Casanova Cowboy: The Montana Men Series, #2

By Jamie Schulz

She's used to the glitzy, big-city life. He hides behind country-boy charm.
Will these total opposites spark unquenchable flames of attraction?

Izabel Silva is wary of men. After escaping an awful relationship and a workplace betrayal, the talented marketer seeks refuge with an old friend in small-town Montana. And though worried she's falling in with another control-obsessed hunk, she accepts the kindly neighbors' invitation to stay with them and their flirtatious son.

Zack MacEntier longs to live down his reputation. With his ranch's bank accounts at rock bottom, the one-time lady's man isn't ready to take on a gorgeous and strong-willed Latina. But when his mother volunteers him to show the lovely newcomer around, the loyal cowboy is secretly glad of an excuse to spend more days in the fierce woman's company.

Taken aback by local prejudice, Izabel's concerns over Zack's stubborn protective streak start to fade when he comes rushing to her rescue. And even as the brave rancher fears that he has nothing to offer the beautiful outsider, their growing passion has placed them firmly in danger's crosshairs…

Can they survive the unexpected threat and claim a scorching love?

Casanova Cowboy is the steamy second book in the Montana Men romantic suspense series. If you like determined women, heroes with hidden depths, and slow-burn chemistry, then you'll adore Jamie Schulz's fiery path to happily ever after.

Buy Casanova Cowboy to flirt with trouble today!

* No cliffhangers. Though the stories intertwine in places, each book is a standalone suspenseful, western romance with adult content. The perfect read for fans of strong heroines, broken heroes, cowboys, horses, slow-burning love, and small-town romance!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jamie Schulz
• Release date: Jun 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9780998025780

Jamie Schulz

Jamie Schulz is a contemporary western romance and dystopian cowboy romance author. She loves to write about heroes with vulnerabilities and strong, feisty heroines who are a match for the men they love. To her, every one of her stories, no matter how dark, must have a happy ending, and she strives to make them impossible to put down until you get there. Jamie has been writing and making up stories for most of her life and hopes to one day reach the bestsellers lists. Her book Broken Cowboy has won the Global Book Awards Gold Medal for romance and was a finalist in the RONE Awards. From her other series, Jake’s Redemption was also an award-+winner in the Global Ebook Awards. Cowboys, ice cream, and reading almost any kind of romance are among her (not so) secret loves. She balances her free time between reading her favorite romance authors—in genres ranging from erotica and dark romance to sweet historicals and contemporary romance—and spending time with those she is closest to. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family and their fur babies, and she enjoys hearing from her fans. You can follow her at: * Website: thejamieschulz.com/ * Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejamieschulz * Twitter: twitter.com/TheJamieSchulz * Instagram: instagram.com/thejamieschulz/ * Good Reads: www.goodreads.com/thejamieschulz * BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/jamie-schulz

Book preview

Chapter 1

Zackary MacEntier’s cheerful gaze traveled over the small sea of people flooding his best friends’ backyard meadow. Unable to hold back a smile, he admired the women in the crowd, wondering if he’d see any new faces. A little spark of hope warmed his insides as he took in their beauty and the possibility that he might find an interesting woman today—one he hadn’t already dated.

Yeah, he thought with more than a little self-deprecation, good luck with that. He doused the tiny flame inside him—knowing the possibility to be next to impossible—but continued to appreciate the scene, nonetheless.

Zack MacEntier loved women; he’d never denied that, even to himself. He loved everything about them, from the scent of their satiny skin to the silkiness of their hair, to their big eyes, wide smiles, dainty toes, and everything in-between. He also loved getting to know their personalities. From smart and sassy, to sweet and witty, they drew him like a bee to honey, and he’d anticipated his fascination with the fairer sex would never change. He’d spent most of his adult life with more than a few different women, and he had never expected to ever want to limit himself to just one.

Yet, standing under the huge white tent amid the guests at his best friend’s wedding, second thoughts about life-long bachelorhood once again assailed him.

