“High praise? I’m shocked.”

  “Me, too.” He climbed on his horse.

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you just did, Conn.”

  He liked when she called him that. Only his family and close friends ever did. “What’s that?”

  “Get more information.”

  “Found out.” He shot her a lopsided grin and then tipped his cowboy hat to her. Eve was a whole lot smarter than she let on. And sexy as hell.

  Chapter Twelve

  Dread drummed in Conner’s chest as the day wore on and they rode closer to the piece of land that haunted his entire family.

  The nearby cattle mooed and lazily strode as they fed.

  “Look, she has a calf.” Wonder filled Eve’s words.

  “Come over this way. You can see her better.” He waited for her to approach, noting how she directed Sticks. Eve had experience on horseback at some point. What had scared her away from them, though?

  When she drew level with him, her leg brushed against his. A hot flash blasted through his veins. She jerked her head and stared into his eyes. Hers were wide and questioning.

  Slowly, Conner turned away, wondering why sparks flew. Desire? Need? Was there a blurry line in between?

  He bit down on the heady rush coursing through him now.

  This wasn’t him, not the level-headed guy he’d decided to be after being dumped three years ago. “Do you love him?”

  Why had he asked her that and now? He had a strange curiosity and countless unanswered questions. They only grew with time spent with her. Along with a deep desire to know if she did.

  To her credit, she didn’t ask who. “I—” She swallowed hard. “Thought so. He, well, wasn’t the man I knew.”

  The gripping sensation in his belly eased a little. “Care to explain?”

  “Not really.” Her voice held a smile.

  “Someday, Eve.” His warning sat hard and heavy.

  Her shivery breath slammed into him. “I found out... He used me to get to someone I do love...my father. Greed. I refuse to be a man’s trophy wife.” Her voice caught and cracked.

  But, out of the corner of his eye, he noted how she tilted her head up and thrust out her chin.

  Gutsy. Prideful. Fierce.

  Conner couldn’t help but admire the stance she’d taken. If she’d gone along, perhaps she’d have a life of complete and utter ease. “That took guts, sweetheart.” More than he’d ever given her credit for.

  Eve’s tiny gasp of shock pierced the still air like a clap of thunder.

  She fought for more. And the ones she loved. For that, a great deal of respect for her grew in his chest. She wasn’t the selfish, pampered young woman who hadn’t gotten her way and took off running as he’d assumed somewhere in the back of his mind. Another bolt of surprise coursed through him, leaving a river of stunned wonder in its wake.

  Silence settled between them. A sense of peace and comfort and a new understanding did, too.

  Beyond the nursing calf, Conner scanned the fields. When he found the little grove of trees, he tensed, choking up. Memories rushed back and slammed into him.

  Pain followed, hard and sharp.

  He blew out a hot breath.

  “Conn, you all right?”

  “No, sweetheart. I’m not.”

  “Something I said?”

  How could he tell her? He’d never been there with anyone but his family. “Come ride with me over there.”

  “It’s pretty. Is it special?”

  With his heartbeat thumping wildly, Conner led her through the sweet-scented grass field. Midday, the sun beat down. The flies buzzed. Moos sounded from the cattle. The horses neighed gently, each step swaying Eve and Conner.

  “There’re flowers planted there. How pretty.” Eve leaned forward. “It’s beautiful, Conn.”

  “Like paradise. That’s what we’d like to think at least.”

  “We?”

  “The McCall family.”

  “But you don’t sound happy.”

  Conner halted his horse ten feet back, taking in the peaceful shady area with the flowers Grams had arranged. “It’s a final resting place.” He choked out the thick words.

  “Here?”

  “My folks,” he whispered. “Nearly ten years ago.”

  “Both of them? But how?” Her voice echoed with the shock of it all.

