“Ms. Lilibeth put me in charge of helping with the kids’ bags!”

  “Would you look at that. Ms. Emeline did the same with me!”

  Rhett giggled, then gave me a once-over. “How come you’re dressed the same as yesterday?”

  I glanced down, and only then realized I’d never gone home to change. When I looked at Emeline, she was covering her smile.

  Before I could say anything, Caden walked up. “Your dad stayed at my place last night and didn’t have time to go home and change, bud.”

  I was positive a look of relief moved across my face as I silently thanked Caden.

  “You had a sleepover, Daddy?”

  Emeline coughed as Caden smirked, muttering, “Something tells me he didn’t sleep much, though.”

  “Caden!” Emeline hissed.

  Taking a step toward his sister, Caden squeezed her shoulder and gave her a once-over, then glanced back to me. “I’m trusting you with someone I love dearly, Levi. Don’t let me down.”

  Then he turned and headed toward the large group of kids gathering in the circular drive.

  I looked at Emeline, who watched her brother walk away with a tear sliding down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away.

  Taking Emeline’s hand in mine, I gave it a squeeze, breaking her trance.

  She looked at me and Rhett and schooled her features. “You gentlemen have work to do!”

  “Come on, Daddy! We’s got to work!”

  I set my son down. “Go on ahead, I’ll be right there.”

  After Rhett ran back to his group of cabinmates, I turned to Emeline. She smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled.

  “Are you going to be crazy busy tonight?”

  “With everyone here today, we’ll be able to get the place cleaned up and ready for the next set of campers in no time. And it doesn’t start for another three weeks anyway, so there’s no rush to get everything in order.”

  “Would you like to have dinner tonight with me and Rhett?”

  Her smile grew even bigger. “I would love that.”

  “Great, we’ll talk later.”

  Turning, I quickly headed over to Charlotte, who was clearly in charge. Clapping my hands, I said, “Put me to work, Charlotte!”

  The rest of the day was spent helping the kids load their belongings, grabbing a quick lunch, then assisting the volunteers in cleaning the cabins. By the time four in the afternoon rolled around, I was exhausted. I swore everyone from the ranch, including the ranch hands, all pitched in to get things done. From what I could tell, the place already looked prepped for the next session.

  I found Rhett sitting on Vivianne’s lap in the living room area, his eyes half open as she read him a story. I walked up and bent down.

  “Hey, buddy, you ready to head home?”

  Rhett shook his head. “I want to stay here, with Ms. Vivianne and Ms. Emeline.”

  Vivianne smiled as she hugged him tightly. “Camp is over, bud. Time to head on back home. I’m sure your grandmother and grandfather have missed you.”

  Rhett sat up and rubbed his eyes. “I’ve missed them too.”

  Vivianne laughed as she helped Rhett down. “You were such a big help this week, Rhett. Thank you.”

  I swore my son’s chest puffed out. “I had so much fun!”

  Leaning forward in the chair, she took both of his hands in hers. “I’m glad you had fun! And I’m glad you were able to come to camp and meet new friends.”

  Vivianne stood and reached out for a hug. “And thank you, Levi, for all the help this week. The kids all loved your talks.”

  “I had a lot of fun myself. I’ll check the vet clinic’s schedule for your next session. I’m sure I’ll be able to break away at least once or twice and do it again.”

  She smiled. “That would be lovely. You were the second-favorite camp guest.”

  I lifted a brow. “Who was the first?”

  With a soft laugh, she said, “Lilibeth’s candle-making and perfume classes!”

  “I’m not surprised. I had a great time when Emeline, Caden, and I went to her shop.”

  She reached up and kissed my cheek. “You boys drive careful now. Tell your mother and father I said hello.”

  “Will do.”

  Vivianne reached for the book she’d been reading to Rhett and started walking toward the kitchen area. Right about then, Emeline walked out of the kitchen, a towel in her hands. She and her mother exchanged a few words before Vivianne slipped into the kitchen. Emeline looked tired. When she caught sight of us, she perked up and made her way over.

