He stood there, shifting his weight, then finally cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry about before,” he said gruffly. “I misread the situation. I can’t figure out why I did. I know you wouldn’t hurt Phoebe. It’s just...I saw her laying there and I reacted.” He shrugged. “I’m sorry,” he repeated.

He knew Zane wasn’t going to say anything. Apologizing for screwing up never made it better.

His brother looked at him for a long time. Finally Zane tossed the last of his coffee into the fire and rose.

“I know I can be a real bastard,” Zane said. “And I know why you thought something had happened with Phoebe. It’s okay.”

Chase blinked. He couldn’t believe it. “You mean you’re not mad?”

“It was an honest mistake. One that could have cost you your pretty face, but that’s another story.”

Chase grinned. “You saying you could take me, old man?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Chase knew he was tall, but he hadn’t filled out yet. Zane had a couple of inches and about forty pounds of muscle on him. Still, he couldn’t help taking a boxer’s stance and raising his fists.

“When and where,” he joked.

Zane chuckled. “Get some sleep.”

Chase nodded. “’Night.”

He headed to his tent, feeling better than he had in a long time.

* * *

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Phoebe shared her dilemma with Rocky.

“I’m not sure how much Zane likes me,” she told the gelding, “but he wants me, which is a good thing, right? I mean sexual attraction is exciting.”

She thought of the horse’s limitation in that department. “Am I making you feel bad by discussing this?”

Rocky stomped one of his hooves, which she took to mean it was fine.

“So I was wondering if I should, you know, ride close to Zane this morning.” She buckled the saddle into place and checked the stirrups. “Is that too forward? I don’t want him to think I’m easy.”

She thought about what had happened the previous day. How she’d practically rubbed herself against him like a cat in heat.

“It might be too late for that.”

Rocky shook his head, which she took to be an equine version of “go for it.”

“Okay. If you say so.”

She led Rocky to a stump. She climbed up on it and managed a semi-graceful mount. Once she was settled in her saddle, she urged him forward and joined up with the milling cattle. Zane’s call of “move ’em out” sent a thrill through her, as always.

Manny started out at a slow walk. The other steers fell into place. Phoebe took up her spot, then glanced around casually to see if anyone was paying attention to her. When she was sure she was unobserved, she gave Rocky a very light tap with her heels. He picked up the pace.

After three minutes of bone-jarring trot, she was even with Zane and able to slow to a more manageable walk. Of course now that she was here, she didn’t know what to say.

She settled on a simple, “’Morning.”

He responded with one of his familiar grunts.

Phoebe reminded herself of his claim to want her and how hard he’d gotten while they’d been kissing and how he’d touched her breast. Courage in place, she sucked in a breath.

“Do you mind if I ride up with you for a while?” she asked.

“I’d like that.”

Pleasure made her beam. “How’d you sleep?”

He chuckled. “Like hell. You?”

She thought of her erotic dreams. “I might have tossed and turned a little.”

“Good.”

She glanced at him and saw him flash a smile. She grinned back. Contentment made her relax.

“So what was it like growing up around here?” she asked. “The ranch is pretty far from town. Did you have a long trip to school?”

“I took the bus. It was about forty-five minutes each way because of all the stops, unless the weather was bad. After some storms I couldn’t get to classes, or if it got bad during the day, I spent the night at a friend’s house.”

“Wow. Really?” The worst she’d ever faced was a twenty-minute walk or a canceled day because of an earthquake. “Did you have a lot of friends on the bus?”

“Sure. We’d tease the girls, or the littler kids.”

“You mean torture.”

His smile returned. “That, too.”

“I know Chase is your half brother. Why didn’t your parents have more children together?” She bit her lower lip. “Is that too personal? I mean, did your mom die when you were really young?”

“I was twelve,” he said. “The town got me through. All the women brought us food. My friends’ families had me over so I could get away from the sadness.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that, but I’m glad you had support.”

“Me, too.” He glanced at her, then away. “As to why my parents didn’t have other kids before Mom died, I guess it was because they would be in the way.”

“Of what? It’s a ranch. Isn’t there plenty of room?”

Zane stared straight ahead. “My parents loved each other more than they loved anything else. Or anyone. Having other people around was a distraction they didn’t want.”

Phoebe couldn’t imagine such a thing. “But you were their child.”