Sunset Seduction

Two



Audrey grabbed her canvas overnight tote from her truck. She didn’t know what to expect when she arrived here without an invitation—certainly not to be hired on Sunset Ranch—but she’d brought a few essentials and a change of clothes with her, just in case things worked out with Luke. A girl could be optimistic, couldn’t she? At the very least, she assumed that Luke would’ve remembered making love to her. It was a given, or so she’d thought. There had been two people on that bed, sighing and groaning with pleasure, for the better part of an hour.

Now that she was staying on the ranch as an employee for a couple of months, she’d have to do some shopping in town to get a few more changes of clothes. She’d placed a call to Susanna Hart half an hour ago. Her next-door neighbor and good friend back in Reno had the key to her house—technically, Casey’s house—where she’d grown up, at least when she wasn’t traveling from town to town on the rodeo circuit. Casey hadn’t allowed her to stay home by herself much when she was in high school. Susanna’s mother would watch out for her when she had a big test at school or something; otherwise, she tagged along with her brother.

Her high school experience had been grim, and she’d struggled to get good grades and keep up with events that were important to her. Senior year had been hard, and though she’d dreamed of Luke taking her to the prom, she’d settled on going with a nice boy who’d also been somewhat of an outcast.

Susanna had offered to pack up her clothes, her laptop, a few photos and Jewel’s favorite cat bowl and send them on. Audrey hadn’t gone into detail about her situation other than to tell her friend that she’d be working on Sunset Ranch with the horses for the summer.

As she gazed at Jewel snoring lightly on the bed, Audrey wished she could be as oblivious to the world around her as her feline buddy. The bed looked inviting, and she wasn’t supposed to officially start her job until tomorrow. But it was the middle of the day and she wasn’t much of a napper.

She walked into the bathroom to splash water on her face and then gasped when she looked in the mirror. She gave the image staring back at her a frown. She looked like hell. Her eyes were rimmed with red from lack of sleep last night and her hair, which was badly in need of a trim, was sticking out in three places from under the hat. “Goodness, Audrey, you look a sight.”

She worked on her appearance in haste.

Right now, Audrey longed to meet the horses. As she’d driven up, she’d seen the ranch corrals and the dozen or so horses, standing under giant oaks that provided shade from the other side of the fences.

Sunset Lodge had its own stable of horses, Luke had explained, that were primarily used for the lodge’s guests. They were sweet, gentle-natured animals that would provide trail rides and hayrides to entertain visitors. But the barns on the real working ranch housed some of the finest stallions, mares and geldings in the western half of the United States.

Casey had always bragged about the Slades’s horses until Audrey’s ears had burned. Her brother hadn’t a clue that hearing about anything regarding Luke gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Memories of him, and the fact that Luke had never married, had her daydreaming of him more times than she’d like to admit. It had sabotaged her feelings for most other men. At least until her recent boyfriend. She’d taken a chance with Toby and had really begun to like him, despite his flaws, until the day she’d learned he’d been a cheat with more than one woman.

That had been a hard pill to swallow.

And what upset her most wasn’t so much that she was out a boyfriend, but that she hadn’t really cared that much. Sure, she’d been hurt by his betrayal and humiliated that she’d been made a fool, but losing Toby wasn’t so great a loss. What shattered her was an impending fear that she’d never settle for any man but Luke.

And clearly, he was an impossible dream.

So when the opportunity had presented itself, Audrey grabbed the brass ring. Then fool that she was, she’d lost her nerve and had run out on Luke.

“Idiot,” she said, plopping her ball cap on her hopeless hair and striding out the door.

A few minutes later, she stood by the ranch’s corral fence close to the trunk of a tree where three horses huddled under the umbrella of shade. One of the horses looked over. He was a beauty, a bay gelding that stood fifteen hands high, his legs marked with white socks.

She softened her tone, “Come here, boy.”

The horse wandered over and Audrey put her hand over the corral fence, letting the horse sniff her scent and look into her eyes. “You’re a pretty one.”

The horse snorted quietly and when she was sure he felt comfortable with her, she laid her hand on his coat and stroked his withers.

“You and I are going to be friends. Yes, we are.”

Another horse wandered over and before long, all three horses were nudging each other to get some attention.

She smiled, realizing she hadn’t felt this good in days.

Horses had always been her salvation.

A dog scurried by, barking at the horses for no apparent reason as he ran the perimeter of the corral. Audrey could tell it was a game between the animals. The horses paid little mind to the black-and-white Border collie.

