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Racing Hearts / Crash and Burn Excerpt

Racing Hearts / Crash and Burn
Approx 100,000 words

Samantha Kelleher is the best mechanic on the NASCAR Circuit. With a degree in engineering and an undying passion for racing, she relies on only the physical facts to guide her. Although drivers seem to be dying all around, Sam’s passion to drive still remains. Racing is all she lives for. Will Sam make it out of the driver’s seat alive?

Drew Thompson is sent to find a cold-blooded killer stalking the track. All cop, he’s strong arrogant and bull-headed. A man who would never bend the rules, let alone break them—until he falls for his number-one suspect. When he unwittingly takes Samantha to bed, he’s not sure which are more dangerous, fast cars or even faster women.


Chapter One

“Shit! Not again!” Sam watched the number thirteen car slam into the barrier, and she immediately took off to the pit truck. Barreling across the racetrack, she couldn’t take her eyes off the crash.

No way in hell she’d lose her brother today.

“Don’t blow!” she shouted, watching twisted metal rip from the mangled machine and fly across the roadway.

The shrilling screech of metal scraping pavement pierced through her head. The first high-speed impact.

The crowded stands cleared as the car shot across the track, smashing into the side barrier without slowing. After skidding back across the asphalt, the car finally stopped. But the engine burst into flames, her worst nightmare. Soon the whole car would be engulfed. Her stomach leapt to her throat. Dead or alive, she wouldn’t leave Tommy to burn.

Speeding to the mangled race car, she felt the heat radiating through the windshield. With the car raging in flames, Sam hoped to God her brother was still alive.

She jammed her foot down onto the brake and brought the truck to a grinding halt. It bucked as she leapt from the vehicle.

Her father’s voice came screaming through her headset, “Damn it, Samantha, stay back. Let the emergency team get him.”

She searched for the fire truck.

“Wait! Are you crazy? It’s gonna blow.” She ripped the headset from her ear. Her scalp stung as a tangled wad of hair went with it. She wasn’t going to leave this to someone else. Tommy would be dead before they even got close.

Her eyes and nostrils burned as she ran toward the inferno. The scorching heat was unbearable. She turned her head down track. The fire truck would never make it in time.

She had no choice but to act—NOW. Sam shut her eyes for an instant, steeling herself for what would come. Then, without any more hesitation, she reached through the window, groping for the harness button.

“Damn.” She hissed a breath through her teeth. The searing hot metal of the buckle blistered her fingertips. The burn shot chills across her skin, nearly knocking her off her feet. Fumbling through her pockets, she took out a red bandanna, wrapped it around her hand and reached back in the car. She popped the harness button and yanked the straps off his unresponsive body.

Sam tugged Tommy through the window with all of her might. The weight of her unconscious brother’s body took them both to the ground.

“Stay with me, Tommy. We’re halfway there.” Digging in with her heels, she pulled herself up, dragging him across the asphalt backwards. God, he’s heavy! An explosive pop nearly blew her to the ground again. She knew the sound—all too well. Heaving Tommy to one side, she rolled on top of him to shield him from the blast. The car would explode at any second.

Yeow! Pain seared through her. She looked back at her leg and panicked. Fire! She slapped at the spreading flames, a useless tactic. Sam yanked at her racing suit zipper, but realized her mistake. Without the added protection, she’d be toast. No way in hell she’d expose herself to the flames.

She got to her knees and the car exploded again, blowing her to the ground head first. Sam raked her hand across her splitting head. Bleary eyed, she looked down at her fingers, barely able to focus. Her hand trembled, covered in blood. No hope for them now.

Blinking her eyes, she saw the stream of suds spewing from the fire hose. Flying silently through the air, the foam was swallowed in flames before even touching the car.

She saw black boots in the distance. More firemen. Raising her arm, she shouted, “Over here.” But they didn’t turn. She shouted again. Still no response. Was her voice working? She didn’t know, she couldn’t hear a thing over the deafening, high-pitched tone ringing in her ears.

Looking over at her brother, Sam stared at his vacant face. She touched his cheek and shivered. It was cold.

