Page 33 of Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage 3)

“And you think it’s going to work on me?”

“Well, is it?”

He rubbed his temple. “I’m thinking. Um ... no.” The surprise in her eyes made him chuckle.

“I invited you along, so sure, it’s a date. But not because you’re giving me the evil eye.” Maybe because deep down he wanted it to be a date, though he hadn’t admitted that to himself, so he for sure wasn’t going to admit that to her.

Not yet. Maybe never.

He rang the doorbell again. Knocked with the knocker.

Amusement danced in her hazel eyes. Gold flecks seemed to ignite in her irises. Oh yeah. He liked this woman. And Terra and Erin were going to see right through him whether he tried to hide it or not, so yeah, it was a date.

The door swung open, and Terra’s smile grew wide. “You know you can just walk in, right?”

She thrust out her hand to Mackenzie. “I’m Terra Connors.”

“Soon-to-be Terra Tanner.” Alex gestured to the beautiful woman next to him. “And this is Mackenzie Hanson.”

Terra extended her hand and Mackenzie shook it.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Terra said. “I was sorry to hear about your brother’s death.”

Letting her hand drop, Mackenzie glanced at Alex quickly, then back to Terra. “Thank you. It was quite a shock.”

Much of her nervousness had disappeared. She was able to put on a good show, or Terra was great at making people feel comfortable. He hadn’t decided which.

“Well, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m glad Alex brought you.” Terra turned and they followed her through the long hallway to the kitchen and then out the doors to the backyard where a fire blazed in a pit and, not far from that, a grill smoked. The aroma of sizzling elk burgers and barbecue chicken made his mouth water and stomach rumble.

Terra introduced Mackenzie to her grandfather, Robert Van Dine, her brother, Owen, then Erin. Mackenzie also greeted Jack and Nathan, whom she’d already met.

He should ask them if they’d learned anything more about the shooter in the woods, but he would trust they would let him know if they had. Besides, he didn’t want to cause more anxiety for Mackenzie. She smiled and made conversation and held her own with his boisterous law enforcement friends. He wasn’t sure why he’d been so worried.

She leaned into him. “Do you still think this was a good idea?”

He edged closer. “Yes, definitely.”

Those words were for him as much as for her. He almost reached for her hand, then caught himself. No need to give everyone the wrong idea or send Mackenzie the wrong signals. Or, rather, any signals too early. Before either of them was ready.

“Well, let’s wrap it up soon. I’m feeling vulnerable.” Her words surprised him.

And reminded him.

Vulnerable ... deadly attacks...

He wasn’t sure if she was sending him a coded message. Sitting at the picnic table, he had a burger and sour cream potato chips, and she picked at a grilled chicken breast and potato salad. The friends shared small talk about Terra and Jack’s upcoming nuptials. Alex took the dishes to the house, and when he came back, he noticed that Owen had drawn Jack, Nathan, Robert, and, surprisingly, Mackenzie to the stables to show off one of his newer horses. Black and shiny. Beautiful for the kind of work Owen did.

Owen saddled the horse, and Mackenzie climbed on like a pro and rode around the corral. He hadn’t known she could ride, but that was one of many things he didn’t know about her. Admiration swelled inside. Admiration and fear. He couldn’t forget the danger pressing in on her.

Terra stepped up to his right side and hung her arm over his shoulder, and Erin stood to his left. An ambush.

“I think you’re smitten,” Terra said.

Seriously? “What gives you that impression?”

“I noticed it the first time I saw her—that day at the Rocky Mountain Courage Memorial.”

“Noticed what?”