Maisie mixed the drinks and set them on the counter. “Enjoy.” She winked at Kade and sauntered off to help a cowboy at the other end of the bar.

“Old friend?” Ellie asked dryly.

“Exactly that and nothing more, as least not for a long time. Just so you know.”

Ellie relaxed a little. “Not my business.”

“At the moment, it is.”

Her eyes met his. He didn’t hide the desire he felt for her. He wasn’t interested in another woman. Not Maisie or anyone else.

Kade glanced around the room, which was more than half full. Cowboys in jeans, western shirts, hats, and boots; women in tight jeans and sexy tops. Turquoise jewelry glittered here and there around the room.

More people drifted in. Dark came early, and this was ranch country. The band started playing at eight o’clock on the nose—a guitar, fiddle, and drum. They started with an Alabama fiddle tune to warm up the crowd. The next song was a Texas two-step, George Strait’s “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?”

“Let’s dance,” Kade said as couples poured onto the dance floor. Any excuse to hold her.

“One dance,” Ellie said. “Then I need to get to work.”

“Fine.” Hauling her off the bar stool, he swept her onto the dance floor to join the other couples circling to the music. Ellie had no trouble following his lead, and in seconds, they were dancing together as if they’d done it a hundred times. She felt good in his arms, fit just right.

He thought how well they would fit together once he had her in his bed, and the blood began to pound in his veins. Arousal slid through him, and he started getting hard. Kade silently cursed. They had a long evening ahead, and he needed to focus on the reason they were there.

The song came to an end. Kade glanced toward a table in the corner. “I see some friends sitting in the back. I’d like you to meet them.”

“All right.”

He led her over to where Sam Bridger sat with the petite blonde he had been dating. Kade hadn’t talked to him since the day the sheriff had pulled Heather’s car out of the lake.

“Kade,” Sam said, rising. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” They shook hands. “Sam, this is Ellie Bowman.” He debated telling Sam the truth about who she was, then decided against it since his friend wasn’t alone. “Ellie’s filling in for Mabel while she’s down in Arizona.” Kade turned. “Ellie, this is my good friend, Sam Bridger. He owns the Bridger Ranch down the road from the Diamond Bar.”

“Nice to meet you, Ellie,” Sam said.

“And I’m Libby,” the woman said with a smile.

“Nice to meet you both.” The couples talked briefly, and then she and Kade started back to their seats.

“They both seem nice,” Ellie said.