She was too late.

She blinked again, trying to maintain focus. Forgive me, Tommy. Her vision faded and everything went black.

***

The constant beep forced Sam to pull her weighted eyelids apart. The lingering stench of heated pavement slowly dissipated from her nose. Replaced by an antiseptic smell, the new odor gave her an overwhelming feeling of relief.

White walls, window, TV. Too much noise. She turned her head, following the annoying sound that woke her. Heart monitor. She was in the hospital. Where was Tommy?

“Where’s Tommy?” Her words were muffled.

“Hang on there, little lady.” Ray removed his hand from hers and pulled the oxygen mask from her face.

“Tommy? Is he okay?” Her voice was low and rough.

“He’s alive.” His up-beat tone contradicted his sober expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothin’.” He still wasn’t smiling.

Ray was her best friend—he wouldn’t lie to her. Sam knew that much. He must be alive, but there was definitely something wrong.

“Ray, tell me the truth. What’s going on?”

Ray’s eyes skittered anxiously. “His neck is broken.”

“Oh my God. Is he…?”

“He’s paralyzed.”

“Permanently?”

“Not sure. The doc says they have to wait for the swelling to go down. See how bad the nerves are damaged.”

Crazy thoughts flew through her mind. Did I do this? Would Tommy have been okay if I hadn’t pulled him out?

Her blood pressure spiked and the machine alarm whined.

“Settle down, Samantha.” Her father’s thunderous voice shot through her. She hadn’t seen him until now. He must have been sitting in the corner chair.

“Where is he, Paddy?”

“A couple doors down.” Ray answered, turning slightly as Paddy stood. “Your Dad’s been up with him most of the night.”

“What happened?”

“The damage was probably caused by the crash, but they can’t say for certain.” Paddy raked his hand down his red-freckled face. “Why’d you rush in there like that, Samantha? I told you to stay back.” His voice rumbled. He wasn’t holding his anger very well today.

“The car was on fire, Paddy.” She held her tone steady, trying not to provoke him. “It was going to blow.”

“You should’ve waited for the rescue crew.” He grabbed the bed rail, twisting his hands tightly around it.

“The fire trucks were nowhere in sight.”

“I know you did the best you could, Samantha.” His tone softened. “But—”

“But what, Paddy? I got him out of the car.” She raised her voice and his eyes narrowed.

“If you’d waited, he might not be paralyzed.” The bed shook as he released the rail.

“I wasn’t going to let my brother burn.” The tortured moments in the fire scorched through her again.

“The boy can’t walk, Samantha.” He turned away muttering, “Force him to live like that for the rest of his life or…”

“Or what, Paddy? Let him die?

He let out a heavy breath. “I’m not sure this was the better choice.”

“Tommy would want to live. Paralyzed or not.” Sam couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Would her father really have let him burn to death?

“One thing’s for sure, he’ll never be able to race again.”

“That’s an awful thing to say.” She bolted up in bed. Her backside burned and a rush of heat flooded her body.

“Maybe we should come back later.” Ray slipped something long and round into her hand. “The nurse said to push this button when the pain gets too much.”

She sunk back against the bed and immediately pushed it twice. “When can I go back to work?”

“Let’s not worry about that.” Her father said, “Ray can handle things for now.”

“How’s the car?”

“Totaled. We’re going to need a new one.”

“I’ve got to get it ready.” She tried to swing her legs to the side of the bed, but couldn’t. They were like bricks.

“You’re going to stay right here for the next few days.”

“And Tommy?” Her words slurred. The medication kicking in.

“I’m afraid he’s going to have a much longer stay.”

She saw the disappointment in Paddy’s face. Had she done the wrong thing? Was it her fault Tommy was paralyzed? At the time she was so sure she was doing what had to be done.

Her mind faded into a haze, her eyelids were heavy again.

***

The warmth was gone. She reached for the blanket. No blanket. She forced her eyes open. Large nurse, hovering above.

“Time to get you up and out of bed.” The nurse took Sam’s hands, gently pulling her into a sitting position. “Can you swing those legs off the bed for me?”

