LITMIR.BIZ

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way he asked his question made Katherine’s heart ache. And made an answer impossible. What she wanted didn’t matter. She’d rejected his marriage proposal when she was eighteen. He wouldn’t ask again.

      Standing, she offered her hand to Alex first and then Mac. “Thanks for your help. Will you send me a bill? Or shall I leave you a check?”

      Alex smiled. “I’ll send you a bill. If there’s anything else I can do, let me know.”

      “I will, thanks.” Then she left their offices, still with no answers. And a lot of fears.

      “What are you doing here?” Gabe growled, moving in front of her as she stepped outside.

      She jumped, surprised by his sudden appearance.

      “Well?” he demanded, his hands on his hips, glaring at her.

      She had no intention of explaining what she’d been doing, and she knew Mac and Alex would be discreet. “Excuse me,” she murmured, and tried to step around him.

      He reached out and grabbed her arm.

      She thought she’d forgotten how her body responded to his touch. She thought the shivers that had coursed through her body the first time he’d touched his lips to hers, many years ago, couldn’t possibly reoccur. She thought that part of her life was over.

      Someone forgot to tell her body.

      Jerking away, she retreated, her back coming up against the door she’d just closed. She lifted her chin and glared at him. “I have to go.”

      “You got someone waiting for you? Someone you’re planning on marrying? Maybe you’ve promised some man a cushy life if he hangs around until the year is over.”

      She knew of only one way to escape him. And she was angry and scared enough to lie. “Yes, I have a man. What’s it to you?”

      “So marry him! That would solve my problem.”

      With sarcasm dripping from her words, she said, “Of course, solving your problem would be my first concern.”

      “It should be, since you caused it.”

      As he spoke, the door behind Katherine opened and Mac reached out to steady her as she almost lost her balance.

      “Hi, there, Gabe. You’re early.”

      Neither of them spoke, and Mac moved to Katherine’s side and looked at them. “Everything okay?”

      “Sure, everything’s fine. I was trying to convince Mrs. Hill to marry her latest man and solve my problem.”

      Mac frowned and looked at Katherine.

      She didn’t bother explaining the contradiction of what she’d told him in Alex’s office. With a smile, she excused herself, knowing Gabe wouldn’t try to stop her with Mac there.

      “Thanks again, Mac,” she said hurriedly, and headed back to her shop.

      Gabe turned to watch her walk away. He couldn’t help it. A hunger raged through his body as his gaze followed her movement. What was wrong with him?

      She’d so easily dismissed his love, his desire, ten years ago. And he’d vowed then never to get near her again. With good reason. He still couldn’t trust his body. He wouldn’t allow his heart to be put at risk again.

      He spun around, anxious to dispel such thoughts. “What did she want?”

      Mac shrugged his shoulders. “You know I can’t tell you that. What a client says to her lawyer and her partner is privileged information.”

      “Well, maybe this man she’s got will marry her before the end of the year.” He should be glad about that idea. But the words he’d spoken troubled him. “Who is he?”

      “Come on,” Mac said, putting a hand on Gabe’s shoulder and turning him toward The Last Roundup. “Let’s go get a beer while we talk.”

      Gabe didn’t fight Mac’s suggestion. But he wasn’t going to let his question drop. “Well? Who’s she dating?”

      Mac kept walking.

      “I’m not asking for privileged information, Mac. I know how it is in a small town. Everyone knows what’s going on.”

      They reached the restaurant.

      The hostess seated them in the back, at Cal and Jessica’s special table, and Mac asked her to have the waitress bring two beers.

      “It’s not that it’s privileged information, exactly, but we did discuss her, er, her personal life, and I feel a little uncomfortable—”

      “Hey, Gabe, how are you?” Cal asked, interrupting Mac.

      Gabe stood and shook hands with Cal Baxter, the sheriff in Cactus.

      “Good to see you, Cal. I hear you’ve joined the married ranks with the other guys.”

      “Yeah. You should give it a try. We’ve all found it amazingly wonderful.”

      Gabe shook his head and sat down again.

      The waitress arrived with two beers and Cal sent her off again to bring three more. “No sense in waiting until Spence and Tuck get here. We know they’ll want one, too.”

      Gabe smiled and nodded.

      “Now, what did I interrupt? What were you saying, Mac?”

      Mac shrugged his shoulders again, not looking at either friend.

      “He was being a lawyer,” Gabe complained. “I asked him a question, and he didn’t want to answer it, afraid he’d be violating lawyer-client confidentiality.”

      Cal cocked one eyebrow. “You’re a lawyer, Gabe. I guess you understand that.”

      “Yeah, I understand. But I asked something that’s common knowledge. I remember how it is here, even if I haven’t lived here in ten years. Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”

      “True,” Cal began, but he didn’t continue because Tuck and Spence arrived. There were several minutes of greeting each other and exchanging comments about their lives. Then the beers arrived and the newcomers stopped talking to take a drink.

      Cal leaned forward. “Ask me your question. I’m not a lawyer.”

      “Cal—” Mac began, but Gabe ignored his friend.

      “I want to know who’s the man in Katherine’s life.”

      Cal sat back in his chair and stared at Gabe.

      “Which Katherine?” Spence asked, frowning.

      Tuck stuck his elbow in Spence’s ribs. “Don’t you remember? Gabe and Katie were—friends,” he hurriedly said after receiving a glare from Gabe.

      Cal took his time. He leaned forward and clasped his hands on the table. With a sideways look at Mac, he said, “The only man I’ve heard about is Jack Ledbetter.”

      “Who’s that?” Gabe demanded, a sick feeling filling his stomach at hearing a name, forcing him to realize the man was real.

      Spence stared. “You’re kidding. He’s too old for Katie.”

      Those words got Gabe’s attention. “Too old? How old is he? Who is he?”

      “You remember Jack Ledbetter,” Tuck insisted. “He and his wife lived about ten miles out of town. She raised German shepherds. Didn’t your dad buy you one?”

      “That’s right,” Gabe said with a frown, recalling old memories. The dog, Jericho, died while he was away at college. “Are they divorced?”

      “No. His wife died of cancer a couple of years ago,” Cal explained, but he didn’t answer Gabe’s other question.

      “Spence is right. He’s our fathers’ age. What

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