“I’m getting the idea,” Christine said. “You want her surrounded night and day with his image.”

  “His image connected to his name,” Jo added. “I think this could work. Total immersion.”

  “Kind of like brainwashing,” Judy said.

  “Let’s not call it that.” Deidre flapped a hand at her. “It has such a pejorative ring to it.”

  “Pejorative.” Christine laughed. “Listen to you, showing off your vocabulary. What shall we call it, professor?”

  “I know,” Kendra said. “Reconditioning.”

  “Reconditioning.” Deidre nodded. “I like it.”

  “But it won’t be enough for her to just look at those images every day,” Jo said. “She needs to look at them and say his name. A lot.”

  “And you know what?” Judy walked around the couch and stood in front of the fireplace, wineglass in hand. “She needs to hear his voice.”

  “How the heck’s she going to do that?” Deidre gestured to the laptop. “Hel-lo, these are pictures. No sound.”

  “I know how.” Kendra smiled. “I’ll take a video of him and send it to Caitlin. She can put it on her laptop and listen to it several times a day.”

  Caitlin’s head began to spin. “A video of him saying what, exactly?”

  “Just one thing,” Christine said. “That’s more effective in brain—uh—reconditioning. I think he should just say something like Hi, I’m Aaron Donahue.”

  “Or, even better,” Kendra said, “Hi, there, Caitlin. I’m Aaron Donahue.” She joined Judy in front of the fireplace and gazed at Caitlin. “What do you think?”

  “I…I don’t know. I guess I could try it. How long would I need to do this?”

  “Twenty-one days,” Deidre said. “Whenever you’re trying to instill a new habit or get rid of an old one, that’s the recommended time span.”

  “So!” Judy bounced on the balls of her feet. “Are you game?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Not strong enough,” Deidre said. “Give it more oomph.”

  “Yes. I’ll do it.”

  “Louder!” Christine said.

  “Yes, I’ll do it!”

  “Ha!” Deidre raised her hand in the air. “We have lift-off! High fives!”

  Somewhere in the process of slapping hands with everyone, missing and having to do it over again, Caitlin started laughing. Probably because everyone else was, too.

  Eighties music blasted from the stereo unit on the bookshelf. She glanced at Kendra. “What’s that for?”

  Kendra grinned. “What else? Dancing! You in?”

  She grinned back. “Hell, yeah.”

  Caitlin had made it through two weeks of the program when Hayley and Badger came home from Paris.

  Hayley called her hours after they’d landed. “I’m totally jet-lagged but I have to know. What’s going on? Badger got a couple of cryptic texts from Aaron while we were over there.”

  “Can you come over for a few minutes? You’ll understand better if you can see what my apartment looks like.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Hayley showed up ten minutes later.

  Caitlin led her upstairs.

  Standing in the middle of the living room, she turned in a slow circle, her eyes wide. “What is this?”

  “My reconditioning program.” She filled her in on the evening with the Whine and Cheese Club. “Oh, and there’s more.” She gestured to her laptop sitting open on her desk. “Have a seat. I watch this several times a day.” She clicked on the video of Aaron.

  He leaned casually against a sleek plane sporting the Badger Air logo. Then he straightened, stepped closer and smiled. “Hi, there, Caitlin. I’m Aaron Donahue.” The video ended.

  Hayley looked up at her. “That’s damned effective. If I weren’t madly in love with Badger, I’d want to date him. So smart of whoever made the video to take it out at the airfield.”

  “Kendra. She went there the next day and talked him into letting her take it. She made him do it over until she’d decided he looked dreamy enough.”

  “Well, he looks super dreamy to me.” She stood. “I assume you have more pictures in your bedroom.”

  “And my bathroom and kitchen nook. He’s everywhere.”

  “And you have a week to go.”

  “Yep.”

  “What do you think? Is it working?”

  She took a deep breath. “It’s making me incredibly horny.”

  “I’ll bet. But what about the name situation.”

  “It’s way easier to say now that I have to repeat it a hundred times a day. I dream about him constantly, too. In my dreams, I say his name straight to his face, no problem. But when I finally see him again, face-to-face…” She shrugged. “That’ll be the test.”

  “Have you set something up?”

  “The Whine and Cheese ladies advised me not to communicate directly with him until the three weeks are over. I sent a message through Kendra that I’d like to meet him at his house a week from tonight, although I couldn’t make any promises I’d be reconditioned. He said okay.”

  “Do you think you will be? Reconditioned, I mean.”

  “God, I hope so, Hayley. I miss him so much it isn’t funny.”