Soon, a small boy appeared, running at full speed after the dog, his little legs making long strides. He came to a screeching stop when he saw her by the tree.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hi.” He looked at the ground.

“My name is Audrey Thomas. I’m a friend of Luke’s. I’m going to be taking care of the horses. What’s your dog’s name?”

The dog stood twenty feet up ahead, having taken a break from his run to catch his breath.

“Oh, h-he’s not my d-dog exactly. I w-watch him for Mr. S-Slade. H-his name is B-Blackie.”

Audrey nodded. “Good name. I bet you have a good name, too.”

The boy’s mouth curled up. “It’s E-Edward. No one c-calls me Eddie.”

“I won’t call you Eddie, either, Edward.”

“Thanks.” He glanced at the dog, patiently waiting to resume the game of chase. “I havta g-go. My g-grandma’s waiting f-for me.”

“Okay, nice to meet you, Edward.”

The boy nodded and took off again.

Luke found her grinning when he walked up a minute later. “I see you met Edward and Blackie.”

The sound of his voice hummed through her body. She couldn’t look at him. She stared at the horses, who were still vying for her attention. “Yes. Seems like a sweet boy.”

“Yeah, he’s a good kid. Ten years old. His grandmother runs the kitchen at Sunset Lodge. It’s a long story, but he loves living at the lodge. My brother Logan and I give him chores to do around here. Blackie’s one of his chores with bonuses.”

“I’m getting the picture.” She finally turned to him. His blue eyes devastated her. It was hard looking at his handsome face.

Get a grip, Audrey. You have to see him every day now.

His stomach growled and he laughed. “Sorry. The housekeeper’s on vacation and I’m hopeless in the kitchen. I was going over to the lodge to scrounge a meal. You wanna come?”

“I, uh… No, thanks. Look at me. I’m not exactly lodge-worthy right now.”

He pulled the bill of her cap down with an affectionate tug, just like he used to do way back when. “Sure you are.”

“I’m not, really,” she said, her eyes flashing. She looked like hell. She could hardly believe she’d walked up to Luke’s door looking like this. “I need a shower and a fresh change of clothes. Besides, I don’t want to leave Jewel alone too long. She needs to adjust to her new environment.”

Lucky cat was probably sleeping the afternoon away.

Luke studied her face a second. “You still got cooking skills?”

“I can stir a pot when needed.”

“I remember. You’re a pretty darn good cook. Why don’t you shower and change and meet me in the kitchen. Between the two of us, we can probably whip up something edible for lunch. I really don’t want to beg a meal over at the lodge. Much rather spend my time sharing a meal with you.”

It would hardly be begging, since Luke and his family owned the place. And she couldn’t take to heart what he said about spending time with her. That throwaway line, while she thought it genuine, was merely Luke being Luke. He was cordial to everyone.

She should refuse. She should tell him she needed to rest, but who was she kidding? She had enough adrenaline pumping through her veins right now to run a marathon. Luke’s beckoning eyes darkened to a deep ocean blue, causing her breath to catch in her throat. Unknowingly, he had powers of persuasion that quelled a woman’s resolve. He was everyone’s Mr. Nice Guy and he’d been her own private knight in shining armor. It was hard denying him anything—thus her taking up residence here and working for him on Sunset Ranch. “Okay. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in thirty minutes.”

His stomach complained again and he grinned like a little boy. “I’ll be there.”

* * *

Audrey turned on the faucet, adjusting the water temperature to medium-hot, and stepped inside the shower. As the pulsating spray hit her naked body, she closed her eyes to the warmth and relaxed as she washed away the dusty morning drive. And just like that, memories rushed into her mind of an awkward, lonely time in her life.

She’d been sixteen and upset about missing her high school dance. Not that she was much of a dancer, but she’d missed being with friends who seemed to be moving on without her. She wasn’t happy spending most weekends on the road with Casey and this one Saturday night, she’d let her sour mood get the best of her.

Judd Calhoon and his friend were slightly older than she was and pretty much harmless. She wouldn’t call Judd her friend. He’d mostly teased her about being scrawny and younger, but they’d shared one common complaint—both would rather be spending their weekends at home. So when he’d dared her to sneak out of the trailer that was her second home with Casey, Audrey had found herself eager and willing to thumb her nose at her big brother’s rules. He was her half brother, anyway, she’d thought. And she’d been tired of his demanding, overprotective ways.

