Chapter Four

S he got back two days later, her luggage surprisingly light compared to what she owned. What would she need from the city to live in Deer Creek for a month, though? All but her Henley Apparel outfits weren't appropriate, save for two she tucked in her suitcase for the Cattleman's fair. Then there were her beauty regimen items—hair straighteners, makeup for every occasion, and even fake lashes for nights out on the town. Yeah, those could stay.

In the end, all she brought was one suitcase, her old Nikon she'd fiddled with through college, and her riding gear. Instead of feeling like she was leaving her life behind, she felt… light. Unencumbered. Maybe this would be a good break if she let it.

Maggie was curled up sleeping on a comfy love seat across the way, Lily's dog bed empty beside her. Jill slipped her camera out of her bag, dialed in the zoom until Maggie's relaxed smile was in the frame, and clicked the shutter. She'd check in with Maggie later; in the meantime, Lily could find her while she unpacked since there wasn't a fence between the properties. Her friend had kindly offered to watch Lily while Jill packed what she needed and talked to her folks.

Oof. The latter had been a mess.

"I told you this was a bad idea," her dad said the second Jill filled them in on Maggie's health and the welfare of the company.

And it had gone downhill from there. Her dad remained stoic with arms crossed over his chest at brunch—a meal she'd been looking forward to but was already disappointed in since the food wasn't as good at what she'd had at Mae's, but for which cost more than double. Then her mom had cried when she got into her car to leave despite promises to be back when she was able, though admittedly, she wasn't sure when that would be with the CAF coming up.

Jill felt pulled in two directions between her parents' and Maggie's needs.

She inhaled deeply, creosote and woodfire smoke tickling her nose. She shivered as a breeze rolled over her skin and danced away from her into the birch branches above, the sound like a crumpling of newspaper, both familiar and new at the same time. It'd never occurred to her to live outside the city where life carried promise on its own bustling stream of commerce and traffic, but this was nice. Peaceful.

Hmm. She appreciated the way the country showed the season changes through all five of a human's senses, rather than just observing the chic outfit changes that bookmarked them in the city. With regulated heating and cooling in her apartment, she barely noticed the temperature changes outside the walk to her car in the parking garage.

If anyone asked, she'd deny it, but she didn't hate being back in Deer Creek as much as she'd anticipated. The country left a few things to be desired—good restaurants and shopping to name a couple—but it did solitude well.

Two swallows fought above her, screeching and singing in equal measure. So much for solitude. Jill smiled watching them dive and dip in the warm air currents Texas gifted them each fall. The creek bubbled over rocks that hadn't seen water pass over them in the past decade. Hopefully, it boded well that the drought was behind them. She wasn't a rancher, but her work depended on caring for those who'd been called by that trade, and their success meant hers as well.

Jill still had a few minutes before she and Jax were supposed to deliver the machinery from the warehouse to the Deer Creek residents who'd ordered Steel Born tractors and combines and such. They also had to work out how to ship off the old equipment for recycling, a newer part of their service to keep ranching sustainable in a time when resources were finite. When that was all done, they'd work out how to do the same for the MBE order. All that, and squeeze in time for her own, private goal—to find something else, something sustainable that she and Maggie could do to ensure they never had to worry about their company's solvency again.

You have time. You'll think of something.

She had time, yes, but more scheduled time with Jackson Marshall than she was comfortable with, too.

Sure, he'd proven to be more than the wild child she'd anticipated, but he was still too much of a flight risk to get comfortable with. And the one solitary thought that had plagued her all the way to San Antonio and back was his promise that when they kissed next, it would be intentional.

Maybe that would be fine. Her time in Deer Creek had an expiration date, as did Jax's, so if what they felt brewing was inevitable, why not give in with no strings attached?

A shout in the distance broke through her thoughts, and her smile evaporated.

So much for a peaceful morning. The shouts kept up, ricocheting off the canyon walls in a cacophony of chaos and her frown deepened. The swallows took off in search of safer air space, not that she blamed them.

"What the heck," she muttered, stalking off in the direction of the Marshall Ranch.

What she saw as she rounded the dirt road that bordered the two neighboring ranches spiked the hair on her arms.

A gasp escaped her throat. Jax was in the arena they used to break horses sitting atop a pissed-off mare. Breaking a mare was part of ranching sure, but the Marshalls had people for that.

Except he wasn't in his ranching uniform—chambray and well-worn jeans. No, he was in full rodeo getup she recognized.

Henley gear. Of course. It was from the old professional line, which begged the question of where he'd gotten ahold of it since it went for thousands of dollars among purists.

Was he sponsored by them at one point? She shivered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Jax rode bareback, whooping and hollering as the mare bucked and tried for all its might to toss him off. Panic trickled through Jill's veins, freezing them one by one. The scene was all too familiar. Her fear was the same as it had always been. One slip and it could end Jax's career—or life.

