Your Ranch Or Mine?

When he ran into her, he’d be polite but distant. He’d learned his lesson. Never again would he be fooled by a pretty face and laughing blue eyes.

Anna paused in the doorway of the Sweet River Civic Center. She glanced down at her dress and wondered if she had time to go home and change. When Alex’s last appointment of the day had turned out to be more time intensive than he’d anticipated, he’d asked her to represent him at the first meeting of the area’s Young Professionals group.

With the event starting at five-thirty, she had no choice but to come straight from work. In Denver she’d have felt appropriately attired in the stylish burnt-orange sheath she’d worn to work. Especially when coupled with the translucent multicolored bead necklace and designer heels.

But this wasn’t Denver or Chicago or New York. This was Sweet River, Montana, where casual attire usually meant clean jeans and a cowboy shirt for men and a skirt and tank top for women.

She scanned the room and felt tension ease from her shoulders. Though most of the men were wearing jeans, the majority of women had on dresses. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all….

Anna had barely stepped into the cavernous building when she heard her name over the conversational din. Anna turned and widened her eyes at the sight of the dark-haired woman with the stylish bob hurrying toward her, tall and slender with amber-colored eyes that matched her dress. It had been almost thirteen years since Anna had seen her. Yet she’d have known her anywhere.

“I don’t know if you remember me—” the woman began.

“Of course I do.” Anna wrapped her arms around her and gave her a heartfelt hug. “How could I forget Cassie Els, er, Dodds, volleyball player extraordinaire?”

Cassie had been one of her classmates and captain of the volleyball squad. Though she’d grown up poor, she was smart and ambitious. Not to mention she had a killer serve. No one had been surprised when she’d earned a sports scholarship to the University of Montana. But instead of going off to college, she’d married another classmate, Jack Dodds, and had a baby six months later. The last Anna knew the couple had been living in Omaha with their two boys.

“Those carefree days seem like a lifetime ago.” Cassie’s smile dimmed slightly. “And it’s ‘Els’ again. Jack and I have been divorced almost five years.”

“What happened?”

“Long story.” Cassie waved a hand. “One best told over a pitcher of margaritas and a basket of chips.”

“You name the time and place and it’s a plan,” Anna said. “How long are you in town?”

“I’m back for good.” Cassie’s lips curved up in a smile. “The boys are registered for school and Trenton—he’s almost thirteen—has already started football practice.”

Anna couldn’t believe that Cassie had a boy that old. Of course, if she’d had a child right out of high school, that baby would be almost a teenager.

“I told Mitch I wasn’t sure if a thirty-one-year-old unemployed seamstress qualified as young or professional, but he assured me I did,” Cassie continued. “So here I am.”

Anna swallowed hard. “Mitch?”

“Donavan,” Cassie said. “He moved back, too.”

“With you?” Anna could barely push the words past her suddenly numb lips.

“Goodness no.” Cassie laughed. “But I wouldn’t mind if he had.” Her eyes lit up and she waved a hand at a large group milling around the hors d’oeuvres table. “Mitch. Over here.”

Anna stood frozen in place as a tall cowboy broke away from the others and ambled across the concrete floor toward them.

The urge to flee rose up inside Anna, yet this time she didn’t move a muscle. Instead she straightened her spine, dug her nails into her palms and waited. Mature. Confident. She repeated the words to herself as he drew close.

Anna knew the moment he recognized her because his jaw tightened. Still, to his credit, he kept moving forward. She took advantage of the opportunity to let her gaze linger. His short-sleeved cotton shirt showed off muscular forearms tanned by the sun. Although the majority of the men wore jeans, Mitch had eschewed Wranglers for navy pants. His dark wavy hair, longer than most of the men’s in the room, brushed his collar. She couldn’t help remembering how it had felt to slide her fingers through the soft strands and—

“You know Mitch, don’t you, Anna?” Cassie asked.

Anna fisted her hands tighter and nodded. She took a deep steadying breath and inhaled the tangy scent of his cologne, the same brand he’d worn all those years ago. She’d always loved the way he smelled, the way he tasted….

For a second her composure wavered.

Mature and confident. Fixing a smile firmly on her lips, Anna stuck out her hand. “Nice to see you again, Mitch.”

“I heard you were back in town.” He hesitated for the briefest of seconds before his hand closed over hers. His palms, once rough and callused, were now smooth and the mere touch of his fingers sent electricity shooting up her arm.

Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if he’d experienced the same jolt. But his face remained expressionless, his eyes shuttered.

He dropped his hand. An awkward silence descended. Thankfully Stacie’s fiancе, Josh Collins, chose that moment to stroll over with a tray of drinks.

“Care for some wine?” Josh asked, his gaze shifting curiously from Anna to Mitch.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Cassie took a glass of chardonnay and smiled her thanks.

When Josh turned to Anna, she shook her head. With Mitch’s presence affecting her so strongly, she needed coherence more than alcohol.

Mitch took a glass of burgundy and grinned. “Looks like someone has put you to work, Collins.”

“I don’t mind.” The handsome rancher shrugged good-naturedly. “This is an important night for Stacie.”

“May I have your attention, please?” Stacie’s voice rang out over the crowd. Once the room grew silent, the vivacious brunette explained the mixer she’d designed to help everyone get better acquainted.

Anna groaned to herself. When she’d walked in and seen all the small tables with two chairs, she’d immediately thought of speed dating. But instead of racing between potential dates, they’d have five minutes at each table to share information about their business or occupation.

“I love this.” Cassie’s eyes snapped with excitement. She turned to Mitch and gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m so happy you asked me to come with you.”

A twinge of something that felt an awful lot like jealousy stabbed Anna in the heart. The emotion took her by surprise. She’d have sworn on a stack of Bibles that any feelings she’d had for Mitch Donavan had disintegrated years ago.

“It was great seeing you again.” Anna focused her entire attention on Cassie. “I’ll give you a call.”

“I’d like tha—”

“Everyone should be in their seats now,” Stacie called out.

“Ooh, I see an empty seat over there.” Cassie flashed Anna a parting smile and hurried to a table where rancher Wes Danker sat.

Anna scanned the room. Only two empty seats remained. Both at the table next to where she and Mitch stood.

Confident. Mature.

“I guess you’re stuck with me.” Anna slipped into the closest chair and rested her folded hands on the table.

“It appears so.” He pulled out the remaining chair and sat down.

Anna inhaled another steadying breath. Then, for good measure, she took one more. She had five whole minutes. More than enough time to apologize.

“Mitch,” she began, her confidence faltering as his enigmatic gaze settled on her. “I realize this is awkward, but I want—”

“Explain about your business,” Josh instructed, moving from table to table. “Or your job. That’s what this time is for.”