“Is that a plane?" Marilee awoke with a start,surprised to find the sun already high.Wyatt shaded the sun from his eyes to scan the sky.As the sound grew louder they both sat up at the same moment."A truck." Wyatt pointed. "Coming from that direction.Probably Jesse and Zane with that flatbed they promised.""Oh,no.Look at me.What was I thinking?" With a cry Marilee grabbed up her discarded clothes and started dressing.When she finished she tossed Wyatt's clothing at him. "Aren't you going to put these on?""Yeah.No rush.""No rush?" She was already climbing into the cockpit of the plane to retrieve her gear.Men, she thought. If they were standing naked in Grand Central Station, they would probably take their sweet time finding something with which to cover themselves.”

“It's hard to imagine you working as a waitress in some college-town bar, Aunt Cora. Were you wearing Coot's overalls back then?"The older woman put a hand to her hip. "I'll have you know I was once considered quite a babe."While the others were grinning, Cal rushed to her defense. "Still are to me, Cora."Then,realizing what he'd just said, his face reddened.His discomfort wasn't lost on the others.Amy and Marilee exchanged meaningful looks, while Jesse,Wyatt, and Zane jumped at the chance to start teasing him."Careful,Cal." Jesse winked at his cousins. "Next thing you know,Aunt Cora will invite you to her studio to pose for a portrait."Wyatt chuckled. "Just remember to keep your boots on,Cal.”

“Do you remember the time we tied a lasso to a tree limb and decided to swing across the creek like Tarzan?" Wyatt tipped up his frosty bottle and took a long pull."Yeah." Zane was already laughing. "As usual,you two decided that I'd be the one to try it out first.That way,if it broke,I'd be the one tossed into the creek.""It stands to reason." Jesse chuckled. "You were the youngest. That's just the price you had to pay to hang out with us.""And," Wyatt added, "you were always willing to go along with whatever we decided." Zane shook his head. "Not when I used it to fly across the creek.""And not when I followed him," Wyatt said with a laugh. "But Jesse, assured that it was safe,grabbed hold and was flying through the air when the branch snapped."Amy looked over at her husband. "You landed in the creek?""Yeah? On the day after one of our biggest storms,with the water spilling over its banks and rushing so fast it carried me downstream half a mile or more."She put a hand to her mouth to cover her shock and saw Cora do the same.Wyatt laughed. "He was lucky Zane and I had our horses tethered nearby.We chased along the banks of the creek until we could get far enough ahead to toss him a tree branch to catch. By the time we hauled him out,he looked like a drowned rat and was spitting mad.""I had a right to be.I swallowed half the creek."Zane laughed. "But think how lucky we were that it happened to you instead of me. At least you could swim."Marilee's eyes rounded. "They had you test the rope when they knew you couldn't swim?"Wyatt was laughing even harder. "We figured it was one way for him to learn.""How old were you?"They thought a minute before Wyatt answered. "I was eight,so that would make Jesse ten and Zane seven.""You could have all drowned.""Yeah.Looking back,we were lucky to have surrived so many foolish adventures. But," Wyatt added, "I wouldn't have missed a single one of them."of them”

