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“The money’s not mine to give,” he admits with a frown, looking down at the table. “Not that you deserve it anyway, but I’ve got much bigger problems than you to deal with.”

“Like?”

“Like a bank ready to foreclose on the ranch that’s been in my family for five generations.” He shrugs. “Even when I pay off past debts, it still won’t cover future needs.” Reese buries his head in his hands. “Maybe I need to give up and let the place go. But to know I’m the one who let five generations of the Gunner family down in one fell swoop? It’s more than I can bear.”

I take in his sad body language, my heart breaking. All he had to do was continue in the same vein, arguing with me. Angry, I could persist, but not in his current state, so vulnerable andburdened down by exactly the same kind of family pressure I feel.

Only mine involves taking Gunner for everything he doesn’t even know he’s worth in the form of a fabled treasure. My grandpa would scowl at me if he saw this. I stretch out my hand to stroke the big man’s shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I say empathetically. “You’ll figure things out. At least you’re doing better than you were a couple of hours ago.”Because of me.But I keep the score-keeping, wailing inner voice to myself.

“I’m sorry,” he grumbles. “It’s been a crazy twenty-four hours, and I need to rest.”

Nuh-uh. Not until we get our finances settled.I may feel sorry for him, but I’m no fool. I shake my head. “First things first?—”

“Are you really still on that high horse? Didn’t you hear what I said? I can’t pay you because the money I won isn’t even really mine.”

“But I’m supposed to take you at your word that if you could pay it, you would? Do I look like an idiot?”

His eyes darken, his gaze searing. “Yes, that’s the truth. If the pot I won was one hundred percent, freely my own, I would give you half. Not because you blew on my palm. I may have been that superstitious in the moment, but now that I’ve had time to reflect on everything, that was nothing more than a little respiratory support ...”

I wait, but he presses his lips together, emphasizing his sudden silence. “Well, if you wouldn’t give it to me for blessing you with good luck, then why would you?”

“Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Despite your silly western wear jacket. And it’s a blessing to know you exist.”

My eyebrows fly up my forehead. “Really? Do you say that to all the ladies?”

“No, ma’am, and I mean it sincerely. I’m sorry if you’re too jaded to accept it. But how is that my fault? Alright, now that you’ve seen me at one of the lowest points in my life, I figure I better crawl away before I lose any more of my dignity.” With one fluid motion, he darts up from the table, and I follow, not about to give up.

“Tragic story or not, you still owe me.”

“I don’t owe you a thing, although if I could, I would rise to the occasion.”

“If not now, then when?”

He shifts his weight, removing his cowboy hat and scratching his head. “When I’m good for the money. Give me your contact information, and I’ll make it happen.”

“Do you think I was born yesterday? I’m going to need some collateral.”

“Collateral?” He chuckles as if my suggestion is ridiculous. “Well, apart from the money the bank will imminently devour because I refuse to let you or anyone else take my family ranch from me, the only collateral I have is a nineteen seventy-six Cadillac Eldorado convertible with a six-foot steer horn decorating the front.”

“Yuck! Seriously?”

He nods, putting his hands on his hips. “Yep, I won that about two in the morning, I’d guess, although time can really get away from you in a place like this. Too bad I lost my dually in the process.”

“You traded in a dually for the car fromDallas? I can’t even with you.”

“No, I won it after losing the dually.”

“You should not be allowed in a place like this.”

“Agreed. Now, if you want to give me some means of contacting you, I promise I will do so with half your earnings the moment I turn things around.”

“You expect me to let you walk out of here with our winnings for something tantamount to an I owe you? No way.”

“Well, it’s that or the Cadillac, although I’m going to need you to drop me off at my house if you choose the latter.”

My mind races. Even more than half his winnings, I need access to his ranch for the treasure hunt. I twist my hands in front of me, worrying my bottom lip when it hits me …