A Buckhorn Bachelor by Lori Foster

have the same interests.”
    The men all agreed, alternately praising her and asking questions.
    It struck Adam that he had a lot of reasons to be proud of Issy. Not just her beautiful face or understated sexiness, or even her sweet nature. She had...substance.
    Real substance.
    The kind you didn’t mind showing off to your family.
    And if he told her that, she’d no doubt mock him again.
    He’d known other admirable women, he reminded himself. A lawyer, social worker, a CEO. Smart women. Beautiful women.
    But somehow, none of them had been the whole package; smart, educated, but still very approachable. Caring about kids and animals alike. Bold one minute and reserved the next. Sexy without seeming to know it, and sweet even when giving him hell. She had a sharp wit and a generous heart.
    â€œWe’ve lost him,” Sawyer murmured.
    â€œComing to grips,” Jordan guessed.
    â€œThere y’all go again,” Issy said, her accent getting more noticeable. “Sayin’ things I don’t understand.”
    â€œTell you what,” Morgan said. “Why don’t you come by for dinner Sunday? It’ll give you a chance to get to know us all better.”
    â€œWe grill out,” Jordan explained. “There’ll be swimming, boating, horseshoes and badminton.”
    â€œShohn and Nadine will be there,” Sawyer added. “Garrett and Zoey. Amber, too.”
    Morgan nodded. “Misty and Honey are leaving it as an open invitation, so more of the young folk will probably show up.”
    Adam felt his dad watching him, maybe waiting for him to protest, to make excuses. But hell, he wanted Amber to see Issy with him, to know she could quit with her match-making efforts. At least for now.
    At least until...when?
    Adam didn’t know, and there was no reason he had to decide this minute. “What do you say, Issy?”
    Big blue eyes stared at him with surprise. “Well, I...”
    â€œYou’ll have the kitty back by then, and could bring her along. I’ll give her a follow-up,” Jordan offered. “Let you know how she’s settling in.”
    And just that easily, Issy nodded. “All right. Thank you.”
    Something eased in Adam’s chest. He needed more time with her. More than lunch, more than dinner with his enormous, pushy, intrusive family around. Private time.
    He glanced at the clock on the diner wall. Still plenty of time for him to make a move.
    With any luck, he wouldn’t botch it this time.
    * * *
    I SABELLA STOOD IN her driveway, uncertain what to do now. After a quick trip to the pet store for supplies, they’d ridden home in an odd silence with Adam watching her intently, smiling every so often.
    Maybe planning, though she wasn’t sure about that part. They’d each exited the car in the same quiet way...and now what?
    She felt out of her depth, and very uncertain on what should happen next. “I guess you need to get on home?” She winced after she said it, hearing the question, and the hope.
    â€œIs that a hint for me to leave?”
    â€œNo!”
    His gaze heated and somehow sensual, Adam closed in on her. “I’m not in a rush.” He cupped her shoulders and drew her against him. “What about you?”
    Heaven help her, the man could scatter her thoughts with a touch.
    Feeling lame and hesitant—and a little like warmed gelatin—she gestured with a limp hand toward the back of her house and the waiting shoreline. “Well, after I put away the cat’s stuff, I was gonna get to those weeds...”
    â€œPlanning to put your suit back on?” His chocolate brown eyes stared down at her, making it difficult for her to breathe.
    Pleased that he’d liked her suit—and her in it—she lifted one shoulder. “Maybe.” Definitely , if it enticed him into staying.
    He grinned, and it made him so handsome she wanted to go on tiptoe and kiss him silly. In