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  "Ty can drop you by home afterward."

  He groaned inwardly at his dad’s subtle reminder. They had to get her off the Rocking M and the sooner the better.

  ***

  Frankie sat beside Ty in the pick-up cab and wondered how wise it had been to insist on coming with him to visit the horse.

  She’d meet the competition and that should be a good thing, but her heart shied away from being forced to witness his attraction to another woman. Then again, that was probably exactly what she needed. Time had done nothing to blunt her love for the man; maybe watching him fawn over some other woman would destroy it.

  Or at least convince her finally of the hopelessness of the feeling and she could move on.

  But why the heck had he acted all territorial about her when Kurt came up to the house? And that kiss...it had been so good, but then he’d shoved her away like he’d gotten a whiff of three day old garbage. What was that all about?

  Tyler McCanlup had been confusing her for more years than she wanted to deal with. It was time to excise him from her heart and move to Washington state or seduce him until she was as deeply embedded in his as he was in hers.

  One way or another, she was going forward with her life.

  The Delacroix’s ranch was a lot like Uncle Ben’s. Not tiny, but certainly not on the same scale as the Rocking M either.

  "So, this is a working ranch?" she asked as they walked toward the barn.

  "They run a few cattle, but Olivia and her dad train horses mostly."

  "What about her mom?"

  "She’s a teacher in town."

  "What grade does she teach?"

  "I don’t know."

  "Is Olivia the only child?"

  If he noticed the conversation had turned into more of an inquisition, he didn’t let on.

  "She is now."

  "What does that mean?"

  "She had a little brother. He’s gone."

  "That’s hard." She knew first hand how much it hurt to lose a close family member.

  "Yes it is. They moved here to get away from the memories."

  "I hope it works for them." Moving had done nothing to ease her memories - not in helping her forget her parents and not in helping her forget Ty.

  "Me too." The way he said it made it sound like he was emotionally invested, or was that her reading stuff into his voice?

  Life had been so much easier when she was busy sublimating her love for Ty.

  As they reached the barn, a beautiful woman walked out. With long, curling dark hair, almond shaped eyes the deep color of a purple pansy and a figure that could have rivaled Marilyn Monroe. Even with her wearing jeans and ropers, Frankie had no problem seeing why Ty was interested.

  "Allo, Tyler. Who is this?" She spoke with a slight French accent and smiled pleasantly at Frankie.

  "My best friend, Frankie Random. We grew up roping cows and researching animal diseases together." He couldn’t have made her role in his life clearer.

  She was just another guy as far as he was concerned. Which is what he had said the one time she’d tried to take their friendship into the realm of male-female relationships. That he saw her as one of the guys.

  It had devastated her enough to keep her libido in check around him after that, but she’d enjoyed his friendship too much to give it up. Now...well, now - she had no choice. Not if she wanted a full life.

  "Frankie, meet Olivia. Horses find her every bit as irresistible as the men around here."

  Frankie forced her lips to smile, her eyes to warm and her heart to keep beating despite the mortal blow it had just received.

  He was definitely interested in this goddess among women. No wonder he couldn’t see Frankie for dust. His tastes ran to the exotic and beautiful. Because he’d never been much of a womanizer, she hadn’t known that. Then, the town didn’t boast that many women who could have modeled for Botacelli either.

  "Hi, Olivia. It’s nice to meet you." Frankie said the lie without so much as letting her smile falter.

  Olivia’s expression turned concerned anyway, her eyes filling with a knowing sadness as her gaze flicked back and forth between Tyler and Frankie. Her insight surprised Frankie, who had never thought she wore her heart on her sleeve.

  She shrugged her shoulders slightly to let the other woman know she had no intention of fighting the inevitable, but Olivia didn’t look comforted. If anything, she looked more worried.

  CHAPTER THREE

  "If you’re here about Circe, she’s doing fine. I just checked on her." Olivia tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. "I don’t think she’ll foal for another few days."

