A Cowgirl's Secret by Laura Marie Altom

a cautious bloom from her air-conditioned ride, she was the antithesis of his simple, country way of life. Her big-city garb consisted of a silky white blouse and pearls paired with a pencil-thin dark skirt and heels tall enough to bring the top of her head even with his whisker-stubbled jaw.
    Acting on pure instinct, he leaned the Weed Eater against the nearest oak, and then closed the distance between them. He might not like her, but he was incapable of staying away. “When are you planning on letting me see him? Dallas called yesterday, not an hour after you got here. Might’ve been nice had you at least invited me to share in his first Weed Gulch dinner.”
    â€œI came over to clear the air between us, apologize for the umpteenth time, but when it comes to you, I can’t do a damned thing right.”
    â€œTrue. But being a gentleman, I won’t stop you from tryin’.” Long dark hair his fingertips itched to touch had been imprisoned in a fancy knot. Back when she’dbeen his, he’d liked her to wear it down. “Kolt settling in okay?”
    â€œYes. Having a ball with his cousins and uncles. He’s never been on a ranch before, so for him, this is the equivalent of country Disney world.”
    â€œGood.” Luke was happy for his son, but again peeved that Daisy had left him out of the family welcome. He’d had every right to be in attendance. No doubt that’s why she was here, trying to smooth things over.
    Clearing her throat, she finally got around to closing her car door, and then gestured to the cabin’s front entry. “Mind if we get out of this heat? There’s something I’d like to, ah, run by you.”
    â€œSure. Come on in.” He held out his hand to help her up the few steps in those treacherous heels of hers, but she politely sidestepped him to tackle the job on her own. Classic Daisy.
    He opened the door for her, thankful for the rush of cool air. “Best thing I ever did was outfit this old place with central heat and air.”
    â€œNo kidding.” She fanned herself. “Feels amazing. I’d forgotten how intense Oklahoma summers can be.”
    â€œYeah, well…” Covered in sweat and dust and grass clippings, he parked himself on the fieldstone hearth.
    She chose his favorite armchair.
    He said, “You had something to run by me?”
    â€œI do.” The oddest look clouded her features. Sadness mixed with fear on top of…shame? She looked around. “You’ve worked miracles on this old place. When we were kids, it was practically abandoned. You and Dallas and Wyatt used to be so mean to Cash and I if we evencame near your cabin. Made us wonder what kind of trouble was going on up here.”
    He chuckled. “We did nearly burn the place down trying to build a still.” His mind’s eye saw Daisy the way she used to be. A nosy kid always underfoot. She’d been in the same grade as him in school, but because he was friends with her older brothers, Daisy had seemed younger. Then she’d grown. Gangly legs turned long and lean and sun-kissed. Tomboy-short hair morphed into luxurious waves that he’d loved running his fingers through. Daisy’s leaving had been a devastating blow. One he’d tried to solve by replacing her.
    Tried being the key word.
    â€œHow could I forget?” she said with a faint smile. “Dallas mixed that firewater with my morning orange juice and somehow I was the one grounded for a week.”
    They smiled at one another for a moment. Then Luke shook his head and asked, “So…how’s the move in going? I’m surprised you have time to reminisce with me over moonshine and a brother whom I can’t ever remember you being all that fond of.”
    â€œYou know I love Dallas.”
    â€œOf course, you do. But do you like him?”
    She looked away.
    â€œHe’s a great guy, Daisy. Solid through and through. Now that