Your Ranch Or Mine?

But this wasn’t Denver or Chicago or New York. This was Sweet River, Montana, where casual attire usually meant clean jeans and a cowboy shirt for men and a skirt and tank top for women.

She scanned the room and felt tension ease from her shoulders. Though most of the men were wearing jeans, the majority of women had on dresses. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all….

Anna had barely stepped into the cavernous building when she heard her name over the conversational din. Anna turned and widened her eyes at the sight of the dark-haired woman with the stylish bob hurrying toward her, tall and slender with amber-colored eyes that matched her dress. It had been almost thirteen years since Anna had seen her. Yet she’d have known her anywhere.

“I don’t know if you remember me—” the woman began.

“Of course I do.” Anna wrapped her arms around her and gave her a heartfelt hug. “How could I forget Cassie Els, er, Dodds, volleyball player extraordinaire?”

Cassie had been one of her classmates and captain of the volleyball squad. Though she’d grown up poor, she was smart and ambitious. Not to mention she had a killer serve. No one had been surprised when she’d earned a sports scholarship to the University of Montana. But instead of going off to college, she’d married another classmate, Jack Dodds, and had a baby six months later. The last Anna knew the couple had been living in Omaha with their two boys.

“Those carefree days seem like a lifetime ago.” Cassie’s smile dimmed slightly. “And it’s ‘Els’ again. Jack and I have been divorced almost five years.”

“What happened?”

“Long story.” Cassie waved a hand. “One best told over a pitcher of margaritas and a basket of chips.”

“You name the time and place and it’s a plan,” Anna said. “How long are you in town?”

“I’m back for good.” Cassie’s lips curved up in a smile. “The boys are registered for school and Trenton—he’s almost thirteen—has already started football practice.”

Anna couldn’t believe that Cassie had a boy that old. Of course, if she’d had a child right out of high school, that baby would be almost a teenager.

“I told Mitch I wasn’t sure if a thirty-one-year-old unemployed seamstress qualified as young or professional, but he assured me I did,” Cassie continued. “So here I am.”

Anna swallowed hard. “Mitch?”

“Donavan,” Cassie said. “He moved back, too.”

“With you?” Anna could barely push the words past her suddenly numb lips.

“Goodness no.” Cassie laughed. “But I wouldn’t mind if he had.” Her eyes lit up and she waved a hand at a large group milling around the hors d’oeuvres table. “Mitch. Over here.”

Anna stood frozen in place as a tall cowboy broke away from the others and ambled across the concrete floor toward them.

The urge to flee rose up inside Anna, yet this time she didn’t move a muscle. Instead she straightened her spine, dug her nails into her palms and waited. Mature. Confident. She repeated the words to herself as he drew close.

Anna knew the moment he recognized her because his jaw tightened. Still, to his credit, he kept moving forward. She took advantage of the opportunity to let her gaze linger. His short-sleeved cotton shirt showed off muscular forearms tanned by the sun. Although the majority of the men wore jeans, Mitch had eschewed Wranglers for navy pants. His dark wavy hair, longer than most of the men’s in the room, brushed his collar. She couldn’t help remembering how it had felt to slide her fingers through the soft strands and—

“You know Mitch, don’t you, Anna?” Cassie asked.

Anna fisted her hands tighter and nodded. She took a deep steadying breath and inhaled the tangy scent of his cologne, the same brand he’d worn all those years ago. She’d always loved the way he smelled, the way he tasted….

For a second her composure wavered.

Mature and confident. Fixing a smile firmly on her lips, Anna stuck out her hand. “Nice to see you again, Mitch.”

“I heard you were back in town.” He hesitated for the briefest of seconds before his hand closed over hers. His palms, once rough and callused, were now smooth and the mere touch of his fingers sent electricity shooting up her arm.

Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if he’d experienced the same jolt. But his face remained expressionless, his eyes shuttered.

He dropped his hand. An awkward silence descended. Thankfully Stacie’s fiancé, Josh Collins, chose that moment to stroll over with a tray of drinks.

“Care for some wine?” Josh asked, his gaze shifting curiously from Anna to Mitch.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Cassie took a glass of chardonnay and smiled her thanks.

