She stood quietly in Sloan’s embrace, while Janna’s cries died down to whimpers. She understood now, Heather thought, the fierce devotion that had led Sloan to wed a perfect stranger in order to provide a mother for his child. She felt the same overwhelming emotion for Janna herself. She’d grown to love the young girl as if she were her own daughter. She thought she understood, too, the fear Sloan must have felt when his wife was murdered, the helplessness, the rage….

Heather almost cried out when Sloan withdrew the support of his arms and stepped back to gaze down at his sniffling daughter. With infinite tenderness, he bent to press a gentle kiss on the small forehead.

But then he glanced up at Heather. His expression, filled with poignant emotion, was one of gratitude, of appreciation, of love.

Heather felt her heart contract with hope. For while she knew his love was reserved for his daughter, it was possible—just possible—that some of the tenderness she saw brimming in Sloan’s bright-blue eyes might just be for her as well.

Chapter 13

THE TERRIFYING MOMENT when Janna’s life was threatened would forever be branded in Heather’s memory, as would Sloan’s poignant gratitude afterward. She had never felt so close to him as in that moment, or yearned so deeply to have her love returned.

She wanted to feel that closeness again. In the week that followed, her pride prevented Heather from divulging her growing feelings for Sloan, but she soaked up any hint of tenderness he showed her, hoarding it away in her heart. She told herself she must be content with searing passion, satisfied with any crumbs of affection he tossed her way, yet she wouldn’t abandon hope that someday his gratitude could evolve into something more substantial. Behind Sloan’s cold mask lived a tender, vital, sensual man. Someday, perhaps, he could put aside the mask and the bitter past and accept the love she longed to lavish on him.

While their relationship seemed at an impasse, at least the political tide seemed to be swinging in Sloan’s favor. Shortly after the July Fourth celebration, he received an invitation from the governor of Colorado—the same governor who a year earlier had pardoned Jake McCord for the crime of killing Caitlin’s brother. A political dinner was to be held three weeks hence at the governor’s home, in honor of the state’s legislators, and several candidates were invited.

Although summer was a relatively slow time on a cattle ranch, Sloan didn’t want to spare the time or expense for an overnight sojourn in Denver, but Heather urged him to go.

“It will benefit you to meet the men you’ll have to deal with if you’re elected,” she advised.