Claimed!

He glanced back at her. Her hair had come a little bit loose from her braid, and the porch light shone on the top of her head, creating a kind of halo. He knew for a fact she was no angel, but damn, she was beautiful.

“I’m okay,” he said. “Just clumsy.” He wasn’t about to tell her he had no vehicle at his disposal. He hadn’t intended to come into town at all tonight.

He’d been at the ranch quietly getting soused. It was his pathetic attempt to ease the crushing sense of responsibility he felt now that he was in charge of everything. He’d been interrupted in that endeavor when his youngest brother, Gabe, had come home devastated because Morgan, the woman he loved, had turned down his marriage proposal.

Jack had convinced him to drive back into town and repeat the proposal with Jack riding shotgun and giving moral support.

“Leave your truck here and let me drive you home,” Josie said.

“Sorry. Too humiliating.”

“Don’t be stupid, Jack. Your family doesn’t need another tragedy.”

A reminder like that still had the power to slice through him. “That’s a cheap shot.”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to find out tomorrow that you drove into a tree on the way home, so I’m willing to fight dirty. Your truck will be fine here.” She glanced down at the parking area. “Where is your truck, by the way? I don’t see it.”

Jack sighed. Gabe would pay for this. When Gabe’s second proposal had worked out, Gabe had disappeared inside Morgan’s house, taking the truck keys with him. On his way in, he’d suggested Jack go knock on Josie’s door. Lured by his brother’s success with his woman, Jack had decided to go for broke.

Which had landed him in this pile of stinking cow manure.

“Josie, just go back inside and let me take care of my own problems, okay?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

“What do you mean, no? Are you planning to sling me over your shoulder and throw me in the back of your Bronco?”

“I mean that you owe me, Jack Chance. You owe me big time for the way you acted ten months ago. I don’t want things to get any uglier because you drove away from my place and got in a wreck. Your family already blames me for—”

“They don’t.”

“Not to my face, but it was because of me you didn’t pick up that filly with your dad. If I hadn’t been in the picture, he might still be alive.”

“Good God, is that what you think? That it’s somehow your fault?” Jack was stunned. He thought he had the corner on guilt, but maybe not.

“Logically I know it wasn’t my fault. You’re a big boy.”

“My point exactly. About that morning and tonight. Go back inside. I’m not your problem.”

She didn’t budge. “Logically I get that. But emotionally … that’s a whole other thing. I wish I’d kicked you out of bed that morning, Jack. I wish I’d told you to go help your dad trailer that filly to the Last Chance.”

“Wasn’t your call.”

“So you don’t blame me?”

He heard the pain in her voice and knew that he’d caused it. “I never did.”

“Then why’d you end … us?”

“Some sort of penance, I guess. Thought I didn’t deserve to be happy.” And he had been happy. They had been happy. In his slightly inebriated state tonight, he’d deluded himself into thinking that the problems between them would magically evaporate and they could be happy again.

She bowed her head for a moment. When she looked at him, her gaze was direct. “I’m driving you home. Stay right here while I put my shirt on and get my wallet and keys.”

“Josie, I can—”

“Do it, Jack! Let’s stop the bullshit and do the sensible thing for once! I didn’t kick you out of bed ten months ago, but I damned sure won’t let you drive home tonight. I won’t have it on my conscience.”

She was fired up, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. After all, he was the one who had knocked on her door. Gabe had suggested it, but he hadn’t twisted Jack’s arm. Once again, Jack knew who was to blame for this disaster. “All right,” he said. “I’ll wait here until you get back.”

“Let me drive him home,” Alex said once Josie announced her intentions. “You shouldn’t be dealing with that jerk.”

“I appreciate your protectiveness, but better me than you.” Josie smiled at him. She loved having her only sibling around, although she hated his reason for coming.

His divorce from Crystal had become final this week, and he’d taken unused vacation time to get some perspective on the situation. Crystal had initiated the proceedings, and he still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Only two years apart, Josie and Alex had fought like wildcats as kids, but as adults they were the best of friends. Alex was the first person Josie called for advice, and vice-versa. They were always there for each other, and she was happy to have him camp out on her hide-a-bed for as long as he needed to.

“What if I promise not to rough him up?” Alex said.

Josie laughed as she headed into the bedroom to change out of her bathrobe. “I wouldn’t believe you. You should have seen yourself once you knew who he was. You all but pawed the ground.”

Alex followed her down the short hallway of her apartment. “Have you forgotten how miserable you were when he pulled the plug on the relationship?”

“No, I haven’t forgotten.” She turned and looked at her blond Adonis of a brother. Crystal was an idiot who’d never appreciated him. “Tell me this, Alex. If you thought there was a chance to start over with Crystal, would you take it?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know. We’ve said some things that can’t be unsaid.”

“Same with me and Jack. But we meant a lot to each other once.” More than a lot. Jack had been everything to her, and she’d kidded herself that he felt the same. Then he’d spoken those horrible words that she’d never forget—No big deal, Josie. It was just sex.

“Be careful, sis.”

“I will.” And she would be, she vowed as she went into her bedroom to exchange her robe for the western shirt she’d thrown on the bed. Ten months ago, when she’d been more gullible, Jack had been capable of cutting her off at the knees.

But since then she’d admitted to herself that she’d woven a fantasy out of nothing. Jack had never told her he loved her, never suggested they could spend their lives together. No matter what happened between her and Jack now, she wouldn’t wear rose-colored glasses ever again.

She liked having the advantage that he’d come to her, though. True, he was slightly drunk and his guard was down. Ever since the painful phone call announcing Jonathan’s death and the end of their relationship, Jack had avoided the Spirits and Spurs. Josie had run into him a few times in town, and he’d remained polite but distant. He wasn’t that way now, but he could be again.

In fact, she could count on it. Jack didn’t like to be vulnerable, and that’s exactly what he’d been tonight. He didn’t want her driving him home, but she’d played her trump card by reminding him that his dad had been killed behind the wheel.

She’d played that card willingly. Jack might be able to navigate the rural two-lane between Shoshone and the Last Chance Ranch, but she wasn’t going to risk it. If anything happened to him …

Grabbing her wallet, her cell phone and the keys to her Bronco, she headed down the hall.

Alex stood and tossed aside the magazine he’d been reading. “I’m going. Mom and Dad told me to keep an eye on you while I was out here, and this qualifies.”

“You’re not going.”

“I don’t trust him.”