  “I’ll bet he’s in the same boat.”

  “That’s why I’m doing this.” She gestured around the room. “We deserve a shot and like he said two weeks ago, I’m the only one who can give us one.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Almost time, and Aaron was ready to chew nails. If everything went south, Badger was poised to charge to the rescue with beer and crude comedy videos. He’d called twenty minutes ago to extract a solemn promise Aaron would text him and not try to tough it out alone.

  Caitlin’s Jeep pulled up in front of his house on the dot. He’d wanted her to be early. Not her style, though. Not his either, usually.

  He stayed in the house although every muscle in his body strained with the urge to open that door and run down the walkway. He had to keep it together, though.

  Three weeks had been like three lifetimes. Once he got his arms around her, no telling if he could control himself. He was liable to make love to her in the front yard. Before they talked. Before he had any idea if her self-imposed program had worked. Then they could be right back where they started.

  So he gripped the back of the easy chair to anchor himself in place. When she rang the doorbell, he didn’t move. “It’s open!”

  She stepped inside wearing the soft blue sweater and jeans she’d had on the first time she’d come to see him. He didn’t think that was an accident. She wanted to start over.

  Her gaze found his. The connection clicked into place. He held his breath.

  “Hello, Aaron.” She said it without hesitation.

  So far, so good. “Hello, Caitlin. Missed you.” His heart beat so fast it made the front of his shirt quiver.

  “I’ve missed you, too.” She took a shaky breath. “Although I’ve seen a lot of you these past three weeks.”

  “Must be sick of me by now.”

  “On the contrary.” She took a step closer. “Those three weeks were precious to me because I—well, I learned something very important.”

  “That you can say my name and not hate the sound of it?” Please, oh, please let that be true.

  “I can. I’ve talked to you for three solid weeks. I’ve greeted you every morning and bid you good night before I went to bed.”

  His breathing quickened. She was working up to something. He could see it in her eyes and the flush on her cheeks.

  “This morning, I said words to you that I hadn’t ever said before. They sounded right.”

  “What…” He cleared his throat. “What did you say?”

  “I love you, Aaron Donahue.”

  He exploded into action, crossing the room in three strides, groaning with relief as he pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Caitlin Dempsey.”

  She gazed up at him, her eyes luminous. “I thought you might, Aaron Donahue.”

  He grinned. “Keep it up. Sounds dorky as hell. I don’t give a damn. Keep saying it.”

  “Aaron Donahue, Aaron Donahue, Aaron Donahue, Aaron Dona—”

  He kissed her. Sweet heaven, she was back in his arms, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. Except now they had tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. Tomorrows stretched as far as his heart could see.

  Cupping his face in both hands, she put a millimeter of space between her mouth and his. “And now I have a request.”

  “Anything.”

  “Make love to me, Aaron Donahue, so I can shout your name to the world.”

  Epilogue

  Nothing more aerobic than chasing after a couple of six-month old foals. Seth Turner and his buddy Matt had been at it for about fifteen minutes. Both dams grazed near the pasture gate, clearly ready for a warm stall in the Circle M’s spacious barn, a hay flake and some oats. But these two hooligans wanted to play keep-away.

  Harry, a black and white Paint, was more docile than Hermione, a roan filly. Matt almost had the colt a couple of times, but Hermione’s mad dash to the far side of the pasture was a siren’s call to Harry. Seth had assigned himself to the filly, and so far, she was winning this contest, hoofs down.

  Matt stood, hands on his hips, watching the pair cavort in the Montana twilight. “I’ve never seen them so full of it.”

  “It’s the weather. Just enough coolness in the air to get their blood pumping.”

  “Thanks to them, so’s mine.”

  “Ah, it’s good for your heart. Besides, we won’t have evenings like this much longer. I don’t care if this takes a while, do you?”

  Matt shrugged. “Not really. Rather not miss dinner, though.”

  “Then let’s double-team Harry. If we get him, she won’t want to stay out here alone.”

  “Good thinking.”

  “You go left and I’ll go right. Act casual, like you don’t care if you catch him or not.”

  “You been reading those horse psychology books again?”

  “I’m telling you, it helps me deal with these critters.”

  “If you say so, Dr. Freud.” Matt sauntered off. “Here I go, minding my own business. Don’t give a damn if I catch me a colt or not. Just out for a stroll.”

  Seth grinned. “Great job. But nudge back your hat. Your body language says you’re relaxed but your hat’s tugged down like you’re on a mission.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” He thumbed back his hat and kept walking. “Is my jacket the right style? I’d hate to mess this up because my jacket sends the wrong message.”

