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The Daddy Search
Shawna Delacorte


RANCHER DAD? When Lexi Parker first set foot onto Nick Clayton's dude ranch, she had one goal in mind: to vacation undercover and find out if Nick really was the father of Lexi's precious, now-motherless nephew. It seemed like a perfect plan… .Until Lexi herself succumbed to the cowboy's devastating charms - and found out that this big hearted, honorable rancher was nothing like the love-'em-and-leave-'em rake her sister had portrayed. But if Lexi revealed her secret agenda to Nick now, would she lose her chance with the one man who'd ever stolen her heart?







Which One Was The Real Nick Clayton? (#ua6dbf097-9d9e-5674-9391-534e16ced0ae)Letter to Reader (#u8212c354-826a-58ca-9f62-676143ab73cc)Title Page (#u140d50d4-a613-5e63-b9a2-4920cce263bd)About the Author (#u322eed1c-9e7a-5ad2-bb20-cf732dac6548)Prologue (#u34e583b3-d0a9-5454-8730-6898c8016a95)Chapter One (#ud6cb3f16-b565-506a-9f6d-fcbc98db1c41)Chapter Two (#u4b8c14e5-5ac7-5471-950c-c66bb317e912)Chapter Three (#u58a029d5-f635-5f4f-aa28-b0bdf41cb439)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)


Which One Was The Real Nick Clayton?

The man her sister had described, or the one Lexi herself had observed?

There was no way you could call Nick irresponsible or callous. She could not imagine him knowingly abandoning his son or telling the boy’s mother to get out of his life.

And most devastating of all was Lexi’s sense of guilt for her personal involvement with the very man she had come to confront. What was she to believe? Her sister’s accusations, or her own observations of a man who made her tingle with excitement and caused her heart to sing?


Dear Reader,

Hey, look us over—our brand-new cover makes Silhouette Desire look more desirable than ever! And between the covers we’re continuing to offer those powerful, passionate and provocative love stories featuring rugged heroes and spirited heroines.

Mary Lynn Baxter returns to Desire and locates our November MAN OF THE MONTH in the Heart of Texas, where a virgin heroine is wary of involvement with a younger man.

More heart-pounding excitement can be found in the next installment of the Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB with Secret Agent Dad by Metsy Hingle. Undercover agent Blake Hunt loses his memory but gains adorable twin babies—and the heart of lovely widow Josie Walters!

Ever-popular Dixie Browning presents a romance in which opposites attract in The Bride-in-Law. Elizabeth Bevarly offers you A Doctor in Her Stocking, another entertaining story in her miniseries FROM HERE TO MATERNITY. The Daddy Search is Shawna Delacorte’s story of a woman’s search for the man she believes fathered her late sister’s child. And a hero and heroine are in jeopardy on an island paradise in Kathleen Korbel’s Sail Away.

Each and every month, Silhouette Desire offers you six exhilarating journeys into the seductive world of romance.

So make a commitment to sensual love and treat yourself to all six!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

Please address questions and book requests to

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The Daddy Search

Shawna Delacorte










www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


SHAWNA DELACORTE has delayed her move to Washington State, staying in the Midwest in order to spend some additional time with family. She still travels as often as time permits, and is looking forward to visiting several new places during the upcoming year while continuing to devote herself to writing full-time.


Prologue

“There’s nothing more to say, Mother. Nick Clayton is Jimmy’s father and he has to pay for deserting Mamie when he found out she was pregnant. You’re not going to talk me out of it. I’ll be leaving for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, first thing in the morning.”

Lexi quickly concluded her phone conversation, then went into the living room where her five-year-old nephew had plopped down in the middle of the floor to watch television. She studied him a moment as she pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail and fastened it with a rubber band. He had his mother’s looks—Marnie’s light brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Friends and family had always said if it hadn’t been for Mamie being six years older than Lexi, the two girls would have looked enough alike to have been mistaken for twins. Both girls were tall and slender, and they wore the same size clothes.

Mamie had been a good mother. What she and her son lacked in material possessions Mamie had made up for in love and attention. It was almost as if she had searched all her life for someone who needed her, someone to whom she could give her love, and she had found what she’d been seeking when her son was born. Mamie’s death had created a tragic upheaval in Jimmy’s life and left a void that Lexi tried hard to fill. A touch of sadness washed over her, but it boosted her resolve to see things through to the conclusion.

“Jimmy?” The little boy looked up at the sound of her voice. “I have some business that I need to take care of . . . out of town. You’ll be staying with Grandma for a little while. And while you’re there, she’s going to take you to the zoo.” Lexi forced an encouraging smile and tried to make her voice sound upbeat and casual, as if nothing were wrong. “Won’t that be fun?”

Lexi set about packing a suitcase for Jimmy and then packed for her own trip. She was determined and her mother was opposed and that’s the way it had been from the moment Lexi first mentioned the idea four months ago, immediately following her sister’s death. Neither of them had budged from their positions and Lexi had decided to proceed with her plan. She needed to secure Jimmy’s future while trying to make sense of what had happened.

Even though Marnie’s death was technically an accident, Lexi still held Nick Clayton responsible. Mamie had been forced to take on a second job to provide for her son. It was on her way to that second job, driving through a deluge when everyone had been warned to stay off the roads, that she had been caught in a flash flood and drowned. Now Lexi had to raise her sister’s five-year-old son. Lexi loved Jimmy as much as if he had been her own child, and she was prepared to confront the man Mamie said had gotten her pregnant, then refused to accept any responsibility. She was going to demand that this unprincipled man contribute to Jimmy’s upbringing and see to it that the little boy received a good education. Yes, indeed—Lexi fully intended to confront Nick Clayton.

Then the nagging little thought surfaced again—the one that questioned if it was possible for this to be yet another of Mamie’s exaggerations. Lexi shoved the disturbing notion aside. Surely Mamie wouldn’t have lied about something this important... surely not.


One

Lexi stared blankly out the window at the passing scenery as the shuttle van made its way along the road. The other passengers were laughing and happy, obviously looking forward to a fun-filled holiday. But hot Lexi. Fun was the very last thing on her mind. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes in an attempt to ease the tension headache that throbbed at her temples.

She went over the facts for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past four months. She recited them in her mind almost like a litany. Mamie had met Nick Clayton while vacationing at the Clayton’s Via Verde Dude Ranch. They had an affair that included a trip to Hawaii where she became pregnant. When Marnie told Nick, he refused to accept any responsibility. Not knowing what else to do, Marnie had confided to Lexi and finally told their mother, Colleen, that she was pregnant and the father had deserted her.

Colleen had blamed her daughter, saying it was just one more example of Mamie’s wild and irresponsible behavior to add to an already long list. Mamie and Lexi’s father had died ten years ago. Being widowed at such a young age left their mother an embittered woman. Since then, their relationship with their mother could best be described as adversarial, which only made the strained situation worse. Lexi had tried her best to be supportive, but Colleen had informed Mamie that she could not look to her for any help with this latest mess of hers. An angry Lexi wanted to confront Nick Clayton and threaten him with legal action, but Mamie had begged her not to, so Lexi reluctantly agreed to defer to her sister’s wishes.