Only his face, painted with concentration and exhilaration, was different. It actually looked… it looked like he was enjoying himself. Her blouse felt tight around her neck. She slid her fingers between the fabric and her skin, surprised to find the latter clammy and warm.

"Please get off that horse, Liam," she whispered to herself. "I mean, Jax . Please get off that horse, Jax." Why did anyone ride horses like this? The danger wasn't a secret. Her ex was permanently wheelchair bound because he couldn't say no to the thrill.

Why do you care how he spends his time?

She didn't, not really. Yet, her breaths were shallow and sporadic, arguing otherwise.

"Get down from there right now!" she shouted, the terror rising in her chest.

Jax glanced over and smiled, his white teeth in stark comparison to his dirt-smudged cheeks. For a split second, she was knocked breathless by how handsome the man was. Reckless, yes. But handsome all the same.

However, at the same time, his concentration broke, and he tumbled off the horse, landing with an ear-splitting thud in the dirt. She sprinted over to him, ducking between the fence slats, worry and alarm urging her forward.

The mare, content now that the body trying to subdue her was gone, meandered over to the side of the corral and nibbled on dry grass.

"Jax!" Jill yelled. His eyes were shut, and his body splayed. She knew better than to move him, but she brushed the long blond waves from his forehead. "Jax, talk to me. Are you okay?"

His eyes shot open at the same time a smile erupted on his face.

"That was fantastic . I almost had her, till you came in and threw me off my game. Always knew it would be a woman that did me in."

"Wha— you're okay ?" She exhaled a breath that had been trapped by dread in her lungs.

"Of course, I am, Henley. It's not my first rodeo." He had the audacity to wink, like any of this was the least bit funny.

She slapped him on the shoulder and stood, brushing the dust off her barely worn jeans.

"Ouch," he whined. "Be careful—I just fell five feet off a half-ton beast." His smile stayed glued in place.

"You could've been hurt or worse. Besides, we're supposed to be meeting"—she glanced at her watch—"five minutes ago. Where the hell is the responsible partner I was promised?"

Jax opened his mouth as if he wanted to refute her perfectly earned ire, but a voice behind them silenced them both.

"She's right," Bennett said, hopping over the wood fence of the corral. His deep voice commanded respect. Jill was pleased to see Jax's smile replaced with a contrite frown. "This isn't your job, and in fact, I explicitly told you to leave the mare for Manny. Like it or not, you're management and for Maggie's company for now. That means showing up to meetings on time, being the responsible face of both companies, and leaving others' jobs for them to do."

To Jill, Jax said, "I didn't know you were back yet." His eyes looked sad, but she couldn't say why. In his defense, she hadn't alerted him to her return, but they'd agreed on a time, and she'd stuck to it. Jax turned his attention back to his brother. "I do all that day in and day out, Bennett. You know I'm good for it. But that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun."

"A little fun ?" Bennett asked. His tone turned to ice. "You're fine to do that on your own time, but not when I'm paying you to help Maggie and me during what is a challenging time at best."

Jax's gaze softened, and his shoulders sagged.

"Maggie's sick, Jax. I know you're fed up with management, but can you wait to throw your temper tantrums till she's out of the woods?"

An awkward veil fell over Jill as tension filled the open-air arena. This was between the brothers. She should let them talk out whatever bigger issue was behind Jax's sudden death wish.

She moved toward the edge of the corral, the mare barely offering her a sideways glance. Just before she could duck back out, a hand landed on her shoulder.

Warmth spread from the point of contact, eradicating the cold she'd felt since seeing Jax on the back of that horse.

"Hey," he said, turning her around to face him. His voice did the same as his touch, helping erase any hint of chill. "I'm sorry about that. I was waiting till I heard you were back."

"It wasn't about the time, Jax. That horse was dangerous, and you acted—you always act—like you don't have a care in the world."

His chin dipped along with his gaze. She didn't know how he always acted, but she couldn't help the emotions flooding her bloodstream, making it hard to breathe.

"I know. And I'm trying to figure out why. It's not like I want to piss off the people I love, but I can't sit by and watch my life pass me by, either."

She settled her hands on her hips. She couldn't believe she'd ever considered having an affair with the same type of man she'd sworn off years ago. Nothing had changed since then.

"Watching it from a wheelchair would be better?"

Confusion swirled in Jax's eyes until they widened. "Is this about Liam? Was he hurt while you two were together?"

Jill shook her head, and only when she tried to turn away so Jax couldn't see the ache that came as heat and pressure behind her eyes did she realize his hand still rested on her shoulder.

"No. I didn't wait around for that to happen. I asked him more than once to let it go before he got hurt, but my opinion didn't matter."

I didn't matter.

"I'm sorry about that. I guess I can see it from both sides. He was the best in the game—"

"Until he wasn't," Jill said, cutting him off.

Jax nodded, glancing back at the arena.

"Yeah. But he got to see out his potential. He might not've had the outcome he was hoping for, but he played the game his way until he couldn't anymore. There's honor in that, I think."

