Rachel studied him. “Are you serious?”

He squeezed her hands. She hadn’t realized she was still holding his. “Yes, I’m serious. If you want to press charges, then he can spend the night in jail. I told him I would do it when he decided to steal your car.”

She sighed, completely confused. He seemed sincere. “Then why would he do it?”

Rye’s deep blue eyes held hers. He was so beautiful. Though he looked exactly like his brother, there was a different energy to Rye Harper. He was so much more serene than Max. Max was exciting and wild and made her feel that way, too. Rye made her feel protected.

“Rachel, my brother is crazy about you. He screwed up, and he’ll do anything to make it right. Please, just come out to our house and talk to him. If you want me to toss his ass in jail after, then that’s what I’ll do. I promise.”

Damn, but he knew exactly what to say to her. Maybe she was an idiot, but she was inclined to believe what he said. She had to get her car. She supposed she could wait until Stella closed for the night. She could get someone from the diner to drive her out to Max’s place, but she found herself walking behind Rye, climbing into the SUV emblazoned with Bliss County Sheriff on the side. She sat beside him with her hands firmly in her lap because she had enjoyed the way his big hand engulfed her small one far too much. She watched the town go by as Rye drove toward his home. She loved the mountains. The small town of Bliss was nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and everything about it was magical to Rachel. It seemed so far from Dallas that it could have been on another planet. She could almost believe that she’d run so far no one could ever find her.

“Rachel, why are you living out of your car?”

That brought her right back to reality. She’d hoped they hadn’t figured that out. “Is it illegal?”

His sigh told her he was frustrated. “No, I’ll drop it.”

She looked at the line of his jaw and the weariness of his face. Something softened in her. “I don’t have the money to afford a motel,” she said quietly, unable to stay silent on the subject.

“It’s not safe, sweetheart. Anything could happen to you out here.”

He sounded like he really cared. It made her open up a bit. “I know. I don’t get much sleep. It’s better here in Bliss than some of the places I’ve been. I feel safer sleeping in the woods than I do in a city.”

“I don’t suppose you want to tell me what you’re running from,” Rye continued in a gentle, coaxing voice.

She wasn’t willing to go there, certainly not with him. When he found out the man she was running from was a cop, he would take Tommy’s side. They all did. She straightened her spine. “Just take me to my car, please.”

“All right, Rachel.”

They drove the next ten minutes in silence, with Rachel feeling his disappointment sitting between them. There wasn’t anything she could do about it. She had her paycheck in her purse and cash stashed in her car. It looked like it was time to leave Bliss. She would get in her car and go to Denver. She’d meant what she’d said to Rye. She felt safer out here, but the city had its advantages. It was easier to get lost in a city. No one noticed new people in big cities.

Rye turned onto a dirt road. Rachel couldn’t help being fascinated with the Harper brothers’ ranch. It was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. They passed the pond where she and Max had made love. She could only see a bit of it from the road, but she knew it was there. The road to the house was lined with aspens and wildflowers. She could see the stables and the pasture in the distance. The sun was low in the sky, giving everything a gauzy look. Rye pulled into the long driveway that led to the two-story Victorian manor at the center of everything. Rachel’s eyes grew wide. The house looked like something out of a storybook.

“It was our mother’s dream house.” Rye stared at the big house with a slight smile on his face. Rachel wondered if he was missing his mother. “I’ve always thought it looked odd out here in the middle of the wilderness. We’ve tried to keep it up, but I will admit it could use a woman’s touch.”

There were three rocking chairs on the wide porch, and she saw Quigley lying on the top step. His head came up, and the old mutt wandered down toward the newcomers.

“Hey, boy,” Rachel said, putting her hand out. The dog looked very happy to see her. He picked up the nearest stick and tried to press it into her hands.

Rye was laughing a little ruefully. “Naturally. He couldn’t stand Nina.”

Rachel didn’t ask who Nina was. She probably didn’t want to know. “Is he in the house?” She could see her Jeep parked next to Max’s truck. She bet the keys weren’t conveniently in the ignition.

Rye nodded toward the front door. He stood with his knees locked and wariness in his eyes. “Yes. Do you want me to wait around and take him into custody?”

There was no mistaking the anxiousness surrounding him. He seemed to be nervous that she was really going to press charges. She wasn’t. Pressing charges wouldn’t solve anything. She’d just leave, and then the problem of Maxwell Harper would be solved. “No, Sheriff, I just want my keys.”

