There was some laughter now. His face burned with anger and embarra.s.sment.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No, not at all, I prefer a challenge. Making fun of you would be like hunting a dairy cow with a high-powered rifle and scope."

"Why, I'm gonna-"

"Get your a.s.s kicked in about ten seconds," Rachael interjected.

She had just seen Joshua, James, and another heavily muscled man heading quickly toward them.

"What?"

"Five, four, three, two, one." Rachael sang the countdown.

Before Roy had time to make a getaway, a big hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"We want a word with you," James snarled in a menacing voice Rachael couldn't imagine belonging to him.

"Outside now," Joshua ordered, his tone was cold and brooked no resistance. They hustled Roy quickly out of a side door.

"d.a.m.n it, Mitch," Janet said to the guy who had arrived with her brothers. "You're the deputy. Shouldn't you go with them to make sure nothing too bad happens?"

Rachael's attention snapped back to the big guy standing close to Janet. He was about the same height as James and had to be one of the broadest men she'd ever met. She found it hard to see past his frame.

He'd be a good guy to hide behind in a gunfight. To "serve and protect," all he would need to do was stand there.

57.

"I'm off duty, so I'm giving them two minutes. Why didn't you come and tell me about Roy?" He stood in front of her with his fists and teeth clenched. "I'd finish him myself if he'd hurt you."

"You would?" Janet timidly asked.

"You know I would." His face softened.

"At the time, I felt that I was overreacting."

"Yeah, Josh said something about a boiling frog." He looked slightly puzzled. "I'd better go rescue Roy, though it irks me to do it."

Watching the deputy leave, Rachael raised an eyebrow at Janet.

"What?" she said all wide-eyed and innocent.

"I think the deputy's smitten and I think you don't mind."

"It's complicated," sighed Janet. "Mitch is a really great guy, and I think he likes me, but he always holds back. I'm not sure why, but I think he still sees me as a little girl." She snorted. "It's a common problem with the men in my life and it's very frustrating."

"I'm sorry I can't help. I'm no expert on men. They surprise me all the time."

By the time Rachael and Janet sat down at Susan's table, Mitch and Joshua had returned to the room and were obviously looking for them. Janet frantically waved them over.

"You weren't hurt, were you?"

"No. James took a few swipes, but Roy was no match for him. He was fairly riled up by whatever you said to him, Rachael." Joshua looked admiringly at her and sounded positively cheery. "I stayed on the sidelines watching just in case."

"That's not like you." Janet looked suspicious.

"I didn't trust myself to not go too far. Anyway, two against one isn't our style."

Isn't it? Rachael couldn't help seeing a double entendre.

"Where's Roy?" Janet asked.

"Probably limping home with his tail firmly between his legs. He won't bother you again, munchkin."

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"Thanks, but don't call me that." Janet grumbled. "I'm not twelve anymore." She looked at both Joshua and Mitch.

"Where is James?" Rachael asked.

"Pursuing a woman with Luke, as usual."

Oh my G.o.d, they share with others as well. Astonished, Rachael took a long swig of her beer. Lost in dark thoughts, she hadn't noticed that the music had changed. The band was now playing a lively country number.

"Let's dance," said Janet as she bounced up.

Rachael could see people forming lines. "I've never line danced before, but I'll have a go," she said, hardly catching a breath as Janet and Susan dragged her on to the floor with Colin and Mark. Rachael noticed that Joshua stayed put, talking to Mitch but often glancing her way. The deputy seemed similarly distracted, watching Janet.

It was a lot of fun, and her mood lifted a little. She found herself giggling as she messed up the steps. Lance and Paul were standing behind her in a line and kept pretending that she was stomping on their toes. It was very funny, and Janet was laughing heartily. Toward the end of the song, despite the boys clowning around, she was getting it right. After another lively number, the music changed to a slow country tune. Lance and Paul stepped in closer, but before they could say anything, a strong arm snaked around her waist and pulled her back against a hard body.

"The lady's taken," a deep male voice rumbled.

There was no mistaking the possessive power in those three words. Lance and Paul hesitated briefly then good-naturedly backed away. Towering over her, Joshua bent his head to whisper in her ear.

"Dance with me."

It wasn't a request.

Rachael didn't know what to say. She thought that she should have been outraged at the a.s.sumption he made, but her traitorous body relaxed against his, and she knew the truth of his words: taken.

Whatever pheromones this guy was packing would make millions if

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bottled. His scent was just too darn alluring and clouded her thoughts.

Keeping her enclosed within one arm, he turned her around to face him.

"You look beautiful and s.e.xy tonight. You supported my sister and made a fool of Crossling. You are the most attractive, desirable woman I have ever met. I know you wanted some time, but come home with me tonight."

She was aware of his arousal as he held her closely and led her around the dance floor. She certainly wasn't unaffected. At this rate, she'd need to buy panty liners in bulk. Despite her feelings, she knew that she had to put the brakes on.