Jill snorted. "Yeah, honor in chasing a selfish dream that almost killed him."

"I dunno. It was a risk that didn't pay off, but at least he tried, right? I mean, I quit just as I was getting close. It's the what-ifs that keep me up at night, and are probably why I do dumb stuff like try to break a mare in without doing that the past five years."

"Maybe. But you quit to help your family. I'd say there's more honor in that."

"There's more than one way to be there for those you love, Jill."

Guilt rose up, hot and necrotic in her throat. "I know that."

Jax let go of her shoulder, and though his words were riling her up, she missed his skin on hers. Not remotely convenient, but she wasn't in the habit of lying to herself.

"Then you understand that what Liam did, what I wish I'd done, is the same as you leaving your family's business to pursue a life that fulfills you?"

The mare neighed in the distance, breaking the silence as Jill let those words settle on her shoulders where Jax's hand had just been.

"I don't think they're the same at all. I'm working to make a name for myself—"

"Like Liam was." Jax pulled a play from her book and interrupted her.

"But my dream won't put me in the hospital. My dream doesn't hurt anyone who loves me."

"Maybe not in the same way. But you don't think your family hurts, knowing their legacy wasn't good enough for you?"

"They want me to be happy, that's all." Which wasn't entirely true, but she couldn't go there, not when the wound of their disappointment was so fresh.

Jax took a step closer to her. Only then did Jill realize the pine slats of the corral fencing trapped her from escaping. This close, she could smell the hint of sweat mixed with hay and something floral on Jax. It wasn't altogether unpleasant, but it still snaked its way into her senses. She swallowed back an unwelcome wave of desire.

"Are you?" he asked. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and he continued. "Happy? And not just with your job, but the rest of your life, too?"

She nodded, but the rest of her limbs froze as she recalled the texts from her mom that morning.

" Hey, hon. Sorry about your dad. All he wants is for you to be happy and working yourself to the grave to separate yourself from your birthright and name—his name—isn't what he envisioned. But he'll come around. And promise me you'll take time for yourself, too. Life isn't always work, you know. "

Even now, she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Life was her work right now—it had to be if she wanted to succeed. There'd be time for the rest of it later.

"I am. I love my work, and I'm damn good at what I do." But what did she have without it? Photography? Maybe. But she hadn't so much as dusted off her camera bag in ten years until that morning.

Jax took another half-step closer to her.

"But what about when you aren't working? What do you do to have a little fun?"

Fun? Fun was spreadsheets and balancing inputs and outputs and profit and earnings statements… But she couldn't tell him that. Namely because it wasn't fun so much as fulfilling.

Fun was a four-letter word that stood between her and the life she wanted.

"Pop quiz," he said. "True or false. You like me and think we could have a good time together if you let loose a little."

Truth! Weren't we just saying that? her subconscious spat. Jill silenced it before it could finish. That line of thinking—that they could have fun together—was before she was reminded who he was. A rodeo man.

She frowned and pulled a sharp intake of breath. She made the mistake of inhaling his scent, and it sent a shiver rolling across her skin.

Come on , her lonely libido tried. We could definitely have a good time with him.

Um, no. He's too dangerous , her heart countered.

Shut up , she told them both. Jax might be a perfectly fine specimen of a human male, one that could be a good time in bed, but everything else about him was a constant reminder of Liam and his brand of reckless hedonism. She'd made that mistake once, trying to convince someone she was worth building a life with—a safe life where no one was in danger.

That rejection still stung.

"That's none of your business. Especially when you don't know the difference between a good time and what needs to be done to take care of your own family."

Jill regretted the words as soon as they left her lips. Hurt flashed in Jax's wide eyes, and he put distance between them.

"Sorry, I—"

"No. You're right. I might not have a significant other or kids to worry about, but my family's counting on me." Resignation dripped from the words he uttered in a low, deep tone. "Let me take a quick shower, and I'll meet you at your place. Fifteen minutes okay?"

"Wait," she called out. She winced when his smile kicked up in one corner. "Um, have you seen Lily? My dog?"

His smile fell. "Nope. Not since yesterday."

Jill nodded and Jax easily climbed the corral fence and jogged off toward the main ranch house. Would her heart ever be able to let her past go? If not, she ran the risk of alienating everyone in her life, even cowboys with tough skins who rubbed her the wrong way.

That last part wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, except this particular cowboy had gotten under her skin and made her question if she had been going about this whole life-and-dream-chasing thing all wrong?

*

Jax growled at the text from Bennett. First, the meeting with Jill—a woman bent on putting him in his place—and now this? His week was turning to a shit sandwich in less time than a cowboy took to be bucked off a bull.

