“Hi,” she replied, unable to hide her own grin.
“I’m Deacon Anderson, but everyone calls me, Deke,” he said, extending a strong, calloused hand. Up close, she saw the faint creases at the corners of his eyes and the way his dark stubble shadowed his square jaw.
She placed her hand in his, warm, steady, and thought she might never let go. “Ava Parsons. Nice to meet you, Deacon. So… you’re a cattleman?”
He grinned, and she felt her heartbeat echo in her ears. “No, ma’am. I’m an agent for the Montana Department of Livestock.”
“I’m from Maple Ridge, Montana,” she said. “What’s MDOL doing here?”
“Working a case,” he replied, eyes bright. “Maple Ridge, huh? I live in Clifton.”
“I’ve never been there,” she admitted.
“Maybe you should visit,” he suggested, one eyebrow lifting.
Ava laughed, the sound light among the hum of voices. “Maybe I will. So… a case. Do you know who you’re after?”
His gaze darkened just a fraction. “I do.”
“And that’s all you’ll say?” she pressed, tilting her head.
He gave a small, conspiratorial grin. “About that, yes.”
She nodded, intrigued. “I definitely understand.”
Deacon glanced at the bar. “Can I get you another drink?”
“No, but thank you. I’m heading up to relax.” She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been on the go all day.”
“Same here. How about dinner in the hotel restaurant later?”
Ava’s lips curved. “I’d like that. You’re not… married or anything, right?”
He chuckled. “No, ma’am. You?”
“Divorced for five years, and single.”
“Good,” he said, relief softening his expression. “Seven o’clock? Or is that too late?”
“Perfect.” She tucked her purse under her arm. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Looking forward to it,” he said, as he melted back into the crowd.
Ava turned for the elevators but couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder. He stood watching, a slow grin lifting his lips as he touched the brim of his hat in farewell. Her chest tightened with anticipation. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Chapter Two
Ava lingered before the narrow, oblong mirror mounted on the back of the bathroom door, smoothing an errant strand of hair behind her ear, something she did out of habit rather than necessity. The soft yellow light of the fixture above cast gentle shadows on her reflection, highlighting the faint tremor in her lips. Her phone still in hand, she stared at the unanswered call from her brother. He’d invited her to dinner, again, but she’d declined without explanation. She knew Tyler; a protective older brother with a blunt tongue, who’d holler at her for even entertaining the idea of sharing a meal with a man she didn’t know.
But Deacon Anderson was different. Since her divorce, she’d tossed her heart at half a dozen men and none had stirred more than a flicker of genuine curiosity. Deacon’s quiet confidence, the set of his jaw when he spoke, the way his eyes held hers… she wanted to leave all of that unexplored no longer. Only one night, she promised herself. Their homes lay hours apart; she would have one evening in his company, but nothing more. Six months had passed since her mother’s passing, and though Tyler’s wife and children filled their own ranch house with laughter, her father still sat at the long dining table alone. She was all he had right now.
She squared her shoulders before stepping into the elevator, smoothing the fabric of her skintight black dress with matching stilettos. She wore her blonde hair up in a loose bun with tendrils framingher face.
The metal walls closed around her with a soft hiss. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She wasn’t reckless, her history with men would fit on the fingers of one hand, but tonight, she wanted desire unmasked. She gave herself a mental shake. What man, after all, wouldn’t welcome passion for an evening?
When the doors slid open onto the hotel lobby, she crossed her fingers and hurried toward the restaurant entrance. The warm glow of lanterns, the muted clink of silverware, the low hum of conversation greeted her, yet she scanned every table until her heart lurched. Then she saw him at the polished mahogany bar, one elbow resting on the top, his gaze locked on her. His smile spread slowly as he rose and crossed the room. He wore dark blue jeans and a red dress shirt.
“Hi. You look absolutely stunning,” he said in a low voice that seemed to vibrate through her.
