Why hadn’t she told Dave what Ralph had done to try to trap Tanya? Because he’d seemed so happy. It had been on the tip of her tongue, but then she’d looked at him and just couldn’t do it. She cared too much about him to break his heart.

  When Tanya counted her take, she must have seen the word THIEF written on the bills and figured it out. Of course she would implicate her since she was jealous of the relationship Melissa had with Dave.

  “Mel!” she heard Dave behind her. “Wait up.”

  She stopped and turned, refusing to run away like a true thief.

  “Hey, I know there’s an explanation for this,” he said. She could hear how badly he wanted to believe that. “When I realized that money was missing and Tanya told me about the bills she’d seen in the till... How do you think this happened?”

  She shook her head. “That’s what I was just trying to understand. I guess I could have put in a ten and taken ten ones when I closed out last night. I really wasn’t paying attention.” No, she’d been thinking about Dave and Tanya upstairs in his apartment, having an intimate dinner date.

  “Of course.” Dave let out a relieved laugh. “I’ve seen you do that every week before wash day!” He shook his head. “I’m just sorry I upset you. It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”

  She nodded. “I was so surprised to see the bills in my purse. I didn’t know how they got there. I’d forgotten and I couldn’t stand the thought that you might think—”

  “I knew you would never steal,” he said quickly. “I knew there had to be an explanation.” His gaze locked with hers for a moment. He looked as miserable as she felt. “I better get back to the bar.” Back to Tanya, she thought, before the woman did any more damage. “Again, I’m sorry. No hard feelings?”

  Melissa shook her head. “Of course not. Better to get to the bottom of it.”

  He nodded and sighed. “Thank you.” He held her gaze a little longer. “See you in the morning at the shop?” She nodded and smiled, even as her heart broke. Dave had no idea who Tanya was, but Melissa now knew only too well. The woman was determined to get her out of Dave’s life.

  What was she going to do? She could tell Dave and break his heart. But what if he didn’t believe her? There was always that chance, because of the web Tanya had already spun. Surely once the woman’s car was fixed, she would leave. Dave would be hurt, but not as hurt as he would be if he knew the truth.

  But what if she didn’t leave?

  * * *

  TANYA COULDN’T BELIEVE how well her plan had worked—up to a point. Davey’s reaction, though, had been all wrong. What was the matter with him? She couldn’t believe it when he’d gone after the woman.

  Disgusted with him, she’d gotten up and stepped behind the bar to make herself a drink. She was on her second by the time he returned.

  “I hope you went easy on her,” she said as she gave him a sympathetic look. “We just won’t let her bartend again.”

  To her shock, Davey shook his head. “It was just a misunderstanding. That’s what I thought. You don’t know Melissa like I do. She would never steal.” He seemed satisfied with whatever story the woman had cooked up.

  “I’m sorry, but how was it a misunderstanding?” she asked, unable to let it go. What kind of fool was this man? “It seemed pretty clear-cut to me.”

  She listened to him explain something about wash-day ones and tried not to gag. She needed to be the fill-in bartender—not Melissa. She’d be more careful about pocketing the money next time and make sure that the till came out right. Her car could be fixed at any time. How was she supposed to have a stake before she hit Vegas if she didn’t have access to money?

  She could rob the place.

  The thought came out of nowhere. But she tucked it away as a last resort.

  First, she would try to get closer to Davey. There had been a time when she could get the man to do anything she asked. Her feminine wiles weren’t working quite as well, but she wasn’t giving up. She blamed Melissa. She thought that once she got the woman out of the way, there would be no more problems. But Melissa was proving to be a powerful opponent. Tanya realized she would have to up her game.

  “Davey, I feel like I’ve done nothing but cause you trouble,” she said and made her pouty lips. “Maybe I should go stay down at the motel until my car is fixed.”

  “Don’t be silly,” he said, but didn’t look at her as he began setting up the bar that would open at two. That meant he would be working and she’d have no chance at the till. That definitely wasn’t going to work. “I’m glad you mentioned the bills. We got it all cleared up. Melissa understood.” Of course she did, Tanya thought. He finally stopped what he’d been doing to look at her. “I’m just glad your car broke down here rather than somewhere else.”

  “I’m so glad you feel that way,” she said, leaning over the bar a little just in case he wanted to steal a kiss. Apparently he didn’t. “Would you mind refreshing my drink? I can’t tell you what it means to me to be here with you.”

  “I feel the same way,” he said as he refilled her glass. “Also, I meant to ask you... When I stopped by the post office and checked my box, there was nothing from your credit card companies or your bank. If you had them sent by express mail, they should have been here by now. You might want to check on them.”

  “You’re right. I’ll check, but I would imagine things take a while getting to Buckhorn. I mean, it is in the middle of nowhere.” She laughed, but he didn’t join her.

  “Buckhorn’s on a main highway through the middle of Montana,” he said. “We get mail service pretty much like anywhere else.”

  Tanya figured they probably did. How long could she pretend that she called to have credit cards sent to her here? The ones in her purse were maxed out and worthless, since her accounts had probably been closed by now. What little money she’d had was gone. There was no bank account. Not anymore.

