“You remember Diego don’t you Dani?” The owner of the establishment grinned at her.

“The name is familiar,” she mumbled over a strangled cough.

Darn it. She could feel the heat of a blush crawling up from her neck to her ears. Remember him? She couldn’t remember not knowing Diego. He was the guy that had taught her to jump a horse over a fence, how to roll a cigarette, not to mention her first cuss word. Most of all, he was the guy that had taught her to love him, the one that set her blood off on a hot spin everytime she thought of him.

No one had seemed to notice her wolfing down a second donut or the hard time she had swallowing that last bite. It wasn’t the first time they’d seen her embarrass herself. She ducked her chin when the owner of the store spoke to her loud enough for all to hear.

“Say, Dani. I saw Diego go in the bank across the street a few minutes ago. If you hurry, you can catch up with him.”

His comment brought a round of chuckles from his companions. Every one for five counties around knew she had adored Diego from the first moment her blue eyes had focused on his fabulous face. The teasing she had undergone was fun once, but now, it was just plain embarrassing. These friendly and caring men couldn’t begin to know how deeply Diego had hurt her when she was a wide eyed virgin of seven-teen.

She made her way to the counter, stepping over the aged collie that lolled in the floor. “I need two sacks of kibble, Sam.” She tapped the dog eared catalog he’d been looking at. “I’ll be ordering a couple of new water troughs soon.”

He grinned at her as if he were the keeper of a major secret. “Darn ironic, you two coming back to Santa Fe at the same time.”

“What do I owe you, Sam?”

She almost grinned when he wet the tip of the lead pencil in his mouth.

He tallied her bill up on a paper bag, then shoved it in her direction. “You going to the barn dance at the Varga's?”

She scribbled out a check for her purchases and handed it to the talkative proprietor. “I’ll be back to pick up that special meal for the Delgado horse, Sam.”

“Don’t want to talk about Diego, huh?” He tossed her check into a shoe box cash register at the end of the cluttered counter. “Always thought you two would make a fine looking team. A golden palomino and a dark eyed-chestnut.”

“Sam, I was kid. I’m sure we’ve both changed over the years.”

He went on about the subject, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “Yeah, I remember you always trailing after him, even trying to walk like him.”

Dani knew if she was to escape with her hide in tact, she had to pretend his teasing wasn’t bothering her. “I was a real tomboy then, wasn’t I?”

She glanced out the window before grasping the sacks of dog food by their ears and heaved them up in her arms.

Sam gestured toward the bags she struggled with. “Want those delivered?”

“No thanks. I can make it on my own.” She staggered under the weight of a hundred pounds but kept a smile on her face. “See you next week, Sam.”

How stupid was she? Twenty pounds in each arm just to get out of the store without doing something clutzy. Left no choice but to move forward when the weight of the bags propelled her through the open doorway. She managed to aim for her old blue pickup and dropped the bags into it's rusting bed. Out of breath, she leaned against the relic of a truck and glanced across the street.

While digging in her jeans pocket for the keys, she took another look across the street. Oh no. Her luck had turned ugly. Diego had chosen that moment to walk out of the bank and appeared to be ready to cross the street where she stood in an uncertain quiver.

Maybe she could avoid him like she always did. Pretend she didn't see him. Leaning over, she tried the door handle on the passengers side. Too late, she remembered the door was permanently rusted shut. Bending over to catch her breath, Dani couldn’t think clearly.

If he had seen her, she knew he’d have something to say to her. In the past two years, she’d always managed to be unavailable or off doing something that assured they wouldn’t be alone when ever they were in Santa Fe at the same time. Christmas had thrown her in his path for one embarressing, miserable evening while she tried not to stare at him and his latest girlfriend.

Now, he was home to stay and the day of reckoning had arrived. Face up to it girl. You’ll have to talk to him sooner or later. Okay, just be casual. Somewhere deep in her heart, she heard a soft laugh. Be casual with him. Impossible.

Raising up enough to peer over the truck bed, she settled her gaze on him, helpless to fend off the crescendo of romantic delirium that caught her in a net of helpless delight. She simply had to conduct a relationship with him without those old feelings of desperate devotion. She could do it. Anything was possible.

Wrong. Her heart was beating in her ears, a rush of tumbling emotions taking her breath and will power. After all this time, nothing had changed. She warmed to her very soul at just the sight of him. The man was ablaze with charisma, tall and lean and cock-sure of himself.

