Rich, Rugged Ranchers. Kathie DeNosky

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      “You were cruel to me. Those things you said.”

      “I didn’t know you were listening. I said those things to Luke, because … I’ve always been a little jealous of your friendship. And I knew then what I was afraid to admit to myself up until today. I love you, Sophia. I love you so much, it scares me silly.”

      Sophia’s ankle throbbed and she thought for certain the pain had gone to her head. She was sure she was hearing things. “You love me?”

      “I’ve never said those words to a woman before. I’ve never wanted to. I’ve never believed in true love. Until now.”

      “So you don’t believe all those awful things about me?”

      “If you explain it to me, I’m ready to listen. I’ll believe you, no matter what.”

      Sophia didn’t hesitate. She’d wanted to clear the air for a long time. She’d wanted Logan to hear the truth and really have him hear her. “I didn’t marry Gordon for his money, you have to know that. He was a friend and I needed his help.”

      Sophia spent the next few minutes explaining about Gordon Gregory and his granddaughter Amanda. She told Logan about the friendship that had developed afterward and how Gordon had offered to help both Louisa and Sophia when they’d had nowhere else to turn.

      “I didn’t ask for anything else from Gordon. And I never slept with him, Logan. I never did. That’s why we divorced. After my mother passed, he put pressure on me. He claims he fell in love with me, but I didn’t love him. I never felt that way about him.” She repeated, “I never slept with him.”

      “But you slept with me.”

      Sophia closed her eyes briefly, taking a leap of faith again because there was nothing left for her to lose. Because everything she wanted was right here in front of her. She placed her faith and trust in Logan one last time. “Yes, I slept with you. I fell in love. Don’t ask me why, Logan. I have no idea why I love you. By all rights I should have fallen in love with Luke. But I don’t feel that way about your brother. He and I are friends. Period.”

      Logan turned his body to fully face Sophia. She saw a look in his eyes, the same look Randall Slade had for her mother. The same look that every woman deserved to see in the eyes of the man she loved. “You love me?”

      She nodded.

      His lips rose in a quick smile and he took her hand, applying sweet pressure. He spoke in a voice steeped with determination. “I don’t want our love to go to waste, Sophia. Not the way our parents’ did. I can’t deny what I feel for you anymore. Ever since that kiss in high school, I think I’ve always known there was something special between us. Something undeniable.”

      “I felt it, too,” she whispered. “And I don’t want our love to go to waste, either.”

      “Forgive me for being hard on you. I was a fool.”

      Hearing Logan admit his past mistakes and ask for her forgiveness was an intoxicating gift from the man she loved. “I think I can forgive you.”

      Logan’s arms came around her. Gently he lifted her from the rock and cradled her, taking care with her swollen ankle. He brought his mouth ever so close. “Kiss me, Sophia.”

      She smiled. “You won’t think I’m easy?”

      “Nothing about you and me is easy, sweetheart.”

      She brought her mouth close and brushed her lips over his softly. Tension released from his body, his stance no longer rigidly defensive. The walls of mistrust and suspicion he’d built to protect himself came tumbling down around her until what remained was the rightness of their love.

      It was Logan’s ultimate surrender.

      The battle was over. The kiss they shared was their beacon, a bright glow of light guiding their way out of the darkness. He loved her and she loved him. It had been complicated between them for most of their lives. But now it was just … simple.

      “I love you, Logan Slade.”

      He kissed her tenderly and when he spoke his voice was husky and rich with reverence. “Marry me, Sophia. Live with me on Sunset Ranch. Be my partner, my friend, my wife.”

      Sophia set her palm on the sharp handsome plane of his cheekbone and gazed deeply into his eyes. “I was never any of those things before, but I want to be everything to you now. Yes, Logan. I’ll marry you.”

      Logan smiled, love shining in his eyes. “I’m a lucky man.”

      “And I’m a happy woman.”

      He took off his Stetson and in one smooth move, placed it on her head, giving it a tug to secure the fit. “I can’t wait to make you a Slade. My father always said you were a woman who’d make a fine wife.”

      They were words Sophia never thought she’d hear from Logan.

      “Do you think your father set this up?”

      Logan contemplated for a moment. “From his grave?”

      “No, but maybe before he died? I could never figure out why he was so generous with me in his will. Do you think he wanted me to find love on Sunset Ranch?”

      Logan gave the notion some thought. “It’s possible. My dad loved you like a daughter and, Lord above, everyone knew how much he loved the ranch.”

      Sophia’s eyes misted with tears. “And his boys. He loved his sons, Logan. Don’t forget that.”

      Logan nodded and clear understanding filled his eyes. “Maybe it was his secret wish that you marry a Slade, sweetheart.”

      “It would be nice to think so. Can you ever forgive your father, Logan?”

      “If he brought you to me I can surely forgive him.”

      Sophia smiled and he wiped a tear from her cheek. “Then let’s just believe it as truth.”

      “I can do that.”

      Something good and long-lasting would come from Randall’s love for Louisa.

      And perhaps their love hadn’t been wasted after all.

      Sophia clung to that notion as hard and as tight as she held on to her cowboy.

      With Logan’s love surrounding her, she could finally call Sunset Ranch … home.

A Real Cowboy

       “It won’t work.”

      “What won’t?” Thalia asked. She had the nerve to look innocent.

      “Trying to convince me to take the part. It won’t work.”

      He had her full attention—and that was becoming a problem. Her eyes were wide-open, her lips were barely parted. All he’d have to do was lower his head.

      Against his every wish, his head began to dip.

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