The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher

“I didn’t like how we left things.”

“I thought we agreed it was the only sensible way.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t move from the spot and Jade was grateful for that. She was afraid how willing she would be if he touched her. He needed to go.

“Look, Sloan, it isn’t a good idea you’re here …”

“I know. That’s why I came to tell you that I’ll be gone in the morning.”

He was leaving? “Where?”

“Does it matter? I need to be out of here and away from you.”

“I can’t drive you out of your house.”

“First of all, it’s my parents’ house. I’m only moving back to my home.”

“Okay.” So he would still be close by. “You don’t need to worry, I’ll take care of Louisa.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” he said. “But if you need me for anything just call down to the barn.”

She swallowed. “Thank you for the ride today. Even with the bad weather I enjoyed it.”

She saw something flash in his dark eyes, but wasn’t sure what it was. “Yeah, so did I … more than I should.” He turned and walked out.

Jade released a long breath. Sloan was gone. She got what she wanted, so why wasn’t she happy?

The next morning, it was work as usual. Jade hadn’t slept well at all, but she needed to get back into a routine and do her job. And she needed to figure out what she was going to do when she confronted Clay Merrick.

At seven o’clock, she’d been in the workout room with Louisa. They’d gone through the routine of exercises, and then both headed for a shower and were downstairs for breakfast by eight. And there was no sign of Sloan at the table.

“Is Sloan coming?” Louisa asked the housekeeper.

Marta poured coffee. “No, he ate very early. He had his bag packed and said he was moving back to his house. He would see you later.”

Louisa frowned. “Just like that? He didn’t say anything last night.” She glanced at Jade. “I wonder why all the hurry?”

“Maybe it’s the roundup?” Jade said, unable to think of anything else, though she knew she was to blame for this. He wanted away from her so badly, that he hurt his mother.

“I know I’ve been taking up a lot of his free time,” Louisa said. “He shouldn’t have to look after his mother.”

“Oh, Louisa, I don’t think Sloan minds at all. He loves you.”

Smiling, she nodded. “He needs his own life. A chance for love and a family.” The older woman looked pensive. “When I learned you two were going riding yesterday, I was kind of hoping …”

Jade’s chest tightened, wishing things could be different, for all of them. “That’s a nice thought, Louisa, but I’m not in a place to think about starting a relationship.”

“Oh, Jade, you don’t pick and choose when you fall in love. There isn’t a perfect time, it just happens. And I’ve seen how Sloan looks at you.”

Jade’s heart began to race. She didn’t want to know how Sloan looked at her. Their attraction couldn’t go any further. “It would be better if we didn’t pursue anything. I’ll be going back to Dallas shortly.”

“Maybe you’ll find another job right here. Our medical center is small, but they’re always looking for good nurses.”

She didn’t want to argue. “I’ll think about it,” she said, knowing she couldn’t consider it at all.

Louisa smiled. “That’s all a mother could ask for.”

Early the next evening, Jade went to search for Sloan. She walked along the gravel road, trying to come up with something to say to him. Something that didn’t sound lame as her reason for coming to his home. She was playing with fire. He was her weakness, and he could easily sway her resolve. She needed to stay away from him, but she didn’t listen to her own common sense, even knowing the man was one big temptation.

She came up the steps to the big wraparound porch. There was an old chain swing at the far end. She smiled, knowing how nice it would be to sit out on warm summer nights with someone special.

She shook away the thought of anything that involved Sloan Merrick. He was off-limits to her. There were too many complications to count. One being the reason she was here. The only reason that mattered right now.

She had supper earlier with Louisa. It was obvious that the empty spot at the table made the woman sad. That meant she had to get things straightened out with Sloan so as not to interrupt Louisa’s progress. Try to get things back to before … before they touched, before they kissed.

Jade looked at the front door. Everything inside her told her to turn around and go back, but she still rang the bell. After hearing “come in” she opened the heavy oak door and went inside.

She was greeted by a large entry with nutmeg-colored hardwood floors. A large great room with a mammoth flat-screen television hung over a stone fireplace. The furniture was overstuffed and leather. The soft sounds of country music came from the speakers overhead. This was a man’s room.

Jade walked farther into the house, past a divider to find the open kitchen and dining area. Dark stained cabinets lined the buttery colored walls and the countertops and large center aisle were covered in earth toned granite.

In front of a stainless steel stove was Sloan. He was in a white fitted T-shirt tucked into clean jeans. His feet were bare and his hair still damp from a shower. He turned a thick steak on the stove’s center grill, then picked up his beer. The longneck never reached his lips as he turned and saw her.

He froze, then said, “What are you doing here?”

Okay, so he wasn’t happy to see her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I thought we agreed to stay away from each other.”

She tried to hide the hurt. “You chose to banish yourself from the house until the day I leave? There are other people to consider here. So get over yourself, cowboy.” When he didn’t say anything, she said, “This was a bad idea to come here and try to talk to you.”

She started to walk away when she heard him call to her. She didn’t stop until she reached the door, when his hand on her arm turned her around to face him.

“Okay. I’m sorry. Why did you stop by?”

“It’s your mother.”

His concern was obvious. “What’s wrong with Mom?”

“Nothing, physically. But since you’ve avoided the house, have you at least talked with her?”

He released her and she missed his touch.

“Hadn’t had the chance,” he told her. “Okay, I’ll stop by and see her tomorrow.”

“That’s not the problem. She’s worried about being a burden to you.”

“Whatever gave her that idea?”