LITMIR.BIZ

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instinct had been titillated by that accent of his and she aimed to find out more about him. What was he doing in there? Typing? Doing computer work? Was he a workaholic businessman who couldn’t leave his job behind even for a vacation?

      Sheesh. She was a fine one to ask that.

      Suddenly the tapping stopped and chair rollers clatered against the wood floor. Before she could be caught snooping, Carly rushed down the curving stairs. On the very last step she twisted her ankle and was forced to hop on one foot across the wide wraparound veranda.

      Though she had yet to learn her way around the ranch, it didn’t take a detective to follow the scent of mesquite smoke. Stomach growling, ankle throbbing, she limped down a red brick walkway that snaked around the house to the wide backyard.

      A recreation area of sorts sprawled out in all directions. She spotted a swimming pool at one end, horseshoe pits and a volleyball net at the other. In the center was a smoker the size of a tanker and enough men in cowboy hats to fill Dodge City. The women were outnumbered ten to one.

      She should have been giddy at the opportunity to hang out with so many of the opposite sex. But not Carly. She was resigned to the hideous truth that men did not find her attractive. There were women with beauty and there were those with brains. She would never fit into the first category, so she darn well intended to claim the latter.

      “Carly.” The effusive welcome committee, Teddi Benedict, danced toward her. Carly had visions of gypsies circling a campfire, tambourines a-jingle. “Come and meet everyone. Supper is almost ready.”

      Over the next few minutes Carly was pulled from cowboy to cowboy for introductions. Head swimming with names like Slim and Dirk and Heck, her thoughts went to the one cowboy who looked more like Rodeo Drive than a real rodeo.

      She glanced around. No sign of the intriguing Luc.

      Teddi led her toward an enormous shade tree where a man and a small boy stood apart from the crowd. The ugliest dog on the planet sat between the two, never taking his spooky but adoring eyes off the child.

      “And this,” Teddi announced with glee, “is my big brother, Carson, the birthday boy.”

      “Happy birthday, Mr. Benedict,” Carly said. “Thank you for inviting me to your party.”

      A tall, dark cowboy with black eyes and a blacker expression glowered at her.

      “Welcome to Benedict Ranch,” he growled.

      Carly blinked. Mr. Carson Benedict, birthday or not, was not a happy camper.

      “And this little man is Gavin,” Teddi went on, indicating a smaller spitting image of Carson Benedict, complete with boots and hat and a belt buckle that covered his entire belly.

      The darling boy stuck out a hand with solemn politeness. “Welcome to Benedict Ranch.”

      Charmed, Carly bent from her considerable height to eye level with the child.

      “Why, thank you, sir. I take it you are the owner of this fine ranch.”

      The child beamed, and the real owner even managed a grudging reply. “Gavin will own this spread someday no matter what I have to do.”

      Thinking his was an oddly defensive remark to a total stranger, Carly mumbled something and moved away. Carson Benedict was about as friendly as a rattlesnake. And he didn’t seem the least bit thrilled to have all these guests on his land, though he was the owner and must have the ultimate say in what happened here. And if he was in a celebratory mood for his birthday, she didn’t want to be around when he was ticked off.

      Weird.

      “Pay no mind to Carson,” Teddi said, catching up to her. “His bad attitude is just an act.”

      “Well, he’s good at it. Has he ever thought of a career on the stage?”

      Teddi’s musical laughter rang out. “Too busy worrying about this place, I think.”

      No doubt operating such an establishment did require a great deal of work.

      “How many guests can you accommodate?” she asked, taking in green pastures and barbwire fences that spread as far as the eye could see.

      “Thirty at the most.” Teddi Benedict was never still, and in the evening sun her brown hair glinted with red highlights. “Other than the house, we have two bunkhouses—one for guests and one for the cowboys.”

      “Ah. A real working ranch, then? Just like in the brochure.”

      “Absolutely. If you want to ride out and work with the hands, you can do that. Or you can go for the planned events, trail rides, whatever you want.” Teddi did one of her mercurial shifts, hazel eyes dancing. “This place is perfect for the single female. You are single, aren’t you?”

      “Uh…yeah.” Permanently.

      As if Carly’s unattached status was something to celebrate, Teddi clapped her small hands and nearly did a jitterbug.

      “Wonderful, Carly. You are surrounded by men.” She swept a hand toward the gaggle of cowboys who now held paper plates and chowed down on pork ribs. “Find one. Have a romantic holiday. Maybe even discover your one true love. This place can make it happen.”

      Carly held up a hand to stop the tirade. “Thanks, but no thanks. Romance is the last thing on my mind.”

      And would likely stay that way forever. She didn’t need a man; she needed to successfully investigate something and prove to her brother-in-law that she really could solve a case without screwing up.

      As if that was going to happen out here in cowville.

      At that moment Luc Gardner came strolling down the brick walk, thumbs in his belt loops, looking mouthwateringly delicious. Carly forgot what she was saying.

      “Luc!” Teddi gushed, jewelry clanking like a ghost in chains. “I’m so glad you decided to join us.”

      “The scent of Western barbecue could drive a man to madness.”

      “Exactly the result we were going for. Tell you what. You met Carly earlier, right?”

      Luc turned those Mediterranean-blue eyes on Carly and smiled. “Lovely seeing you again, Carly.”

      “Yes, lovely,” she mumbled weakly. She was salivating, but it had nothing to do with the spicy barbecue.

      Before she could make a bigger fool of herself, Teddi stepped in. “So, Luc, sweetie, will you be Carly’s dinner partner tonight and help her get acquainted?”

      “That isn’t necessary.” Now that she’d found her voice and had shaken off the annoying attack of weak knees, Carly was embarrassed at Teddi’s machinations.

      “It would be my pleasure,” Luc replied over her protestations.

      Teddi squeezed his bicep, setting her bracelets a-jingle. “Oh, I just knew you would. You are such a sweetheart. If y’all will excuse me, I really should go say hello to the new family from Ohio.”

      Like a will-o’-the-wisp, she danced away, leaving Carly alone with Luc. How embarrassing. And how awful for Luc to be put on the spot this way. All her life her family had played matchmaker, dumping her on unsuspecting guys—and it never worked out.

      “Really, Luc,” she said, liking the way his name rolled off her tongue but not particularly fond of her sudden propensity for stuttering, “I can fend for myself.”

      “But I am alone here, too. I would enjoy sharing dinner with you.” He made it sound as though they were dining on caviar and champagne at the Ritz. “That is, if you are in agreement.”

      Agreement? Ecstasy was more like it. Not because he was far more handsome than any man here. And not because his accent made her stomach flutter. But because she wanted to know why a man like him was here, alone, on an Oklahoma dude ranch a million miles from nowhere. That was all. Mere P.I.’s curiosity.

      “You

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