His Montana Homecoming. Jenna Mindel

away. She looked too innocent to go there. But they were so close. And some habits were hard to ignore.

      Dale’s instincts kicked in. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. Nothing more than a brief taste. That’s all he was after. That’s all he could possibly go after.

      But then Faith’s response surprised him and before Dale knew what he was doing, he’d wrapped his arms around her. Too late, he realized there was nothing safe about this woman. On a lonely stretch of narrow road in the middle of the mountains, they were in her car alone. Dale shivered. No, it was more like a shudder from the inside out. Had to be the cold, not the woman. He quaked right down to the soles of his useless boots and pulled away.

      Faith blinked at him like a deer caught in headlights. Stunned. Then she smiled. “Wow. You’re really good at that.”

      “I’m good at a lot of things.” He stared at her.

      She blushed, making the scatter of freckles across her nose and cheeks stand out even more.

      Was she toying with him? He didn’t think so. She’d kissed him as if he meant something to her. Like she cared. And that was a dangerous place to be. He ran his hand through his hair and tried to get his bearings. “Look, Faith, uh, I’m sorry about that.”

      “Now you’ve got a smear of dirt on your forehead.” She reached up, napkin in hand, completely ignoring him. Ignoring what had happened between them.

      What had happened? He wasn’t quite sure.

      Dale took it from her, looked in the mirror and scrubbed.

      “Thank you for changing the tire, by the way.”

      “You’re welcome.” He crumpled up the napkin and tossed it at her feet where the others had been thrown.

      He looked at her.

      She gave him another smile.

      The woman could really smile. It lit up her whole face and did something to him. Dale might as well have slipped and fallen again. That same unbalanced feeling had him gripping the steering wheel.

      “If we go now, we can make it to the hardware store before they close.”

      “Yeah.” He checked his mirrors. No one. For miles. He was all alone with a girl who’d thrown him for a loop.

      He pulled away from the side of the road with less speed than a grandmother. He couldn’t get his bearings. A trip to Bozeman’s airport made a lot more sense than traveling to the Jasper Gulch hardware store. But he was here for a reason, and there was no use backing out now.

      He sighed.

      “You okay?” Faith’s voice was soft and quiet.

      Finally, she’d acknowledged that something might be wrong. All wrong. And why was she so calm?

      He cleared his throat. “Fine. Maybe a little worried about what kind of jeans your hardware store carries.”

      “Good ones, Dale. Jasper Gulch only carries the good ones made to last.”

      “Let’s go, then.” Dale pressed the gas a little harder.

      Nothing lasted. Not jeans, and especially not relationships. His father had proved that with three sons from three different ex-wives. He glanced at Faith Shaw, who might be one of Jasper Gulch’s good women. She deserved a man who’d last for the long haul.

      That wasn’t him.

      Good thing he wasn’t staying long. The sooner he got out of Jasper Gulch, the better. He’d do his Massey duty at the homecoming and then split. Until then, he’d keep his hands and lips far away from Miss Faith Elaine Shaw.

      * * *

      “Try these. Every cowboy I know wears them.” Faith handed Dale a couple of pairs of jeans to try on.

      “Thanks.” He disappeared into the fitting room.

      Faith leaned against the wall and nearly sank to the floor. What had she been thinking, kissing Dale like that? She couldn’t stop reliving it, remembering the feel of it, the taste. Was it possible to fall in love at first kiss?

      Dale had apologized.

      She had to own that that had surprised her. After she’d kissed him back, Faith had scriptures lined up like buckets of cold water just in case. But she hadn’t needed them. Dale had backed away quicker than a colt feeling his first saddle.

      Why?

      Faith closed her eyes. She shouldn’t care about the answer. They were worlds apart. He’d never stay in Jasper Gulch and she’d never leave. Not that he’d offer. Men like him didn’t offer anything proper. He’d said so himself that he didn’t do serious relationships.

      Knowing that, why in the world had she kissed him? Hadn’t she learned her lesson in Seattle? And why had he apologized for kissing her?

       Why?

      “I don’t know.” Dale exited the dressing room with a pair of prewashed jeans that fit him just right. He turned a couple of times, looking in the mirror.

      “I do. Buy them.”

      He gave her a quick look.

      “Now all we have to do is find you a couple of decent shirts.” She wandered away to rifle through the sweatshirts and thermals hanging on a circle rack.

      “I have plenty of shirts.” He stood behind her.

      “Patronage, remember?” Faith whispered, trying to calm her jitters. Did he have to stand so close?

      “Are you folks finding what you’re looking for? Oh, Faith, I didn’t see you.”

      Of course not. Dale practically hovered over her. She replaced a red thermal shirt and smiled. “Hi, Mike. This is Dale Massey, in need of clothes.”