“A hundred bucks,cuz.And judging by that spectacular toss over the rail, I'd say you earned it."Wyatt tucked the money into his pocket. "It was pretty spectacular, wasn't it? And it worked. It got the attention of our pretty little medic."Jesse,Amy,and Zane stopped dead in their tracks.Amy laughed. "You did all that to get Lee's attention?""Nothing else I've tried has worked. I was desperate."Jesse shook his head in disbelief. "Did you ever think about just buying her a beer at the Fortune Saloon? I'd think that would be a whole lot simpler than risking broken bones leaping off a bull.""But not nearly as memorable.The next time she sees me at the saloon, she'll know my name."Zane threw back his head and roared. "So will every shrink from here to Helena. You have to be certifiably nuts to do all that just for the sake of a pretty face.""Hey." Wyatt slapped his cousin on the back. "Whatever works.'"Zane pulled out a roll of bills. "Ten says she's already written you off as someone to avoid at all costs."Wyatt's smile brightened. "Chump change. If you want to bet me, make it a hundred.""You got it." Zane pulled a hundred from the roll and handed it to Jesse. "Now match it, cuz. I was going to bet that you can't persuade Marilee Trainor to even speak to you again. But just to make things interesting, I'm betting that you can't get her to have dinner with you tonight.""Dinner? Tonight? Now you're pushing the limits,cuz. She's already refused me.""Put up or shut up."Wyatt arched a brow. "You want me to kiss and tell?""I don't say anything about kissing. I don't care what you do,after you get her to have dinner with you.That's the bet. So if you're ready to admit defeat, just give me the hundred now.""Uh-oh." Wyatt stopped dead in his tracks. "Is that a dare?"Amy stood between them,shaking her head. "You sound like two little kids."Wyatt shot her a wicked grin. "Didn't you know that all men are just boys at heart?"He reached into his pocket and handed Zane a bill before he strolled away.Over his shoulder he called, "I'll catch you back at the ranch. You can pay me then."He left his cousins laughing and shaking their heads.”

“If you wouldn't mind driving my truck across the tarmac,I'd like to unload the medical supplies and deliver them to the clinic on the way to Delia's.""Good idea.Let's kill two birds."Marilee shook her head. "Please.I'd rather not talk about killing any birds."Wyatt paused and touched a hand to her cheek.She felt the heat all the way to her toes.He stared down into her eyes,and his lips curved into a killer smile that had those same toes curling with pleasure."My fearless,independent adventurer. You handle a plane like you were born with wings.I've watched you patch up battered, bloody cowboys without flinching. But you can't even think about harming a bird."She couldn't say a word.Her throat was dry as dust.With a thoughtful look he rubbed a thumb over her lower lip,then turned away and headed toward her truck.Marilee remained where she was, absorbing the aftershock of his touch. She'd thought he would kiss her.Had wanted him to.Desperately. Instead, all he'd done was touch her.And that had been enough to reduce her to a weak, trembling mass of jelly.She was going to have to do something about these jumbled hormones.She sucked in a deep breath and got to work hauling the cases of medical supplies.By the time Wyatt drove the truck close to the plane,she was in control and able to work alongside him without sighing like a girl with her first crutch.But just barely.”

“In case you haven't noticed,rodeos are a serious business.Careless cowboys tend to break bones,or even their skulls,as hard as that may be to believe."She stared down at the hand holding her wrist. Despite his smile,she could feel the strength in his grip. If he wanted to,he could no doubt break her bone with a single snap. But she wasn't concerned with his strength,only with the heat his touch was generating. She felt the tingle of warmth all the way up her arm.It alarmed her more than she cared to admit."My job is to minimize damage to anyone who is actually hurt.""I'm grateful." He sat up so his laughing blue eyes were even with hers. If possible,his were even bluer than the perfect Montana sky above them. "What do you think? Any damage from that fall?"Her instinct was to move back,but his fingers were still around her wrist,holding her close. "I'm beginning to wonder if you were actually tossed from that bull or deliberately fell.""I'd have to be a little bit crazy to deliberately fell.""I'd have to be a little bit crazy to deliberately jump from the back of a raging bull just to get your attention, wouldn't I?""Yeah." She felt the pull of that magnetic smile that had so many of the local females lusting after Wyatt McCord. Now she knew why he'd gained such a reputation in such a short time. "I'm beginning to think maybe you are. In fact,more than a little.A whole lot crazy.""I figured it was the best possible way to get you to actually talk to me. You couldn't ignore me as long as there was even the slightest chance that I might be hurt."There was enough romance in her nature to feel flattered that he'd go to so much trouble to arrange to meet her. At least,she thought,it was original. And just dangerous enough to appeal to a certain wild-and-free spirit that dominated her own life.Then her practical side kicked in, and she felt an irrational sense of annoyance that he'd wasted so much of her time and energy on his weird idea of a joke."Oh,brother." She scrambled to her feet and dusted off her backside."Want me to do that for you?"She paused and shot him a look guaranteed to freeze most men.He merely kept that charming smile in place. "Mind if we start over?" He held out his hand. "Wyatt McCord.""I know who you are.""Okay.I'll handle both introductions. Nice to meet you,Marilee Trainor. Now that we have that out of the way,when do you get off work?""Not until the last bull rider has finished.""Want to grab a bite to eat? When the last rider is done,of course.""Sorry.I'll be heading home.""Why,thanks for the invitation.I'd be happy to join you.We could take along some pizza from one of the vendors."She looked him up and down. "I go home alone.""Sorry to hear that." There was that grin again,doing strange things to her heart. "You're missing out on a really fun evening.""You have a high opinion of yourself, McCord."He chuckled.Without warning he touched a finger to her lips. "Trust me.I'd do my best to turn that pretty little frown into an even prettier smile."Marilee couldn't believe the feelings that collided along her spine. Splinters of fire and ice had her fighting to keep from shivering despite the broiling sun.Because she didn't trust her voice, she merely turned on her heel and walked away from him.It was harder to do than she'd expected. And though she kept her spine rigid and her head high, she swore she could feel the heat of that gaze burning right through her flesh.It sent one more furnace blast rushing through her system. A system already overheated by her encounter with the bold, brash,irritatingly charming Wyatt McCord.”

