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the number.

      She cleared her throat, nervously pushing her hair back over one shoulder as she answered. “Hello, Paul.”

      “Evans. How are you?”

      “All things considered, I’m doing well.”

      “Have you nailed something down yet?”

      “Three interviews next week.”

      “Market’s picking up.”

      “I noticed.”

      “So you may not be interested in this.” From the way her stomach flipped, Taylor knew that she would be interested. “My assistant here at Whitcote is going on sabbatical. I have a six-month position that could well work into full time if things continue as they are. There’s talk of staffing up this fall.”

      Seattle.

      “No guarantees. I don’t have the final say. It’s a committee decision…but you’re good, Taylor, and I’d love to have you on board.”

      “Do I interview in person?”

      “Skype.”

      “When?”

      “Is tomorrow too soon?”

      “Not to appear easy, but interviewing within the next fifteen minutes wouldn’t be too soon.”

      * * *

      THE DRIVE TO the ranch was quiet, and even though he and Taylor were comfortable with their mutual silences, this was different. Bad different.

      Taylor was distancing herself, getting ready for the move back to the city. He felt the chasm between them widening and didn’t know what to do about it. Or if there was anything he could do. The bitch of it was that the farm—make that his life—was better when she was in it.

      She wasn’t staying.

      They bumped over the cattle guard, then both sat up straighter at the sight of the two ATVs next to his corrals.

      “Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer,” he said as he parked. He glanced over at Taylor. “Let’s see what’s happening.” They walked together to where the two model employees, Wyatt and Ashley, stood shoulder to shoulder, pointing out across the fields.

      “Big plans?” Cole asked.

      “Spring branding,” Wyatt said. Cole had never much liked the guy—primarily because (a) he was a pompous jerk, and (b) he was a kiss-ass. “We’re going to make it an overnight event, with canvas tents to house the guests.”

      “Instead of making the long trek back to the ranch?” Which was all of a couple of miles.

      “A different kind of experience,” Wyatt assured him.

      Cole hooked a thumb into the top edge of his belt. “Any other big happenings?”

      “Cattle drives.”

      “Drives? As in plural?”

      Ashley, Miranda’s chief minion, piped in then. “The drives are very popular, so we’re going to be doing several.”

      Cole frowned at her. “How…?”

      “We’ll drive them to the high pasture with one group of guests, then drive them back to the ranch with another.”

      “You’re kidding.”

      “It only makes sense,” Ashley said.

      “Not if you’re a cow. They’ll lose weight if you push them all summer long.”

      “Miranda is sending the calves to a feed lot once they’re weaned.”

      “What?”

      “Also,” Ashley said, “I’ll email you the schedule of events here on the working ranch. It’s very full this year, and you might want to plan your visits around them.”

      Visits? To his own place?

      Taylor put a hand on his arm. He didn’t look at her. He was about to speak when Ashley gave him a sympathetic smile. “You had to know when you left that things would change.”

      He pressed his lips together, glanced down at Taylor. “Let’s take care of what we came here for.”

      She nodded, and they turned as one and headed for the house.

      “Why did we come?” she asked after Cole unlocked the door and they went inside.

      “Because I didn’t hear from Miranda after Jancey’s encounter, so I figured something was up. I hadn’t expected to find out what the deal was so easily.”

      “Good that it worked out.”

      “Yes.” He stepped to the window and studied the nimrods making plans for his land. Son of a bitch.

      “How wise is it to hold on to this place, Cole?”

      “What do you mean?”

      She drew in a breath. “I mean,” she said slowly, “that you could sell for a decent amount and buy something new. Something that doesn’t come with built-in heartaches and a lot of issues to contend with.”

      He wasn’t selling. The thought made his jaw go tight. Totally the wrong move.

      Before he could say anything, Taylor continued. “And don’t tell me that she’ll win. She’s winning now.”

      “Thanks.”

      “Cole.” He shot her a look. “You know it’s true. And sometimes, despite your best efforts, the sanest thing to do is to walk away instead of beating your head on a wall.”

      He turned toward Taylor. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?”

      Her cheeks flushed. “It might look that way, but job hunting is different. Eventually something shifts.”

      He decided to ask the question. Even though he was fairly certain of the answer, and just as certain that Taylor would eventually fill him in, he wanted to know now. Get his pain all at once. “Has something shifted for you?”

      “Do you want to discuss this here?” She gestured as if to remind him of where they were and what his current source of stress was.

      “Just got a kick to the nuts. May as well get another.”

      She let out a sigh. “I think I’ve landed a job in Seattle. I interviewed yesterday via Skype. It’s with an old associate. It’s temporary but may work into full time.”

      “Congratulations.”

      Her mouth tightened. “I hope you mean that.”

      “I do.”

      He looked back out the window. The dynamic duo were climbing onto their ATVs. He propped his palms on the windowsill and for one brief moment let his chin drop to his chest. Things were stacking up faster than he could deal with them.

      “Cole?”

      “I’m good.” He straightened back up, pulled in a deep breath. “I always knew you were leaving.” She nodded. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

      “How on earth would we ever mesh our lives?”

      Good question. “Compromise?”

      Her shoulders stiffened. “How?”

      “Hell if I know.”

      “I have a career to build, Cole.”

      “A career only gives you so much.”

      “But I need what it gives me.”

      “I know.” He spoke softly. Admitting the truth wasn’t easy. She wanted him, but she didn’t necessarily need him. She needed her career. “I have to get some stuff, just in case the place accidentally catches fire during a lightning storm

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