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father’s death. It’s about a week and a half from
now. I want you to think about how important it is for you and Liz
to get along. It is what your father wanted.”
    Parker narrowed his gaze, and his heartbeat
kicked up a notch. “That’s it? That’s what you wanted me to come in
here for?”
    Tom nodded. “For now. I’m following your
father’s wishes.” He leaned back in his chair and pushed the
speakerphone button. “Caroline, can you find a time to meet with
Parker and Liz McKenna on Friday? I’d say we’ll need about an
hour.”
    Parker waited while Tom stayed on the line
and Caroline came back with a reply. “You have a two o’clock open
on Friday, Tom.”
    Tom glanced Parker’s way. “That work for you
and Liz?”
    “I’ll check with her.”
    “Do that.”
    “Set it up for now, Caroline.”
    Parker stood. “I need to get back to the
ranch.”
    Tom rose and put his hand out again. “I
understand. Unless I hear from you or Liz, I’ll see you on
Friday.”
    Parker shook his hand. “Yes, sir. See you
then.”
    About forty-five minutes later, and closing
in on the ranch, Parker contemplated what Tom Walker had told him.
His brain spun over and around their brief conversation, and he
attempted to rationalize and dissect every word. He figured it
pretty much boiled down to his father wanted what he always
wanted—for everyone to be happy and get along.
    It wasn’t that he didn’t want that too. He
did. He just wanted to keep his ranch intact in the process.
    In his shirt pocket, his cell phone vibrated.
Eyes on the road, he fished it out and swiped to see the message on
the screen.
    It was a text from Callie. At Reba’s. Says
she doesn’t need a dr. Looks like crap.
    Parker frowned and thumbed in the words: Convince her.
    Almost immediately, his phone binged
again.
    Callie: Shit. Calling 911. Where are
you?
    His foot hit the accelerator.

Chapter Five
     
     
    People were fawning all over her again.
    This was not something she would ever be
accustomed to. The last thing Reba remembered was standing in her
kitchen talking to Callie, protesting a bit because the feisty
young woman was practically insisting she take her to see a doctor,
and feeling a little woozy in her tummy and light in her head.
Wait. What had Callie said? That Parker had insisted she come and
fetch her to take her to Livingston?
    Well, Parker McKenna was not the boss of
her.
    But, oh, then this weird rushing sound
flooded her ears, followed by the chatter of a thousand people.
Sounded like. Those two sensations rode over her with lightning
speed and evidently, must have taken her to the floor in
seconds.
    As she woke, someone called her name. From
afar. Way far. Like she was in a tunnel or a well. Or maybe
China.
    Groggy and confused, she focused on the face
in front of her.
    “Reba? Oh my God. You had me so scared!”
    A girl. Woman. Brown hair.
    “Wha—?”
    “It’s Callie, Reba. You passed out. I’ve
called— Oh! Here comes help!”
    There was some commotion behind Callie. Door
slamming. Footsteps. Voice. Voices again?
    “In here!” Callie yelled.
    Reba tried to sit up. The rushing came back.
“Ooooh.”
    “Reba! Oh hell! She’s down again.”
    Reba heard those words, but they sounded like
slow-motion talk, and try as she might, she couldn’t control her
body as she slumped back to the floor. She did register big arms
scooping her up and carrying her. Big. Strong. Arms.
    Carrying her.
    Talking to her.
    Smooth. Raw. Sexy. Voice.
    Deep voice.
    Yes. Nice. Saying things. She didn’t know
what. Didn’t care what. Big, strong arms were a good thing.
    Reba drifted and snuggled into his
warmth.
    ****
    Parker leapt from his truck, crossed Reba’s
porch in two steps, and barreled through her front door. He started
barking instructions on his way in.
    One look at Reba curled up on the floor
alongside a kneeling Callie made his heart jump. “Call Mike
Attaway,” he shouted to his sister. “Tell him I’m on the way to