She swiped a strand of hair from her face, unwilling to lose sight of Diego until she was ready. Tilting her to one side, she thought he was heavier than she remembered. No, not him. The least he could do would be to develop a paunch or start balding. Fat chance of that happening, she thought wryly. He’d never be fat or lose that crop of black hair. Cock-sure and full of himself. And why wouldn’t he be? Everything about him spoke volumes about his noble lineage.

Figuring she could make a quiet get-away, Dani took another female driven look at Diego and shivered involuntarily while checking out the way his faded Levi’s fit his long legs. He still turned the cuffs of his sleeves up like the chambray one he was wearing.

You fool, she berated herself. Peeking at him like a moon-eyed calf. He’s the same guy that chose to date your best friend and wouldn’t give you the time of day unless he wanted to use you for an alibi or prank. And don’t forget your moment of insanity when you spilled your heart out to him, confessing your life long love for him. You dolt. He laughed at you and called you a nuisance before telling you to grow up. Surely you haven’t forgotten the complete humiliation you nearly drowned in after he had walked off and left you crying in the moonlight.

This wasn’t the first time she’d mulled over what her reception to Diego would be when it became too difficult to avoid him. The biggest problem being, he knew her like the back of his hand. It would be the complete obliteration of any dignity she possessed if he ever suspected how deeply his joking rebuff had wounded her. He’d never get the chance again.

Her chance to make a break for it came when several ranchers stopped to talk with him. Squatting down, she began to duck walk around the truck, only to fall back on her rear when she reached for the door handle. The keys she dropped seemed to take on a life of their own, squirting several feet away and out of reach. Before she could get to her feet, she heard footsteps, then the voice that was tattooed in her soul.

“Dani.” Diego leaned down, bracing his hands on his knees and smiled at her. “Hey. It’s me. The guy you cut your teeth on.”

She was mortified. His smile warmed her heart with it’s sweetness.

“I knew it was you, for Pete’s sake.” She cast a glance in the direction her keys had skittered off to.

“What were you doing?” He held his hand out, offering to help her up. “Truck won’t start, huh?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my truck.” She put her hand in his, nearly keeling over with the same wild, sweet joy his touch always speared her with.

“I figured you’d flooded it,” he said, nearly blinding her with a white-toothed grin. “Had to come over to see if you needed a hand.”

She felt as if she were afloat when he easily pulled her up off her fanny to try and stand on her levitating feet.

“I’m fine.” She brushed at the dust on the seat of her pants. “I was on my way home.”

“I’d buy you a cup of coffee if you have time.” He leaned over and picked up the keys she had dropped. “Were you looking for these?”

“Yeah,” she fibbed, remembering her ogling session of him a few minutes ago. “Thanks.”

He took his hat off and looked down at her as casually as if they’d been together every day for the past four years instead of a dozen hurried times. She could hear her sensible voice rapping on her brain for attention. Stop staring at him. Yes, his hair is still so alive you can practically hear the crackle in its ebony depths. And yes, dear Lord, you don’t have to be this close to him to know his eyes are like looking into evening skies of gold and brown.

She blinked and returned to the real world when he touched his finger tip to the corner of her mouth.

“Sam still bribing customers with free donuts and coffee?” He let his thumb slide to her bottom lip and smiled into her rounded eyes. “Icing. On your mouth.”

“Oh, yeah.” Her cheeks felt hot and her mouth dry. “I have to get back home. Got a ton of chores to finish.”

He caught her arm in a gentle but firm brand grip before she could move.

“Will you?” He gestured toward the small café across the street. “Have coffee with me? I’d like to talk to my best girl.”

His best girl. She squashed down the urge to slug him. Still treating her like a favorite toy and she wasn’t about to let him do that again. He simply had to realize she was a woman now, and no longer available whenever he needed a ear to bend or someone to bolster his ego.

Oh, you’re a tough one, she thought, noticing the mud on her boots. He probably don’t really want to be seen with you and is hoping you say no. She lifted her shoulders and met his steady gaze with astonishing ease.

“I really don’t have time today.” She opened the only operable door of the truck and scrambled into the driver’s seat. “Maybe some other time.”

For once, her voice hadn’t broken in that annoying way that he got such a kick out of.

He was staring at Dani as if he’d never seen her before. It appeared Miss Danielle O’Hara had gone and changed into a beautiful woman over the past four years. Hell, he’d always known she was pretty, but this was a fully ripened woman staring calmly at him with her stormy blue eyes. The ornery kid’s grin was gone.

