She took his lead and retrieved her own dessert spoon. “I thought I added value to the conversation. I was the one who knew about the four-hundred acres.”

“I’ll give you that,” he allowed, scooping into a swirl of whipped cream. “You were doing great, right up until you blew the entire deal.”

“There’s another way of looking at this, you know.”

“And, how is that?”

“A second chance.”

“Didn’t you hear Frank? That buyer is gone for good.”

She concentrated on mining a vein of the gooey fudge. “I didn’t mean a second chance with the buyer. I meant, a chance to make the right decision.”

“The right decision?”

“To change your mind about selling the ranch.”

He rolled each of his shirtsleeves two folds up his forearms. “I can’t wait to see how you try to sell this.”

She licked her spoon, gathering her thoughts. “I don’t think you can discount the possibility that this was fate.”

“You telling Nathan Brooks he might not be able to water his cattle was fate?”

“Exactly.”

“Please tell me that’s not the end of your argument.”

“First,” she counted, “Nathan asks for a meeting with Frank. Second, you and I happen to be in Lyndon. Third, I happen to be free for dinner. And fourth, the subject of the water rights came up in conversation. Those are either four separate coincidences, or it’s fate.”

Caleb waggled his spoon. “Wow. You really had to reach for it, but that was a pretty good spin.”

“Thank you.” She took a bite.

“I’m not changing my mind.”

“I’m only asking for a few more days, maybe a couple of weeks.”

“I don’t have a couple of weeks.”

“Sure, you do. You’ve put this false sense of urgency on a situation that doesn’t-”

“The Brazilian government is the one with the sense of urgency.”

“I’ll look after the ranch,” she offered. “I can do it. You know I can. And then it’ll be waiting when Reed-”

“Reed made his choice. And you have your own ranch to run.”

“Travis’s there to run-”

But Caleb was shaking his head. “Your family needs you, Mandy. And I’m not chasing after Reed like some preschool nanny. I’ve made my decision.”

She set down her spoon, struggling to hold her temper, and struggling to stay calm. “Your decision is wrong.”

He set aside his own spoon. “You might not like it, but it is the right thing to do. And there’s nothing to be gained by prolonging it.”

“Caleb-”

“No. I’ve listened. I’ve considered your perspective-”

“You’re joking, right?”

The man hadn’t considered anything. He was being closed-minded and reactionary. And he was going to destroy what was left of his family.

But Caleb’s jaw went hard. “I’ve considered your perspective, Mandy. And I disagree. And that’s that.”

Now her temper was taking a firm hold. “And that’s the end of the discussion?”

“That’s the end of the discussion.”

“I see.” Mandy rose to her feet, and Caleb instantly followed suit.

She drew a sharp breath, looking him square in the eyes. “Then, thank you for dinner. I can find my own way back to the ranch.”

“Is this your version of a temper tantrum?”

Mandy clamped her jaw tight.

“It’s dark outside, Mandy. And it’s starting to rain.”

She didn’t respond. She was an intelligent, capable, functioning adult. She didn’t need a man to escort her home on a rainy night.

Before he could say anything else, she turned on her heel and headed for the exit. At the very least, there were buses. She’d hop on a bus, and Travis or one of the hands could meet her at the end of the ranch road. They wouldn’t mind.

“I’m getting us cottages at the Rose Inn,” Caleb’s deep voice came from behind her. “We’ll drive back to the ranch tomorrow.”

“Go away.” He might be a sexy, intelligent, compelling man, but he was a stubborn jerk, and she didn’t want anything more to do with him.


Mandy was still scowling when Caleb swung back into the driver’s seat and handed her the key to cottage number six. He slammed the door shut behind him. The rain was now pounding down on the roof, and the wind was lashing the trees around them. Caleb’s clothes and hair were soaked from the sprint to the small office building and back again.

“I’m in seven,” he offered amicably. “We’re down at the end of the river road.” He pulled ahead, carefully maneuvering the SUV through the muddy ruts and around the deepest of the puddles.

“Thank you,” she offered stiffly, eyes straight ahead.

“We should probably try to get away early in the morning,” he continued, while the bright headlights bounced against the dripping, undulating aspen branches.

