“You’re just saying that to be nice, but thanks, anyway.”

  He finished chewing and swallowed. “No, I mean it.” He looked at her so she’d know he was serious. She’d already twisted another cookie apart but wasn’t into the licking routine yet. “You said that the wild colors on the house and barn make you happy. When I look at your hair, especially in the sunlight, it makes me happy.”

  “Really?” She smiled. “That might be the best compliment a guy has ever given me. Thank you.” She lifted the frosted half of the cookie to her mouth.

  That was his cue to turn away.

  “You are grossed out! I can tell!”

  “Nope.” He bit down hard on his latest cookie and stared into the flames while he chewed.

  “Yes, you are, or you wouldn’t have turned your head like that. You turned it really quick, too. I know avoidance when I see it.”

  He swallowed and reached into the bag without looking at her. “I’m just enjoying the fire.” That wasn’t working, either, because the flames were systematically licking the wood. He’d never considered fireplace logs to be phallic symbols, but they were tonight.

  “Sorry, I don’t believe you. If it bothers you that much, I’ll eat this one the normal way. I’m putting the top back on, so you can relax.”

  He glanced at her. “I really don’t care how you eat that cookie.”

  “Oh, you care, all right. It surprises me, because after the way you waded into the mud, I didn’t peg you as a finicky person.”

  “I’m not.” He hesitated, torn between admitting the real problem or letting her think he was squeamish. Finally his ego won out. “Watching you lick the frosting is...erotic.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

  “Happy, now?”

  “No, I’m not happy. I apologize. I had no idea.”

  “We might as well get this out in the open. I’m sexually attracted to you, Lily. You seem convinced it’s only a rebound situation, which means my reaction would be the same with any good-looking woman and isn’t specific to you. Do I have that right?”

  “Um, I guess so.” Color rose in her cheeks, making her freckles stand out. “When you explain it like that, it sounds kind of insulting.”

  “It insults both of us.”

  “I suppose it does. Sorry about that.”

  “Apology accepted. But I assume that the possibility of me being on the rebound is why you think kissing me was a mistake.”

  She nodded.

  “But when you kissed me, I hadn’t told you about breaking up with Jeannette. Yet you said then it was a mistake and you’d explain later.”

  Her color heightened further and she glanced away. “I...sensed that you had some...secret anguish.”

  “Oh?” That sounded like bull to him. “Are you psychic?”

  “A little, maybe. I pick up on things. Besides that, you kept your sunglasses on the whole time we talked this morning.”

  “The sun was very bright.” But he had to admit he’d taken to wearing those shades more often following that last miserable Christmas, so she could have a point. He’d think about that one. “Okay, let’s say that was a clue that I had a...how did you put it? Secret anguish?”

  “I said that, yes.” She looked uncomfortable as hell.

  “What made you jump to the conclusion that it was connected to my love life?”

  “Well, it was!”

  “Yes, but you didn’t know that until after we kissed. A secret anguish could apply to all kinds of things. It didn’t have to be about romance gone wrong. Something’s not adding up.”

  She swallowed. “You’re right. And I can’t tell you what it is.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just can’t.” She grabbed the bag of cookies and pushed herself to her feet. “I need to put our clothes in the dryer.”

  He got up. “I’ll help.”

  “No, don’t. I’ll handle it.” She glanced at the fireplace. “The fire’s going out.”

  “Want me to build it back up again?” He doubted it.

  “No.” She avoided looking at him. “I think it’s time to call it a night, don’t you?”

  “Apparently so. But I can load the dishwasher while you’re dealing with the clothes.”

  She finally met his gaze. “The dishes are taken care of. I put everything in before I brought out the cookies. If you’ll bank the fire and put the pillows back, I’d appreciate it. Good night, Regan. Sleep well.”

  “I doubt I will.” He looked into her blue eyes. She might say she didn’t want to get involved with him, but her eyes told a different story. Desire flickered there, waiting for him to fan the flames.

  “Why?”

  “Damn it, you know why.” His control threatened to snap.

  “I don’t. I—”

  “Because I’ll be thinking about doing this.” With a growl of frustration, he reached for her, cookie bag and all. He had one brief glimpse of her startled expression before he kissed her for all he was worth.

  And she kissed him back. God, did she ever. Open-mouthed and frantic, she burst into flames as he’d known she would. Wiggling closer, she pressed her sweet body against his in a move guaranteed to send him into orbit.

  He moaned and shoved both hands under her sweatshirt, desperate to touch her silky skin. She answered by dropping the cookies and sliding her palms under the bathrobe’s lapels. Eager hands. She touched him as if she couldn’t get enough. The rapid stroke of her palms against his skin drove him wild. This. Yes, this! His cock thrust against the terry cloth, and he wanted her with an intensity that made him dizzy.

  Abruptly she twisted out of his arms. Breathing hard, she spun away from him.

  “Lily...” He heard the plea in his voice. Couldn’t help it.

  “I don’t want this.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Okay, I do.” She gulped for air. “But it’s a bad idea.”

  “I don’t get it. That kiss was hot. And I’ve seen the way you look at me. Before dinner, while we were standing in the kitchen, I half expected you to jump my bones.”