Uncomfortable with his thoughts and looking for a distraction, he shifted his booted feet as he took in the familiar faces from their little town of Meriton, Montana. Many of his ex-girlfriends were in the crowd, and oddly, it pleased him to see they’d moved on to better men than him. However, the tightness in his chest wouldn’t leave him. He knew those romantic relationships had ended because things had gotten too close for his comfort—as did the ladies he’d broken it off with. Despite that, most of them were still his friends. For the longest time, he’d seen no reason to change that or to look for something more in his life. Now, at the ripe old age of thirty, something inside him seemed to have changed.

He sighed and took a sip of the drink in his hand. Had he really wanted it that way—to be single and alone forever? Not since high school had any woman made him crave more, and until recently, he hadn’t thought twice about it.

Zack’s gaze switched back to the bride and groom. Cade Brody danced with his new wife Addie, and Zack had never seen his friend happier. There was a brightness…a glow…a something that shimmered around them both. Warmth and happiness lived in their eyes and smiles, which made Zack yearn for the same kind of bliss.

Cade’s a lucky man, Aaron Monroe, one of the town’s paramedic-firefighters and another of Zack’s good friends, said. Just like Zack, Aaron was considered one of Meriton’s most eligible bachelors. At six-foot-three, Aaron was built like a Mac truck, but he had a gentle heart…unless provoked. He was also well-liked by the ladies and, despite only moving to town almost two years ago, he had his fair share of ex-girlfriends around town, too.

Yeah, Zack agreed, very lucky.

Cade had found Addie by pure coincidence, and their tale sounded a bit like a stereotypical country song. At the time, Cade had been roaming far and wide to avoid any contact with his twin brother Cord. Zack wasn’t entirely sure what had set the brothers on separate trails almost six years ago, but he had a suspicion it had been a woman. Whatever the case, Zack was glad to have them both together and acting like brothers again.

Any chance she has a sister or three? Aaron asked with a hopeful grin.

Or maybe some cousins? That question came from another firefighter, Hawk Hawkins—his real first name was as much of a mystery as his past.

A murmur of interest came from the six men standing with Zack, admiring the bride and groom as they twirled around the dance floor.

Zack shrugged, eyeing the crowd once again. All I know is she’s an only child.

While he spoke, his gaze fell on his sister, Emily, who stood with their mother on the opposite side of the dance floor. Janice grinned as she watched the bride and groom, but his sister’s eyes were drawn in Zack’s direction. The expression on her face caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise. She wasn’t staring at him with that longing look on her face. It only took a second to realize her attention was focused wholly on the man at his side, and Zack’s protective brother instinct went on high alert.

He glanced at Aaron as the others groaned at the lost opportunity of Addie’s relations, but quickly bounced to other topics about ranching, firefighting, and the fall roundup. Aaron seemed oblivious to Emily’s interest, and Zack hoped it stayed that way. He liked the man, but his reputation with women was almost as bad as Zack’s. That wasn’t the kind of man he wanted for his sweet, vivacious, and all too trusting sister. He’d have to keep an eye on her whenever the firefighter was around.

Emmy might be the older sibling by a couple of years, but Zack wasn’t about to let her be taken advantage of by anyone.

Putting that new problem out of his mind for now, Zack went back to pondering his bachelorhood.

What did he have to offer a woman, anyway? All he knew was ranching and he enjoyed it, but the ability to work the land and the animals he loved was on the verge of ruin. He had no one to blame but himself as far as the disaster on his family’s ranch was concerned. Luckily, he’d been able to keep it to himself so far, but it was only a matter of time before Emily—who worked on their ranch whenever she wasn’t working in town—stopped asking what was wrong with him and started poking around. The last thing he wanted was for his mom and dad to learn about his failures. He had to figure out a way to dig himself out of the hole he’d made in their finances by reaching too far for something he knew too little about.

Aaron elbowed him to get his attention.

What? Zack growled as he rubbed his abused ribs.

Aaron didn’t even flinch at Zack’s irritated response. I asked how the winery was doing.

Zack grunted, It’s fine.

Going to open anytime soon?

He gave his friend a narrow-eyed look. At this point, I’m not sure when it will open. If it ever will… he thought. We’re working on it.