She’d met the boys at midnight—Casey, with a Saturday-night drunk on, would never have known she was gone—and they’d built a small campfire in a cleared-out field half a mile away from the rodeo arena. They’d had some laughs, and she’d been feeling really good about her rebellion. She’d even taken a swallow or two of whiskey the boys had brought along. Before she knew it, Judd’s friend had passed out, falling into a snoring heap on the ground three feet away from her. Judd had been drinking heavily by then, and his usual mocking tone had suddenly turned affectionate. His hands got grabby and his pockmarked face was suddenly all over hers. Judd Calhoon, the brother of the rodeo clown, was no Romeo, and Audrey had shoved him away, telling him he was stupid for trying such a stunt.

Judd hadn’t taken no for an answer. His affection had turned to demand and before Audrey knew it, she’d been pinned to the ground under him. “Get off,” she’d said, shoving at him.

He was too big, too clumsy and too strong for her and she’d realized he’d let her shove him away the first time. This time, her shove didn’t budge him.

“Aw, come on, Audrey. No one will know.”

He’d smelled of whiskey and tobacco. He’d kissed her chin, her cheek and kept missing her mouth because he’d been drunk and because Audrey kept turning her face away as fast as he came at her. “I said get off,” she’d shouted again, her fists pummeling the wooden block of his chest.

And he’d complied, just like that. Only it hadn’t been Judd doing the moving, but Luke, his hands in a vise grip on Judd’s shoulders. The next thing she knew, Judd was flying through the air, and Luke’s face was red with fury when he’d gone after him. He’d picked Judd up where he’d landed and had held him by the scruff of the collar. He’d spoken with deadly calm then. Audrey, knowing Luke like she did, had realized his great restraint as he’d lectured Judd and placed the fear of God in him.

“You okay?” Luke had asked her after he was through with Judd. He’d helped her up and she’d dusted herself off, grateful to Luke, but fearing what he had to say to her, too.

“I’m f-fine.”

“I wasn’t gonna do anything to her, I swear,” Judd’s voice squeaked from the darkness.

Luke hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “Shut up or I’ll take you to the sheriff.”

Luke had taken her hand then and led her to his truck. She’d gotten in and sat in silence on the ride back. She could tell Luke was fuming and part of his anger was aimed at her.

“That was real dumb going off in the middle of the night.”

“I kn-know.”

“Dangerous, too. Those boys are losers. Stupid to boot.”

Audrey had nodded again.

Luke had killed the engine of his truck twenty feet away from the trailer she shared with Casey.

“Why’d you do it, Audrey Faith?”

She’d stared straight ahead into the night and opened up her heart, telling him about her loneliness, her sadness over missing her friends at school and her terrible boredom at the rodeo. She’d told him how Casey was all over her with rules and regulations and that she’d felt like she never fit with anyone, anywhere. How Casey was only her half brother and how she’d had half a life. She was rarely home when it mattered and her only salvation was her love of horses. She’d cried a few times and Luke had leaned over to wipe her tears tenderly with his kerchief.

She’d spilled her guts and Luke had nodded like he understood, giving her words of encouragement for her to let it all out. He’d truly listened to her and in the end, when her body sagged, spent from her crushing confessions and soulful tears, Luke had offered her a compromise. He wouldn’t tell Casey what happened, and he’d go back to Judd and his friend and make sure they never bothered her again, if Audrey would promise to come to him when she was feeling like doing something stupid or reckless or dangerous. He’d encouraged her to talk to Casey about everything that bothered her, but told her he’d be there if she ever needed him.

For a girl who’d thought her brother would ground her for life if he ever found out what she’d done, Luke had offered her a dream deal. She’d agreed to his terms and Luke had sealed their little pact with a brotherly kiss to the cheek.

Audrey wasn’t sure a girl of sixteen knew a darn thing about love, but she was ninety-nine percent certain that that was the night she’d fallen deeply and wholeheartedly in love with Lucas Slade.

Audrey stepped out of the shower and toweled off vigorously, purging the memory from her mind. She dabbed at her throat, chin and face and talked herself out of any more reminiscing. It wouldn’t help her current situation. She was at a loss here with Luke.

And ten minutes away from making his lunch.

“You are in a pickle, Audrey,” she muttered as she dressed in her only change of clothes.