“All right.” Rye let out a relieved breath. He took the stick from Quigley’s drooling mouth and tossed it into the wooded area beside the house. The dog loped off after his prize. “I’ll just take Q here for a walk so we don’t disturb you. Rachel, go easy on him. He’s never been in love before. Now that I really think about it, neither one of us has. It’s hard. If you’re going to leave, please let him down easy.” He nodded and walked off after the happily playing dog.

Rachel’s heart ached, but she was resolute. She didn’t have a place in her life for either of the men. She certainly didn’t want to fall in love. She marched up the stairs and knocked on the door.

“Come on in.” Max’s strong voice rang out.

She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped into the house. She looked down, and there was a trail of wild flowers leading down the hall. Soft music was playing, and she smelled something truly incredible. Wary, she followed the trail of flowers and found herself in a romantically lit dining room. There were two place settings. Max stood opening a bottle of wine.

“I made you lasagna. You told Jen you liked Italian. It was my mother’s recipe. I looked up wines on the Internet. This one is supposed to go with pasta.” Max spoke quickly as though he realized he didn’t have long to convince her to stay.

“I just want my keys, Max.” Her voice was unsteady, as it always was when she blatantly lied. He must have spent all afternoon cooking and getting the house ready for her. She’d been prepared for him to apologize briefly. She’d been ready for him to yell at her. She wasn’t ready to find him standing there looking deliciously masculine in a white dress shirt and slacks, preparing to serve her dinner.

He turned his gorgeous face to her. “Rachel, please have dinner with me. I’m so sorry for acting like a dumbass this afternoon. Let me be up front and honest with you. It won’t be the last time I make an idiot of myself. I’m really good at it, and I can’t seem to help myself. But I promise, every time I do, I’ll come groveling and begging you to forgive me.”

“I thought you would yell at me for making you look like a fool,” Rachel said. He looked anything but a fool to her.

A small smile tugged at his sensual lips. Rachel noted he’d shaved for the occasion. “Darlin’, I’m chasing after a woman. I’m only a fool if that woman isn’t worth it. You are more than worth every bit of laughter I get hurled my way.”

She should leave. She should demand her keys and walk out. The whole scene before her was a romantic trap baited with a hunk of gorgeous man.

He seemed to sense her hesitation. He walked up to her and cupped her shoulders in his strong hands. His blue eyes were kind and very vulnerable as he stared into hers. “I love you, Rachel Swift. I’ve never said that to a woman before. I love you. Whatever is going on in your life, do not doubt that.”

As he leaned down to kiss her, Rachel knew she couldn’t leave him. She wondered if she would ever be able to leave him.

He touched his lips softly to hers, and she was lost. She knew what she needed, and at that moment, it wasn’t pasta.

“Take off your shirt,” she demanded. She wanted his skin against hers.

“Rach?” Max seemed awfully surprised at her commanding tone.

“I said take off your shirt,” Rachel repeated. A deliciously wicked thought crossed her mind. He had promised to grovel. “You owe me, mister. I want sexual servitude.”

He stared for a moment, and then his shirt hit the floor. Rachel admired his perfectly cut chest. Working with horses had been damn good for his physique. She let her hands roam over the glorious expanse of his chest and down to his abs. She loved the feeling of smooth skin over all that powerful muscle. Tonight he was hers to command.

His smile was a radiant thing. “I am more than willing to be your slave. Consider it my pleasure to do your bidding, baby. Do you want me to eat that sweet pussy of yours? I’ll eat until you scream for me to stop.”

“Maybe I want to make you scream.” She trailed her fingertips across his chest and found the sensitive nipples there. She leaned over to lick one. She was more than happy with his surprised gasp.

“You could definitely make me beg, baby.”

She looked up into his clear blue eyes and saw the desire there. It thrilled her that he seemed to want her as much as she wanted him. She pushed herself up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He stayed still, as though he sensed she needed to be in control for a while. Rachel took his face between her hands and enjoyed the sensual feel of his lips molding to hers. Even on her toes, he had to bend over to kiss her. He was so big. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into his body. She licked along the seam of his lips, requesting entry. He immediately acquiesced, letting her tongue rub against his in a sleek dance.