  "If I’m not around, have your dad call Frankie. She’s staying at the Random’s place. They’re her people."

  At one time the vote of confidence would have touched her, but now it just landed against the wall of numbness growing around her heart. Why had she let herself hope again? Because he never dated anyone else?

  How stupid was that? What a flimsy excuse to use to come home ready to seduce a man who so obviously wasn’t interested in his tomboy best friend.

  There had been no Olivia before was all.

  "Then Frankie should meet Circe, I think," Olivia said.

  "That’s not necessary," Ty said. "Frankie’s a trained vet with an affinity for animals. If you don’t need me to look in on the mare, then we’ll be on our way."

  "Sacre bleu. I am not having a vet who has never met her tend my horse for her first birthing." Olivia’s voice was hard with certainty, her eyes snapping annoyance at Ty.

  Ty gave her a look of pure irritation. "If I say Frankie will do, she’ll do."

  "God is the only omnipotent being I know of, Tyler McCanlup. I will have your friend meet the horse, if it is all the same to you."

  "It isn’t. I said I wanted to get her home."

  "If you are in such a hurry to return to your ranch, then I will make sure Frankie gets home."

  "No."

  "Yes."

  They glared at each other and Frankie couldn’t help doubting her certainty that Ty wanted the other woman. His expression was anything but lover-like and shouldn’t a man enamored of a woman be more indulgent?

  Ty didn’t love her that way and he had always been a lot more tolerant of her whims. Which meant what? That maybe there still was hope?

  Her emotions were swinging like an over zealous metronome. She needed to get herself under control and stick with the plan. Either seduce Ty or walk away...completely.

  "I’d love to meet the horse," she said, hoping to avert an all out war between the two people still glaring at each other.

  She laid her hand on Ty’s sleeve when he said nothing. "Please, Ty. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a pregnant mare."

  He turned to her with the indulgent smile she knew so well. "All right, little bit, if that’s what you want."

  She warmed at the familiar nick name. At six foot three, he was one of the few men who actually considered her five foot, eight inch frame little.

  Olivia led the way back into the barn and stopped at a stall with a beautiful little brown mare in it. "This is Circe."

  Frankie extended her hand to the horse’s muzzle, letting the animal get her scent before she started scratching the mare’s head and talking softly to it. "You’re a beauty. I bet your baby is going to be just as pretty."

  The horse responded to the soft words with a gentle neighing and butted her head against Frankie’s shoulder. After that, Frankie insisted on meeting the rest of the animals in the barn.

  She stopped at Circe’s stall again on her way out and asked if she could examine the horse, just to get her used to having her around. But the truth was, she wasn’t sure Olivia was right. Frankie sensed the horse was ready to foal, even though she wasn’t showing a lot of outward signs.

  This affinity she had for pregnant animals had surprised her family at first, especially considering what a city girl she’d been when she came to live with them. However, her uncle had
learned to listen when Frankie said a female was ready to give birth.

  The more she touched the horse, the more certain she became. "She’s going to drop her foal tonight."

  Olivia stared at her and Ty swore.

  "Are you sure?" he asked.

  "Yes, and I don’t think she should be left alone. She’s scared and new at this."

  "You’re not pack," Olivia said, her voice laced with disbelief.

  "Pack?" she asked.

  Ty shook his. "Never mind. If she says it, it’s true."

  Olivia’s shapely brow rose and the look she gave Ty was nothing short of mocking. "Oh speaks the great Oracle again."

  Frankie laughed. "You two fight like brother and sister." And the relief she felt at that was huge.

  Ty glared at her, but Olivia nodded. "He’s every bit as annoying as any little brother could be."

  "Are you older?" Frankie asked.

  "Less than a year," Ty groused.

  "Sometimes it feels like a decade," Olivia said with an obvious bid at yanking his chain.

  It worked and Ty glared at her.