Nodding, Sam took in a deep breath and searched the bed for the morphine button to squelch the pain. No button. She followed the tube in her arm to the saline hanging from the pole.

No morphine!

The irritating beep was gone, but Sam was still on edge.

“What time is it?” she said, hauling her legs to the side. She found them to be much lighter now.

“It’s almost nine. You slept well last night.”

After wrapping a light cotton robe around Sam’s shoulders, the nurse prompted her to lift her dangling feet before sliding a pair of slippers on them.

“Can I see my brother?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” The nurse transferred the IV bag from the bed to a portable IV pole.

“Please. I need to see him.” She looked up and saw a young woman dressed in purple scrubs and a white lab coat entering the room. Sam wasn’t sure who she was, but this was a little overkill. “I can get out of bed myself.”

“Go for it.” The woman raised her brows, challenging her. “I’d like to see what you can do.”

Sam looked up at the nurse. “Nice attitude.”

“This is Chloe Barnes. She’s our resident physical therapist.”

Sam took a double take. The woman didn’t look old enough to be out of high school.

“She wants to see her brother.” The nurse said.

Feeling Chloe’s gaze raking across her. Sam shot her a demanding look.

Chloe’s lip pulled up on one side. “Maybe for just a minute.”

Sam stretched her legs to the floor. Pain went shooting up her backside. Fighting to catch her breath, she stumbled forward, grabbing the IV pole.

“Take it easy.” The nurse held her steady. “You’re going to have to do things a little slower for awhile.”

She sucked in a deep breath, letting it shudder out. “Which way.”

“I’ll take you.” Chloe tried to take her hand. Sam flinched when she touched her.

“I don’t need any help.” Pulling herself upright with the IV pole, her stomach shot to her throat. “Just tell me where he is.”

“Out the door and to the right.” Chloe offered her arm to steady her.

Sam ignored it, leaning on the IV pole instead.

“I heard you were a tough one.”

Sam shot her a look.

“Takes a lot of courage to pull someone out of a burning car.” Chloe’s tone softened, the admiration in her voice sounded sincere.

“He’s my brother.”

“You saved his life, you know.”

“I paralyzed him.”

“No, you didn’t.” Chloe stepped in front of her. “His neck was broken in the crash.”

“But I made it worse.”

“There’s nothing you could’ve done to prevent it.”

“Can you tell me that for sure?”

“Ninety-nine percent certain.” Chloe looked away, continuing down the hallway.

Sam almost believed her. But there was still that one percent.

Chloe stopped before they reached the door. “There are a couple things you need to know before you go in.”

“I’m all ears.” Sam said, propping her shoulder against the wall for support. Walking wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be.

“He’s wearing what we call a halo vest. It’s a little daunting at first sight, but it’s not a permanent fixture. It’s only there to keep him immobile.”

“That’s all you can do for him?”

“The only other option was to undergo surgery right away and fuse the broken bones with metal pins, wires and bone grafts. He was in pretty bad shape when he came in. The doctors didn’t want to risk surgery.

It was more serious than Sam thought. Her brother would probably never walk again.

“We’re hoping he’ll regain some upper body movement by letting some of the nerves grow back together. In order to do that he has to be kept perfectly still. Understand?” She lifted her eyebrows, waiting for a response.

“I understand.”

Rounding the corner, Sam saw her semi-conscious brother. No burns or scrapes. He looked perfectly normal except for the rigid frame locked around his head, neck and chest. Sharp spikes twisted through his scalp into his skull. It had to be painful.

“I sure did it this time, didn’t I, Sammy?” Her brother’s usual playful tone was dampened by reality. “I guess Lucky Thirteen’s good fortune ran out.”

She couldn’t stop the tears. “I’m so sorry, Tommy.”

“I’ll be okay, sis.” His lips tipped into a loving smile. “But from now on, you’re gonna have to do the driving.”

“No driving for at least a month.” Chloe spouted, following Sam in with the rolling IV pole.

“Who are you, my mother?” Tommy said, grinning.

