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“Good evening, Sir.” Startled, he jerked his head around. He’d been so mesmerized he hadn’t seen the hostess approaching from the side. “Would you like to sit by the window again?”

“The one I sat at before, if possible,” he replied, hoping it would mean Heather would be his waitress.

“No, problem, and there’s a full moon tonight. You’ll be able to see it over the mountains. It’s an amazing sight.”

“I’m sure it is.”

As the young woman led him across the dining room he could sense Heather’s eyes on him, and the moment he sat down she arrived with a coffee pot.

“Hello, again,” she said warmly, pouring the hot brew. “It’s nice to see you. Would you like something to drink?”

“Does the bar have a quality bourbon?”

“Here’s a list of our spirits.”

Lifting a small leather wallet from her apron she handed it to him, and he noticed she wasn’t wearing nail polish.

Abruptly it hit him.

She wasn’t wearing makeup either, except for a light touch of mascara and lip gloss.

That’s why he’d seen her asthe quintessential country girl.

Her beauty was natural.

“Sir?”

“Sorry,” he said hastily, realizing he’d been staring. But when he took the folder he found it difficult to focus.

“The bourbons are at the bottom,” she offered, as if she knew he was rattled.

“Ah, yes, I see, thank you. I’ll have the Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select.”

“Coming right up.”

As she walked away he picked up his coffee, took a sip, and looked across at the mountains.

Suddenly Courtney’s plan was deeply disturbing.

Then a second later he realized he had to be there.

Not just to help her, but to make sure nothing happened to Heather.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Back at the ranch Blake couldn’t relax, and chided himself for not taking Heather to the campground and picking her up when she finished her shift. There was very little traffic at night, and the creep who had followed her might do the same thing again, but this time run her off the road. Moving out onto the porch and seeing Doug’s truck, he broke into a jog and entered the barn.

“Hey, Blake, what’s up?” Doug asked, stepping out of a stall.

“Will you be here much longer?”

“Yep, it’ll take me a while to check that delivery of feed and supplements. Then I have to empty it all into the bins. Why?”

“I need to nip out for a bit.”

“Not a problem.”

“Have you seen Butch?”