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one. He loved his life as a rancher and took negative comments about it personally. “I think you made that perfectly clear when you took the deal with Macho. ”
    â€œYou noticed that.”
    â€œEverybody noticed that.” And that was the other big reason he’d better get his mind off the lovely body of Keely Branscom. He’d never been the kind of guy who could have sex for the hell of it. With him, a physical relationship with a woman needed to be going somewhere. With Keely, it could go nowhere. She didn’t want what he could offer.
    â€œNoah…about that centerfold…” She sounded hesitant, which was unusual for her.
    Surprised at the sudden shift in her manner, he glanced over at her.
    She cleared her throat. “It was my ticket out.” Her gaze slipped up to his face, but her expression was disguised by her dark glasses. “Can you understand that?”
    â€œSort of.” Frustrated by not being able to see her eyes, he faced forward again. “I mean, if you wanted to get out of Saguaro Junction, posing for that magazine sure worked like a charm. And I can see why the town might seem too conservative for you. But to cut yourself off completely…”
    â€œIt was easier that way.”
    â€œMaybe, but growing up there wasn’t all bad, was it?”
    â€œNo, of course not.”
    â€œDon’t you ever miss the place?” He decided not to talk about missing the people for now.
    She didn’t answer for a long while. “Sometimes,” she murmured at last. “Yeah, sometimes I do.”
    She was full of surprises. He didn’t think she’d admit to that so soon. Maybe he had a chance, after all. “Then why not come back and mend some fences?”
    â€œI don’t fit in there, Noah. I’m too much like my mother.”
    He barely remembered Keely’s mother, who’d died from complications surrounding B.J.’s birth. But Arch had said his wife had loved the excitement of the city and had been bored by country living. “I didn’t mean you had to move back. But would it kill you to visit?”
    â€œMaybe.” She smiled wistfully. “Although I have to say, this business of my little sister getting married has me thinking. You never did mention when the wedding was.”
    â€œLet’s see. It’s…two weeks from Saturday,” he said with some shock. “I didn’t realize it was getting so close, myself. And I still don’t have a gift bought, either.”
    â€œThat soon? Are you sure this isn’t a shotgun affair?”
    â€œAbsolutely sure. Jonas is the one who is pushing to tie the knot.”
    â€œI’m amazed.” Keely shook her head. “B.J. must have really changed.”
    â€œNot a whole lot. She’s still a better ranch hand than most men. Better at some things than Jonas, to be honest.”
    â€œThen I don’t get it. She’s so not his type. He likes girlie girls, and B.J. is about as far from that as you can get.”
    â€œMaybe your sister has hidden depths.”
    â€œMaybe she does.”
    â€œOne thing’s for sure—Jonas thinks she’s fascinating. And B.J.’s still the same riding, roping gal as always, but there is something sort of different about her. It’s like she’s in full bloom or something.”
    â€œSee? She’s pregnant!”
    â€œNo, she’s not, but I can see you aren’t going to take my word for it.” He paused. “Guess you’ll have to ask her yourself.”
    After a long moment, Keely sighed. “I understand what you’re trying to do, Noah, and it’s very sweet, but…too much water’s gone over the dam, or under the bridge. At any rate, there’s been a heck of a lot of water running. I don’t think I’d be a welcome guest at the wedding.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be so sure.” Noah was taking a chance saying that. But