He smiled at her, not trying to conceal his thoughts. That baggy shirt she was wearing did a rotten job of hiding the sweet shape of her breasts. Yeah, it failed miserably and made him glad as hell. He’d seen the firm roundness of her hips and her skin tight faded jeans only enhanced the slender length of her legs. All in all, she was now a woman to turn his thoughts to something other than teasing her.

He leaned through the window of the truck to take a long look at the beauty that was eying him with a woman’s wariness. While he tried to think of some clever joke or a way to make her laugh, she was turning the key in the ignition.

What the devil was wrong with him? This was Dani, the girl that had caused him lots of grief and several warps across his backside. After a closer look, he knew she wasn’t the same. The roar of the motor startled him. She was leaving.

“Dani.” He put his hand over hers that gripped the steering wheel. “You’re coming to the party at the house tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t planning to.” She swallowed hard as his fingers cupped around hers. “The stables keep me awfully busy.”

His smile was not teasing or brotherly when he spoke to her.

“That’s part of the reason I want you to be there.”

“Still need a look-out while you and Sara Mills play hide and seek in the hay loft?” Just like old times, she had gave him an opening to tease her.

“You and I used to play in the hay loft.” He caught a strand of her hair in his fingers. “You still have beautiful hair, Dani. Kind of like sunshine in the morning. And your eyes are the same stormy blue.”

He changed his tactic of talking to the woman that knew him better than anyone.

“Anyway, Sarah Mills is married now and the mother of three kids. Don’t think she’s available anymore.”

Dani released the emergency brake and shook her head. “I have to get going.” She gave him a half smile. “Better move. I’ll try to not run over your foot.”

He jumped as if he were hit by lightning, feigning alarm. “At least you warned me.” He grinned mischievously while her brows knitted into a frown. “You know if you don’t show up at the party, I’ll be forced to come over to your place.”
“Suit yourself, Diego,” she said, “but I’ll still be busy.”

“I don’t mind.” Her shortness with him didn’t dampen his attempt at persuasion. “We can talk while you do whatever is keeping you so busy.”

“Okay.” She inhaled softly, making a decision she would probably regret. “I’ll try to be there.”

“Whoa. That too easy. You really don’t want me around your place, do you?” He smiled, looking into her eyes. “Truce, Dani. No more teasing. No more chasing you with lizards.”

She eyed him with amusement. “Shoot. Did you really think I was afraid of those things? I just wanted you to chase me.”

He never expected her to say something like that. When she pointed to the ground, he was still mulling over the idea of them being more than just friends.

“Um…your foot.” Revving the motor, she waited for him to step back.

“Yes’um,” he drawled. “Mighty kind of you to be concerned.”

“Bye, Diego.” She put the truck into gear, offering one last comment. “I was only concerned about paying a doctor bill because you can’t follow directions.”

He laughed aloud, enjoying her jab at his intelligence. ”See you, Dani” He took his hat off, holding it up as she slowly pulled away from the curb. “Tomorrow night.”

She waved her hand out the window in a show of lack luster interest, then gave the tired old truck plenty of gas. She wanted to get away before she made an ass of herself, like letting him know she was still wild about him.

She drove several blocks before turning off onto a side street where she let her emotions fly. Damn him. She had spent countless hours trying to scrub him out of her heart, shed rivers of tears because of his careless way of treating her. Now, here he was back, assuming she was fair game for anything he could think up.

The comment he’d made about them playing in the loft was made in jest. He had no idea how much their rough and tumble play had meant to her. Or the way she almost fainted when he’d penned her beneath his weight and laughed down at her while she lay in a stupor, wide eyed and ready to allow him anything.

Leaning her head back against the seat, she gathered her straying emotions into an orderly knot of confusion. She grimaced with determination of what the future between the two of them would be like. It was time to let him know there would be drastic changes in their relationship. There were new rules and she would let him know what they were as soon as she figured them out.

Her eyes narrowed while she recalled his teasing words. The way he had eyed her body and face said he wasn’t seeing her in the old way. The man had never been short of female admirers waiting for that certain look from him.

She glanced in the rear view mirror, smiling a little while the seed of a plan for a dose of payback formed in her mind. It was time Diego ran into a brick wall of resistance. Coming from her, the turn down of his affections would be the ultimate kick to his saddle toughened rear.

