Page 24 of The Rancher's Heart

“Same.” Ken’s gaze followed Julieann as she walked farther into the restaurant and took a seat at a table with a guy in a suit. The blond guy seemed happy to see her.

By the time they finished their meal, Ken didn’t mention where they might go on their next date, and neither did Sloane. “I’d better go.”

“Of course.” He walked her to the door and hugged her briefly before she left.

It was on the drive back to Strawberry Ridge that she realized her hunt for the perfect lifetime companion wasn’t over. It wasn’t Ken Williams, but it also wasn’t Jonas Lohmen, either.

Chapter Seven

Three days hadpassed since Jonas told Sloane he couldn’t take her money to help restore the Triple L financially. All he’d heard from her since was crickets. He’d texted her earlier with no response. Four hours was long enough to wait, wasn’t it?

He tried again.“Is everything okay?”

This time, she shot a reply right back.“I’m working, Jonas.”

Yup, his best friend was not in a good mood. No matter what was going on, Sloane didn’t get her feathers ruffled easily. That she seemed mad at him worried Jonas. He didn’t like it when their relationship... er, friendship wasn’t, well...friendly.

Unlike his best friend, he could be as hotheaded as his brothers. He just hid it better than they did. That was what the older brother was supposed to do, right? Play the good guy, who had his emotions well under control? Since he’d come home, keeping his cool hadn’t worked so well. Maybe in the back of his mind, he’d known about his dad’s gambling habit. He just didn’t want to acknowledge the problem or that he’d left his mom to deal with the fallout alone.

After mailing the sample from Duke’s mane as directed on the website, all they could do was wait, which left Jonas with too much time to think about the kiss he’d left on Sloane’s temple. He’d been aiming for her lips but at the last minute, changed direction. All he could remember was the softness of her skin, how she’d felt like she belonged in the arm that he wrapped around her shoulders, the whisper of a night breeze ruffling the ends of her hair, and how he suddenly wished—

What excuse could he use to get her to go with him to Luke’s on her lunch break? Apologize for so abruptly refusing her sweet offer of financial help? Explain that saving the ranch on their terms was something he and his brothers had to do? Say he was sorry for not telling her about Julieann?

His phone rang.

And speak of the angel. “Hi, Sloane. I was just about to call.”

“I had a feeling.” She sounded distracted. “So, why do you want to talk?”

“I want to apologize—”

“I don’t think we can be friends anymore,” she said at the same time.

“Why? No matter what, we’ll always be friends,” Jonas blurted, a spark of something he wouldn’t admit was panic growing in his chest. “Let’s meet at Luke’s for lunch and talk about this.”

“I can’t. Work is stacked up today.”

“Dinner, then.” He leaned back in his chair. He’d come to his office in town to organize his cases. Now, that was the last thing on his mind.

“I don’t think so.”

“We’ve been best friends since the day we met,” he insisted. “What’s changed?”

The rolling of the creeper she used to get under the vehicles sounded in the background. Silence stretched out, then finally, “I don’t want to talk about it, Jonas.”

“We have to talk about it,” he pressed. “Is this because I can’t take your money?”

“Not really.” Her sigh came clearly across the phone. “I... um... don’t want to be friends out of habit.”

He held the cell closer to his ear. “I swear to you, I’m not your friend because I should be. My god, Sloane, after all this time, how could you think that?”

How did he convince her? “Listen, I’ll bring pizza, or something else if you’d rather, to your place tonight.” He held his breath, waiting, hoping she wasn’t making a complete break. “Come on, kiddo. Let me explain.”

“I probably won’t be fit company. There’s too much to do here. Anyway, I won’t be home until after six.” The creeper rolled again.

The bell over the door in his reception area jingled. She hadn’t exactly said he couldn’t come over. He didn’t give her the chance. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at six fifteen.”

He hung up and went to see who’d come into the office when what he’d rather do was go to the garage and fix whatever the problem was. The reception area was empty.

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