She combed her hair, banding it in a ponytail, and glanced in the mirror. The clothes were a slight improvement over the ones she’d worn this morning—new black jeans hugged her hips below the waist and a white peasant’s blouse with short sleeves sloped on her shoulders. Her boots were dark tan and well broken in, the most comfortable shoes she owned.

With three minutes to spare, she closed the door on her sleepy cat and sashayed down the hall, heading to the kitchen wondering if the old cliché still held true. The way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. If only…

* * *

“Hey,” Luke said as she entered the kitchen. His head was poking inside the fridge as he perused the shelves. “We’ve got leftover roast beef, turkey, ham and three different kinds of cheeses. It figures. I’m in the mood for a patty melt.”

As Audrey breezed by him, she picked up the lime scent of his aftershave and refused to let it give her heart failure. Luke smelled good. Period. She’d have to get over it or she’d make a fool of herself. “I’ll make you a patty melt. It’ll be the rich man’s version.”

His mouth curved up. “What’s that?”

“Wait and see, big man.”

Luke laughed and sat at the granite island counter, watching her cook.

She found a fry pan, sweet butter, bread crumbs and sesame seed buns. It wasn’t rocket science, but she was pretty darn proud of her creation when she was all through heating small chunks of roast mixed with bread crumbs and layered with melted cheese. The patty came together and she plopped it into a bun with a spatula. “Here you go.”

Luke glanced at the dish she slid his way and cocked a brow. “I’m not that rich, by the way.”

“Yes, you are.” He was wealthy by anyone’s standards with his shared ownership of Sunset Lodge and Sunset Ranch and, from Casey’s accounting, half a dozen other investments. “But I won’t hold that against you. Eat up.”

He picked up the bun and dived in, taking a big bite. His eyes closed slowly and his face settled into an expression of sublime pleasure. “It’ll do,” he said.

“I thought so.”

He took two more bites before his gaze slid back to her. “You having one?”

She shook her head. “I’ll stick to a cheese sandwich.”

He drew his brows together. “That’s no fun, honey.”

She couldn’t get excited about an endearment he’d used in his usual brotherly tone.

“You’re doing fine without me.” He’d gobbled up the entire sandwich while sitting on a stool at the counter. “I’ll make you another one, if you’d like.”

He contemplated his empty plate, then gave two pats to a rock-solid stomach a quarter would bounce off. “Tempting, but I’d better not. Sophia and Logan are bringing us dinner tonight. And she’s cooking up one of her specialties.”

Us? They’d be a foursome tonight, but it would hardly be a double date. “I heard Logan was getting married.”

“Yep. My brother’s getting the better end of the deal, if you ask me.”

She remembered how Logan would come to see Luke at the rodeo and they’d give each other a world of grief. It was all in good fun, for the most part, except when it wasn’t. But even though they teased each other unmercifully, Audrey saw the love they had for each other. They’d have each other’s backs if there was ever a problem. “Logan’s quite a catch. I bet Sophia feels pretty lucky. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“You will in a few hours.”

She placed a bun in the fry pan, then added a slab of cheese and a fresh slice of tomato. Luke walked over to the fridge again and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade. He poured two glasses and handed her one. He stood close, watching the cheese melt onto the bun as he sipped his drink. A trickle of moisture slipped down her neck. Just being near Luke made her break out in a sweat.

“What are you doing after you eat that?”

She shrugged. “I have no plans.”

“I was gonna wait until tomorrow, but if you’re up to it, I thought I’d take you over to meet Trib.”

“Ah…the horse that nearly killed you.”

“An exaggeration. There were a few broken ribs.”

“He broke your right arm, too.”

Luke stared at her. “I see your brother filled you in on my injuries.”

Yes, Casey had told her afterward, but she’d also had firsthand knowledge of his broken arm in the cast. But mercy, the man had left-hand skills that satisfied her just fine.

“You had a concussion, too.”

“But I’m right as rain now.”

It was permission to look him over from top to bottom. Not that she didn’t already know how right the man was. From the top of his sandy-blond hair down to his black snakeskin boots, Luke was perfect. “I’m glad you’ve recovered.”

“Wasn’t ever any doubt, but thanks. Appreciate it.”

She took the last bites of her sandwich and rubbed shoulders with Luke, who insisted on helping with the mess. They tidied up the kitchen, cleaned the counters and put the plates away in the dishwasher before heading outside.

