He watched her car draw closer and closer, and just like it always did when Naomi got near, his heart picked up. Would she stop and give him a lift to the ranch? They hadn’t exactly been alone since he’d come back to Topaz Falls. She’d made sure of that.
As the yellow anomaly sped around the curve, he lifted a hand to flag her down, but the car didn’t slow.
Maybe she hadn’t seen him. Waving his arms, he stepped onto the shoulder…
Shit! The car was coming right for him! Adrenaline fired through him and sent him rolling into the ditch just as the car’s brakes screeched. It skidded and fishtailed, likely taking out half of the tires’ tread.
Breathing in the scent of burnt rubber, Lucas stared up at the sky. Well, that’d been one hell of a close shave.
The car door opened and out Naomi flew, stumbling down the embankment to where he lay on the ground.
“Oh my God! Oh my God! Lucas!” Her hands visibly shook. “What are you doing standing in the middle of the road?” she demanded, her voice about twenty octaves higher than normal.
“I wasn’t in the middle of the road,” he said calmly, though the swoosh of blood still roared in his ears. Couldn’t tell if the adrenaline surge was from almost being mowed down, or from finally being able to stare at her the way he’d wanted to ever since he’d walked back into her life all those months ago. Whenever they bumped into each other, she always turned away from him, but now she stood over him, staring down into his eyes.
And God, she was perfection. Wavy red hair finer than silk, and those bright eyes, green as the swaying grass in a meadow. She wore a flowered dress, and her legs were made for wearing a dress. Long and toned, tensed from the way she stood in her shiny red heels.
That’s why he didn’t want to move. Nothing hurt, but if he moved she’d look away from him.
“Mom!” Gracie squealed from the backseat. She stuck her head out through the open window. “Is he alive?”
“I’m alive,” he confirmed, waving at Naomi’s daughter. “And I was standing on the side of the road,” he said, admiring the view of the woman’s tanned legs. Yeah, he could pretty much admire that view all damn day.
As usual, Naomi turned away from him. Her breaths came in gasping puffs. “God, Lucas. God. I was so distracted I didn’t even see you.” Her delicate hands covered her face. “I almost hit you. My God, I almost hit you.” She staggered a few steps.
That got him off the ground. Didn’t need her collapsing on the side of the highway.
“Hey.” He hurried over to her, brushing the gravel off his ass. “I’m fine.” He’d been through a hell of a lot worse than a tumble down into a ditch.
“He looks fine to me!” Gracie offered, still leaning out the window. “He’s not even bleeding.”
“Exactly.” He ducked his head closer to Naomi’s, catching her gaze. “See. No blood. I’m good.”
She nodded, but seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating. Which meant she was in no condition to get behind the wheel of that car.
“Why don’t I drive you back to the ranch?” Risking her hasty retreat, he slipped an arm around her waist to support her, and he couldn’t resist drawing her close to him, closer than she’d been in ten long years. She still smelled like carefree summer afternoons—a subtle hint of lemon along with the coconut oil she used to use to soften her hands. That scent, the feel of her leaning into his body roused a sudden overpowering greed. He’d never hungered as desperately for something as he hungered for her. To turn her fully to himself. To feel those breasts he used to kiss so intimately against his own chest again. He knew that body, remembered every curve and bend, every fine detail…
“I’m okay,” Naomi whispered, shaking him off. “I can walk.”
Of course she could. If she had a choice between keeling over and letting him touch her, she’d gladly opt for hitting the ground. But she did hand him the keys before hurrying to climb into the passenger’s seat without his assistance.
Lucas folded himself into the driver’s seat. Even with the seat moved all the way back, he hardly fit. But he’d take it if it meant he got to sit beside Naomi for ten minutes. Even if she wouldn’t look at him. Even if she wouldn’t talk to him.
He’d take it. Especially knowing he was likely going back to Pueblo in a few short weeks.
Lucas glanced in the rearview mirror. “You buckled?” he asked Gracie.
The girl nodded with a shy smile.
“All right, then. We’re off.” He started the engine and backed up, then turned carefully out onto the highway.
Naomi directed her gaze out the passenger’s window, but Gracie eyed him dubiously from the backseat.
She looked so much like her mother with those red curls and inquisitive green eyes.
“How come you were walking on the road?” she asked.
“My truck broke down. Back where I was fishing.” Not worth mentioning that it’d had some help. “So I was planning to walk back to the ranch. Until you two lovely ladies swooped in to rescue me. I’m a lucky guy.”
The girl grinned, dimples poking into each cheek. “You bet you were lucky,” she laughed. “Especially since Mom almost hit you!”
He stole a glance at Naomi. She stared straight ahead, her face a mask of worry.
God, he wanted to reach over and rest his hand on her thigh, tease out a smile…
“Did you catch anything?” Gracie asked, leaning between the seats.
“Nah. Not tonight. Sometimes I just go out there to think.” And whenever he started to think, it inevitably led to the silent woman sitting next to him.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to fish,” Gracie babbled. “But I don’t want to touch a worm or anything. And I wouldn’t keep the fish. That would be mean.”
