“I don’t know what was in the air that day,” Nell murmured. “Grady and Glen calling me up like that.”

“Did you go to the dance?”

“Briefly,” Nell said, “but Emma had an upset stomach that day. I made an appearance, said hello to some friends I don’t see often and left shortly after the music started.”

“Grady was there,” Caroline said, fondly recalling their one dance. Ladies’ choice, and she’d been the one to approach him. Those few short minutes in Grady’s arms had been wonderful. Afterward she’d hoped he’d ask her to dance himself, but he’d wandered back to where he’d been sitting with Cal Patterson and hadn’t spoken to her again. Caroline had felt bitterly disappointed.

“…any reason?” Nell asked.

Caroline caught only the last part of the question. “Reason?” she repeated.

“That you’re asking about me and Grady?”

“Not really,” she said, then figured she owed her friend the truth. “He asked me to lunch the other day.”

“And you went?”

Caroline nodded.

“And you had a good time?”

“A great time,” Caroline admitted.

Nell shifted the weight of the groceries in her hands. “Listen, Caroline, if you’re worried about there being anything romantic between me and Grady, don’t give it another thought. Grady’s one of the most honorable men I know, but—” her voice dipped with emotion “—I’m still in love with Jake.”

“Oh, Nell.” Caroline hugged her friend.

“Oh, damn it all,” Nell said, blinking furiously. “I’ve got to scoot. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Sure.” It would be good to sit down and talk with her friend. Both their lives were so busy it was difficult to find the time.

“Jeremy. Emma.” Nell called her children again, and the two came running.

Caroline waved them off and headed toward the parking lot, deep in thought. So, what Richard had told her was true. This was what made him dangerous. He tossed in a truth now and then just to keep everyone guessing. But for once, she wished he’d been lying.

* * *

GRADY HAD BEEN PENSIVE ever since the night Caroline stayed for dinner, Savannah observed. He sat at the kitchen table, supposedly writing out an order for Richard to pick up at the feed store later that afternoon. But for the past five minutes, all he’d done was stare blankly into space.

Savannah had to bite her tongue. Laredo had repeatedly warned her against any further matchmaking efforts between her brother and Caroline, but he might as well have asked her to stop breathing. Grady was miserable and Caroline hadn’t been any happier. If it was within her power to bring them together—these two people who were so obviously meant for each other—what possible harm could it do?

Considering that thought, Savannah poured her brother a fresh cup of coffee.

Grady glanced up and thanked her with an off-center smile.

“Something on your mind?” she asked. If he voluntarily brought up the subject, all the better.

“Nothing important,” he murmured and reached for the steaming mug. He raised it tentatively to his lips, then glanced at her as if tempted to seek her advice.

Savannah held her breath, hoping Grady would ask her about Caroline. He didn’t.

“The church dinner’s this weekend,” she said, speaking quickly.

Grady responded with what sounded like a grunt, the translation of which she already knew. He wasn’t interested.

Savannah glared at him. If she wrung his neck, she wondered, would he have any idea why? “Caroline’s bringing her applesauce cake,” she added casually. “Her mother’s recipe.”

At the mention of her friend’s name, Grady raised his head. “Caroline’s going to the church dinner?”

“Of course.” At last, a reaction. Her brother might be one of the most intelligent men she knew, but when it came to women he was the class dunce. “I’m bringing my chicken teriyaki salad,” she added, as if this was significant.

“Is Laredo going?”

“Yes, and Ellie and Glen and just about everyone else in town.”

“Oh.”

Savannah figured she was due a large heavenly reward for her patience. Oh. Was that all he could say? Poor Caroline.

“It isn’t a date thing, is it?”

Savannah didn’t know how to answer. If she let him assume everyone was bringing a date, it might scare him off. On the other hand, if she said nothing, someone else might ask Caroline.

“This shouldn’t be such a difficult question,” Grady said, glaring at her.

“Yes and no. Some people will come with dates and some won’t.”

He mulled that over. “Does Caroline have a date?”

Savannah had to restrain herself from hugging Grady’s neck and crying out for joy. He wasn’t as dense as she’d thought. “Not that I know of.” This, too, was said casually, as though she hadn’t the least bit of interest in Caroline’s social life.

“Oh.”

Grady was back to testing her patience again. She waited an entire minute before she ventured another question.

“Are you thinking of inviting her and Maggie?”

“Me?” Grady’s eyes widened as if this were a new thought.

“Yes, you,” she returned pointedly.

“I’m…thinking about it,” he finally said.

Her face broke out in a smile and she clapped her hands. “That’s wonderful.”

“What’s wonderful?” Richard asked, wandering into the kitchen. He reached for a banana, peeled it and leaned expectantly against the kitchen counter.

Grady and Savannah exchanged looks. “The church dinner,” she answered for them both.

“Yeah, I heard about that,” he said with his mouth full. “Either of you going?”

“I think so.” Again Savannah took the initiative.

“Then I’ll give some thought to attending, too.”

Both Grady and Savannah remained silent.

“I should probably have a date, though, don’t you think?” He pondered his own question. “Caroline. I’ll ask Caroline,” he said triumphantly. “She’ll jump at the chance to go with me.”

3

“YOU’RE A DAMN FOOL, THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE,” Grady muttered as he barreled down the highway toward Promise, driving twenty miles over the speed limit.

The reason for this hasty trip had to do with Caroline Daniels. By dinnertime he’d recognized that either he made his move now and invited her to the church dinner or let Richard beat him to the punch. Of course, he could have just phoned and been done with it, but that didn’t seem right, not when anyone on the ranch could pick up a telephone receiver and listen in on the conversation. By anyone, he meant Richard. Besides, Grady preferred to talk to Caroline in person; it seemed more…meaningful.

He’d never been good at this courtship thing, but damn it all, he wasn’t going to let his brother cheat him out of taking Caroline and Maggie to that church dinner. Richard wasn’t interested in Caroline—Grady was sure of it—any more than he’d fallen head over heels in love with Ellie Frasier. His brother was far more concerned with cheating him out of the pleasure of Caroline’s company. Except that he had no intention of standing idly by and letting it happen.

Once he’d made his decision, Grady knew he should act on it. Naturally there was always the risk that he’d arrive at Caroline’s with his heart dangling from his sleeve only to learn that Richard had already asked her out for Saturday night.

Even knowing he might be too late didn’t stop him. He wanted to attend the dinner with Caroline and Maggie more than he’d wanted anything in a long while. It surprised him how much.

The drive into town, during which he thought about the approach he’d take with Caroline, seemed to take no time at all. His goal was to ask her to be his date before Richard did, and at the same time keep his pride intact if she refused. No small task, considering past experience.