A few minutes later, Luke led Audrey to a distant stable, one built for special cases like Tribute, a stallion with great ancestry and beautiful grace, but temperamental as all get-out. The ranch hands had nicknamed him Tribulation for all the darn trouble the horse gave them on a daily basis. One day Luke thought he’d broken the damn horse’s barriers and had let down his guard. That was the day Trib had sent him to the hospital.

“I don’t want you near him unless I’m with you,” Luke said. They walked out of the bright sunlight and into the much cooler barn. Even before he laid eyes on the dang horse, he heard the sound of his shuffling in his stall. “He isn’t keen we’re here. Darn horse is antisocial.”

Audrey’s eyes widened as she mentally accepted the challenge that Luke wouldn’t let her near the horse until he felt it was safe. He wouldn’t put her in danger, and Casey would probably crush him into pulp, anyway, if Luke let his kid sister get injured.

While she was staying at the ranch, Luke was responsible for her safety. He wouldn’t take that lightly. Casey’s trust was one reason, but Luke had always had a soft spot in his heart for her. If he’d had a sister, he’d want her to be just like Audrey Faith.

“You know I can’t get much done with you hovering over me, Luke.”

“I know no such thing. You can work your magic, with me hovering in the back of the barn. It’s the only way I’ll allow it.”

“Now you sound like Casey. Bossy.”

He had to smile at that. Casey was a pill when it came to his sister. “Maybe so, but just so we’re clear, you’re not to come in here unless I’m with you. Got that?”

Audrey frowned but finally nodded. “Okay.”

They came up to the paddock at the far end of the barn and looked over the half door to see the stallion pacing and snorting. The space was larger than most, the ground covered with a bedding of cedar shavings and straw.

“He’s a beauty,” Audrey whispered in awe. Her expressive eyes lit with longing and Luke could see her mind working already. She would find a way to connect with this animal.

“That, he is. I hate to give up on him. I was tempted, believe me. After I tripped in the stall and cursed loud enough for the next county to hear me, Trib got perplexed, and it was all I could do to get out of his way before he trampled the stuffing out of me. He’s got heralded ancestry and he’ll make someone a fine horse one day. If—and that’s a big if—we can find his gentle side.”

The horse stayed near the back wall, looking at them with sharp, wary eyes that took everything in. He knew Luke, but he still didn’t trust him. And now Audrey was added to the mix. “He’s better in the corral, but he doesn’t play well with others, so he’s pretty much a loner.”

“That has to change and it will. In time.”

“You have a couple of months.”

Audrey glanced at him. “It’s a tall order, but I’ll do my best.” Her eyes deepened in color and her voice rang with sincerity. “I know this is important to you, Luke.”

She was sweet, and he was grateful for her help. On impulse, he bent to kiss her cheek, but she shifted her head at that exact moment and damn if he didn’t lay a kiss right smack on her mouth.

His senses filled. Her lips were soft and smooth against his rough mouth. She tasted familiar, like wild berries in the spring. She had a scent that lingered, reminding him of something he couldn’t quite grasp. She purred deep in her throat, the sound a little startled and a whole lot of sexy. It made him wince and question his sanity as he pulled away sooner than he would’ve liked.

It was a short, quick kiss, but he’d learned this much: Audrey wasn’t a delicate child. She was passionate. But when he wanted to explore a little more, the words CASEY’S SISTER flashed through his mind like a banner being pulled across the sky by a plane.

What was it Casey had said? She’d had a loser boyfriend and was feeling a little low right now. He couldn’t take advantage of that.

“Sorry,” he said quietly.

Audrey’s expressive eyes stayed on his as seconds ticked by. Silence filled the barn. Not even Trib made a sound, and then finally she whispered, “No need to apologize.”

“I meant to kiss your cheek.”

“I know.”

It had been an awkward head-shifting and lips-meshing moment. He couldn’t put his finger on what niggled at him, but there was definitely something rattling around in his brain. He took a deep breath, noticing for the first time how unique Audrey’s scent was. “Are you wearing perfume?”

She shook her head. “Lip gloss. It’s called Sweet and Wicked.”

Luke zeroed in on her mouth. He should’ve known. He’d taken a sip from her sweet and wicked lips and liked how she tasted.

“TMI?” she asked with a raised brow.

Too much information. Luke grinned. “Nope. Trust me, I can handle sweet and wicked.”

Her eyes left his, but not before Luke caught an odd expression cross her features. “I figured as much.”

Luke took a last glance at Trib in the paddock. The horse continued to watch them with a ready-to-bolt stance. “He’s sizing us up.”