  "Well, this time you can believe him," Frankie said before the argument could escalate. "I can’t explain how I know things about pregnant animals, but I do. It’s one of the reasons I became a vet."

  But she’d helped with a total of only six births in the two years she’d practiced in the city. Domestic animals usually had their babies at home without the assistance of a vet.

  Olivia frowned, biting her lip, her agitation apparent. "I’ve got to go somewhere. Tonight. I should have left hours ago. I can’t be here, not ever for her."

  "Where are you going?" Ty asked sharply.

  "None of your business, little brother."

  Ty’s jaw twitched. "Rocking M land is the safest for running."

  "That’s not what you told me when I rode my horse across it today," Frankie said with a frown.

  Ty looked like he couldn’t decide what to say and Olivia just shook her head, her expression obdurate.

  "Look, I don’t mind staying with the horse if Ty has other animals he needs to tend to," she offered.

  The life a rural vet was a busy one, if extremely satisfying.

  "No. Nothing, but I don’t understand why you’re leaving your mare right now, Olivia." Though something in his tone said he knew exactly why the other woman had to go and it made him mad.

  "I must leave," Olivia repeated, a stubborn edge to her voice. "And I think you understand very well why I might find it necessary."

  "Fine, then I’ll stay." Ty accepted the inevitable with bad grace. "Will you drop Frankie off on your way to wherever it is you’re going?" he asked with sarcastic emphasis.

  "Certainly."

  "No."

  They spoke at the same time.

  Frankie crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to be here for the foaling. Do you mind Olivia?"

  "Not at all. I am very glad my mare will have you to comfort her. I sense things too...about people. And I think you are kind."

  Frankie’s smile at the compliment faded with Ty’s next words.

  "Well, I mind."

  "Why?" she asked.

  "I’m Circe’s vet. I’m here now and I don’t need your assistance."

  "Stop being so cranky or I’m going to think you’ve got PMS," she joked. "You’re a guy. You aren’t supposed to have monthly hormonal imbalances."

  Olivia snorted at that.

  "You’re not staying." He spoke so harshly, Frankie took a step backward.

  Finally, she got it. "You don’t want me around you."

  The look on his face said it all, like a man caught in an unpalatable truth. She’d come with the noble intentions of breaking off their friendship if that was what it took to move forward with her life, but it had never occurred to her he was ready for it to end.

  And the realization hurt more than she would have thought possible. "You’ve been trying to get rid of me since you first saw me this morning. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to catch on. I guess your family really wants a total break from mine."

  If she thought it was more personal than that, her heart was going to break. Maybe it already had.

  It felt like everything inside her had shattered. So much for the numbness she’d been feeling. She was in so much pain, she could barely breathe.

  He said a word under his breath that was not very nice, but she kept backing up.

  "I’ll just ride back to the ranch with Olivia. I won’t bug you again, Ty." Her voice broke on his name and she spun away before the stupid stinging sensation in her eyes manifested in something as embarrassing as tears.

  A hand latched onto her arm, the hold unbreakable. "Damn it, Frankie. I’m not trying to kick you out of my life."

  She kept her body averted, her head faced away from him. "Don’t worry about it, Ty. It’s time I grew up and moved on. I knew it and I thought I was ready, but it’s harder than I expected is all."

  He yanked her back around, the movement not gentle, but not painfully rough either. He glared down at her. "It is not time for you to move on. We’ll be friends forever."

  "No. We can’t, Ty. I can’t," she stressed.

  "What the hell are you talking about?"

  "This...all of it...you’re right. I have no place in your life."

  "I never said that!" His roar startled a loud whinny from Circe.

  "Then, I’m saying it. I can’t be your friend anymore, Ty." The moisture in her eyes welled against her lids. If she blinked it would trickle over.

  "Don’t you dare cry," he growled.

  "I’m n-not," she said as two tears rolled hotly down her cheeks.

  "Damn it!"

  "D-don’t swear at me!"

