“So all I need is a little bit of time. And a fair idea of what the ranch is worth.”
“Hmm,” she said, her eyes narrowing on him. “This change of heart sounds a little suspicious.”
“I’m being straight with you, Madeline,” he said. “I know a guy, Danny Duffy, who lives up Trace Canyon Road. He used to be a realtor, among other things. I think he could figure out what the place is worth. I’ll call him as soon as I get to town.”
“Are you serious?” Madeline said quickly, “I’d like to do some research before anyone talks about hiring a realtor.”
“That’s okay, Maddie. I know you have to get back to Orlando. Danny can do it.”
“Okay,” she said slowly, and looked out the window. “But you have to get a good, reputable, knowledgeable agent if you want to get fair value.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure Danny Duffy will do what he can. He’s about all we’ve got up here.”
“I can do the market research,” Madeline said. “I can even help find a realtor.”
“From Orlando?” Luke asked skeptically. “And anyway, what about your job?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t worry about it—Danny can look stuff up on the Internet if he’s not sure. I’m fairly certain he has Internet up on Trace Canyon Road.”
Madeline nodded. She looked out the window for a long moment, then suddenly twisted around, so she was facing him. One button of her blouse had come undone, he noticed, giving him a peek of that lacy blue bra. “Okay, look,” she said. “It’s true that I have a lot of work waiting for me. But the beauty of being self-employed is I can take a few days off if I need to, right? I can stick around and do the research on value. It won’t take me long.”
“How long?” he asked.
“A few days,” Madeline said. “A week, tops.”
Luke nodded. His gaze skimmed over her breasts. “So are you saying that now you’re willing to stick around a few days and help figure out things?”
Madeline looked as if she had swallowed a lump of peanut butter. “Yeah. I guess I am,” she said, and as if to convince herself, she gave him an adamant little nod. “But what about Libby?”
“I think if she wants to handle the reunion, she should do it,” Luke said, his gaze wandering lower, to her waist. “As far as the reunion goes, I’ll even help her. I just don’t want her to get the idea that it’s a done deal, because I am going to do everything I can to get the ranch back.”
“What about your job?”
“I can do a lot from here and head over to Denver when I need to. After all, we’re just talking a few days, right?”
“Right,” she said carefully. Her gaze moved to his chest again, and Luke wished she wouldn’t look at him like that. It was too damn tempting. “Just a few days,” she repeated softly, and lifted her gaze to his.
The rain, the chill in the air was everywhere around them but in that truck. Luke could feel nothing but a smoldering fire between the two of them.
“In fact,” he said, “I’ll probably drive over to Denver on Monday to check on things.” He shifted in his seat, too, moving closer. He casually pushed a wet strand of hair from her face, then another from her neck, letting his fingers graze her skin.
Madeline shivered slightly at his touch. “Okay, Luke, I’ll help,” she said. “But I’m watching you. This feels too convenient and tidy after yesterday.”
“I thought that’s the way you liked things,” he muttered, shifting closer, his face near her hair. It smelled sweet. “Tidy. Uncomplicated. To the point.”
Madeline turned her head slightly and looked at him sidelong. “You’re right. The tidier, the better for me. I don’t like to invite chaos into my life by taking little detours.”
He grazed her temple with his mouth; Madeline gasped softly. “Sometimes the detours are the best part of life,” he murmured.
“Are you trying to kiss me?” she asked, her voice a little breathless.
“Yes.”
“I just met you,” she said reprovingly, but she didn’t move away.
“That is not true. You met me two days ago on the side of the road,” he said, and kissed her temple. “And then again at Jackson’s,” he added before kissing her cheek. “At the ranch,” he said, and kissed the bridge of her nose, “and in town.” He kissed her brow. “And now, on this mountain, in this rainstorm, in my truck. We’re practically an item.”
“You’re outrageous,” she whispered, but she did not turn her head when he kissed her lips.