“Together, we’re too intimidating for him,” Audrey said.

“He’ll have to get used to it. From now on, it’s him and you and me.”

She sighed, and the warmth of her delicious breath wafted by his nostrils. He had a bad feeling that Sweet and Wicked would haunt his dreams tonight. But he kept that thought to himself as he laid a hand to the small of her back and led Audrey out of the barn.

* * *

After spending time with Luke, Audrey needed to calm her nerves. She lay down beside Jewel on the bed and the cat immediately started purring loud enough to wake the dead.

“You’re happy to see me, aren’t you?” she cooed. “Well, I’m happy to see you, too.”

She stroked the back of Jewel’s head, just under the ears. The cat’s coat was soft and smooth under her fingertips. When she had enough, Jewel stretched her neck so that Audrey could scratch her under the chin and the cat’s noisy purring settled into a soft hum.

The lull made Audrey’s eyes grow heavy and she relaxed on the bed. Rather than fight it, she gave in to her fatigue by closing her eyes and then drifting off to sleep.

Later, the sound of a woman’s voice outside her bedroom door startled her. “Audrey?”

Disoriented, Audrey lifted her head from the pillow.

Next came a soft knocking. The cat jumped down from the bed and padded to the door, listening. “Audrey? It’s Sophia, Logan’s fiancée. Are you okay in there?”

Audrey shook out the cobwebs from her head and glanced at the clock. It was after seven! She scrambled off the bed and strode to open the door. Audrey faced a stunning woman dressed in a summery, soft peach, spaghetti-strapped dress. She had long flowing dark hair, amber eyes and skin that could have been kissed by a Mediterranean sun. “Oh, hi.”

“Hello. I’m sorry if I interrupted your sleep.”

Audrey’s hand flew to her disheveled hair that had come loose from the rubber band. Some people had hat hair. Audrey had bed hair and she could only imagine what the tangled mess sitting atop her head looked like right now. She wasn’t brave enough to glance in the mirror. She straightened out a few wrinkles in her clothes for what it was worth. “I usually never sleep in the afternoon.”

The woman smiled. “I’m Sophia.”

“Audrey Faith Thomas. But everyone calls me Audrey.” She stuck out her hand and instead of a shake, Sophia wrapped both hands over hers and gave a little squeeze.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Did I miss dinner?”

“Not at all,” Sophia said. “Luke got a little worried when you didn’t come down so I offered to check on you.”

“I’m fine, just a little more tired than usual. Sorry to delay the meal.” Audrey opened the door wider. “Come in. I just want to put a brush to this mop.”

Sophia stepped into the room and Audrey rummaged around until she came up with her hairbrush. “I didn’t bring too many clothes with me. My friend’s sending my things from Reno, but unfortunately, for now, what you see is what you get.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the way you look,” Sophia said. “Dinner is pretty casual at the Slades’ these days.”

She immediately liked Logan’s fiancée. She was honest and didn’t try to convince Audrey that she looked perfect or wonderful or beautiful, although Sophia was every single one of those things. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you. Logan’s a pretty great guy.” Sophia’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Except when he wasn’t.”

Audrey laughed. “I hear you. Luke told me that you once hated each other.”

“Hate’s a strong word. And it was mostly him being stubborn, but we’ve gotten past that now. We’re very much in love.”

“Sounds nice. Like you two were meant for each other.”

“I think we were. We’ve worked through our difficulties and now we’re getting married. Honestly, I never thought this day would come.”

Audrey sighed as she combed through her hair, battling with a knot here and there. She and Luke didn’t have any difficulties. He didn’t regard her as anything but a longtime friend. There was no great passion, no love/hate relationship. He’d kissed her today, just a peck on the lips, but it had still been glorious, and Audrey was ready for more. Yet his only reaction had been to apologize.

He didn’t remember he’d made love to her. The memory constantly bounced in and out of her brain. It hurt like hell. And reminded her daily what a hopeless case she was.

Starting at the top of her head, she pushed both hands through her hair and roped the mane at the nape of her neck with a rubber band. Her mass of blond curls tapered into a ponytail that reached the middle of her back. “There.”

“You have beautiful hair,” Sophia said.

“Thanks, but it’s a bit long. I’ve been thinking of having it cut.”

“I know of a good hair salon in town when you decide.”

“That would be great.”