It’ll sure be nice to have a little more culture around here, Aaron said with a grin, hinting once again that they’d love to have a dimly lit place to take a lady for dinner, something besides Betsy’s Diner or Tony’s Tavern in town. It would be really nice not to drive miles to Missoula or Helena or, God forbid, Billings, for a fun weekend.

Yeah… Zack sighed. He had thought the same thing at one time, too.

Having a winery on their property had seemed like such a good idea six years ago when he’d first suggested it to his father, John—who, at the time, had not yet retired from running the ranch. He hadn’t been thrilled with the idea, but once Zack had explained the benefits of diversifying their income and creating local jobs, John eventually agreed—though a bit reluctantly.

The vines they’d gotten from Washington and California had taken a few years to establish and they were looking forward to producing some barrels to test and possibly sell, but the last couple of years had been lean. Almost two years ago, in preparation for the maturing plants, he’d borrowed the money to build the winery, which they had planned to eventually open to the public. Unfortunately, environmental protestors had slowed the project to almost a halt and created yet another disaster Zack had to deal with.

Last winter, someone had broken all the building’s windows, which had caused the pipes to burst and the heating system to burn out. Not to mention all the damage from the water before and after it froze and the snow as it blew in through the busted windows. Repairs for the damage had taken a big chunk out of his savings he hadn’t budgeted for, and though the building was mostly finished, they were nowhere near ready for customers, nor did he know how to draw in more from beyond their little town.

He had no proof the damage had been caused by the protestors, but who else would do something like that? Aside from their offensive protest signs about farming and ranching being evil, planet-killing professions, the angry shouts that were sometimes directed at him—or the snide comments they worked into conversation whenever he’d tried to speak with them—Zack wasn’t exactly sure what the protestors objected to. He understood their worries about intensive farming, deforestation, and the negative effects of other practices, but Zack—and all the farmers and ranchers he knew—practiced environmental stewardship to protect their animals, the land, and wildlife.

That fact didn’t seem to matter to the protestors, though. They were there every day, disrupting work, blocking roads, starting fights, or just causing mischief—among other, not-so-tame things. They were a headache that had cost him and several other ranchers a lot of money, and may even cost Zack and his family their home—or at least, be the final nail in the proverbial coffin.

With all that and the lackluster grape harvests last year, not only had Zack’s self-confidence taken a hit, but so had their income. And he hadn’t had the nerve to tell his family about the problem yet. He had to find a way to either increase profits with the winery or their animals before he’d be forced to sell the winery and a big chunk of land as well.

His heart clenched and a muscle ticked in his cheek. He would work it out, somehow. He had to.

Glancing at Cade and Addie again, Zack clenched his teeth and stifled an unexpected flare of jealousy. He was happy for Cade, damn it! Zack had enough on his plate without adding another doomed-to-fail romance on top of it. He could do short and sweet, but he wasn’t cut out for the long haul.

Just then, Jorje Rivera walked into the huge white tent and a smile curled Zack’s lips. He’d met the younger man in the town near Addie’s one-time farm in Washington. He’d helped Zack defend Cade from a gang of men intent on harm during a rodeo where Addie had once lived. Zack had only been passing through, on his way back home, when he ran into Cade again for the first time in years. Jorje had been a good friend to Cade, and Zack had liked the quiet man almost instantly.

However, it wasn’t Jorje who held his attention. The curly-haired brunette goddess on his arm was far more pleasing to Zack’s eyes. She was lovely with smooth brown skin and big eyes that tilted gently up at the corners and looked almost green. She had plush, soft-looking lips and high cheekbones that made her appear regal—and maybe a little snooty. She wasn’t dressed for the semi-casual affair, which also seemed odd. Where most of the other women wore skirts or dresses, this lovely brown-skinned goddess wore what looked like designer jeans, a floral blouse, and high heels that made her legs look impossibly long. She seemed nervous, dipping her head to hide behind her mop of wide amber-brown curls and her beautiful eyes darted around the tent as if looking for someone but dreading what she would find.

