Rich, Rugged Ranchers. Kathie DeNosky

toward her. But Sophia backed away, putting out a hand warning him not to come closer. “I’m moving back into the cottage. I want to be left alone. I hope both of you will respect my wishes.”

      “Sophia, me?” Luke asked.

      Warmth filled her heart for the man who was her friend. It was a blessing to see Luke looking so fit, regardless of the cast on his arm. She could barely breathe, barely talk. Her words were soft, a quiet plea for Luke’s understanding. “I’m sorry, but I need to be alone right now.”

      She turned then, and walked out the door. She’d never had hope torn from her body this way before. She’d never had such devastating disillusionment.

      She missed her mother more now than ever before. And she knew that she would miss loving Logan Slade almost as much.

      Logan lowered down into his chair and squeezed his eyes shut. But the image of Sophia appeared in his head anyway. Her fiery spirit gone, she’d looked broken and beat down. Accusation and betrayal had marred her beautiful face.

       The tack room, Logan?

      Logan winced. It hadn’t been planned. He hadn’t set out to seduce her that night. It had been an ironic twist, a coincidence that Logan hadn’t thought about until after the deed was done. When he realized he made love to her there, he hadn’t put much significance in it. Until now. Until the angry words had slipped from his mouth during his argument with his brother and Sophia had overheard. He’d said brutal, harsh things about keeping Luke away from her, about how he would never fall in love with her. She’d heard it all.

      Luke walked over to him, his voice menacing. “Stand up, so I can knock you on your ass.”

      Logan didn’t bother to look at him. “With your left hand?”

      “Jerk.”

      Logan’s love/hate relationship with his brother was getting on his nerves. He wanted to be left alone with his miserable thoughts. “Get outta here, Luke.”

      “Sophia shouldn’t be alone at the cottage.”

      “I know that,” he snapped.

      “I’ll go over there tonight. She’ll let me in. She likes me.”

      Logan stood now, and got directly in his brother’s face. He felt the veins in his neck popping. “Don’t go near her. If anyone’s gonna protect her, it’ll be me. You understand that?”

      Luke opened his big mouth, but nothing came out. They stared at each other, practically nose to nose, and then Luke’s eyes widened and he burst out laughing. Logan balled his fists.

      “This is rich,” Luke said when his laughter died down. “You love her. You have fallen head over heels in love with Sophia, and now she can’t stand you. She’d rather risk a stalker’s threats than be under the same roof as you.”

      “You’re delusional, bro.”

      “All this time you’ve been convincing yourself that Sophia is just like her mother. And it would serve you right to find that she was exactly like Louisa—a goodhearted, kind woman who deserved a break in life. A woman who made our father happy for a short time. Hell, Logan. I knew Mom and Dad weren’t happy for years. They were partners in business and they had kids to raise so they stuck it out. Their marriage wasn’t what you thought it was.”

      “You know this because you’re the sensitive one and all.”

      “I didn’t see Dad as a god. He was mortal and had human flaws, just like the rest of us. I don’t say what he did was right and I know Dad did love Mom in his own way. They raised us and managed to keep the family together. But maybe our folks shouldn’t have stayed together. Maybe they’d have both been happier apart. Maybe you got it all wrong, Logan. Ever think of that?”

      Logan’s nostrils flared. “I don’t have it wrong.”

      “Okay, then fine. Let Sophia walk out of your life.”

      “She just did and I didn’t go after her, did I?”

      A look of disgust spread over Luke’s face. “Your loss.”

      Logan watched his pain-the-ass brother turn around and walk out of his office with slower than usual steps. The trip home had taxed his strength but at least he did look stronger than when he’d left. And the accident sure hadn’t changed his stubborn nature.

      Once Logan was alone in his office, he made a call to add extra security to the premises. He would drive by the cottage tonight as well to check up on the place.

      No one on Slade property would be in danger. He’d see to that.

      Sophia included.

      “I need your signatures here, here and here,” Logan said, leaning over her desk pointing to three lines on a contract necessary for a revamping of the stables. The winters were harsh and the old barns needed new heating.

      Logan had made it his business to stop by her office every day for the past five days for some reason or another. Every time he’d walked in she’d turned away, unwilling to meet him eye to eye. She knew he was checking up on her. She’d seen his car by the cottage on several occasions, but she also knew that Logan wasn’t so much concerned about her welfare as he was about protecting his ranch from an intruder. He couldn’t fool her any longer with a look or a smile. She knew his black heart now and even though the pain was still there, hovering like stormy gray clouds, Sophia was coping.

      “Leave them and I’ll read them over later.” She used her very best business voice.

      “I’ve had our attorney look them over. They are good to go.”

      Sophia nodded and signed on the dotted lines, shoving the papers back across the desk. She quickly withdrew her hands so their fingers wouldn’t brush. She stepped back so she didn’t have to breathe in his subtle earthy aftershave and be reminded of the nights they’d spent together.

      “You’re still not talking to me?” he asked.

      “I talk to you every day.” She was cool and dismissive on the outside, but inside her blood boiled. She prayed it would get easier seeing Logan each day. That he would leave her alone and let her go on with her life. Even when she was aloof with him, she sensed his eyes constantly on her, watching her movements.

      Hands on hips, he stood over her desk and let out a frustrated sigh. “I never made false promises to you.”

      “Yes, you’re right,” she said. “You didn’t.” She wasn’t going to go there. She wouldn’t argue. She wouldn’t defend. Her indifference was her only protection. “Now, is there anything else?”

      “We can’t go on working like this.”

      Sophia shut down her computer screen, still unwilling to look at him. “We won’t have to. Luke’s well enough to take over the lodge duties again. You’re free as of today.”

      She heard Blackie’s high-pitched barks from outside. Edward was probably on the grounds playing fetch with the dog. It was late afternoon and her work was finished for the day. She straightened the papers on her desk and rose. This time she cast a look at Logan. It was hard not to notice the way his clothes fit his body so perfectly, the stretch of soft cotton over his broad chest and jeans hugging his hips. There was a sexy five-o’clock shadow on his face and a tick went to town on his jaw. All of it made her heart do crazy things. It was dangerous to look at Logan. Dangerous to be so near.

      “I have to go,” she said quietly.

      He spoke through tight lips. “Talk to me, Sophia.”

      “I can’t. I have a … an appointment.”

      Logan’s brows dented his forehead. “With who?”

      She lifted her chin and kept her voice steady. “I’m having dinner with your brother.”

      Logan’s face pinched tight.