Chapter One

Emily drove through the west gates of Blakely Ranch, praying the good luck train she’d been riding wasn’t about to come to a screeching halt.

Though how that would be possible, she didn’t know, because last she heard, her childhood nemesis was in permanent residence.

A fact she’d been doing her best to ignore since returning to her hometown several months ago.

Running her hand over her favorite jeans, she let out a long breath and knew that reducing Rick to nothing more than a long-standing rival wasn’t fair. Or even particularly true.

He’d been her best friend, her partner in crime—as well as the very bane of her existence for more years than she could count. They’d fought as often as they agreed, and she hoped when they did end up in one another’s company again, they’d find a way to be civil. Something they’d rarely managed since setting eyes on one another in grade school.

They were the flint to one another’s bad ideas, and if they hadn’t been squabbling like a pair of junkyard dogs and trying to get the best of one another, then they’d been egging each other on and twisting themselves into the best kind of trouble.

Which turned out to be a great source of entertainment for the local population as well as fodder for many lucrative bets for those who chose correctly. And truth be told, it had been a hell of a lot of fun for them as well.

Until it wasn’t.

Ignoring the memories that fought for her attention, she flexed her hands and knew the past needed to stay where it was. Because not a drop of good would come out of revisiting the how and why of Rick and her ending up as strangers.

Which begged the question: Why was she the vet his mama had requested to perform the well-animal checkups on the horses? God willing, the answer didn’t have anything to do with the matchmaking she liked to conduct on a semi-regular basis.

Not that she and Rick could ever be considered a match of any kind, since the only thing to come of them being together had been hospital visits, regrettable accidents, and unexplained barn fires.

Telling herself to focus on the present, she looked out the window and studied the winding ribbon of brilliant blue-green water that made up the Guadalupe River. She noticed a shirtless cowboy running his horse at full speed along the bank and wondered where he was headed. Only an emergency or being late for a meal would make someone move that fast in the morning heat, and she didn’t know which one it was.

Checking her watch, she realized she might be late, too, and hit the gas. She kept an eye on the rider as her big red vet truck spat up gravel and enjoyed the view of the man’s muscled back as he galloped along. “Nothing wrong with that,” she said quietly, watching the cowboy pull on a shirt as he crossed the river. Glancing over at her dog, she grinned and watched Mabel tilt her head. “You’re right, we shouldn’t objectify him like he’s the week’s special at the butcher’s, and we will keep that bit of oogling to ourselves.”

She kept her eyes trained on the barn as it came into view, feeling a warm breeze push its way through the window, and scanned the area quickly. Not seeing Rick, she let out a quiet whoop and parked her truck under the shade of a large oak. She threw open her door, glancing around. “I think we’re in the clear, Mabel. The enemy hasn’t been sighted—”

She heard a sharp whistle and looked up, feeling the air constrict in her chest.

Spoke too soon.

Doing her best to show no reaction, she watched Rick’s long legs eat up the distance that separated them and hated the familiar punch of irritation and want. “God, why couldn’t you just grant me this one small mercy?” she muttered.

“I see you’ve kept up the habit of talkin’ to yourself,” Rick said as he stopped a half a foot away. He looked her up and down, which was no small task seeing as how they were so close. “You don’t look any crazier than you did at seventeen, but when was that ever a good measure?”

Standing straight, she raked her eyes over his face slowly and hated the fact he’d somehow found a way to become more handsome. The boy she’d known at eighteen was long gone, and in his place was a man with sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and lips so full they were indecent.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “How the devil didn’t find you and make you do his bidding seems damn near impossible.”

“Woman, are you sure he didn’t?”

Before she could reply, her dog jumped out of the truck and ran over, greeting Rick like a long-lost friend. “Traitor,” she grumbled as she watched him bend down and kiss the top of her mutt’s head. Looking skyward, she closed her eyes. “Dear Lord, please give me a bucketful of patience, so I won’t do something I’ll likely regret.”

Rick ran his thumb over his mouth and took a step closer. “Were you talkin’ to me?”

She dropped her head slowly and let an insincere smile form. “No, as a matter of fact, I was just lettin’ God know that I might need help so I don’t do something unforgivable before the day is done.”

