If he’d wanted to fire her up, he’d found the perfect key. “Stop it.” In one sharp move, she pushed his hand from her face. “I’ve said it before—you don’t know me. Every time we’re together, I become more certain that I don’t want you to. You’re a very attractive man, Cliff. And very unlikable. I stay away from people I don’t like.”

It occurred to him that he’d never gone out of his way to argue with anyone before. A lot of things were changing. “In a small community like this, it’s hard to stay away from anyone.”

“I’ll put more effort into it.”

“Nearly impossible.”

She narrowed her eyes and fought to keep her lips from curving. “I’m very good when I put my mind to something.”

“Yeah.” He put his sunglasses back on. When he grinned, the deliberate cockiness was almost too appealing to resist. “I bet you are.”

“Are you trying to be smart, or are you trying to be charming?”

“I never had to try to be either one.”

“Think again.” Because she was having trouble controlling the grin, Maggie turned away. As luck would have it, she found herself staring out over the gully. A chill raced up her spine. Swearing, she folded her arms under her breasts. “I can’t believe it,” she muttered. “I can’t believe I’m standing here having a ridiculous conversation when there’s a—” She found she couldn’t say it and detested herself. “I think the whole world must be going mad.”

He wasn’t going to let her get shaky on him again. When she was vulnerable, she was much more dangerous. “What’s down there’s been there for a long time.” His voice was brisk, almost hard. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

“It’s my land,” Maggie tossed back. She whirled around, eyes glowing, chin angled. “So it has everything to do with me.”

“Then you better stop shaking every time you think about it.”

“I’m shaking.”

Without a word, he drew her hand away from her elbow so they could both see the tremor. Furious, Maggie snatched it away again. “When I want you to touch me, I’ll let you know,” she said between her teeth.

“You already have.”

Before she could think of an appropriate response, the dog scrambled up and began to bark furiously. Seconds later, they both heard the sound of an approaching car.

“He might make you a decent watchdog, after all,” Cliff said mildly. The pup bounded around in circles like a mad thing, then hid behind the rock. “Then again …”

As the official car came into sight, he bent down to pat the dog on the head before he walked toward the end of the drive. Maggie hurried to keep pace. Her land, her problem, her responsibility, she told herself. She’d do the talking.

A trooper climbed out of the car, adjusted his hat, then broke into a grin. “Cliff, didn’t expect to see you out here.”

“Bob.” Because the greeting didn’t include a handshake, Maggie assumed the men knew each other well and saw each other often. “My company’s handling the landscaping.”