“I’ll leave you to it,” Kade said. “I think I’ll head back to the kitchen and find something to eat. Maria always keeps something around for strays.” The door closed, shutting out Logan’s tall frame. It felt as if the air had gone out of the room.

Ellie sank down on the bed. Kade Logan had an amazing presence. He had money and power and a sexual aura that was hard to resist.

Ellie wondered why his wife had left him.

* * *

Supper was over. It was dark out, the moon covered by a thick layer of clouds. Sitting behind the desk in his study, Kade looked up at a light knock on the door. “Come in.”

Ellie Bowman walked into the study, closing the door behind her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I figured that when I heard the knock.”

“Now that I’m settling in, I have questions. Until I have answers, I can’t do my job.”

He capped the pen he was holding as he went over the monthly bills. His CPA took care of the day-to-day money side of ranch business, but he still liked to keep an eye on things like income and expenses, watch for ways to make improvements.

“Have a seat.”

She sat down in one of the wing-backed, brown-leather chairs across from him. She’d shown up today dressed for ranch living, in a pair of jeans and a yellow-plaid western shirt that stretched over a pair of breasts that threatened to pop the snaps. The humidity in the kitchen left wispy strands of fine, dark auburn hair curling around her face. Kade felt the same pull of attraction he’d experienced the first time he’d seen her and cursed the arousal tightening his jeans.

He leaned toward her across his big oak desk. “So what would you like to ask?”

“I think we can agree the fewer people who know why I’m here the better. After you left, I asked Conner to make a few phone calls. He spoke to Sheriff Carver, got some basic information on the case, and emailed it to me. Once I knew your wife’s body was found in Boulder County, I was able to go online and get a copy of the autopsy. Since I’m sure you know the details and hearing them again must be painful, I won’t enumerate them here.”

“She’s been gone eight years. I can handle whatever you have to say.” Not exactly the truth. He could handle the details. He knew them by heart. But every time something new came up, the rage resurfaced, the way it had the day they’d found her car.

“Her body wasn’t discovered for two years after she died,” Ellie continued. “Which destroyed all but the most basic evidence.”

Kade said nothing.