Once a Rancher by Linda Lael Miller

uncomplicated friendliness. “Drake and Mace both told me you were a looker, and they sure weren’t kidding. I’d kill to have your coloring.” She gestured at the truck. “If you want to come shopping with us, hop in.”
    â€œI, er, can’t.” Grace was taken completely off guard. “I have a dozen errands to run, but thanks for the invitation.”
    â€œSome other time, then. I’d better hurry or Slater will strangle me.” With a wave Raine hurried toward the truck, the kids ahead of her. Moments later they were all aboard, and the rig’s engine roared to life. Grace got back in her own car and followed the cheery little group down the driveway, feeling surprisingly unsettled. She wasn’t interested in a relationship with anyone, much less another man who was gone most of the time, a man who reminded her more than slightly of her ex-husband. Not only that, Slater apparently came with baggage.
    She had enough of her own.
    So why did she care whether he had a child and a beautiful ex? (Assuming she was his ex, of course.)
    That was a question she needed to ask herself over a glass of iced tea, once she’d gotten the oil changed in the car, gone to the dentist for a routine visit, went to the bank and dropped by the quilt shop she’d seen in town. She’d decided she wanted to treat herself and brighten up her bedroom, and a colorful quilt might be just the thing.
    So she certainly hadn’t lied about her full afternoon. She didn’t get much time off, and when she did, she had to make it count.
    After all that, she might sit down and read the “new” novel she’d picked up three months ago and then left sitting, unopened, on the coffee table. She’d actually had to dust it the other day.
    With her luck, the story’s hero would have memorable blue eyes, wavy dark hair and an unforgettable smile.
    * * *
    T HEY GOT TO the arena just in time for kick-off.
    Slater could tell Ryder had enjoyed the ride in the sleek private plane, and he didn’t blame him. Taking a charter was infinitely better than flying commercial airlines, and Wyoming’s incomparable scenery made it even more of a treat. It was breezy that day, so the flight was hardly smooth, but they’d landed safely, and the car sent by Tripp’s friend was there to take them to the field. Slater had called ahead to arrange a rental car for Raine and Daisy.
    This was turning out to be a sweet deal; they had a luxury suite, with a clear view of the whole field. Even a teenager’s normal feigned boredom with just about everything was set aside, for this afternoon, anyway. Ryder had talked to Daisy a little bit on the ride in from the airport, just short sentences, mostly in answer to her incessant questions, but he hadn’t been unfriendly or condescending. Tripp had let the boy sit up in the cockpit for a while before landing, and when Ryder had returned to his seat, he’d been wearing a big grin.
    It wasn’t hard to guess that a fourteen-year-old boy who flew in a private plane to a college football game and then sat in a suite couldn’t wait to tell his friends at school. Maybe Slater would get a nod for being a film producer and Tripp for being a pilot. Ryder seemed like a kid who might benefit from some personal attention, especially some adult male attention.
    He’d have to ask about Ryder’s mother sometime if he could ever get Grace alone for a private conversation. When he’d spoken to her assistant, Meg, she had made it pretty clear that the dinner invitation was to talk business concerning the resort. He’d resigned himself to the fact that the conference manager would join them because he was asked if he cared to bring his assistant along. He normally would, but Nate had flown home to Boulder to see his parents and get in some well-deserved time with his girlfriend. Slater hated to break it to him that he’d already come up