  “You gentlemen heading home?”

  With my hands on Rhett’s shoulders, I replied, “We are. This guy was falling asleep on your mom’s lap as she read to him.”

  Emeline crouched and got on Rhett’s level. I noticed she did that with every child she spoke to. And she never broke eye contact when she did so. She had a way of making you feel like you were the only person who existed when she talked to you.

  “I don’t know what we would have done without your help this week, Rhett. Thank you for helping your cabin counselor. He said you were the best helper he’s ever had.”

  Rhett beamed. “I really liked helping!”

  She hugged him, and my body jolted at the sight. Not in a bad way, but more in longing. I couldn’t help but wish that Rhett’s own mother had shown him such love and easy affection.

  “Maybe you can help at the second camp?”

  Rhett looked at me with hopeful eyes.

  Chuckling, I said, “We’ll see.”

  “If you guys are too tired for dinner, I completely understand,” Emeline stated as she stood and looked at me.

  Rhett perked up. “You’re having dinner with us?”

  “I was thinking we could go out to dinner. You, me, and Emeline.”

  I watched as Rhett let those words settle in his head. He started jumping up and down. “Yes! That sounds awesome! Where?”

  Emeline laughed, then looked at me, a question on her face. I knew she was probably wondering if we would go somewhere outside of River Falls, maybe to Granby. Somewhere people wouldn’t start gossiping.

  “The new Mexican restaurant that just opened on Main Street. I heard it was excellent.”

  Now surprise crossed her face. “You want to eat in town?”

  “If you’re okay with that?”

  There went those pink cheeks again. “I’d love it.”

  Rhett grabbed Emeline’s hand, then mine. “This is the best week ever!”

  Exchanging an amused smile with Emeline, I said, “Do you want us to pick you up?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll meet you both there, that way you don’t have to drive in the opposite direction. What time?”

  I glanced down at Rhett. “I can promise you he’s going to fall asleep on the ride home, so maybe let’s say around six?”

  “Six is perfect.”

  A bubble of excitement built up, and I almost laughed. I hadn’t felt like this in…a very long time. “We’ll see you then.”

  Rhett hugged Emeline again and repeated my words. “See you then!”

  She chuckled and echoed, “See you both then.”

  I took Rhett’s hand and we started for the exit. I could feel Emeline’s eyes on us as we retreated. Holding the door for my son, I glanced back and smiled when she lifted her hand in a wave. I waved back, walked through the door, and drew in a deep breath.

  Was I ready for this? I wasn’t sure my heart was ready to fall in love yet, but it was going to be really fucking hard not to let it.

  Emeline

  “I want to know everything!”

  I jumped and nearly let out a scream as I turned and saw Lilibeth. She stood there with a shit-eating grin on her face.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Folding her arms over her chest, she stared at me. “Don’t even try that with me, Emeline Wilde. First of all, your face has been beaming all day. I know the look of a woman who’s been thoroughly…satisfied. Second, Levi was wearing the same clothes he’d worn the day before. Someone should really alert him to the emergency bag idea.”

  “Emergency bag idea?”

  She looked surprised. “You don’t have an emergency bag in your car?”

  I shook my head. “Nope.”

  “Oh gosh. That’s rule number one. You always carry a small bag that has a change of clothes, an emergency toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant—perfume, of course,” she added with a wink. “And a fresh set of undergarments.”

  “Undergarments? What are you, eighty?”

  She laughed. “Fine, bra and panties. You never know when you’ll need it. For instance, if you decide to hook up with someone. Then you have your emergency bag and you don’t have to do the walk of shame the next day.”

  “You mean an overnight bag?”

  She shrugged. “Call it what you want, everyone should have one. But enough about that. What happened?” Hooking her arm through mine, she guided me over to one of the sofas in the common area.

  We sat down, and I glanced around. Almost everyone had left. The only people still around were Charlotte, Lilibeth, me, and a couple volunteers who were currently helping Charlotte get the kitchen in order.

  “It’s just us,” Lilibeth said. “Now spill!”