“Worse. I’m your physical therapist.” She gave him a don’t-mess-with-me look before glancing over at Sam. “Are you okay?”

Sam nodded.

Without hesitation, Chloe grabbed hold of Sam’s hand and placed it on the railing. “I’ll be right back, you two visit for a few minutes.”

“I’ll be counting every second.” Tommy shot her a wink.

“Hold that thought.” Heading to the door, Chloe smiled. “After a few days of therapy, you’ll never want to see me again.”

“Look at you. Flat on your back and still flirting.” Sam took his hand and squeezed it. He didn’t squeeze back. He couldn’t feel her. She swallowed hard, fighting back the tears.

“What can I say? The chicks love me.”

“Has Erica been in to see you?” Sam didn’t like his almost-other-half. She’d swooped in six months ago and dug her claws in deep. Now Sam was afraid Tommy was going to see exactly what the woman was made of.

“She stopped by this morning. Didn’t stay long.”

“Not taking it well?” With pain shooting through her leg, Sam let Tommy’s hand drop and held the bed rail tightly.

“Not taking it at all.”

“I don’t know what to say, Tommy.” That wasn’t true. For starters, I could say I told you so. The woman was a gold-digging slut.

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m not stupid, Sammy. I knew what kind of woman she was when we met.” He gave her a wicked smile. “We both got what we wanted out of it.”

“Life goes on, I suppose.”

“It sure does, don’t blink, you might miss it.” His lips clamped together into a half-hearted smile. “Besides, I’ve got this pretty little physical therapist to spend my time with now.”

Chloe walked back in shaking her head. “You might not feel the same about me next week.”

Sam took a good look at her. Even without heels, Sam towered over the woman. Considering Sam’s five foot nine, slender frame that wasn’t unusual. Chloe brushed back her dark, shoulder length hair and Sam caught a glimpse of a small heart-shaped tattoo on her neck just behind her multi-pierced ear.

“You ready to go back to your room?”

“Yeah, my leg’s hurting a little.” That was a lie. The pain was throbbing up and down her entire backside. She could barely stand.

“Just a little?”

Grabbing hold of the IV pole, Sam pursed her lips. “That’s what I said.”

Chloe stepped in front of her and stared into her eyes. “I’m your therapist too. You need to be truthful with me.”

“Okay. It hurts like hell.” She whispered, trying not to let Tommy hear. “Can you get me a wheelchair?

“Coming right up. Chloe slipped into the hall and came racing back with one. “I’ll order up a shot of morphine as soon as we get you back into bed.”

“Why’d you take me off that machine?” Sam winced, lowering herself into the seat.

“I don’t want you to be in pain, but you need to be lucid. We have a lot of work ahead of us if you want to get out of here in the next few days.”

“The sooner the better.”

On their way out the door, Chloe looked back at Tommy. “After I get your sister taken care of, I’ll be back to see you.”

“That sounds promising.”

She cocked her head like she was going to give him a stinging retort, but instead clamped her mouth shut and headed out the door.

“Your brother is some kind of Romeo, huh?”

“Take it easy on him. I think he lost his fiancé this morning.”

“The pretty blonde?

Sam nodded.

“I’ll save my banter for later in the week when he’s just starting to hate me.” She rounded the corner into the room. “So what do you think happened with the car? Steering column failure?”

Sam gave Chloe a puzzled look.

“I’m a fan. Cars are kind of a hobby of mine.”

Sam should have guessed. Chloe was a track junkie gone straight.

“I won’t know until I get out of here and take a look at the wreckage.”

“I bet it was the steering column. It probably locked up.”

“You said that, not me.”

“You won’t even hazard a guess?”

“That would be unprofessional.”

“Come on, that’s what you’re going to check first, right?”

“You should really keep your mouth shut. Rumors get started that way.”

Chloe tried to help her into bed. Sam waived her off, slapping her hand accidentally. “Sorry, but it’s easier if I do it myself.” After climbing into bed, she closed her eyes momentarily, trying to stifle the pain. “Can you give me that morphine shot now? My ass is killing me.”

“Sure. I’ll be right back.”

