Debbi Rawlins - Texas Blaze

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491—TEXAS HEAT

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Epilogue

KATE MANNING JUMPED at the loud pop. She tilted her head back, her gaze going to the explosion of red, blue and silver that burst against the night sky, and then rained down in glittering streamers to the delight of the spectators. The annual July Fourth celebration and fireworks display hosted by her family was almost over. Friends and neighbors would soon leave the Manning ranch, exhausted from the three days of festivities. She couldn’t wait for them to go.

She should have been happier. Ecstatic, really. Standing apart from the crowd, she leaned against the kitchen door and stared down at the sparkling one-carat diamond ring on her finger. She was engaged to be married in six months for goodness’ sakes. She’d long ago chosen a dress and started making plans for a late-winter wedding when West Texas wasn’t so horribly hot.

Her college friends were here, having traveled thousands of miles to join her in celebrating her engagement. Only two weeks ago she’d called each of them herself, and practically begged them to come. A day later the blues had taken hold, and she’d nearly called them back to rescind the invitation. But she hadn’t, and now she wondered if subconsciously she wished they’d come to talk her out of getting married.

Another explosion of red and blue lit up the sky, and she peered into the crowd, focusing in the direction where she’d last seen Dennis talking to Clyde Thompson, owner of the Red Rock Ranch. One thing about her fiancé, she thought wryly, he had quite a knack for zeroing in on the wealthy and powerful.

Damn him for missing most of the weekend. He knew how important it was to her that he meet her friends, but he’d skipped the barbecue and dance yesterday, then the rodeo and picnic this afternoon, finally showing up an hour ago. Since then he’d spent his time working the crowd like a seasoned politician. Was that her appeal, she thought uneasily, her family name and community standing?

It was nerves making her short-tempered with him. That’s all. Over a hundred and fifty people had shown up this weekend, requiring an enormous amount of preparation to make sure there was enough food and drink. After the cleanup was through, and she’d had a couple nights of good sleep, she’d be back to normal. Happy again that she was marrying such a good man. One she would always be able to count on. One who understood her and loved her. She could continue planning her wedding without all the distractions, which would surely lift her spirits.

Feeling a bit queasy, she wrapped her arms around her middle. One minute, then she’d go find Dennis. So far he’d met Jessica, but not her other two friends. They were both off somewhere with her brothers. Man, she hadn’t seen that coming.

A breathtaking array of blue and gold blossomed in the sky, quickly followed by a rapid succession of fiery rockets in brilliant colors, which meant the show was building to the finale. Kate smiled at the appreciative murmurs of the crowd, content that the weekend had been a success. Near where the children’s rides were set up, silvery white sparklers bobbed in the dark, and she briefly considered turning on the driveway floodlights for anyone wishing to get a head start on the exiting crowd. Or was it a tad too soon?

She turned toward the lineup of trucks and cars, and thought she saw the silhouette of a man coming down the drive. Odd that someone would be arriving only now. Squinting, she waited for the next burst of light. Her breath caught. The man almost looked like…

No, it couldn’t be Mitch Colter. This man’s shoulders were broad like Mitch’s, and he was tall and narrow-hipped, his hair long and dark. He even walked with that slight swagger. But Mitch wasn’t even in the country, as far as she knew. God, he hadn’t been back to West Texas, much less Appleton, in eight years.

Two months.

And one week.

As the man got closer, her insides started to flutter, and she straightened. No way on earth could that be Mitch.

HE SAW HER STANDING outside the kitchen door. Mitch almost hadn’t realized it was Kate. All grown-up, taller than he remembered, and a lot curvier. But the rich auburn hair gave her away. He’d never seen that color on any other woman. She’d cut it, though, to just above her shoulders. Too bad. He’d always liked it long and kind of wild.

As he closed in on the house, he knew she’d spotted him and he reversed his decision to head into the crowd. Instead, he strode toward her and noticed how she suddenly straightened, her stance almost defensive. That he didn’t understand. Maybe she didn’t recognize him. No one knew he was coming. He hadn’t known himself until two days ago.

The fireworks were almost over. He’d been to enough of the Manning’s July Fourth shindigs over the years to know that the big finish was coming any minute. Which made him wonder why Kate was standing off by herself.

She moved away from the door and down to the bottom step. “Mitch.” She frowned slightly. “Does anyone know you’re back in town?”

“It was a last-minute decision.” He opened his arms to her. “Don’t I get a hug?”

Her lips parted, uncertainty flickering in her face, and then she smiled and moved toward him. “It’s good to see you,” she said, hesitating a moment before clumsily embracing him.

He slid his arms around her and lifted her off the ground, swinging her in a half circle. It was a mistake. He knew it the moment their bodies touched.

Little Katie had breasts now. Nice, firm round breasts that felt too damn good pressed against his chest. When the hell had that happened?

He quickly put her down. Too quickly, judging by her confused look. And then he really screwed things up by running his hands down her back until his palms molded to the top of her backside. Careful not to make another sudden move, he drew his hands to either side of her slender waist, set her back to look impassively at her, and then gave her a brotherly smile.

“You look terrific,” he said, casually lowering his arms.

“I swear you’re taller than when I last saw you.”

She blinked, and hunched her shoulders. “I had a surprise growth spurt.”

Rather than hide her breasts, the action drew his attention because the blue shirt gaped slightly. He abruptly lifted his gaze. Got a grip. This was Katie, Joe and Clint’s baby sister. “What’s it been, Katie, six years?”

“Eight,” she said with faint irritation. “And no one calls me Katie anymore.”

“Ah.” His smile broadened at the defiant lift of her chin, an old habit he’d found amusing because she’d always been on the shy side.

“What?”

“I promise I’ll try to remember.”