“I’ve got some other shopping to do, so there’s no real hurry.”

He looked down at the list, sizing up the number of items. It was amazing how much a ranch crew could eat. “An hour should be plenty of time.”

“Thanks.” She shifted the purse up on her shoulder, which pulled her jacket open, and Jonas’s gaze went to her breasts. Interest crept into those blue eyes. Apparently he liked what he saw.

His attention returned to her face, and his smile returned. “You’re new in town. What do you think so far?”

Ellie shifted, letting the jacket fall open a little wider. In her line of work, a woman’s femininity was a valuable tool, something she had learned long ago. In Jonas’s case, apparently it was working.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said. “Unfortunately, I’ll only be at the ranch a few weeks, till Kade’s regular cook gets back from vacation.”

“Mabel mentioned she’d be gone for a while.”

“She’s visiting family in Phoenix.”

Jonas’s gaze drifted down then back up. “So . . . you and Kade are . . . friends?”

She shrugged. “Not really. We met in Vail a few years back. He said if I ever needed work to come see him.” Let him speculate, wonder if she had slept with Kade, if she might be easy prey, see where the idea led.

“Mabel came to town a couple of times a week,” he said. “She never missed. Maybe next time you come in, I could buy your lunch.” His smile widened. “We’ll be working together. Give us a chance to get to know each other.”

Falling into the part she’d decided to play, Ellie returned the smile and made it softly inviting. “I’d like that . . . Jonas.”

His blue eyes gleamed. “Then it’s a date.” He glanced toward the back of the store. “I think I heard my son walk in. I’ll give him your list.”

“I’ll be back later to pick everything up. Great to meet you, Jonas.”

His mouth practically watered. “You too, Ellie.” Jonas strutted off toward the back of the store, and Ellie walked out the front door, onto the wooden porch. There weren’t many men in Coffee Springs, even fewer who would attract a woman as beautiful as Heather Logan.

But Jonas Murray was a handsome man and clearly a player. He’d wasted no time in pursuing Ellie. Jonas had just found a place at the top of her suspect list.

From the market, she walked into the big metal building next door, Rocky Mountain Supply, which seemed even larger inside. The front section of the store was a minimart, with rows of candy bars and snacks, magazines and paperback books, a coffee bar and a beverage counter.