" I put out the ad for help at the ranch today in all the regular places. Added your number. Can you spread the word to Manny and the guys we need some help with the day-to-day chores? I can do the paperwork from home, but the rest is falling behind. Bunkhouse space is available too. Thx. "

It wasn't so much the text itself, but the stuff it didn't say. You aren't the one who should be doing the work. You're above it as manager. Had Bennett asked him to do that, to pick up the slack, instead of working to help a business he knew nothing about, that would have been perfect. Hell, it might've changed his mind about leaving at all. But even before he'd signed on to be Steel Born's second half Bennett had steered Jax away from the things he loved most.

It was a kick in the nuts that Bennett had advertised the one damn role Jax would be happy with on the ranch instead of asking for someone good with numbers to come on in his place after Maggie was back at work.

Jax asked about that, and Bennett's response was quick and brutal.

" Can't have Marshall Brothers without the "brothers" part, huh? Lemme know what Manny says. "

Jax kicked the dirt outside the barn and uttered a few choice words his mom wouldn't have tolerated. It wasn't like he didn't appreciate his brother's stance on this particular issue. It was his dream that the two of them had made a reality. But wasn't a decade of support enough? When would it be Jax's turn to chase down and rope his own future by the horns?

His phone rang, and he frowned before he looked at the lock screen. If Bennett didn't let this go, Jax was gonna give him a piece of his mind… He swiped open the call, ready to wrestle, but he never got the chance.

"Hello, Woody."

His frown dissipated at the familiar voice; one he didn't want to strangle with a lead rope. He could do without the childish nickname, but it'd stuck since he was a toddler and carried around a Woody doll from Toy Story everywhere he went.

"Speak of the devil in an apron. Long time no chat, Mom. How's Dallas?" His mom and Mae ran a bakery catering business for local events but had just recently decided to expand their options to outside Deer Creek. She'd been at a conference for female entrepreneurs the past week, and he had to say, his life was decidedly quieter without her meddling.

"I'm home, thank God. You know I was the oldest woman there by two decades? I feel like the crypt keeper in an apron, actually."

He laughed. "I've never thought of you as old, Mom. Wise, yes. But old, never. Until I can out-energy you, I don't think I'll dare, thank you very much."

"That's why you're my favorite youngest son."

Jax smiled and traced an outline of a rodeo cowboy in the dust built up on the side of the barn.

"Well, welcome home. Am I right in assuming this call is inviting me to the family dinner at your house?" Usually, the guys and Maggie met up with Mom three nights a week for a catch-up over dinner, but between the uptick in gigs for his mom's company and the conference, it'd been two weeks since they'd all gotten together.

That was fine by him. He wasn't in the mood to be the level of civil to Bennett that his mom would demand, but he missed her. He could be on his best behavior for a night, couldn't he?

"You know me too well. Maggie and Bennett will be here, obviously, but I heard she has a friend in town."

Jax swallowed, but his throat dried up like he'd licked the dust off the barn siding. He'd managed to keep the woman off his mind for—he looked at his watch—two hours now. Almost a record since she'd arrived.

"Uh, Jill, yeah. Why?"

"Because if she's a friend of Maggie's, she's a friend of ours."

Jax paused, waiting for the anvil to drop on his chest, putting him out of his misery.

"Or did I get that wrong?"

He winced. "No, you're right. She's Maggie's right-hand woman and is here helping Maggie do the hands-on Steel Born stuff. I've actually been reassigned to partner with her until the CAF at the end of the month."

Why— why —did he add that last detail? He could practically hear his mom smile on the other end, her hooks ready to slice into the opening he'd left her to meddle.

"Is that right? Well, then, you have to invite her. I'd love to hear how the partnership is going."

"Don't you think this dinner ought to be about you, Mom? I mean, you're expanding your business and it's pretty impressive. You can get to know Jill over coffee at Mae's sometime."

There was a fraction of a pause. He'd protested too much, hadn't he? Dammit.

"Phooey. I told you all you boys needed to know—I felt old, I learned a lot, and I think I'll hate myself in a month for taking this on, but bygones and all that. Invite Jill and I'll see you at six thirty."

"Why don't you invite her? It'll mean more coming from you."

And he wouldn't have to face Jill's not-good-enough-to-know-her sneer she always managed when he was around. It was one thing coming from his brother, but from a woman like Jill, someone he wouldn't mind hanging his hat up for a while for, the rejection was a knife twist.

But she'd made it plenty obvious a relationship was off the table.

"Jackson Howard." That was it. Just his middle name thrown into the arena.

And speaking of arenas, he'd have to spar in one with Jill and Bennett through dinner. His luck knew no bounds.

"Alright, see you at six thirty, Mom."

But she'd already hung up, leaving her expectation behind as an unwanted gift.

"Yeah, love you, too, Mom," he grumbled. Sassy, his name for the new mare, bucked and snorted her response. "I couldn't agree more, Sassy. But it looks like we don't have a choice."

He scrolled through his contacts until he found Jill's number, complete with the purple devil emoji beside her name.

It took only half a second to decide to text her rather than hit CALL .

" Good morning ," he typed. Was it, though? " My mom, the illustrious Queen of Deer Creek would like you to join her majesty— "

Seriously? This was dumb. He held his finger on the delete button until the screen was empty.