  “Bobcats stalked the herd for weeks, killing some. Roundup time. Gramps, Gram, Mom, Dad, Cody, and the ranch hands were on high alert and herding the cattle in early for market. Caleb was serving overseas then. I was only thirteen at the time and in the barn doing chores. Shadows falling. Out of nowhere, I felt the ground shake like an earthquake. Heard the rumble rise to a dull roar.”

  “What was it?”

  “Stampede. Bobcats came in a pack. My mom was closer. She slid down off her horse and took a shot. One down. All hell broke loose with the cats and the cattle. She kept shooting, taking out more, protecting the cattle until the herd went wild. My dad rode to her, jumped off his horse, and then covered her with his body. They died that way, trampled on.”

  “How awful. I’m so sorry, Conn.” She wiped away fast-falling tears.

  “The worst day of my life, Eve.” Pain throbbed inside him.

  “I don’t know how you survived it.”

  “Gramps and Grams and my brothers.”

  “The mighty McCalls, I’d say.”

  Conner smiled sadly at that.

  “She must have been something.”

  “Who?”

  “Your mom. She fought for her family and this ranch. Your dad, too, trying to protect her from harm.”

  “He knew there was no hope. They had an incredible bond. Love worth dying for.” There, he’d said it, what had been on his mind since coming near this area. That was why he’d asked Eve if she’d loved her intended.

  You don’t run from the ones you love. You run to them.

  “I want to get down. Is that all right?” She didn’t wait for an answer; she slid off, bumping against Sticks. On shaky legs, she walked to the line of flowers, leading her horse.

  He’d never gone that close. Conner dismounted and followed. He drew beside her and they stood there for a moment looking at the array of colorful blooms.

  She took a side step toward him and slipped her hand in his. It felt small and soft and so right.

  “Love lives on, Conn. Just like hope will get you through the darkest times.”

  Her whispered words slipped inside his aching chest and soothed that raw, empty hole there.

  Soft plops of rain hit Eve’s head through the straw cowgirl hat as they neared the cabin. At first, they were few and far between and then it became steady. She tilted back her head and welcomed the cleansing liquid, washing away her streaks of tears.

  She still shook at the enormity of what Conner had revealed to her. His demeanor shifted from agonizing pain to relief the farther they traveled from the idyllic place where he’d lost so much and so young.

  In her heart, she cried for him. Both parents gone in an instant.

  She couldn’t fathom the enormous loss of both parents at once.

  Eve ached for her mother and couldn’t imagine losing her dad, too. But a wall had risen, the grief too much to discuss. Her father had closed himself off even more, throwing himself in his work and his patients. Then came her stepmother and her problems with her own sons.

  All Eve had was silly, sweet Aunt Clara.

  Over time, she had less and less of her aunt since her father kept Eve away. The people she loved went away or had better things to do.

  Thus, she’d hardened her heart to hope and to dreams.

  Gavin had been the great pretender, reeling in her, and then her father. She’d fallen for the attention of the charismatic salesman who happened to just bump into her at the country club one day. Yeah, right!

  Needy and desperate, she’d been swooped up in his promise to help her patch up her fractured family. Now, she realized Gavin had been the link, the connector, to bring together what she longed for most of all.

  That had been Gavin’s appeal and he’d known it. And he used it against me.

  How could I have been so trusting? How could I have thrown away all my instincts just to mend my broken heart?

  All of it had been a lie. Mostly, to herself. She’d ignored so much—Gavin’s hidden agenda—craftily plotted out—her family’s issues, and her own misguided affection for her intended.

  Eve sighed at the tangled emotions inside her.

  She shook her head, the dripping strands of hair slapping her cheeks. Rain slid down her neckline, making her shiver at the cool water on what surely was sunburned skin.

  Gazing at Conner’s broad shoulders, she realized how much he’d carried.

  Gramps. The ranch. Their way of life.

  This was Conner’s world. He wore the honor like a badge of courage. Proud. Fierce.

  Somewhere in the back of her mind a whisper spoke to her.

