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  She pressed speed dial and waited for her mom to pick up. Or maybe her dad. Their conversation two days ago still felt surreal.

  “Mom?”

  “Oh, hi, honey. I was just thinking about you. Are you at home or still on vacation?”

  Hannah would bet anything that her mom didn’t know about her dad’s call. Oh, right, he didn’t want her worrying. “I’m still in Montana. Don’t suppose you’ve had any rain.”

  “Good Lord, I wish we did.” Her mom paused. “Oh, I forgot. You’re looking into grazing permits or some such thing. Any luck?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes.”

  “Well, good. I best get your father in here.”

  Hannah waited, musing over past conversations with her mom. Had it always been like this? Little more than two people who were merely acquainted, talking about the weather?

  She was getting impatient waiting, too much time to think about Seth and the mess she’d made. It seemed like forever, but then her mom was back.

  “Honey, I tried getting him to come to the phone. But he’s in one of his moods.” Her mom’s voice lowered. “You know how he gets sometimes. Why don’t you call back in a couple of days?”

  Hannah blinked. “Mom, this is about shipping the cattle. About trying to save the goddamn ranch he’s screwed up.”

  “Hannah Elizabeth, I understand you’re upset, but there’s no call for you to use that kind of language.”

  “I have to talk to him today. I’ve already extended my vacation so I can take care of things on this end.”

  After a brief silence, her mom said, “Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t force him to come inside. It’s hard for him to accept your help. You know as well as I do he’s a proud man.”

  Hannah slumped. Had she really expected anything different? “Then tell me this—what exactly is he proud of?”

  Her mom didn’t answer.

  “No, really, I’d like to know. Proud of verbally abusing you for years? And me. That is, when he wasn’t outright ignoring my existence.”

  “Hannah, please.”

  “I’m not blaming you, Mom,” Hannah said, though she did think some of it was her mom’s fault. “Actually, we don’t need to talk. Just tell him it’s not going to work.”

  “Hannah, don’t.”

  “I have to go, Mom. I really do.”

  She disconnected and gave in to a good hard cry.

  * * *

  HE HATED STACKING HAY, but it was that or punch his fist through a wall.

  Seth had slept like crap, his mind going over and over what Hannah had told him. It felt more like a nightmare than something real. Especially because he couldn’t even remember everything they’d said.

  All he knew for sure was that Hannah had gone behind his back and made plans that would make him look like a fool and put his innocent family directly in the line of fire.

  He picked up another sixty-pound bale, feeling the burn as he hauled it to the stack.

  Just when he’d made things right with his dad, she had to do something that would cause no end of grief. Jasper would be in his glory, and Seth could only imagine what it would be like to go into Blackfoot Falls now. Jesus.

  He’d deliberately pointed out that Hannah was visiting, only here for a week, so why in hell would she care about grazing permits? He’d thought it was the truth.

  Shit. He’d never imagined for a second that Hannah of all people would screw him like that. He’d clicked with her from that first minute. It was as if they’d known each other for years instead of days, and the thought of her going back to Texas had made him sick. Like losing his best friend.

  But he’d obviously gotten things wrong. Believing her had been easy, and he hated to think she’d played him, but it sure looked like it. If only she’d talked to him. All of this could have been avoided. He’d still be the target of gossip, but he wouldn’t look like a liar and a traitor. He figured it would take about a day for everyone to start claiming he was a government spy along with Hannah.

  And his family...shit. They’d hear about this for years to come, and it would be his fault.

  Wiping the sweat from his brow, he almost bumped into Clint.

  “What are you doing here?” His brother looked at him as if he was loco. “I figured you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. Isn’t Hannah leaving soon?”

  “I don’t know. I think she’s staying a few more days.”

  “Whoa, what the hell happened?”

  Seth hooked another bale and practically dislocated his shoulders lifting it so hard.

  “Okay,” Clint said. “If you’re stacking hay, something’s going on. Just know if you need to talk, I’m here.”

  By the time Seth had put the new bale on the stack, Clint had disappeared.

  Turning to do the next round, Seth’s eyes went to the spot where Hannah had been standing when she’d gotten that phone call from her father. Remembering how she’d physically changed the moment she’d heard his voice shifted something inside him.

  As he slowed his breathing, he played out the scene in his head, not once, but twice. Recalling what he’d thought at the time. How she probably didn’t even realize how her body became submissive, how her voice thinned. There was some messed-up stuff going on with that relationship.

  Something he was more than a little familiar with.

  Goddamn it. He’d never been the type to kick someone while they were down, and he wasn’t about to start now. Not with Hannah.

