Helen Lacey - To Have And To Hold - Made for Marriage / To Wed a Rancher / The Mummy Proposal

“Social Studies,” she replied. “We’re studying human relationships this semester. There’s a boy in my grade who’s had two stepfathers—can you imagine? And Maddy told me that when her stepdad moved out last year it really sucked. She liked him a lot.”

Noah got his daughter’s point, delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. “I have no intention of jumping into anything, Lily,” he told her.

“But if you do get married again, how do you know she won’t run out like my mother did?”

I don’t .

And Callie … she seemed as fragile and unpredictable as the wind.

Lily didn’t say anything else, and when they arrived at Sandhills Farm she jumped out of the truck. It took him about ten seconds to find Callie. She stood near the house, in jeans and a flame-red T-shirt, one hand on her hip and the other held a cell phone to her ear.

She spun on her heels and looked at him. His heart pounded behind his ribs. That kiss … how did he forget about it? How could he not want to feel that again? Noah took a long breath and headed toward her. Lily reached her first and jumped around on impatient toes while Callie continued her telephone conversation.

She was frowning and clearly not happy with the caller. When she disconnected a few moments later he pushed aside his lingering thoughts about kissing her and immediately asked what was wrong.

“Just another irresponsible horse owner getting away with neglect,” she said hotly.

He frowned. “What?”

“I volunteer with an organization that saves abused and neglected horses,” she explained. “A couple of weeks ago I got word that there are three horses somewhere on the other side of town that are stuck in a bare paddock and need veterinary care. We’ve only had sketchy reports on their whereabouts so far. The owner moves them around to avoid impoundment.”

“That’s terrible. What can you do?” Lily asked in a shrill voice.

“Seize them, hopefully.”

His ever-astute daughter picked up on the obvious. “Isn’t that stealing?”

“Not when the owners are breaking animal protection laws.”

Lily nodded. “If you need any help, I’ll—”

“Leave it to the experts,” Noah said. “I’m sure Callie has it under control.”

“Your dad’s right,” Callie assured Lily. “But you can help me nurse them back to health when we finally find them. Joe’s saddled Samson for you,” she said as she pointed toward the sand arena.

Once Lily headed off, Callie turned to face him. Her eyes were blue and luminous. “I have a list,” she said quickly. She pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket and held it toward him. “Of things for you to do.” She made a dismissive gesture. “Of course, if you’ve changed your mind I’ll—”

“We had a deal,” he said, sensing she was mentally backing out from talking to him as fast as she could. She half shrugged and took a breath, trying to look causal, but Noah wasn’t fooled. The tiny pulse at the base of her throat beat like a wild thing. And the promises he’d made to himself only minutes before vanished. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her Fiona greeted. “Good to see properly.

“It’s only small stuff,” she said. “A couple of windows that won’t lock right and the back fence—”

“No problem,” he said quietly and took the list.

“I’ll be about an hour with Lily,” she said and pivoted on her heels.

Noah watched her walk into the arena, back rigid, arms held tight to her side. He lingered for a few minutes and observed Callie’s interaction with his daughter. Lily looked unusually cheerful and he knew she was excited to finally be in the saddle. The lesson started with Callie laying down a firm set of rules and Lily agreeing to every single one.

Lily respected Callie. Somehow, Callie understood what Lily needed.

Noah experienced a strange pang in his chest, dismissed it and headed for his truck to unload the toolbox. He had a lot of work to do.

* * *

Callie was wound like a spring. She’d barely slept the night before and had struggled to concentrate during a lesson earlier that morning with Maddy Spears, her newest student.

She knew she had to concentrate on Lily … and ignore the fact that Noah was only a couple of hundred meters away.

I kissed him. And he didn’t exactly kiss me back .

She wasn’t sure whether she should feel relieved or insulted.

“How’s this?” Lily asked Callie, interrupting her reverie.

Callie focused her attention on the teenager. She was impressed with Lily. The girl had a natural seat and good hands. Once the lesson had concluded she eased on the long reining lead and called Samson to a halt in front of her.

“That was good. Well done.”

Lily raised her brows. “Do I get to ride off the lunge rein next week?”

Callie unclipped the lead. “No.”

Lily dismounted and landed on her heels. “Why not?”

“Balance,” Callie replied and handed the reins to her.

Lily frowned. “Huh?”

Callie began walking from the arena. “Every rider needs to start with balance. Once I know you’ve aced it, the lead comes off.”

Lily clicked the horse forward and followed. “And what if I don’t?”

“You will,” Callie said. “You have a good seat and soft hands, essential for a successful rider. Take Samson to the wash-bay and Joe will help you strap him down.”

Lily buried her face into the animal’s neck and smiled. “I can do it by myself.”

Callie raised her brows. “What was rule number five?”

Lily exhaled heavily. “Don’t question the four other rules.”

“Exactly. Go and get Samson sorted. I’ll see you when you’re done.”

When Lily was out of sight Callie considered her options. Hang around the ménage or show some guts and see what he was up to. Her boots made their way across the yard until she reached the house. She stood at the bottom of the steps. Noah had his back to her and she watched him maneuver an old window off its track, make a few adjustments and then replace it. Her heart raced. No man should look that good in jeans. He raised his arms and she got a quick glimpse of smooth skin beneath the hem of his T-shirt. Oh, sweet heaven . Suddenly, he stopped what he was doing, turned and looked at her.

“How was it?” he asked.

She gulped. “Huh?”

“Lily—how’d she do?”

Callie put the image of skin out of her mind. “Very good. She’s a natural.”

He smiled at her and she felt the power of it through her entire body.

“Are you okay?”

It’s just skin. I’ve seen skin before . “Yes,” she replied and swallowed. “I’m fine.”

He stepped away from the door. “She behaved herself?”

“She did,” Callie replied. “She’s quite sweet, actually.”

He grinned. “Well, I’m pleased the two of you are getting along.” He leaned back against the balustrade. “Seeing as that’s out the way, are we going to talk about us now?”

Callie took a quick breath. Here we go . “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Yeah, there is.”

“It was just a kiss,” she said, and the moment she’d said the word kiss , she regretted it immediately.

“It wasn’t just anything, Callie.”

He was right. Callie felt it down through to her bones. “Okay,” she admitted. “It wasn’t.”

“So, what shall we do about it?”

Her heart raced. Do? “I don’t know if we … I don’t think we should do anything.” She took a deep breath and inhaled a burst of bravado. “We just won’t kiss again.”

There’s that word again … When the word should probably be bliss. Because she suspected that’s what really being kissed by Noah would feel like.