Hearing the bus pull away, she stepped out of the barn and watched the boys head to the house. She whistled at them and they stopped. Stepping to the side, she let the border collie move past her and over to the boys. Their eyes brightened and they met the dog. Laughing, they hugged him and Timmy sat on the ground, holding onto him.

"It's a dog!"

Jared looked up and asked, "Can we keep him?"

Katie nodded and said, "On one condition."

Timmy met her gaze and she said, "He needs a good name. Tag says Brutus, but I think you two can do a better job than that."

The twins smiled and Jared asked, "What do you think?"

Timmy studied the dog and said, "Looks like a Billy to me."

Smirking, Katie watched the two talk names over and crossed her arms. The dog looked up at her and she shrugged.

"Billy sounds fine to us."

Hearing the name, Katie nodded and pulled off the name tag. Billy licked her hand and she put the tag in her pocket as she headed for the porch.

"Come on you two, I have to get dinner started and get the animals in."

Mary stepped out of the house and said, "I bet your mother failed to mention you'll be having company tonight."

The twins looked at her and Jared asked, "Is that so?"

Timmy held onto Billy's collar and asked, "Who?"

Katie shrugged and said, "Just someone that brought us Billy."

Mary looked at Timmy and asked, "Do you remember the doctor that treated you?"

Timmy nodded and asked, "Is it him, Mom? He's cool!"

Frowning, Katie looked at Mary and said, "Inside you two. I need your help if we're going to have dinner on the table in time."

Mary laughed as the boys hurried inside and followed them in. Stepping into the door, Katie watched Billy rest on the porch and she knelt next to him.

"You are exactly what they needed. Thank you."

Billy looked up at her and she walked into the house, closing the door behind her.

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Driving the remaining cattle into the barn, Katie slipped off her stallion, Turner, and led him into his stall. He turned around in his stall and she closed the door, locking it as she walked away. Running her gaze over the livestock, she smirks and climbs the stairs to the main floor. Standing at the railing, she let out a sigh and turned the lights off as she slipped out of the room. Walking out of the barn, she pulled the door shut and crossed the driveway.

Billy lifted his head and she smirked as she climbed the steps onto the porch. Rubbing his ears, she walked past him and into the house. Walking into the kitchen, she checked the timer and found she still had ten minutes before dinner would be ready. Glancing at the clock, she found another fifteen minutes to get dinner finished and cleaned up.

Jared looked up from the bowl at the table and asked, "Is this good?"

Katie looked into the bowl and nodded, "Yes. Will you go put that on the table for me?"

He nodded with a smile and left the room. Checking the chicken, she began pulling the pieces out and placing them on the plate resting on the counter.

Timmy entered the room and asked, "Can Billy come in?"

"Once dinner is done and on the table."

He hopped up into the chair Jared had been in and asked, "Is that doctor gonna be here soon?"

Katie glanced at him and said, "He knows when dinner will be on the table. You have to learn to be patient."

Timmy frowned and asked, "Can I help with anything else?"

She handed him the potatoes and he took them into the other room. Putting the last piece of chicken on the plate, she placed the lid over it and turned the stove off. Carrying it into the dining room, she put it in the middle of the table and reorganized the silverware.

"Mom! Mary's here!"

Looking up, she left the diningroom and stepped into the livingroom. She looked out the windows with the twins and saw Mary crossing the driveway with her daughter, Angie. Getting to her feet, she walked into the hall and did a double check in the kitchen. The door opened and she turned around in time to see the two walking in.

"I see you made it."

Mary nodded and asked, "Anything left to do?"

She shook her head and said, "I just need to get cleaned up. Will you make sure those to stay out of the food?"

Angie took off her jacket and hung it up, saying, "I'll keep them busy."

She walked into the livingroom and Mary said, "The boys really have taken to her."

Katie nodded and let out a sigh before saying, "I'll be down in a few."

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Pulling into the driveway, he turned off the engine and stepped out of his truck. Closing the door, he turned to the house and found Billy waiting patiently on the porch. Smirking, he crossed the drive and watched Billy get to his feet. The dog's tail wagged and he rubbed his ear as he knocked on the door.

The door opened and Mary said, "Please come in."

