The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After

“Maybe you’ll find another job right here. Our medical center is small, but they’re always looking for good nurses.”

She didn’t want to argue. “I’ll think about it,” she said, knowing she couldn’t consider it at all.

Louisa smiled. “That’s all a mother could ask for.”

Early the next evening, Jade went to search for Sloan. She walked along the gravel road, trying to come up with something to say to him. Something that didn’t sound lame as her reason for coming to his home. She was playing with fire. He was her weakness, and he could easily sway her resolve. She needed to stay away from him, but she didn’t listen to her own common sense, even knowing the man was one big temptation.

She came up the steps to the big wraparound porch. There was an old chain swing at the far end. She smiled, knowing how nice it would be to sit out on warm summer nights with someone special.

She shook away the thought of anything that involved Sloan Merrick. He was off-limits to her. There were too many complications to count. One being the reason she was here. The only reason that mattered right now.

She had supper earlier with Louisa. It was obvious that the empty spot at the table made the woman sad. That meant she had to get things straightened out with Sloan so as not to interrupt Louisa’s progress. Try to get things back to before … before they touched, before they kissed.

Jade looked at the front door. Everything inside her told her to turn around and go back, but she still rang the bell. After hearing “come in” she opened the heavy oak door and went inside.

She was greeted by a large entry with nutmeg-colored hardwood floors. A large great room with a mammoth flat-screen television hung over a stone fireplace. The furniture was overstuffed and leather. The soft sounds of country music came from the speakers overhead. This was a man’s room.

Jade walked farther into the house, past a divider to find the open kitchen and dining area. Dark stained cabinets lined the buttery colored walls and the countertops and large center aisle were covered in earth toned granite.

In front of a stainless steel stove was Sloan. He was in a white fitted T-shirt tucked into clean jeans. His feet were bare and his hair still damp from a shower. He turned a thick steak on the stove’s center grill, then picked up his beer. The longneck never reached his lips as he turned and saw her.

He froze, then said, “What are you doing here?”

Okay, so he wasn’t happy to see her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I thought we agreed to stay away from each other.”

She tried to hide the hurt. “You chose to banish yourself from the house until the day I leave? There are other people to consider here. So get over yourself, cowboy.” When he didn’t say anything, she said, “This was a bad idea to come here and try to talk to you.”

She started to walk away when she heard him call to her. She didn’t stop until she reached the door, when his hand on her arm turned her around to face him.

“Okay. I’m sorry. Why did you stop by?”

“It’s your mother.”

His concern was obvious. “What’s wrong with Mom?”

“Nothing, physically. But since you’ve avoided the house, have you at least talked with her?”

He released her and she missed his touch.

“Hadn’t had the chance,” he told her. “Okay, I’ll stop by and see her tomorrow.”

“That’s not the problem. She’s worried about being a burden to you.”

“Whatever gave her that idea?”

“Your quick departure.”

Sloan crossed his arms over his chest. He had to do something to keep from touching this woman again. He’d hoped a few days away from her would change things. Damn, it hadn’t and he hated his weakness when it came to her. His jaw tightened causing an ache from his teeth to the top of his head. He needed the distraction.

“I did what I needed to do.” He shrugged. “It seemed the best solution for the problem.”

“I think the better solution would be to try to get along.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Darlin’, that was our problem, we get along too well.”

Something flashed across her face. Was she remembering the sparks, too? She finally glanced away. “I thought we agreed what happened at Otis’s house was a mistake.”

She blushed, but before she could answer, a loud alarm sound went off.

With a curse, Sloan ran back into the kitchen and saw the grill with flames shooting high into the hood. He turned off the burner, then covered the fire with a large pan lid. Soon the flames were out, but his meal was charred. “Well, I guess it’s soup for supper.”

That was when Jade took over. “It’s surprising you haven’t starved. You clean up the mess, and I’ll see what I can throw together for a meal.”

He glanced over her in her tailored slacks and pretty bright-blue blouse. “You cook?”

She managed a smile. “Of course. My mother made sure of that.”

“I thought career women didn’t have the desire to spend time in the kitchen.”

She frowned. “Don’t judge all women by one.”

She opened the refrigerator and stood back to allow him to see the many containers of leftovers. “Looks like Marta doesn’t want you to starve, either.”

He shrugged. “Someone cares if I eat.”

“And here I was feeling sorry for causing you to burn your steak.”

He’d been caught off guard seeing her walk into his house. And he was drinking her up, unable to get enough of her.

“What can I say? You’re one hell of a distraction, Jade Hamilton.”

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