  Dropping my head back against the sofa, I sighed. “Oh, Lilibeth. I had the most amazing night and morning with Levi.”

  She squealed quietly. “Tell me everything! I need to live through your adventures since I’m not having any of my own.”

  “Well, we’d agreed to go on a date this weekend, when camp was over.”

  “Right, I know all of that. What I want to know is what happened between when you left last night and arrived this morning.”

  “I’m getting there!”

  We both sat up, turned, and sat crisscross, facing one another.

  “Levi showed up last night out of the blue. I invited him in and…I don’t know what came over me, Lilibeth, but I just took charge. I wanted him, he was in my house, and I just… I climbed onto his lap.”

  She gasped. “You brazen little thing!”

  I laughed. “God, I have never had a man make me feel like Levi did. I orgasmed for the first time with a guy inside of me without having to touch myself, or have him touch me. It was heavenly.”

  “I’ve never had that happen to me before, either.”

  “Orgasm during sex?”

  She shook her head ruefully. “Of course, it’s kind of hard when I’ve never slept with anyone.”

  My mouth dropped open in shock. “Lilibeth…you’re a virgin?”

  She smiled. “I am.”

  “How? I mean, you’re twenty-nine. And you’re gorgeous!”

  She chuckled and shrugged. “I just haven’t met the guy I want to give myself to. I’ve dated, but nothing serious. No long-term relationships. Once they found out I wasn’t going to sleep with them, most of them broke up with me pretty quickly.”

  “Wow. I admire you for that. Good on you!”

  “I mean, I can’t say I’m a total virgin virgin. I am, after all, only human, and I have desires. I have a BOB. He brings me great pleasure and I don’t have to worry about him cheating.”

  “Have you been cheated on by actual boyfriends?”

  She nodded. “A few times. I know it was because I was steadfast in waiting to feel that intimate connection. I have terrible taste in men. But enough about me. Keep telling me about your night.”

  “Okay, well, things were getting pretty hot and heavy on my sofa, and he said…” I looked around to make sure the others were still in the kitchen. “He said he wanted to taste me.”

  “Ooh! Oral sex. I’ve heard it’s amazing.”

  “I’d never done it before.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  I nodded. “For me, that was just way too personal. I wasn’t planning on doing that unless it was with the man I knew I was spending the rest of my life with.”

  “So what did you do?”

  “I told Levi that, and he was such a gentleman about it. We ended up in my bedroom…and let’s just say I orgasmed three times in a very short amount of time. Levi’s the type of lover who makes sure you experience pleasure before he does. It started so lovely, but then got a bit more…”

  She leaned in. “Got a bit more what! I’m living through you, Emeline, don’t hold back!”

  I giggled. “Hot. We made love a few times during the night, then I woke up and cooked breakfast for us. When I went to get Levi to eat…”

  My voice trailed off, and Lilibeth covered her mouth to contain her excitement. She dropped it and said, “He made love to you again?”

  The heat on my face intensified. “He…he, um…” I closed my eyes. “Oh my gosh, this is embarrassing!”

  She grabbed my hands and shook me. “Tell me!”

  Peeking one eye open, I said, “Oral sex.”

  Her mouth fell open before she leaned closer. “Was it good?”

  I burst out into a nervous giggle.

  “Emeline! It was good, wasn’t it? I knew it would be!”

  Getting over my embarrassment, I nodded. “So good, Lilibeth. Like, leave-your-body-orgasm good. So intense I thought I might die of spontaneous combustion.”

  We both fell into a fit of giggles. When I finally caught my breath, we smiled at each other.

  Lilibeth fell back on the sofa. “Ohhh…I can’t wait to find love someday.”

  “Bless the poor bastard who falls into that trap.”

  Lilibeth quickly sat up, her smile vanishing and a frown taking over her face. I turned to see Caden walking in.

  Clearing my throat, I asked, “How much of that did you hear?”

  He flashed an evil grin, and I knew then he hadn’t heard it all…he wouldn’t be grinning if he’d heard details about his best friend going down on his baby sister. I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped free.