" Hey, Jill. My mom, Mrs. Marshall, is home and wants to know if you'd like to join us— "

Us? He wanted no part of this. He erased the message again, the purple devil emoji taunting him. She's just a colleague. I can do dinner with a colleague. Two, if I count Bennett as my boss.

He groaned. Thinking of Jill as a work buddy was harder than he thought. Mostly because thinking of her at all just led to thoughts of her lips brushing against his at the restaurant. They'd barely grazed his before he'd put a stop to it, but it was still the hottest thing he'd ever experienced.

Damn his sense of honor that put the brakes on her advances because they'd had a couple of drinks.

Before he could argue his conscience, he hit CALL on the phone.

"Hello?" she answered.

He gritted his teeth. The joy in her voice could only mean she hadn't glanced down at the caller ID.

"Hey, it's Jax."

"Oh, hey. What's up?" And there was the terse response he was expecting.

"Um, my mom just got back to town, and she and Bennett and Maggie and I have these family dinners a few times a week."

Silence filled the space. Was there something he missed? Sassy gave him a long glance.

"How nice for you all. I hope you have a good time."

Oh, damn. "I mean, we'd love for you to join us. Since you're here with Maggie and stuff. Or on behalf of her."

Had he never talked to a woman before? He couldn't be sure with the utter asinine job he was doing with this one.

"You would, would you?"

"Well, my mom would." Jesus. Shut up already.

"Then tell your mom I'd love to be there. What time and what can I bring?"

Jax dragged the toe of his boot in the dirt, wishing the world would swallow him whole.

"Six thirty, and wine would be nice. My mom likes pinot noir."

"Sounds good. See your mom then. Thank her for the invite, please." Her smile came through loud and clear. If she were standing here, no doubt she'd be doubled over, cackling at his ineptitude.

The line went dead, and he stared out over the ranch. What brain malfunction had just occurred? It wasn't like he wasn't good with women. On the contrary, he kinda prided himself in knowing enough about them to give them what they wanted when it suited them both. He was up-front, careful to explain what he was and wasn't looking for, and clear about his intentions.

But what he'd just done? Yeah, that was a train wreck that hadn't left any survivors.

Grabbing a couple of apples, he went to check in on Sassy. She'd thrown him into the dirt and was still the closest thing to a female who didn't want to strangle him.

Better get that in his system before this evening when Maggie, his mom, and Jill were all in the same place. Bennett was usually the only one in his corner, but they'd been at odds lately, too.

Then tell him. Tell him your plans.

No. Not yet. Not until he saw what happened to the two companies at the CAF.

"Well, Sassy. If you have any tips for me not to get my ass kicked tonight, I'd appreciate them." He fed her an apple, then she promptly turned to show him her backside. "Figures."

That evening, he strode through the door of his mom's place at six twenty-five. He wanted the home-court advantage to be in his favor—it was likely the only tactic he had. Right off the bat, he was hit with the aroma of seared steak, garlic, and grilled onions. His stomach growled its approval, and he went in search of the source.

He located the fajitas making his mouth water, but also found his mom, Maggie, and Jill on the back patio, a glass in each of their hands. If he had to guess, it was wine for his mom and Jill, and from the looks of it, pink lemonade for Maggie, who'd been cleared to family dinners as long as she was back in bed right after.

"What happened to dinner at six thirty?" he asked, striding through the new full-height glass door.

"The more pressing question is what happened to your manners," his mom said. She stood to hug him, and he had to admit, it was nice having her back in Deer Creek. Ever since his dad passed, he worried about his mom traveling alone, working herself to death trying to make herself into something other than a widow, or worse, giving into age and letting the rest of her years pass her by.

And yet, despite the full-time worry, Grace Marshall was doing anything but. She was young at heart, successful without her sons' income in consideration, and traveled with the easy confidence of a woman who knew her place in the world.

He was profoundly jealous of her for that, even though it was earned and shaped from loss and heartache.

"We have a guest," she continued.

He nodded. Yeah, that was part of the problem.

His initial scowl gave way to a pressing heat in his chest as Jill stood and held out her hand. He only noticed it out of focus in his peripheral vision because—

Holy shit. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Light red curls framed her face, which was usually masked by heavy makeup more suitable in the city. But now? Just a touch of mascara graced her eyelashes and, otherwise, she looked fresh-faced and stunning. A hint of pink gifted from the sun colored her cheeks. But that was just the start.

He'd seen her in a suit or some fancy version of slacks and a top she'd be happier wearing in the city. Jeans that afternoon. But tonight, she wore a thin-strapped sundress that hugged her curves until her hips—hips he'd dreamed about, he wasn't ashamed to admit—where it flowed around her legs until just above her knees.

He gulped nothing but dry, spring air, and words seemed to escape him again.

Christ, he'd been dreading this dinner for all the wrong reasons, hadn't he?