He stepped inside and found the boys sitting in the livingroom with Angie. Looking around the place, he slid off his jacket and closed the door.

"Here, give me your coat."

Turning at her voice, he met Katie's gaze and smirked as she took the jacket. She walked down the hall and slipped it into a closet. He noticed the clean outfit she was wearing compared to the dirty one he had seen on her earlier. She stepped into the livingroom and he watched the three look up at her.

Timmy got to his feet and asked, "Can I let Billy in now?"

Katie nodded and the boy ran past her to the door. Nick watched the boy let the dog in and disappear down the hall into the diningroom. Billy stopped next to Katie and looked up at her. She nodded and he stepped into the diningroom after Jared and Angie.

"House full tonight."

She smirked and said, "Dinner's ready. Come eat."

He followed her into the diningroom and was escorted to his seat by Jared's waving. Taking a seat, he waited for everyone to be seated.

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Putting his plate in the sink, he looked at the clock and then heard someone step into the kitchen.

Angie stepped up to the sink and said, "Let me."

He stepped back and watched the girl work on the dishes. Mary cleared her throat and he followed her out into the hall. They stopped at the livingroom and he saw the boys crashed on the floor doing homework.

"Where's Katie?"

Mary smirked and said, "Outside, where else?"

He smirked and she handed him his jacket. His eyebrow went up and she stepped into the livingroom. Watching her sit down near the boys, he took a deep breath and stepped outside. Pulling his jacket on, he walked to the steps and looked down at her. Her hand rested on Billy's head and slowly caressed the dog.

"Bit chilly."

She nodded and he asked, "Can I?"

"Sure."

Sitting down slowly, he rested his arms on his knees and looked up at the stars. The sky was bright with them. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out silently.

"Thank you for Billy. The boys love him to death."

He glanced over at her and asked, "What about you?"

She looked down at the border collie and said, "He's what I need."

He watched the look in her eyes dimmer away. She shivered slightly and pulled her flannel around her tighter. Billy shifted his head onto her lap and closed his eyes.

"He has taken to you."

Katie looked up at him and asked, "Why did you get him for us?"

"Mary."

She smirked and said, "I see. Well, thank you."

Her eyes lit with a new light and he held her gaze. Slowly he got to his feet and took a step to his truck. She got to her feet and walked him to the truck. Stopping halfway down the drive, he turned to her and found her watching him with a guarded look.

He looked up at the sky and said, "You have a beautiful home."

She looked to the stars and said, "I always have."

He looked at her and she said, "This has always been my home. The south is always true. Marry the boy next door."

He chuckled and asked, "Any regrets?"

She looked at him and said, "Little ones, but none that overrun all of this."

She took a deep breath and brushed loose black hair from her face. Slowly he caught the last loose strand and tucked it behind her ear. Her eyes sought his and he let his gaze drink in everything about it. The woman was a true goddess. Supporting two young boys for three years on an enormous livestock farm without their father.

Slowly he pulled her to him and brushed his lips over hers. The contact shot electricity through his system and he deepened the kiss slowly. Her arms wrapped around his neck and he held her firmly against him. Hearing the voice in his head, he pulled away and took a deep breath. She glanced away and he turned to his truck.

"I'm glad you came for dinner."

He looked back at her and said, "I'm not."

Her eyes flashed and he moved to his truck. Pulling open the door, he stopped and looked back at her. She stood watching him like a tiger ready to pounce its prey. Slowly he shut his door and turned back to her. She shook her head and headed back to the porch.

He caught her wrist and drew her back to him. She tried to pull free, but he held her fimrly.

He caught her chin his hand and said, "It's too hard to be around you and not want you."

She looked at him and he said, "When I'm near you, I can stand it, but when I kiss you, it just kills me."

Her eyes moved away and he took a deep breath. Running his hand through her hair, he savored the softness.

"You need to leave."

He looked back at her and said, "Just remember what I said."

She nodded slowly and he let her go as he opened his door again. Her hand wrapped around his wrist and he looked back at her. She brushed her fingers down his face and slowly ran her lips over his. He pulled her into him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulse racing, she closed her eyes as she let his kiss drive her blood into a stream of fire.

PGS