  God, never Hannah.

  * * *

  HANNAH GLANCED AROUND the room. Luckily, she’d left most of her things in the trunk last night. Clearly some part of her knew it would turn out like this.

  She’d already changed her flight, and she had plenty of time to drive to Kalispell, but she wasn’t sure about what to do with Seth’s things. She was thinking seriously about using them to force him to talk to her, but hadn’t she done enough damage?

  Oh, Lord. She could not start crying again.

  Thinking she heard a knock she looked out the peephole then opened the door. Seth was standing there. He looked so very tired.

  “I guess you want your things,” she mumbled, and stepped back. “I know I have no right to ask, but could we talk, just for five minutes?”

  He eyed her overnight bag sitting on the bed and nodded.

  “First, we’re not bringing any cattle. The matter is closed.”

  “What’s your dad going to do?”

  “Whatever he wants. I don’t care.”

  “Why? You went through a lot of trouble.”

  “More like I caused a lot of trouble.” She swallowed a lump of tears, then turned away to blink more from her eyes.

  “I’m never going to please my dad and I think I’ve finally made peace with that. But mostly, I won’t risk hurting you or your family or the McAllisters. You’re the most amazing people I’ve ever met. You’ve all treated me better than—”

  “Listen, you do what you have to do and don’t worry about any of us.”

  She didn’t know what surprised her more, his words or that he almost touched her. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I refuse to hurt any one of you.”

  Seth studied her face a moment. “I was angry. I said angry things. But the bottom line is that my family and me, and I’m pretty sure the McAllisters, we’d all support any decision you make. All of us understand the importance of family.”

  Hannah was glad someone did. Her tongue felt dry and thick. “I wasn’t trying to save the ranch. That was a lie, too, though it wasn’t intentional,” she whispered. “I just wanted him to love me.”

  Humiliated beyond belief at the truth she’d been unwilling to face, the tears flowed and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it but
hide. She tried to beeline it to the bathroom, but he caught her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

  “Let me finish, huh?”

  Burying her face against his chest, she nodded.

  “That you even considered my family’s feelings and were willing to make a sacrifice to keep them out of it means a lot to me.” Seth paused and she could feel a slight tremor in his body. “You mean a lot to me. That you feel you have to win your dad’s love? I don’t know what to say to that, sweetheart. The whole idea is inconceivable to me. But I guess it would be, since I find it impossible not to love you.”

  Hannah’s cheek was pressed against him. She thought she heard right, but she’d been sniffling and crying, and if she got it wrong she would just die for sure. His heartbeat was strong and steady, and shouldn’t it be going crazy if he’d said what she thought he did?

  “Hey.” Seth hugged her a little tighter. “It’s your turn to talk.”

  That made her smile. She swallowed thickly and looked up at him. “Could you repeat that thing you said before? Just so I don’t embarrass myself.”

  He smiled and drew the pad of his thumb gently across her cheek. “How about you just tell me the truth?”

  She swallowed again. “I love you, Seth,” she said, meeting his eyes. Then an amazing thing happened—her heart began to slow. It was certainty that kept the beat steady, she realized. Steady and slow. “I love you so much.”

  “Ah, Hannah.” He tightened his arms around her. “I’m glad it wasn’t just me. I knew we had something real between us by the third day. It was crazy and hard to believe.” He leaned back and locked gazes with her. “We have some talking to do. But just know that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep this love strong.”

  Hannah saw the truth in his darkened eyes. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better,” she whispered and hugged him as tight as she could.

  Seth smiled. “I can think of one thing that might come close.”

  She laughed. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with getting naked, would it?”

  “See what I mean? We’re like two peas in a pod.” He smiled at her eye-roll, then kissed her. “I love you, baby,” he murmured against her mouth. “With all my heart.”

  Hannah felt a fresh round of tears well and prayed they wouldn’t fall. Happy tears, but still.

  And hiccups. God, please, no hiccups. Although she had the cure right here in her arms. The cure for so many things she couldn’t begin to count. “I love you too, Seth Landers.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from TEMPTED by Kimberly Van Meter.

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  Tempted

  by Kimberly Van Meter

  1

  FORMER AIR FORCE pilot Teagan Carmichael didn’t do cruises.

  And yet, here he was, handing his boarding pass to the attendant, about to board the Nautica cruise liner, still a little unsure as to how his brother, J.T., had convinced him this was a good idea.

  Mexico of all places. Two months ago, he and his buddies were flying into South America to rescue his brother J.T. after he’d accepted a charter flight gig to Mexico that had started out simple enough, but had ended up with J.T. and his female passenger crash-landing near the Guatemalan border.