Mamie wanted to have the baby. When Jimmy was born, Mamie had signed a document stating if anything happened to her, she wanted her sister to be her son’s legal guardian rather than their mother. Marnie had eventually reconciled with her mother but had never gotten around to changing the document. So, with Mamie’s unexpected death, Lexi had become Jimmy’s guardian with her mother there to help care for the boy.

And now, four months later and against her mother’s strong objections, Lexi had taken all her savings and spent it on a three week stay at an expensive Wyoming dude ranch—certainly not the type of place she normally would have associated with her sister’s interests. She intended to confront the man she held responsible, even though indirectly, for her sister’s death. But first she needed to check things out in person, determine for herself exactly who this Nick Clayton was. Lexi had never felt so emotionally exhausted, or as old beyond her twenty-six years, as she did at this moment.

The van turned into a long, tree-lined driveway, then came to a halt in front of a large building. “Welcome to Via Verde Dude Ranch, folks, here in the heart of beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I’ll have your luggage unloaded in just a minute.” The driver busied himself with suitcases as the passengers climbed out of the van.

Lexi took in her surroundings. The grounds were attractively landscaped and the buildings all had an appropriately rustic look, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the dude ranch. She also noted two tennis courts, several tree-shaded terraces and a large swimming pool with a children’s wading pool and a Jacuzzi.

Then her gaze landed on the corral, her attention drawn by a highly spirited horse being led into a chute. She wandered over to the fence so she could get a better look at what was happening. Leaning against the railing, she watched as a cowboy climbed into the chute, then eased himself onto the back of the agitated horse. His hat blocked her view of his face, but his broad shoulders, long legs and the snug fit of his jeans told her the rest of him certainly warranted closer scrutiny. The chute gate sprang open and the snorting bronco shot out into the corral. It appeared that she had arrived just in time to get a glimpse of a mini rodeo.

The cowboy’s hat flew off, revealing a man of about thirty with dark hair and handsome features... very handsome features. Her thoughts drifted for a brief moment. There was certainly a lot to be said about the appeal of the rugged Wild West and the equally rugged men who lived there. She returned her attention to the action in the corral. The rider appeared to have the upper hand, but not for long. The unruly horse leaped into the air, twisted half around, then threw the rider off its back.

Lexi flinched. The cowboy hit the ground with a thud that nearly jarred her bones in sympathy with his plight. She watched him brush the dirt from his jeans, then rub his well-formed backside where he had landed. She toyed with the notion that kissing whatever he had bruised and making it well just might be a delightful way to pass the time—certainly a tantalizing idea that fitted perfectly with this drop-dead gorgeous cowboy. Her breathing quickened. She had no idea the Wild West could be so . . . so entertaining.

Then this prime physical specimen grabbed his hat from the ground and walked straight toward her. He exuded an undeniable sexuality wrapped in a layer of rugged masculinity—a very potent combination for sure. A little twinge of embarrassment poked at her. It was almost as if he had read her thoughts and come over to grant her the errant wish—a tempting possibility that produced a heated surge of desire where this virile man was concerned.

She noted the way he moved—a walk that was not a swagger and showed no arrogance, yet clearly defined the essence of a man full of confidence about who he was, where he was going and what he wanted out of life. All in all, a very attractive and appealing package that could easily set any woman’s heart aflutter, and she was no exception. Then a dash of cold water dampened her thoughts as she recalled exactly why she was at the ranch. Fantasizing about a sexy cowboy should have been the last thing on her mind.

As he drew closer, he appeared even more goodlooking than he had from a distance. And then he smiled—a cross between a sexy come-hither look and one of open warmth—showing perfect white teeth made all the more noticeable by his golden tan. She wasn’t sure, but she thought he might be the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen . . . just the type to cause a woman to have delicious fantasies of a truly erotic nature. She took a deep breath as the warmth swept through her body. She could almost feel his bare skin against hers, hear the ragged breathing of someone enveloped in the throes of passion.

A touch of surprise tempered her wandering thoughts. This certainly was not like her, conjuring up such heated fantasies about a stranger regardless of how attractive she found him. She was much more pragmatic than that. She suddenly felt like a teenager with raging hormones. True, she hadn’t been on a date since taking responsibility for Jimmy, but that didn’t excuse such totally off-the-wall and inappropriate musings where this stranger was concerned. She again reminded herself of the very serious purpose that had brought her to the ranch and the task she had set for herself. Meeting an exciting man was not part of that agenda, regardless of the sensual magnetism drawing her into his realm.

He came to a halt not more than five feet from her, removed his leather work gloves and tucked them into his belt. His brilliant blue eyes seemed to penetrate right into her existence and hold her soul captive. She had no idea who he was, but she was certainly anxious to find out. If she had known dude ranches offered up such delectable talent, she would have visited one a long time ago.

Then he spoke, the sound of his voice sending a tremor of excitement through her body while drawing her even farther into his magnetic aura.

“Hi. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before.” He reached out and tugged at her sunglasses until he had removed them to reveal her entire face. “That’s much better. Now I’m sure I haven’t seen you around here.” He handed the sunglasses back to her. “You really shouldn’t hide those beautiful eyes behind these dark glasses.”

“Oh?” She tried to fall in line with his open, easy manner. “You mean you don’t think they lend an air of mystery?”

He ignored her question. “I hope you realize you’re responsible for that horse tossing me to the ground.”

She felt her eyes widen in shock at his accusatory words. “Me? What did I do?”

“You appeared from out of nowhere and stood there looking like the most intriguing woman I’d ever seen—hair of spun gold and half your face covered by these large dark glasses. By the time I got my mind back on the fact that the horse and I had different goals, it was too late. I was on my backside in the dirt wondering what happened.” He flashed a sexy yet nonthreatening smile. “So you now owe me something to make up for this terrible inconvenience.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t help the little grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “And just what might that be?”

“I’ll have to think about that one.” He gave her a sly wink. “I don’t want to make any hasty decisions.”

She saw the sparkle in his eyes and a heated look that said a lot more than just hello—a look that sent a surge of earthy desire rushing through her body. He cocked his head and stared at her for a moment, a very unnerving experience that quickly brought her back to earth. She was no good at flirting and playing teasing little games, and knew she was way out of her league. She never should have tried it with him.

“Was mystery what you were trying for?”

She furrowed her brow in confusion and tilted her head to one side. “What?”

“You asked me if I thought the sunglasses gave you an air of mystery. Is that what you were trying for?”

She glanced at the ground as the embarrassment tried to take control and felt the heat spread across her cheeks. “No, it wasn’t.” She looked up at him again. Rather than making fun of her, he seemed more interested in what her answer might be. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound flippant. I guess I’m just not very good at this type of conversation.”

He reached out and touched his fingertips to her cheek, allowing his hand to linger for a moment before withdrawing it. His voice dropped to a soft level that wrapped her in a cloak of intimacy. “What type of conversation are you good at?”

Little trails of heat followed in the wake of his touch. She had to force the words that came out as not much more than a whisper. “I only meant that I don’t do very well with casual, flirty conversations. I never know what to say and usually end up feeling foolish.” Her own words shocked her. She could not imagine what had prompted her to say something so personal to this complete stranger.

