Colt’s arms felt solid around me. Safe. A lie my body wanted to believe with every traitorous beat of my heart.

His hands still moved slowly across my back, not demanding anything, just present. Warm. Comforting. Sure.

I was still pressed against his chest, still breathing him in.

I know I should step back, to keep it professional. I knew this. But my body refused to obey.

“You don’t have to carry everything alone, Ivory.” His voice was low against my hair, rumbling through his chest and into mine. “I see how hard you work. How much weight you shoulder every single day. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.”

His thumb traced slow circles at the base of my spine. The touch sent heat racing through me, melting something I’d kept frozen for six long years.

My thoughts fractured.

Part of me wanted to sink into this—into him. Into the warmth and the steadiness and the promise of someone else bearing the load. But another part screamed warnings.

This was the man who had called me pathetic. Who had vanished without a word. Who had left me pregnant and alone while he built his fortune in Texas.

I tilted my head back to say something sharp. Something that would rebuild the walls between us and remind us both why this was dangerous.

I didn’t expect his face to be that close to mine.

His hazel eyes held mine with an intensity that stole my breath. Neither of us moved. The air thickened until I could barely draw it into my lungs. My own pulse pounded in my ears like thunder before a storm.

His gaze dropped to my mouth and I watched him war with himself—that famous control fracturing at the edges.

His hand slid up my spine, fingers brushing the nape of my neck. The touch was feather-light, but it burned through me like a brand.

Don’t, I thought. Don’t do this to me again.

But I didn’t say it. Didn’t move. Just watched him lean closer, close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips. Close enough that one small movement would close the distance entirely.

My phone shattered the moment and I jerked back like I’d been burned.

My hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone—Stella’s name flashing on the screen.

“Dr. Hill, I need you at the west pasture right now.” Her voice was tight with panic. “Something’s wrong with one of the cattle. She’s down and won’t get up. I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m on my way.” My voice came out rougher than I intended.

When I looked up, Colt had already stepped back. His expression was composed, controlled—but his hands were clenched at his sides, and his breathing wasn’t quite steady. The evidence of what had almost happened was obvious.

“I have to go,” I said. “Sorry about… that. It just stressed me out as hell for a moment.”

He nodded once. But as I turned toward the stable door, his voice stopped me cold.

“It’s okay, I’m always here if you need me.” His voice was as sweet to me as honey. “We could finish it later, though.”

Oh damn you, Colt! Where did you hid all that sass?

I didn’t turn around. Didn’t trust myself to look at him again. I just walked out into the bright afternoon sun, my heart pounding and my skin still burning where his hands had been.

I had almost kissed Colt McKenna.

Please note that Levi doesn’t listen at all, because I asked him to wait at home!

Just Colt, huh?

But it was a pretty unexpected question, yet I did not show it. “He’s in the stable, baby. Why?”

“I wanted to show him my new drawing. He said he liked horses a lot, and I drew one with spots this time instead of stripes.”

“You can show him later.” I stood, brushing dust from my knees. “Right now, I need to help Stella with something. You three go inside, wash your hands, and wait for me. I’ll join you soon.”

“But Mama—” Luke started.

“No arguments. Inside. Now.”

The children protested but obeyed, herded toward the cottage by Kameron’s easy promises of food and his ridiculous stories about rodeo clowns. I watched them go, my heart aching at how quickly they had attached themselves to these men.

While all this was happening, I ignored my phone, so Stella found me in person and clearly heard part of the conversation.

She shifted nervously beside me, an apology written across her young face. “I’m so sorry for interrupting your lunch break, Dr. Hill…”

“You saved me, Stella.” I cut her off before she could finish that sentence.

Her eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. “Saved you? From what?”

The truth burned on my tongue—that I had been seconds away from making maybe the stupidest mistake of my life. From kissing a man who had already once broken my heart.

“Don’t ask,” I said. “Just don’t.”

Something in my tone must have conveyed enough, because Stella just nodded and led the way toward the west pasture without another word.