He pushed away Gretchen and her four puppies, each the size of a midsize dog at four months. There, leaning in the entrance to the hall, was his wife. He’d been away for two weeks and it seemed a lifetime. Every trip got harder. He’d turned down two assignments that would have taken him out of the country.

A puppy surged forward, blocking his view, and he shoved it back so he could look at her and watch the way her eyes danced as she smiled down at him. “Hi ” , he said.

“Welcome back.” Her face glowed, and he knew that glow was in his honor.

“I see we still have four.”

“Considering we started out with ten, that’s not so bad: ‘

He managed to get to his feet, although both his shoelaces were now untied and the front of his shirt was soaked with puppy drool. They d inherited that from the Saint Bernard side of the family. “You guys are going out, he said, heading back toward the door.

“It’s raining, Dallas reminded him gently. “They’ll get muddy.”

Gabe weighed the options. It was August, so they might get muddy, but they wouldn’t get chilled. “I’ll hose them down later; he said, opening the door. All five dogs bounded joyfully into the rain.

He closed the door and turned to find Dallas right beside him. “I’m covered with “

She threw herself into his arms, cutting off his protest’ As if I care; she whispered against his mouth before claiming it in a greedy kiss.

He savored his return to paradise and wondered how he’d ever find the strength to leave when the next assignment came along. “Lord, I’ve missed you;’ he murmured when they came up for air.

“More than last time?”

“Much more.” He eased away and glanced down at her gently rounded belly. “How are you feeling?”

“Wonderful .” “you’re sure? Because if working at Rowdy Ranch is any problem, we could hire-“

“Gabe.” She gave him a warning look.

He sighed. “Okay, but promise me you’ll hire a replacement if you have any problems .”

She smoothed the frown from between his eyebrows’I think I promised that already. A few times. One of the reasons this works is that you can trust me to take care of myself when you’re away.”

He stroked his fingers through her hair. “And you want to know something stupid? I find myself wishing you weren’t so self-sufficient, that you’d beg me to stay home more, so I’d have a good excuse not to go.” He paused and stared at her. “I can’t believe I just admitted that .”

She gazed into his eyes, a soft smile on her face. “If we’re making confessions, I’ll admit that it tears my heart out each time you go, but I try not to show it. I don’t want to tie you down.”

He groaned and pulled her close. “Tie me down; he whispered, nuzzling the tender spot behind her ear. “Tell me you can’t live without me.”

“I can’t. But your job ‘

“Is becoming less important with every day I spend loving you. And when the baby comes… I’ll be cutting back, Dallas. I may even find some kind of law enforcement work that keeps me in Tucson all the time.” He was amazed that the decision made his heart light and joyous

“Right Man … Wrong time’

All women are haunted by a lost love-a disastrous first romance, a brief affair, a marriage that failed.

A second chance with him … could change everything.