Brianna smiled. “No, what do you think?”

  “I think he is using the tour as an excuse to spend time with you. He obviously likes you and that might be a good thing.”

  “How so?”

  “If you decide not to use an unknown donor’s sperm, you might want to place him at the top of the list.”

  Brianna’s jaw almost dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Why would I kid about something like that? If you ask him, all he can do is say yes or no, Brianna.”

  “And he would say no, trust me.”

  “You can’t be certain of that. I think it’s a wonderful idea, and if you let him know you’ll take full responsibility for raising your son, Cash just might be fine with it.”

  “Yes, but I’m not sure I would be.”

  “I don’t see why not. You thought the world of Ms. Ellen and she thought the world of you. It makes perfect sense to me that you would be the mother of her grandchild.”

  Brianna didn’t say anything for a moment, refusing to let Miesha fill her head with crazy thoughts. “For all I know, Cash Outlaw might be in a relationship.”

  “Not if he kissed you the way you said he did tonight. I’m not saying he doesn’t date, because he probably does. That’s not the same as a relationship. Besides, he will let you know if he’s unavailable when you broach the subject of fathering your child.”

  Brianna shook her head. “No, I can’t do that. It won’t work.”

  “Okay, it was just a suggestion.”

  A short while later, after hanging up the phone with Miesha, Brianna began getting ready for bed. Aftereffects from that kiss were still thrumming through her body and a part of her couldn’t wait to see Cash again tomorrow.

  However, she could not and would not entertain the thought of Cash Outlaw fathering her child—no matter how appealing the idea might be.

  EIGHT

  “This is one hell of a nice place, Cash,” Garth said as he stood on the porch and looked out over the land. “I can’t wait for the tour tomorrow.”

  Cash smiled as he handed his oldest brother a bottle of beer. Garth had been the last to arrive. Now all his houseguests were accounted for. Most were in the saloon and the others were at the game center, shooting pool. Like Garth, everyone had been taken with the place.

  “Hopefully, you’ll know by the end of the weekend what you plan to do with it.”

  “Yes, I should know by then.” Cash paused. “Can I ask you something, Garth?”

  “Yes, what?”

  “It’s about Karen.”

  For years, the family had known never to mention the woman Garth had loved who’d died in a copter accident, because whenever they did, they saw the pain in their brother’s eyes. But now Garth had moved on with his life. He was married to Regan and the spark was back in his eyes.

  Garth lifted a brow. “What about Karen?”

  “I recall you saying that from the first time you met her, you knew she was special.”

  Garth studied his brother as he took another swig of beer. “I did. That’s not saying I hadn’t dated women I thought were special before. I just knew there was something different about her. I knew she was the one.” He leaned against the porch rail. “Have you met such a woman, Cash?”

  Cash met his brother’s gaze and nodded. “I think I have.”

  “Brianna Banks?”

  Cash didn’t say anything for a minute and then, “Yes.”

  Garth nodded. “Is that why you’re taking two weeks off to hang around here? Not that I don’t think you deserve the time off.”

  “I’m not going to say she’s the only reason, but I’d be fooling myself to think she doesn’t have a lot to do with it.”

  “Then you’re doing the right thing. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Regan said she’d been in love with me for years. And when I think of the time I could have spent with her being as happy as I am now, I see them as wasted years, Cash. Life is too short to live it with regrets.” He paused again. “I think even Bart has regrets.”

  “You think so?”

  Garth smiled. “Maybe not with any of our mothers, but definitely with Charm’s. If he could marry Claudia today, he would.”

  “You think he’s learned his lesson?”

  “No. Claudia probably does not think he has either, which is why she won’t marry him. I honestly don’t think he’ll ever change. He might be a different person around her, but on the inside he’s still the same Bart.”

  Cash didn’t say anything as he took a swallow of his own beer. Then he said, “I invited her to dinner.”

  “Who?”

  “Brianna.”

  Garth smiled. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  * * *

  Brianna saw all the vehicles parked in front of the ranch house the moment she turned in to the driveway. She tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach, telling herself she didn’t have a reason to be nervous. Although she didn’t know any of Cash’s guests, she did know him.

  She parked behind a truck, got out of the car and glanced down at herself. She would be looking like a cowgirl tomorrow when she took them on the tour. Today she had dressed up in her long, flowing maxi skirt with a long-sleeve blouse and boots. Her favorite necklace, a gift from her parents on her twenty-first birthday, was around her neck, and the matching earrings were in her ears.

  She had taken one step toward the door when it opened and Cash stepped out. If she didn’t know better, she would think he’d been waiting for her, but she did know better. “Hello, Cash.”

  He smiled at her. “Hello, Brianna. You look very nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Everyone is in the dining room.”

  “Alright.”

  He surprised her by taking her hand, something he hadn’t done last night. She walked with him toward the dining room, taking time to wave at Dano. She heard loud voices and the butterflies appeared again. Right before she entered the dining room, Cash said, “Thanks for coming.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  Tightening his hand on hers, he then led her to where several guys were talking. “We have a guest for dinner,” Cash said loudly to get their attention.

