“Really? So, she brought her kids to see a woman who hates her, by your account, continues to keep up with her work, comes over here and tends to your prize stallion, has been doing God knows what for the last couple days, except sleeping, and all you can think to do is insult her and yell at her because she didn’t tell you your horse kicked her while she was doing you a favor. I know you’re better than this. But so far, you’ve been ungrateful and insulting to the lady and all she’s done is take care of your horse and sleep in your pasture. Seems to me, in addition to the thank-you you already owe her, now you owe her an apology, too.”

“I wonder what a thank-you and an ‘I’m sorry’ is going to cost me.”

“If you’re smart, it’ll only cost you a little of your pride. Take a good look at that girl. She’s not what you think she is, and she certainly isn’t anything like any of those other women you’ve kept company with. She’s special. If you can’t see that, you’re more stubborn than I ever thought. If I was ten years younger, I’d snatch her up if she’d have me.”

The spurt of jealousy came out of nowhere. “Don’t even think about it, old man.”

“Is that so?” Jerry turned and walked back to the stables and left Luke to ponder what he’d unwittingly admitted out loud.

He wanted Sarah.

Chapter Twelve

Luke found Sarah in the barn ten minutes later, singing and brushing down Ace. He stuck to the shadows, watching and listening to her beautiful voice. He didn’t need Jerry to tell him she was special. He saw it and wanted to know more about her.

She probably wouldn’t believe that since he’d been fighting himself and the pull drawing him to her. He couldn’t keep denying his attraction, or that acting on it meant opening himself up like he hadn’t done in a long time.

After she and the boys left the ranch the other day, he’d let anger, instead of his true feelings, reign because all the life they breathed into this place that day left with them, leaving him lonely once again.

Walking into an empty house each night and rising in his lonely bed every morning had been wearing on him longer than he cared to admit.

On the ranch, in his law practice, it was easy for him to see the fruits of his labor, yet he couldn’t seem to find that kind of success and satisfaction in his personal life.

Perhaps the beauty standing before him could change that.

Sarah stretched her back and favored her hurt leg. Carrying those boys around was taking a toll on her. She needed to take better care of herself before she made herself ill.

What kept her up at night?

He couldn’t help but wish it were him.

He was tired of fighting it.

And Sarah deserved better from him than the unwarranted antagonism he’d given her. So he relaxed and went with a little levity, hoping to show her he wasn’t rude by nature, but a good guy. Someone she could open up to and confide in, because he really wanted to know everything about her.