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  Looked like he made the wrong call again.

  Dara’s belly had been doing a series of flips for the past fifteen minutes, as she waited for Jack. It was like a trapeze artist had taken residence there.

  It sure didn’t feel like she’d seen him since last Sunday when they’d returned from Sedona. It was like every moment had been drawn out since that incredible weekend.

  She paced the floor, her athletic shoes squeaking on the wood every time she turned.

  Images of Jack making love to her so slowly, so breathtakingly gentle, caused her to drop to the couch. Heat filled her face and body.

  “Stop.” She rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “One day, one thing at a time.”

  She brought her thick braid over her shoulder and played with the end. “You’re acting like a teenager.”

  Well, not exactly a teenager. But a lovesick girl with a major crush on the school football hero.

  She’d never had these reactions with any other man she’d been interested in. Well, at least not since she really was a teenager.

  Dara got to her feet. Before she forgot to, she grabbed her purse and removed her drivers license, credit card, and two twenties in case of emergency, and stuffed the items into the front pocket of her jeans. She dropped the patchwork purse onto one of her padded armed chairs and retrieved the spare key from a drawer in the kitchen, then shoved that into her pocket, too.

  The doorbell rang and she jumped at the sound. A deep inhale, then she blew out her breath before she pushed up the sleeves of her favorite yellow turtleneck.

  Relax. This is Jack.

  Thoughts of their weekend together made her knees feel weak. She hesitated and inhaled.

  She straightened her shoulders and walked to the front door, where she grabbed her leather jacket and slipped it on. One more pause before she opened the door.

  And saw the hot cowboy, the man she loved, waiting on her doorstep.

  Those blue eyes of his were a gorgeous contrast to his dark hair. She thought about tracing her tongue along the cut of his jaw, down his throat to the neckline of his black T-shirt. She’d somehow manage to tear off his shirt so that she could slide her palms over his muscled chest and abs, down to the waistband of his sexy Wrangler jeans.

  Warmth spread through her at the direction of her thoughts.

  His grin made those trapeze artists in her belly do multiple twists and flips. “Hi, beautiful.”

  She could get used to him calling her that all day long.

  “Hey, Jack.” She smiled as she closed the door behind her and locked it.

  When she turned to face him, he caught her by her shoulders. He brushed his lips over hers before kissing her until her mind spun.

  He raised his head and grasped her hand, and they walked to his truck.

  Once they were in the vehicle and on their way to the Yavapai County Fair, Dara said, “So today Leslie is competing in the fair rodeo and this evening there’s a dance.”

  “Yep.” He nodded. “Leslie’s age group doesn’t race until late this afternoon. We can check out the livestock, exhibits, and carnival before we see her ride.”

  “It’s going to be a lot of fun.” Dara smiled. “You also mentioned something about an auction tomorrow.”

  Jack glanced at Dara before looking out at the road again. “The youth livestock auction is tomorrow morning. Should wrap up around noon.”

  He went on, “Max has a market steer in the beef auction and a senior bull calf in the breeding class. Leslie is auctioning a breeding heifer in the two-year class.”

  “Bailey is sure proud of Leslie,” Dara said. “She has said more than once how talented her niece is.”

  Jack checked his rearview mirror. “Leslie takes after her Aunt Bailey, all right. I’ve never seen anyone chase the cans like Bailey does, until Leslie came along. Her mother would have been proud of her.”

  “No doubt about that.” Dara smiled, a little surprised that Jack mentioning Lucy didn’t set her off balance. “I bet Leslie’s grandparents are just as tickled at her talent.”

  “More than you can imagine.” Jack flashed her a smile. “Mom and Dad are going to be at the event, too. They never miss Leslie’s performances.”

  It wasn’t long before Jack guided the truck into the fairground parking lot and pulled in between two other vehicles.

  After Jack helped Dara out of the truck cab, he took her hand. They walked toward an admission gate where they stood in line and chatted until they reached the ticket office.

