The Texas Cowboy's Triplets. Cathy Thacker Gillen

front door opened. The triplets and their sitter came barreling out. “You’re back!” Michael noted happily.

      “Hi, Deputy Dan!” Matthew said.

      Michelle asked, “Did you get married yet?”

      “No,” Dan said with a wry chuckle.

      Michelle pouted. She placed her hands on her hips. “Well, when?”

      Never, Kelly wanted to say. Given how much Dan McCabe had turned her life upside down in just what, a matter of three, four days? Making her want and need and feel. Instead, she said, “It’s past your bedtime. Why aren’t you all asleep?”

      Three shrugs. Tessa apologized. “Believe me, I tried, but they couldn’t settle down tonight.”

      Kelly knew why. She hadn’t had a date with anyone since they’d been born. So this was definitely a new situation.

      “Well,” Dan said, reading the situation correctly. “I can see you have your hands full...”

      ‘Say good-night to Deputy Dan,” Kelly told her children.

      “Good night,” they chorused, gathering around the handsome lawman for a group hug that was just as warmly returned.

      “Night, kids.” Dan looked at Kelly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” Grinning and whistling, he sauntered to his vehicle.

      In an aside only Kelly could hear, Tessa said, “Wow, he is hot!”

      Very hot, Kelly thought, still tingling from all the kisses she had received and the one that had been interrupted. Not that it would make a difference. She had already made up her mind which way this was going to go, and it wasn’t into anything romantic—and potentially heartbreaking.

      * * *

      WHEN KELLY ARRIVED at school the next morning, she had a message that the director, Evelyn Winters, wanted to see her. “What’s up?” she asked as she entered the senior administrator’s office.

      “We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback on the talk Dan McCabe gave to the three-year-old classes. The kids were enthralled with the photos of his miniature goats, and the idea of naming them, too. Assuming that was a real suggestion and not just a misunderstanding?”

      Kelly knew better than to throw anything out there, even casually, since preschoolers were very literal.

      “The kids wanted to know the names of his goats, and he didn’t have any, which was upsetting to them, so I mentioned that maybe we could all think about coming up with names for them. I was thinking it might be something to do on a rainy day.”

      “So you weren’t serious?”

      Kelly hedged. “He’s planning to rehome the herd as soon as possible. He just hasn’t found places for them yet.”

      Evelyn clapped her hands with enthusiasm. “All the more reason to put the goats on the ranch field trip next Monday, then.”

      Kelly blinked. “What?”

      “We’ve already got horses, cattle, alpaca, sheep and chickens for them to go see. Pet goats would be a nice addition.”

      Pushing the memory of their recent kisses out of her mind, Kelly swallowed. “I’m not sure Dan McCabe would be up for that.” Me, either.

      The director waved. “I know his family, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t mind. In any case, I’d like you to ask. And if he says yes, you’ll also need to drive out to his ranch and work out the logistics of having the buses on his property, safely unloading the children and so on.”

      Kelly gulped. “Today?”

      “Yes. I’ll even take your class for a couple of hours if you can arrange to do it this afternoon so we can get it on the permission slips going out tomorrow afternoon.”

      * * *

      “FEEL FREE TO SAY NO,” Kelly said blithely when she got Dan on the phone.

      “It’s no problem.”

       Darn.

      “But I can’t meet you out at Bowie Creek Ranch until around six this evening.”

      Yet another problem. She gave him another opportunity to bail. “Well, that’s the thing. I’d have to bring all three kids.”

      “It would give me a chance to show them around. You, too, actually.”

      Kelly rubbed her temple. Why were the fates conspiring against her? Tempting her repeatedly with something she knew she could never have? Not for long, anyway.

      And it wasn’t just she who would be getting hurt here. Her kids were already becoming attached to him.

      Oblivious to her worries, Dan said, “In fact, plan on having dinner out here, too.”

       Yet another objection eradicated.

      “And we’ll make a night of it.”

      Exactly, Kelly thought as her heart sped up even more, what she was afraid of.

       Chapter Five

      Kelly wasn’t sure how Dan had talked her into having a light picnic supper at his Bowie Creek Ranch when all she was trying to do was put distance between them. But as she drove out to his place after work, her three tired and soon-to-be cranky kids in tow, she knew the social engagement would also serve an important purpose.

      Right now, the sexy lawman had no idea how challenging and time-consuming it could be to take care of three preschoolers. If he experienced that firsthand, maybe he would realize how impossible the reality of dating her was and be less insistent about pursuing her. And then she wouldn’t have to worry about fighting her ever-growing physical attraction to him.

      “Does everyone understand the rules for tonight?” she asked as they neared his ranch.

      The triplets finished their snack of graham crackers and juice boxes. “We have to be good listeners!” Michelle said.