“Didn’t you know physical relations between men and women is what the good Lord put us here to enjoy? And there’s nothing wrong with wanting carnal things with me.”

The staccato beat of her heart was easily ignored. The need to wipe the cocky grin off his face not so much. “My thoughts were more along the lines of doing major harm to your person. But you go ahead and hold on to your fantasies, ’cause it’s likely the only thing keeping you warm at night.”

He grinned. “Goddamn, I missed our squabbles.”

Biting the inside of her cheeks and the retort on the tip of her tongue, she lifted her shoulder carelessly. “That makes one of us.”

“Your finger is tapping against your leg, so I know you’re lying.” He closed the scant bit of distance left between them, bent down, and put his mouth close to her ear. “It’s good to see you, Em.”

Lord, but she needed to put some space between her and this too-sexy-for-his-own-good man. She pushed his chest and felt a massive wall of muscle that wasn’t there when he’d left for college and told her pheromones to take a hike. “I don’t know that I can say the same.”

“Son, you behave,” Ms. Celeste called out as she walked in their direction. “I don’t want you irritating my vet.”

“Mama, I am doing nothin’ but behaving.”

Ms. Celeste sniffed. “You haven’t done that a minute past your second birthday, and considering you just turned thirty-two, that’s far too many years of nonsense I’ve had to put up with.”

Covering the snicker that tried to escape, Emily coughed and enjoyed Rick’s disgruntled frown. Nothing she enjoyed more than having the big bad SEAL schooled by his mama. He may be one of the most feared warriors on the planet, but when he was home, he was nothing more than the boy who found trouble easily. “Good morning, Ms. Celeste. It’s lovely to see you.”

The woman pulled her into a warm hug. “And you, too, sweetheart. When your mama told me that you joined the mobile vet service, I knew you were the one I wanted to take care of the horses.”

“That’s very kind,” Emily said as she pulled away, giving the doyenne of the third largest ranch in Texas her best smile. The woman was a force to be reckoned with, and she knew that nothing less than her best would be accepted.

“Your mama also told me that you’re single now, and I’ve got a man who I think would be the perfect boyfriend.”

Rick choked and then sucked in a breath. Emily gave him a stink eye. “That’s very kind of you, but I’m not really looking for anything serious, and since Rick and I would just as soon harm one another as have a civil conversation, it’s probably best avoided.”

Ms. Celeste shook her head and smiled. “Oh, honey, you’re too good for my boy. I’ve got someone much better in mind.”

Rick frowned. “Mama, how can you talk that way about your favorite child?”

“Son, we both know that your baby brother is my favorite since he gave me the fewest gray hairs.” She waved him off. “Also, you’ve told me in no uncertain terms the last thing you want is a woman who will make you a better man and give you enough loving to make you smile more often than frown.”

Hearing the sound of hooves cut across the gravel, Emily turned, seeing the man she’d spotted earlier crossing the river. At least now she knew why he was running his horse full throttle. He must’ve been expected by Ms. Celeste.

“Here he is,” she called out as she looped her arm through Emily’s. “Get yourself cleaned up, Cody, and join us in the barn for a glass of lemonade. We need to introduce Emily to the horses, and then you can work with her this afternoon.”

“I’d love nothing more,” Cody replied as he smiled widely and tipped his hat. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Emily, and I look forward to getting to know you.”

“That’s very sweet,” she said as she watched Rick’s hands fist at his sides. Keeping as straight a face as she could, she followed Ms. Celeste into the enormous two-story barn and decided the last ten minutes couldn’t have gone better had she planned them herself.

Maybe working out at the Blakely Ranch wouldn’t drive her to drink all the tequila in Victoria County after all.

…

Rick stared at Emily’s ass as she walked into the barn and ground his teeth together, knowing his mama was up to no good. He didn’t buy her speech for a minute and was confident she didn’t expect him to. The woman was not only sharp as a tack, but wily. Which meant he should clue the ranch hand in and tell him he didn’t have a prayer of ever startin’ up something with Emily.

“Cody!”

“Yes, sir,” the other man responded as he dismounted his horse.

“I’m a year older than you, so there’s no need to ‘sir’ me.”

