Claimed By The Rancher. Jules Bennett

creativity—her ability to make something from nothing—was what really drove her.

      Coming back to Stone River, Texas, however, would take some master creative skills. She would certainly be making something from nothing—a business, a home to call her own. Pepper had always loved this town, so it made sense for her to make this the place where she started the next chapter in her life.

      Besides, time was not on her side.

      If she hadn’t had anyone else to think about, she could’ve chosen a different town to settle into, but in five short months, she’d be a mother.

      A single mother with no one else to turn to for support.

      Pasting a smile on her face, Pepper stepped through the doorway from the back room and her entire world came to a halt.

      The man standing at the display of cheery tangerine roses had Pepper gripping the edge of the door frame. That profile, the black cowboy hat, those narrow hips she’d once known so well...

      No. This was too soon. She needed more time. How could she be thrust into her past already? Though she’d been in town a month, this was her first day launching her brand-new business.

      She’d assumed he most likely still lived in town because of his family’s ranch and vast holdings, but she hadn’t geared herself up to face him just yet.

      Would she ever be ready to face the man who broke her heart at the most vulnerable time of her life? The man she’d been so certain she’d be spending her life with.

      Before she could muster up some generic greeting, Nolan Elliott’s gaze swept around the shop and then landed on her.

      The flare in his eyes calmed her somewhat, as he was plainly just as stunned to see her as she was to see him. He quickly masked his emotions as he took a step toward her. She sighed despite herself. Apparently some things never changed.

      “Pepper.”

      That low, sexy drawl of his hadn’t changed over the years. He still managed to make her toes curl with that piercing blue gaze and those strong, broad shoulders. And that mouth. He’d done plenty to make her squirm with that mouth, too.

      “I had no idea you were back in town.”

      Thankfully, the tall cash wrap separated them. Pepper stepped forward, leaning her hands against the edge. She needed a little support.

      “I’ve been back about a month,” she replied. Small talk, she could do that. “I took a few weeks to make this place my own, so this is my first official day open.”

      He glanced around again, and she hated how she waited to get his approval. She’d given up letting Nolan Elliott have any control of her mind or her heart years ago when she left town...or so she’d thought. Yet somewhere deep inside her lingered that young, naive girl who thought this man was her everything. She knew better now, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate how undeniably sexy he still was.

      “This is a nice store. Good location, too.”

      The old two-story brick building had belonged to her grandparents decades ago. They’d never sold it and her free-spirited, nomadic parents had no interest in staying. Granted, she didn’t necessarily want the building, either, but with her funds at an all-time low, she had no choice.

      “I assume you’re in need of flowers? Or were you here to look at the paintings?” she asked, hoping to move this process along because having Nolan this close, where she could see him, inhale all that tantalizing masculinity...it brought back an onslaught of feelings she just couldn’t handle right now.

      “Flowers,” he replied easily, as if he wasn’t torn up on the inside. Clearly the memories weren’t threatening to strangle him like they were her. He’d pushed her away and obviously moved on without a second thought. “But this artwork is exceptional. I remember how much you loved painting.”

      He should remember because she’d tried to teach him...and that had ended up a disaster with paint all over them, which led to the best shower sex of her life. Well, the only shower sex, but regardless, the experience had been epic.

      Nolan examined another canvas with bright flowers before bringing that heavy-lidded blue gaze back to her. He tipped up his black cowboy hat, a familiar move she’d seen him do countless times. Only he wasn’t the same cowboy he’d been when she left. Now he was a big, broody, powerfully built man, hotter than she’d ever thought possible.

      Being a member of the prestigious Elliott clan didn’t hurt him, either. Gorgeous and wealthy were a lethal combination. He’d been both of those when she’d loved him before, but that had nothing to do with how fast and hard she’d fallen for him. He’d been so much more than her boyfriend, her lover. He’d been her very best friend and she’d thought her soul mate.

      After she left, she’d wondered if it was all real, if her emotions were just those of a guileless young woman who hadn’t any life experience yet. Unfortunately, she’d done too much thinking since she’d been gone.

      Pepper wasn’t sure what all he’d done in the past few years—she’d purposely distanced herself to keep the pain at bay. She did know that, despite his privileged upbringing, Nolan had wanted more out of life than ranching. He’d been determined to help others. And it was that damn career goal that had ultimately been the catalyst that ripped them apart.

      Nolan’s lifelong dream had wedged its way between them and had him choosing his unknown future over her. Over their family.

      The Elliotts were one of the wealthiest families in Texas, probably the country. Pepper had loved their home on Pebblebrook Ranch. She’d once envisioned a life there, a life with Nolan and their baby. The two of them had even designed a home together and she’d thought for sure they’d live happily ever after surrounded by puppy dogs and rainbows. That was how naive she’d been, because she’d never once considered that something could rip them apart.

      But something had and all of those dreams had been stripped away, leaving her with nothing but a shattered heart.

      Nolan moved back to the display of roses, giving her a full visual of those tight jeans over slim hips. Pepper closed her eyes, took several deep, calming breaths and willed the memories to go away. She was trying to rebuild her life, not get swept up in the darkest moments of her past.

      She’d known she’d come face-to-face with him eventually. Heck, she’d even played out the scene in her mind. But nothing had prepared her for the crushing reality of the actual moment.

      “Roses are too typical for a first date.”

      Pepper swallowed. Of course he’d be shopping for a lady... Why else would a man come into her shop? And she wasn’t stupid. Nolan was a very attractive man, a rich rancher to boot—what woman wouldn’t want to go out with him?

      Still, why did she have to be privy to his wooing tactics? That was just more salt in the wound that had never healed.

      But she’d opened this business for a much-needed fresh start, and she needed it to be a success. Which meant she had to cater to all clientele so she could start making money. No matter who walked through her door.

      Pepper pulled on her professional panties and squared her shoulders. “What type of lady is she? Does she have hobbies? That can tell me quite a bit about a person, if I know her interests.”

      And if this faceless woman had an interest in Nolan, Pepper already knew enough...and she hated her with a fiery passion.

      Nolan turned toward her once again. “She works at the hospital with me. I’m not sure what she does outside of that.”

      Her heart hitched in her throat. So he had fulfilled that dream of becoming a doctor after all. He’d followed through and now had everything he’d ever wanted. Nolan was the type of man to never let any obstacle get in his way...no matter who he hurt in the process.

      “I assumed you’d still be ranching at Pebblebrook.” She hadn’t meant to let that thought slip