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reached the house just in time to see him settling his tall, lanky frame into a rocker on the porch. At the sight of her he stilled and waited, his expression oddly hesitant. That was a new side of Jordan altogether, one that stole her breath away. Not once in all the years she’d known him had he ever appeared the least bit vulnerable. He’d always been terribly, terribly sure of himself.
    â€œYou have rose petals in your hair,” he said quietly.
    â€œFunny thing about that,” she said just as quietly, her gaze caught with his. “They were falling from the sky.”
    His mouth curved into a slow smile. “Amazing.”
    â€œNot many men could make that happen.”
    â€œMaybe not. I suppose it takes a man intent on making an impression.”
    Kelly sighed. “Jordan, you’ve never needed messages in the sky or rose petals to make an impression on me. Don’t you know that?”
    He seemed to sense that she hadn’t been as impressed as he’d hoped. “What does it take?” he asked.
    She reached up and patted his cheek. “I think I’ll let you think about that awhile longer.”
    Undaunted, he followed her into the house, heading straight for the kitchen as always. This time, though, he maneuvered past her and reached for the cups himself. He looked as if he needed to stay occupied, so Kelly washed up at the kitchen sink, then settled herself at the table and waited.
    He filled the kettle and put it on the stove, then lingered over her selection of herbal teas. “Which one?”
    â€œOrange spice, I think. The situation seems to call for a little zing. ”
    â€œWhat situation would that be?” he inquired, leaning against the counter, his gaze on her steady and unrelenting.
    She really hadn’t wanted to get into this again today. In fact, she had warned him the topic was off-limits. Those blasted rose petals had made that impossible. “This notion you’ve gotten in your head,” she said.
    â€œAbout marrying you?”
    She grinned at his quick-wittedness. “That’s definitely the one. It appears to me that this breakup with Rexanne has hurt you more than you’re willing to admit. Perhaps it’s addled your brain.”
    His eyebrows rose a fraction. “Oh, really?”
    â€œYes, really. Did you really love her, Jordan? Was I mistaken in thinking that she just came along at the right time, at the precise moment when you’d decided you needed a wife to complete your transformation into solid citizen?”
    He went very still. “Transformation?”
    Kelly almost chuckled at his expression. “I seem to recall a boy who ran away from home at seventeen to be a wildcatter on the oil rigs. Then there was thedisruption you caused at the high school when you got on the public address system and performed a rock song you had composed. The lyrics, as I recall, had every teacher blushing. The principal had to take the rest of the day off, she was so stunned. And let’s see now, there was the summer you rustled a few of your own daddy’s cattle, so you could start your own herd.”
    A once-familiar impish grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Not fair,” he accused. “I was only seven when I did that.”
    â€œIt was, however, the beginning of a highly notable career as the family rebel. I’m sure Harlan despaired of your ever turning into someone respectable.” She surveyed him closely, from the neatly trimmed brown hair to the tips of his polished boots, and regretted that his hair no longer skimmed his collar and his boots weren’t worn and dusty. “I’d say you beat the odds. A wife would complete the package.”
    â€œYou make it sound so cold and calculating,” he objected.
    She shrugged. “If the shoe fits…”
    â€œIt doesn’t. I’m thirty years old. It’s just time I settled down.”
    â€œWhen was it you