  "What am I supposed to do? How do I fix this?" he asked as if the answers pained him as much as they did her.

  She didn’t get a chance to respond because his lips were claiming hers again. This time they were hot, hard and hungry against hers...confusing her even more. But nothing could dampen her response, this kiss had been so long in coming.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed up against him with all her might. His arms circled her and he held her as if he could never bear to let her go.

  This time he kissed her until she was a melting pool of feminine desire against him, until her mouth parted and his tongue tasted hers.

  When he broke his lips from hers, he hugged her close and spoke into her neck. "I don’t ever want to hurt you, Frankie."

  "This doesn’t hurt."

  "But it will. If we keep doing it."

  "Why?"

  "I told you. I don’t think of you that way."

  "Then why are you hard?"

  He swore again, but he didn’t move away. "Biology. It still won’t work between us."

  "I don’t understand."

  "I know, baby. I know."

  He swore again, this time even more viciously than before, and stepped away from her.

  "What’s the matter?"

  "She left."

  "Olivia?"

  "Yes."

  She looked around and sure enough the other woman was nowhere to be seen.

  "She’s probably up at the house. I’ll leave with her if you want me to, Ty." She had too much pride to stay when she wasn’t wanted.

  "She’s not at the house. She left."

  "How—"

  "I heard the car start."

  "I didn’t hear anything."

  "You have your gifts. I have mine."

  "There’s probably time for you to drive me back to Uncle Ben’s before anything happens with Circe."

  "What did you mean you couldn’t be my friend anymore?" he asked instead of answering.

  She met his eyes, for once not trying to hide anything in hers. "I love you, Ty."

  "I love you too, little bit."

  "Not like that. Not like a friend. I want you."

  "That’s just..."

  "Biology?" she asked, wondering if he
really believed it.

  "Yes," he gritted.

  "It’s not. Not for me anyway."

  "Frankie, don’t do this."

  "Don’t tell you the truth? I can’t live a lie anymore, Ty."

  "So, what, you’re saying that if I don’t let you be my girlfriend, you won’t be my best friend anymore?"

  "That’s really oversimplified, but in essence...yes. I can’t keep giving the best of myself to you when all you want is one part of me. I’m sorry."

  "That’s such a human load of crap."

  She flinched from the disgust in his eyes. "I know you’d like to believe you aren’t human, but you’re fallible too, Ty."

  "I’m not threatening you with walking away if you don’t do what I want."

  "Aren’t you? Haven’t you always made it clear that if I tried to be more than a friend our friendship would end?"

  "I never said that."

  "No, you just lied to me."

  "Never."

  "Always. You said you didn’t think of me like that, but you want me too. Isn’t it worth trying to make a relationship work between us?"

  "I’d get hard with any woman rubbing up against me like that."

  "I don’t believe you."

  He opened his mouth, but a frightened whinny cut off the rest of their conversation.

  They returned to the mare and by tacit agreement, both of them kept their conversation to Circe’s condition and practicing veterinary medicine.

  Mr. Delacroix arrived with Mrs. Delacroix a couple of hours later. She insisted on feeding Ty and Frankie. Sometime after that, a hand came into the barn to inform Ty he’d be there to watch over the mare after the birth. Ty said nothing about having one of them take Frankie home, so she stayed, wanting this last chance to be with him.

  Circe foaled at six-forty-two in the evening.

  By the time the mare had been tended to and Ty and Frankie had cleaned up, it was almost eight and the storm front had moved in. Frankie felt no fear at the prospect of Ty driving her home through the heavy snow mixed with sleet. He’d been driving in weather like this since before he was old enough to get a permit.

  However, the car that almost hit them head on and sent Ty’s truck swerving toward the side of the road apparently hadn’t. Frankie didn’t scream, keeping her lips clamped tightly together as the big truck, slid, bumped over what felt like some very big rocks and landed nosed down in a deep ditch with the back wheels off the ground.