One Tall, Dusty Cowboy. Stella Bagwell

his midsection. “After all that food, I couldn’t eat another bite. But the coffee sounds nice. I’ll follow you there.”

      On the short drive to Lilly’s house, Rafe was once again asking himself if he was following her down a dangerous trail or if he should be counting his lucky stars that she was being so warm and inviting.

      You don’t have to go to her house, Rafe. If you’re that scared of the woman then ring her cell and tell her that something unexpected has come up at the ranch and you’re needed there.

      Damn it, he wasn’t afraid of the woman. Rafe mentally argued with the voice in his head. He was just a whole lot confused, added to even more caution. The moment he’d first spotted her descending the staircase in his family home, he’d been mesmerized by her. His first thought back then had been to get a date with her. A date that would hopefully lead to a night of incredible sex. But nothing had turned out like he’d planned.

      Normally, Rafe would have already dismissed a woman like Lilly from his roster of girlfriends. He didn’t have the time or inclination for serious. Now, the fact that he didn’t want to cut himself loose from her, that he wanted to court her in an honorable manner, had him mentally shaking his head.

      But his confusion wasn’t enough to make him steer his truck toward the Silver Horn instead of Lilly’s house.

      * * *

      Up until five minutes ago, no man had ever been in Lilly’s kitchen. But Rafe had changed all that when he’d insisted on giving her a hand with making the coffee.