  My cowboy.

  Pouring rain splashed down, soaking Conner to the bone. He smiled at Eve’s lame attempts of hauling the saddle off Cinnamon Sticks. He clamped his hands on her shivering shoulders, set her aside, and then took over. “Go on in and dry off. I got this.”

  “I can do it.”

  “Maybe in a couple of days when you build up some muscles. I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t plan on being out here that long.”

  She nudged his arm. “I’ll learn.”

  “’Course you will. Now, gather some dry wood off the porch and bring it in the cabin.”

  “What else?”

  “You might want to change.” He stopped to stare at the wet, plaid blue shirt plastered to her. Conner swallowed hard at the sight of her perfectly round breasts and her taut nipples poking against the fabric.

  Eve gasped. She clamped her arms around herself and stepped back, bumping into his horse. Jumping away, she shot him a glare. “Shame on you, Conner McCall.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve heard that one before.”

  “No doubt plenty a times.”

  “Countless.”

  She stormed off, muttering cuss words.

  “Yep. That one, too!” He laughed now, welcoming the cold rain rushing over his overheated imagination. Steam probably rose from him right now.

  Damn, woman!

  How could she be so sexy without even trying?

  Conner debated that question through settling down the horses, getting them watered and fed, and then all the way to the front door.

  Shaking off water, he entered the cabin and found her sitting—in dry clothes—in front of the open wood stove, glaring stubbornly at it.

  “If looks could kill.” He shucked off his dripping hat and kicked off his soaked boots.

  “It won’t light.” Eve waved a match. “Nothing.”

  He started unbuttoning his wet shirt.

  “You’re doing that here?” Her eyes fixed on his chest.

  “Got a better place in mind?”

  Her cheeks turned a dusty pink in the lantern light and he grinned. He got to her. At least it wasn’t one-sided. This thing. Whatever it was.

  Eve turned back to the stove, but he could see her peek when he finished and hung his shirt on a nearby peg. He went for his belt. She held up a hand to shield her vision.

  “It won’t bite you.”

  She gasped.

  He chuckled. “You’re so easy to tease, Evie.” So obviously innocent, too.

  “And you’re so blatantly obnoxious.”

  “Is that what you call it?” Thrills zipped along his nerve endings.

  “Among other things.”

  “Don’t tell me you like getting in the last word?”

  “I won’t.”

  “You just did.”

  “Are you done yet?”

  “Hardly.” He spared her and went to his bunk. Fishing in his saddle bag, he pulled out some clean, dry clothes and finally slid out of his jeans and boxer briefs. If it wasn’t for her, he’d have found a towel to dry off with.

  In seconds, he donned another pair of jeans.

  “Scoot over. I’ll teach you how.” His mind danced with other things he’d like to teach her.

  She glanced at him as she shifted. “Where’s your shirt?”

  “Over there.” He eased down beside her on the floor. “Do you have to be so skittish?”

  “Do you have to be so damn sexy?” She slapped a hand over her mouth.

  Conner watched her eyes go wide and round. He leaned in. “You, Evie, are such a sweet surprise.” Gently, he reached out and lowered her hand. His gaze dropped to her lips and then back to her beautiful stare. “Do you always say shocking things and then cover your mouth?”

  Eve nodded. “I try not to. I haven’t for ages.”

  “But I bring out the best in you.”

  “Or the worst.”

  “Can I kiss you again?”

  “No.”

  “What about you kiss me?”

  “Not a chance.”

  “But you want to.”

  “I never said I didn’t.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

  “Good to know.”

  The tension eased when he broke the stare. But his body hummed, somehow it seemed like a higher gear this time.

  What was she doing to him?

  Eve could breathe again. He’d been so close, brushing shoulders and arms as he showed her how to build a fire in the old stove. Now, she stirred some canned spaghetti something-or-other in the simmering pot.

  He’d pulled on a shirt, leaving it unbuttoned.

