Brianna watched Cash glance around when she went to grab her purse off the dining room table. “Nice place,” he said.

  “Thanks.”

  “And you look pretty.”

  “Thanks again, and I’m ready to leave.” The sooner they got out of her house the better. He was no taller than her dad had been, yet Cash’s presence seemed to make the house shrink in size.

  “I hope you’re hungry because I definitely am. I could eat a horse,” he said when they walked to the car.

  Brianna glanced over at him and smiled. She had noticed that day at lunch that he had a healthy appetite. Very few people could eat two of Monroe’s hamburgers, but he had.

  “I’m hungry but I won’t be eating a horse, Cash. Neither will you. O’Shea’s has the juiciest steaks in southeast Wyoming and the most delicious sides to go along with them. You get to select three instead of two.”

  “Sounds like my kind of place. What about desserts?”

  She glanced at him when he opened the car door for her. “If you like peaches then you’d love their cobbler. Their butter pound cake isn’t bad either. The reason O’Shea’s is so popular is that it has a great atmosphere and the food is wonderful.”

  A short while later, when she and Cash entered the restaurant, it seemed everyone was focused on them. She was glad they were shown to a table that overlooked the river. The waitress gave them a minute to look at the menus.

  “What river is that?” he asked, gesturing to the window. It hadn’t gotten dark yet and boaters were still out.

  “That’s the Keystone River.”

  “The same one on our properties?”

  Our properties.

  She knew he hadn’t meant it the way he’d said it, but yes, it was the same one on their properties since they now shared a part of Keystone River.

  “Yes. The Keystone River is enormous and is somewhat in the shape of a huge S. The curve encompasses our properties and Hal Sutherland’s land. The tip at the top feeds into the Arrowhead River in Cheyenne.”

  The waitress returned to take their order and bring their drinks. Cash had ordered a bottle of wine for the table, one she had suggested. She watched as he took his first sip and when he licked his lips, she felt a stirring in her midsection.

  “Well, what do you think, Cash?”

  He glanced over at her and smiled. “I like it.”

  She was glad. “Are you ready for this weekend?” she asked, hoping if she got him talking about it, he would give her a clue as to his plans for the ranch.

  “Yes. It’s always a grand time when my brothers, cousins and I get together. Now I have a question for you.”

  She lifted a brow. “What question is that?”

  He met her gaze and asked, “Why haven’t you had a steady guy in your life since high school?”

  * * *

  From Brianna’s expression, Cash knew she was surprised by his question. Of course, she had every right to tell him it wasn’t any of his business, but since she’d been the one to let it slip earlier, he was merely appeasing his curiosity.

  She held his gaze, and for a quick moment he saw a flash of pain in the depths of her eyes. Seeing it should have extinguished his curiosity, but instead it made him want to know that much more. What had happened to her in high school that still affected her now?

  “Alan Dawkins and I dated all through high school.”

  “Dawkins? Is he related to Roy? The guy who owns the clothing store?” he asked, wanting to confirm what the man had told him.

  “Yes, Roy is Alan’s cousin. Anyway, Alan graduated from high school a year ahead of me. Our plans were for him to go into the army, and then we would marry the next year when I graduated.”

  “What happened to him?” Cash asked. Did the man lose his life while in the military? That’s what had happened to Garth’s fiancée Karen. It had taken years before his brother had gotten over losing her. Everyone was glad when Garth had fallen in love with Regan.

  “Germany happened. While stationed over there, he met someone, fell in love and married her. End of story.”

  Not quite, he quickly decided. He was certain the decent thing to do was to let it go, but for some reason, he could not. “He came home married to someone else?”

  She hesitated and then said, “Yes.”

  Cash took another sip of his wine. He could just imagine a younger Brianna, excited about finishing high school while planning a wedding, only to find out the man she loved, a man she thought loved her, had committed his life to someone else.

  “I’m sorry that happened to you, Brianna,” he said in a quiet tone, truly meaning it.

  “Thanks.” She took a sip of her own wine. “That was years ago. Close to ten, in fact, and I’ve gotten over it.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “If that’s true, then why aren’t you in a serious relationship now?”

  She shrugged. “I only have one heart. It’s been broken once, and it took me a while to repair it. I don’t want it broken again.”

  He nodded. “You don’t ever plan to give love another chance?”

  “I can’t see it happening.”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment. “I think that’s really sad, Brianna. In the short time I’ve gotten to know you, I think you’re a nice woman who has a lot to offer someone.”

  * * *

  It was kind of Cash to say that. “Thank you.”

  Thinking it was fair to change the subject to what she wanted to know, she said, “Now it’s my time to ask you a question.”

  They paused when the waitress came with their food. It smelled delicious and she hoped Cash thought it tasted delicious as well. “What question is that?” he asked after the waitress had left and he was reaching for the steak sauce.

  She watched as he poured sauce on his meat. “Is there a reason for this weekend?”

  He lifted his head and looked at her. “If you’re asking if inviting my family and friends means I’m no longer thinking about selling the ranch, then the answer is no. That still remains an option I am considering.”

