Rich, Rugged Ranchers. Kathie DeNosky

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СКАЧАТЬ again soon.”

      “I might not be here.”

      Sophia thought he was kidding until she saw a spark of determination in his eyes. “Where would you be?”

      “An old rodeo buddy of mine is recovering from a bad injury. Broke his back a while ago. He’s got a cabin on the north shore of Tahoe and is itching for a drinking partner. I’m thinking on it. I’m gonna be pretty darn useless around here for the next couple of weeks.”

      “Can you travel?”

      “I can if I take those dang pills. It’s not a far trip. Logan offered to drive me if I decide to go. He thinks it’s a good idea. Wants me outta his hair, from all the complaining I’ve been doing.”

      Sophia shook her head. “I’m sure your brother wants what’s best for you. Will you let me know if you decide to go? I’d want to say goodbye.”

      “Sure thing.”

      Sophia rose from the bed gingerly, and gave him one last look before exiting the room. She moved through the house with familiarity, as if it was only yesterday that she’d played in these stately paneled rooms and raced down the hallways on her way out the kitchen to a backyard that had doubled as an amusement park in her childhood.

      The Slades had a tree house that looked like a Western fort with a steep slide and rubber swings. They had bicycles and wagons and a giant fenced-off pool. They owned horses and had been taught from an early age to respect animals, and all of their other possessions, as well. Sophia had often heard Mr. Slade instruct his boys, “Take care of things, or be prepared to lose them.”

      The boys took it strictly as a warning then, but later in life Sophia realized how smart Randall Slade had been. He’d meant it as a life lesson.

      Sophia had almost reached the front door when Logan’s deep voice stopped her cold. “Sophia, I’d like a word with you. Got a second?”

      His words echoed in the entryway as Sophia slowly pivoted on her three-inch heels. She found Logan striding toward her, his face a mask of indifference but for a jaw that twitched as he approached.

      Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. She asked herself, why him? Why did she find him so darn attractive when clearly the two of them would never happen? Logan had a perfectly gorgeous, fun-loving sibling whom Sophia adored, but Luke didn’t make butterflies take flight in her belly or make her nerves jump and her body tingle the way Logan did.

      He’d touched her intimately the other night.

      And she’d wanted more.

      Irritated at her train of thought, she gave him a terse response. “I’m on my way to the lodge.”

      “Busy?”

      “I have some issues that need tending. Yes, I’m very busy.”

      His mouth curved up in a casual smile that belied his words. “But not too busy to hand-feed my brother your cookies.”

      Sophia blinked, surprised that Logan had known about that. “Were you spying on me?”

      He took her question matter-of-factly. “I’d hardly call it spying. It’s my house. I passed by Luke’s room and saw the two of you in there. Cozy little picture you made.”

      Sophia closed her eyes briefly, praying for patience. Damn him. She would not let Logan get the best of her. “Luke enjoyed my cookies. You should try one. They are delicious.”

      His eyes moved over her, gently caressing each curve of her body. The dress she wore today was clingy and cranberry-red and Logan could hardly miss the fact that Sophia had forgotten to wear her usual matching jacket that concealed her cleavage somewhat. She felt exposed to his gaze. He touched every inch of her with eyes that devoured, eyes that held a thrilling promise. “Maybe I want my own batch, Sophia.”

      The underlying sensuality of his comment fascinated her. She put her head down, her gaze catching the shiny polished tips of his black snakeskin boots. Rugged, rough-edged and appealing, Logan Slade made mincemeat of her resolve. She raised her head slightly, not quite able to meet his eyes. Instead she stared at the tanned skin exposed by the opened collar of his chambray shirt. She replied in a broken, quiet whisper. “Maybe … one day, Logan.”

      He put his hand under her chin. With the tips of his fingers, he lifted her face a fraction of an inch until she was forced to look into his eyes. They smoldered like dark coals and sent a warm shot of heat through her body. It wasn’t fair that Logan could do her so much damage with a mere look, a single tender touch.

      He bent his head and Sophia pleaded with him. “Don’t … don’t kiss me.”

      He inched closer. “You want me to.”

      She did. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him to make her feel the way he had the other night.

      The lap dance night.

      “Logan, you out there?” Luke’s strained voice broke through their moment like a cold splash of water.

      Logan cursed quietly.

      Sophia swallowed down hard.

      Both looked in the direction of Luke’s bedroom.

      “Yeah, I’m here,” Logan called back to him. “I’m coming.”

      Sophia stepped away from Logan, turning her back on him to reach for the doorknob. Before she gave it a turn, Logan’s husky voice resonated in her soul. “Looks like Luke saved you again.”

      Sophia put her head down, taking a moment to absorb the sensations rushing around inside her. Something was happening between them, but she didn’t know if she could trust what she was feeling. She didn’t know if she could trust Logan, period. “Maybe I don’t want to be saved.”

      The sound of his receding footsteps faded on the plank floors. He’d walked away to see to his brother and hadn’t heard her. It was just as well. There were too many “maybes” involved with Logan. Sophia opened the door and stepped outside. The Nevada sun warmed her cheeks and the clear sky above brightened her outlook.

      She had repaired pipes that needed her approval, a lodge guest’s temper to soothe and a meeting with her staff this morning.

      She loved every crazy minute of it.

      She wouldn’t have time to think about Logan Slade any more today.

      Six

      Sophia never had the chance to say goodbye to Luke. He left the night after her visit to deliver the cookies. Logan had thought it best for Luke to travel late at night so that he could sleep during the trip to Tahoe. Apparently, from what she could gather, his host, Casey Thomas, was a good guy, wild in his younger rodeo days, but now a big fan of the simple life. The two would drink and shoot the breeze at Casey’s lakeside cabin.

      But as Sophia gazed out the window of her cottage this evening, dressed and ready for Ruth’s surprise party, she felt Luke’s absence in the pit of her stomach. He’d been gone for five days and she’d spoken to him twice in that time, but she hadn’t confided in him. Since he’d СКАЧАТЬ