Montana Cowboy. Jillian Hart

      As he looked down at her slender fingers against the white cuff of his shirtsleeve, his heart tripped.

      “Kip never actually loved me. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, it was more that I was a necessary step to what he wanted his life to be,” she explained. “As my husband, his future at the company would be secure.”

      “Ouch.” He winced, understanding. She’d loved the man and wanted his love in return. He’d been in a similar situation.

      “After the wedding planner, we had a heart-to-heart. Kip didn’t have time to talk, so we argued and in his anger the truth spilled out. I was stunned.”

      “Did you break off the engagement right away?”

      “Yes, but my family pressured me to reconsider. Everyone loved him. He fit in so well. My sisters and mom kept saying it was just wedding jitters, that what I was feeling was perfectly normal. After the wedding I would be a happy bride. Not to worry.”

      “I’m glad you didn’t give in.”

      “Me, too. I didn’t want to marry a man who loved success more than he would love me. My family was devastated with my decision.”

      “They love you. They must want what’s best for you.”

      “They were convinced Kip was it. That’s the hard part.” She stirred her fork around in the remains of her potato salad, and he could feel how hard it had been for her.

      “It must have taken a lot of courage to stand up for what you wanted with all that well-meaning pressure.”

      “I don’t know about courage, but it wasn’t easy. That’s why I took the job tutoring Jerrod. It got me away from the situation. I could regroup, figure out what I wanted and get my head together.”

      And the pieces of her heart, he figured. He knew how that felt, too. “Is it working?”

      “I’ll let you know.” She smiled, nothing could be prettier. His pulse fluttered, because he’d never seen a more beautiful woman. Her expressive blue eyes just blew him away.

      “Hey, you two!” Colbie trotted over, changed into a T-shirt, athletic shorts and tennis shoes. “Let the game begin. Girls against guys.”

      “No way.” He dropped his fork on his plate. “We talked about this, remember? Honor’s on my team.”

      “Not anymore. As the entertainment director of this reception, I have unilaterally changed my mind. Sorry, buddy.” Colbie winked at him. “This is for Honor’s own good.”

      “My own good?” Honor sounded surprised as she took a last sip of punch. “Is Luke a terrible player?”

      “No, but we’re better. This way you’ll be on the winning team, and we’ll get to know you better.” Colbie gave a wink and bounded off to drum up more players for the match.

      “This is already spiraling out of control.” Luke shook his head. “That’s what happens when a woman takes over.”

      “I’m sure if your sister heard that and believed you meant it, she wouldn’t take that well.” Honor hopped up from the bench, reached over to steal his plate and stacked hers on top. “I’ll take these in. I need to change. I don’t want to play in my dress.”

      Before he could answer, she breezed away. Brandi caught up to her, asking her about who designed her dress, some fancy name he’d never heard before, and the pair tapped off in the direction of the house, leaving him behind like he was yesterday’s laundry.

      Well, at least he knew where he stood. He shook his head, pushed off the bench and dodged his cousin’s son, dashing off to play with the other little kids in the sprinkler. Around him rang the happiness of his family, who were still seated and relaxed, talking merrily.

      “She’s nice.” Colbie returned to sidle up to him. “Are you mad about the team thing?”

      “Not mad, but something tells me you guessed she was a ringer.”

      “Bingo. I see that look in your eye. You care for her.” Colbie patted him on the arm.

      “And here I hoped it didn’t show.”

      “You have two choices. You can try harder to hide it or you could let her know.”

      “She doesn’t feel the same way I do.”

      “Yet.” Love gentled her words. Colbie was a great sister, always looking out for him. “Maybe she’ll change her mind.”

      “No, and it’s just as well. She’s leaving for home in a few weeks.” He caught a glimpse of her through the open French doors, where she stood in the kitchen stacking the plates on the counter and chatting with Uncle John.

      Honor was a city girl and not the farm girl he was looking for. Not the kind of woman who would fit into his life on the ranch. His chest ached with disappointment, but he’d known that about her all along.

      It was his heart giving him troubles, because his head knew for absolute certain she was not the woman for him.

      “You’d better go change.” Colbie’s sympathy gentled her words. “And don’t be sad. The right woman is out there. I know it. You deserve the very best.”

      “So do you.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

      * * *

      “I don’t believe it! You don’t like Montana?” Bree spiked the ball, sending it flying over the net. The other team members jockeyed into position as the blur that was the ball soared straight up in the air.

      “It’s not that I don’t like Montana, it’s that I don’t get Montana,” Honor explained as she punched the ball and it arced over the net.

      “What’s not to get?” Kelly, Luke’s cousin, asked as her husband, Mitch, volleyed the ball back to Honor’s side.

      “Where’s the beach?” She rocked up on her heels, watching as Colbie dove for the save. “Where’s the ocean? Where’s the mall?”

      “No ocean or beach, but we’ve got a mall,” Colbie quipped as she sent the ball up into the air.

      “Two hours’ drive away from the Lamberts’. Four round trip.” She moved in to smack the ball with her fist, sending it flying straight at Luke. He was simply where her gaze went. Where she naturally aimed the ball. This wasn’t the first time.

      He knocked it back, his violet-blue gaze so intense it was all she could see. She tripped over her own feet and wham! Down she went. When she hit the ground shock ricocheted along her bones as her knee rammed into the earth. The ball thudded next to her.

      “Are you okay?” Colbie towered over her, grabbed the ball. “You went down so fast, I couldn’t do anything.”

      “It won’t be the first time I’ve tripped over my feet.” She sat up and a shadow tumbled over her. A tall, broad-shouldered shadow. Her breathing hitched when she squinted up at Luke, who offered his hand.

      “Let’s get you up and see the damage.” His fingers wrapped around hers. “You weren’t kidding about being a klutz. I didn’t believe you.”

      “I can be a hazard to myself.” She found herself rising through the air and on her feet, breathless from the ascent. Maybe, just maybe, she had to admit, it may have something to do with the man. His callused palm, his touch, the snap of feeling that went way too deep.

      “You’re bleeding.” Luke released her.

      The zing faded predictably. When he knelt down to inspect her knee she had to face facts. She could no longer blame her reaction to him on low blood sugar. Didn’t that spell trouble?

      “Doesn’t look too bad. Mostly just grass burn. You’ve scraped a few layers off.” Luke gazed up at her, his head tilted back, exposing the whirl of a cowlick at his crown. “What