  “Oh.”

  “However, I will say that my brothers think selling the ranch might be a mistake.”

  “They do?” She couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice.

  He smiled. “Yes. That’s the reason they want to come check it out. They also suggested it could become a horse ranch, which is why my cousins are coming. They are in the horse breeding and training business. And then there are a few in my family who believe I can have horses and a dude ranch.”

  Brianna nodded. She could definitely see any of those options working. In fact, the horse business could benefit the dude ranch. “I think having both a dude ranch and a horse ranch would be wonderful. It would certainly boost the economy around here again.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Brianna decided not to push the issue. She just hoped whatever plan he came up with would be one in which he would retain control of the ranch and not sell it. Ellen would have wanted that. It made her wonder—had he gone through the packet she had left in the drawer in his bedroom? Obviously not, since he hadn’t mentioned it.

  Before she could ask him about it, a deep male voice spoke. It was a voice she recognized, and it made her cringe. “Cashen Outlaw, right?”

  Cash glanced up at the man who had approached their table. He stood when the man extended his hand. “Yes, I’m Cashen Outlaw.”

  “I’m Hal Sutherland,” the man said, smiling broadly. “I spoke with you last week about buying the Blazing Frontier.”

  “Yes, I recall that you did.” Cash looked at Brianna and then back at Hal. “I’m sure you know Brianna Banks, right?”

  Hal barely gave her a cursory nod. “Brianna.”

  “Hal.” Brianna knew he would have ignored her if Cash had not forced him to acknowledge her presence.

  Hal glanced back at Cash. “So, when can we meet to talk business?”

  “I haven’t made any decisions about what I plan to do.”

  Brianna could tell from the look on Hal’s face that he found Cash’s words surprising as well as disappointing.

  “Why would you want to keep it?” Hal asked as if he had every right to know.

  Cash smiled. “For a number of reasons. Now, if you don’t mind, Brianna and I want to finish our meal before it gets cold.” He sat back down.

  “Oh. Okay. Sure.” Hal then walked off.

  Brianna glanced over at Cash. “That doesn’t happen often,” she said.

  “What?” Cash asked while cutting into his steak.

  “Hal getting dismissed by anyone.”

  Cash shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything.”

  * * *

  “Thanks for joining me for dinner, Brianna. And you were right. The food was delicious,” Cash said when they walked up the steps to her home.

  “Thanks for inviting me. I’m glad you enjoyed everything.”

  “It’s a beautiful night,” he said, looking up into the sky while leaning against a porch post.

  Brianna followed his gaze. “Yes, it is. We don’t have the northern lights like Alaska, but I think a Wyoming sky is simply beautiful.”

  Cash looked over at her. She was beautiful, too. It had been a wonderful night and he had enjoyed sharing it with her. “Speaking of tonight, as nice as it was, there is one thing that I didn’t appreciate.”

  She glanced over at him. “Oh? What?”

  “Hal Sutherland interrupting our dinner.” He paused. “I picked up on tension between the two of you. Is there something I should know?”

  He watched her nibble on her bottom lip, something that happened whenever he crossed unpleasant waters with her. His protective instincts went up. It bothered him that anything or anyone could upset her.

  “Hal was Mr. Van’s nephew, and Blazing Frontier was part of their family spread. Mr. Van and his first wife never had children, and everyone, including Hal, assumed if anything ever happened to Mr. Van, the ranch would belong to Hal as his heir.”

  “Um, let me guess,” Cash said. “Mr. Van married Ellen and changed the dynamics.”

  “Yes. And while Mr. Van was alive, Hal pretty much behaved himself. The minute Mr. Van died, Hal approached Ellen and made her an offer to buy the property, assuming she would sell and move back east. She surprised him when she turned him down. He didn’t like it much and caused problems, trying to force her to sell. She didn’t.” She paused. “He figured you had no reason to want to keep the land and would be glad to accept his offer.”

  Why did Cash have a feeling there was more? “And what else, Brianna?”

  Brianna glanced down at the porch’s floor and didn’t say anything for a long moment before looking back up at him. “There’s nothing else, Cash. At least, not anymore. Hal made it known that if he ever became the owner of the Blazing Frontier, one of the first things he would do would be to evict me from my home.”

  Cash raised a brow. “Why?”

  “Hal is a man who holds grudges. He believes my parents are the reason Ms. Ellen didn’t sell the ranch to him when Mr. Van died. Since my parents are no longer alive, he has extended his grudge to me.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now. Even if you were to sell the ranch to him, thanks to Ms. Ellen, this house and the acres it sits on are mine, and there is nothing he can do about it.”

  Hearing the strong emotion in her words made Cash glad that Ellen had done that for her. With a life of their own, his hands reached out and gently caressed her face. “I’m glad, Brianna.”

  Their gazes held and then he felt it—what he felt whenever he was around her. Sexual chemistry. It was stronger than ever tonight. He watched as she slowly drew in a deep breath, and as if they were a magnet, his lips were drawn closer.