  Jack paid, grasped Dara’s hand again, and they headed through the entrance.

  The carnival was in the distance to the right. Dara could still hear the carnival music and chatter of the crowd from where they stood.

  On this end of the grounds, the livestock barns and buildings filled with exhibits were to the right, well before the amusement park rides.

  To the left, young 4-H members positioned and showed sheep and dairy goats in corrals. The animals and the members’ showmanship were examined by judges carrying clipboards.

  Beyond that were the horse barns, which were not far from the grandstands and arena.

  Jack guided Dara into the open barn on the right, where cows bawled. They entered the dim recesses that smelled of alfalfa hay and manure.

  The scent of wet earth mixed with the other smells as they walked over damp dirt paths. The paths were raked and kept free of manure between stalls inhabited by bulls, dairy cows, heifers, steers, and calves.

  They passed Angus steers, Brahman bulls, Hereford heifers, and Holstein dairy cows.

  Throughout the year prior to the fair, 4-H and FFA kids worked with their livestock and fed them well. Before competition, the kids bathed and combed each animal until a lot of the breeds’ coats shone. Jack explained a few things about the livestock that would be auctioned off tomorrow for beef or breeding purposes.

  Young men and young women came in and out of the stalls where their livestock was kept. Award ribbons hung on hooks in the stalls, from purple championship rosettes down to green participation ribbons.

  Jack inclined his head toward a nearby stall. “Max’s bull is there.”

  Dara walked with him to see Max in the stall with his bull.

  “Hey, Dad.” Max stood from his crouched position. The young man was nearly as tall as his father. He pushed hair from his brow and smiled at Dara. “Hi, Dara.”

  “Your bull is gorgeous.” Dara looked over the large, powerfully muscled Angus, the bull’s smooth, slick black coat gleaming in the light that made it through the barn.

  “Did he win any awards?” she asked

  “Best of Show.” Max jerked his thumb in the direction of the fence. She followed the movement and saw she had passed right by a purple rosette with yellow and white threaded through it, gold lettering stating “Best of Show” imprinted on the center. Next to the large rosette was a smaller one with “Champion,” and next to it a blue ribbon with “First Place.”

  “Good job, Max.” Jack grinned and settled his hand on his son’s shoulder. “You worked hard for it.”

  Max beamed at Jack. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “That’s fantastic.” Dara admired the ribbons before turning her smile on Max. “Congratulations.”

  Max gave a shy grin. “Toby did well in the ring.”

  Dara looked the bull over. “He’s huge.”

  “He’ll get even bigger,” Max said. “He’s not quite a year old.”

  Dara’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”

  “He’s only about 950 pounds.” Max laughed. “Angus bulls weigh an average of 2,000 pounds.”

  “Holy crap,” Dara said and Max’s grin broadened. She shook her head. “A whole ton? I’ve never been so close to one before to realize they get that big.”

  “You can pet him,” Max said. “He’s gentle.”

  Dara slid her palm over the bull calf’s shoulder. “His coat is so smooth.” She looked at Max. “How much do calves weigh when they�
�re born?”

  “Between sixty and seventy pounds.” Max patted Toby’s side affectionately. “Toby was big and weighed in at seventy-two.”

  Dara moved her hand away from the Angus calf. “You’ll use him for breeding?”

  Max shook his head. “He’s going up for auction tonight.”

  “Being he’s Best of Show, Toby will go for top dollar,” Jack said.

  “Is it hard to sell them after you’ve raised them for a year?” Dara asked.

  “Yeah.” Max shrugged. “I’ve been doing this since I was nine, so I’m kinda used to it now.”

  Dara smiled. “You’re quite the young man, Max.”

  That shy smile again. “Thanks, Dara.”

  “Where’s your sister?” Jack asked.

  Max pointed to the horse barns. “I think she’s with Sammy.”

  Jack gave a slow nod and looked thoughtful, as if trying to decide whether or not to go find her.

