Rich, Rugged Ranchers. Kathie DeNosky

for a courtesy knock when Ruth Polanski’s voice stopped her in midmotion.

      “Welcome, Sophia. Come in, please.” Ruth rose from her desk and came forward with a smile. Instead of putting out her hand in greeting, the older woman wrapped both arms around Sophia’s shoulders, brought her close and gave her a warm, loving hug. Sophia’s heart rang out. She hadn’t been held or embraced like this since her mother had passed and now this kindhearted woman—whom she wouldn’t have to fire—welcomed her with genuine affection. Sensations of loss enveloped her, making her miss her mother even more.

      “Good morning,” she said, holding back her emotions.

      “I’m glad you’re here,” Ruth said. “How was your first night back on Sunset Ranch?”

      Sophia opted to fib. Ruth didn’t need to know how Logan had ruined her sleep last night. “Fine. The cottage is just as I remembered it. I did well.”

      “Good, my dear. Well, we can get started in here soon enough, but at the moment, I think it’s important to show you around the lodge and introduce you to our staff. You may even remember a few of our employees.”

      “I just might,” Sophia said.

      “Shall we?”

      “That sounds wonderful.”

      Sophia loved touring the grounds and seeing familiar faces. Many of the employees remembered her as a child and offered condolences regarding her mother. It was a trip down memory lane, but Sophia also focused on what was new, and what might need changing. She’d taken a clipboard with her to jot down notes and when she arrived back in Ruth’s office—her office now—she went over the notes with Ruth to get her take on them.

      Learning the lodge’s new computer system was a breeze. Ruth showed her the basics, and Sophia picked up on it from there. She’d worked alongside her mother at inns and motels for years. There wasn’t a program she couldn’t figure out. Often her mother had relied on her to navigate new technology.

      Poor Ruth. Sophia sensed the woman’s eagerness to retire in every anxious glance the lady gave her. When Sophia grasped a new concept easily, the worry lines around the older woman’s mouth eased into a small smile. Sophia was all about making a smooth transition and, now that she’d gotten to know Ruth a little better, she was glad that she couldn’t foresee any obstacles that would hinder her taking over the reins.

      You’re not the hired help anymore, Sophia. You own half of the lodge now.

      Sophia had a hard time wrapping her mind around that. She’d never owned anything of value in her life. So the transition from employee to owner might just be the hardest of all for her to grasp.

      By the end of the day, Ruth bid her goodbye. “These are yours now.” She placed a set of keys in Sophia’s hand. “You can lock up the office whenever you’d like.”

      When Sophia blinked her surprise, Ruth shook her head. “I’m not abandoning you, so don’t you worry. I’ll be here until the end of next week to conclude some business I need to tend to. If you need me to stay on longer, I surely will, but I’m impressed at how quickly you’ve caught on.”

      “Thank you,” Sophia said. “You’ve made my first day enjoyable.”

      “I worked you hard,” Ruth said honestly, before her lips lifted gently. “I almost feel guilty about it, but I think you’re capable and I’ll be sure to tell Logan that.”

      “You mean, Luke, right? I was told I’ll be dealing with Luke from now on.”

      “Oh, yes, that’s right. Though neither one of those boys would ever steer you wrong.”

      Sophia could argue, but kept her lips buttoned tight.

      She walked home in a daze, thinking of what she’d accomplished today, what she was expected to do and how it would all work. Within minutes, she found herself inside the cottage, her boots off, her jacket tossed across the parlor sofa, holding a glass of passion-fruit iced tea in her hand. She plopped onto the sofa, closed her eyes and sipped her tea. When her stomach complained, she remembered she hadn’t eaten much today. Excitement mixed with uncertainty had killed her appetite.

      She sat in silence and enjoyed the peace but for another growl coming up from the depth of her belly. Then, a few seconds later, she heard a car pull up in front of the cottage. The engine shut off and a door slammed. She rose from her seat so quickly tea splattered onto her dress over her right breast. Wonderful. There was no time to wipe it dry. Her Las Vegas showgirl friends would always tease that she had a natural stop for spillage, and while Sophia had laughed along with them, she’d never really found it too amusing.

      She heard footsteps approaching the porch and when the knock came, Sophia was ready, setting her hand on the knob and twisting. She pulled the door open and stared into the incredibly handsome face of a mature Luke Slade.

      “Hey, there,” he said. “I thought you could use a friend about now.”

      “So how are you really doing, Soph?” Luke asked ten minutes later, after they’d exchanged condolences for the parents they’d lost.

       Soph?

      He was back to calling her that. Sophia had forgotten how Luke liked to shorten her name. The familiar ring and the slight twang in Luke’s voice brought back good memories of the times they’d shared. Any awkwardness Sophia thought that they might encounter in their first meeting never developed. Luke was still Luke. It was a big relief to her to find that the pal she could always rely on hadn’t changed too much except to become a confident, gorgeous hunk of a man. She was happy to spend this time with him and Sophia let down her guard to converse with him easily.

      Now he sat on the far end of the parlor sofa at an angle facing her, with the heel of one boot resting across his knee, sipping iced tea. He wore faded Wrangler jeans and a blue chambray shirt that was equally faded. His smile and the warmth in his eyes were still the same, though clearly Luke had grown out of his gangly, awkward stage.

      “I miss Mama so much, Luke. For so many years it was us against the world. And now that she’s gone, I’m a little lost.”

      “Consider yourself found, honey. Sunset Ranch is your home now.”

      Luke leaned forward and as his work-hardened hands covered hers, she glanced down at their entwined fingers, thankful for his friendship. Luke had always understood her. He’d always had her back. He’d been a good friend, even when they were younger and it wasn’t considered cool to have a girl as a friend. Luke had held his own. And as Sophia gave his hand a deliberate squeeze, returning the solace, she waited for a spark to ignite between them. She waited for her palms to sweat. She waited for a tingle.

      Seconds ticked by.

      Nothing. Not a twinge. No fire.

      She’d always wondered whether she’d feel differently about Luke if she were to return to Sunset Ranch. She’d wondered if there would be something more.

      She released his hand and lifted her lashes slowly to meet his gaze. Luke had a grin plastered on his face. Clearly he had read her thoughts and had been wondering the same thing. Even though warmth crept up her neck, there was no tension between them. And that was the problem.

      “You are a knockout, Sophia, that’s for sure.”

      “You’re cowboy eye candy, Luke.”

      Dubious, he gave a shake of his head, and then each of them threw their heads back and laughed.

      Just like when they were kids.

      They were friends, period. That much was reestablished and Sophia was glad of that. There was no reason to complicate her life right now anyway. She’d been put through the wringer these past few years, marrying an older man who’d offered to help provide for her mother’s medical treatments and praying for a miracle to save her mother’s life. She hadn’t come out of it unscathed, either. She’d paid a dear price for her high hopes and