“I never keep them either,” he admitted. He’d never developed a taste for trout. “And I’d be happy to teach you how to fish sometime. If it’s okay with your mom.”
“Can I, Mom? Can I go fishing with Lucas?”
“We’ll see,” Naomi said stiffly. Parental code for hell no.
“What about you? What have you ladies been up to tonight?” he asked, trying to soften the woman.
“I had drama practice at school,” Gracie said proudly. “I’m the fairy godmother in Cinderella.”
“Wow.” He drew out the word in a theatrical compliment. “Congratulations. That’s a starring role.”
Her smile was addictive. “I know! I had to memorize all these lines.” The girl paused and cleared her throat dramatically. “Bibbity! Bobbity! Boo!”
Lucas widened his eyes with exaggerated awe. “You’re a natural.”
“Really?” Gracie gasped. “You think?”
“That was better than the movie,” he insisted.
“You’ve seen Cinderella?” Naomi asked, finally acknowledging him. The skeptical curve to her sexy lips made him ache.
“Of course I’ve seen Cinderella,” he said, looking at her longer than was safe. “It’s a classic.”
Gracie leaned forward again, straining her seat belt. “If you like Cinderella, you should come to my show! It’s on Thursday night!”
“Oh honey…” Naomi broke in before he had the chance to answer. “I’m sure Lucas is too busy.”
She likely hoped he was too busy, but he pretended not to notice her obvious discomfort. “Actually, I’m free Thursday night.”
“Yay!” Gracie squealed.
But Naomi’s worried glare returned. “You don’t have to come.”
“I want to come,” he said, eyeing her. He wanted to spend time with her. To see if he had any reason to stick it out in Topaz Falls. He glanced in the rearview mirror. “One line and the Fairy Godmother has me hooked.”
Gracie beamed. “Wait till you hear the rest of them!”
“I can’t wait,” Lucas said, directing a pleading gaze at her mother.
Naomi relented with a sigh. “It starts at seven.” Her soft lips twitched as she studied him. It wasn’
t her full bright beautiful smile.
But it was a start.
Acknowledgments
Every time I finish a book it feels like a miracle. There’s no way to describe that feeling of fear when you first create a brand-new document, when the blank page is staring back at you and you know you have to fill it, not only with characters and action and romance, but also with love and a part of yourself. After writing six books, I now know the fear doesn’t go away. It’s the most difficult, beautiful, heart-wrenching, exciting thing I’ve ever done. And I’m so grateful I don’t have to do it alone.
To my fabulous readers—I hope you know how much I appreciate every review, every comment on Facebook, every note you send, everything you do to encourage and inspire me. One of the greatest blessings of being an author is sharing this journey with you.
I cannot thank my team at Forever enough for all of the work and thought they put into my books. This book took a village! Leah Hultenschmidt and Lexi Smail, thanks for stepping in and taking such good care of me through the editing process. And Megha Parekh, you have such a gift! Thank you for always pushing me to do just a little bit more. To the artists, copy editors, proofreaders, publicists, and sales and marketing gurus who never get enough credit for everything you do—I appreciate you more than I can say.
Suzie Townsend and Sara Stricker at New Leaf, thank you for taking care of the details and representing me so well. I’d be lost without you!
Thank you to my husband, Will, for continuing to be my greatest supporter. You’re always the first one to comfort me or congratulate me or tell me to get my butt back in that chair. Thank you for loving me every single day, even when I’m on deadline. AJ and Kaleb, thank you for filling my life with so much joy. It’s such a privilege to watch you grow and make your mark on the world.
I never have enough space to list the names of all my friends and family members who continue to love, support, and encourage me. But writing love stories is my way to honor them. They are the ones who taught me to believe in a real, raw, soul-binding love that carries so much healing power. No matter what happens in the world, we all need to believe that kind of love is possible, that we are worthy of it, and that it can change everything.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
About the Author
Sara Richardson grew up chasing adventure in Colorado’s rugged mountains. She’s climbed to the top of a 14,000-foot peak at midnight, swum through Class IV rapids, completed her wilderness first-aid certification, and spent seven days at a time tromping through the wilderness with a thirty-pound backpack strapped to her shoulders.
Eventually Sara did the responsible thing and got an education in writing and journalism. After a brief stint in the corporate writing world, she stopped ignoring the voices in her head and started writing fiction. Now she uses her experience as a mountain adventure guide to write stories that incorporate adventure with romance. Still indulging her adventurous spirit, Sara lives and plays in Colorado with her saint of a husband and two young sons.
You can learn more at:
SaraRichardson.net
Twitter @SaraR_Books
Facebook.com/SaraRichardsonBooks
Also by Sara Richardson
No Better Man
Something Like Love
One Christmas Wish (ebook)
More Than a Feeling
Rocky Mountain Wedding (ebook)
Fall in Love with Forever Romance
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In the New York Times bestselling tradition of Elizabeth Hoyt, Grace Burrowes, and Madeline Hunter comes the first in a sexy new series from Anna Harrington. Sebastian Carlisle, the new Duke of Trent, needs a respectable wife befitting his station. But when he begins to fall for the reckless, flighty Miranda Hodgkins, he must decide between his title and his heart.
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