“I guess that brings us back full circle to my original observation that I haven’t seen you around here before.” He blatantly looked her up and down, sending a second tremor of excitement coursing through her veins. He reestablished eye contact, which included another quick wink. “And believe me, I would have noticed you. Did you just arrive?”

“Uh . . . yes. I just got off the shuttle from the airport.” She waved her hand in the direction of the driveway, indicating the van parked in front of the registration lobby. She noticed the hint of confusion followed by the look of surprise that darted across his face as he shifted his attention in that direction.

His words were slightly distracted, as if he were thinking out loud rather than talking to her. “Looks like Herb made good time from the airport. He’s here a little sooner than I expected.” Then his gaze returned to her along with his devastatingly sexy smile. “As much as I’d love to stand here and talk to you for the rest of the morning, I’m afraid I need to get to work.”

“You mean riding that bucking horse and getting thrown to the ground wasn’t work? It sure looked like work to me.”

“That?” He gave a quick glance over his shoulder toward the horse being herded out of the corral. “No, that wasn’t work. I was handling a little problem. No big deal.” His gaze wandered toward the shuttle van again. “I really need to be on my way.” He climbed over the fence, then paused as he smoothed back his glossy hair and settled his hat firmly on his head. He smiled at her while touching his hand to his hat brim. “I’ll definitely see you later.” He had spoken the words as a statement of fact rather than a casual comment.

She returned his smile. “I’ll look forward to it.” Unsettled, she felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach as she watched him walk away, his stride purposeful and determined. Yes . . . she would like that very much in spite of the fact that he had left her feeling off balance. She knew she had just fallen instantly in lust with the sexiest man she had ever met, but there seemed to be more to it than that. He had literally rocked her senses to the core and knocked her for a loop. She toyed with the notion of love at first sight. Was there such a thing, and if so, how could someone clearly identify it? Whatever the answers, this cowboy had totally captivated her.

She turned her attention back to the shuttle van and to the reality of her objective. The driver had gotten a cart and loaded the baggage onto it. She hurried to rejoin the others, her insides still quivering from her encounter with the brash cowboy. A moment later, she spotted the same drop-dead gorgeous man headed toward the van. He smiled at her . . . at least it seemed that it had been directed solely for her benefit, rather than extended to the group. Or perhaps it was merely wishful thinking on her part.

He joined the new arrivals. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If you’ll give me a moment or two, I’ll be right with you.” He turned toward the driver and held out his hand. “Do you have a copy of the guest list, Herb? You got here a little sooner than I expected and caught me unprepared. Then I got sidetracked—” he shot a quick sideways glance at Lexi along with a knowing grin “—and didn’t have a chance to grab the clipboard from the office.”

As if to confirm his statement he brushed some dirt from his shirt and took another swipe at his jeans. A sheepish grin appeared and a hint of embarrassment darted across his features, giving him the appearance of a mischievous little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“I obviously didn’t have an opportunity to get cleaned up, either.”

The driver handed him a sheet of paper, then returned to the task of wheeling the baggage cart into the building.

The cowboy turned toward the group with an engaging smile. “I’m Nick Clayton. On behalf of my mother, Gloria, and my brother, Danny, I’d like to officially welcome you to the Via Verde Dude Ranch. We hope to make your vacation a fun and memorable experience.”

A solid jab of alarm shot through Lexi, then it settled in the pit of her stomach where it continued to churn. A hard knot lodged in her throat as the shock jolted her senses She tried to swallow it away, but it almost choked her. Had she heard him correctly? This sexy cowboy who had totally grabbed her attention and triggered such sensual thoughts and desires in her imagination was Nick Clayton? This man whose mere presence had sent tingles of excitement through her body and turned her world upside down was the very man she had come to confront—the man who had ruined her sister’s life?

She tried to shove the contradictory clouds of confusion from her mind. On one hand, there was her steadfast belief in her need to do everything she could to secure her nephew’s future, but on the other hand was her knowledge of Mamie’s history of lies and deceit It was that nagging little doubt in the back of her mind that had prompted her plan to check out Nick Clayton in person without his knowing it before taking any further action.

She forced her attention back to what he was saying.

“. . . you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to contact me or any of the staff.” Nick glanced at the list in his hand. “And now, I’d like to attach some names to your faces.”

He quickly identified the other people who had arrived on the shuttle van with Lexi, offering each a warm handshake of welcome. Then he turned his attention toward her and held out his hand. His voice lowered to a timbre that mesmerized her senses, nearly obliterating her determination to ignore him:

“It seems the only name left on my list is Alexandra Parker from Chicago.” He grasped her hand firmly, a physical contact that lingered a couple of seconds longer than it should have as the warmth of his touch suffused her with a very real desire for more.

Again she forced away the totally inappropriate feelings caused by the nearness of this very enticing man. She attempted to dismiss them as being ridiculous. It was a purely physical attraction to a sexy man, nothing more. She was a mature adult who could put aside such unimportant nonsense and concentrate on what needed to be done.

She stared at him through narrowing eyes as she forced her mind beyond what she saw and felt to exactly who and what he was. She knew his type all too well. She had once been engaged to someone just like him—a man with a smooth technique, a fast line and not a sincere bone in his body. She had been fully prepared to hate Nick Clayton on sight.

His warm touch and the almost overwhelming pull on her senses again edged into her consciousness as she tried valiantly to get the upper hand in her internal battle. She made every effort to shove the unwelcome sensations away, but as the familiar poem said, “The best laid schemes o’ mice and men...”

The sound of his voice interrupted her thoughts and jolted her back to the fact that he was talking to her.

“Is that correct? You’re Alexandra Parker?”

She finally collected her wits and managed to stammer a few words. “Yes . . . Lexi for short...Lexi Parker.”

The unexpected excitement caused by the brief moment of physical contact when they shook hands and the flash of his dazzling smile sent a shiver of sweet anticipation through her body, followed by a sobering dash of trepidation. There was no question that he was the most handsome man she had ever met, a man who oozed sex appeal by the bucketful and could probably charm a snake out of its skin—or a woman out of her good intentions, not to mention her clothes. It was easy to see how her sister could have fallen under the spell of this far too sexy cowboy even though he was not at all what Lexi had expected to find.

She felt a twinge of anger, which she immediately attributed to the fact that reality had refused to coincide with her preconceived notions. She had spent a lot of time, energy and effort planning this. She knew what she wanted to feel and what she had expected to find, but that was not what had happened when she came face-to-face with Nick Clayton. She again extended a hard glance toward him as she tried to figure out what her next step should be.

He flashed his best smile at her, covering whatever thoughts may have been running through his mind in the process. He made a notation on the list of names. “Then Lexi it is.”

When he had first spotted her at the corral fence, all he could see was long blond hair and a great pair of tanned legs extending from cutoff jeans. As he got closer, he saw a woman with delectable curves in all the right places. When he finally came face-to-face with her and had removed her sunglasses, he discovered a beautiful woman with large hazel eyes surrounded by long, dark lashes. Her flawless skin had the appearance of smooth silk—what his mother would have referred to as a peaches-and-cream complexion.

