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