The next morning the doctor gave Jake the okay to travel and they arrived back at the Barkley Ranch without further incident. Nick teased Jake about who he might ask to dance since they had returned in time for the planned Barkley barbeque that night. He hoped the young cowboy wouldn't take the ribbing the wrong way; Nick felt a bit guilty about using him to cover up Nick's own conflicted thoughts about the upcoming social event. He had an intense yearning to ask the pretty cowgirl whom he'd ridden with and fought beside over the past several days to accompany him, but their relative positions on the ranch made things a tad awkward.

He was grooming Coco in the barn, mulling over various approaches when he heard someone enter.

"Mighty nice looking horses you picked up, Nick," came the soft drawl from the doorway. "Have any troubles on the trip?"

Nick turned to see Heath leaning against the doorframe.

"A little run-in with some horse thieves, but no more trouble than you'd expect," he replied, not wanting to go into all the details right then. "See Mother's been riding herd on you." He indicated the sling his brother was wearing.

Heath grimaced. "Watches me like a hawk," he grumbled, "won't let me out of the house unless I'm wearing the blasted thing. So how'd Belle and Jake get on?"

"Fine, fine." Nick continued brushing. Much as Nick hated asking, Heath had known Belle a little longer, and maybe he could give some advice on how to approach her. "Seems you were right, little brother. Belle does kinda grow on you once you get to know her."

"Is that a fact?" Heath replied with a slight grin, deliberately using one of Nick's favorite expressions.

"Yeah, that's a fact," Nick echoed. He leaned on Coco's back and looked at the other cowboy. "In fact, I was thinking of asking her to go with me to the barbeque, but…" He trailed off, not sure how to put his reluctance into words.

Heath caught Nick's hesitation and understood, maybe better than Nick thought. "Better think on what you're gonna say carefully if you're going down that road, Nick," he cautioned. "Reckon unwanted attention from the boss is what caused Belle to leave her last job."

"She tell you that?" Nick didn't want Belle to feel backed into a corner; he had nothing but respect for her, plus, he had to admit, a little healthy desire.

Heath shook his head. "Not in so many words, but wasn't hard to figure from what she did say."

"Now, Heath," Nick said in a reasonable tone, "you know I wouldn't put that kind of pressure on her."

"I know that, Nick," Heath replied, pushing his hat back off his forehead, "just make sure Belle does, too. She's a good woman, you don't want her to slip through your fingers, Nick."

Nick thought about what Heath told him long after the blond cowboy left to supervise set up for the barbeque. Maybe it would be coming on too strong to ask Belle to accompany him, but surely asking for a dance or two wouldn't go amiss. That way, he could get a sense of her feelings for him before coming right out and stating his own. Decision made, Nick went off to help with the preparations.

.

.

Nick scanned the crowd. People from all over the valley were there, drinking, eating, laughing and having a good time. With all those people, it would be easy to miss somebody, but Nick was sure he should have caught sight of Belle by now. He walked over to Jake who had just finished a dance with a pretty brunette.

"Excuse me, miss," Nick said with a charming smile to the girl, making her blush before turning back to the young cowboy. "Jake, you seen Belle anywhere this evening?"

Jake thought for a moment. "Can't say as I have, boss. Maybe she didn't feel like coming."

Nick hadn't considered that. Could she have felt awkward coming if no one had asked her? A possibility, but it didn't seem like the kind of thing that would bother Belle. "Thanks, Jake, keep having a good time," Nick said with a wink as he wandered off.

Strolling around the edge of the crowd, pausing to greet a few friends here and there, Nick finally spotted a familiar shape standing alone, away from the party by one of the farthest corrals. He walked up behind Belle who was watching the horses move about the enclosure. The moonlight shone off her blonde hair and Nick fought down the urge to reach out and touch it.

"Got any room left on your dance card?"

Belle started and whirled around. "Nick!" she said accusingly. "Didn't your mother ever teach you it's bad manners to sneak up on someone like that?"

"I'm sure she said something at one point," Nick replied with a glint in his eye. "Just saw you standing over here and was wondering if you might like to dance. With me," he added when she didn't respond right away.

Belle met his gaze briefly before looking away. "Thanks for the offer, Nick, but…"

"Hey, no big deal, don't worry about it," Nick replied quickly. His heart fell into his boots but he tried not to let his disappointment show. "Well, hope you're having a good time." He turned to leave before he made her any more uncomfortable, but was stopped by a gentle hand on his arm.

"Nick, wait."

Nick glanced back. The look in Belle's eyes brought his heart back up to the vicinity of his chest.

"It's not that I don't want to dance with you, Nick, it's just…" Belle suddenly appeared embarrassed. "I mean look at me."

Nick did and couldn't find any fault with the view. Belle's curves were all in the right places and the brown pants she was wearing just accentuated her long legs. "I don't own a dress," Belle continued, "and I've don't even know how to dance." Belle's eyes met Nick's and he felt the electricity between them. "But if I did, I'd be sure to save a spot on my dance card for you," she finished.

"Belle." Nick's voice was quiet as he took the two steps to close the distance between them. Heath's warnings whispered in the back of his head, but at that moment, Nick didn't care. He placed a hand on Belle's cheek, leaned in and kissed her. He felt her lips respond to his and put his arms around her, drawing her close.

Belle broke the embrace after a moment. "Nick," she protested without much conviction. Nick reluctantly let her go.

"Sorry if I overstepped," he apologized, sincerity evident in his tone.

Belle didn't make any effort to move further away. "It's okay, Nick," she said. "I just don't think you should be kissing one of your ranch hands like that."

Nick reached up to brush a stray lock of hair off her face. "Never thought I'd want to kiss one of my ranch hands like that." Belle smiled and Nick returned it with a roguish one of his own. "I mean, have you seen that bunch?"

"That's awful, Nick," Belle said, laughing.

"Guess it is," he admitted. He looked deep into her eyes. "I'm not sorry for finding you attractive, Belle, but I'd never make things difficult for you. Just say the word, and I'll back off and not bother you again." He held his breath, waiting for her response.

"You're not bothering me, Nick, and I don't want you to back off," Belle told him as she stepped back into his arms. "In fact, I think I'd like you just a little bit closer."

Having received the invitation he'd been hoping for, Nick wasn't about to turn it down. He took her lips with his own, the kiss tender at first, then growing more intense, more passionate.

"I take it you wouldn't object if I was to court you?" Nick asked when they finally released each other.

Belle shook her head. "So long as you regard me the same as anyone else when we're working," she warned. "I don't want any special treatment."

"No special treatment, hey?" Nick saw the wisdom in that, but couldn't resist adding, "Does that mean I have to kiss the rest of them too? 'Cause that's something I'm not prepared to do." Belle rolled her eyes. "You're the only one I want to kiss, Belle," he said softly as his lips met hers again.