He jarred to a stop when he saw Amanda standing by the front door. “What the hell are you doing here again?”

His words were harsh in the silence that had fallen.

“I…”

“Do you two know each other?” Darcy moved to stand by her husband, a frown on her face as she stared from her brother-in-law to the newcomer.

“I…was here a few months ago looking for Mr. Masters.” She didn’t add that this man had refused to help her.

The man stalked forward and Amanda instinctively stepped back, her wide hips bumping against the front door. She held out a hand to stop him. “I just want to speak to…”

“Me. Kyle Masters. I believe I’m the man you want, honey.”

Amanda’s eyes widened at the phrasing of the shamelessly brazen announcement even as her body responded viscerally to the image his words created. Luckily, the layers of clothing she wore hid her body’s natural response to the irascible, yet oh-so-handsome cowboy.

It didn’t matter that the big man irritated her with his extremely egotistical phrasing she was attracted to him. Had been the first time she’d met him. Still, she hated that her body responded so blatantly to his nearness without her willing consent.

In spite of the fact that he had lied to her the first time she’d came to the ranch, she recognized the truth of his words in a purely physical way. She didn’t know why, or what demon of lust had suddenly possessed her, but her body registered an attraction to him that her brain urged her to deny.

He was the man she wanted—physically.

Doo-doo on a duck’s back, she thought. That wasn’t good. Not good at all.

She’d never had such an instant reaction to a man. Heck, none of her past relationships—even the one that had broken her heart—had made her so thoroughly aware of his maleness much less set her entire body quivering with sensation. But this man—this rude, sarcastic stranger—muddled her normally rational mind with an attraction as astounding in its intensity as its unexpectedness.

If she didn’t pull herself together, she was screwed. Barbara was depending on her.

Come on brain, don’t fail me now.

“I don’t want any man, Mr. Masters.” She forced the words from her mouth, trying to give them an edge of anger rather than the hunger that was eating her up inside. She pushed against the wall of hard chest that had come to a halt in front of her, forcing him to step back and put some space between them.

“Ah, a man hater. Did someone break your little heart, darlin’?”

Amanda’s lips thinned. She straightened, jerking nervously at the hem of her jacket. With as much attitude as she could muster, she said, “What I am is none of your business. It’s what you need do that’s important.”

Kyle had to admit, he’d been having a pretty good time picking at the newcomer, but he wasn’t about to listen to a complete stranger’s advice, no matter how well intentioned. “Lady, I don’t need you or anybody else telling me what to do. I’ve been making my own damn decisions for a long time now. Besides,” his grin was devoid of mirth, “nobody actually gives a shit what I do.”