She’d been accused of being “too picky” by her oft-married mother, or “too flighty” by the twins, and “too bullheaded about that damned job,” by Jarrod, but the real reason she hadn’t settled down was that she hadn’t wanted to. She believed a woman should stand on her own two feet before she started leaning on a man. Any man.

Besides, she had Josh to consider and a career to promote. Just because Luke Gates was interesting didn’t mean anything.

He checked his watch and finished a gulp of coffee. “I think we’d better get rollin’ if we want to meet the tow truck.”

“You don’t have to do this,” she said, giving him another out. “I have dozens of relatives who would help me.”

Luke nodded as he carried his plate to the sink. “I know, but let’s just say I like to finish what I start.”

She thought about arguing with him, but changed her mind. For whatever reason, he was willing to help her, and she decided to accept his aid. She dumped the dishes into the sink, told Josh what was going on, then locked the door behind her on the way to Luke’s pickup.

As they drove away from town, the night seemed to close in around them. Stars twinkled seductively in the blackened heavens and a slice of moon cast a shimmering silver glow over the countryside. The dark shapes of cattle and horses moved against the bleached grass of the surrounding fields and hillsides and only a few headlights from oncoming cars illuminated the truck’s cab as they passed.

Katie hugged the passenger door. Even with the window rolled down, the pickup seemed too small; too intimate. She told herself she was overreacting, but she noticed the position of Luke’s hand on the gearshift lever, the way his fingers clutched the knob and how his sleeve was pushed up to his elbow, allowing her a glimpse of tanned skin dusted with gold hair.

So male.

So close.

Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just doing you a favor, for goodness’ sake. There’s nothing more to it than that. All her life her silly imagination had run away with her and she’d been forever reining it in. Tonight; it seemed, her fantasy was that Luke Gates, sexy and mysterious, was trying to think of ways to be alone with her. What a joke. Yet she felt her heart pounding in the pulse at her neck, and couldn’t ignore the sensual, all-male scents of hay, dust and leather that clung to him.

Get over it, Kinkaid. The last complication you, need in your life right now is a man—especially a quiet, mysterious stranger you don’t have one scrap of solid information about. Think about Josh. Think about the Isaac Wells story. Think about your career. And for God’s sake, forget any silly romantic fantasies you have about this man!