Page 18 of The Rancher's Heart

He waited until she cleaned her hands, then handed her the latte. “For keeping me on the straight and narrow. And being the best friend a guy ever had, no questions asked.”

“So, I didn’t scare you off?” She grinned, took a long sip of the spiced chai, and closed her eyes, very clearly savoring the drink.

A switch flipped in his chest as Jonas watched her delight. That was one thing he could say about the girl he’d known most of his life. She enjoyed everything to the fullest. How he hadn’t fallen head over heels with her from the beginning, he couldn’t explain. Most likely because he was determined not to.

“It would be a mistake,” he said under his breath.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Speaking of keeping you on the straight and narrow... have you been in touch with Julieann?” She watched him closely as she took another swallow.

“Not yet, but I’ll contact her as soon as she gets back to Denver. When I talked to Charles, he said she was visiting friends in the area. What are you doing tonight?”

Dinner and a movie would be a good time to explain his lapse in good judgment.

“I have another date with Ken tonight.”

“Ken? The picnic guy?” Jonas shoved his hands in his pockets.

She finished the drink he’d brought her. “He’s going to take me to a movie instead.Knight and Day, with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise, is playing at the Blue Moon.”

The theater had been around for as long as Jonas could remember. Nathan had mentioned the building was on Izzy’s list for restoration, sooner rather than later, in her new role as manager of Strawberry Ridge’s revival.

“I haven’t seen that one.”

“No?” Sloane glanced at the shop clock hanging on the wall. “I have, but I don’t mind seeing it again. If I want to be ready when he picks me up, I’d better get going. See you tomorrow?”

“Sure. Why don’t you come out and help me with the horses?” he said as she shooed him toward the bay doors. “I’ll want a report on the picnic guy, anyway.”

“Ken.”

He gave in and smiled. “Fine... Ken.”

Jonas enjoyed teasing her and igniting that fighting sparkle in her dark eyes. How had he not noticed their sweet chocolate color before this?

She snorted and pointed firmly toward the door, breaking the spell that held him immobile. He shook off the disconcerting feeling and waited outside as she closed up shop before he climbed into his Mustang.

He didn’t start worrying until he was halfway back to the ranch. Maybe he should check out this Perfect Match app. His friend was a smart lady and not easily fooled. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little investigating.

He made a pizza and while it was in the oven, he sat at the table with his laptop and searched for Sloane’s dating app. It wasn’t hard to find. According to the reviews, it was the best one around. That, at least, was reassuring.

He’d just pulled up the home page when the front door opened and his brothers, in a heavy discussion about Duke, walked in.

“If he hasn’t been busy with his law practice, Jonas should have called the association by now,” Nathan was saying.

Uh-oh. His brothers—he could guess which one—were not in a good mood. Before he could close his laptop, Nathan was looking over his shoulder. “What are you doing, big brother? Is that the dating app Sloane uses?” Nathan punched his shoulder. Not hard, but firm enough to jar Jonas slightly.

“It is,” Blake said behind him. “I heard the girls talking about it this morning. I’m sure glad I didn’t have to compete with a thousand guys looking to date my girl.”

Jonas managed to close his laptop and stand before his brothers crowded him even more. “Don’t be an idiot. Your wife loves you.”

“Of course she does,” Nathan agreed. After they’d found him checking out Sloane’s dating app, there was no way they would let him get away with a distraction. Not unexpectedly, Nathan scowled. “What are you doing? Spying on Sloane?”

At that first glance, it’d looked like he’d have to create an account and log in before he could search for Sloane’s profile. It was probably a good thing Nathan and Blake had barged in and interrupted his momentary lapse in judgment. Interfering in something that Sloane would be the first to tell him was none of his business was not a good idea.

Instead of answering Nathan, he pushed through the wall his brothers made and led the way to the kitchen. “I made pizza. You boys hungry?”

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