"Listen, Josh, I want to be honest with you. I won't play with your feelings or come between you and your brother. I can't live the lifestyle you want." Saying those words was as easy as chewing gla.s.s.

He looked confused, as if he didn't understand what she was saying.

"What?"

"It's James." Rachael didn't know how else to explain.

She looked at his face and saw hurt and frustration in his eyes. He released her from his embrace and stepped back.

"I apologize. I didn't realize. IaI made a mistake."

He turned abruptly and walked away, leaving her alone on the dance floor. Rachael felt bereft. A sense of emptiness surged through her, and she almost stumbled as she slowly walked back to her seat.

"Are you okay? What the heck just happened?" Janet whispered, looking worried.

Rachael took a deep breath and decided to tell her everything, figuring she'd find out sooner or later anyway.

"I like James, I really do, but not in that way."

"What?" Janet spurted incredulously. She blinked hard a few times, quickly putting together the pieces of the train-wreck of a misunderstanding. "Oh, you have it all wrong. Josh doesn't share a woman with anyone. He's not the sharing type. If anything, he's the 60 opposite. James wants the same lifestyle that our parents had, but because Josh doesn't, he's looking with his friend Luke for the right woman."

"Butabut, I a.s.sumed..."

"Well, you know what they say about a.s.sume? It makes an a.s.s out of u and me."

"Oh, G.o.d, what a disaster. No, scratch that, it's actually good news, isn't it? I'm a twit of the highest order. I need to set this straight."

"So you like Josh then?"

"I fancy the pants off him. I'm just cautious, you know? I've been here such a short time, and I've still to get myself established both personally and professionally."

Janet smiled. "I think you'd be great together. He needs a strong woman."

Just then Mitch approached them. He maintained a concerned expression but failed to fully hide his delight.

"Er, I've just spoken to Josh on the phone. He asked me to take you home, Janet. What's up?"

"A misunderstanding, but it'll get sorted out. Can you take me soon?"

Mitch stared at her longingly. "Sure."

"You coming, Rachael?"

"Can you give me a lift to Colin's house? My Jeep's there, and I think I'll go home. Josh may not be in the mood to see me when he gets back to the ranch, and I want to think things through."

Feigning a headache to Susan and the guys, but suspecting that she was fooling no one, she headed out of the building with Janet and Mitch. When they pulled up next to Rachael's Jeep, she turned to Janet. "Tell him I'm sorry that I jumped to conclusions. Thanks for the lift, Mitch."

She waved good-bye as they drove away, wishing that she were going with them. Rachael wanted to set things straight, but there

61.

really wasn't a relationship yet. Rushing headlong to the ranch might not be the best move even though that was exactly what she wanted to do. No, tonight she would go to her cabin, giving Janet time to explain and Joshua s.p.a.ce to think.

Mitch Mathews grappled with his conflicting feelings. He had known Janet Ryden since she was a little girl. When she was twelve years old, she had gone missing and he was the young officer, fresh out of the academy and still in training, who had found her. It had been a cold, dark night, and she had been stuck up a tree, shivering and crying. He had never forgotten the protectiveness he had felt as he rescued her and cradled her cold little body against his.

For years after, she obviously had a teenage crush on him and he had gently ignored her, never being unkind but always a little distant.

As she matured, she developed into a lovely young woman but, to him, she was always the little girl he'd rescued. He didn't see much of her in her later teens and then she went away to university. When he next saw her, nearly a year later, it was different. He hadn't recognized her at first because she was wearing dark sungla.s.ses, and her hair, which she usually wore in a ponytail, was loose and flowing down her back. She had looked sophisticated and stunning, and his c.o.c.k had hardened when she gave him a smoldering, s.e.xy smile. Not being shy with the ladies, he was about to move closer when the smile changed and grew. He immediately saw who it was. She'd always had the sunniest of smiles. He had felt like a pervert, although suddenly the nine-year age gap didn't seem so bad. Since then, he'd feigned romantic indifference, expecting that she would outgrown him, but somehow each time they met there was a little bit more of an edge.

"Can I ask what's going on with Josh?" It was a safe subject.

"Oh, just a misunderstanding between him and Rachael. I need to talk to my brother to explain a few things." She briefly squeezed his 62 arm affectionately. "Thanks for your help, I'm sorry to cut short your time at the dance."

"Don't be. I don't mind." He smiled at her. The feel of her sweet, gentle touch lingered on his skin.

They drove in silence for most of the way, but as they entered Sweet Water, she suddenly exhaled as if she had been holding her breath.

"Don't you like me, Mitch?"

Her direct approach completely caught him off guard. He stiffened, putting both hands on the steering wheel, appearing to concentrate on the road. It was a minute before he answered.

"I do," he sighed heavily. "But you're only twenty-one."