She intrigued him, and he wondered what she was doing on Jorje’s arm—when last Zack heard, Jorje had been involved with Lana, a young friend of Addie’s back in Washington. Zack hoped that was still the case, because this woman’s pretty face and trim figure had Zack’s body waking from a yearlong nap.

Had it been that long since he’d dated someone? He’d gone through most of the women in town at one time or another, and the rest hadn’t interested him enough to entertain. Still, a whole year? That wasn’t like him. Everyone knew he was a flirt and would often date several women in a year. He didn’t want complicated; he didn’t have time for it—or so he told himself. He kept things simple, and he always made sure those women enjoyed being with him for their short time together as much as he had enjoyed being with them.

But something about the woman on Jorje’s arm grabbed him, made him take note of her rapid breathing and nervous eyes.

Just then, her gaze locked with his, and it was as if the world stopped on its axis. His breath seized and his heart thudded almost painfully against his ribs. An unexpected ache tightened his throat and deep inside, he felt an unmistakable pull, tugging him toward the new beauty across the room. His body leaned forward as if preparing to go to her side, but then her eyes widened and she ripped her gaze from his.

Everything crashed back in on him—the slightly too loud music, the voices of his friends, and the warm breeze that wafted through the tent. Zack swallowed hard, unsure what had just happened, and felt more off-balance than he ever had in his life.

The gorgeous woman turned to say something to Jorje, who patted her hand and replied with a smile. The beauty nodded, though she still appeared as unsure of herself as before.

A moment later, Lana came up behind Jorje and the curly-haired goddess. Tucking her arm into the other woman’s free elbow, Lana grinned broadly. She glanced over at Jorje and the brunette, and got them moving toward a table on the far side of the tent.

I don’t care what you think! a shrill voice shouted from behind where Zack and his friends stood, breaking the spell he’d fallen under when the brunette had walked in.

"I will not be quiet, the voice shouted again and this time, Zack recognized it. I’ll shout if I want to, and you can’t stop me."

Beside Zack, Aaron mumbled a curse.

You got that right, Zack grumbled as he turned to see Cord Brody’s head down, shoulders slumped, standing stoically near one of the tent’s many exits while a blonde woman waved her hands and shouted in his face.

She’s going to ruin the reception, Aaron muttered.

No, Zack replied, she’s not. He glanced around quickly. So far, only a few of the guests had heard the shouting over the music and chatter. The bride and groom were lost in their own little world, which he was thankful for, but if the woman kept getting louder—as he knew she would—everyone would soon hear her screeching. You and Hawk get Cord back to a table. I’ll take care of Suzy.

Both men nodded as they headed toward the uncomfortable display. Zack would not let her berate Cord at his brother’s wedding. Hell, he wouldn’t allow it anywhere. This time she’d gone too far, and he intended to make sure she understood and learned to keep her distance.

Chapter 2

Izabel Silva took a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves. Peering into the huge tent at the flowers, lacy decorations, and nicely dressed, smiling people, she ducked her head and pulled back. She didn’t belong here, not at a wedding she hadn’t been invited to. Then again, maybe she had been invited and just hadn’t been home to receive it—nor could she have been contacted on her old phone number. She’d had it disconnected months ago to stop the incessant, unwelcomed calls. You’d think a man like Chris Richards could take a hint…or blatant rejection. Then again, he was arrogant enough to always get his way, so maybe she shouldn’t have been surprised by his calls.

"Bueno, mi amiga, are you ready to go in?" Jorje Rivera asked from her side.

Izabel jumped and pressed a hand over her rapidly beating heart. She hadn’t heard Jorje’s approach. She glanced over her shoulder, looking for Jorje’s charming girlfriend. Where’s Lana?

She’ll be along soon, Jorje replied with a smile and held out his crooked arm for her to slip her hand through. She said she’d meet us inside.

Izabel bit her lip and lowered her hand from her chest to her roiling belly. She shouldn’t have come here. We can wait.

Izzy, Jorje said, using the nickname many had used before, you will be welcomed. I have no doubt about that.

Well, that makes one of us, Izabel grumbled.