Mandy gripped the armrest and braced her feet against the floor.

“The restaurant opens at seven. That good for you?”

“I’ll be ready,” she said.

“Great.” He supposed he’d have to be content with her agreeing to drive with him at all. Cordiality was probably still a fair way down the road.

The dark outline of a two-story cottage came into view. His headlights picked up the signs for numbers six and seven on the post out front. There were porches on both stories and a long staircase running between them.

“You’re on top,” he told Mandy as he brought the vehicle as close to the building as possible.

She reached for the car door handle.

“Hang on,” he cautioned, opening his own door.

He quickly rounded the hood as she opened her door. His boots sank into the mud, and a river of water flowed over them.

“Hold still,” he told her, putting a hand out to stop her progress. He reached into the vehicle to lift her from the seat.

“Back off,” she warned him, holding up a finger.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Undeterred, he slid an arm around the small of her back. “There’s no sense in both of us ruining our shoes.”

“I’ve waded through mud before.”

“Bully for you.” He wove his other arm beneath her jean-covered knees. “Hang on.”

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, but her arms went around his neck, anchoring her to him.

He straightened and shoved the door shut with his knee. Then he ducked his head over hers and mounted the stairs.

“Key?” he asked, setting her down as they made it to the narrow shelter in front of the cottage door.

“Right here.” With dripping hands, she inserted the key into the lock.

Caleb turned the door handle, yawing the door wide into the dark room. He felt for the light switch on the inside wall, finding it, flipping it, bringing two lamps to life on either side of the king-size bed.

The room was peak-ceilinged and airy, with a cream-colored love seat and two padded armchairs at the far end. The living room grouping bracketed a sliding-glass door that opened to a small balcony. The bed was covered in an English country floral quilt, with six plump pillows and a gauzy canopy. Candles and knickknacks lined the mantel above a false fireplace. And a small kitchenette next to the bathroom door completed the suite.

“They said the heater was tricky,” Caleb explained to Mandy, crouching down next to the propane unit, squinting at the faded writing on the knobs.

“I’m not cold,” she told him.

He pressed the red button, turning the black knob to pilot. “If you do get cold, you can adjust it up like this.” He turned to find her still standing next to the open door. “Will you come and look?”

“I’m sure it’s not that complicated.”

“You’re behaving like a two-year-old.”

“Because I won’t roll over and play dead? I have to wonder what kind of people you employ, Caleb. Do you have a string of yes-men who follow you around all day, never questioning your infinite wisdom?”

“No,” he answered simply, deciding he liked it better when she was giving him the silent treatment. “Do you want to know how to work the heater or not?”

“Not.”

He shrugged and rose to his feet, dusting off his hands. “Suit yourself.”

Refusing to cater to her temper any longer, he crossed the room, bid her good night and firmly closed the door behind him, trotting swiftly down the staircase to open his own cottage.

His suite was slightly larger than Mandy’s, but with the same English country look, deep mattress, plump pillows and floral curtains. He adjusted his own heater, slipped off his wet leather boots and stripped his way out of his soaking clothes.

The cottage provided a health kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shaving razor and cream, along with a few other necessities, including scented body wash, which he set aside in favor of the plain bar of soap.

Half an hour later, Caleb felt refreshed. He’d opened the minibar to find a light beer, chose a magazine from the selection on the coffee table and stretched out under the quilt in his boxers.

He entered the password into his phone and chose the email icon. He scrolled through the messages, finding one from Danielle labeled stranded. With an anticipatory grin, he clicked it open, scanning his way through a series of complaints, threats and colorful swearwords.

He responded, telling her he’d be back to the ranch tomorrow morning with a box full of auto parts and a fat, bonus check. He didn’t let on that Travis had told him the whole story. He might as well let Danielle keep some of her dignity.

He dealt with the most pressing issues on his phone, then switched to the sports magazine, finding an article on his favorite basketball team. He read it and then checked the NASCAR stats. A crack of thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wind picked up outside. Sudden waves of rain battered the windowpanes, while the lights flickered, putting the room in darkness for a split second.

A few power flickers later, Caleb felt himself dozing off, and he set the magazine aside.