Cody took off his hat and rubbed his hand across his forehead. “Sorry, you just seem a whole lot older than me.”

Narrowing his eyes, Rick tried to determine if the guy meant anything by it or was just speaking his mind plainly. Since he looked about as innocent as a lamb, he let it go. “I just wanted to let you know that no matter what my mama says, nothing is going to happen between you and Emily.”

“Why?”

Crossing his arms, Rick tipped back on his heels. “Because she’s using you as a pawn in her game of chess to get Emily and me together once and for all.”

“But she told me earlier that—”

Rick put up his hand and shook his head. “Trust me, you have no chance with Emily Conner. Ever. Under any circumstance. In this lifetime or the next.” Seeing the lines between the man’s brows deepen, he realized he’d likely said too much. “Anyway, didn’t want you to waste your time.”

“Are you sure?” he asked as he looked into the barn. “Because she gave me a very friendly smile.”

Rick snapped his fingers and waited for Cody to tear his eyes away from his girl. “Couldn’t be more sure. I’ll work with Em this afternoon. You’ll go out to the south pasture and check the fence line.”

Shoulders drooping, Cody nodded. “Yes, sir.”

A bit of guilt sliced through Rick’s gut, but it was best the man didn’t let false hope grow. Better to understand the lay of the land right off and not get into something that would never have a chance of success. “Get yourself something to eat and then head out.”

Running his hand along his horse’s neck, Cody took one last glance into the barn. “You’ll tell your mama about the change of plans, then?”

“Absolutely.” He slapped Cody’s back then marched into the barn, gearing himself up for not only a conversation with his mama, but the woman he’d never stopped thinking about.

Rick held on to the mare’s halter and began cataloging all the changes in his lifelong frenemy and partner in crime. Watching Emily give the horse her shots, he noted she was at least an inch taller than she was at seventeen. The deadly curves and long legs she’d taunted him all through high school with were the same, though, along with her general disapproval of anything he said or did.

Which, truth be told, was giving more than a few feels.

So much shit had changed in the ten years he’d spent on the Teams that the familiarity of Emily giving him crap like she always had warmed his nearly dead heart. Growing up, she’d been the Bonnie to his Clyde, the best partner in crime a person could hope for and the one who challenged him more than anyone ever had. She’d also been the owner of his heart from the moment she took on his first dare, and it was probably past time he pretended like that would ever change.

He smiled at her. “So should I call you doctor now, or can I still call you Stitches?”

Dumping an empty vial into a bucket, she looked up. “You can call me Dr. Conner or ma’am.”

“Sounds kind of kinky.” He stroked the mare’s neck and waggled his eyebrows. “Is there a whip that goes with that title?” When her cheeks bloomed pink and her mouth tightened into a firm line, he grinned. “It’s pretty acceptable now, so don’t feel like you have to hide your true nature with me.”

“I never considered it for a moment,” she said as she moved her eyes over him slowly. “Truth is I like to travel with one in the truck in case any…opportunities come up during the day.” She gave him a wink and then picked up her medical bag along with a bucket of empty syringes. “My Girl Scout training has never left me, so don’t you worry, Rick. I’m always prepared.” Spinning on her heel, she walked over to the next horse.

He kissed Tootles and then leaned close to his horse. “She’s better than I remember, girl.”

“You talkin’ to yourself?”

“No, talking to my horse.”

“Undoubtedly the only woman in the whole county willing to listen.”

“Probably so,” he replied as he turned Tootles toward the barn. “This old girl has heard everything I’ve had to say for the last year and still loves me.” When he didn’t hear an immediate snarky retort, he looked over his shoulder and hated the look of sympathy on her too pretty face.

She’d always been one of the few people who could see beneath his bravado and bullshit, and it was as uncomfortable today as it was when he’d been ten.

No doubt the gossip in town had reached her ears, which meant she knew that he’d come home from the Navy all but broken. Not that he was any more. Hell to the absolute no. He’d made damn sure of that and had done the work necessary to piece his body and mind back together after the op in Ramadi went to shit.

Did it take a lot longer than he would’ve liked?

Absolutely.

Did it matter in the end?

Not even a little.

