Excerpt from A Rancher's Redemption

Book #2 of the Prosperity, Montana Series

Chapter One

     Dinner was starting to smell so good that Dani Pettit’s mouth watered. Moments later, shortly after she’d buzzed Nick Kelly into the building, he knocked at her door. Although they talked and texted regularly, she hadn’t seen him in a while. He was her best friend, and tonight she really needed to get together with him.
     “He’s here,” she told Fluff.
     The tomcat meowed and trotted daintily toward the door. Which was funny because at twenty pounds and half a ton of white fur, he wasn’t exactly tiny. But he’d never let her down, and for that reason she stifled the urge to laugh at him. There weren’t many true-blue males in her life—just the cat, Nick, and Dani’s oldest brother, Sly. She dearly loved all three.
     To prevent Fluff from darting out, running across the hall, and shamelessly begging food from Mrs. Detmeier, Dani scooped him up before she opened the door and managed a smile. “Hi, Nick.”
     The handsome rancher flashed his pearly whites at the cat, then gave Dani a gentler grin. “Hey.”
     In his large hands he cradled a bottle of wine and a white bag bearing the Lannigan’s Ice Creamery logo, which was, bar none, the best ice creamery in Prosperity. Although the central Montana town of sixty thousand boasted at least a half-dozen ice cream specialty shops, several much closer to her house than Lannigan’s, Nick had chosen well. He sure knew how to brighten a girl’s spirits.
     Dani eyed the bag. “I hope that’s rocky road.”
     “A whole gallon of the stuff.”
     “You sweetheart!” She set Fluff down and rubbed her hands together.
     Nick chuckled. “Nothing but the best for Dani Pettit.”
     He kissed her cheek, then set his things down to shrug out of his leather bomber jacket. As usual, he hung it on the doorknob of the coat closet, his navy flannel shirt stretching across his broad shoulders.
     He was a beautiful man—tall and muscular without an ounce of extra fat, thanks to the physical demands of running a ranch. His long legs did wonders for the loose, faded jeans he favored. Yet as gorgeous and sexy as he was, theirs was a strictly platonic relationship and always had been. She adored him—as a friend.
     As soon as she let go of Fluff, Nick hunkered down to greet him, sticking his fingers into the thick fur and scratching here and there. “Howdy, Big Fella.”
     Like her brother, Sly, he refused to use the name “Fluff,” which he considered too sissy for a tomcat.
     The cat didn’t seem to mind. He was too busy purring and batting Nick’s hand for more. A moment later, content, he strolled off.
     “Netflix has a couple of new, interesting sounding shows we can watch later,” Nick said. “Or we can catch a movie out. It’s Saturday night.”
     Date night. Only twenty-four hours ago, Dani had assumed she and Jeter would be out dancing tonight at the Bitter & Sweet Bar and Grill in downtown Prosperity, where the live music and great dance floor made the bar a happening place.
     Now, dateless for the first time in three months—Dateless in Prosperity, she thought wryly—she shook her head. After last night’s painful breakup and an especially irritating day, she wanted only to relax and hang out with her bestie. “I’m not in the mood to go out. Would you mind if we stayed here?”
     “Fine with me.” He shot her a sympathetic look, and tears she refused to shed gathered behind her eyes. Jeter had never exactly treated her well, and over the months they’d been together, she’d done more than enough crying.
     “I’ll bet you could use a hug,” Nick said. “I know I could.”
     Which reminded her that she wasn’t the only one hurting. Earlier in the week he’d broken up with Mandy, a woman he’d seemed to really like—at least for a while. He had commitment issues, claiming he didn’t want to settle down with anyone, ever, didn’t want to marry or have kids. They weren’t just words, either. He meant it.
     She stepped into the warm, comforting embrace she’d needed since Jeter had dumped her. Instantly, she smelled the sandalwood soap he shaved with and the fresh Montana air. And underneath both, his own “Nick” scent.
     For a few long moments they held each other tightly. When they let go and stepped back, she felt better.
     He sniffed the air, rubbing his belly and licking his lips, making her smile for real. “Man, that smells amazing. I’ve been dreaming of your hamburger mac and cheese all day.”
     “Even while you worked on the barn roof in the freezing rain? You’re lucky it didn’t snow.”