When Josh turned to Anna, she shook her head. With Mitch’s presence affecting her so strongly, she needed coherence more than alcohol.

Mitch took a glass of burgundy and grinned. “Looks like someone has put you to work, Collins.”

“I don’t mind.” The handsome rancher shrugged good-naturedly. “This is an important night for Stacie.”

“May I have your attention, please?” Stacie’s voice rang out over the crowd. Once the room grew silent, the vivacious brunette explained the mixer she’d designed to help everyone get better acquainted.

Anna groaned to herself. When she’d walked in and seen all the small tables with two chairs, she’d immediately thought of speed dating. But instead of racing between potential dates, they’d have five minutes at each table to share information about their business or occupation.

“I love this.” Cassie’s eyes snapped with excitement. She turned to Mitch and gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m so happy you asked me to come with you.”

A twinge of something that felt an awful lot like jealousy stabbed Anna in the heart. The emotion took her by surprise. She’d have sworn on a stack of Bibles that any feelings she’d had for Mitch Donavan had disintegrated years ago.

“It was great seeing you again.” Anna focused her entire attention on Cassie. “I’ll give you a call.”

“I’d like tha—”

“Everyone should be in their seats now,” Stacie called out.

“Ooh, I see an empty seat over there.” Cassie flashed Anna a parting smile and hurried to a table where rancher Wes Danker sat.

Anna scanned the room. Only two empty seats remained. Both at the table next to where she and Mitch stood.

Confident. Mature.

“I guess you’re stuck with me.” Anna slipped into the closest chair and rested her folded hands on the table.

“It appears so.” He pulled out the remaining chair and sat down.

Anna inhaled another steadying breath. Then, for good measure, she took one more. She had five whole minutes. More than enough time to apologize.

“Mitch,” she began, her confidence faltering as his enigmatic gaze settled on her. “I realize this is awkward, but I want—”

“Explain about your business,” Josh instructed, moving from table to table. “Or your job. That’s what this time is for.”

Anna didn’t care about the rules. She’d waited thirteen years to make amends and by God, she was going to seize this opportunity.

“Mitch.” She kept her fingers wrapped tightly together, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. “I—”

“Before I moved back to Sweet River, I had my own architectural firm in Chicago,” he said in a tone you’d use with a stranger. Before she could get another word out, he told her about several of his favorite commercial projects before mentioning that he’d recently started designing custom log homes.

She listened to him extol the many facets of an architect’s life. As he spoke he kept his gaze focused on a spot over her left shoulder. Despite his cool attitude, she heard the pride in his voice as he described several of his designs. This wasn’t just a career for him, but a passion. A passion he’d obviously had since boyhood. Why hadn’t she known this was what he’d always wanted to do with his life?

Because you never asked. You were always too busy talking about yourself.

“Time to switch,” Stacie announced.

Switch? Anna pulled her brows together. “I didn’t get my turn.”

“Sorry,” Josh said with an easy smile. “You can catch up with Mitch later.”

Anna turned back, fully prepared to be a rule-breaker, but Mitch had already risen and moved to the next table. Disappointment rose inside her. Still, Anna consoled herself with the knowledge that once the game of musical chairs was over, she’d have her chance.

But when she finished her last spiel about Alex’s law practice and looked around the room, she realized there would be no second chance with Mitch. Not tonight. The handsome man with brilliant blue eyes had disappeared. And he’d taken the former volleyball captain with him.

Chapter Three

For seven days after the Young Professionals meeting, Anna stalked Mitch Donavan. Okay, perhaps stalked was too strong a word. But whatever you called it, she made it her business to find out more about him. And the YP meeting was her springboard to all things Mitch.

Whenever she ran into someone who knew him, she’d bring up the YP meeting. She’d start talking about who was there and make sure she mentioned his name.

That’s how she found out he was living next door to Pastor Barbee while his log home at the foothills of the Crazy Mountains was being built. It was how she discovered he worked from home. And that he was now coaching the football team of Cassie’s thirteen-year-old.

That last bit of information had given her pause. Until she reminded herself that Mitch’s personal life was none of her concern. She was merely trying to right a wrong, not hook up with the guy.