A tightness pulled across his chest, a physical indication of just how swiftly she had reached out to him and grabbed hold of his senses. In fact, he had never had a woman make his pulse jump and his blood race that hard at first glance. He took in a deep, slow breath in an attempt to quell the feeling. This was one woman he wanted to get to know better... a whole lot better.

Then suddenly, her entire demeanor changed. She stared at him through narrowing eyes. A frown wrinkled her forehead. It was almost as if she were issuing a challenge of some sort, perhaps daring him to remember where they might have encountered each other in the past. Could she have been a guest at the ranch at some previous time? He didn’t think so. He was sure he wouldn’t have forgotten such a beautiful woman, but there was one way to find out.

Nick looked over the group. “Do we have any repeat guests with us today?” He again scanned the people surrounding him, his gaze settling on Lexi as she spoke up.

“My sister was a guest here a little over six years ago. Her name is Mamie Adams. Do you remember her?” She cocked her head and leveled a steady gaze at him as if she had issued a challenge and was waiting for his response.

Nick paused for a moment of concentration as he tried to recall the name, then slowly shook his head. “No . . . I’m sorry. The name doesn’t ring a bell. You said about six years ago?” He continued to shake his head as he tried again to force some sort of recognition of the name.

“Well, it was quite a while ago. I suppose it’s understandable that you wouldn’t remember her.”

He caught the hint of a hard edge to her voice that conveyed something quite different from her words. In direct contrast to his earlier conversation with her at the corral, she now didn’t seem to fit in with the other guests. They were all happy, laughing and looking forward to their vacations. She behaved more like someone with an entirely separate agenda rather than someone anticipating a fun-filled time. And the way she looked at him—almost as if he were supposed to know who she was. A perplexing situation, but it didn’t stop him from finding her to be a very intriguing and incredibly desirable woman—a thought reinforced by the tightness that continued to pull across his chest and the heat that settled low in his body.

He hadn’t noticed any antagonism when they were talking at the corral, so why now? He decided to dismiss the puzzling situation as just one of those things. Perhaps she was tired from her trip or maybe he had read something into it that wasn’t there. Either way, there was nothing to be gained by giving it any additional thought when there were so many more appetizing things about this woman to occupy his attention. He turned back to the business at hand.

“Herb has your luggage at the front desk. Please step inside and register. You’ll find daily schedules in your rooms to help guide you in your selection of activities.” He flashed his patented smile. “Once again, if there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask any of the staff.”

His smile faded as he returned to thoughts of Lexi Parker and what was really going on in her mind. Had he unintentionally done something to offend her? He replayed their conversation at the corral in his mind, but he couldn’t find anything that was okay then but would have caused her to have such a sudden change of attitude ten minutes later. She had said that she had been a little uncomfortable with the nature of a flirty conversation, but she hadn’t seemed angered by it. Could he have inadvertently embarrassed her? He scanned the group as they headed toward the building, his gaze lingering on Lexi for a moment longer.

She paused on her way to the registration lobby and gave a quick glance in his direction, noting the look of puzzlement on his face, then moved along with the rest of the guests. A twinge of anger jabbed at her as she recalled his blatant denial that he even knew Mamie. She almost turned back to confront him about it, then thought better of it. She was anxious to get to her cabin so she could reevaluate the situation—and get far away from the all-too-alluring presence of Nick Clayton. This strange turn of events had totally unnerved her. So far, things hadn’t gone quite as she had planned.

When Lexi made her reservation, she had requested a cabin rather than a room in the main lodge, preferring to be away from the central hub of activity. This was not a vacation as far as she was concerned. It was business—very serious business.

She registered, then went to her assigned cabin consisting of a large bedroom, a bathroom and a patio. The furnishings looked comfortable, accentuated by an attractive and tasteful decor. As advertised, there were no televisions, radios or telephones in the guests’ rooms although there was a comfortable lounge in the main building with a big-screen television.

As soon as she had unpacked and put her things away, she picked up the activities schedule. She glanced at it but put it back on the table without giving it too much thought. She would make her selections later, ensuring that she participated in all the activities led by Nick Clayton. Right now, however, she had more important things on her mind.

She had formulated a plan, actually several plans, on how she would handle the situation once she arrived at the ranch. She knew it was going to take every bit of intestinal fortitude she could muster to keep her longsuppressed feelings of resentment and her hidden agenda from showing. She tried to dismiss the fact that she now needed to add the necessity of ignoring a very primal attraction to an incredibly sexy and appealing man—a man whose touch and smile made her pulse race, a man about whom she could easily fantasize making passionate love all night long . . . and a man she knew was a no-good philanderer.

At least she thought she knew it. Even though she disliked the notion, she couldn’t stop thinking she’d need to confirm Mamie’s story before taking any action. Before she made her move, she’d have to scope out the situation, learn as much as she could about Nick Clayton and figure out what made him tick. A touch of sadness worked its way into her mind. Even though she loved her older sister, she could not turn a blind eye to Mamie’s history of twisting and exaggerating facts to suit her needs.

She could not imagine why Mamie would lie about something this important, but Lexi wanted to make sure everything had happened just as her sister said it had before she confronted Nick Clayton about his son. She didn’t want to make any mistakes that would allow him an avenue of escape, nor did she want to tip her hand too soon.

She took a steadying breath and shoved away the unsettled anxiety in her stomach. But try as she might, she could not dislodge the image that continued to tempt her stimulated senses and heated desires. There was something very special about Nick Clayton that had grabbed hold of her and refused to let go.

There was no doubt that he had made a definite impact on her, but it was one she feared could end up causing an emotional upheaval in her life. From the moment she’d laid eyes on this delicious cowboy, sensual desires had dominated her thoughts—desires tempered by a softer underscoring of emotion. A link of some sort had been forged, one as much emotional as physical. She didn’t understand it, but she instinctively knew it was true.

How could she possibly give her full attention to achieving her goal when the object of her quest kept heating her senses and turning her life upside down? She had never met anyone who had gotten under her skin the way he had. Her earlier errant thought about love at first sight came back to haunt her. She had only meant it as a joke—at least she had thought it was only a joke. Could there have been more truth to it than she realized?

Lexi’s brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to force her thoughts and feelings into some sort of sensible and rational mold—something that would remove them from the influence of her emotions. A little shiver of trepidation pricked at her consciousness. He would not be that easy to dismiss from her life on either a physical or an emotional level.

Nick Clayton had turned out to be a very disconcerting man. Finding out his secrets and digging into his psyche was going to be much more difficult than she’d originally thought.


Two

Nick entered the ranch’s business office and perched on the edge of his mother’s desk. “Well, what’s on the agenda for the rest of today?” He picked up the clipboard, giving the schedule a quick glance. “Any problems that I need to know about?”

Gloria Clayton looked up at her older son, emitted a little sigh of resignation and took the clipboard away from him. “Nothing out of the ordinary that can’t be handled as part of the daily routine by the people whose job it is.” She released the brake on her wheelchair and started across the room.