  “Only that flower child here can’t wait to find love.”

  I glared at my brother as he walked closer.

  “What are you two talking about?”

  “Real men,” Lilibeth snapped back, but with a sugary-sweet smile on her face. Man, my brother brought out the dark side of her. It was pretty apparent that Caden was getting under her skin.

  Deciding not to touch that comment at all, my brother looked at me. “One of the horses is missing.”

  I quickly stood. “What do you mean by missing?”

  “Exactly what I’m saying. Missing. Gone. Nowhere to be found.”

  “Which horse?” I asked.

  “Sagan.”

  Lilibeth stood. “Sagan isn’t missing. I saw her earlier when I went into the barn with Marshall to help feed the horses.”

  “Did you feed her?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you go into her stall?”

  “No. I hung up her bucket of feed. Marshall was the one who mucked out the stalls. I did food and water.”

  Caden rubbed at the back of his neck.

  “Could someone have taken her out to ride?” I asked.

  A look of consideration appeared on his face. “I guess so. Everyone was helping with the campers all day, though, so I’m not sure who would have taken her out.”

  “Have you asked Gatlin? Ensley?”

  “Have they left the camp area?” he asked.

  Lilibeth replied, “Gatlin left around one, and Ensley left shortly after he did.”

  “I told them both we were good on help.”

  “I’ll go see if either of their saddles is in the barn. My only concern is that her stall door was left open. I highly doubt Gatlin or Ensley would do that.”

  My heart started to quicken. I knew Ensley wouldn’t. Gatlin, on the other hand, could be scatterbrained at times.

  I followed my brother. “I’ll get saddled up and start looking for her.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Lilibeth said.

  Caden held up a hand. “No need for you to come along, flower child.”

  Lilibeth let out a frustrated breath but didn’t say anything.

  “The more people looking, the better, Caden,” I argued as I quickly went to the kitchen to let Charlotte know I was leaving.

  By the time we got to the barn, Sagan was in her stall eating some oats. Lilibeth and I both turned to look at Caden.

  “Are you sure you were at the right stall?” I asked.

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Yes, I’m sure, Emeline. This isn’t my first time in the horse barn.”

  Gatlin walked up and smiled. He lived in the apartment above the barn, so he would most likely know if anyone had come in and taken a horse.

  “Did anyone ride Sagan today that you know of?” I asked.

  “I did. Why?”

  Caden suddenly lost his temper. “What the fuck, Gatlin? You left her goddamn stall door open! I thought she got out, or worse, someone had taken her, with all the fucking people here picking up kids!”

  “Caden! What in the world has gotten into you?” I asked.

  Gatlin looked confused. “Why are you so upset?”

  “Because you took a horse out and no one knew.”

  A look of anger passed over Gatlin’s face. “I didn’t realize we had to clear it with you first, Caden. Good to know. I rode the north pasture to check on the fence line—like you asked me to.”

  Caden scrubbed a hand down his face and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  “Is everything okay?” I asked, touching his arm.

  His eyes went to Lilibeth, and I was stunned to see anger when he looked at her, too. I mean, Caden was always grumpy, but it seemed he really didn’t like Lilibeth.

  She actually took a step back.

  When he looked at me, the anger morphed into something I couldn’t read. “Everything’s fine.” He spun and started marching down the aisle. “Shut the fucking stall door next time, Gatlin.”

  After he’d turned the corner, Gatlin looked at me and frowned. “What in the hell was that all about?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  At six o’clock on the dot, I walked into El Rey Mexican Restaurant. It was the first of its kind in River Falls, and judging by the crowd, it was already a hit. We didn’t have many places to eat because our town was so small. We had River Falls Café, which was more a coffee shop that also sold bakery-type items, Anna’s Table formally Anna’s Café, which was the town’s main café located on Main Street. A sandwich place, a pizza place, and the small café that was located inside River Falls Sporting Goods. It wasn’t really a café, since there were no tables, but you could grab sandwiches and salads to-go.