Anna flipped open the vanity mirror of her Jeep. Since she’d been small, looking her best had given her comfort and helped still her anxiety. She studied her reflection with a critical eye. From the beauty pageants she’d competed in as a teenager, she’d learned that lips could usually benefit from more color. She pulled a small silver tube from her purse and performed a quick touch-up.

Dropping the lipstick back into the bag, Anna snapped the mirror shut. She’d been parked in the alley behind Mitch’s house for almost twenty minutes. She wasn’t sure what his plans were today. What she did know was the longer she procrastinated, the more likely it was that her visit would conflict with something on his schedule. Not to mention Alex was expecting her to open the office at eight and it was already ten minutes past seven.

Taking a deep breath, Anna opened the car door and headed up a stepping-stone path to Mitch’s house. His temporary home was a small one and a half story built shortly after WWII. The neighborhood surrounding it was filled with similar houses. The plethora of mature trees and flower gardens gave the area a warm, friendly feel.

As Anna climbed the steps of the back deck she could hear sounds of movement coming from the kitchen. While she was relieved Mitch was at home, a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. Would he open his heart enough to see that her remorse was genuine? Or would this trip be in vain?

She’d almost reached the door when a beagle came barreling out of Pastor Barbee’s house. The moment the dog saw her, he skidded to a stop. Before she could say “nice doggy,” the animal began barking as if this was jolly old England and he’d spotted a fox.

While Anna loved animals, a dog acting as a neighborhood alarm clock was a complication she hadn’t envisioned. In fact, she’d parked in the alley specifically to avoid drawing attention to her early-morning visit.

She could only hope that once she got inside, the beagle would stop its incessant yapping. Anna knocked and waited for Mitch to open the door. Five seconds passed. Then ten. She knocked again, harder this time. At twenty seconds the dog put its paws on the step of the deck and began to bay.

Anna dropped her gaze. After only a momentary hesitation, she grabbed the knob. It turned easily in her hand. Her lips lifted in triumph as she pushed it open and stepped inside. The smile wavered when she found herself face-to-face with Mitch Donavan.

Yesterday’s five o’clock shadow darkened his cheeks and his hair looked enticingly disheveled. But it was his attire—or lack of—that sent adrenaline spurting through her veins. “Hello, Mitch.”

An odd breathlessness crept into her voice, a breathlessness that only intensified when her attention slipped from his bare chest to the well-worn jeans.

It was odd she’d never realized that a pair of jeans could be so sexy.

“It’s been a while since I lived in Sweet River,” Mitch said.

Anna jerked her attention to his face.

“Last I knew, when a person knocked, they waited for someone to come to the door and invite them inside.”

Though “breaking and entering” wasn’t her style, if he was trying to make her feel guilty, it wasn’t going to work. She could still hear the beagle barking, but thankfully the door muted most of the sound. Anna lifted her chin. “Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures.”

He crossed his arms, drawing attention to his muscular chest.

Anna’s heart stuttered.

“Desperate?” he asked.

“If I’d waited any longer, Barky Von Beagle would have awakened the entire neighborhood.” Anna’s heart resumed a normal rhythm. She gestured with one hand toward the back door, but Mitch didn’t even glance in that direction. Instead his gaze remained riveted on her.

“Most visitors come to the front door,” he said. “Why did you come to the back?”

A simple question. An easy answer. “I didn’t want anyone to see me.”

Mitch lived next door to Pastor Barbee. He knew how Mrs. Barbee loved to talk. He would understand Anna’s desire not to fuel the gossip mill.

But no look of understanding crossed his face. Instead his gaze turned frosty and the temperature in the room plunged twenty degrees. “Why are you here, Anna?”

Considering the way they’d parted, Anna had feared this conversation might be difficult. And from Mitch’s tone, it appeared her fears had been well-founded. Still, she was a woman on a mission. She was determined to apologize, to ease the bad blood between them. But for that to happen she had to find a way to erase the tension so he’d stop glowering and listen to her.

Anna made a great show of sniffing the air. “Coffee smells wonderful. Is there enough for me?”

Mitch hesitated for a second then gestured toward the cupboard. “Extra mugs are in there.”