The woman was acting more like a racing official than a physical therapist. Trying to make Sam admit something she didn’t know. To acknowledge there was something mechanically wrong with the car would be professional suicide. She’d be ridiculed for the rest of her career. She would never disclose anything like that to anyone under any circumstances.

Jumpin' J Ranch Excerpt

Jumpin’ J Ranch
Approx 100,000 words

Widowed ranch owner, Kathryn (Kat) Jackson, hates it when city-boys show up expecting to be catered to. She doesn’t have the time or energy to fend off their advances while leading them around by the nose. But when a certain stranger shows up at the ranch to play weekend cowboy, Kat is somehow drawn in by his false naiveté. She soon finds all she knows to be true in her life may be a cruel façade developed for her own protection.

JT Callahan is a man with a job to do. His objective—to bring Kathryn Jackson back to Austin any way he can, regardless of her desire to keep her distance. If that includes seduction, so be it. What he hadn’t counted on was that the woman he’s unleashed his charms on will soon be making his own past bubble just below the surface. Threatening to destroy his entire existence as the “big city lawyer”.


Chapter One

“I told you before, I don’t want anything to do with her.” Kat slammed the phone into the receiver and whirled around to the kitchen counter. After snatching her leather work gloves from the table, she threw open the screen door and stepped out onto the porch.

Kat had tried to ignore it, but she couldn’t miss the headline plastered across every newspaper in town, ‘Montco Oil CEO Dies in Fatal Car Crash’. Just two weeks before, the horrific collision between her parents’ Mercedes and a semi-truck had taken her father’s life and left her mother critically injured with a broken pelvis.

“She’s your mother, Kat. Why dontcha just see what she wants?” Virgil said calmly from the rocking chair positioned in the corner of the rickety, old wrap-around porch. Squaring his jaw, he scratched at the day-old, gray-spotted beard emerging from his chin.

“I know what she wants.” Kat held her tongue. She knew her father-in-law meant well, but he had no idea what a huge concession contacting her mother would be. It would split open a wound she’d thought had been forgotten long ago. From the twisting in her gut, she now realized it hadn’t quite healed.

“She wants me to come back to Austin and take care of her.” She blew the fundamental statement out with a slow, heavy breath. What came without doubt for most children would not come so easily for Kathryn Jackson. But, as she remembered clearly, that was her mother’s own doing.

She grabbed hold of the porch railing, tightening her fingers around it as she stared out onto the dream ranch she’d put so many years into creating. Sucking in a deep breath, her head filled with the marvelously pungent scent of horses and fresh cut hay.

Virgil’s foot teetered back and forth on the edge of the floor railing, prompting the chair to rock slowly. “Your mother needs you, Kat.”

“She needs me!” Her voice squealed, vulnerability slipping out involuntarily. “Where was the mighty Diana Belmont when I needed her?” Pulling her hair back roughly, she fastened it with a plain black hair band. “If she thinks I’m going to give up everything I’ve worked for to take care of her, she’s got another thing comin’.”

Kat yanked her gloves on and headed down the steps and across the grounds to the horse stable. She didn’t want anything to do with her mother now. The only thing she’d ever wanted from her was love, and that was something the woman had never been able to give freely.

“Will I see ya for lunch?” Virgil shouted, still settled comfortably in the rocker.

“Not ‘til about one. I’m gonna take Minow out and check the trails this morning.” She glanced back at him. “I don’t want any injured horses this week.” Besides that, she needed some space this morning. The constant battle between her conscience and her free will was getting the best of her. The woman was her mother after all, but after what had happened between them, Kat couldn’t bring herself to go see her. She needed to settle it in her mind and Kat knew there was no better place to be than out on the range in the great state of Texas when she needed to think.

She went inside the stable, took a bridle out of the cabinet and continued into the first stall. “Hey, baby.” She stroked the horse gently. “You want to take me for a ride today?”

The beautiful black Arabian lifted her hooves slightly in response to Kat’s voice and she slid the bit into the horse’s mouth.