Because he was as happy and healthy as he’d ever been, and it might be about time to see if he and Emily could get on the other side of their estrangement.

A stable boy ambled out of the barn, and Rick signaled for the kid to take his horse inside. “Give her a bucket of the sweet oats.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rick tipped his chin at the kid and then returned to Emily, stroking the flank of the horse she was checking. “Do you love being a vet?”

“More than I imagined,” she answered as she pushed the horse’s lips up and started checking its teeth. “Can’t believe you came home in one piece. Your favorite stories growing up were always about men giving their lives in battle. I thought when you became a SEAL, you’d find your glory in the desert of Yemen or Afghanistan and come home in a box.”

“Disappointed I didn’t?”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Not at all, ’cause now I have a shot at torturing you and doing the job myself.”

The sound of her laughter was dark and inviting, making the craving deep in his bones hard, if not impossible, to ignore. A ton of weight disappeared as he watched her bright-blue eyes spark with mischief, and he knew that keeping company with Emily was going straight to the top of his to-do list. “Maybe I cheated death so I could come home and do the same thing to you.”

Sliding her hand to her hip, she gave him a smile. “Now how’s that possible, since I’m the one with the whip?”

More weight disappeared, and he let out a laugh. “Missed the hell out of you, Stitches.”

“That’s hard to believe since I haven’t heard a word from you since you left for college.”

“I knew if I kept in touch, I never would’ve been able to stay way.”

Confusion clouded her eyes, and he knew the sooner he could manage the overdue explanation he owed her, the better.

“Now that we’re going to be around one another from time to time, I hope we have a chance to get reacquainted and talk about what happened all those years ago.”

Emily stroked the horse’s nose and then wrinkled her own. “I’m more than happy to leave the past where it is. I also don’t know that I’m interested in keeping company with someone who used to tug my pigtails.” She pulled her long braid over her shoulder and twirled the end. “You also insulted me within a minute of meeting and told me I looked like a horse.”

“I can’t believe you remember that.”

“It would be impossible not to, since it was the first thing you ever said to me. My sweet little innocent heart was all but crushed by your mean words.” Emily pressed her hands to her chest and sighed. “It’s a miracle that I survived the experience.”

He rocked back on the heel of his boot and let out a chuckle. “You hauled off and punched me in the stomach and then told everyone I smelled like a stinky cow, so you weren’t crushed for long.” He lifted her silky braid. “I thought your honey-blond hair was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen, and my horse was my favorite thing, so…”

She blinked. “You trying to tell me you were being nice?”

“No, since I hated your know-it-all attitude and prissy ways and wanted nothing more than to put you in your place.” Sensing a shift in the energy, he leaned in and heard her sharp intake of breath. “Do you still know best, Emily?”

Her eyes widened…and darkened. Yes. Countless things had changed in the years they spent apart, but the current of energy they’d always seemed to share was the same. Maybe even a bit more potent, if he wasn’t mistaken.

After a long, tense moment during which Rick seriously contemplated kissing the hell out of that sweet mouth, Emily smoothed out his shirt and stepped back. “Not as often as I used to.”

“Well, that’s good news.” Maybe he’d finally get the chance to prove to her that he knew best. About them. He let her braid slip through his fingers and then traced the small scar on her chin. “I never thought you’d follow me into that fallen-down shack to see if the ghost sightings were true.”

She lifted her chin. “You suggested I wasn’t brave enough to confront the apparitions.

Had I known the floor was all but rotted, I would’ve kept my big mouth shut and stayed home.” She tagged the lead rope off the tie bar and held it out.

“Live and learn. That’s all we can do.” He took the rope she offered and felt the mare press her head into his hand. “Patience, girl. All the good things in life take time.”

Emily gave him a world-class eye roll, and he threw her a cocksure smile in response, knowing the time he’d spent getting his mind and soul back together had been worth it. They were two hard surfaces that ground against each other, creating the type of resistance that produced a spark capable of ignition.

Friction.

Sometimes it worked in their favor and other times, not so much.

He took one last look at the woman who’d never left his mind for a day and then led the horse back to the barn, knowing that it was time to see if that friction could ignite a new spark.

The kind that would make them give up the squabbling and give into the loving they’d always danced around.