“I see the way you look at her, Walker. And I see the way she looks at you. You’re both in committed relationships, so please don’t do something stupid.”

I glanced back over to Liza. “I love Jessica. I would never do anything to hurt her. But I can’t stop my feelings for Liza, Jase. She’s like a sister to me.”

The corner of his mouth pulled up into a slight smile. “Uh-huh. Like a sister. I’ll see ya in a few hours.”

I gave him a quick nod and walked out of Liza’s room. The whole way out to my truck, I tried to make sense out of the feelings running rampant in my head. Ava had woken up and moved to the front seat where she was leaning against the passenger window. When I started the truck she groaned.

“Oh God, I’m never drinking again.”

I laughed and put the truck in reverse and started to head down the driveway. I looked over to the house and gasped when I saw Liza standing at her window with her bedroom light on, watching me drive off.

I WIPED THE sweat from my forehead and leaned against my truck. “Shit, it’s hot out.”

Layton laughed. “Welcome home! Just think, it’s not even summer yet.”

I rolled my eyes and took a swig from my water. The cattle had been hanging around us the last hour. Hoping for an early feeding.

I looked over to see my father finishing up with the fence repair. Jase placed some tools in the back of the ranch truck and sighed. “I’m never drinking again. Ever.”

Layton laughed and slapped Jase on the back. “What’s the matter, son? Can’t handle your alcohol?”

My dad chuckled. He was just about finished with the fence repair.

Jase grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and shook his head. “I guess not, because I feel like shit.”

“How was Liza feeling?” I asked.

Jase shrugged. “I guess she’s okay. She woke up all happy, then grabbed her damn Kindle and curled up on the sofa in the den.” Jase looked over to Layton. “Dad, I still think it’s unfair that she gets to do nothing and I have to work my ass off.”

Layton raised his eyebrows at Jase. “Do you want to run this ranch someday, son?”

Jase smiled. “Hell, yeah, I do, Dad.”

Layton shrugged. “There you go. Liza doesn’t. Stop being a pansy-ass and man up.”

I threw my head back and laughed. Jase gave me the finger and shook his head.

Jase let out a breath and said, “This is going to be a long summer. I can see it now.”

I pushed off the truck and shoved Jase, making him spill his water down his chest.

“Nah, it’s going to be one hell of a summer!”

Jase dropped the water and took off running after me. We spent the next ten minutes running around like two ten year olds again. My father finally told us to knock it off and get in the truck. We both jumped into the bed and just sat silently all the way back to the main barn. I closed my eyes and took in all the smells. I loved being home. I hoped like hell Jessica would love it as much as I did. I opened my eyes and pulled out my phone. I had a text, so I opened it up.

Jessica: Oh my gosh. I’m having a blast. Getting massages now, then we’re getting our hair done at some salon my mother insisted we go to. Then we’re checking out a new restaurant. Miss you and love you!

I sighed. I had feeling that, once Jessica got here, she’d be far from happy.

I WALKED OUT of the barn and ran smack into Walker.

“Shit,” we both said.

I had to keep myself from moaning as I looked at him. He was covered in sweat and not wearing a shirt. Lord, why did his body have to look so good?

“Oh…um…hey there, Walker. Whatcha up to?” I asked, trying to avoid looking at him. He glanced at my left hand before meeting my gaze. He seemed to be doing this every time we saw each other. I wasn’t sure whether he was looking for the ring he gave me, or checking for my engagement ring.

“Just got done unloading some feed. I need to saddle up a horse and check the fence line. You feel like going for a ride?”

Jesus, I wish he would put his shirt back on. The tattoo on his arm was amazing. The design was intricate and the colors beautiful. I could stare at it for hours. I looked him in the eyes and focused on his baby blue eye. “Sure,” I said. “I’d love to.”

“Can you saddle up Sweet Kate and Runner?”

“You want to ride Sweet Kate and Runner?” I asked as I glanced over to both stalls. They were the offspring of my father’s prized racehorse, Lay it Low.

Walker gave me a smirk. “You afraid to ride Runner, Liza?”

“Pssh, no,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I can ride any horse in this barn with no problem at all.”

I glanced at Walkers massive chest and perfect abs. Oh God. He has a V.

I swallowed and said, “Are you on steroids or something?”

The moment it came out of my mouth, I regretted it.

Walker laughed and flexed his muscles. “Nope. This is called hard work, baby. It’s all hard work. I know how to pump and how to pump it good.”

My stomach did a crazy flip and I felt myself blushing. The image of Walker making love to me flooded my mind. I took a step back to break my trance.

“I’ll, um, saddle up the horses.” I turned and headed to the tack room.

“Good, I’ll take a quick shower.”

I spun around. “What? Where? Here? In the barn office?”

Walker stopped walking and looked at me. “Yeah, do you have a problem with that? Jase and I keep extra clothes in there.”

My jaw dropped. This was not good. I shrugged and tried to laugh, as if I didn’t care what Walker did. “I don’t care where you take a shower,”

He walked to the end of the barn where the ranch hands’ office was. It was more like a small apartment. Walker was formally staying in the foreman’s cabin on the ranch, but I heard Daddy telling Reed that Walker tended to sleep in the barn apartment so that he could get an early start with things on the ranch.

I smiled as I began getting the horses ready. Daddy had been talking about Walker to Reed last night. They were impressed with how hard Walker was working. They were planning on taking my mother and Courtney on a cruise and letting Walker and Jase handle the ranch. I knew it would make Walker really happy to know our fathers trusted him enough to run things while they were gone.

When I got both horses saddled up and ready to go, I sat down on a hay bale and waited. “What is taking him so long?” I whispered to myself. I stood and walked toward the office door. I reached for the knob and paused for a second before I pushed it open. I stopped when I heard Walker on the phone.