When he made no move to get one for her, Anna sauntered in that direction, her heart sinking. Perhaps she shouldn’t have come. Maybe some things were better left—

“Cream is in the refrigerator,” he added.

The summer they’d been together he’d often teased her about her fondness for cream with a little bit of coffee. Anna’s steps faltered and she flushed with pleasure. “You remembered.”

His face was a mask, giving nothing away. “What did you want to discuss?”

“Coffee first.” With renewed optimism, Anna chose a mug and filled it with coffee. As she slowly added the cream, she cast surreptitious glances at Mitch. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. His bare chest with just a smattering of dark hair was turning out to be a distraction she didn’t need. Anna brought the cup to her lips and forced a casual tone. “If you want to get dressed, I can wait.”

For a second she thought he might actually do as she’d suggested. Until he glanced at his jeans and hooked a thumb in a belt loop. “I don’t understand the problem. You’ve seen me in a whole lot less.”

Anna flinched. In all these years she’d never spoken of their relationship to anyone. Though they were the only two in the room, she felt like putting a finger to her lips and telling him to shush.

“Nobody knows that.” A thought suddenly struck her. “You haven’t told anyone, have you?”

“I kept my mouth shut,” he said. “That was the deal.”

The hint of bitterness underscoring the words tore at her heartstrings. Insisting they keep their relationship a secret hadn’t been fair. Not to him. Not to her.

“Sit down, Mitch.” Anna softened the request with a smile. “Please.”

She took a seat first, hoping he would follow her lead. To her surprise he did as she’d asked. Though the kitchen was an adequate size, it suddenly seemed to shrink. And the sight of his bare chest just across the table made her heart flutter.

Don’t look, Anna told herself. Focus elsewhere.

She dropped her gaze to the golden-brown coffee cake in the center of the table. “That looks good.”

“Cassie made it for me,” he said.

Anna swallowed hard against the sudden tightness in her throat and forced an equally casual tone. “Are you two seeing each other?”

“She lives down the block,” Mitch pointed out. “I see her every day.”

He’d deliberately misunderstood her question. But in a way he was right to shut her down. Who he was dating was none of her business.

When a minute passed and she still didn’t speak, Mitch cast a pointed glance at a manila folder on the counter. “I have a client coming at eight.”

She’d been warned. Just like at the YP meeting, the clock was ticking. Only this time Anna wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip away. “Over the years I thought about getting your address from Seth, but I never took that step. When I heard you were back in Sweet River, I knew the time had come.”

Puzzlement filled his eyes.

“To apologize.” She folded her hands on the table. “Showing up at the street dance with Andrew James when you and I were seeing each other was inexcusable. I’m sorry I did it and I’m sorry I hurt you. I hope you can forgive me.”

The flash of pain in Mitch’s eyes was gone so quickly Anna wondered if she’d only imagined it.

“You didn’t want to be seen with the son of the town drunk,” he said in a frank tone, his expression giving nothing away. “Understandable.”

He’d made similar comments when they’d been together, but she’d thought he was just joking around. Now she realized the pain had been real. Embarrassment mixed with a healthy dose of regret. She’d never, ever, been ashamed of him. And she wasn’t ashamed now. She just didn’t want anyone to discover they’d had a past because that might bring up other questions.

“That wasn’t how it was at all,” she protested.

“That was a long time ago.” Mitch waved a dismissive hand. “Scarcely matters now.”

“I liked you. But I wanted what was between us to, well, stay between us.” The words came out clunky and awkward and Anna nearly groaned aloud. She’d had thirteen years to plan what to say and this was the best she could come up with? No wonder Mitch looked skeptical.

“Yeah, you liked me so much that instead of going to the centennial celebration with me as you promised, you showed up with the mayor’s son,” he said.

Even now, remembering the look on Mitch’s face when he’d seen her with Andrew filled her with shame. “That was a test.”

Mitch slowly lowered his mug to the table. “Test?”

Her heart froze at the deadly calm in the word.

Mitch had never been the kind of guy a girl could wrap around her finger. And while his aloofness had been part of his appeal, it had also been extremely stressful. Anna had desperately wanted to believe he liked her, but he’d kept his feelings close and she’d needed to know for sure.

