A Rancher's Redemption. Ann Roth

“To no more breakups at the same time.”

      “I’d rather toast to no more breakups, period,” Dani said. “But I know us both too well for that.”

      Neither of them stayed in a relationship for long.

      After setting down his glass, Nick eyed the casserole. “I’m sorry about Jeter, but I gotta say, I sure enjoy your choice of comfort food.”

      Dani laughed. “You always cheer me up.” His sense of humor was one of his many positive qualities. “And I agree, there’s nothing better than mac and cheese with hamburger.” She nodded at the steaming dish. “Help yourself.”

      “After you.” Beaming the sexy smile that made women swoon, Nick nudged the casserole her way.

      He was such a gentleman, which was also sexy. “Have you heard from Mandy since you broke up with her?” she asked when they’d both filled their plates.

      “You want to talk about this now.” He gave her a wary frown. “Are you trying to ruin my appetite?”

      “Is that even possible? It’s just that I remember how Jasmine stalked you with phone calls and texts when your relationship ended.” Jasmine had been Nick’s previous ex.

      “She was unstable. Mandy isn’t like that. We both knew we weren’t going to make it.”

      “Too bad—she was great.” Dani sighed. “What a shame she wasn’t your Ms. Right.”

      Nick almost choked on his wine. “You’re such a fairy-tale romantic. I’ve told you, there is no Ms. Right, not for me.”

      His track record so far certainly proved that. He never went too deep into the reasons why he found his previous girlfriends lacking, but it happened over and over. Dani suspected that his issues stemmed from his mother’s extramarital affair and the subsequent breakup of his parents’ marriage when he was a kid. That and the broken heart he’d suffered in his early twenties.

      In all the years they’d been friends, she’d only seen Nick in love that once. He’d met Ashley in college. They’d dated for nearly a year before they graduated and moved in together. Within months of that, they were talking marriage. Then Ashley’s mom, who lived in Missoula, had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ashley had gone home to take care of her. She was only supposed to stay for a few months, but her relationship with Nick had fallen apart, and she never returned.

      Nick claimed he’d been relieved. Even so, it had taken him ages to get over what had happened. Or maybe he never had, because he hadn’t let a woman into his heart since.

      Whereas Dani fell head over heels several times a year.

      “And I’ve told you that all it takes is the right person,” she said. “You can deny it until you’re hoarse, but I believe that your true love and mine are out there.”

      “I’m not opposed to love, Dani—you know that. I just don’t do it.” With a shrug, he bent his head toward his plate.

      “Sly used to say the same thing, and look at him now. He’s happily married, with a little girl.” Dani’s brother and his wife, Lana, had an adorable two-and-a-half-year-old, the happy result of Lana’s miracle pregnancy.

      “If it can happen to Sly, it could happen to you,” she went on. “And to me—I hope.” She crossed her fingers and held them up.

      Nick failed to comment.

      “Out of all the women in the world, one is perfect for you,” she said. “Someday when you meet her, you’ll see.”

      “Trust me, between the available women in Prosperity and the summer tourists who come through every year, I’m a happy man.”

      “Except before, during and after the breakups.” She bit her lip. “I did everything I could to make Jeter love me as much as I loved him. What’s wrong with me?”

      Nick shook his head. “That’s the wrong question. You should be asking, what’s wrong with Jeter? You’ve got to quit trying to please the guys you date and be yourself. You’re great just as you are.”

      Nick had always been wonderful at boosting her self-esteem. “You’re sweet,” she said.

      “I mean it, Dani. Now, about the guys you date. You say you want to get married and have a family, but you pick guys who don’t. Guys like me.” He shook his head. “Most of them are jerks, too. That’s why you get hurt.”

      “So you and Sly keep pointing out.” Dani fiddled with her napkin. “I guess I’ll take a little break from dating.”

      “That’s probably a wise idea.”

      Except that she hated sitting home alone on a Saturday night. “I’ll make plans to go out with some of my girlfriends instead.” But that posed a problem, because at the moment, most of them were either in a relationship or married. “That is, if I can find someone who’s free to get together on a Saturday night.”

      “I’m available,” Nick said. “You can hang with me.”

      “Until your next girlfriend comes along.”

      “That could be a while.”

      “Ha.” Dani hated being single. Maybe her plan to take a break from dating had been made too hastily. She let out a heavy sigh.

      Nick gave her a measured look. “You’re already wishing you had another guy in the wings, aren’t you? Just do me a favor. The next time you date someone, hold on to your heart until you’re sure he’s worthy enough to give it to.”

      “And just how do I do that?”

      He stroked his strong chin pensively. “It might help if you try going out with a different kind of guy than your usual type. Someone who isn’t a bum.”

      He was right, most of the males Dani dated were pretty much jerks. As she sipped her wine, she thought about why she made such poor choices. There was nothing more attractive than a good-looking man with a spark of wild in his eyes and a devil-may-care attitude. She’d certainly fallen for enough of them.

      And where had that gotten her? Every new relationship started out filled with promise, making her ever hopeful that this time, this boyfriend would love her and treat her right. And although she tried everything to make him happy, from wearing clothes he liked to embracing the activities he enjoyed—even when she didn’t—sooner or later things always soured.

      Nick just might have a point. She sat up straight. “You’re right—I should try dating someone I wouldn’t normally choose. Drumroll please. When I do decide to date again, I’ll pick a man I wouldn’t usually look twice at.”

      Nick frowned. “Define a man you ‘wouldn’t normally choose.’”

      “Well, someone hard-working, with both feet on the ground. And he has to have a good job.” That way, he wouldn’t ask to borrow money from her, as Jeter had. “If he’s impatient about getting physical and refuses to move slowly, he’s out.”

      “Having a regular job doesn’t make a man a decent human being,” Nick said. “At first, guys tend to put their best foot forward. How can you tell the square shooters from the jerks until you get to know them?”

      “Hmm.” Propping her chin on her fist, Dani pondered the question. “Well, I’ll do what you said, and hold my heart in check for a while. And maybe, instead of waiting for the man to ask me out, I’ll do the asking. I’ll start by observing him for a while when he isn’t looking, and I’ll pay attention to how he treats other people. That’ll give me a glimmer of an idea of his character.”

      Nick gave an approving nod. “That’s not a bad plan. It’s definitely worth a try.”

      Dani smiled. “So glad you approve, Mr. Kelly.”

      * * *

      AFTER