out here. What surprised her most was that she liked him this way.

  She wasn’t sure how she was going to get through the next few weeks. Last night she’d fallen completely under his spell as he’d kissed her. That couldn’t happen again. She wasn’t going to fall back into old patterns—that would just mess everything up. She had to keep focused on the big picture and not get distracted.

  Jack pulled into a parking spot a few doors down from a café that reminded Amy a lot of the Wagon Wheel, the diner in Cadence Creek. He held the door for her and once they were inside she realized she was starving. The smells of bacon and toast and fresh coffee were nearly too much. Jack’s hand rested lightly on the hollow of her back as he guided her to a table for two along the big front window. “You’re going to love it here,” he said, waiting until she was seated to take his own chair. “Don’t you dare repeat this, but I think the omelets here are better than Martha Bullock’s.”

  Amy smiled. “That’s a bold statement. At least you didn’t challenge her pie. That might have caused an international incident.”

  The lopsided grin graced his face again and she went warm all over.

  A waitress came over with menus and a pot of coffee...the real stuff, not the milky cappuccino-flavored stuff that Amy had sipped this morning. It had satisfied her immediate need but now she needed the full brew.

  “Well, Jack Shepard. Good to see you back.”

  “Hi, Marianne.” Jack looked up at the waitress. “How’s Junior?”

  “Growing like a bad weed. Got his first tooth a few weeks ago.”

  “Before you know it he’ll be out snowboarding with his dad.”