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so good? Ally wondered as Hank wrapped arms around her. He gathered her so close she could feel the hard, hot muscles of his chest pressing against her breasts, and his heart slamming against his ribs.
    He opened his mouth, exploring every inch of hers with his tongue, encouraging her to do the same to him.
    Whoever would have thought she and the land-loving Hank McCabe would have anything in common? Especially when she intended to go right back to the city, as soon as her task was done….
    When he finally came to his senses and released her, he looked as stunned by the passion that had flared up between them as she was.
    Hank stepped abruptly. “Fortunately for you—” Hank’s jaw tightened with the implacableness she expected from a McCabe “—the only way I’m interested in securing this property is by triumphing over the other bidders, fair and square.”
    Of course he was thinking about the ranch!
    Mesquite Ridge was probably the only thing he’d been thinking about during the last five minutes.
    Whereas she, Ally noted sadly, had foolishly romanticized Hank McCabe’s pass to the nth degree. Damn her foolish heart! “Well, that’s good, because ‘fair and square’ is the only way you’ll get it!” she retorted, relying on her inherent cynicism for self-preservation. Legs trembling, she swept up her dinner and her soft leather shoulder bag. She cast him one long, scathing glance before storming past him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some calls to make.”
    And some incredibly hot, passionate kisses to forget.

Chapter Four
    An hour and a half later, Hank was in the mudroom, checking on Duchess, when he heard Ally come back into the kitchen. The sound of cabinets opening and closing followed.
    Curious, he stood and ambled in to join her. Ally did not look as if things were going her way. “Need something?”
    She rocked back on the heels of her red cowgirl boots. With her honey-blond hair in disarray, she looked prettier than ever. “Coffee. And I can’t even find the coffeemaker.”
    Trying not to notice how nicely the crisp white shirt and gold tapestry vest cloaked the soft swell of her breasts, Hank admitted, “It bit the dust a while back.” Briefly, he let his gaze drop to the fancy belt encircling her slender waist, and the jeans molding her hips and long, luscious legs. Just that quickly, he wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her again.
    Knowing that would be a very unwise idea, if he wanted to keep them out of bed, he pointed to the metal pot on the back of the stove instead. “I’ve been using that.”
    Ally blinked in surprise. “You’re kidding.”
    So she had forgotten how to rough it, Hank concluded. He quirked a brow. “It works fine.”
    Clearly unconvinced, she sighed.
    â€œI’ll make you some,” he offered.
    Ally lifted her hands in quick protest. “No—I’ve got it.” She brushed past him in a drift of orange blossom perfume, and checked the freezer. “If I could only find the coffee.”
    â€œIt’s in the brown canister next to the stove.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks.” All business now, Ally reached for the pot and peered inside. Frowning, because it still contained the remnants of the morning brew, she carried it to the sink, rinsed it thoroughly, then filled it with two pints of cold water. She swung back to him, a self-conscious blush pinkening her high, sculpted cheeks. “Where do I put the coffee?”
    â€œIn the bottom of the pot.”
    Before he could explain further, a quietly grumbling Ally had opened the canister and dumped six tablespoons of ground coffee into the water. She snapped on the lid, put the pot back on the stove, then turned the burner to high.
    Aware she still looked frustrated and upset, after a string of phone calls in the other room, Hank asked, “Any luck finding someone to