“Okay, come on.” She led the horse out of the stall and across the breezeway to the tack room where her custom-made saddle hung on a separate wall from the rest. Kat lifted the thirty-pound seat of leather from its peg, slung it across the horse’s back and cinched it tight. Minow held perfectly still while Kat mounted her, and then trotted out by the corral when she gave her a slight nudge in her sides with her heels.

Giving Virgil a quick wave, Kat took the first trail leading up the hill and into the towering cottonwood trees.

***

“Damn that woman!” JT slid the receiver from his ear and slammed it down hard into its cradle. “She won’t even let me talk.” He slapped the file folder closed in from of him. “Hell, I’ve only called her fifty times and she acts like she doesn’t even know my name.” He was exaggerating on the numbers, but it irked the hell out of him that she could be so rude.

Jonathan T Callahan wasn’t used to being dismissed with such venom. He sank back into his high-backed leather chair and mulled over the conversation for a moment. Twisting the chair around, he looked up at the cream-colored certificates strategically placed on the mahogany, wood-paneled wall behind him. This was only one of the many aspects of being Diana Belmont’s personal attorney he didn’t enjoy. He liked the woman, but sometimes he didn’t care for her methods. If she was really looking for a response, she should be calling her daughter herself.

He knew what came next and wasn’t looking forward to it. He was going to have to see face-to-face just what kind of heartless woman wouldn’t take the time to find out how her mother was recuperating after an automobile accident.

“Marsha,” he called, shooting up out of his chair. Swiping the file off of his desk, he slid it into his leather briefcase and snapped it closed.

A small red-haired woman poked her head through the doorway. “Yes, Mr. Callahan?”

“Unless I missed something, I’m not due in court for anything this week, right?”

“No. Not this week.”

“Good. I need you to make a reservation for me at this place.” He tossed a small pamphlet across the desk. “And cancel all of my appointments for the next few days.”

She picked up the brochure and gave him an amusing smirk. “You’re going to a dude ranch?”

“It’s business.” The type of business he didn’t like to conduct.

“It must be to get you out into the country,” she said, with a chuckle. “Can I go?” Her eyebrows rose. “I’d love to see you on a horse.”

“Just make the reservation.” He picked up a few more files and brushed past her to the doorway.

“When would you like to arrive?” She followed him out.

“Tomorrow.” He dropped the files on her desk. “I need to run by and see Mrs. Belmont this morning.” His stomach churned, JT knew she wasn’t going to be happy with her daughter’s adamant response. He didn’t know why, but he’d been a little surprised at it himself. “Then I’ll be heading back to the courthouse to do some research. Call my cell if you have any problems.” He headed down the hallway to the elevator.

“How many days?”

“Two or three.” Without turning, he held up his hand and wiggled his fingers indecisively.

“So, I can take the next couple of days off?” She shouted after him.

“Nope.” He shook his head. “You still have some work to do on those files I just put on your desk.” Rounding the corner to the elevator he smiled, catching what he knew was just the beginning of her stinging protest.

***

Kat weaved the horse through the massive shadowy patch of cottonwood trees, emerging on the other side into the wild sunflower field. She looked up into the sky and let the warm sun beat down on her face.

Closing her eyes, she sucked in a much needed breath of fresh country air. She knew this was the best way to clear her head. Riding had always been Kat’s release. Even when she was away at college and it seemed like she couldn’t get through the never-ending studying and constant pressure, all she had to do was close her eyes and she was there, out on the range again. The smell of wildflowers, the touch of early-morning moisture in the air, and the endless sight of the vast rolling countryside had always been a constant source of comfort in her life.

After stopping at a small stream about two miles out on the lower valley trail, Kat slid down off Minow and propped herself up against a large walnut tree. Sleep hadn’t come easy these past few weeks, but here, in her sanctuary, she was somehow able to relax. She stared into the distance until she could no longer remain conscious. Her vision clouded and her lids dropped languidly over her eyes.

And then he was there, Chance Jackson, the only thing Kat loved more than God’s green earth. The man who’d swept her off her feet almost ten years ago. The very same man that her parents had forbidden her to marry.

