They toured the second story with its three bedrooms and bath. The rooms were compact, with high ceilings and tall windows. The master bedroom, Katie noticed, had a view of the carriage house where Luke Gates had taken up residence. She thought of the rangy Texan—a sexy, rawboned cowboy with a slow-growing smile and a quiet manner. But beneath his easygoing exterior she sensed there was a deeper person, a man who had more than his share of secrets. Or maybe her reporter instincts were working overtime. Everyone accused her of searching out mysteries, stories and scoops where there were none. Nonetheless, she stared through the glass at the carriage house and said, “Tell me about Luke Gates.”

“Not much to tell,” Tiffany admitted. “But he’s the perfect tenant. Quiet. Clean. Keeps to himself. Pays on time.”

“He’s from Texas, right?” Katie asked, spying the bridesmaid’s dress for Bliss’s wedding hanging from a hook on the back of Tiffany’s closet door. Draped in plastic, it was a blue gown identical to the one Katie was to wear.

“Somewhere around El Paso, I think, although it seems to me he mentioned something about spending some time working at a ranch near Dallas. But I really can’t remember. As I said, he doesn’t say much.” She slid an interested glance in Katie’s direction. “Why?”

“Just curious.” The truth of the matter was that Luke was the most interesting man to show up in Bittersweet in years. Not that it mattered.

Tiffany raised one dark brow. “Good-looking, isn’t he?”

Katie lifted a shoulder. “Only if you like the cocksure, I-don’t-give-a-damn cowboy type.”

Tiffany laughed. “Don’t we all?” she said in a whisper, as if she expected J.D. to hear her.

Katie didn’t answer, only grinned as they left Tiffany’s room, walked down the short, carpeted hallway and stopped at a six-paneled door with a large DO NOT ENTER sign swinging from the knob.