His Montana Homecoming. Jenna Mindel

managed to impress him. A little.

      Faith had discovered the ugly side of the arts and men who took advantage. Not willing to sell her soul, she packed up and came home. She’d never felt more like a naive country bumpkin than when she fell for her mentor in Seattle while trying to make something of her music. “Parts of it.”

      “What lured you there?” He gave her a slanted smile. “A man?”

      “No.” Faith laughed. “A job, but it didn’t work out.”

      Dale gave her a long look but didn’t dig. “For a girl who doesn’t drink coffee, Seattle must have been a scary place.”

      “What makes you think I don’t drink coffee?” They were in the mountains now, and Faith concentrated on the winding road.

      “You only drank orange juice this morning.”

      “A small thing to notice.” Faith shrugged.

      “I’m in the business of noticing small things.”

      Faith’s heartbeat picked up speed. So, the guy paid attention to details. But something about the silky softness of his voice made her wonder if she was the small thing he noticed.

      Part of her hoped so.

      And part of her didn’t.

      “Well, I drink coffee, but I’d had my fill before breakfast.” She had to remember that she was safe.

      It dawned on her that safe meant no threat of serious entanglement. She wasn’t worth pursuit of anything more than flirtation. Not in the life of Dale Massey.

      She shouldn’t be surprised. She’d summed him up pretty good yesterday. And really, she wanted no part of a guy like him. The world was littered with them. So, why the nugget of hurt lodged in her heart?

      * * *

      Dale stared at the snow-covered mountains filled with people skiing, getting an early jump on the holiday. One of several resorts in the Big Sky area, this place shone like a gem in the warm Montana sunshine. This was the kind of place he was used to, and no doubt perfect for Eric to set up shop. Maybe then the kid would finally ease his way into the Massey real estate business. But Dale had his doubts.

      He got out of the car and stretched his legs. The mayor had been right. His rental never would have made the drive here, not the way Faith had taken them, plus she’d shaved a good half hour in drive time going through the mountains instead of around them on the interstates.

      He poked his head back into the interior. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be, where do you want to meet?”

      Faith shrugged. “Right here is fine.”

      “You’re not going to stay in your car.”

      “I’ve got a good book, and the sun’s shining. I’ll be fine.”

      Dale shook his head and pulled out his wallet. “Take my credit card and buy whatever you want.”

      Her expressive eyes widened and she held up her hand. “Put that away. I am not using your card.”

      He’d offended her. “You let me buy the gas.”

      “That was different.”

      He tipped his head. What did she think he offered? “You should be compensated for your time. I’m taking up a good chunk of your day.”

      Faith shook her head and pulled out her book. “Forget it.”

      Letting the argument slide, he handed her his business card. “Here’s my cell if you need to get a hold of me.”

      “I won’t.” She took the business card though, and then buried her nose in the pages of a paperback.

      Dale chuckled as he walked away. He’d managed to ruffle Miss Shaw’s pretty feathers. Women were fickle that way. Finding insult when he merely wanted to repay her for her time. If he’d wanted a more interesting transaction between them, he would have been candid. Dale didn’t play games. Faith Shaw struck him as honest, too, but in a pure and simple sort of way. She wasn’t the kind of girl for anything more than a pleasant flirtation.

      * * *

      By the time Dale finished touring the office space for sale, he knew it was technically perfect for their needs and exactly what his father had wanted. But Dale didn’t jump on the offer. A gut feeling prevented him from purchasing the property—something he didn’t know what to name other than a profound sense of dissatisfaction with the whole deal.

      Instincts were a big part of what he did, so he knew when to listen. Today, he’d stand down and wait. He shook the guy’s hand, promised to get back to him and walked away.

      And then he called the office. “Jeannie, where are we with those closings scheduled for next week? On task? Good, put me through to my father’s voice mail.” Dale waited for the connection. Julian was on his way halfway across the world, but he’d still want an update. “Not confident on this property. I think we can do better.”

      Dale scanned the surrounding high-end shops. Faith had been correct in her assessment that he’d overdressed. There was money here, big money, but the atmosphere remained casual. Relaxed. Typical of a vacation resort.

      Maybe she’d help him pick up a few things while they were here. Some jeans. He’d talk her into something for herself, too. He wouldn’t mind seeing her dressed for an evening out. His stomach growled.

      Lunch first, then shopping.

      As he approached Faith’s SUV, he found himself smiling. The driver’s seat reclined and the window was open a crack for air, and Faith slept in the surprisingly warm sunshine. The paperback novel—a romance, he realized—lay open on her midsection. Her long auburn hair draped the headrest, exposing a pretty expanse of white neck. He thought about kissing that skin. How could he not?

      He nearly laughed when he thought of her indignant reaction when he’d offered her his credit card. What would she do if he kissed her? It might be worth it to find out.

      With a soft creak of metal, he slowly opened her door, shaking his head that she’d left it unlocked. But his amusing idea died the moment he really looked at her. She was beautiful in a natural way, like raw sugar. Unrefined and sweet. Vulnerable. She was the mayor’s daughter. His host. Making her pretty much off limits.

      She sighed and shifted. Her lips were certainly tempting. Maybe too tempting.

      Dale shook her shoulder instead. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”

      Her eyes opened and Faith looked dreamy and soft. The corners of her wide mouth curled into a sleepy smile. “What time is it?”

      “Time for lunch.” His voice sounded oddly tender to his ears. He wanted to push back her hair but rested his hand on the car’s roof. “Did I interrupt a good dream?”

      Her blue eyes focused and she sat up with a start. Her book fell to ground.

      Dale picked it up and handed it back to her.

      Faith tossed the book in the backseat. “Sorry. The sun was so warm, I fell asleep.”

      He chuckled. “I noticed.”

      She blushed.

      He held the door for her, liking this girl. Sure, she’d talked his ear off, but there was something open about her. Nothing disguised or put on. “Come on. The least I can do is buy you lunch.”

      Looking deliciously tousled, Faith slid out of the car and finger combed her hair. “Lunch, yeah. I could eat.”

      Dale couldn’t ignore the avalanche of awareness coursing through him, making him light-headed. Hunger did that to a person. Despite not being a big morning eater, he shouldn’t have skipped breakfast. These unsettling feelings were nothing more than hunger. Plain and simple.

      * * *

      Faith