“Gotta get you out of here pronto, Bailey,” he said, addressing her as he had in high school, before time and Reba Shannon ruined what they’d had going. “We’re way too close to my bed for our own good. Or mine, at least.”

With that, he closed the truck door and walked around to his own side.

Festus, fidgeting in the back seat, pulled a sneak attack and licked Brynne’s cheek exuberantly.

She laughed again. “Stop it, silly dog,” she chided, but she gave his ears a good ruffle, rewarding him.

Eli climbed into the truck, snapped his seat belt on, and gave Brynne a look until she remembered to put hers in place, too.

“Sorry,” she said, with a ridiculous little giggle that immediately embarrassed her.

“I’d hate to have to run you in for ignoring safety laws,” he informed her solemnly.

“Perish the thought,” Brynne replied.

She’d called the dog silly, but at the moment, she was feeling pretty silly herself. She’d regressed to her high school self, it would seem. Giggling, for heaven’s sake. Why, she hadn’t giggled in forever.

She sat facing forward, trying to compose herself. Turn back into the adult version of herself.

They were passing the city limits—”Welcome to Painted Pony Creek, Montana”—before Eli spoke again.

“Bailey?”

“Yes?”

“You’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Brynne couldn’t help being flattered. “Thank you,” she said.

“That cop back in Boston?”

Again, “Yes?”

“He must be a damn fool.”

The remark pleased Brynne, but she didn’t let on. “Friends,” she said. “Remember?”

That kiss, back at Eli’s place, complicated matters, but she was determined not to get carried away. If she got involved with the sexy sheriff of Wild Horse County too quickly, she might be on treacherous ground.

She didn’t love Clay anymore, but she hadn’t had a remotely serious relationship since their breakup, and that meant she was probably on the rebound.

Everybody knew it wasn’t wise to get too serious, too quickly, especially so soon after a broken romance.

“Friends can compliment each other,” Eli reasoned. “Can’t they?”

Brynne said nothing. She could have offered a compliment or two of her own, but they would be more than friendly.

Eli Garrett, she could say, if she dared, which she didn’t, you are so sexy I can barely stand it.

The way you love your dog melts me in places I didn’t know I had places.

And that kiss—dear God, that kiss.

“Bailey?”

“What?” Brynne retorted cheerfully.

“Say something.”

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

He grinned, made a shrugging motion with his powerful shoulders. “Maybe,” he replied. “Or maybe I just like hearing the sound of your voice.”

“If I had your job, I would appreciate peace and quiet.”

“You’d look good in a uniform,” he said.

“Stop it,” she said.

He laughed.