Page 1 of The Rancher's Heart

Prologue

Jonas Lohmen orderedcoffee at his favorite shop just down the street from his office. Just one more week and he could implement the plan to move his law practice, at least part-time, to Strawberry Ridge. With his brothers settling down with their own families, it was time to go home.

“There you are.” Julieann’s voice followed him to the empty table by the window, where he intended to make notes to pass on to his secretary. “I was hoping to catch up with you. Charlie says you’re leaving the law firm and moving to Strawberry Ridge. Is that true?”

This was why he regretted doing Charles the favor of representing his sister, the only daughter of a family-owned tech company, the largest in Denver, in a case against her former boyfriend. Before they broke up, somehow the guy had obtained concessions from Julieann that she should have talked over with her brother.

Motioning to the chair opposite him at the table, he nodded. “Charles is buying my half of the firm. During the transition, I’ll work remotely for two or three days a week for a month or so while my clientele grows.”

“Are you sure you want to move back there?” Her glance was wistful as she placed her hand on his arm. “I thought we had something special. Besides, you love Denver.”

They’d gone on three dates, and she probably did have feelings for him, but... his chimes were not ringing. And while he did love Denver, it wasn’t enough to stay away from his family any longer.

Unfortunately, what Julieann wanted from the men she dated was social prestige. She’d been honest with him about her “goal,” as she called it. She wanted to marry a successful attorney so she could live in a big house, drive the best car (which she already had), and make a place for herself in Denver’s high society.

Jonas wasn’t that guy.

He removed her hand from his arm and wrapped it in both of his. “I’m sorry, Julieann. I like you, but I don’t love you like I should if I was thinking of the two of us getting married.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do,” he said gently, lightly squeezing her hand.

“I see.” She pulled her hand free. “If you change your mind...”

He didn’t stop her from leaving, mostly because he didn’t want to tell her he wouldn’t change his mind. Instead, he stared into his coffee.

Sloane would say... What would his BFF since junior high say? That she was proud of him for telling Julieann the truth? Maybe. Discomfort swirled in his gut. Maybe not, since there was one truth he hadn’t told Sloane.

When he was a kid, he’d always believed his parents were head over heels in love, but after they passed away, his dad first, then two years later, his mom, he’d questioned that belief. Still did. He’d never been able to put his finger on why he no longer believed true love could last a lifetime, except after his dad’s passing, it just seemed to him that his mom had died of disappointment.

His persistent doubt made him wonder if he felt things like other people, that maybe he’d shoved his emotions into an invisible box, so if the love of his life was no longer there to share every special moment of every day, he wouldn’t have to feel lost, like his mom had at the end.

Could he even fall in love? Sloane would shake her head at him for thinking such irrational craziness, but he couldn’t let go of the uncertainty.

He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t confessed his biggest fear to his best friend. They talked about everything else.

Finishing his notes, he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Sloane’s number.

“Hi, Jonas. What’s up?” What was it about the sound of his best friend’s voice that settled him right down?

“I’ll be home”—for the first time in a long time—“for Blake and Malorie’s wedding, and I’m wondering if you’ll be my plus-one. I need a dance partner,” he teased. Watching Sloane dance wildly had always made him smile. But a slow dance... now that was something else.

There was a long silence on her end of the line. “Sloane?”

“I’ll be at the wedding, but I can’t be your plus-one.” She paused again before saying, “I won’t be staying much past the ceremony.” Another silence. Then, “I have a date.”

Jonas tossed his empty coffee cup in the recycle bin on his way out. Stopping on the side of the sidewalk, he asked, confused, “A what?”

“A date, Jonas. Maybe you don’t remember what that is.” She didn’t seem like she was joking.

He leaned against the brick building. “Of course I remember what that is.”

“Good. I’ll see you at the wedding.” And then she hung up.

Sloane was serious. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d turned down his request to go to a party with him. He scowled at his cell as if staring hard would make his best friend call him back to tell him it was a mistake. Of course she would be his plus-one.

When that didn’t happen, he set off at a fast pace toward his office. He had loose ends to tie up and a wedding gift to buy. There was no way he would miss Blake and Malorie’s walk down the aisle or let the fact that Sloane Michaels had turned him down ruin a good time.

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