“Look, okay.” She held her hands up in a placatory gesture. “I can explain.”

“Oh, you better.” He folded his arms. “Because I am sure we had a conversation about this relationship staying right here on the ranch. In fact, I’m pretty sure I insisted.”

“It wasn’t me. We were in Jack’s yesterday, and Mom let it slip that you were my boyfriend. I’m sorry, I tried not to make a big deal out of it, and I changed the subject right away and honestly, there were only a few people in the conversation. It wasn’t like we dropped a flyer in everyone’s mailbox.”

“This is Credence. Nothing stays a secret for long. Who was there?”

“A couple of guys from the old folks’ home. Ray Carmody and Bob someone.”

“Bob Downey? Well, Jesus.” Grady shoved a hand through his hair. “She might as well have bought a billboard. He used to be the mayor here a long time ago and still takes a little bit too much interest in the goings-on.”

“Crap, okay…I really am sorry. But surely it’s not the end of the world? I mean, you live all the way out here—it’s not like you’re going to hear any gossip.”

Grady’s temper flared again. Of course someone who lived amid the anonymity of ten million people could be flippant about the repercussions. “It’s not whether I hear it or not. It’s that it’s out there. My aunt is insisting she meet you.”

Another deliciously distracting bob of her throat spiked his anger higher. She’d landed him in another mess, and he was angry—his aunt was involved now. This was not the time to let his libido take charge.

“Oh…shit.”

“Yes.” He nodded. “And she’s a really nice woman who never had any kids of her own but didn’t blink an eye when a pissed-at-the-world seventeen-year-old kid full of anger and attitude landed on her. She wrapped me up and loved me through all my rage even when I didn’t want her to. And she’s been breaking her heart over me for the last seventeen years, hoping and wishing despite my never giving her any reason to think otherwise, that one day I’d find the kind of love that she and my uncle have for each other. And now here you are, and she wants to meet you. My girlfriend. Because all she’s ever wanted was for me to be happy and oh, maybe now she doesn’t have to worry so much about me.”

“God…Josh…” Her eyes melted from ice to two huge, warm puddles, and she took a step toward him, but Grady stopped her with an almost vicious shake of his head. “I’m so sorry…”