  “It’s fine.” While moving parallel to Matt, he kept an eye on Harry, who’d stopped to graze. “They’re used to seeing that jacket. But I don’t wear buffalo plaid much anymore, especially if I don’t know the horse.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “A solid color’s more calming than a bold pattern. At least that’s what I’ve seen.”

  “I get plenty of compliments from the ladies when I wear this jacket.”

  “I’m sure you do, lover-boy.”

  “You should come out with us Saturday night. Have some beers. Dance with some pretty girls.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “That’s what you always say. And then you don’t. I know it’s been tough. Everybody gets that, but—”

  “I’ll definitely think about it.” Hermione had trotted to the far corner of the pasture, attitude sticking out all over her. Harry continued to graze as if he couldn’t care less about them. But his ears flicked back and forth. He was listening, evaluating.

  “You do that. And while you’re at it, think about coming on the ski trip over Christmas. Cowboys on skis. Gotta love it.”

  “Sounds like fun.” He drew within a yard of Harry. “Don’t make any sudden moves, but if he dodges your way, see if you can get a grip on his halter.”

  “Will do.”

  “Hey, Harry.” He spoke in an easy, conversational tone. “How about heading back to see Mom, kiddo?”

  The colt lifted his head and gazed at him, his jaw still working on the tidbits of grass he’d managed to find.

  “Grass is just about done for the season, sport. More tasty stuff in the barn. Just sayin’.” He slowly reached for the halter. The soft crackle of hooves on dry grass told him Hermione was in the vicinity. “Where’s the filly?”

  “Coming up right behind you.”

  “Then maybe you should get Harry, I’ll see if I can sweet-talk that little girl into cooperating.”

  “Go for it.”

  “Hermione, your timing’s excellent.” He pivoted slowly. “Harry says he’s ready to get cozy in the barn. Doesn’t that sound nice? Have some dinner, cuddle with your mama?”

  She tossed her head.

  Matt huffed out a breath. “Got Harry.”

  “And I’ve almost got this filly. We’re just negotiating. Aren’t we, sweetie?” He leaned toward her and reached for her halter. “That’s it. Stay right—”

  With a loud snort, she wheeled and took off. He grabbed a handful of air, lost his footing and ended up on his butt. “That didn’t go exactly as planned.”

  Matt cracked up. “No?” Keeping a grip on Harry, he led the foal over and gave Seth a hand up. “Looked perfect to me.”

  He laughed and dusted off his jeans. “That’s what I get for thinking I know what I’m doing.”

  “Hard to outsmart a rambunctious filly.” Matt held his gaze. “It’s good to hear that laugh again, buddy. Missed it. Guaranteed you’d do a lot more of it on this ski trip.”

  “Hmm.” He set off after Hermione. Matt could be right. A ski trip would be fun, but he had other fish to fry.

  When his mom had died suddenly a year ago, he’d been responsible for…everything. No siblings, no other living relatives. He’d given away her clothes, sold her furniture and shoved her more personal items into boxes. Last month he’d found the courage to sort through that stuff and he’d found a thirty-year-old diary.

  And learned the truth about his dad. She’d always refused to talk about him except to say they’d loved each other desperately and losing him had been devastating. Any questions about how and when he’d died had gone unanswered. Too painful. Couldn’t even speak his name.

  He had a name, now—Hamish McGavin.

  They’d dated for about a year when she’d lived in Bozeman. His dad and his dad’s younger brother Ian had lived with their parents on a sheep farm near a small town called Eagles Nest. When his grandparents had decided to sell out and return to Scotland, Ian had stayed to marry a woman named Kendra. His dad had moved to Scotland.

  His mom had been devastated, for sure, but her diary entries made it clear she hadn’t wanted to live in Scotland any more than his dad had wanted to stay in Montana. Maybe he was dead. Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe it didn’t matter because she’d never tried to contact him about the pregnancy.

  At first he’d been pissed and hurt that she’d misled him. But eventually he’d looked at the situation from the viewpoint of a young woman who wanted to keep the whole thing under wraps and build a life for her son. He could see it.

  But now, the wrappings were coming off. The internet had yielded plenty of info on Eagles Nest and it was chock full of McGavins. Chances were good he was related to at least some of them.

  His plans hadn’t crystalized, but he wouldn’t be going on the ski trip. When his Christmas break started, he’d be on the road to Eagles Nest.

  Coming soon!

  Seth Turner is in for a McGavin reunion he’ll never forget in A COWBOY’S HOMECOMING, book seventeen in the McGavin Brothers series.

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