Nick jumped to his feet. “What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

Gloria wheeled around to face him. “Nicky . . . I’ve been confined to this chair for a little over eight years now. I’ve adjusted to your father being gone and I’ve adjusted to not being able to walk more than a few steps unaided. I’m more than capable of getting whatever I need by myself.”

A moment of sorrow swept across her features and her words came out barely above a whisper. “One moment, a blink of an eye, and the entire world is turned upside down. Your father is dead, my legs are almost useless, and the drunk driver who ran the red light and crashed into our car walks away without a scratch.”

She looked up at her son, a gentle smile coming to her still-beautiful features. “And out of that terrible happening came a new beginning. A modest cattle ranch becomes a successful dude ranch. You and Danny stepped into your father’s shoes and did a terrific job of making the difficult transition and running the business.” The gentle smile turned to an amused chuckle. “Now, if I could just get you to stop trying to be all things to everyone and start thinking about yourself for a change.” A pensive look crossed her face. “There must be some kind of a middle ground between your serious approach to responsibility and Danny’s frivolous, good-time attitude.”

“Ah—Danny’s frivolous, good-time attitude.” He nervously shifted his weight and cleared his throat. “Well, maybe he’ll grow up one of these days.”

“He’s twenty-eight years old, Nicky. And you’re thirty. Neither of you are children anymore.”

Nick carefully sidestepped Gloria’s comments about what she had often referred to as his overinflated sense of responsibility, preferring to allow Danny to be the topic of conversation. “There is one thing Danny does that I’m happy to let him handle without any interference. He works real well with the kids. I . . . uh . . .” One of Nick’s very few chinks in his armor of confidence was now visible. “I haven’t a clue what to do with children. I sort of freeze up when I’m around them and am at a loss for something to say. I guess I just don’t know how to talk to kids.”

“Well, one of these days you’ll come face-to-face with the perfect woman and that will be the end of your objections. You’ll look up and there she’ll be. You’ll get married and have a family of your own. I remember when your father and I met. One look and we both knew that was it.” Gloria shot him a half teasing, half serious glance. “One of these days I’ll finally be a grandmother. I’m the only one of all my friends who doesn’t have any grandchildren.”

Nick chuckled nervously. “Now, Mom. There’s plenty of time for that.” He placed a loving kiss on her forehead and grinned at her. “You’re far too young to be a grandmother.”

He felt the tension building inside him. It was a conversation that always made him uneasy. He really had no interest in getting mamed. He had a business to run and too many people depended on him for their jobs, a responsibility that took most of his time and weighed heavily on his shoulders. There was no way he would be able to take on the additional commitment that marriage required. Besides, why tie himself down to only one woman when there were so many out there to choose from?

He and Danny had both found that the unmarried female guests at their dude ranch provided a perfect short-term, no-strings-attached type of relationship. They arrived in groups of two or three and quickly made their availability known. As ranch guests they were there to have a good time and forget about the problems of everyday life. No one was looking for anything serious. It lasted for two or three weeks, everyone enjoyed themselves, then the guests returned to their homes and new guests arrived.

Danny flirted outrageously while Nick was more selective and usually more discreet, but each had no problem attracting feminine companionship. Danny called it the best of all possible worlds.

It always made Nick uncomfortable when his mother started talking about grandchildren, which meant she was really talking about his getting married. That was one responsibility he was definitely not ready to accept. And then, as if on cue, an image of Lexi Parker’s face popped into his mind...again. It was a situation that had repeated itself at least ten times in the past couple of hours.

There was no denying the fact that she had assaulted his senses in a way no other woman ever had. Everything about her . . . the shapely tanned legs, the way the soft fabric of her blouse caressed the curve of her breasts, the tilt of her head, the intelligence in her beautiful hazel eyes, her flawless skin, a throaty voice that sent tremors of longing through his body, a perfect mouth that absolutely begged to be kissed—

His mother’s voice intruded into his errant thoughts. “Isn’t it at about this point in the conversation when you decide you have some very urgent business that slipped your mind and then you hurry out of here?” There may have been teasing in her voice, but there was seriousness in her eyes.

The interruption was a welcome one, especially considering where those tempting images were taking him. He began to edge toward the door as he flashed his best “trust me” smile. “I don’t know where you get these crazy ideas.” He glanced at his watch. “Uh-oh. I didn’t realize it was so late. I have some paperwork to take care of.”

Nick headed down the hall, Lexi Parker continuing to invade his thoughts and linger in his mind. He had even gone so far as to check her reservation information. He knew she had arrived alone, but she had also requested a single cabin, which told him she was not expecting anyone to join her. He thought back to her mention of her sister, someone who had been a previous guest at the ranch. Why would she come alone rather than with a friend or even her sister? It piqued his curiosity, but then everything about Lexi Parker piqued his curiosity as well as heated his desires.

It had been quite a while since a woman made his blood race that hard and fast at first glance. He closed his eyes for a moment as he recalled the surge of electricity from her touch when they shook hands. This was definitely a woman he wanted to know—intimately know—as quickly as possible. Thoughts of Lexi Parker did more than just pique Nick’s curiosity. He could picture her long blond hair spread out across his pillow and that incredibly tempting mouth beckoning him to partake.

As he passed the door leading into the lobby he spotted Lexi entenng from the front of the building. She crossed the lobby toward the registration desk. He quickly stepped through the door to intercept her.

“Hello, Lexi.” He felt his breath quicken and his pulse begin to race. He flashed a sexy grin as he leaned against the counter, trying to appear casual even though it was far removed from the unsettled feeling that had a grip on him. “Are you getting situated okay? Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I was just turning in my activities sign-up sheet.”

“I’ll be happy to take care of that for you.” He took the sheet of paper from her and glanced over her selections. He managed to maintain an outer calm despite the way her nearness pulled on his senses and desires. She exerted a very disconcerting effect on him. He wanted to pull her into his arms, claim her delicious-looking mouth as his and whisk her away to his cabin for an afternoon of totally uninhibited passion.

He looked up, locking eye contact with her for a second before allowing his gaze to momentarily drop to the temptation of her slightly parted lips. “This is quite an energetic schedule you’ve set for yourself. Most of our guests like to kick back and relax for the first couple of days before throwing themselves into the more rigorous activities.”

He glanced at her list again. “I see you’re starting out first thing in the morning with our sunrise breakfast ride. In fact, you’ve signed up for it twice this week.” He arched one eyebrow in surprise. “And you’re going to try our calf-roping lessons in preparation for the guest rodeo?” He looked up at her, catching a fleeting glimpse of uncertainty in her eyes that quickly changed to something more standoffish. “We don’t have too many women who try their hand at calf roping. You must be quite the outdoors enthusiast.”

“Uh . . . well, yes. I do enjoy being outdoors.” Every activity led by Nick Clayton had gone on her sign-up sheet. She had to know more about him to determine the best way to confront him about his son—well, at least determine if Jimmy was his son. If Jimmy was his son? How had she allowed that doubt to become part of her thinking? She stiffened her resolve and tried to shove the uncertainties aside. She had to see this through to the conclusion.