  When she faced him again, her cheeks were bright pink. “I’m...I’m sorry about that. The robe is revealing.”

  “Something I couldn’t do much about.”

  “I know. I apologize for ogling.”

  “Don’t apologize! I was flattered, but I’m confused as hell. What’s going on?”

  She straightened her shoulders. “Let me explain. I was involved with a guy on the rebound a couple of years ago. My friends warned me not to get too attached, but I did.” She took another unsteady breath. “I won’t pretend that we were soul mates or anything, but I didn’t expect him to take off the minute he was over his breakup.”

  “But...he did.” He could see where this was going. He would pay for another guy’s callous behavior.

  “Yes, he was gone like a shot and immediately hooked up with another woman. None of that was pleasant. My friends were right. He used me to feel better about himself, and once his ego was repaired, he dropped me for someone else. Maybe I was a reminder of that bad period. Whatever. The girl who comes after a breakup usually doesn’t make the cut.”

  “I don’t know the statistics on that, but the guy was a jerk.” That made two users she’d been involved with recently.

  “He was, but from what I hear, the pattern is fairly predictable, so that’s why I have a rule. No rebound relationships.”

  “I understand why you would make that rule.” He ran his fingers through his hair and dragged in some air while he tried to think this through. Something didn’t add up. He gazed at her in confusion. “How do you know my ego needs repairing? All I said was that I broke up with my fiancée. As it happens, it was my decision to leave. For all you know, my ego’s in fine shape.”

  “Then why haven’t you dated before now?”

  He didn’t have a good answer for that, so he countered with a question of his own. “Have you dated since you broke up with your boyfriend?”

  “No, but that’s different.”

  “How?”

  Her blush deepened. “Good night, Regan. I’ll put your dry clothes in your bathroom. See you in the morning.”

  He thought about pushing the issue. She’d already proved she was a softie, as the guy had said this morning. When someone needed her, she couldn’t say no. But taking advantage of her generous heart would be a lousy thing to do. It wasn’t how he rolled.

  They still hadn’t finished their discussion, though. Why had she assumed that his ego had been bruised by his fiancée? He was missing some key fact.

  Well, he had time to sort it out and examine his own motivation for wanting her. She deserved more than a rebound guy, and if that was truly his deal, then he should admit it and move on. If not, then he would convince her that this attraction was real and exceedingly specific to her, Lily King of the wild red hair and blue, blue eyes.

  She’d asked him to stay through the weekend. In the next couple of days, he’d figure everything out. He wasn’t about to give up on her yet.

  7

  IRONICALLY, LILY HAD asked Regan to stay for the weekend so she wouldn’t be awake all night worrying about the animals. Instead worry about Regan and the potential of causing a problem between him and Nick kept her awake. Well, that and sexual frustration. Her resolve to stay out of the rebound trap was being seriously tested, and she was kept awake for longer than she’d like to admit.

  She woke up earlier than usual, too, but that was fine because she wanted a head start on Regan. Putting on a clean pair of jeans and another of her favorite tie-dyed shirts, she pushed her feet into the boots she’d wiped off before going to bed. Then she brushed her teeth and wrestled with her hair until she had it secured with a clip at the back of her neck. The soft glow of dawn had just begun as she headed for the kitchen.

  It was empty, as she’d expected it would be, which gave her time to brew the coffee, feed the horses and chickens, and maybe even chop veggies for the pigs before he woke up. The more she could accomplish, the less they’d end up doing together.

  If it weren’t so early, she’d call Nick Chance and confess that she’d made a mess of things. But he wouldn’t appreciate being roused from sleep on a Saturday morning so that she could unburden herself. Basically she wanted his permission to tell Regan what she knew about the breakup.

  As she plugged in the coffeepot, she wondered if she could find a way to take all the blame for Nick spilling the beans. She could say she pestered him until he accidentally said something that had allowed her to guess what had happened. Under the circumstances, Regan might not care if she knew, anyway. They’d moved past the acquaintance stage, so it might be fine with him that she knew.

  On the other hand, Lily wasn’t keen on telling Nick about the mud incident, which had led to the kiss encounter and prompted yet another kiss later on. Nick didn’t need to know any of that, or that Regan had ended up wearing her bathrobe for the evening meal. She tried not to think about that too much, either. The mental image of Regan in the bathrobe still got her hot.

  She probably should move past her fears about the animals rebelling and find a gracious way to let him leave today. She had no idea how to bring that up after begging him to stay, though. Besides, asking him to go implied that she was more afraid of an ill-advised relationship with him than she was worried about the animals running amok.

  That didn’t say much for her self-control or her priorities, now, did it? She’d have to think this over while she fed the horses. Tucking her phone in her hip pocket, she started to unlock the back door and realized it wasn’t locked in the first place. Either she’d forgotten last night or Regan had beaten her to the punch, after all.

  She had her answer as soon as she stepped out onto the stoop and glanced to her left, toward the corral. Regan, dressed in the dry clothes she’d left in his bathroom and wearing his hat, was working with Rex. He’d clipped a lead rope to the palomino’s halter, and from the look of things, he was teaching the horse to back up on command. When Rex failed to obey, Regan waved the rope in his face until he followed the command.