  She was in a desperate situation. But was she reckless enough to tell Davey the truth? She’d rather rob him at gunpoint, she realized, and took a sip of her drink. Tonight, she had to get him in her bed—no matter what she had to do. But she would be drunk by the time the bar closed. Unless... Fortunately a plan came to mind.

  * * *

  MELISSA WAS STILL shaken when Dave called and asked if she would work at the bar tonight after she’d been accused of stealing earlier. “You’re sure you still want me to?”

  “Of course, Mel,” Dave said. “Tanya has something special planned. You sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all,” she said, even though she would have preferred to stay as far away from Tanya and the bar as possible. She knew the woman wasn’t through with her.

  “I still feel bad about earlier,” Dave said.

  “Please don’t. Seriously. It was just a misunderstanding. I’m fine. I’m sorry I made you doubt me.”

  “You could never make me doubt you. Not ever. You know how much your friendship means to me.”

  She felt her heart break a little more. “I feel the same way.”

  “See you about five?” he asked.

  “I’ll be there.”

  Now, as she walked into the bar, she saw Wilbur and Ralph on their usual stools. There was a couple down at the other end of the counter and two young men playing pool. What she didn’t see was Tanya and was glad of it.

  “I made you a new till,” Dave said. “I never want there to be a problem between us.” She nodded and smiled. “I better get busy then.”

  The moment he left, Ralph said, “Well?”

  She turned to look at him. “It backfired. She found the bills with THIEF written on them and put them in my purse, and then she told Dave.” Ralph looked appalled. “I explained it away. Dave is fine.”

  “Dave is not fine,” he cried. “This woman has to be stopped. What if this special night she has planned leads to a quickie marriage? You can’t let that happen.”

  “Excuse me? Dave is a grown man. He makes his own decisions. If he wants to marry her...” Even saying the words hurt her heart. “Then there is nothing I can do about it.”

  “If you can’t tell him about Tanya, then at least tell him how you feel,” Ralph snapped.

  She shook her head. “He only sees me as his friend.”

  “Make him see you differently,” Wilbur suggested. “You know, perfume up, put on something sexy.”

  “To work together at the shop?” She chuckled, unable to imagine anything more embarrassing than throwing herself at Dave to have him reject her. It would destroy their friendship. But if Tanya had her way, the friendship wasn’t going to last anyway. That was if Tanya didn’t kill her first.

  “You have to do something,” Ralph said. “You can’t let this woman win. She’ll destroy Dave.”

  “Maybe she’ll leave when her car is fixed,” Melissa said hopefully, only to have Ralph roll his eyes.

  “That’s the best you can do?” he demanded, shaking his head and ordering another beer.

  “I’ll think about it, but no more help from the two of you,” she said, pointing a warning finger at them. A loud noise came from upstairs and they all looked heavenward for a moment before Melissa poured them each another beer.

  She didn’t want to know what was happening up there.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE NEXT MORNING, Melissa was at the shop when she heard the door open. She turned, hoping to see Dave and yet worried he might not show up after his night with Tanya. The last person she wanted to see was the woman in question.

  “Good morning,” Tanya said brightly as she walked in. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?” She was all smiles. Melissa reminded herself not to get up on the ladder while alone with the woman. She turned back to her work, keeping one eye, though, on Tanya, who moved around the room, restless as a caged mountain lion.

  “Davey and I had the most incredible night,” Tanya said. “The man still has it, if you know what I mean.” The woman let out a loud, abrasive laugh. “What am I saying? Of course you don’t know what I mean. It isn’t like you and Davey have ever...” She laughed again. “Anyway, he and I had a long talk last night. I just had to come by this morning to thank you for tending bar last night so Davey and I could...celebrate.”

  “Celebrate?” She hated that she’d taken the bait. The moment the word was out of her mouth, she wanted to bite her tongue.

  “Davey and I... Well, let’s just say we’re a couple now. That’s why I wanted to stop by and let you know that you won’t be needed at the bar anymore. I’m going to be working your shifts from now on. Sorry, but it’s not like you need the money. You still have your stake, right, and frankly, you just can’t be trusted.”

  Melissa felt her face heat with anger and embarrassment. Was that what Dave thought? She turned to look at the woman. “I’m sure Dave will let me know what was decided when—”

  “I’m telling you.” Tanya took a step toward her, but stopped when she saw the hammer in Melissa’s hand. “Look, everyone knows how you feel about him. What I’m trying to tell you is, stop embarrassing yourself. Davey hates it, and it just makes me feel sorry for you. Obviously, taking that money was a cry for help.”

  The woman’s words were like barbs piercing her heart. Was it that apparent to everyone how she felt about Dave? Tears burned her eyes, but she willed them not to fall in front of this awful woman. Tanya knew damned well who’d taken the money from the bar.

  “So, do us all a favor and give Davey a way out, you know what I mean?” Tanya asked. “He told me that he feels sorry for you, so if he weakens and asks you to tend bar again, it will only be out of pity. So just say no and save us all a lot of embarrassment.”