But calf roping? A hint of trepidation shivered up her back. Did she really need to go that far? The last time she was on a horse had been during her freshman year of college. Things seemed to be turning into an endurance test and she wasn’t sure she had the stamina to last the entire three weeks. A groan tried to claw its way out of her throat. She hoped she would be able to physically survive the implementation of her plan.

The worst part was the nagging feeling that she had not signed up for all of Nick’s activities strictly to fulfill the task she had set for herself—that perhaps there was a more personal motive behind it. She was incredibly attracted to Nick Clayton and didn’t seem to have any control over it. It was more than just his sexy smile and handsome features. There was a strength about him, a confidence that reached out and touched her on a deeply emotional level.

A bit of a smile turned the corners of Lexi’s mouth as she slowly regained her composure and rallied a new determination. “I thought I’d go swimming this afternoon, soak up some sunshine and enjoy this beautiful scenery while breathing your nice, clean air.” She would show him that he could not work his charm on her that easily. It would take more than a handsome cowboy in a pair of tight jeans to turn her head and make her abandon her plans.

Was it false confidence on her part? Again, she was not sure exactly which part of her was in charge—the woman who was ready to fight tooth and nail to get little Jimmy what he rightly deserved or the woman who had never met anyone like Nick Clayton and hadn’t a clue how to break the spell he seemed to be casting over her.

She clenched her jaw in resolve. It had better be the first woman who was in charge because that other one didn’t stand a chance against this charming scoundrel.

Nick leaned slightly forward and lowered his voice to a sensual tone conveying the feeling that his words were meant for her ears only even though no one else was within earshot. “It appears that we’ll be spending a lot of time together since I’m in charge of the activities you’ve listed on your sheet.”

He extended a warm smile, very pleased at this interesting turn of events. It was as if fate had literally dropped her into his lap. It couldn’t have worked out better if she had purposely intended to spend as much time with him as possible—a prospect that sent a ripple of hope through his body and heightened his already heated desires. He reached out and brushed a wayward tendril of hair away from her cheek, allowing his fingertips to linger against her skin for a couple of seconds.

Then, as if his hand had a will of its own, he cupped her chin in his palm. He hesitated a moment, then leaned forward, bringing his face very close to hers until their lips were only a heartbeat apart. He could feel her breathing and almost taste her sweetness. Then he felt her body stiffen and the magic of the moment disintegrated.

She took a step backward from his electrifying touch as she cleared her throat of the sensation that her heart had lodged there. Perhaps he didn’t see their accidental meeting as a sparring match, but she did. And so far, the intense attraction she felt toward him had kept her almost tongue-tied and incapable of thinking clearly. The very last thing she wanted was to acknowledge the fact that she had almost allowed him to kiss her.

She noted the way he raised a questioning eyebrow, but he didn’t say anything. She needed to regain the upper hand. She held her breath for a brief moment in order to recapture her composure, then plunged ahead. “I was wondering if you’d had an opportunity to give any more thought to my sister . . . maybe recall her staying here. She spoke so highly of those two weeks that I decided to spend my vacation here.”

To her surprise, he straightened up and appeared to be trying to collect himself. Had she hit a nerve? A touch of satisfaction tickled her consciousness. Maybe this would be easier than she had thought. If she could take care of her objective very quickly, then she could return to her own home. She felt decidedly unsafe—emotionally at risk—around this disconcerting man. Nick Clayton frightened her. The very real attraction she felt toward him frightened her. She feared she might be incapable of denying him whatever he asked of her.

“Well, no . . . actually, I haven’t had the time. You said her name was Mamie Adams? The name does have a familiar ring to it now that I’m thinking about it, but I’m afraid I still can’t place her. Perhaps it will come to me after I’ve had the chance to give it some thought.”

“Yes, perhaps it will.” She heard the edge to her voice and silently berated herself for allowing it to seep through.

“That’s kind of odd.”

“What’s odd?” Had she missed something? It was as if he had changed topics on her while she wasn’t listening.

“You said your sister was here a little over six years ago, loved her stay, spoke of it in glowing terms, which prompted you to take your vacation here.”

“Yes . . . what’s so odd about that?”

“I was just wondering why you waited six years.”

His words caught her totally off guard. It hadn’t occurred to her to develop a cover story, at least not anything other than what she had already given him. She frantically searched her mind for an acceptable response to his question.

“Well...uh...you know. It was just one of those things. First there was the money, then something came up and... well, you know how that goes.”

“Sure, things happen.” He ran his fingertips across the back of her hand and offered his best smile. “I’m glad you were finally able to work it out.”

She eased her hand out from under his as she tried to still the tremor of excitement caused by his touch. Even after she had pulled her hand free, she could still feel the warmth of his skin against hers. His smile and his words may have said he accepted her answer, but she could see it in his eyes . . . the questions, the skepticism, the reserve that said he didn’t believe her. She scanned the lobby in an attempt to find something that would let her gracefully extract herself from the conversation.

When she couldn’t find anything, she returned her attention to Nick and gave him a pleasant smile. “I’m sure you have a lot to do so I won’t take up any more of your time.” She turned and left the lobby through the front door, forcing herself to proceed casually even though she could feel his eyes on her... and the tingle of excitement it caused.

Nick leaned back against the wall as he watched her walk away, his heart pounding and his pulse throbbing in time with each step she took. His gaze traced every line and curve of her body. When she finally disappeared through the front door, he closed his eyes and emitted a soft moan that came out as half desire and half frustration.

He took a calming breath, then decided to look into the matter of Lexi’s sister. For some reason, it seemed important to her that he remember Mamie Adams and her stay at the ranch. Rather than go to his office, he made a side trip to the storage room. Six years ago—he searched for the corresponding storage boxes. Time was forgotten as he immersed himself in the task.

“Aha!” The sound of his own voice echoing through the quiet startled him. There it was—Marnie Adams.

He opened the file and quickly scanned the contents, then went back and carefully reread everything. A slight furrow wrinkled his brow as he checked her original reservation and her registration card. She had vacationed alone, too. First Mamie, then her sister, vacationing alone at a dude ranch. Very curious . . . very curious indeed. He checked Mamie’s activity sheet. Unlike Lexi, Mamie had not been involved in any strenuous pastimes. In fact, the records indicated she had not been on a horse during her entire stay.

He went to the candid publicity pictures they’d shot during that month and carefully checked the names of those who had been captured on film. He found her name and pulled the photo, one taken at a chuck-wagon barbecue.

The image shot off the paper at him. Marnie Adams bore a striking family resemblance to Lexi, making it clear that the two women were related. He studied the photograph for a few seconds. Where Lexi’s look was softly sensual and very enticing, Marnie had a hard edge to her appearance as if she had seen too much of the world and found it a great disappointment.

Seeing the photograph jarred his memory. Marnie Adams . . . she had told him more about herself than he ever wanted to know. Even though she had only been in her mid-twenties at the time, she had talked about having two ex-husbands and a string of casual affairs. It was almost as if she had been bragging about those things, thinking it somehow made her seem worldly and sophisticated, the truth being quite the opposite. Even though Marnie was an undeniably beautiful woman, she had not struck a responsive chord with him.