They walked to the kitchen together, and Audrey’s steps lightened as she spoke with Sophia Montrose. She was genuinely nice and put Audrey at ease. She shared a little bit about how she’d come to Sunset Ranch in the first place. Sophia had led a very intriguing life before she settled here with Logan. Audrey was eager to hear more, but when they reached the kitchen, the conversation ended. Two gorgeous Slade men sitting at the kitchen table rose from their seats when they walked in. It was a sweet gesture women didn’t see very often anymore.

Her gaze locked onto Luke and she met with his bluer than blue eyes. Heart hammering, her breaths came quick. She cursed silently and struggled to quell her jittery nerves.

“There they are,” Logan said as he walked over to her. “Good to see you again, Audrey.” He gave her a hug and then flashed a brilliant smile. He was a dark-haired, dark-eyed version of Luke, and just as devilishly handsome.

“It’s good to see you, too.”

“Pip-squeak’s going on twenty-five. Can you believe it?” Luke intervened.

“Tell me he doesn’t call you that,” Logan said.

Audrey would have been mortified if she didn’t know Luke was just poking fun. Luke had never called her that. When Casey would, Luke would tell him to show some respect. She sent Luke her fiercest glare. “Not if he wants to live to tell about it.”

Luke busted out laughing. “She means it, too.” He winked at her, just like he did when she was a kid.

Logan took Sophia by the hand and drew her into his arms. “I see you met my soon-to-be wife.” He kissed her cheek. “You two get acquainted?”

“We did, a little.” Sophia glanced at her with warmth in her eyes.

Audrey smiled back.

“Are you ready to sit down to eat?” Sophia asked. “I made paella Valenciana. I hope you like it, Audrey. It’s my mother’s recipe and Logan loves it.”

“It’s one of my favorites, too,” Luke said. “I can’t wait to dig in.”

“It smells delicious,” Audrey said. The flavorful scent of saffron and spices rose up to tickle her senses. She peeked at the concoction on the stove. A mixture of vegetables, rice, tomatoes and what looked like pork pieces filled a cast-iron skillet. “Can I help?”

“Sure,” Sophia said. “Why don’t you help me dish it into the plates and serve?”

“I’d love to do that.” Audrey was glad to work beside Sophia in the kitchen. It made her feel like part of a family, like she belonged.

Audrey filled the plates for Luke and herself and set them onto the table while Sophia portioned out enough for her and Logan. “Audrey, if you could toss the salad, I’ll put the bread on the table.”

“I’d be happy to.” Audrey took hold of the teak salad bowl and used the utensils to give the ingredients several good tosses. Once it was ready, she brought the salad over to the table set with earthen stoneware and very simple stainless-steel cutlery.

Luke opened a bottle of red wine. “Paella goes down easy with merlot.” He poured wine into all four goblets and everyone took their seats. Sophia sat next to Logan, which left Audrey to sit beside Luke.

It wasn’t a hardship being close to Luke. Somewhere between the paella and a half a glass of wine during the meal, her heartbeats had slowed to normal. The conversation was lively as she became better acquainted with the Slades and Sophia. She’d learned about Sophia and Luke’s tight friendship as children and how Logan had felt left out and jealous about it. Sophia didn’t go much further into detail but it was something Audrey was curious about. She planned on finding out more one day if Sophia was willing to share the information.

What a sucker she was. Or was she a glutton for punishment? Everything about Luke’s life outside the rodeo fascinated her.

“Luke’s still my best friend,” Sophia said. Logan gave her a nod of approval. “And I hear he was like a big brother to you, too, Audrey.”

Audrey gulped the last drop of her wine. Not the brother thing again. Mercy, she was tired of it, but Sophia was just making polite conversation and couldn’t possibly know how much Audrey hated the subject, so she answered her with equal politeness. “Yes, when Casey wasn’t around, Luke watched out for me.”

She glanced at Luke and found him staring, his gaze focused and piercing. Was he remembering that night when he’d rescued her by the bonfire? The night he’d nearly flattened Judd Calhoon on her behalf. Was he remembering all the other times he’d been there for her? His eyes stayed on hers for a few long moments and then swept down to her mouth. Heat curled in her belly and a memory flashed of that nothing-yet-everything kiss from this afternoon.

“My brother is the Goody Two-shoes in the family,” Logan said. “In this case, I’m glad he watched out for you two ladies.”

“Hey,” Luke said. “If a beautiful woman needs my help, I’m there.”