Jorje chuckled as he reached for her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. Don’t worry so much. Everything will be fine, I promise.

I’m glad you’re so sure, Izabel mumbled as they stepped into the cool shade of the huge white tent. She’d told him and Lana a little about her connection to Addie—enough for them to know she was a friend. She hadn’t, however, told them how she’d basically ignored their friendship for the last three years.

The crowd inside had formed a circle to allow Addie and her new husband to open the first dance. Addie looked beautiful and happier than Izabel had ever seen her. The way she stared into her handsome husband’s smiling eyes…

Izabel swallowed and looked away. She had once dreamed of a wedding of her own, but that had turned to dust the minute she found Chris with another woman. Her heart clenched as the memory filled her mind once again, and she shook her head. Why did his betrayal bother her so much? They’d been growing apart for a long time, becoming distant, almost like strangers—or maybe that had just been her. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he turned to someone else, but still, she had been floored to see it in person.

She ducked her head and peeked through the curtain of her amber-brown curls. The feeling of not belonging swept over her again, and she took a step back.

Jorje gently tugged on her arm. "Where are you going, mi amiga? The party is this way." He angled his chin toward the inside of the tent.

She smiled, still feeling unusually awkward. I know… It’s just a bit overwhelming.

She turned back to the crowd, taking everything in, lowering her chin again to hide behind her wide curls. Her eyes swept toward the far side of the tent, over to a group of handsome men who laughed together as they talked. Seven rather tall, well-built men, but only one commanded her interest.

He was as tall as the others, broad-shouldered, and lean in the hips. He had short brown hair and a short, well-kept beard that did nothing to conceal the strong, stubborn line of his jaw and chin, but accentuated the chiseled beauty of his masculine lips. Thick, dark brows slashed over his warm brown eyes, like the color of whiskey in a clear glass by the fire. Beautiful, soulful eyes that were, right at that moment, staring directly at her.

Izabel’s heart lurched in her chest and something fluttered madly in her belly. He was gorgeous…in a farm boy sort of way—well, almost any kind of way, actually. He looked like the kind of guy you’d expect to find next door, only there was something more, something heady and rich that she couldn’t quite place. Her heart pressed into her ribs, compelling her to move, to cross the dancefloor, and…

And what? She didn’t know this guy, didn’t know anyone here but Addie—and even that connection was tenuous at best. Still, she couldn’t break the connection she felt pulling her toward the handsome stranger across the room. She saw his body slant forward as if about to move in her direction.

Oh, no… her mind rebelled and she jerked her eyes away from him. She wasn’t ready for that, not ready to let another man into her life.

Why not? a little voice asked. It’s been almost a year; it’s time to move on.

Ah, that was her mother’s voice from a few weeks ago replaying in her mind. Mom had threatened to move to Seattle to take care of her the last time they spoke, but Izabel hadn’t wanted that. She’d wanted time to herself, and she’d taken it—spent a huge chunk of her savings in doing so, but she’d finally pulled herself together and left all the pain and disappointment behind. She’d left her job, her apartment, and all her one-time, so-called friends as well.

She wanted to look back across the room, to see if the handsome cowboy still had his riveting gaze on her, but the way her skin had warmed and tingled, she knew she’d undoubtedly be locked in once more if she dared to turn his way. Instead, she turned to Jorje. Shall we find a seat?

Jorje smiled and patted her hand. As soon as Lana gets here.

At that moment, Lana hooked her arm through Izabel’s free elbow and smiled at them both. Thanks for waiting, her eyes twinkled in their lively way, but you could’ve found a table. She tugged them toward the seats and Izabel let her. Jorje released her other arm to follow them to a table right on the edge of the dancefloor.

Hi, Janice, Lana said as she sat beside an older woman who smiled broadly at them. There was something about the woman, something almost familiar, as if Izabel had seen her before. Something tickled her mind, but she pushed it aside. She didn’t know anyone in Montana except for Addie.

Hello, Lana. Jorje, the woman, Janice, replied. It’s good to see you both again.

Looks like everything came together nicely, Lana said, indicating the tent and decorations with a wave of her hand.