Why not, she thought. She had the same thing every woman had and from all appearances, he wanted it. She laughed aloud after getting the truck headed back in the direction of her home. Heck, there was a dress to choose for that party.

She was feeling pretty good by the time she turned off the blacktop into the lane that lead to her home. The O’Hara ranch was small in comparison to the Varga spread that began just the other side of the white rail fence that ran the length of the lane leading to her home.

She slowed the truck to look at several sleek saddle horses that were cropping grass along the fence. She might be cash poor, but her late father’s breeding stock was highly sought after and she was determined to maintain his high standards. There had been lofty breeding fees offered on several of her prize mares, but she wasn’t about to mess up the bloodlines her father had worked so hard to develop. The breeding charts for the next five years had been drawn up and filed in her computer.

The fact he’d sacrificed so much to send her to college and didn’t tell her of the astronomical medical bills when he became ill still made Dani teary eyed. He had left her the ranch and enough money to keep it going for a while, but she had to be resourceful to make a go of it. Boarding horses kept the bills paid and gave her time to train her own stock to be pleasure riding mounts.

If only she’d known how ill he was, she would’ve gladly given up school to ease his worry. But, that was all in the past. Now, her vigilance in keeping the ranch running in tip-top shape would be her way of repaying him. The reminiscing reminded her of the mountain of chores waiting for her in the stables.

She glanced over at the Varga property. As always, there were several hired hands out working around the fence line. Looking past them, she saw Diego’s father riding across the pasture. She returned his wave and got out of the truck to lean on the fender. She watched him ride toward her and thought he was a spectacular man. Antonio Varga was well into his fifties, yet he rode like a young man. She figured he must have been a real heartbreaker in his day.

“Good day, Dani,” he said, then dismounted easily. He smiled warmly at her. “You’re busy as usual, I see.”

“Hello Antonio.” How’ve you been?”

“Very well, thank you.” He removed his hat and leaned on the top rail of the fence. “Did you happen to see Diego while you were in town? He’s doing some errands for me and is running a bit late.”

“Yes, I saw him, but we didn’t get a chance to talk very long.” She wanted to add that she thought Diego was probably sweet talking one of the town girls as she called them.

There was a smile of contentment on Antonio’s face. “It pleases me very much to have both of you back home at the same time.” He ran his palm over the crown of his hat. “This place need young blood. New ideas.”

Her interest was piqued. “What new ideas would those be?”

“Diego came back from Spain with some plans he wants to try out. He seems anxious to discuss it with you.”

She was curios as to what Diego was up to and what he had in mind for his father’s already prosperous and lovely ranch. It must be something pretty important to him if he wanted to share his ideas with her.

“He didn’t mention anything to me while we were talking.”

“He wants new bloodlines for our stable. To refine our stock.” Antonio gestured toward the sacks of dog chow in the back of her truck. “Would you allow me to send one of my men to help you with that?”

“Thank you, no. I can manage.” She smiled at the eternally gracious man. “I suppose I should get home to see what damage Joe has done.”

“It was a pleasure speaking with you, Dani.” He put his hat on and remounted. “Oh yes, I will be seeing you at the house tomorrow night, won’t I?”

She wanted to decline, but couldn’t think of a reasonable adult excuse. Besides, she wanted to test her woman’s power on Diego. “I’ll try.”

“Please come.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Adios.”

“Adios, Antonio.”

She watched him ride away and got back into the truck. A party at the Varga place. She remembered the last one she had attended with a bitter taste in her mouth.

Putting the truck into gear, she relived the entire, humiliating episode. Dressed in her frothy white gown, she had followed Diego out to the softly lit courtyard. There, like a shameless hussy, she had literally thrown her self and her heart at his feet. In her naivety and complete devotion of a seventeen-year old, she had told him she loved him. Instead of sweeping her off her feet as she expected, he had laughed and called her a pest, telling her to grow up.

The final blow to her heart came when he walked off arm in arm with her best friend, leaving her crying in the moonlight. To make matters worse, their fathers had overheard her sobs of heartbreak. Of course, neither of them ever mentioned the incident, yet it forever hung in the air.

That night, she’d made a vow that she wouldn’t have Diego if it would save his life. Well, things had changed. It was him wanting something from her and she could see the fun of dangling it just out of his reach.

A tingle of excitement danced in stomach while she headed home. There was supposed to be a full moon tomorrow night and she wondered how long it would take Diego to turn into a frog.