  “She’s not in a good mood.” Max glanced at Dara before looking at his dad again. “Maybe wait til later? She’s always in a good mood after she races. Unless she loses.”

  “You’re right about that.” Jack nodded. “Girl loves competition, but she doesn’t like to lose.”

  Max grinned. “Mom always said she was a lot like you.”

  Jack shook his head, but smiled. “I think you hit the nail on the head.”

  Leslie is in a bad mood because of me, Dara thought as she considered the look she’d seen between father and son.

  The idea would have deflated her if she’d let it.

  One thing Dara didn’t want was to come between father and daughter. She wondered if Leslie would get used to the idea and accept it.

  Hopefully that would happen in the near future. But Dara supposed she shouldn’t hold her breath. Teenage girls’ emotions ran deep—she knew that well from experience.

  “We’ll see you at the livestock auction tonight.” Jack clapped his son on the shoulder. “Call me on my cell if you need anything.”

  Max patted his pocket. “I’ve got mine. I’ll let you know if Leslie is in a better mood next time I see her.”

  Dara hoped she would be, but figured she shouldn’t hold her breath.

  “See you, Max.” Dara smiled at him as Jack took her hand.

  Max gave a nod and a smile before turning away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The chill wind caused Dara to shiver as they walked out of the livestock barn. She slid her free hand into her jacket pocket.

  “Would you like to check out the sheep and hogs?” Jack asked. “Next door to that barn is the small stock and the exhibits.”

  “I’d love to see it all.” She smiled up at him. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to the fair, but I’ve enjoyed it when I’ve come. The last time was a couple years ago with Bailey and Charlee.”

  Jack released her hand and slid his arm around her shoulders.

  She loved the feel of his big body next to hers as they walked, their hips brushing.

  Having his arm around her brought back more memories of last weekend.

  Cue happy sigh.

  They entered the sheep, goat, and hog barn next. Dara had never imagined pigs being so clean. They watched the 4-H kids care for their animals as Jack explained about how they were raised and that most of the sheep and hogs would be auctioned off the next day.

  Jack kept a hold of her hand as they finished walking through the livestock barn and headed for the next.

  In the small stock building, Jack and Dara ran into his cousin, Clint McBride, and his wife Ella. The pair had been talking to a 4-H leader about Drew, their seven-year-old, joining the local club when he was old enough.

  After Jack and Dara spent a few minutes visiting with Ella and Clint, they continued on to the section with the rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks.

  They bumped into another cousin, Ryan, and his wife Megan after they left the small stock building, before they entered the first of the two exhibits buildings.

  She enjoyed that Jack introduced her each time as “my lady” to those family members that she hadn’t met before.

  If they kept running into McBrides and stopping to talk to them all, it might be a very late night indeed.

  She couldn’t say that she minded it one bit. As long as she was with Jack they could talk with his family all day and all night long.

  A mixture of sights, sounds, and smells combined to make an almost dizzying experience as they walked toward the carnival, beyond the grandstands.

  Kids chased each other in front of Dara and Jack, over well-trampled grass. Carnies barked from booths they passed with games of chance. Both traditional events that appealed to older fair-goers to electronic ones for the younger crowd were at the fair.

  The carnival workers cajoled them as they walked by to take a chance at older games, like knocking down silver milk bottles and shooting wooden ducks; or more modern ones like an electronic racing or combat games. Of course, they promised that everyone had a chance to win their choice of a giant stuffed panda, green dragon, or popular cartoon character.

  A clown making balloon animals for a group of kids stood in front of them, so Jack guided her around the small crowd.

  Young children carried big poofs of blue or pink cotton candy on paper cones. The kids walked beside parents pushing a younger brother or sister in a stroller.

  Several feet ahead, people carried soft drinks away from food trucks with corndogs or giant soft pretzels in their hands.

  “Hungry?” Jack asked. “I’ll treat you to an exotic fare known here as nachos and cheese.”