A moment ticked by. Then it hit Audrey. Luke had called her beautiful.

Good gracious. She had to stop banking on his every word. It wasn’t the first time he’d paid her a compliment. He was Mr. Nice Guy, she reminded herself.

After dinner, they had a second glass of wine, and though the men offered to help with the cleanup , Sophia shooed them into the family room to watch the baseball game.

“The paella was delicious,” Audrey said, bringing the empty dishes to the counter next to the sink.

“Thank you. I’ll share the recipe with you if you’d like.”

“I would love that. I just don’t know when I’d have time to try it out. Once my job is done here, I’ll be starting veterinarian school again.”

“Luke told us what you did for your brother when he broke his back. You dropped out of school to care for him.”

“Casey needed me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s done so much for me and it was the least I could do for him. Of course, I’d hate for him to hear me say that…he and I butt heads a lot.”

Sophia rinsed the plates and nodded. “That’s what family is all about.” A hint of longing touched her voice. “I never had a brother or sister to butt heads with. Maybe that’s why Luke and I became such good friends.” Sophia was thoughtful for a few seconds, her gaze going somewhere distant. “My mother and I were very close, too. I miss her terribly.”

Audrey understood great loss, yet she didn’t know her folks enough to miss them with the kind of intensity she saw in Sophia’s eyes. More like, Audrey missed the idea of her parents. She missed big Sunday dinners and Christmas mornings and having a mother to come home to after school, offering snacks and hugs. She missed having a father to teach her to ride a bike and kiss her forehead when she did her chores properly.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mother, Sophia. I didn’t know my mom. She died when I was a baby, and shortly after, my father married Casey’s mom. But we lost both of them in a horrible tornado that passed through our town in Oklahoma just a few years later. It touched down and swept away everything in its path over one square mile.”

“Oh, that’s awful,” Sophia said, her eyes widening with horror.

It was the same incredulous reaction Audrey got when she explained the circumstances of the tragedy to others. Usually she didn’t like talking about it.

“How did you escape?”

“Casey and I were playing with friends on the other side of town. The tornado missed us. It’s weird, you know. One side of a street could be completely destroyed, and the other could be eerily untouched.”

Sympathy touched Sophia’s eyes. “I’ve seen it on the news and always wondered how that could be.”

“It was really hard and nightmarish on us, but we managed. We had no choice.” Audrey shrugged then. Life had been tough after that, but Casey had always provided for them. He had uncanny talent as a bronc buster and had made more than enough money on the rodeo circuit to keep a roof over their heads and plenty of food on the table. Audrey didn’t dwell on the past. She refused to spend her life feeling sorry for herself. “It’s been Casey and me ever since.”

Sophia smiled as she loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher. “I think we have a lot in common, Audrey. It’ll be nice having another female living on the ranch again.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Audrey really meant it. She’d been unnerved coming here to face Luke. She’d lost her courage in confronting him, but she’d gained something, too. A job and a chance to matter, doing something she loved to do. She was looking forward to working with Trib and the other horses, spending time on the ranch and getting to know Sophia better. “And who knows, we might just diffuse the toxic levels of testosterone around here.”

Sophia laughed lightly. “We can certainly try. I think you and I are going to be great friends.”

Her heart panged with warmth. She could use a new friend. “Me, too.”

“Hey, everyone, I’d like you to meet Katherine Grady. She goes by Kat.”

At the sound of Luke’s voice, Audrey whirled toward the kitchen door. A Marilyn Monroe look-alike with platinum-blond hair stood beside him, her wide green eyes fashionably made-up to match her pretty emerald-and-blue outfit. She held on to Luke’s arm and darn if Audrey didn’t hone right in on that. A flashback of rodeo groupies—pouty pink lips and all—came to mind. Her heart sank. She struggled to keep her expression from taking a nosedive in front of everybody.

“Nice to meet you,” Kat said, her voice soft as butter.

Suddenly, Audrey’s head clouded up and spun. It was like the time she’d climbed onto the mechanical bull at Dusty’s Dancehall in Texas. She’d been sixteen and trying to prove to the guys she wasn’t a child. As soon as the bull started bucking, everything in that honky-tonk got blurry real fast. Only this was worse.

The world around her began to fade. Her legs went numb. She reached forward to grip the kitchen counter and missed, scraping her fingernails on the sharp edges. Desperate to hold on, her arms flailed. She needed support. But it was too late.

Blackness surrounded her.

Right before all the lights went out.