Rachel remembered Hank was the feed store owner. He ran the Bliss County Feed Store Church. He was also a pastor. The feed store portion of his business was closed on Sundays when he held services. He sat across from Teeny Greene, who ran the trading post with her life partner, Marie. Teeny was a little bird of a woman with big brown eyes and a tiny frame. Hank was a small man, but Teeny made him look almost normal.

“I made a mistake and shorted him on his feed. When I offered to fix it, do you know what he said?”

“Probably something you shouldn’t repeat.” Teeny’s eyes were wide as she waited.

Hank took a long drink of his iced tea. “He told me not to worry about it. He said he had plenty for the horses he has right now. He told me I could make up for it with next week’s delivery. He’s going to kill me, Teeny. I always knew he’d go psycho killer on us one of these days.”

“He is not a psycho killer.” Rachel was unable to remain silent. She knew exactly who they were talking about. Despite Bliss’s odd population, there was only one citizen who everyone believed might go crazy one day. “Max Harper is a reasonable man. He knows you’ll make up for the mistake, and that there’s no reason to get angry. Anger doesn’t solve problems. It just causes more.”

Teeny leaned over and whispered something in Hank’s ear. The feed store owner smiled broadly. “Are you serious? A dozen?”

She nodded. “He made Marie take all the thorns out so she wouldn’t cut herself.”

Hank stood up and slapped a twenty down. “Well, that puts a different spin on things.”

Rachel was very confused, but picked up the twenty. “I’ll get your change.”

He shook his head. “None needed, Miss Rachel. You just keep Max happy, and there’s more where that came from. You’ll have a whole town worshipping the ground you walk on if Max Harper is a happy man.” He strode out before Rachel could protest.

Stella walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Rachel stared down at the twenty. His bill had been $4.98. She turned to Stella, her mouth hanging slightly open. “Did I just…?” She couldn’t quite bring herself to say it.

Stella didn’t have the same problem. “I think you just got paid for sleeping with Max. Next time, hold out for more, hon.”

Rachel shook her head and stalked over to the cash register. She could feel herself blushing furiously. “How do people know about that?”

Stella laughed loud and long. “This is a small town, Rachel. Get used to it. Everybody is up in everybody else’s business.”

Teeny grinned. “Besides, Max walked into the store about an hour ago and took all of the roses we got in yesterday. He told Marie we should order in some lilies. He said lilies are your favorite flower.”

Rachel flushed. He’d asked her about flowers yesterday. He’d been running a wildflower over her naked breasts at the time. “I do like lilies.”

The door to the diner flew open, and Rachel looked up, startled at the sound. Max stood in the doorway, and the expression on his face seemed to mean something to everyone else. He wore jeans and a Western shirt with pearl snaps. His boots had been polished to a shine. His Stetson was shoved on his head, and he didn’t bother to take it off. All around her, customers started whispering, and a couple of people dove for cover.

Stella sighed, her eyes rolling. “I’ll try to protect the tourists. Hon, now would be a good time for you to run.”

Rachel stared at Max, who was glaring right back at her. He targeted her and didn’t pay any attention to the rest of the diner. His gorgeous face was locked in an unholy grimace, but she didn’t feel a need to run. Rachel had met a truly evil man, and Max just didn’t fit the bill. He could growl all he liked. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He, on the other hand, might not be able to say the same. If she was about to meet the Mr. Hyde part of Max, he’d better get ready to deal with her inner bitch.

“You got a problem with something, Max?” She put one hand on her hip. She didn’t know what had happened. She only knew she wasn’t backing down.

“You better believe I got a problem, baby,” he drawled, but didn’t come any closer.

She could see she’d thrown him off by standing her ground. Obviously Max was used to intimidating people. Her heart did a little flip-flop as she wondered if this wasn’t Max’s way of getting out of the relationship now that he’d gotten what he wanted. He’d seemed so sweet yesterday. He’d been attentive and kind to her even when they weren’t making love. She could have sworn he regretted having to leave her for the night. A part of her had started to believe his whole “I’m crazy about you” routine. Maybe it was just a part of Max’s game. It wouldn’t be the first time a man had lied to get into her pants. She took a deep breath.

