LITMIR.BIZ

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unexpected tears threatening to erupt. She forced down the emotion and took a breath before sitting up and hitting the speaker button.

      “Good morning, Mom.”

      “It’s morning but there’s very little that’s good about it.”

      “Why? What’s the matter?” she asked anxiously.

      “Your dad was under the impression that you were on a weekend getaway. He’s furious to learn that you’ll be gone for months.”

      “Which is why I asked you to let me handle telling him.”

      “I know, but when he asked what time you’d be returning today, I couldn’t lie.”

      “I’m sorry for putting you in the middle of this. But when it comes to marrying Ed, Dad’s encouragement has turned to insistence.” She sighed. “Telling him about taking the job with Victoria would have made it much harder to leave. Besides, I told you that I would call him later and explain everything.”

      “I know, but we’ve been married for more than three decades. He knew something was going on.”

      “What did you tell him?” Lauren demanded.

      “That you were working with Vickie and—”

      “Mom! You told him I was here, in Vegas? The next thing you know he’ll be showing up on the Strip!”

       Or even worse, Ed will.

      “Better that I told him rather than he find out on his own,” her mother reminded her. “Now everything’s aboveboard and it doesn’t look like you’re running away.”

      She huffed out a breath. “But that’s exactly what I’m doing!”

      “You can’t run forever, Lauren.”

      “I can’t marry Ed, either, and I’m sick of being pressured about it.”

      Her mother released an audible sigh. “Hopefully whatever business deal he and Ed are working on can proceed without you being in the middle.”

      “Business deal? What are you talking about?”

      Faye’s voice lowered. “We’ll talk more later. I’ve got to go. Call your father.”

      Her mother’s calling had roused Lauren from sleep, but any chance of reclaiming her snooze fled with Faye’s unintended announcement. What kind of deal could Ed have that would involve Dad?

      Lauren rolled out of bed. After a quick turn in the bathroom, she pulled on a pair of baggy shorts, a white tee over a striped sports bra, and a pair of tennis shoes. After placing a pair of earbuds into her cell phone’s jack, she slipped the phone into an armband, grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit on her bar counter and headed out the door.

      The sun had risen but the sky was hazy, providing a cool breeze for the beginning of her run. She looked in the direction of the mansion and pointedly ran the opposite way. With what her mother had shared fresh in her mind, she wanted to avoid seeing any of the Breedloves—especially Christian.

      Mortification swept through her. What had she been thinking yesterday coming on to him like that? Their families had known each other for years, but what did that matter? They’d known the Millers a long time too. She’d thought she knew Ed. He was good-looking, with a brooding disposition that she’d at first considered sexy but now knew hid a jerky personality. Who was to say that Christian wasn’t an ass, too? That a phone call had interrupted her attempt at seduction was probably the best thing that could have happened. It might have helped her dodge a bullet headed straight for her heart.

      Lauren stilled her mind and focused on running, her steps rhythmic, measured, her breath paced as evenly as her steps. The surroundings were beautiful, vast stretches of green grass that had to have been specially planted, a stark contrast to the browns, blues and grays of the mountain range and brightening sky. She followed the road, kept time with the beat and let herself get lost in the rhythm of the world around her. Time fell away. So did her problems, as she chose not to focus on the conversation with her mom, or why she’d left Maryland.

      She took in the mountains and the pines and...cows? Lauren slowed her pace. The farther she went the more cows she saw. Dozens? Hundreds? And then she saw him. A ranch hand? A cowboy? Indeed, and galloping straight toward her.

      Lauren slowed to a walk, then stopped and watched the rider approach, noting the darkly tanned forearms tightly holding the reins. Christian? Certain body muscles clenched at the mere possibility. So she changed focus and looked at the horse instead. A Thoroughbred from the looks of it, black and majestic. Like Christian. It had been years since she’d gone riding, but her love of horses came back with the magnificent creature’s every stride.

      Rider and horse reached a fence that was jumped and cleared by at least two feet. He pulled on the reins and the Thoroughbred slowed. Finally, the rider took off a worn cowboy hat.

      “Good morning, gorgeous.”

      “Adam, good morning! I wondered who was hiding under the hat.”

      “I see you’re an early riser. A runner, too.”

      “Guilty on both counts,” she confessed. “That’s a beautiful horse.”

      “Do you ride?”

      “It’s been a while.”

      “Would you like to? You’ll want to change into jeans or long pants first, then I can put you on a filly. They’re tamer than the stallions all day long.”

      “So it’s a stallion, huh?” Lauren took cautious steps forward, her tone soothing as the horse watched her with apprehensive eyes. “What’s his name?”

      “Thunder.”

      “Of course. It suits him. Hello, Thunder.” She slowly moved her hand toward his mane. He bobbed his head but didn’t back away. “There you go, beautiful fella. No need to be afraid.”

      Lauren continued talking, her tone soothing. She remembered the apple in her pocket and pulled it out. She looked at Adam. “May I?”

      “No, thanks, I’ve had breakfast.”

      Laughter burst forth at the unexpected comment. “Not you, silly, the horse.”

      “Oh, sure.”

      She noted Adam’s eyes had the same twinkle as Christian’s. One thing about those Breedlove men, they were a roguishly handsome bunch.

      Lauren waved the apple under Thunder’s nose. “Would you like a bite?”

      Thunder nodded, opened his mouth and took the apple from her.

      “Okay, you’ve paid the price of entry and made a friend. Ready to ride?”

      “Sure, why not? I am in the Wild West, after all.”

      “Here, take my hand.”

      Lauren mounted the horse in one smooth motion and settled in behind Adam. As he steered the horse toward the guesthouse where she could change clothes, his phone rang.

      “Chris!”

      A familiar voice came through Adam’s cell phone speakers. “What’s up, bro?”

      He guided Thunder into a soft trot. “Out riding, like I do most mornings. What are you doing?”

      Lauren held on to Adam’s shoulders. Hearing Christian’s voice increased her heartbeat. If she was unable to quell these physical reactions at the mere sound of his voice, she decided, then working for Victoria was going to be challenge.

      “Golf? Right now? Sounds boring, buddy. I’m heading to the mountains, going to show Lauren the view from Breedlove Peak. Yeah, she’s with me now.” He paused for a moment. “She was out running so I invited her for a ride. Listen, let me holler at you later. We’re headed to Lauren’s house so she can change clothes and

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