“In a hurry to escape he let himself out of the house and walked to the truck. Before he could climb inside Marilee raced down the steps.Breathless,she came to a sudden halt in front of him.At the dark look in his eyes she swallowed. "Please don't go,Wyatt. I've been such a fool.""You aren't the only one." He studied her with a look that had her heart stuttering.A look so intense, she couldn't look away. "I've been neating myself up for days,because I wanted things to go my way or no way.""There's no need.You're not the only one." Her voice was soft,throaty. "You've always respected my need to be independent.But I guess I fought the battle so long,I forgot how to stop fighting even after I'd won the war.""You can fight me all you want. You know Superman is indestructable." Again that long,speculative look. "I know I caught you off guard with that proposal. It won't happen again. Even when I understood your fear of commitment, I had to push to have things my way.And even though I still want more, I'm willing to settle for what you're willing to give,as long as we can be together."She gave a deep sigh. "You mean it?""I do.""Oh,Wyatt.I was so afraid I'd driven you away forever."He continued studying her. "Does this mean you're suffering another change of heart?""My heart doesn't need to change. In my heart,I've always known how very special you are.It's my head that can't seem to catch up." She gave a shake of her head,as though to clear it. "I'm so glad you understand me. I've spent so many years fighting to be my own person, it seems I can't bear to give up the battle."A slow smile spread across his face, changing it from darkness to light. "Marilee,if it's a sparring partner you want,I'm happy to sigh on. And if,in time,you ever decide you want more, I'm your man."He framed her face with his hands and lowered his head,kissing her long and slow and deep until they were both sighing with pleasure.Her tears started again,but this time they were tears of joy.Wyatt brushed them away with his thumbs and traced the tracks with his lips. Marilee sighed at the tenderness. It was one of the things she most loved about this man.Loved.Why did she find it so hard to say what she was feeling? Because,her heart whispered, love meant commitment and promises and forever after,and that was more than she was willing to consider. At least for now.After a moment he caught her hand."Where are we going?""Your place.It's closer than the ranch, and we've wasted too much time already.""i can't leave the ambulance...""All right." He turned away from the ranch truck and led her toward her vehicle. "See how easy I am?"At her little laugh he added, "I'm desperate for some time alone with you."Alone.She thought about that word. She'd been alone for so long.What he was offering had her heart working overtime. He was willing to compromise in order to be with her.She was laughing through her tears as she turned the key in the ignition. The key that had saved his life."Wyatt McCord,I can't think of anything I'd rather be than alone with you.”