Claiming the Rancher's Heart. Cindy Kirk

smile took any censure from the words. “That, coupled with the look in your eye when you first saw me.”

      Though he gave no indication she’d hurt his feelings, she knew she had, and her heart twisted at the realization. “You seem very nice,” she said softly. “It’s just that I’ve always been attracted to a different kind of man.”

      His dark brows pulled together, and she could see the puzzlement in his eyes. “There’s more than one kind?”

      “You know,” she stumbled over her words as she tried to explain. “Guys who like to shop and go to the theater. A metrosexual kind of guy.”

      “You like feminine men?”

      She laughed at the shock he tried so hard to hide. “Not feminine…just more sensitive.”

      “And cowboys aren’t sensitive?”

      “No, they aren’t,” Stacie said immediately, then paused. “Are they?”

      “Not really.” Josh lifted a shoulder. “Not the ones I know, anyway.”

      “That’s what I thought,” Stacie said with a sigh, wondering why she felt disappointed when the answer was just what she’d expected.

      “So what you’re saying is this match stands no chance of success,” Josh said.

      Stacie hesitated. To be fair, she should give him a shot. But wouldn’t that only postpone the inevitable? Still, there was something about this cowboy…

      Cowboy. The word hit her like a splash of cold water.

      “No chance,” Stacie said firmly.

      Josh’s gaze searched her face, and she could feel her cheeks heat beneath the probing glance.

      “I appreciate the honesty,” he said at last, his face showing no emotion. “For a second I thought you might disagree. Crazy, huh?”

      For a second she had been tempted to argue… until she’d come to her senses. Josh might be gentlemanly and have the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, but she could tell that they were too different.

      “That doesn’t mean we can’t be friends,” Stacie said. “Of course, you probably have plenty of friends.”

      “None as pretty as you,” he said. He cleared his throat and slowed the truck to a crawl as they entered the business district. “If you’re hungry we can grab a bite. Or I can show you the sites and give you some Sweet River history.”

      Stacie pondered the options. She wasn’t in the mood to return to the house or to eat. Though Anna had given both her and Lauren a tour when they’d first moved to Sweet River, she didn’t remember much of the town’s history.

      “Or I can take you home,” he added.

      “Not home.” She immediately dismissed that option. Since they’d cleared the air, there was no reason they couldn’t enjoy the evening. “How about you do the tour-guide thing? Then, if we feel like it, we can eat.”

      “Tour guide it is.”

      They cruised slowly through the small business district with the windows down. She learned that the corner restaurant had once been a bank and that the food mart had been resurrected by a woman who’d moved back to Sweet River after her husband died. He gave an interesting and informative travelogue, interspersed with touches of humor and stories from the past.

      “…and then Pastor Barbee told Anna he didn’t care if she dressed it like a baby—she couldn’t bring a lamb to church.”

      Laughter bubbled up inside Stacie and spilled from her lips.

      “I can’t believe Anna had a lamb for a pet.” She couldn’t keep a touch of envy from her voice. “My parents wouldn’t even let me have a dog.”

      He looked at her in surprise. “You like dogs?”

      “Love ‘em.”

      “Me, too.” He chuckled. “I better…I’ve got seven.”

      Stacie raised a brow. “Seven?”

      “Yep.”

      She marveled that he could look so serious when telling such a tall tale.

      “Wow, we have so much in common.” Stacie deliberately widened her eyes. “You have seven dogs. I have seven pink ostriches.”

      Josh cast her a startled glance. “I’m serious.”

      “Yeah, right.”

      “Okay, one dog and six pups,” he clarified. “Bert, my blue heeler, had puppies eight weeks ago.”

      He seemed sincere, but something still wasn’t making sense. “Did you say Bert had puppies?”

      “Her given name is Birdie.” The look on his face told her what he thought of that name. “My mother chose it because Bert loves to chase anything with wings.”

      Stacie laughed. “I bet they’re cute. The puppies, I mean.”

      “Want to see them?”

      She straightened in her seat. “Could I?”

      “If you don’t mind a road trip,” he said in a casual tone. “My ranch is forty miles from here.”

      He was letting her know that if she agreed, they’d be spending the rest of the day together. And he was giving her an out. But Stacie didn’t hesitate. She adored puppies. And she was enjoying this time with Josh.

      “It’s a beautiful day,” Stacie said, not even glancing at the sky. “Perfect for a drive.”

      “Don’t give me that,” he said, a smile returning to his face. “I’ve got your number. You don’t care about the drive. Or the weather. This is all about the dogs.”

      “Nuh-uh.” Stacie tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t keep from laughing.

      He did have her number. And she hoped this was all about the dogs. Because if it wasn’t, she was in big trouble.

      Chapter Two

      Josh pulled up in front of his weathered ranch house and wondered when he’d lost his mind. Was it when he’d first seen the dark-haired beauty sitting on the porch and felt that stirring of attraction? Or when he’d started talking about the weather and she’d listened with rapt attention? Or maybe when her eyes had lit up like Christmas tree lights when he’d mentioned the puppies?

      Whatever the reason, bringing her to the ranch had been a mistake.

      He cast a sideways glance and found her staring wide-eyed, taking it all in. When her gaze lingered on the peeling paint, he fought the urge to explain that he had brushes and rollers and cans of exterior latex in the barn ready to go once he got the rest of the cattle moved. But he kept his mouth shut.

      It didn’t matter what she thought of his home; it was his and he was proud of it. Situated on the edge of the Gallatin National Forest and nestled at the base of the Crazy Mountains, the land had been in his family for five generations. When he’d first brought Kristin here as a bride the house had been newly painted and remodeled. Still, she’d found fault.

      “It’s so—” Stacie began, then stopped.

      Shabby. Old. Isolated. His mind automatically filled in the words his wife—ex-wife, he corrected himself—had hurled at him whenever they’d argued.

      “Awesome.” Stacie gazed over the meadow east of the house, already blue with forget-me-nots. “Like your own little piece of paradise.”

      Surprised, Josh exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

      “Oh-h.” Stacie squealed and leaned forward, resting her hands on the dash, her gaze focused on the short-haired