  Horse and man put on an interesting show, and she wasn’t the only one captivated by it. Several other horses had gathered around the corral in apparent fascination. Lily couldn’t resist taking out her phone and snapping a few pictures. School was in session and the pupils were in attendance, and the rising sun gave her just enough light to capture it.

  She’d be crazy to send this guy away. He was exactly the person she needed to keep order in a potentially chaotic environment. Her personal issues with him faded in importance next to the benefit he’d provide to the animals in her care. So that was that. If he was willing, and she hoped to God he was, she wanted him to stay.

  That decided, she watched a little longer because she didn’t know how often she’d be in a position to study Regan unobserved. He and the flashy palomino made quite a pair. Regan’s broad shoulders and slim hips seemed specifically suited to his jeans, boots and Western shirt. He looked great, but it was his confident movements as he worked with Rex that stirred her. Competence in any man was sexy. In someone who looked like Regan, it took her breath away.

  She started to slip her phone into her hip pocket and paused. One more picture, a close-up this time. Zooming in on Regan, she waited until she had him in profile. Damn, but he was gorgeous. Just as she clicked the picture, he turned his head and looked straight at her. Busted.

  Or maybe not. From this distance he might not have been able to tell that she was taking pictures with her phone, but he certainly knew she’d been standing on the stoop watching him. She’d have to own up to that.

  With a deep breath, she started toward the corral. Regan adjusted the tilt of his Stetson before leading Rex to the gate. When the horse started to crowd him, he turned and gave a quiet command. Rex stepped back.

  “Awesome,” Lily called out. “Looks like he’s learning some manners. I hope the rest of them were paying attention.”

  “I think they’re here because they’re hoping I’ll feed them. I didn’t want to do that without asking, but I figured you wouldn’t mind if I spent some time with Rex.” He opened the gate and led the big horse through it.

  “Not at all, but don’t you want to leave him in there? I can feed him in the corral.”

  “He’s had enough of a time-out. Horses really don’t like to be isolated from the herd for very long. And I think Rex considers himself the leader of this one. He can’t very well lead from inside the corral.”

  Lily fell into step beside Regan. “What if he starts acting up again?”

  “We’ll keep an eye on him, but let’s feed the way you normally do and see how he reacts. He might be a perfect gentleman, at least for the time it takes everyone to have breakfast.”

  “Sounds good.” She glanced over her shoulder and discovered the rest of the horses falling in line behind Rex in Pied Piper style. “Thank you for coming out early to work with him.”

  “Couldn’t sleep.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s my own damn fault. You made it clear when you asked me to stay that this was a platonic arrangement.”

  “But then I kissed you.”

  “I prefer to think we kissed each other. And then I kissed you again.”

  Lily sighed. “And I kissed you back. My bad.”

  “No way was it bad.” His voice caressed her nerve endings. “It was good. Very good.”

  Heat shot through her veins. Somehow she managed to keep walking, but her brain was filled with X-rated images.

  Regan cleared his throat. “I’ve been doing some thinking while I was not sleeping.”

  “If you want to leave, I understand, although I hope you don’t. I haven’t made this an easy situation for you.”

  “You don’t want me to leave?”

  She looked at him. “No.”

  “That’s a relief. All my thinking would have gone to waste if you’d decided to kick me out.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. I wondered if you should stay or not, but then I saw you working with Rex and all the others standing around watching. Our issues aside, you’re exactly who these animals need, and that’s what’s important.”

  “Thanks.” He led Rex inside the barn. “Let’s put him in a stall with a mare this time. He might like that better.”

  “Sally?”

  “Maybe a younger mare. Let him dream of the days when he was a stallion.”

  Lily chuckled. “Okay. Gretchen, then. I’ll go get her and we’ll stick them both in the third stall on the left.”

  “I really do think he’ll be fine, but let’s close all the stall doors once they’re situated so we can keep track of who’s where.”

  “Gotcha.” She started sorting horses, and when all were securely in a stall, she and Regan distributed flakes of hay. Rex seemed perfectly content to share a stall with Gretchen, and Lily made a mental note for the future.

  She and Regan kept busy until all the horses were happily munching their breakfast. Leaving the stall doors closed meant hanging around until they were finished. She wandered up and down the wooden aisle. All seemed to be well, and a peaceful feeling settled over her. Having a buddy to help her monitor the horses was something she hadn’t considered before, but it certainly lowered her stress level. She might want to take on an employee, after all.

  “Have a seat,” Regan said, gesturing to a straw bale at the end of the aisle, “and I’ll tell you my brilliant idea.”

  “Okay.” She sat down.

  He settled next to her, but not too close. He had room to swivel a bit and look at her more directly. She did the same. Now their knees almost touched.

  He nudged his hat back with his thumb. “First point—you need to set up an adoption fair. Advertise it, offer refreshments, get a bunch of people out here to look at the horses and maybe take one home.”

  She fought panic. “That sounds like a huge project.”