Mamie had presented herself at his cabin door late one night with a bottle of wine in her hand. A moment later, she revealed that she had nothing on beneath her robe. He tactfully, but firmly, refused her offer and sent her on her way. The blatant invitation had been tempting, but she was obviously drunk. Other men might have considered that type of situation as easy pickings, but that certainly wasn’t his style.

The next morning, she acted as if the incident had never happened. He acknowledged that due to her inebriated condition she might not have even remembered what she’d done. When he made love with a woman, he wanted it to damn well be something they would both enjoy and remember the next morning.

That had been a little over six years ago. So, what was Mamie’s sister doing at the ranch now and why did he feel that something was wrong? Was it just his imagination or was there more to it than that? There was no question that he felt a very strong physical attraction to Lexi, an attraction he fully intended to pursue. It was something that most certainly had not existed with Mamie.

He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed a smile to curl the corners of his mouth as he entertained a totally inappropriate thought. Well, maybe not inappropriate, but probably unlikely. He visualized Lexi Parker presenting herself at his door, carrying a bottle of wine and wearing nothing but a—

“There you are!” Danny Clayton’s irritation interrupted Nick’s errant musings.

Nick whirled around to face the six-foot-tall man with the sandy-colored hair. “And where should I be?” He arched one eyebrow and leveled a serious gaze at his brother as much in an attempt to cover his embarrassment at being caught daydreaming as anything else.

Danny glanced at his watch. “In five minutes you’re supposed to be at the corral—” he grinned and slipped into an exaggerated slow drawl while doing his best John Wayne impersonation “—to saddle ‘em up, pilgrim, and move ’em on out for the afternoon ride.” He stepped into the storeroom and looked around. “So, what are you doing in here?”

Nick attempted to sound casual as if nothing out of the ordinary had been going on. “I was checking on a guest who stayed here a few years ago. Her sister arrived this morning and mentioned it.” He handed the photograph to Danny and indicated Mamie. “Do you remember her?”

Danny took the photograph from Nick and studied it for a moment. “Oh, yeah. I remember this one all right. She was one hot little number.”

Nick stared at his brother, not sure exactly how to interpret what Danny said. “Oh? Do I take that to mean that you—”

“No, not me. I just meant that she seemed to be really hot for cowboys and was determined to get it on with as many as possible. I made it a point to stay clear of her.” A wicked little grin tugged at his lips. “She seemed to be more interested in quantity than quality.”

Nick returned the photograph to the file, stuck the file folder into the storage box and shoved it aside with the toe of his boot.

Danny shot Nick a knowing look. “Well, well, well . . . the sister who’s the newly arrived guest wouldn’t be that tasty-looking blonde you’ve been drooling over ever since the shuttle van arrived from the airport, would it?”

Nick hid behind a stern expression. “Knock it off, Danny. I haven’t been drooling over anyone.” He attempted to project a businesslike manner. “Lexi simply mentioned that her sister had vacationed here a few years ago and asked if I remembered meeting her. I was just looking through the old records to see if I could find a photograph to jog my memory. It’s no big deal.”

“Oh, I see.” Danny could no longer suppress a mischievous grin. “Then I can assume you have no personal interest in Ms. Lexi Parker? That you don’t have any objections to my making a play for her?”

Nick balled up his fist, gave his brother a loving punch to the shoulder, then broke out into a teasing smile. “You do and you die!”

Danny returned the feeling of closeness between the brothers. “That’s what I thought.”

Lexi forced a smile and tried to assume an upbeat manner as she stepped into the dining room. She turned to the attractive gray-haired woman seated at the front desk.

“Lexi Parker . . . one for dinner.”

The older woman extended her hand toward Lexi and offered a gracious smile. “I’m Gloria Clayton. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lexi.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Gloria.”

“On behalf of my two sons and myself, I’d like to thank you for choosing to spend your vacation with us. The weather forecast says blue skies and sunshine for the next few days, so there won’t be anything standing in the way of your having a great time.”

Lexi could see the family resemblance between Nick and his mother. She was a charming woman who exuded warmth and sincerity. Lexi instantly liked her. “I’m sure I will. The scenery here is truly spectacular, and coming from a large city, I can assure you that I’m really enjoying all this clean mountain air.”

Gloria smiled. “It’s good for flagging appetites, too. Now, about the meals. They’re all served family style. That gives the guests an additional opportunity to get to know each other. So if you’ll just follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”

Gloria wheeled out from behind the desk and headed across the room. Lexi had not realized until that moment that Gloria was in a wheelchair.

Gloria showed her to a round table set with ten places. Not more than five minutes passed before nine of the ten places at her table were filled. She glanced around the dining room, noting that it was quickly filling with ranch guests. A festive mood prevailed with everyone enjoying themselves. She spotted Gloria seated at another table and a man she assumed to be Danny Clayton at yet another. A minute later, someone sat down in the chair next to hers. She turned toward the new arrival and found herself staring into Nick Clayton’s blue eyes.

“Good evening, Lexi. I hope you’re hungry. I just took a quick tour through the kitchen and everything looks good.”

She forced a smile. “Yes, it certainly smells good.” Nick Clayton . . . was there no way to avoid constant contact with him? It seemed that every time she left her cabin she ran into him. Her purpose in being at the ranch had been to confront him. Except now she wished she could stay away from his very disconcerting presence. He made her feel uncomfortable, arousing totally inappropriate longings and desires. She wasn’t sure which disturbed her more—how he made her feel or the implication of those feelings.

To her surprise, dinner turned out to be a much more pleasant interlude than she had anticipated. She was very conscious about her choice of words and tone of voice. She would occasionally slip and her conversation with Nick would border on adversarial, but only for a moment. She quickly brought it back to neutral. She reluctantly had to admit that he was a gracious host for the table. He managed to engage everyone in conversation and made sure all the guests were put at ease and felt a part of the group. She was surprised to find that he was very intelligent and conversant on a wide variety of topics. There was a lot more to this cowboy than a set of broad shoulders, a killer smile and brilliant blue eyes.

Lexi found it very unsettling. She had almost convinced herself that she would be able to ignore her unexpected yet very real attraction to him—almost. She still had not been able to set aside the threat of emotional upheaval every time he came near her. And now that she had seen that he was something other than just another libidodriven and self-absorbed handsome hunk, she did not know what to think.

A moment later, he jolted her once again.


Three

“I went back through the old files this afternoon and found a photograph of your sister taken at one of the barbecues. As soon as I saw her picture, it jogged my memory.” Nick saw a hint of something that looked like vindication dart through Lexi’s eyes, but he didn’t understand where it had come from.

“Oh? So you remember her now?”

He caught her tone of voice. There it was again, that feeling of being hit with a challenge of some sort. He certainly had no intention of telling her about her sister’s unseemly behavior. He wasn’t sure what to say. “I can see a definite family resemblance between you and your sister.”

Nick had not offered any further comment about Marnie and Lexi decided not to ask. For the time being, it was enough of a victory that he admitted knowing her. The rest would come later. She would take it one step at a time.

Most of the other people at Lexi’s table had left following dessert. Some had mentioned dropping by next door to the Hoedown Saloon for some dancing, while others had said they were going to take a walk to exercise off dinner.