Yes, it did, and thanks to you both for your help with it, too. Janice smiled and her light brown eyes shined.

Any time, Jorje replied.

Yes. Lana took Jorje’s hand with a huge grin, then turned back to Janice. Anything for Addie.

And who is your friend? Janice asked, nodding toward Izabel.

Izabel bit her lip, feeling horribly out of place and very underdressed.

Oh, my, I’m so sorry, Lana gushed, giving Izabel an apologetic look. I’ve forgotten my manners. This is Izabel. She’s a friend of Addie’s from Seattle.

Ah, so good of you to come all this way, Janice said as she patted Izabel’s hand. Any friend of Addie’s is more than welcome.

Izabel glanced at Jorje, who gave her an ‘I told you so’ look, and she found herself smiling in return.

I’m glad to be here, Izabel said, but I haven’t seen Addie in years. She might not—

A loud shriek came from the opposite side of the tent near the exit, drawing their attention.

Izabel’s eyes widened when she saw the handsome cowboy, who had so enamored her, in a serious conversation with an overly thin blonde woman who seemed to be screaming at him. He hovered over her almost menacingly as he replied just as vehemently as the woman, but his voice was far more reserved.

I don’t care! the woman shouted, drawing more eyes as she tried to shove past the much larger man in her way.

He glanced at the people in the tent, many of whom had turned his way, and shook his head. With his jaw clenched and his lips pressed into a firm line, he wrapped his hand around her bicep and spun her away from the tent. His arm draped across her back as he hustled her out of view, toward where the cars were parked.

Well, that was dramatic, Janice said, pulling them back to the party. I hope Zack gets her to leave quietly.

Who was that? Izabel asked as a queasy feeling filled her stomach. The display of masculine overbearance was far too familiar for her comfort.

Just someone who shouldn’t have been here, Janice said. Zack will take care of her. I just hope Cord is okay.

Lana leaned forward, her eyes sad and intense. Is she…?

Janice nodded, but didn’t elaborate.

Izabel was only half-listening as she squirmed in her seat. Of course, the first man I’m attracted to in months, and he’s exactly like the last. She sighed and lowered her chin. Maybe I have a ‘type,’ after all. Maybe all men are like that. Maybe I am weak…

I’m going to go check on Cord, Jorje said as he stood and headed over to where two other large men had escorted Cade’s twin. They watched him go, and Izabel wondered what the deal was between Cord and the mysterious woman.

Well, Izabel, Janice interrupted her thoughts, why haven’t we seen you before now?

Oh, I… Well, I—

She didn’t know if she’d be welcomed, Lana explained.

Izabel’s face heated when she met Janice’s warm gaze.

The older woman frowned. Whyever not?

Well, like I said, Addie and I haven’t seen each other in a while. I didn’t want to upset her or anything before her wedding.

If I know Addie at all, Janice said slowly, she will be thrilled to see an old friend.

"That’s what I said." Lana smiled as she gave Izabel a one-armed hug.

Izabel was thankful for the younger woman’s exuberance. Lana made her feel welcome, like she really was part of their little group.

Will you all be staying long? Janice asked. I know Addie would be upset to miss seeing Izabel.

We’ve been staying at the hotel by the interstate, Lana said. More private that way. But we’ll be leaving tomorrow. Jorje says he’s been away too long already. He doesn’t want to burden our neighbors any longer than he has to. They’ve been keeping an eye on the farm while we’re gone.

Good neighbors, Janice replied and turned her gaze to Izabel. How about you, Izabel? Will you be staying for a while?

Izabel shrugged. I’m not sure. I guess it depends on Addie. Her heart sunk a little lower. She didn’t want to move in with either of her parents, but she didn’t have anywhere else to go. A part of her didn’t even know why she’d come here, except that it was far away from the heartbreak and frustration she’d left back in Seattle.

Well, I’m sure we can figure something out for you, Janice said with her motherly smile. Her warmth and acceptance surprised Izabel, but it made her feel good as well. Maybe she could find a place here or, at least, figure out where to go next—what to do next.

The music faded and while some dancers began to move back to their tables, others stood to take their place as the next song started.

