But when she ran into Alix Harris and Jess Gray, two girls she recognized from high school, and they all stood around the gate and compared notes, curiosity got the better of her. Perhaps it was the lawyer in her, or perhaps it was the woman. Either way—luggage or not—she’d decided that, for once in her life, she was just going to act on impulse and see where the adventure led her.

And where it led her was straight to a dude ranch where the guy who’d seen her at her most vulnerable was standing in the shadows and likely waiting for her sister!

As her world tilted on its axis, the crowd dispersed, and she faltered backward. Her mind raced as the female ranch hand guided her off the small airstrip. She followed along numbly, forcing one leg in front of the other and wondering if she could jump back on the plane and get the hell out of Dodge before anyone realized the screwup. She turned at the sound of the engine roaring back to life, and sweat broke out on her skin when she spotted the small plane getting ready to taxi back down the short runway.

Feeling dizzy, she pinched her eyes shut, groping for something—anything—to grasp on to, when she felt a strong pair of arms slip around her waist to help balance her. She didn’t have to turn around to know who those strong hands belonged to.

“You okay?”

Oh God, that voice. So deep. So sexy. So achingly familiar.

He tightened his grip, and she didn’t dare open her eyes as she thought about those big, competent hands of his. Thought about how many times she had wished they were on her body, touching her, caressing her, making love to her. Her panties grew damp, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stifle the moan climbing from the depths of her dry throat.

Okay, so it was a lie. A complete and utter lie. She’d been jealous of Mari and Coop’s relationship all along. And yes, she’d love to be wild and carefree like her sister for one day, mainly because it was the only way the boy from her fantasies was ever going to notice her. But he never bothered to give her the time of day before, which meant she was far better off without him in her life. Right?

So why then, after all these years, did his touch reduce her to a giddy schoolgirl? One who wanted him now as much as she ever did?

God, I am so pathetic!

Warm hands gripped her shoulders to spin her around. She opened her eyes and wished she hadn’t. When her glance locked on his magnificent baby blues, there was no stopping her knees from wobbling. He pulled her closer until their groins meshed, and she could feel every striated muscle in his rock-hard body, specifically the one between his legs as it pressed against her.

She melted into his body, which could satisfy the most insatiable. What would it be like to have his work-roughened hands all over her, removing her clothes and touching her in the most erotic ways? Her lids fell shut as a myriad sinful thoughts tormented her suddenly overactive libido.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked again.

His voice jostled her back to reality, and she remembered it was Mari he’d been waiting for under that oak tree, not her nerdy sister Julia. And the truth was, she wasn’t about to offer herself to a man who didn’t want her, no matter how much her body begged her to do just that.

Julia called on every ounce of strength she possessed, marshaled her wayward thoughts, and forced her voice to work, but for the first time in her life, words failed her. “I…uh…thirsty.”

He gestured with a nod over his shoulder, and genuine concern laced his voice when he said, “Come on. It’s scorching out here. Let’s go inside for a cold drink.”

Julia gave a quick shake of her head, and her voice came out far too breathy for her liking. “No. I should probably go.”

Something that resembled heat flashed in his eyes, and it was all she could do to ignore the hunger bombarding her hormones. “Where?” he asked as they both watched the plane take to the sky. His sexy voice left her warm, wanting, and detesting him as much as she detested her traitorous body.

“Oh God,” she croaked out.

As she stared into his bedroom blues, another shudder ran through her, and she briefly wondered if she’d read him wrong. Maybe he didn’t know the nerdy twin had boarded the plane. Then another more devious thought hit. If he didn’t know, did she have it in her to pretend she was her sister? Just for one glorious week? Talk about the perfect opportunity to walk in her sister’s shoes. As her mind warmed to the idea and her body stirred from his touch, she brushed her tongue over her lips and thought about where such a deceitful little lie would land her.

Right in his bed.

His perfect white teeth flashed as he smiled down at her. “Julia, are you okay?”

Okay, so much for that naughty plan. He obviously knew it was her. Too bad, really, because he was so damn hot.

No man should ever be allowed to look that good.

She extricated herself from his arms. Stalling, she brushed her hand over her blouse and form-fitting work skirt, smoothing out the wrinkles as she considered her next move. “Yeah, I’m just warm.” She gave a casual shrug and decided to try to play off her unease. “I guess the invitation was meant for my sister.”

Coop mimicked her easy shrug. “Yeah, but that’s okay,” he said lightly, a strange gleam in his eyes that piqued her interest. “You’re here now, and I really want you to stay and enjoy yourself.”

She studied his body language for movement—a skill she’d learned in law school; he was up to something. Crinkling her nose, she shaded the sun from her eyes and said, “Are there any car rentals around here?”

“Come on, Julia,” he said. “You don’t have to do that.” He gave her a sexy, somewhat devious smile, and once again she couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on here. Why had he invited Mari to the ranch after all these years? From what she knew, they’d lost touch after high school and Mari had been with many men since. The paparazzi loved to splash her face, and her antics, all over the rag mags. He likely wanted in on a little of the action. What other explanation could there be?

He gave a wide sweep of his hand. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I have a room ready for you and a week of fun planned.”

“No, Coop,” she corrected, his words hitting like a hard slap. “You have a room ready for my sister and a week of fun planned for her.”

He frowned, and when he hooked his thumbs in his belt loops, Julia tried not to notice the way his jeans rode low on his hips. “I didn’t mean—” he began.

She held her hand up to stop him. The last thing she wanted to hear was that he didn’t mean that she, Julia Blair, could take over where her sister had left off. No, she really didn’t want to hear that it wasn’t her he wanted.

“It’s okay. I need to get back anyway.” She attempted a smile. “Especially since I boarded the plane on a whim and didn’t even bring any luggage.”

Coop went quiet for a long moment, and she wondered what was going through his mind. Finally, he broke the silence and said, “I’m not going to keep you here if you don’t want to stay. There’s another plane tomorrow at dinnertime. But until then you’re kind of stuck.” He stepped closer, his scent overwhelming her senses when he pitched his voice low and said, “Just don’t make your decision until then, okay?”

“Why?”

“Because I think you might actually like it here.” He held out his hand, and his grin turned mischievous when he started ticking things off on his fingers. “We’ve got a guest pool, great food, horses at your disposal, groomed riding trails…”

As he continued to list the amenities, Julia’s gaze panned the estate and studied the old farmhouse, which had been restored to a quaint country inn. She took pleasure in the sight of the beautiful horses running inside the corral and the magnificent mountains off in the distance. It really was quite breathtaking.