Nick leaned over to her as he draped his arm across the back of her chair. He dropped his voice to a soft near whisper that sent little ripples of titillation across her skin. “Could I entice you to join me at the saloon for a dance, or maybe an after-dinner drink?”

“I . . . I think I’ll just take a walk to settle some of this delicious dinner. I overindulged and feel the need of a little exercise and fresh air. I’m also rather tired. It’s been a long day. I think I’ll just turn in after my walk.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea. I’ll show you around the grounds. It’s a beautiful night and the sky is filled with millions of brilliant stars—a perfect time for a stroll.” He rose from his chair and held out his hand to assist her, proceeding as if she had agreed to his offer without giving her a chance to say no.

Lexi hesitated, torn between what she knew she should do and what she wanted to do. Then, as if he had usurped her will, she placed her hand in his. The moment they came into physical contact, a potent charge of heated desire, closely followed by an emotional tug, invaded her consciousness. She knew at once it had been a terrible mistake, but it was too late. Once again, the magnetic draw of his masculinity reeled in her senses like a fish caught on a line and she seemed helpless to prevent it.

He escorted her outside, gently guiding her with a hand at the small of her back. They strolled along a path through a stand of fir trees, then around the edge of a large reflecting pond. The brilliance of the star-filled sky, the crisp smell of the night air and the intoxicating nearness of Nick Clayton all combined to work their magic on her. The conversation was equally soft and intimate.

“Tell me about yourself, about your family. I know you have a sister. Do you have any brothers?”

She tried to give him as little information as possible without arousing his suspicions. “No brothers, just my sister and me. My father died ten years ago and my mother lives in Chicago, as I do.”

“Are you originally from Chicago?”

“Yep . . . born and raised. I went away to college but returned after graduation and have worked there ever since.”

“What do you do for a living?”

A feeling of discomfort stabbed at her. This was all wrong. She was supposed to be finding out about him, not the other way around. He had moved her along so smoothly that she had barely been aware of what was happening. She tried to force a laugh, as if making a joke. “You’re making me feel as if I were some sort of specimen to be studied under a microscope.”

A hint of an embarrassed chuckle escaped his throat. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was cross-examining you on the witness stand.” He grasped her hand, then stopped walking, bringing her to an abrupt halt. “I’m genuinely interested.” He searched the depths of her hazel eyes. “We can talk about something else if you’d rather. What topics interest you?”

“Well—” her mind worked quickly as Lexi tried to figure a way to turn this to her advantage “—it seems to me that turnabout is fair play. So, tell me about yourself. Have you always lived here?”

“Yep . . . this ranch belonged to my grandfather, then my father. When my father died, it passed on to my mother, my brother and me. It’s always been a cattle ranch, but we made some changes a few years ago and turned it into a dude ranch. We still run a small cattle operation, but being a dude ranch is our main business now.”

“There’s just the three of you—Gloria, Danny and yourself?”

“That’s right.” A little grin tugged at the corners of his mouth and his eyes sparkled. “Now, what else would you like to know? I’m thirty years old, Danny is twenty-eight. I stand six-one without my boots. I have a degree in business administration from the University of Washington and Danny has one in liberal arts from Colorado State. I don’t think I have a favorite color. As far as food goes, I’ll eat just about anything. I enjoy fine wine, but on a hot, dusty day, a cold beer tastes real good. I read a lot and like movies—mysteries are my favorite. My musical tastes are fairly broad with a particular fondness for jazz.”

“Oh, my . . . I’m . . . uh . . .” He had left her speechless with his sudden burst of personal information.

It had all come out so suddenly . . . and so honestly. Everything about him seemed so straightforward, something she found confusing. Nothing about him seemed to coincide with the type of men Marnie usually chose. Lexi’s casual conversation with Nick Clayton had done nothing to help clarify what had happened between him and her sister . . . if anything had actually happened.

She cleared her throat in an attempt to drive away her doubts. “I guess it’s my turn to be embarrassed. I certainly didn’t mean—”

He touched his fingertips to her lips to still her words. “That’s okay. No harm done.”

He continued to clasp her hand as they started walking again. She felt as if she were walking through a dream... with the man of her dreams. It was exciting and at the same time frightening. The warmth of his touch began to melt away her resistance. She hadn’t anticipated this type of personal involvement, and the emotional overtones were particularly unsettling. She didn’t welcome it, but neither did she seem able to turn her back and walk away. They finally arrived at her cabin.

Millions of stars sparkled like diamonds on a black velvet background, each point of light casting a spell on the moment. Nick didn’t know if it was simply the magic of the night or the exhilaration caused by the nearness of a beautiful and desirable woman, but he felt himself being drawn in by more than a physical attraction and a longing to make love to her. He also wanted to know her, to discover who she was under that unpredictable exterior. At times, she seemed everything a man could ever want, then suddenly she’d become distant as if she had just remembered who she was or why she was there.

“Well, here we are. Your home sweet home for the next three weeks.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s still early. Could I tempt you with a glass of wine before calling it a night?”

“I don’t think so.” She felt as if all the oxygen had suddenly been sucked from the air. His face was so close to hers, the faint illumination highlighting his handsome features. She tried to project a casual manner as if this were nothing more than a normal end to a normal day. “I have a sunrise breakfast ride in the morning and sunrise comes very early.”

“So it does.” His words were more like a caress against her cheek than simply conversation.

Her throat went dry. She literally forced out her words. “And I need to get some sleep if I’m going to—”

The rest of her words were lost along with her thoughts when Nick Clayton brushed his lips against hers, then drew her into his embrace as he, captured her mouth fully with a delicious and sensually heated kiss. And like a moth drawn to a flame, she could not resist regardless of the risk involved.

Her mind went blank, devoid of everything except the feel of his lips against hers, the way he had pulled her body tight against his, and the overwhelming need to have much more of this dangerous man than merely a kiss. She raised her arms until they encircled his neck.

Random thoughts tried to penetrate the sensual cloud fogging her brain. This man ruined her sister’s life . . . this bounder wouldn’t treat her any better than he had Marnie... this man was a forbidden treat glistening on the horizon, tempting, beckoning... this man was no good for her. But still she savored the excitement of his touch, the delicious truth of his kiss as he pulled her body tighter against his.

He reveled in her intoxicating taste and the feel of her body pressed along the length of his. She had the power to drive him to total distraction and she didn’t even seem to be aware of it. He knew he would not be satisfied until he intimately knew every inch of her. And if the burning need surging through his body was any indication, he would still want more. He finally broke off the kiss.

His voice came out as a husky whisper. “I have an excellent bottle of wine in my cabin and a private hot tub on my enclosed patio. Could I entice you to join me?”

His words sent a tremor of nervousness through her body. He had no idea how easy it would be to entice her. In fact, it took every bit of the determination she could muster just to keep from dragging him inside her cabin, shoving him down on her bed and ripping off his clothes. What was the matter with her? She’d never felt this way about any other man, and this was the wrong man to—She gulped in a steadying breath, then another, before she attempted to speak. She knew she needed to sound totally n control.




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