*

Jill sat on her hands since she couldn't seem to reach for anything on the table without brushing Jax's hand and then shooting her hand back like it'd been electrocuted. And it kinda was. Sparks of awareness pulsed between the two, and all Jill could hope was that Grace Marshall couldn't see the awkwardness it caused between her and Jax.

Did he feel it, too? He must, the way he looked like she'd scalded him with burning water.

Aside from the terror etched on his face, he looked as handsome as ever in a black button-down shirt rolled up to mid-forearm. His jeans were clean but worn-in, looking both comfortable and deliciously sexy. She tried not to down her wine too quickly to satisfy the way her mouth had gone suddenly dry.

If she had her camera, she'd want to discreetly snap a photo of the man, but what would she do with it?

"Did you ever find your dog?" Jax asked.

She shook her head. "Little minx is hard to pin down these days."

Lily had come by earlier, but unbeknownst to Jill, must have snuck off again. Where was her very pregnant dog going? She'd been on and off missing since Jill got back.

"I do love that every time I talk about you two together, it's like retelling Jax's favorite nursery rhyme," Grace said.

Bennett cackled into his frosty beer glass, and Maggie playfully whacked him on the shoulder.

"Who do you talk to about us?" Jax asked at the same time Jill asked, "You mean Jack and Jill?"

Grace nodded at her, ignoring her son, who scowled. Whether it was because his mother blew off his question or because she was teasing him, Jill couldn't guess.

"It was adorable. He'd beg me to read it, then he'd tell me I was reading it wrong, that it was Jax and Jill. What was it you always used to say, hon? ‘ It's my story, Mom. Say it right. ' Maybe he always knew you two would meet." Grace sent a knowing wink that left Jill feeling like she was under an interrogation lamp.

"I was five," he countered, still frowning. "I'm pretty sure I just wanted my own bedtime story."

Grace shrugged. "Anyway, Maggie, tell me about your last doctor's visit. What is Dr. Ahmed looking out for?"

Maggie, Bennett, and Grace sank into their insular group, and though Jill was interested in what her best friend was saying, she could feel Jax's eyes boring a hole through the delicate, yellow fabric of her dress.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

"They like you. She likes you," he said. His gaze was sharper than the steak knives at each setting, his lips in a severe, thin line.

"Your mom?" Jill asked. He nodded.

"She's usually a good judge of character."

"Why do you seem so surprised that someone likes me? I know we haven't exactly gotten off on the right foot, but I'm a good person, Jax," she whispered. She didn't want to raise her voice, but then, why did he always know just what to say to drive her to the brink of madness?

"Sorry. I'm messing this up." He shook his head, clearly frustrated.

With her? Himself? Just this once, she wished he were as transparent as Gander, Bennett's mutt, who always had a smile on his face and was perpetually in search of scraps of food. Come to think of it, Jill hadn't seen him since she'd gotten home, either. Odd.

"I know you're a good person. It's why I'm glad I get to work with you. On paper, you're the worst person for this job."

"Geez. With friends like you," she muttered.

He shook his head again, his smile serious. "No. I'm not teasing you. I like watching your passion while you figure out the deal memos or work out the numbers behind a summer cattle drive and the equipment a two-thousand head of cattle ranch will need when you haven't even set foot on a cattle drive. You're good at this. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

She grabbed her glass, the warm air having caused it to sweat, and downed the contents, hoping the now-melted ice would cool her skin. She was on fire. Jax was a match and his words gasoline. When he smiled, she ignited, and the blaze only intensified the more she interacted with him.

Only he could start off a conversation like he was insulting her only to pay her the nicest compliment anyone ever had.

"Thank you," she mumbled into her wine goblet.

"You bet." And just like that, his full-of-mischief smile came back.

He looked like a young Robert Redford, his eyes and smile holding secrets only a lucky few would ever figure out. A flick of jealousy smacked against her rib cage at whomever Jax included in his lucky few. For a brief moment, she wished it could be her.

"Anyway, talk me through the next drop-off. Let's write off this dinner."

She laughed at his joke and dove into the specifics about the hay baler heading to Steiner, with a matching combine from the same line.

"You thinking this will be a regular thing? Selling to farmers, too?"

"I hope so." The unexpected order had jumpstarted Jill's first plan as acting-CEO. "I want to get a farm line of equipment going by the end of the year."

"Impressive. Will it be enough to stave off the merger?"

"I don't know. I was hoping for something else to come to mind. Something we could do to give back, to set this up so it wasn't just the two of us women, forever. We're doing something cool, but will it end with us?"

On one hand, she was glad to stop thinking about him as a man who'd captured her interest and more as her colleague. On the other, he elicited truths from her she'd never shared with anyone else, not even Maggie. At some point, the conversation about all things pregnancy waned, and Jill could feel their gazes shift to her as she finished her rundown.

"Wow. I hadn't thought of that, but you're right," Maggie said.