I appreciate that, Janice, Izabel began, but I don’t—

Izzy? Izabel Silva?

Izabel froze in her seat, then slowly turned toward her old friend.

"It is you, Addie said with a smile. What are you doing here?"

I wanted to visit, but you weren’t home at your old farm, Izabel explained, quickly revealing how she’d arrived, unannounced, at Addie’s old place and convinced Jorje and Lana to bring her along.

Addie released her husband’s hand and rushed forward to gather Izabel into a warm embrace. I’m so glad they did. I’ve missed you! Cade…? Addie stood and pulled her husband forward. This is Izabel Silva, another of my best friends from college. Izabel, this is my husband, Cade Brody.

Lana moved over so the couple could sit at the table with them.

I’m happy to meet you, Cade, Izabel said as Addie and Cade sat down.

Same here, Cade said. Addie’s mentioned you a couple of times and how much she’s missed you.

Izabel glanced at her old friend. I’ve missed you too, Addie, she said through her suddenly restricted throat. I’m sorry I disappeared on you.

Addie’s face filled with concern. What happened? The last I remember, you were happy with a new job and a new guy.

Izabel dropped her eyes to her hands and shrugged. Neither of them worked out the way I’d hoped…

Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.

Izabel met her friend’s gaze with a sheepish grin. It’s okay. I’m working through it. First thing I wanted to do though, was reconnect with you.

A huge smile split Addie’s sweet face. I’d love that. Are you staying in town for a while? We’re only going to be gone a week, and I’d love to spend some time with you once we get back from wherever it is we’re going… She glanced at her husband, but Cade just smiled.

I’m not telling, he said, and Addie huffed in feigned annoyance.

She leaned toward Izabel conspiratorially, but her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. He’s been torturing me for weeks about our honeymoon. Won’t tell me a thing. She glanced over her shoulder again. He’s lucky I like him so much.

Cade chuckled. "You love me."

Yeah, Addie said dreamily, I suppose I do.

And you wanted to be surprised. He winked, and Izabel giggled. She liked Addie’s husband already.

I don’t know about that, Addie grumbled and turned back to Izabel. So how about it? Are you going to stay for a while?

Well… Izabel hesitated. She didn’t have a lot of money left, and if she was going to stay out of both of her parents’ spare rooms, she would need something to start over with.

Addie must have guessed her dilemma because she quickly spoke up. Of course, you’ll stay with us. I mean, we won’t be there for a week, but you can use our place. No need to waste money on a hotel, and I’m sure we can find someone to entertain you. She leaned in a little more. There are tons of handsome guys here who I’m sure would love to meet you.

I don’t know about that, Izabel said quietly before she forced herself to be a little more cheery, but I’d gladly take the offer of a room for a while. I need to figure out my next steps.

Then it’s settled. You’ll stay at our place, Addie said and, sitting back in her chair, took her husband’s hand. Maybe Cord can show her around?

Cade shook his head. He’s going to Wyoming for a few days. Remember?

Oh, that’s right…

And we already have guests from out of town staying for the next few days… He gave Izabel an apologetic smile before he met Addie’s gaze. We don’t have any room.

Addie’s shoulders slumped and a frown wrinkled her brow.

She can stay with us, Janice offered. We’ve got plenty of room.

Izabel turned to Janice. I don’t want to impose on you…

Nonsense. I’d love to have some company, and I’m sure Emily will, too.

Emily?

She’s Zack’s second oldest sister, Addie told her with a smile. She’s a sweetheart.

Izabel nodded, though anxiety over spending time with strangers filled her chest.

And if she’d like to check out the area, I’m sure Zack would be happy to show her around, too, Janice added. He knows some beautiful sites around here.

Oh, I don’t want to be a bother to anyone, Izabel said, the tightness in her chest increasing. It would be easier on her own—though a lot lonelier. But it would be nice to do something different. She blinked, surprised by the thought. Maybe her more adventurous side hadn’t died, after all.

Cade laughed at her comment and the rest of the table did, too. Trust me, he said through his chuckles, "Zack is the last