  His mouth unerringly went to hers. Tasting her was what he needed. This was what he had been thinking of doing since the day he had seen her licking that ice-cream cone. Now he was licking her, and he almost felt weak in the knees when she began licking him back.

  Cash hadn’t counted on the rush of heated desire that invaded his loins the moment their tongues connected. Nor had he counted on bone-melting fire spreading right into his soul. He began devouring her mouth in a way that should have been outlawed. It was as deep as you could take a kiss, his tongue boldly dueling with hers.

  He tasted the pure sweetness of her mouth, and when he deepened the kiss, he couldn’t help the moan forced from his throat. She leaned into him, her soft body pressing against his hard one. The sexual chemistry between them was out of control, at a level he had never encountered or expected. His testosterone level had never been revved up this much. But it had reached its boiling point, just for her.

  The ringing of his cell phone had him dragging his mouth away from Brianna’s. He recognized the ringtone. Charm. He would call her back later. For now, he wanted to pull Brianna back into his arms and kiss her again. He reached out for her, but she took a step back.

  “I better get inside now,” she said in a rush. “I hope you and your family enjoy your weekend. Good night, Cash.” She turned to open the door.

  “Wait. There’s something I need to ask you.”

  She turned back around. “What?”

  Cash studied her wet and swollen lips and felt a sense of gratification that he had done that. “Would you come to the ranch house tomorrow for dinner? I met Dano when he delivered the groceries today instead of waiting until tomorrow, and he says he’s preparing a feast. I expect everyone to have arrived by four, and dinner will be served at seven. I’d like my family to meet you.”

  She raised a surprised brow. “Why would you want that?”

  He really couldn’t tell her why. All he knew was that he wanted to see her again and wanted his family to meet her. He decided to come up with a plausible reason. “Because you obviously meant a lot to Ellen. And I’m hoping if you’re free on Saturday, you’ll agree to be our tour guide. I know it’s short notice, and if you have other plans I understand. You know every inch of Blazing Frontier and would do a better job showing everyone around than I could.”

  She didn’t say anything as she studied the porch’s floor again. Finally, she lifted her gaze to him. “I would love to join you for dinner tomorrow and meet your family. And I don’t have anything planned on Saturday, if you think I’m really needed.”

  He smiled. “Yes, you’ll be needed.”

  Whether she knew it or not, that kiss was just the beginning.

  She nodded. “Good night, Cash.”

  Cash wasn’t ready for the night to end. He was tempted to pull her into his arms again. Give her another kiss. Instead he knew he had to let her go. Besides, he needed to figure out why Brianna Banks had gotten under his skin in a way no other woman had before.

  “Good night, Brianna. You were the perfect date.”

  * * *

  You were the perfect date...

  Cash’s words floated through Brianna’s mind as she stood by her living room window and watched the lights from his car fade into black. She honestly hadn’t thought of it as a date until he’d said it. But now she concurred. After all, he had asked her out, picked her up, taken her to dinner and made sure she enjoyed herself.

  And then he gave me one unforgettable good-night kiss.

  She touched her lips, still tingling from his kiss. She had never been kissed like that before. Not for a good-night kiss or any other kind. He had taken her mouth like he owned every inch of it, searing her insides with passion.

  She moved away from the window and sighed deeply. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. She needed to get a grip. Just because he had invited her to share his weekend didn’t necessarily mean a thing. If nothing else, Alan had taught her to only believe in herself and no one else.

  But still, there were so many things about Cash that she liked. And for someone who had been prepared not to like him, that said a lot. What really impressed her tonight was his handling of Hal. Although Hal wasn’t all that liked around town, people knew not to cross him. Her parents, Mr. Van and Ms. Ellen had been some of the few who had stood up to him. Now she could add Cash to that list. Tonight, he had proven that he was not a man to take lightly. She had a feeling Hal realized that.

  As she moved around the bedroom to undress, her spirits were soaring too high to think about going to sleep. She checked her watch. Miesha was a late-nighter and Brianna picked up her phone to call her friend.

  “Hello.”

  “Guess what I did tonight, Miesha.”

  “Had sex with some hunk with enough orgasms for the both of us?”

  Brianna couldn’t help but scream in laughter. Her friend could say some of the most outlandish things at times. “No, I didn’t have sex, but I did have a date.”

  “Do tell. You’re glowing all the way through the phone.”

  Brianna figured that could be true because she felt giddy inside. When had a date ever left her feeling that way? “Cash Outlaw returned to town today and asked me out.”

  “I thought you said he wouldn’t be coming back.”

  “I honestly thought he wouldn’t, but he called and said he would be coming back for the weekend.” Brianna then told her friend everything, ending with the whopper of a kiss on her porch.

  “Hey, I like this Cash Outlaw. And for him to invite you for dinner to meet his family means something.”

  Brianna rolled her eyes. “It means he appreciates me agreeing to take his family on a tour Saturday.”

  “I don’t see it that way. I’ve been around more men than you, so I know how they operate. You gave him a tour of the ranch last week, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Then he should be capable of showing everyone around on his own. It shouldn’t be that complicated. You know what I think?”