Will secrets tear this rancher’s marriage apart—or lead to a reunion? Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig!
For estranged husband and wife Tom and Emily Knox, a heartbreaking loss in their past is keeping them apart in the present. They still share a ranch, but not a bed. And when the blackmailer terrorizing Royal, Texas, accuses Tom of keeping a secret family behind Emily’s back, they’re thrown into an even deeper tailspin. But could the darkest misunderstanding contain the seeds of a second chance, as Tom and Emily come together to dispel false accusations and face their past?
“Remember our first kiss? I do.”
Looking into his sexy hazel eyes with sinfully long lashes, she drew a deep breath because it felt as if all the air in the diner had suddenly vanished. She couldn’t keep from glancing at Tom’s mouth, thinking about his kisses, remembering them in exacting detail and wanting to kiss him now.
“Of course I do, but I’m surprised you do.”
“I do. Why do you think I asked you out again?” he said, those hazel eyes twinkling, and she felt a tug on her heartstrings because she remembered again what fun she’d had with him.
“It was all exciting, Tom,” she said with regret.
“Then don’t cry about it now. Happy memories. Take the ones that were special and exciting and concentrate on them.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him as he released her.
Right away, she missed his strong arms around her.
* * *
Reunited with the Rancher is part of the series Texas Cattleman’s Club: Blackmail—No secret—or heart— is safe in Royal, Texas...
Reunited with the Rancher
Sara Orwig
SARA ORWIG is an Oklahoman whose life revolves around family, flowers, dogs and books. Books are like her children: she usually knows where they are, they delight her and she doesn’t want to be without them. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written mainstream fiction, and historical and contemporary romance. She has one hundred published novels translated in over twenty-six languages. You can visit her website at www.saraorwig.com.
With many thanks to Stacy Boyd and Charles Griemsman for working with me on this.
Thank you to Tahra Seplowin.
Also, thank you to Maureen Walters.
With love to my family—you are so special to me.
Contents
Tom Knox hurried down the hall of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The dark wood-paneled walls held oil paintings and two tall mirrors in wide ornate frames. There were potted palms and chairs covered in antique satin. Tom was so accustomed to his surroundings he paid no attention until a woman rounded the corner at the end of the long hall.
Tom’s insides clutched and heat filled him as he looked at his estranged wife, Emily Archer Knox. Physical attraction, definitely lust, hit him as his gaze swept over her.
Wavy honey-brown hair framed her face. Her hair was always soft to touch. There was no way to shut off the memories, no matter how much they hurt or stirred him. A red linen suit with a matching linen blouse and red high heels added to her attractiveness. The red skirt ended above her knees, leaving her shapely legs bare to her ankles. His imagination filled in how she would look without the red linen. While desire ran rampant, at the same time, a shroud of guilt enveloped him. He had failed her in the worst way possible.
Each time he saw Emily, guilt gnawed at him for failing to save the life of their four-year-old son, Ryan, after a tour bus accident on a family ski vacation in Colorado. It had been five long, guilt-ridden years since then, and a chilly bitterness had settled in between them. His life had improved only slightly last year when he’d moved out of the house to the guesthouse on their ranch. They could go for weeks without crossing paths.
In many ways it was better to be apart, because then he could let go of the burden of guilt. That’s why he had joined the Army Rangers for three years after the accident. After the death of his close friend, Jeremy, he wanted out of the Rangers. He couldn’t be with Emily without thinking about how he had failed her and how unhappy she had been with him.
At the moment when they approached each other, Emily looked up and her green eyes widened. They avoided each other most of the time but couldn’t today. He kept walking, his heart drumming while desire and guilt continued to war within him. Would he ever be able to face her without an internal emotional upheaval? Her smile was polite, the kind of smile usually reserved for strangers. When she came closer, her smile vanished before she greeted him with a quiet, “Hi, Tom.”
“Good morning. You look great,” he couldn’t keep from saying.
Her gaze shifted to the briefcase in his hand. “Are you at the club for a meeting?”
“Yes.