“Oh, Chance,” she mumbled, letting out a ragged breath. “What should I do now?” Her voice deflated in confusion. “I know I shouldn’t be bitter, but I just can’t help it.”

Without saying a word his mouth went to hers and their tongues mingled softly. Unbuttoning her blouse, his rough fingers dragged across her chest and her body tingled. After pulling the shirt from her shoulders his lips quickly replaced his hands, slowly roaming across the hollow of her neck and down to the soft skin of her breast. She let out a soft shudder, captivated by the touch of the man she loved more than life itself. His mouth lingered, touching, teasing her wildly. Sensations rocketed through her, commanding her body to react, quivering uncontrollably.

With the tremors subsiding, Kat heard the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat pounding in her head. Opening her eyes as it became more distinct, she knew he was gone again.

Her head dropped forward and the tears streamed down her cheeks. Swiping the sleeve of her denim shirt across her face, Kat pulled herself to her feet. She stood waiting for her neighbor with her arms crossed tightly across her chest as the pounding hooves of the galloping horse in the distance came closer.

Burton Maxwell was the kind of neighbor you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. A far cry from the kind of ranch owners Kat had encountered over the years. He didn’t seem like the kind of man who would be interested in owning a ranch, much less smart enough to run one. For almost seven years now, the man had given her nothing but grief.

“I thought I told you to stay off my land, Maxwell,” she shouted to the tall surly man approaching.

“Oh, come on, Kat.” He slung his leg easily around the rear of the horse and dismounted. “I thought we were friends.” His voice took on the usual irritating drawl.

“With friends like you, a woman doesn’t need many enemies.” She said, firming her stance as the smug imitation of a man came toward her.

“You know I could be a lot nicer if you’d just let me.” He backed her up against the tree.

“Not in this lifetime,” she shot back, tilting her head upward as his six-foot-five frame towered over her. The clean engaging features of his long narrow face were dampened by the blackness filling his eyes. Eyes that burned with hunger as he moved closer and forced his mouth onto hers.

“Get away from me.” Her voice was muffled as his hard mouth covered her unwilling lips. She struggled against the powerful arms keeping her pinned to the tree, and then decided to take another route to get him off her.

A groan of pain gurgled from his throat and he flew back, wiping the blood from his lip. “Damn, woman! You bit me.” He raised a hand to slap her.

Kat stood perfectly still, her eyes hard and narrow, silently daring him.

Maxwell clenched his fingers into a tight fist and lowered his hand. “No.” His thin lips flattened into a contentious smile. “You’re not going to force me to damage that pretty face.” He ran his finger down her jaw line. “You’ll come back ‘round eventually.” Letting out a menacing laugh, he got back on his horse. “And then you’ll be beggin’ for a lot more than a kiss.” Riding off slowly, Maxwell turned and his lips twisted into a deviant smile.

“Stay off my land.” Kat stood waiting, watching as he disappeared into the trees.

When he was out of sight, she dropped to her knees and spewed what little she’d eaten for breakfast into the weeds. Just the smell of the man made her stomach turn. The thought of him touching her again made her skin crawl.

Things were just starting to get better financially at the Jumpin’ “J” when Chance died four years ago. Although Kat never asked him to, Burton Maxwell stepped in to help with the day-to-day operation of the ranch. Making himself available to her under the guise of friendship, he helped her out around the ranch whenever she needed him. Easing himself into her life through her grief, the man also gave her some much needed comfort in her time of loss. She really didn’t know exactly how it happened, but out of gratitude more than anything else, she made the mistake of allowing him into her bed. That was a lesson in trust Kat would never forget.

Kat didn’t know how she could’ve been so blind to Maxwell’s motives. It was clear to her now, all he wanted was her land.

She hauled herself to her feet and shouted, “Why can’t they all just leave me alone?” Her voice echoed through the valley as she climbed onto her horse.

Taking in a deep breath, Kat looked up into the sky. God, how she wished Chance were here now. He would know exactly what to do. He’d always been able to see through the anger and lead her in the right direction. She kicked her heels into Minow’s sides and the horse trotted up the hill.