“A female Blaze, only Aunt Tressa don’t care who he marries or if he’s a playboy the rest of his life,” Liz said.

“Who is Blaze?” Amber asked.

“He’s a cracker-jack mechanic who takes care of the carnival equipment. He’s so sexy that he ought to be a carnival attraction. Women flock to him like flies on a fresh cow patty. And that’s exactly what he is: a pile of cow manure! But he’s a nice piece of eye candy and he can charm the hair off a frog’s hind end, so women don’t have much chance when he smiles at them. He’s my best friend, and when Blaze gets here, Miss Becca’s liable to get an acute case of roundheelitis and fall into his bed.”

“How about your bed? Raylen going to warm it up?” Amber asked as she loaded a tray of dishes into the dishwasher.

“What made you ask that?” Liz asked.

“A blind person could see the vibes between you two.” Amber giggled. “And not every man in Montague County would offer to help put up decorations. You might be the fortune-teller, but you can’t see what’s right in front of your face.”

“You want a job with a traveling carnival? With that kind of imagination, Aunt Tressa could turn you into a fortune-teller in no time,” Liz teased.

Amber shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m goin’ home.”

Chapter 6

Liz turned slowly and sure enough, Raylen was leaning against the doorjamb leading into the tack room. Her sixth sense hadn’t failed her, or maybe she should call it her lust sense because every time he was anywhere near, her pulse raced. Dirt was smeared across his forehead. He had hat hair and there was a band on his forehead where his straw cowboy hat had rested all day. His jeans were dusty and his chambray shirt sweaty. And her heart pitched in that extra beat she was getting all too familiar with.

“Gemma said to tell you she’s sorry,” Raylen drawled. “Ellen and Nellie walked in just as she was finishin’ up with her last appointment for the day and asked if she had time to cut Nellie’s hair and style Ellen’s, so she won’t be here for another couple of hours.” He wiped sweat from his forehead and settled his straw hat back on his head. “I’m also supposed to tell you we’re havin’ a party next Monday night in my barn. We do it every year for Halloween. Gemma loves the holidays, and we always have Halloween at my place. Then Thanksgiving and Christmas is at the folks’.”

She raised a dark eyebrow and flirted a little. “Is that an invitation?”

“Yes, it is, and Gemma seems to believe you about that fortune telling stuff, so she’s going to ask you to tell fortunes for everyone, so bring your crystal ball or your cards or whatever other hocus-pocus you need,” he said.

“You want me to belly dance, too?” she asked.

“Sure, I do.” He grinned. “How about a demonstration right here and now just for me? You got a skimpy little outfit to put on? Can I tell Gemma you said yes?”