  With that Tanya smiled and walked out.

  Melissa slowly put down the hammer. She felt sick. She could see what Tanya was up to. But Dave didn’t. Whatever had happened last night—

  She quickly texted Dave, telling him she wasn’t feeling well and would talk to him later. She couldn’t bear facing him, and he should be at the shop any moment to pick up his tools and discuss the next building to be remodeled. Hurrying out the back door, she just had to get away before she let the tears fall.

  With every step she took, she told herself there was nothing she could do. Dave loved Tanya. He was getting a second chance with her. How could Melissa take that away from him?

  But at the same time, she knew the woman would bring him only pain. Maybe Ralph and Wilbur were right. How could she sit back and let him make the biggest decision of his life without having all the information? Then, if he still wanted to marry Tanya...

  First, though, she had to find out what Tanya would do once her car was fixed. Melissa still held out hope that she would leave. She realized she was already headed for the garage.

  “Let me guess what you want,” Gertrude said with a curse as Melissa walked in to find her working on the car. “It will be fixed when it’s fixed.”

  “Is there any way—?”

  “That I can fix it quicker?” Gertrude snapped and shook her head as if in disgust. “You’re as bad as Dave.”

  Melissa blinked. “Dave?”

  “He was over here first thing this morning, offering to pay extra to get it fixed sooner.”

  “He was?” She couldn’t help smiling. Was it possible that Tanya had been lying about everything, and Dave wanted the woman out of town as badly as Melissa did?

  “I can’t believe the two of you,” Gertrude said. “One of you needs to tell the other one how you feel and quit being so ridiculous. Honestly.” She stuck her head back under the hood, grumbling to herself.

  Well, Tanya had told the truth about at least one thing. Everyone did know how she felt about Dave. But was it possible Dave felt the same way? Melissa couldn’t stop smiling as she left. Dave didn’t want Tanya staying in town any longer than necessary. Why else would he ask Gertrude about when the repairs would be done?

  Unless the two of them planned to take the car to Vegas to get married.

  That thought made her stumble. If true, she had to know, she told herself as she refused to let go of that bubble of hope lodged in her chest.

  She headed for the bar before she lost her nerve.

  * * *

  DAVE LOOKED UP as Melissa came in the back door of the bar. “I was just going to text you and see how you were feeling and offer to pick you up anything from the drugstore. Maybe chicken soup for lunch? I could bring it by.”

  She marched up to him, looking more determined than he’d ever seen her. “Did you know Tanya came by to see me this morning at the shop?”

  “No. She said she was going down to the café to get breakfast. Did something happen?” He looked worried.

  “She didn’t push me off the ladder this time, but then again, I wasn’t about to climb it with her around.”

  “Mel—”

  “My name is Melissa,” she snapped. “I’m a woman.”

  He raised a brow. “I’m well aware of that.” He could see that she was upset, and he figured it was Tanya’s doing. “Whatever she said to you—”

  “She said that you—”

  “Hey, I thought you were working at the shop,” Tanya said as she came in holding two carryout containers from the café. “If I’d known you were joining us for breakfast, Mel...”

  “Why don’t we step into my office?” Dave said to Melissa and then turned to Tanya. “We need a minute. Go ahead and eat.” He took Melissa by the arm and led her down the hall to his office. Once inside, he closed the door.

  “Are you all right? Whatever she said to you, just ignore it,” he muttered, keeping his voice down.

  * * *

  NOW THAT SHE was here, alone with him in the intimacy of his small office, Melissa felt her anger ebb away and the tears resurface. “Are you going to Vegas with her to get married?” she cried.

  “Of course not.” He looked horrified. “Mel—Melissa, I know who took the money. I didn’t know, though, that she pushed you off the ladder.”

  Before she could speak, there was a knock at the door. Dave went to answer it. She heard Tanya say, “I think I’d better join you. Now.”

  Dave turned back to her. “Trust me?” he whispered. She nodded. “Then just follow my lead, okay?”

  That was all he had time to say as Tanya pushed her way in, leading with a gun in her hand. “Gertrude just stopped by. My car’s ready. But I’m going to need some cash.”

  “More than you already stole?” Dave asked.

  Tanya laughed. “Is that what little Mel told you? You can’t believe anything she says. She’s blindly in love with you.”

  “Melissa didn’t have to tell me. I’ve been onto you for some time, Tanya. I just didn’t know how low you would stoop before it was over,” he said, motioning to the gun in her hand. “I thought setting Melissa up as the thief was the bottom of the barrel. But trying to push her off a ladder? Now what are you going to do? Shoot us both? Is that your plan?”

  “Not before you open that safe behind you and empty the cash into my bag.”

  “I’ll be happy to open the safe, but since I saw this coming, I emptied it out the day after you arrived,” Dave said.

  “What?” Tanya looked shocked. “How could you have—?”

  “Known? The marshal called me to tell me you were headed this way. That last convenience store you robbed in North Dakota? Someone got a description of you and the car you were driving.”