Jill smiled. "Thanks. It's just something I've been thinking about for a while, but I didn't want to bother you while you were prepping for the wedding, then the honeymoon."

"I appreciate that but talk to me anytime about what's on your mind. I miss shop talk. Well, sort of. I have to admit, hearing you talk about Steel Born makes me feel like I watched the business being built from above it. I was in such a different place then. Heck, I was so different. I didn't even think about giving back or what came next."

"You'll get your spark back. There's plenty of time," Jill assured her.

Maggie simply smiled and rubbed her belly. Bennett joined in, making the most adorable future family photo. Jill's chest ached where her heart sat behind her rib cage.

Jax leaned in close enough that she could smell his aftershave. The ache turned to molten lava.

"Have you considered amortizing anything bigger than the subcompact tractor based on the sustainable business model? It's less conservative than the 390W."

She sat back in her chair, surprised.

Obviously , she wanted to shoot back, but he was just being nice and doing the job Bennett and Maggie gave him; the truth was, though, she didn't need him to run this with her, no matter how his finance brain worked.

But she also needed to learn to settle her raised hackles around him or this was going to be a long month.

"It might be, but it doesn't take into account Deer Creek's local statutes around recycling and preservation of materials."

So there.

"It does, actually. Third page and halfway down?" Jax sipped his tumbler of whiskey, his smile evident around the glass. He was enjoying this.

Okay, gloves are off.

"Since when?" she challenged. "As of November, there was a twenty-percent tax on amortizations under those parameters." She had an urge to trade her white wine for a whiskey of her own, but history showed she couldn't be trusted around Jax with anything that might impair her steadfast resolve not to jump his bones.

"Not anymore. The board voted unanimously last month, and everything is being updated. I'll send you the new specs so we don't lose out."

"Oh," she said, properly chastised. She squared her shoulders and tossed her hair over one shoulder. "I did my research too early, I guess."

He shrugged. "Happens to the best of us."

"You're good at this, too."

"Maybe." He rubbed his thumb along the sweat of his own glass and licked it.

She went cold, like he'd slid the icy skin over her collarbone. Damn her pale, Irish skin for showing off just how freaking attractive she found this man.

"Hey, where's that necklace you had on? The one with Liam's initials on it?" he asked.

She gulped back an emotion she couldn't name. Hearing Liam's name on Jax's lips felt strange and also somehow wrong. But not because of her loyalty to Liam. More because she didn't think of them in the same vein anymore.

Jax was far more thoughtful, family oriented, and steadfast.

"Um, it broke. The chain snapped." She turned her attention to Grace, who stood and gathered the platters from the table.

"Here, let me help." Jill jumped up, thankful for the distraction as they headed into the kitchen. "Thanks again for dinner. That strip steak fajita was the best I've ever had."

"Oh, hon. You're so welcome. Instead of your praise, I'll take your acceptance to come to the next one with another bottle of that pinot. Where did you pick that up? It's divine. Like drinking from the center of the earth."

Jill laughed. "It's from DeLeon Vineyards up north. And I thought the same thing when I sampled it in San Antonio. The winery's actually in Oregon, but the vintner brought a sample batch to—"

"You broke the chain?" Jax asked, dropping a stack of dishes in the ceramic farm sink. "I could look at it, you know. Fix it for you, maybe?"

"Yes, Jackson, she broke her necklace. Now, will you please let the poor woman off the hook?" Grace asked, shooing him out of the kitchen. "Go help your brother clear off the table and do the dishes so I can show Ms. Henley around the ranch houses and property."

Jax's shoulders slumped; his lips twisted into a frown. He left and Grace exhaled, dumping the last of the Spanish rice into a glass Pyrex dish.

"I have to apologize for my youngest. He's usually not so sullen. Or so pesky. I know he and his brother aren't communicating well, but he shouldn't take it out on you."

"Why aren't they getting along? I was under the impression from Maggie that they were close."

Grace's lips pressed tight, and she nodded, putting the last of the glass dishes in the farm-sized fridge. She nodded to the doorway that led to a long hallway with vaulted ceilings. It was magnificent and decorated tastefully, a blend of modern and farmhouse chic. Jill followed.

"This house was the one the boys were born in."

"It's stunning," Jill remarked.

They'd switched topics, but she could be patient. She'd like to know about Bennett and Jax's feud, but not enough to pry. Grace was so kind and giving, the last thing Jill wanted was to get on her bad side by pressing for dirt on her family.

"Not the original floor plan, of course, but when Bennett made his first big deal, he had the home leveled and this beautiful one put up in its place."

"What an amazing gesture."

Grace smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "It was. But it wasn't what I wanted. My memories were tied up in this place, and when he leveled it, he destroyed all the moments I cherished watching the boys grow up in the home. I know their childhoods were hard for them in different ways for each of them. Their father was… tough. And I get Bennett had to do it so he could start fresh. I also know the home I knew wasn't always filled with laughter or calm voices, but I made sure it was filled with love." Her gaze turned wistful, as if she could see her sons young again, chasing each other like Gander chased a hummingbird. "For a long time, I wouldn't set foot in the new house because I couldn't feel it anymore, the life we'd made together."

