Men to Trust: Boss Man / The Last Good Man in Texas / Lonetree Ranchers: Brant. Diana Palmer

telescope.”

      He leaned forward. “I have a twelve-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain.”

      That was an expensive composite telescope, part refractor and part reflector. She’d dreamed of owning something so large and efficient. She gasped. “You do?”

      He laughed. “I spend a lot of time outside at night. Since I live so far out of town, I don’t have problems with light pollution.”

      “I’ll bet you can see the craters on the moon,” she sighed.

      “I can see inside them,” he corrected.

      She whistled softly. “I’d love to look through it.”

      “We can arrange that. Think you could get used to two warlike Siamese cats?”

      “I like Mee and Yow,” she replied, curious.

      He stared down at his plate. “I’ve been giving a lot of thought to our situation,” he said finally. “Since you left and went to work for Wright, my priorities have changed. I’m not as happy being alone as I used to be.”

      She put down her fork and sat just staring at him. Her heart was beating her to death. Could he mean…?

      He lifted his eyes to hers. “I said that I wasn’t a marrying man. And at the time, I believed it. But I like having you around.” His gaze fell to her mouth and his eyes darkened. “In fact, I’d like having you around more than just at work.”

      “I don’t understand,” she faltered.

      He reached for her hand and curled her fingers into his. He looked into her blue eyes and felt as if he were drowning. “I think we might get engaged,” he said, trying to find the right words and failing miserably.

      “You and me?” she exclaimed.

      “You and me,” he agreed. He slid his fingers over hers. “Violet, we have a lot in common. I think we’ll find a lot more as we go along.” His voice lowered. “And physically, there’s no question of compatibility.”

      She flushed softly. “But, you said you didn’t ever want to get married, and that you’d never want children…”

      “A man says a lot of stupid things when he’s trying to hold on to a comfortable routine, Violet,” he replied. “I’m a loner. It’s been hard for me to even think about changing my life, in any way.”

      “You don’t love me, though,” she blurted out.

      He couldn’t pretend to. It would look like a lie. Violet was perceptive. His fingers curled around hers. “Friendship and affection can lead to it,” he said gently. “I can’t give you any guarantees about happily ever after. But I can promise you affection and companionship and respect. The rest will fall into place. I know it will. Give it a chance. Say yes.”