  Dara grinned. “With jalapeños on top?”

  “Only the best for my lady.”

  Heat and pleasure rushed through Dara once again. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  Dara waited off to the side as Jack bought two big drinks and a large bowl mounded with nachos. She took the opportunity to drool over the way his Wranglers hugged his ass as he paid for the food.

  He grabbed several paper napkins. He handed her a Coke when he reached her then held out the paper bowl of tortilla chips covered by cheese sauce and topped with sliced jalapeños.

  “Yummy,” Dara said. “Perfect carnival food.”

  While they ate, Jack and Dara strolled down an aisle between the Ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl.

  She nodded to the latter as she licked cheese sauce from her finger. “That used to be my favorite ride when I was a little kid. That and the carousel.” She smiled. “As I grew older, I liked the Orbiter and the Swinger. Friends talked me into the Zipper and Sea Ray, but they both scared the crap out of me.”

  Jack gave her a mischievous look. “I bet I could get you on something scary.”

  She tried to hold back a smile. “We’ll see.”

  “How about roller coasters?” Jack linked his fingers with hers. “Ever been to Magic Mountain?”

  “Yes.” The wind picked up her hair and chilled her neck. “I’m a little embarrassed to say I only went on the wimpy rides. What few there are.”

  “This time you’ll have me to hold you.” The corner of Jack’s mouth quirked. “You’ll have no reason to be afraid. Or wimpy.”

  Dara couldn’t help a big smile. “You might have to promise me more than that to get me into one of those rides.”

  “I can think of a few things.” He winked. “Not suitable to discuss in an amusement park with kids around.”

  Dara laughed at the teasing grin on his face. “Oh, I know you can.”

  The time they shared together was so relaxing and fun. She liked the way he teased her and the way he made her feel—cared for and appreciated.

  Regardless of what his true feelings might be, he made her feel loved, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  And Jack—she’d never seen this side of him, so playful and fun.

  “The Zipper.” Jack tugged her hand in the direction of the ride that truly did scare the crap out of her.
r />   She shook her head but still smiled. “I’d really rather not.”

  “Doesn’t sound like a flat-out no to me,” he said.

  “Uh…” She swallowed. He did make her feel safe. “Maybe?”

  “Now that sounds like a yes.”

  Dara groaned. She couldn’t resist him.

  It wasn’t long before he had her on the Zipper. She screamed as they whirled in the air and gripped Jack’s hand so tightly her knuckles ached.

  Her stomach bottomed out at the same time fear crawled up her throat.

  When they finally came to a stop and got off the ride, Dara could barely catch her breath, much less walk straight.

  Jack steadied her. “I thought you were going to break the bones in my hand.”

  “Serves you right.” She matched his teasing tone. “I almost lost my nachos. And I did warn you.”

  “Yes, you did.” He gripped her hand again as a rush of chill air swept over them. “Cold?”

  She shivered. “A little.”

  He brought her to a stop off to the side and released her hand long enough to turn up her collar and button her jacket up to her neck. “There you go.”

  “Thanks.” She pulled her braid out of her jacket and let it lay over her shoulder.

  “I love your hair.” Jack fingered the end of her braid. “It’s so thick and beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” She leaned into him as he put his arm around her shoulders.

  “I think we have just enough time to go on another ride,” he said.

  She groaned. “How about you sit in the dunking pool and I’ll throw balls at the paddle? Now that would be more fun.”

  “And freezing.” He guided her toward a ride that looked like hammers that swung and crossed. “How about the Loop-O-Plane?”

  “How about not?” She didn’t really mind going on the ride with Jack. She might be terrified, but she’d be with him.

  When it was time to see the start of the rodeo before Leslie competed, they headed to the grandstands.

  Jack’s love for Dara grew with every smile, every laugh, every kiss. He wanted to say those words, I love you.

  He didn’t want to scare her away. Yet, he didn’t think he would.