"Oh, I see."

"I think you do." She walked them to a second-story balcony off the master suite that took Jill's breath away. The reds and browns of the canyon were highlighted by the setting sun and looked like they'd been brushed with Technicolor. The views included the canyon, the creek, and every field north of the set of three homes. Bennett had built her a palace with million-dollar views. He'd do the same for Maggie if she'd let him. But what was he building for Jax? And did Jax want it, or would it be a prison in the shape of a Texas castle?

"This is pretty spectacular, though."

"That's the thing," Grace said. "Bennett has a way of trudging over people's dreams to give them what he thinks they want, and even if there's some resentment—or in Jax's case, a lot of it—eventually, most people end up coming around and realizing the heart that went into Bennett's decisions."

"So Jax just needs to be patient and see where his brother leads him?"

"Maybe. Or maybe Bennett got it wrong this time. His priorities have changed."

"Maggie and the baby?"

Grace nodded, sitting on the refurbished cedar balcony swing, then patted the seat next to her.

"Jax is a free spirit and always has been. He's got a different way of thinking than the rest of us, which is what makes him so special. Bennett wants to bulldoze a path for his little brother, but Jax likes to wander until the right one materializes."

Jill nodded. That was the most accurate assessment of the man she'd heard yet.

"Do you think they'll ever find a way to work together?" she asked. Because she'd seen Jax on the back of that mare the other day. If he could do more of that, maybe he wouldn't leave.

"I don't know," Grace said, her gaze on a hawk overhead scanning the ground for signs of its own dinner. "If Bennett can close his head and listen to his heart and Jax can be brave enough to ask for what he wants, maybe. But he can't get there alone."

Grace met her gaze, and Jill felt a shiver roll down her spine. This is what the prey must feel like under the hunting gaze of the hawk.

She nodded, understanding the unspoken context of Grace's comment.

"I'm glad I get to spend the next month here. It's magical."

"It really is. The city's a vibrant place to be, but it doesn't have this," she said, gesturing to the hawk in a nosedive toward the earth at breakneck speed.

Jill held her breath, only exhaling when the bird pulled out of the dive, a mouse in his beak.

"No, it doesn't. Thanks for not making me fight like that for my dinner," she joked.

"You're welcome here any time, dear. You're Maggie's family, so you're our family. And I'm pretty sure my youngest agrees. Don't you, Jackson?"

Jill swallowed a gasp. She hadn't heard him climb the stairs or come out onto the balcony. "Didn't catch the question, but sure, Mom."

Grace stood and gave her son a quick hug before stretching. "I'm headed into the den to read my latest book club novel. If you hear a loud thump, it's only me tossing the thing into the trash. Where Jenine gets these books is beyond me. Don't get me started on who publishes the drivel. Give me a good romance or mystery, please and thank you."

She kissed Jill's cheek, then closed the door behind her.

"She's amazing," Jill said. Her hands were clasped tightly behind her back, so she didn't close the gap between them, pull Jax down to her, and kiss him into oblivion. "You all are," she whispered.

"It was good you were here," he replied.

"Thanks. It was good to be here." She laughed, unable to help herself.

He seemed to wrestle with that, his lips forming soundless words. They had to be better than what she'd come up with.

He sighed and raked a hand along his cheek. He moved into the doorway, blocking half the exit with his strong, muscular frame. She could still leave, but did she really want to? His hand rested above him on the doorframe, and Jill almost choked on the last sip of her wine.

"Pop quiz," he said.

"I hate those," she murmured. It wasn't entirely true, but it did aggravate her that he knew just what to say to get under her skin. "You're going to help me amortize the inventory tomorrow?"

Anything to pull focus from the ridiculously ripped cowboy looking like a calendar model as he languidly relaxed into the frame.

"True or false?" he asked, ignoring her. "The necklace isn't broken."

She gasped, and her hand flew to her neck. It hadn't felt right to keep wearing Liam's name on her chest when she hadn't loved the man in more than a decade. But she'd never taken it off. Not until the night she tried to kiss Jackson-freaking-Marshall. But how could she tell the free spirit that she wanted him to stay still enough that she could learn the freckles on his cheeks by heart?

"It's late," she said by way of reply after she found her voice again. "I should get home."

He released his hold on the oak doorframe but didn't move. She slid sideways to pass him, their knees touching. All she'd need to do was lean up on her toes and he'd be hers. But neither wanted that. This was just the wine talking. Apparently, she couldn't be trusted with anything but lemonade from now on.

"I'll walk you." He dipped his chin, and his voice grew deep and husky.

Jill swallowed hard. "That's okay," she said, slipping past Jax with minimal contact. "I'll be fine." She walked out, hoping very much that it was true.

Because whatever way that cowboy made her feel, fine wasn't it.