“I knew you liked making lo—er, having sex with me,” she said. “But I was never sure you really liked me.”

Looking back, Anna couldn’t believe she’d ever thought going to the celebration with Andrew was a good idea. She’d been so young. So foolish.

The muscle in Mitch’s jaw jumped. “You decided to make me jealous.”

Anna nodded. “If you reacted, I’d know you cared.”

Said aloud, the plan sounded even more childish.

“Why didn’t you simply ask me how I felt about you?”

She’d thought about doing just that. But to ask had seemed rather pathetic and needy. Besides, there was no guarantee he’d have been honest. “People don’t always tell the truth.”

Like her mother, who had insisted she’d be proud of her even if she didn’t become Miss Montana Teen. Yet when she’d taken second place, her mom had been furious. Then there were her high school “friends” who smiled to her face and talked about her behind her back. And who could forget the boys before Mitch, the ones who said whatever they thought would make her sleep with them. Luckily she’d been smart enough to see through their lies.

Mitch had been different and he’d been her first. He hadn’t pushed her to be intimate, hadn’t offered up flowery words of love or made promises he never intended to keep. He’d just been himself. And she’d found him irresistible.

“We had to keep our friendship on the down-low because of my mom.” Anna took a deep breath. “I told her I thought you were cute. She told me you were unacceptable.”

By the time Anna finished speaking the pain had returned to her heart.

Mitch rubbed a hand across his face. “You never had any intention of going with me to the celebration.”

“I wanted to go with you,” Anna said gently. “But I wasn’t willing to risk my mother’s wrath until I was sure of your feelings.”

His gaze searched hers but she had nothing to hide. Well, almost nothing to hide.

“I liked you, Mitch,” she said. “I really did. I feel incredibly bad about what happened. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“I appreciate your honesty.” The tense set to Mitch’s shoulders eased. His eyes met hers and for a second she had the feeling he was seeing her for the first time. “Coming over this morning couldn’t have been easy.”

Anna brought a finger to her lips and kept her expression serious. “About as easy as eating barbed wire.”

The ring of the doorbell interrupted his chuckle. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Looks like my appointment is early.”

“Darn.” Anna snapped her fingers. “And we were having so much fun.”

For the first time since she’d walked through the door, he smiled. “I’d say the morning was definitely on the upswing.”

Anna found her own lips lifting. “True.”

“I hate to rush, but I need to answer the door.” Mitch pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “Do you have anything else to tell me?”

Anna hesitated. Coming clean had felt so good that for a second she found herself wanting to tell him everything.

But if she told him her deepest, darkest secret, if she told him about the baby, the fragile truce they were building in this tiny kitchen would be shattered. Worse yet, he’d probably hate her. That was something she couldn’t bear.

“Like I said, I was young and immature. I made a lot of mistakes. But I’m truly sorry.” Anna met his gaze. “And that’s the truth.”

Chapter Four

Anna went out the back of the house and Mitch headed to the stairs. He’d hoped to take a minute to pull on a shirt but the doorbell was now one steady ring. Instead of making a quick detour to his bedroom, he stopped in the foyer and pulled open the door. Alexander Darst, his eight-o’clock appointment, stood on the porch, a briefcase in one hand, the other hand firmly fixed on the buzzer.

Alex’s hand dropped from the bell and his eyes widened at the sight of Mitch.

Ignoring the questioning look, Mitch motioned the attorney inside. In his three-piece suit and Brooks Brothers tie, Alex appeared to be dressed more for a day in court than touring a dusty building. “I’ll pull on a shirt and we can talk. Coffee is in the kitchen if you want some.”

Mitch had already reached his upstairs bedroom before he remembered Anna’s cup on the table. But there was no way to get it now. He only hoped Alex wouldn’t notice.

Even if he does, he won’t know it was hers.

The thought took Mitch by surprise. As did the realization that he was feeling the need to be as secretive as Anna. He shrugged aside his unease and pulled a long-sleeved cotton shirt over his head. He refused to think about Anna Anderssen. She was the past. The meeting today was about his future.