a desperate situation. Although that was a stretch. Running an animal sanctuary was the worst way he could think of to raise a lot of cash. And her enthusiasm for the place…she hadn’t been faking that.
He raised his gaze just as she walked through the front door.
She’d changed into a different pair of jeans, a fresh shirt. He couldn’t help wishing she’d worn a dress, something more sophisticated that would have shown off her tall, lean body, the way she carried herself. She must have amazing legs.
He stood as she approached the table, then sat when she slid into her side of the booth.
“You’re early,” she said.
“I’ve only been here a few minutes. It’s a nice place.”
She grinned as she looked at the row of uniform booths along the window facing Main Street and the old-fashioned counter with black vinyl and metal stools. “It’s the only place.”
“There are more restaurants in Kalispell. We could go right now.”
She picked up the menu, shaking her head. “Cocoa might foal tonight, so I can’t even be here for long.”
He picked up his menu, too, noticing straight off that they had a homemade beef stew featured. “You know, you never did answer my question about how you ended up in northern Montana.”
She studied him, her lips pressed together and her eyes grave. “Serendipity. I’d heard about Safe Haven when I was traveling. I’ve always been into horses, and animal sanctuaries were a passion. When I came to Blackfoot Falls, I never intended to take over Safe Haven. That just sort of happened.”
“Traveling from…?”
“Back east.” She studied the menu, then smiled up at him. “I haven’t eaten here much, but I do know about the popular dishes. The chicken fried steak is homemade, battered right here, and the burgers are supposed to be off the charts. Oh, and if you like crispy fries, Marge’s is the place.”
Instead of calling her on her subtle misdirection, Tucker found himself caught in her gaze. He leaned forward, aching to break down the walls that she’d built so well. There were no obvious lies in anything she’d said. She hadn’t blinked or given any tells that he could see. It only made her more of an enigma.
God, but she was beautiful. His hand moved across the table until he almost touched her. It was a near-miss, stopping himself just before contact. There was too much he wanted from this woman to let his attraction subvert his plans.
Unfortunately, what he saw reflected in her eyes wasn’t the hint of fear he’d been expecting, but a want he understood too well.
Her lips, pink and lush and unpainted, parted, revealing her white top teeth. If she were his, he would kiss her for hours, make them both crazy for more. But he wouldn’t give in. Not until she was quivering in his arms.
Then again, maybe he’d do that as an encore. He doubted he’d have any self-discipline with her.
“You two need a minute?”
The intrusion made him almost knock his water glass over. Quick reflexes from the waitress saved the day, but the accident gave him time to regain his composure.
When he glanced across the table, Annie was looking anywhere but at him.
“Yes, another minute would be good,” he said, checking the waitress’s name tag. “You don’t serve alcohol here, do you?”
“Nope,” Karen said. “You’d need to go to Sadie’s down the street for drinks. But we’ve got great milk shakes. Our ice cream is awesome. Though you might wanna save that for dessert, because we’ve got fresh huckleberry pie just out of the oven.”
Tucker sniffed the air. He could smell the pie. “I might just skip dinner altogether.”
The young woman laughed. “Don’t do that.” She leaned in a little. “I’d go for the stew tonight. Or the rib eye. Can’t go wrong with either one.”
“Thanks, Karen.”
Tucker was almost afraid to meet Annie’s gaze again. Afraid of getting drawn in. He didn’t seem to have many defenses against her. The ones he’d brought with him were toppling like dominoes with every new look.
Annie put away her menu, then folded her hands on the table, gripping them tightly. She looked at him, but only in quick snatches. “I did a lot of work around stables when I was young. Never owned a horse. Wanted to. My family thought it was a passing phase, something girls go through until boys come along. Not for me.”
“None of the boys were more interesting than riding?”
“Not what I meant.” She smiled. “I was a perfectly normal girl, went on dates, even had a couple of relationships, but my passion for animals, and horses in particular, never dimmed.”
“Did you plan on running a sanctuary?”
“I wanted animals in my life. Somehow. And see? I got what I wanted. I may not have the life I’d imagined, but I’m where I need to be. Doing things that matter. I’m better here, in northern Montana. I’m the right person in the right place.”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve met a number of people who have given up a lot to run animal rescues, and you’re one of the most dedicated I’ve ever met. But―and you can tell me to mind my own business―don’t you get lonely? It doesn’t seem like you have many opportunities to meet new people.”
“I’m not lonely at all,” she said, sitting up straighter. Her jaw flexed a bit, then she exhaled and relaxed. “Alone doesn’t automatically mean lonely, you know.”
“I do.”
“So what about you?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you married?”
“No.” He laughed.
Her face lit with amusement. “Why’d you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like it was an absurd notion. You don’t care for the idea?”
“I think it’s a fine institution. And when or if I meet the right person, I’ll consider it.”
Annie’s left eyebrow quirked up. “Who would fit that bill, Tucker Brennan? A Dallas socialite, perhaps? Someone with a high-class education and Texas roots?”
“Really? That’s who you think I am? That I’d be more attracted to a pedigree than a person?”
Her shoulders dropped a little, as did her head. “No. I was being a smart-ass. Pardon me. I don’t know you, but from what I’ve seen, and what I know about how you ranch and your priorities, I’d say you’d want someone you could trust and respect. Someone you could admire.”
“Don’t we all?” he asked, the conversation hitting him hard for some unknown reason.
She
