LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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