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I realized I hadn’t given you the key to the house. But first,” Trey said, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her around so that her back was to him. He lifted her hair and slipped the necklace around her neck, letting the loose chain slide down her throat to fall into the soft valley between her breasts. He breathed in, a sharp intake of oxygen that left no room for doubt where his mind had drifted. The subtle scent of raspberries, sweet and pungent wafted up as her hair fell back into place. “There,” he said and stepped away.
    Maddie turned around, removing her gloves so shecould finger the charm. Joy lit her eyes, but she guarded her delight carefully, as if she were afraid to indulge in happiness for too long. Trey understood that, better than she might guess.
    â€œThank you,” she said with a small smile.
    He nodded, keeping his eyes focused on her face and not on the deep inviting cleavage that framed the necklace. He slipped a hand into his pocket, coming up with a key ring. He removed one and handed it to her. “Here you go. Come and go as you please on the ranch. I won’t wait up.”
    â€œOh, I won’t be going out much, unless I have to make a late-night house call.”
    He nodded again, not happy with the notion of Maddie Brooks underfoot every night. “Sometimes, I get in late,” he admitted, “but if you need anything when I’m not around, you know Kit, my foreman?”
    â€œYes, we’ve met. But I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
    â€œOkay then. I’d better get that grain before the store closes.”
    She lifted the key to the ranch house. “Thanks again. I guess I’ll get my things from the Cactus Inn now.”
    Trey reached into his back pocket and presented her with his red bandanna. “For your face.”
    â€œOh.” Color rose from under her smudge marks, brightening her face to a rosy hue. “Is it that bad?”
    â€œDoesn’t bother me a bit. But I figured you’d want to clean up before heading to the motel.”
    She began swiping her face for all she was worth. “Thanks. I must look like he…heck.”
    Trey turned his back on Maddie, released a reluctant sigh and headed for his truck, mumbling, “ Heck never looked so danged cute.”
    Trey got into his truck, gunned the engine and took off, his wheels spitting up a cloud of dry Texas dust. He’d come into town to help Maddie move her things from the motel. It hadn’t set right that she’d refused his offer. What kind of man would allow a woman, who was down on her luck, alone in the world, and who had lost most of her possessions, to face that task alone?
    But one look at her today, standing there in the midst of her one-time home, and something powerful stabbed at him. It wasn’t like anything he’d felt before, this protective, warm feeling he had for her. Trey didn’t like it, not one bit. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be under her spell, he’d have her under his sheets and then disaster would strike.
    Maddie would come out the loser.
    And Trey figured the woman had enough troubles. He didn’t want to add to them. As much as he wanted to help her, going to the motel wouldn’t have been wise. Trey shook his head. Spending time with Maddie Brooks would just be dang foolish. He’d have to nip this problem in the bud, before anything dared to blossom.
    Tonight, he’d lay things out straight with Maddie.
    But in truth, he’d be more comfortable wrestling half a dozen big, hungry grizzly bears.
    Â 
    Maddie had always wanted to see the inside of Trey’s house at 2 Hope. The long sprawling adobe and mason ranch house, with true column pillars spoke of elegance and grace. Although weathered, beaten down from time and perhaps a bit of neglect, the house commanded certain respect.
    Her heart squeezed tight as she entered the one-story structure, as undisguised