  It seemed all eyes turned their way, giving her curious stares. She figured more so because Cash hadn’t let go of her hand. “Guys, I’d like you to meet a friend, Brianna Banks. She and her parents used to work here at the ranch. Brianna will be our tour guide tomorrow.”

  He then said to her, “Come on, let me take you around to introduce you to everyone. I don’t expect you to remember them by name, though.”

  First, he introduced her to his brothers, Garth, Jess, Sloan and Maverick. It didn’t take long for her to see that Cash’s youngest brother, Maverick, was a natural born flirt who enjoyed rattling Cash. Jess was a United States Senator who made his home in the nation’s capital. Garth and Jess were older than Cash, and Sloan and Maverick were younger. She could feel a closeness between the brothers. They told her about their sister, Charm, who was a couple years younger than Brianna.

  Then he introduced her to his Westmoreland cousins—Zane, Derringer, Jason, Durango, Clint and Bane. There was a striking resemblance between the Outlaw brothers and their Westmoreland cousins. It was uncanny how much Cash and Bane favored. The only difference was their eye coloring. Bane had hazel eyes. However, unless she was standing right in front of them, she wouldn’t notice the difference.

  Then there were two friends of the Westmorelands, Bane’s navy SEAL teammates—Laramie Cooper, who everyone called Coop, and Thurston McRoy, who was called Mac. The two men also owned horse ranches and while away on missions hired trusted foremen to run their spreads. Last, she was introduced to McKinnon Quinn, cousin-in-law of the Westmorelands, who was married to Clint Westmoreland’s sister. McKinnon was gorgeous with thick black hair that fell to his shoulders. He told her he was Blackfoot Indian and African American Creole. He and Durango lived in Montana and were the two who had started the horse training and breeding business.

  “I can’t believe how much the Outlaws and the Westmorelands favor. Especially you and Bane,” Brianna told Cash when he seated her beside him at the long table.

  He smiled over at her. “Remind me to tell you how I switched places with Bane once, to help bring down a group of bad guys who were threatening his wife.”

  Brianna lifted a brow. “You’re serious?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I’m serious.”

  She enjoyed dining with everyone and although she was the only female in the group, she in no way felt left out of the conversation. These guys were ranchers and she was familiar with a lot of their topics and even added her two cents, especially when they began discussing horses. She could tell they were surprised and impressed with her knowledge.

  “How do you know so much about horse ranching? Cash said you worked as the manager of the dude ranch,” Clint Westmoreland said, smiling over at her.

  “I did, but I was also the daughter of a lifelong foreman. Specifically of this ranch. I grew up here and remember when it was a cattle ranch and there were plenty of horses. I have a barn at my place and keep three horses there and care for them myself.”

  Dano had outdone himself with dinner and everyone was singing the chef’s praises while enjoying the dessert he’d prepared—peach cobbler with what some of the guys claimed was the best coffee they’d ever had.

  Every man here was handsome as sin. And she was surprised to learn that they were all married except for Cash’s brothers Jess, Sloan and Maverick. Some of the guys and their wives had multiple births...something Cash said was common in his family. Bane was the father of triplets, and Jason and Mac were the fathers of twins. She’d also discovered Clint was part of triplets. He had a brother named Cole, and his sister Casey was married to McKinnon. Bane’s triplets were Ace, Adam and Anna Clarisse. Bane’s brother Jason had twin girls, one of whom was named Clarisse Hope. Jason and Bane explained they had both wanted to give their mother’s name, Clarisse, to their daughters. Brianna thought it was a touching gesture.

  When it was time to leave, she stood and said to the group, “I’m looking forward to showing all of you around tomorrow.”

  “And we’re looking forward to having you as our tour guide,” Maverick said, smiling and winking at her.

  * * *

  Cash insisted that he follow Brianna back home to make sure she got there safely, although she had told him that wasn’t necessary. It was to him.

  He parked his car beside hers and got out to walk her up to the door. “So, what do you think of the Outlaws, Westmorelands and friends?”

  She smiled up at him when they reached her door. “The guys are wonderful and I like how they are family men. They love their wives and children.”

  He lifted a brow. “Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”

  “Yes, but it’s not always. I was blessed to have parents who loved each other and who loved me, and the same thing with the kids I grew up with. When I got to college, I discovered that wasn’t always the case. My best friend’s mom has been married three times and her father, four.”

  “My father, Bart, has them beat,” Cash said. “He’s been married and divorced five times and had a son by each of the women. Me and my brothers have different mothers.”

  “Yet all of you get along.”

  He chuckled. “No reason we shouldn’t. Our father, Bart, raised the five of us and wasn’t keen on us having friends. Except for Walker Rafferty. He’s been Garth’s best friend since they were babies. And Regan, who’s married to Garth now. She grew up around us since her father was the corporate pilot for Outlaw Freight Lines for over forty years.”

  “What about your sister, Charm? Who is her mother?”

