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“I have real reservations, Quinn. I was going to tell you unequivocally no. Because of the graves, yes. Because of your father, yes. But also because I’m a control freak. I just got all my control back.”

She nodded, slowly. “I’m not asking for any control. I do promise you that. Everything is still going to be up to you, and if there’s too much traffic, we’ll work something else out.”

“Come back and look at the paperwork.”

“Okay.”

She stood up, and he couldn’t help but notice the way the diaphanous fabric molded to her figure. She was just the prettiest thing.

She paused and slipped some sandals on.

He found he missed the socks.

That thought didn’t belong in this moment. That thought didn’t belong in his head. But it was there all the same.

He resented her for that, too.

Because he hadn’t asked her to come to his ranch.

He hadn’t asked her to come into his life.

He’d said his piece at the meeting in Four Corners and that should have been it. But it wasn’t.

And here he was, inviting her right back after she had run away. He wasn’t really certain what the logic was behind that. He was a little afraid there was no logic behind it.

Except he did have that pile of paperwork. And the idea of doing it really did bother him.

And he really did need Camilla to go back to school.

She walked back to the truck with him.

“I’ll give you a ride over there,” he said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Come on.”

As they were getting into the truck, Fia came back out on the front porch.

“I’m fine,” Quinn called.

“Good,” said Fia. “And you’re going back to the ranch?”

“Yes,” they both confirmed.

“Okay.” Fia narrowed her eyes, and he could see the question there. Could see that Fia was wondering about ulterior motives.

He didn’t have any.

He ignored the tightening of his gut when he looked at Quinn. He didn’t.

Quinn basically melted into the seat when they got back on the road.

And he could only stare at her. She was a funny little thing. All wound up and passionate all the time. And that moment of not feeling certainty had really done something to her.

She was fascinating. And he couldn’t recall ever being fascinated by another person before.

“Thanks for giving me the chance to do this,” she said. “After everything. After I was a dick to you.”