LITMIR.BIZ

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telling me not to cause a problem for your fiancée’s best friend. I promise not to do that.”

      “Thanks. I appreciate it.” Wyatt squeezed Rafe’s shoulder. “Looks like Sarah’s herding us all into the dining room. I think you’ll enjoy the food.”

      “I’m sure I will. The ranch is great, Wyatt.”

      “Yeah, it is.” Relief shone in Wyatt’s gray eyes. “I’m glad you see that.”

      Rafe felt like a first-class jerk. He’d known Wyatt desperately wanted his approval of the place and the family. That had been plain ever since Wyatt had announced his engagement. Yet Rafe had been reserving judgment, holding himself slightly apart. As his twin, Wyatt had sensed Rafe’s attitude and had been troubled by it.

      Rafe would rather cut off his arm than hurt Wyatt, and his behavior was doing exactly that. “I’ve been thinking,” he said as they walked down a hallway lined with family photos. “Maybe I should take a shot at riding a horse while I’m here.”

      Wyatt laughed. “You don’t have to do that, buddy. I know it’s not your thing.”

      “That’s true.” He remembered what Meg had said this afternoon. “But when am I ever going to have a better setup than this?”

      “That’s true. I’d take you out tomorrow, except Olivia and I are having a final meeting with the caterers in the morning, and we’re double-checking the flower order in the afternoon, but the next day I could probably—”

      “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure there are a million people around here who could teach me the basics.” He immediately thought of Meg, but discarded the idea. She intrigued him far too much, and things could get messy. He’d just promised his brother not to create a problem.

      Wyatt nodded. “You’re right. I’ll check with Emmett. He’ll know who has some spare time tomorrow.”

      “Great. You know, this house is huge.”

      “It is.” He gestured to the large room they’d entered. Although it held four round tables that could each seat eight, they weren’t set for dinner. “They use this area at lunch and all the hands eat here along with whatever family members are available.”

      “Sounds like good PR.” On his right, through a set of double doors, was a smaller dining room furnished with one long table, the kind that could be expanded or contracted as needed. Gleaming silverware and faceted goblets sparkled in the light from a hammered metal chandelier.

      “It’s more than PR,” Wyatt said. “It’s the way the Chance family does things. There’s not a bit of snobbery in them.”

      Guilt pricked Rafe again. “I’m sure that appeals to you.”

      “Yeah. Don’t get me wrong. I love Mom. But she’s a terrible snob. And I hate to say it, but so is Dad.”

      Rafe sighed. “He is, and damn it, I was acting like a snob when I first got here. I’m sorry about that. It’s just so … different from what I’m used to.”

      “I know.” Wyatt grinned at him. “That’s why I like it here.”

      Rafe could tell. He was happy for his twin, and he vowed he would do his best to fit in for the short time he was part of Wyatt’s new world. As they all filed into the dining room, he hesitated, unsure of where he was supposed to sit.

      Sarah glanced his way. “Rafe, why don’t you—”

      “He can sit here, Sarah.” Meg patted a chair next to her. “We’re the two who don’t have kids or spouses, so we might as well hang out together.”

      Sarah looked pleased. “That works.”

      Rafe took the offered chair. “Thanks.” Sitting next to her at dinner wasn’t the same as making a play for her, so he felt okay with it. He also thought a polite compliment was in order. “You look really nice.”

      Her cheeks turned slightly pink. “Thank you. I don’t get dressed up very often.”

      That made him wonder how she earned a living. “Where do you work?”

      “I’m an engineer for the city. I specialize in traffic control.” She gazed at him steadily, as if to assess his reaction.

      “Huh. I’ve never met someone who did that.” So she had brains, too. She intrigued the hell out of him, and he’d just promised Wyatt not to get involved.

      “My job doesn’t usually make for fascinating dinner conversation.”

      He laughed as he unfolded his napkin and laid it in his lap. “Mine, either.”

      “So what shall we talk about?”

      “Well …” He couldn’t resist telling her of his latest plan, especially after the way she’d goaded him earlier. “You’ll be happy to know I’m going to try riding tomorrow.”

      Her green eyes grew wide. “You are?”

      “Yep. I decided that you’re right. I’ll never have a better chance than now, so why not?”

      Her smile dazzled him. “That’s fabulous. Congratulations.”

      “Thanks. I’ll probably fall off, but what the hell?”

      “You won’t fall off.”

      “I might. I don’t know the first thing about riding a horse.” He picked up his water glass and took a drink.

      “It’s easy. What time do you want to start?”

      He nearly choked on his water. “Start? What do you mean?”

      “I mean, after challenging you to experience life on a ranch, I think it’s only fair that I be the one to teach you to ride. The hands are all busy and I’m relatively free. So what time?”

      “I—” He cast around for a way out of this. He’d be terrible in the beginning, and he didn’t relish the idea of looking bad in front of her.

      “I suggest eight-thirty. I’ll meet you down at the barn.” She smiled again. “You’re going to love this, Rafe.”

      “If you say so.” He had plenty of misgivings about having her teach him to ride, but the plan had one positive side. Given his lack of experience with horses, the time spent together had zero chance of being romantic.

       3

      MEG ARRIVED AT THE BARN ten minutes ahead of schedule the next morning. Rafe hadn’t shown up in the kitchen for breakfast or even for a cup of coffee, so maybe he’d blow off this lesson. She hoped not. Teaching him to ride would satisfy several objectives.

      Olivia and Wyatt would be much happier if Rafe participated in ranch life instead of staying aloof from it as he’d originally planned. Plus Meg enjoyed pushing people out of their comfort zones, and she wouldn’t mind getting to know Rafe better. But she couldn’t force him to do this.

      If he didn’t keep their appointment, she’d back off, way off. She valued those who made agreements and kept them. Anyone who couldn’t do that moved several notches down in her estimation.

      After petting Butch and Sundance, the two dogs lying on either side of the barn’s double door, Meg stepped inside and breathed in the welcome scent of hay, oiled leather and horse. She truly loved it in Jackson Hole, and specifically at this ranch. After only four days, she was already questioning whether she wanted to stay in Pittsburgh or consider a move to Wyoming.

      Her two older brothers had moved away, one to Connecticut and the other to Indiana. Although her parents still lived in Pittsburgh, they’d started making plans to retire in Florida. She really had nothing holding her except a job and friends.

      The job was no problem. She could find something out here. And her friends would simply come visit. The more she

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