  Cash was surprised how comfortable he felt discussing his family with Brianna, something he barely did with anyone. “Bart was never married to Charm’s mother, and but we know that is something he regrets and would undo if he could. That’s a whole other story.”

  “Thanks for seeing me safely home. Although you really didn’t have to, I appreciate it.”

  He smiled down at her. “Do you appreciate it enough to invite me in for coffee?”

  “What about your guests?”

  “What about them? Last time I looked they were grown-ass men who can fend for themselves. Besides, a third of them are going to return to playing pool, a third will find their way over to the saloon, and the other third will hang near the kitchen for a second helping of Dano’s pie and coffee. Everything was delicious. Thanks for setting up this weekend.”

  “You’re welcome. Do you honestly want a cup of coffee?”

  “Yes.” He would tell her later he wanted a kiss as well, but he didn’t want to do it out here on her porch like he had last night.

  “Then a cup of coffee it is,” she said, opening the door.

  When they were inside and he closed the door behind him, she said, “Make yourself at home and when I return with our coffee, I want to hear all about the time you switched places with Bane to protect his wife.”

  He chuckled. “Okay.”

  Cash watched her disappear into her kitchen and went over to her fireplace to look at the framed photographs sitting on the mantel. He figured the older couple was her parents and smiled at her graduation photo.

  He recalled what she had told him at dinner last night. Her boyfriend, who was supposed to return to marry her when she graduated, had married someone else. His betrayal was the reason she could never give her heart to another man. Cash could just imagine not only the hurt she’d had to endure but also the embarrassment when he returned with his wife. In a small town like Black Crow, that must have been humiliating. She hadn’t deserved that. The guy hadn’t deserved her.

  Music began playing and Cash immediately recognized the song and the artist. “I’m back,” she said, carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. Setting the tray on the coffee table, she handed him a cup.

  “Thanks. I take it you like Dylan Emanuel’s music.”

  “I love it. He’s a gifted musician and he has such a way with words. And his voice is superb. He’s up for another Grammy this year.”

  “So I heard. I met him once.”

  Her eyes widened. “You did?”

  “Yes. It was years ago. He was seventeen and had won a summer scholarship to attend the University of Alaska’s Fairbanks Summer Music Academy. My sister, Charm, had the chance to get to know Dylan when one of her piano instructors also taught Dylan that summer.”

  There was no need to tell Brianna how Bart had found out about the budding romance between Charm and Dylan and hadn’t wasted any time putting an end to what Bart had called utter teenage nonsense.

  Brianna eased down on the sofa, tucking her legs beneath her as she stirred her coffee. “Your sister plays the piano?”

  He shook his head, grinning. “No. She bummed out on those lessons.” He took a sip of coffee. “There is nothing like good coffee. It’s delicious.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. I can’t compete with Dano, but I don’t do so bad. Dad taught me. He said, ‘Don’t mess around when it comes to a cowboy’s coffee.’”

  “Well, I like it. And you know what else I like, Brianna?”

  “No. What?”

  “Seeing you smile. You have a beautiful smile.”

  “Flattery is nice, but don’t think it’s going to get you out of telling me what I want to know, Cash,” she said, grinning. “Now, tell me about the time you and Bane traded places.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, here goes.”

  He spent the next twenty minutes telling her the story. He felt okay in doing so since it had made news when Homeland Security had arrested all those involved.

  “Wow! That’s just like reading a spy novel. I’m glad Bane and his wife were okay.”

  “I am, too, but it was never Bane and Crystal who were really in danger. It was those men who thought they could actually take her away from Bane. My family believes in protecting what’s theirs.”

  Brianna nodded. “The one thing I noticed about your family is that they are close. Must be nice.”

  “It is, especially since the Outlaws and Westmorelands only discovered they were related a few years ago.”

  She lifted a brow. “You’re kidding. How? Why?”

  Cash then told her how the Outlaws and Westmorelands discovered they were related. He also mentioned how Garth’s best friend, Walker Rafferty, had visited the Westmorelands in Denver to verify the kinship. Walker had met Bailey Westmoreland, the two had fallen in love and ended up marrying. “So there you have it,” he said when he finished the story.

  “That’s way too much action for me,” she said, shaking her head. The gesture made a few curls dance around her shoulders.

  He wanted to touch those curls, but instead he glanced at his watch and stood. “It’s getting late and you need your sleep.”

  She stood as well and chuckled. “I need my sleep?”

  “Yes, we’re heading out at dawn, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember, and I’ll be fine. Baby and I love going out riding that time of morning.”

  “Baby?”

  “Yes, my horse. I’ll ride Baby over to your place.”

  “Okay,” he said, following her as she led him to the door.

  Upon reaching it, she turned to him. “Thanks again for making sure I got home safely and sharing your family with me, Cash.”

  He took a step closer to her and gave in to the need to push a strand of hair from her face. “You are welcome.”

  Then he lowered his mouth to hers for the kiss he so desperately needed. The kiss he’d spent most of the night anticipating. The kiss he had gotten addicted to last night.