  They’d ended up in Sao Paulo, and somehow, by the grace of God, they’d made it out alive with all fingers and toes still intact, but Teagan was fairly certain luck had been a factor.

  Maybe their guardian angels had cashed in some chips, because there were times Teagan had been fairly certain their goose was cooked.

  Against all odds, they’d managed to not only escape, but to come out on top, which was the biggest surprise of all.

  J.T. had made a lot of boneheaded decisions, but hiring on with Dr. Hope Larsen had been an unexpected blessing in several different ways.

  “Welcome aboard, Mr. Carmichael,” the sharply dressed male attendant said as he scanned the ticket electronically. “Enjoy your stay aboard the Nautica.”

  Gulls squawked a racket, screeching at one another as dirty waves lapped at the dock, the smell of brine salting the air. Los Angeles harbors weren’t known for their beauty, but then no one was flocking to LA for the beaches, either.

  Teagan nodded and walked up the gangplank to board the massive liner. Like most cruise ships, it was a city on water with every amenity, every luxury.

  Bright pennant flags flapped in the wind, snapping like colorful towels, signaling something festive was about to happen on this boat, but Teagan was still questioning his decision to go through with the cruise.

  He probably could’ve talked his buddies Kirk Addler or Harris McGoy into taking the cruise instead, but J.T. had felt strongly about Teagan going, so he’d caved.

  And thanks to the fat payment from Tessara Pharmaceuticals from J.T.’s last charter—the one that’d subsequently trashed their only plane and nearly gotten them all killed—Teagan was staying in an upgraded stateroom.

  “Well, aren’t you a tall drink of water.” An older, curvy, auburn-haired goddess wearing a fancy outfit and dripping with rings, was eyeing him with open appreciation. “If you’re representing what we have to look forward to on this singles cruise, then I’m all in, sugar.”

  Oh, that’s another thing. J.T. had booked him on a cruise meant for hooking up.

  Like Teagan needed a relationship right now. With rebuilding Blue Yonder Charter, revamping their business plan and generally trying to start over, he didn’t have time for slap and tickle on a regular basis.

  Teagan chuckled, blushing only slightly because attention from a beautiful woman, even one considered a cougar, was still flattering as hell. But he wasn’t looking for a hook-up. No matter what J.T.’s advice had been before dropping him off at the dock.

  “You need to loosen up, big brother,” J.T. had said, admonishingly. “You’re wound tighter than a drum. You’d think that almost dying would’ve reminded you that life is for the living.”

  “You’re giving me advice?” Teagan had joked. “Is this a sign of the coming apocalypse?”

  Because, yeah, Teagan was the cool head and J.T. was the screwup.

  At least, J.T. was until he’d met that saucy redhead scientist, Hope. Now his little brother was becoming responsible and thinking with his head and not his...well, you know.

  And maybe Teagan had been a little bi
t envious of how happy J.T. was with Hope, but seeing as he wasn’t about to do anything to change his relationship status, there wasn’t much he could do about that.

  The woman gave Teagan a final, bold up-down appraisal and then clucked her tongue with approval as she sashayed down the hallway to find her own room.

  That was definitely a cougar sighting.

  And a pretty fine one at that.

  But as he found his room, his neighbor found hers and he forgot all about the cougar.

  Teagan wasn’t much of a believer of insta-love but he was a big fan of insta-lust, and he’d just been hit square between the eyes with a double dose.

  Long dark hair curled in lazy loops and waves to the small of her back, shapely, tan legs that went on for days and the most pert, rounded breasts that he craved to touch—all he could do was stare like an idiot.

  Deep blue eyes framed by incredibly lush black lashes met his stunned gaze and she graced him with a sly smile, as if she knew good and well just how primal her effect was on men.

  This was a level ten hottie and she knew it.

  A tremor of excitement rocked his spine as his insides did a weird tumble and roll. To be truthful, he’d never been so knocked on his ass by a single look.

  He’d been around the world and seen plenty of gorgeous, exotic women but every single one of them paled in his memory the minute he saw her.

  And then she was gone.

  One coy look and she disappeared behind her door.

  He didn’t know her name.

  Didn’t know anything about her.

  But he would.

  Suddenly, this cruise was the best idea ever.

  He’d have to thank J.T. for forcing him to take the trip, because he’d just stared into the eyes of his destiny.

  Or at the very least, his next adventure.

  He was down for either.

  * * *

  HARPER RILEY CLOSED the door behind her, her heart dancing a flurried tippety-tap at the enigmatic stranger with the arresting eyes and magnificent build.