The Cowboy's Family Plan. Judy Duarte

for a nap. We’ll see.” Alex shot a glance across the seat at his lovely passenger. “How about you?”

      “I have patients coming in from nine to five, so a nap’s out of the question. But at least I’m not on call today. One of my associates is going to have hospital duty, so I can turn in early this evening and catch up on my sleep.”

      It was becoming clear to Alex that Selena was a good doctor—and that she had a great bedside manner.

      For a moment, his sleep-deprived mind veered far away from hospital beds and gowns and medicinal smells. Instead, he wondered just what kind of bedside attention a man like him might get from a woman like her, what kind of silky sleepwear she might choose, what kind of tempting perfume. But he shook off the inappropriate thoughts and scolded himself for getting so far off base.

      “Mary used to think the world of Dr. Avery,” Alex said. “So I was a little disappointed to learn that he’d retired. I didn’t know him very well, but I’d hoped his replacement was just as good.”

      Selena turned to him, her expression suggesting that she was waiting for his assessment of her.

      He tossed her a smile. “I was impressed with you tonight, Selena. You’re going to make a fine replacement for Doc Avery.”

      A slow smile stretched across her face, lighting her eyes. “Thank you.”

      He returned his gaze to the road, although he wished he could keep his mind on track just as easily. But it was hard to do when he couldn’t help thinking that Selena was an amazing woman. She’d stepped right in to help a laboring woman who wasn’t her patient, when she could have called in paramedics. Then she’d stuck around after the surgery and had lost a night’s sleep to see that Tommy and Kimmie were delivered safely to their grandmother’s house.

      As something warm and tingly spread through the cab of his truck, he reached for a safe topic to tackle. One that wouldn’t have him tripping all over himself to sing her praises.

      “Where did you go to college?” he asked.

      “Baylor University. How about you?” She pointed at the shirt he wore. “Is it safe to assume you’re a Texas A&M alum?”

      “Yes, I am.”

      “So the cowboy hat, jeans and boots you were wearing last Tuesday night was just a prop?” she asked.

      “Not at all. I’m a cowboy through and through.”

      “Oh, yeah?”

      His dad, if he’d still been alive, would have had the same reaction. But then again, his uncle had been more an of influence on Alex.

      “So you grew up on a ranch?” she asked.

      “Actually, I spent the first ten years of my life in Dallas. I never even rode a horse until after I moved to Brighton Valley.”

      “How did you end up there?”

      “When my dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack, my mom sold the house in the city and moved in with her brother. She’d been raised in the country and wanted me to have the same experience.”

      “So the city kid morphed into a rancher?”

      “That’s pretty much how it happened. It didn’t take long either. My mother always said I’d been born with a cowboy’s heart. And she’s probably right. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like had I remained in Dallas. It seems as if I was meant to be a rancher.”

      In fact, he hadn’t even wanted to leave the Rocking B to attend college, but the details of his father’s trust had not only provided for an education, but had pretty much locked him into one, whether he wanted one or not. So while his dad—if he’d still been alive—might have insisted he attend law school or get an MBA, Alex had chosen to go to Texas A&M, where he got a degree in animal science, something practical he could use back on his uncle’s ranch.

      They continued to drive in silence, and he wondered if they were both thinking the same thing. How had such a chance meeting turned into...well, whatever this was? A friendship, he supposed.

      But just being with Selena this evening made him realize that he’d been living on the periphery of life ever since Mary’s death. And that maybe it was time to cross over to the real world again.

      When they reached the turnoff to the wellness center, the sun had begun its slow rise. Alex followed the driveway into the parking lot, where Selena’s white Lexus was the only one left.

      He pulled into the space next to hers, then shut off the ignition. It wasn’t necessary, he supposed, but he got out of the car anyway. He told himself it was to make sure that she got into her vehicle okay, that it started right up. That she wasn’t stranded in a parking lot while he was driving off to his ranch.

      Who was he kidding? He wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. At least, not from inside his truck.

      “I see you’re chivalrous, too,” she said.

      “Too?” Had she been keeping a list of his qualities?

      She flushed, then glanced down. “I’m sorry. Just a little slip of the tongue.”

      He knew she was talking about her choice of words, yet the thought of tongues slipping set his imagination soaring.

      There he went again, veering dangerously off course.

      “I guess the lack of sleep makes you say and think all kinds of things,” he said.

      “You’ve got that right.” She reached into her purse, then pulled out a set of keys. “Oops. These are Shannon’s. I should have left them with Ruth.”

      “Since her car is still parked in front of the hospital, we probably ought to give them to Shane Hollister,” Alex said.

      “The sheriff?”

      “Wouldn’t you hate to see Shannon get a parking ticket?”

      Selena nodded. “Poor thing. She’s really got her hands full. That’s the last thing in the world she needs right now.”

      Alex didn’t respond.

      He didn’t move either. He just stood there, watching as Selena fumbled around in her purse again.

      After a moment, she broke into a beautiful smile and removed her hand, dangling another set of keys. “Good news. I found mine.”

      For the life of him, he couldn’t manage to agree. That it was good that she’d found her keys. That it was time to say goodbye.

      How could he? He wasn’t quite ready to see her drive away and end a most unusual—and surreal—day.

      So how in blazes did he go about prolonging it when they were both tired, when they both needed to go home and get ready to face a new day?

      In spite of his better judgment, in spite of the fact that sleep deprivation led to accidents, he placed his hand on her cheek. “It was an interesting evening—and so much better than watching TV. I’m glad I spent it with you.”

      Then he did something he’d probably live to regret—or, after getting some shuteye, he’d wake to regret.

      He lowered his mouth, intending to brush a kiss on her cheek, yet finding her lips instead.

      * * *

      The last thing in the world Selena had expected from Alex had been a goodnight kiss, but she’d been too surprised by the move to stop it.

      As his mouth met hers and she caught his musky scent, she held not only her breath, but every thought and whisper and dream she’d ever had.

      Who was this man?

      And what was he doing to her?

      As the kiss deepened, as their lips parted and tongues touched, she thought she might swoon. So she gripped the fabric of his T-shirt and held on for dear life.

      The