Page 21 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

As he approached, she diverted her gaze.

“Do you want to take a picture of the lists and send it to Travis?”she asked.

“Sounds good.”He did just that, retrieving his cell and then moving next to her to take the picture.

This close, her flowery and citrus scent assaulted his senses, causing his pulse to rise and desire to stir.

Owen issued a sharp sigh before moving away from her.

He studied the list, his gaze focusing on the line that read:no recent relationships.He sent the list to Travis.A response came moments later.

“Travis will stop by in the morning to speak to you,” he said to Evie, fighting the magnetic draw that made his feet attempt to move on their own to get closer to her.

“Okay.”

His muscles tensed, and his hands fisted after setting the phone down.“It’s good to see you again, Evie.”

“You, too, Owen.”

“I meant it when I said it’s been too long.”He took the nearest seat, which had them sitting next to each other.Would she ever tell him what had happened, or would he go to his grave wondering?

“Leaving Saddle Junction was hard,” she said, tapping the end of the pen on the notepad.“Not because of my parents, but because I knew I would miss you.”

“We could’ve stayed in touch.”

Head tilted, mouth clamped shut.She shot him a doubtful look.

“I would’ve stayed on top of charging my phone or called you back when I had battery,” he defended.

She shook her head and studied the notepad.“It’s all water under the bridge now.I’m back.You’re back.”She lifted her gaze.“Are you staying around?”

Telling Owenthat hearing his voice might have broken her would do no good now.She leaned forward, half hoping he’d say yes.

“We’re all working well together at the horse ranch,” he said.“We changed the name, and a good portion of our operation involves rescue.No more shooting racehorses that don’t perform.”

“Your father would’ve hated that.”

Owen’s slow smile spread across his straight, white teeth.“We know.”

Beaumont Sturgess hadn’t had one kind word to say to Evie in all the years she’d known Owen, which amounted to most of her life.“Sounds like the perfect revenge.”

“Beaumont made more money than any of us can spend in one lifetime.He cared more about collecting money than anything else, unless you count disciplining his children.”

“He was a hateful man,” she agreed.

“And a terrible father.”

Evie probably shouldn’t go down this road with Owen while she was still feeling so vulnerable.It was getting late.She should probably excuse herself and go to bed.Except she feared closing her eyes.Her mind picked that time to think of every mistake she’d ever made and every awful thing that could happen to her.The thought of leaving the kids without a family member to care for them haunted her.But her mouth didn’t always obey common sense.“So, how have you really been, Owen?”

She reached over and touched his hand.Immediately, she pulled it back and stared at it.There’d never been a bigger jolt to her system than when she’d made contact with his skin.

Staring at her hand for a long moment after withdrawing it, she wondered how so little contact could create such a big response.The kiss they’d shared years ago, the way she’d known deep down it had been a game-changer, stamped her thoughts.Her lips burned to press against his again.

Sitting this close to the man was a mistake.

The air in the room changed, shifted.Electricity crackled between them.The urge to lean forward and press her mouth against his was a physical ache—an ache that begged for attention even as she battled against the feelings threatening to consume her.And that’s just what Owen Sturgess would be…an all-consuming fire.

Still, it was like all powers of decision drained from her, and all that was left was instinct.Raw and primal.Her instincts had her on the brink of taking what she wanted…Owen.

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