She really wished they didn’t have an audience. She leaned in to try to keep the conversation between them. “You don’t need to make a scene, Max. I get it. It was fun while it lasted. I won’t bother you. I’m not some clinging vine. I thought I made it clear to you yesterday. Just make sure you sit in Stella’s or Jen’s section the next time you come in for lunch.” She pointedly pulled out her order form and made her way to table ten. She ignored the angry bull in the room and smiled pleasantly at the couple watching the scene with anxious eyes.

“Is everything all right, ma’am?” The man’s eyes kept darting between her and Max.

Rachel waved her hand. “He’s just a drama queen. Have you decided on lunch?”

“Drama queen?” Max’s shout rang through the little diner.

Rachel sighed. He obviously wanted a big scene. “Excuse me for a minute. If I were you, I’d stay away from the special. Hal isn’t really what I’d call a French cook. He just watches a lot of Food Network.” She turned back to Max. She didn’t try to hide her annoyance. “Is there something I can do for you, Max? Like I said, this scene is unnecessary. All you have to do is tell me you’re done. If you have something else to say, make it quick. I have a job to do, and I would prefer to not be fired because my one-night stand turned out to be a big idiot.”

His blue eyes were dark. Rachel watched as he clenched his jaw tightly. His words were ground out. “Well, darlin’, mine turned out to be a little liar.”

Rachel was flummoxed. She quickly went over yesterday’s conversation. Most of the time had been spent telling Max how much she loved his tongue and his cock. No lies there. She’d pointedly avoided any talk of her past. “What are you talking about?”

“I just got back from your place, Rach,” Max pointed at her like a lawyer in a courtroom drama. “I thought I’d convince Gene to let me into your room and set up a little surprise. Flowers, champagne, the whole romantic treatment. Only no one there’s ever heard your name.”

Rachel winced inwardly. That explained a lot. She leaned in and lowered her voice. Max might not care about the whole town knowing they were having an affair, but Rachel did. “I was getting a room this afternoon.”

“You lied to me.”

“What does it matter? I fully intend to be there, Max.” Rachel tried to soothe him. She put a hand on his bicep and rubbed. She was pretty sure now that he wasn’t trying to break it off with her. “I wasn’t trying to trick you.”

“I want to know what his name is.”

Rachel went cold and dropped her hand from his arm. She took a step back. She couldn’t believe this was happening again. “Who are you talking about, Max?”

“Whoever it is you’re living with,” he said darkly. “Are you married?”

“No.” There was a little ember of rage that was always in her belly. Most of the time fear drowned out the rage, but Max was stoking that fire, and Rachel felt her hands start to tremble. “I don’t have a boyfriend, either. I thought I might have one, but he turned out to be just another asshole.” She stepped forward and pulled the bouquet of roses out of his hand. His face registered shock as she pushed him back. “You’re the only man I’ve slept with in years. I told you that yesterday, but somewhere along the way, I completely forgot you were a man. Men don’t believe women.”

“Now, Rachel,” Max started with obvious trepidation in his voice. He looked like a man whose whole world had just turned over. He backed up, and she continued to push him. His back hit the diner doors.

“I won’t put up with it, Max!” Rachel no longer cared that they had an audience. “I won’t put up with some possessive asshole who accuses me of cheating every time I’m out of his line of sight.”

“I didn’t exactly accuse you of cheating.” Max muttered something about being wrong just before he tripped and found himself on his ass. His hat came off his head and fell to the side.

It gave Rachel the perfect opportunity to make a few things clear to him. She hit him as hard as she could with the bunch of roses. “You will treat me like a lady, Maxwell Harper. You will politely ask me questions, and you will not accuse me of anything again unless you’re damn sure I’ve done something to deserve it. You will not walk into my place of business and tell the town I’m some sort of harlot. Is that understood?”

Max looked up at her. There were rose petals and greenery in his hair. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he swallowed twice and replied simply, “Yes, baby.”

There was a surprised burst of laughter, and Rachel turned to see the Sheriff standing there. He quickly stopped laughing when she turned on him. “Do you want some of this, too?” She held the sad flowers out threateningly.

“No, ma’am,” he said.

She glared at him. She’d just whacked the hell out of his brother. He might not take kindly to that sort of behavior. “Are you planning to arrest me?”