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.”
She drew in her lower lip, studying him for a second, before her gaze drifted toward the crowd. “Your parents aren’t here, are they?”
“Still in Little Rock with my sister and her kids.”
She sighed. “I’m so sorry about what happened to their cattle. Tom Jenkins and the Reynolds were hit by rustlers, too. The Double R is still in business but they’re hurting.”
He nodded. Hard to hear even though he already knew the facts. The ranchers in the area had been here for generations so he knew every one of them.
Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “So why are you here?”
“To handle some ranch business for the folks,” he said, the grim reminder of the reason for his return taking some of the pleasure out of seeing Kate.
Ranch. What a joke. Only an empty house remained, and land that had been in the Colter family for over a hundred years. The small herd of cattle that had once sustained the place was gone. And it seemed as if the authorities didn’t give a damn.
“I miss your parents,” she said, “even though I only spend summers and holidays here anymore.”
“You’re teaching, right?”
She nodded. “In Vernal. I keep an apartment there because a round-trip takes two and half hours out of my day.”
“High school?”
“Heavens no. Middle school is hard enough.”
“I bet.” He willed himself not to look at her breasts. Bad enough his chest was still imprinted with the memory of them. Her eyes looked greener, brighter, or maybe it was the light coming from the kitchen. “How many of your students have crushes on you?”
“Oh, please.” Her cheeks turned pink, and making a sound of exasperation, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
Something sparkled on her hand. Startled, he stared at the diamond on her finger. “I see that congratulations are in order.”
“What?” She blinked, and then gave the ring a cursory glance before hiding her hand behind her back. “Oh, right.”
“When’s the wedding?”
She hesitated. “The end of January. Look, I don’t know where Clint is. Joe’s upstairs but I think he’s kind of busy.” She looked up at the sky and then toward the crowd. “I really should get out there and say goodbye to people.”
“Of course.” He waved her on. “I didn’t mean to hold you up.”
“No, I’m glad to see you. Really.” She moistened her lips and took a step back. “I’m looking forward to talking to you some more,” she said as she kept backing away. “If I see Clint, I’ll tell him you’re here.”
Mitch watched her hurry toward the tent and stage area. Kate was getting married? Now why was he so surprised? She was six years younger than him, which made her about twenty-seven. As a kid she’d been on the gangly side, showing more interest in trying to keep up with her brothers than in fashion or makeup. But she’d grown up to be quite a looker, always had been bright and dependable, too. She’d make a great ranch wife.
Nope, there was no trace of the tomboy now, he thought as he watched the gentle sway of her hips. He’d started getting too engrossed in her shapely rear end and had to sternly remind himself that this was Kate. Besides the fact she was an engaged woman, he didn’t need Joe or Clint kicking his ass.
KATE HURRIED IN DESPERATION toward the refreshment booth where she thought she saw Dennis. People looked at her as if they feared she were on her way to a fire. Ironically, it was the other way around. The searing heat of flesh and muscle that had threatened to engulf her in a mindless burst of flames was what had her racing through the crowd.
Mitch, here in the flesh. She still couldn’t believe it. He’d touched her. Held her against his strong broad chest until she thought she’d suffocate from lack of oxygen. The physical exchange had lasted a heartbeat, but it might as well have been a lifetime. A hundred-odd sensations crashed in on her for which she hadn’t been prepared. Sure, she’d had a childish crush on him until he’d left for college, but that was eons ago.
After dropping out of Texas A&M his senior year, he’d started drifting