  Why bother? She’d been both relieved and disappointed at the covering up part. He moved behind her and around her, setting the table. Always, she was aware of his heat and his presence.

  The cozy atmosphere didn’t go unnoticed. It tugged at all the empty places inside her.

  She swallowed hard.

  This wasn’t her life. Even if she wanted it to be. Hers was a sham. And she couldn’t go stealing something that wasn’t hers and never intended to be.

  How could she? In a less than a week, she’d be found out completely.

  Conner would hate her then.

  Family meant everything to him. It couldn’t have been more evident than earlier today and she linked that with what she already knew about the McCalls.

  You never turn your back on your own. Never. No matter what.

  It seemed impossible for him to ever understand her running away.

  Protecting her father from the resulting scandal wasn’t the entire truth.

  Eve didn’t want to look beyond the obvious, but it sank in deeper and deeper.

  This was more about her and how little control she had over her own life. If she didn’t have Gavin—what she thought he could provide—then she’d be right back in the lonely prison she’d tried to escape from by marrying him. Just existing in a vacuum, torn between family members who, for whatever reason, didn’t want to set aside their pride and make things right.

  A world void of connection and love.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Rain’s not letting up.” Conner closed the door behind them and halted on the porch with his hands on his hips. Gray and dreary, the ranch chores would be brutal. “It’s best if you stay behind today.”

  “I’m your ranch hand, remember? You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  For someone who didn’t live the rustic lifestyle, Eve had taken to it, strangely enough.

  “Suit yourself.” He reached over and adjusted her oversized rain poncho—left as standard gear at the cabin—on her small frame. The hood framed her pretty little face and made her violet eyes stand out even more.

  A coil of heat wound tighter in his center. Why, of all the women he’d met, did she get to him the most? And he was only her rebound cowboy. That hit him square in the gut.

  “Beef jerky. Check. Water. Check. Dry socks. Check. I’m good to go.”

  He chuckled at her bubbling excitement. “Greenhorn.”

  “Grouchy.”

  “Me? Wait until we’re out there for hours.”

  “No time like now to get started. Come on, buck up, cowboy.”

  Surprisingly, she worked with him getting the horses ready and the gear on Six Pack, one of the pack horses. Eve remained hesitant and jumpy and she’d nearly gotten Sticks saddle hefted. But Conner stepped in to shorten the time.

  After they finished and headed out, Conner looked back at her. “‘A’ for effort, Eve.”

  “Isn’t that ‘E’ for effort?” She grinned.

  Conner shook his head. How could it be pouring down rain and she still have that sunny smile? He began to whistle a tune, thinking the day might not be that bad after all.

  Eve drew her horse level with his. She tried to imitate him. Barely any sound escaped.

  “You call that a whistle?”

  “That? I was blowing bubbles in the rain.” Her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkled. She shrugged.

  God, he longed to lean over and kiss her, soft at first and then deep. Conner contained his desires, just barely.

  Instead, he went back to whistling.

  This time, Eve hummed along. “Wait. What song is that?”

  “The bologna one.”

  She laughed, rich and pure. It jolted him in places, stirring up ancient wells filled with dust. Don’t go there, McCall.

  “It’s tradition. My brothers and I do it at least once a ride.”

  “Of course, you do.” She began to sing the words and abruptly stopped. “Maestro, I need an accompaniment.”

  He complied, whistling again.

  Eve sang. At least it wasn’t off-key.

  They plodded along in the chilly, damp air with wind and rain slashing down on them. But Conner had never felt this lighthearted before. Not for the last decade since his parents died, at least. Maybe ever.

  Strange how someone you never knew could come into your life and make you share things—painful and buried—and you get to see those things in a whole new light.

  Or maybe it was just Eve...

  The awful weather continued throughout the day. Eve felt the lash of the wind again and it made her shiver with a fresh bout of cold.

 

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