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left, if she
thought about him, and if she planned to go back to him.
    Her quick cutting look
proved he’d been a real jerk to ask. “What boyfriend would that
be?”
    “ Your boss. Sounded like
you had a fight before you came out here.”
    “ It was over before I came
out here, and I don’t plan on ever speaking with him again.” She
nudged the horse ahead, leaving him to watch her hair shimmer in
the weak sunlight that made it through the morning fog.
    The light vanished and he
looked up. The fog was dissipating, but a front of dark clouds
followed behind. He usually saw a storm coming, so he wasn’t happy
that she’d distracted him.
    “ It’s about to break
loose,” he told her just as a brisk wind flipped her hair around.
She followed his lead and turned her horse to head back.
     
    * * * *
    In the stables, Brent moved
the brush across Jeffrey’s back with long, sweeping stokes. “I
shouldn’t have asked.”
    “ It’s fine.” She shrugged
without looking at him. “But if we’re going to be friends, we can’t
do that.”
    “ Do what?” And why did they
need to stick to friendship? How could they deny what they
felt?
    “ Ask questions.”
    “ Why not?” His hand paused
as he looked at her. “Friends do that.” Her face was guarded,
setting him on edge.
    “ Ok, fine, but my past is
off limits. I’m sure by now you understand it’s too hard for me to
talk about.” When she pulled in a deep breath, he noticed her hands
tremble on the horse.
    Speckle made a loving noise
as if she felt Missy’s fear, and Brent felt awful for causing
it.
    “ I’m sorry. Listen, I’ll
try to keep to that, and if I mess up, just tell me.”
    She smiled.
“Thanks.”
    He stepped closer so that
when she turned, she was inches from him. They stood close enough
for him to smell her lavender shampoo.
    Confusion washed across her
face before understanding.
    “ You change gears awful
fast.” Her try at lightness failed and her voice came out heavy,
husky.
    “ Think so?” His voice grew
as quiet as it could without becoming a whisper. “If you don’t want
to kiss me, you’d better run. Now.”

Chapter Five
     
     
    She had to be imaging the
care in his eyes. This hadn’t been her goal. So when had these
feelings snuck in?
    He hovered, obviously
waiting for her to either make a move or run.
    He wasn’t her boss this
time, but close enough. Wasn’t she here to prove she could make it
on a ranch? She wanted to turn away, but leaned closer
instead.
    Weren’t his eyes
magnificent? She thought of a clear winter sky, so freshly light
blue. His eyes searched hers, searched her face as if to memorize,
and settled on her mouth. Oh, no, her mouth was open, her lip
trembling.
    Get a grip, Missy! Get a
grip and run! No, no, no, why was she
leaning forward? Her heart hammered as his head tilted, leaned, and
then it happened. Their lips met.
    Something sharp and sweet
washed through her, starting at her mouth and running down to her
feet. His lips moved against hers and she nearly jumped. She would
have, if she could move.
    She was timid and he seemed
to feel it. Though their tongues touched lightly, he kept space
between their bodies. He rested one hand on her arm and nothing
more.
    That made her want more of
him.
    Brent tasted like the
outdoors, sweet like autumn sunshine and country air. The smell of
his leather coat and his aftershave racked through her. She’d never
smelled anything like it.
    Or felt anything like his
lips on hers, so tender and asking. She reached up and found his
shoulders with her hands and leaned closer. She’d lost control. His
arms came around her, encircling the dip of her waist. She ached
for him, wanted his hands to tease lightly all over her bare skin,
but she knew better. She could lose everything again. What was she
doing?
    Sanity raised its troubling
head and she pushed out of Brent’s hold. She shouldn’t have kissed
him.
    She’d vowed to never again
get involved with someone she