“Good.” His gaze swept over her. “You sure have changed since high school.”
“You didn’t know me in high school,” she said. “You’d already gone off to college.”
“I was home at a couple of parties—I saw you around town. We just didn’t speak. You were a skinny kid with braces—you’ve grown up into a beautiful woman.”
“Thank you, but you can save the compliments.”
“Did you tell your dad about my proposal?”
She was looking into dark eyes that nailed her with their forcefulness. He was too close, too masculine, too sinfully handsome. She could detect his aftershave, and facing him at this range was more disturbing than ever.
“Yes, I did. He was furious and appalled.”
“But you know I have a proposition that’s worth considering, don’t you? Admit the truth now.”
“Yes, I do,” she snapped.
“Go to dinner with me tomorrow night so we can discuss marriage.”
“I don’t want to go out to dinner and start all kinds of wild rumors. This whole thing is impossible,” she replied, feeling butterflies at the thought of a date with him. She clamped her lips closed, turning to reach for her pickup door.
His hand shot out and held the door closed. “Now just calm down and let’s talk a minute.” His breath blew against her nape and he stood so close behind her that she could feel the heat of his body. As she looked at the tanned wrist and hand that held her door closed, her pulse skittered.
She turned around. “Move away.”
He studied her, and her heart drummed. When his gaze dropped to her mouth, she couldn’t even breathe. “Move back and give me room,” she said, placing her hand on his chest to push lightly. It was a tactical error because the instant she touched his muscled chest, tingles raced through her and the curiosity in his eyes shifted to blatant desire. She yanked her hand away.
“My, oh my, this is a surprise,” he drawled softly. “You and I have some wild attraction going here.”
“It’s purely physical,” she said, but all force had gone out of her voice. He still stood too close to her, and she hoped he couldn’t hear her thudding heart.
“Might be purely physical, but it’s damned powerful. Too powerful to ignore, I can tell you that.” He touched her hair, pulling free the ribbon that held it behind her neck. “You grew up to be a real beauty.”
“Thank you, but I don’t believe your compliments are sincere.”
Again, she saw that flash of amusement in his expression. To her relief he stepped to one side, leaning a shoulder against her pickup, looking relaxed, sexy and curious.
“Let’s go to dinner and talk about my proposal,” he suggested. “We can go to San Antonio. It’s a big enough city that we can find a spot where no one will know us.”
“This is so absurd. I don’t know why I’m listening to you.”
“Because you’re intelligent and you know I’m making a good offer. You’re listening because when we get near each other, both of us almost go up in flames. Which surprises me as much as it does you.”
“Will you stop!”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin. “I have all sorts of reasons why this would benefit you. I just want a chance to present my case. And don’t tell me a Ryder can’t exist in proximity to a Brant. What do you think goes on at rodeos and cattle sales? I’ve rubbed elbows with your kin, including your dad. We don’t like it, but we do it. We can talk without bringing down the wrath of our kinfolk. Now, how about tomorrow night?”
She debated only a few seconds because she was intrigued and she knew there was a possibility of solving a lot of problems for her father. “Yes, I’ll go with you to dinner.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up around seven. Will your father let me set foot on the place?”
“Yes, if I want you to.”
“So I don’t have to wear my gun?”
“Don’t you dare be packing!” she gasped.
“Sorry. I couldn’t keep from teasing you,” he said, touching her cheek while his dark eyes twinkled. “I’ll be there in my best suit at seven, and we’ll go to San Antonio so we won’t see anyone we know. That suits me fine, too.”
“Have you ever not gotten your way?”
“Yes,” he replied. She heard the harsh note in his voice while his expression became solemn.
“Well, what happened? That must have been a dilly.”
“When my wife got pneumonia and died. When my folks died.”
“Your wife and your parents?” She could hear the pain in his voice. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“Yeah. See you at seven at your house.” He turned away and in long strides went around his pickup.
“Gabe,” she said, hurrying after him, too aware of using his first name. “Let me tell Julian goodbye.” She moved past Gabe, going to the back of the pickup.
“Wow, you have a lot of cars,” she said, leaning over the side of the pickup. “Which one is your favorite?”
Julian held up a blue one. As she talked to him about his cars, she felt Gabe standing nearby, watching and listening to her. After a few minutes, she smiled at Julian.
“I have to go now, Julian. It was nice to meet you.”
“Thank you. It was nice to meet you,” he said politely and she turned to look at Gabe.
“You’ve taught him well,” she told him.
“I try. See you tomorrow night.”
“Who takes care of Julian?”
“I have a nanny,” he replied.
She nodded and walked away, hearing him talk to his son. When she climbed into her pickup, Julian was buckled in again and Gabe had started the engine. Making a sweeping turn, he drove away while she watched. She was still surprised—tomorrow night she had a dinner date with Gabe Brant.
The man ran roughshod over all her arguments. Marry him—it would be like getting a dictator in her life. They were strangers and already he was getting his way. And his flirting struck nerves. There was a chemistry between them. She was surprised he felt it, but she had felt it around him all her life.
She threw up her hands. She had to tell Mrs. Farrin, which would be bad, but telling her father about her dinner date would be much worse.
That night as they ate thick steaks, Ashley set down her fork and braced for a storm. “Dad, I’m going out tomorrow night with Gabe Brant.”
“Dammit, Ashley,” Quinn snapped, dropping his fork and frowning. “Why? You can’t consider a sham marriage or any kind of marriage to that man.”
“I think I should hear his arguments,” she said quietly, torn between agreeing with her father and trying to do what was best for everyone.
“You’re a grown woman now and a smart one, but you shouldn’t be going out with a Brant.”
“It’s just a dinner date.”
“I’ve heard talk from Gus and the men. He lost his wife last year and he lost both his parents the year before that. Now all he has on his mind is expanding his ranch—with our land!”
“What happened to his parents?” Ashley asked, curious, yet wanting to avoid asking Gabe.
“Old