Free Second Chance Mates by Sabrina Vance Page A

understand the beauty of the land, its tranquility,
everything it meant to her and what it would mean to the
community.
    "You'll have friends and company,"
Stanton countered, glancing at Luke.
    Probably wondering who he was, thought
Clara, and she decided not to volunteer the information. It was
none of Stanton's business who she entertained.
    "I'm not going to sell," she said
again. "If you'll excuse me, I'm making dinner and I don't want it
to burn." Not necessarily a lie but that steak smelled so good and
she did have a salad to throw together. And she really, really
wanted Stanton to go away before he completely spoiled her good
mood. She made to close the door and Stanton stuck his shiny
cowboy-booted foot over the threshold, blocking the door's
path.
    "Clara..."
    "Don't Clara me," said Clara
indignantly. Clara was family and friends. Clara was what Colton
whispered when they made love. Stanton did not qualify on any count
to call her so familiarly.
    "And move your foot," said Luke, his
voice cold. He moved forwards, his body pressing against her back
and it was reassuring. She was glad to have him at her back,
literally.
    Cade called something from the living
room and Luke twisted his body slightly, answering him, something
inconsequential about dinner. A moment later, Cade joined them at
the door, laying a protective hand on her shoulder. The two of them
flanking her gave her strength.
    Stanton took a double take at Cade,
probably because he was a younger version of Cade with the same
stance, not to mention dark hair and blue eyes, then cut a glance
at Luke and finally down to her.
    "I'm going to say this for a last time,
Mr. Stanton. I'm not going to sell and I don't ever intend
to sell my property. Now move your foot out of my
doorway."
    "I think you'll find you're going to
have to sell," Stanton sneered. "I know about your position with
the bank and I know you can't last on your savings forever. I'm a
generous man so I'll leave you forty-eight hours to rethink my
offer. I think you'll find me less generous after that."
    "I won't reconsider. I'm happy
here."
    Stanton glanced at the men at her side
again and gave her an oily little smile. "Yes, you certainly are
the happy little widow," he sneered.
    Clara bristled but before she could
snap, Cade wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she felt Luke
stretch to his full height, his hand settle on her shoulder. "You
heard the lady," said Cade. "She wants you off her property and so
do I."
    "And I suggest you don't come back,"
growled Luke.
    Stanton settled his hat back on his
head, pushing up the brim with his forefinger. "You have my
number," he said, looking her straight in the eye, his expression
cold. "Forty-eight hours."
    Clara didn't wait to see Stanton step
off her porch. Instead, she simply slammed the door shut behind him
and, with shaking hands, locked it.
    "You okay, sweetheart?" Cade wrapped
his arms around her and she leaned her head against his chest. What the heck? She slid her arms around him too.
    "I hate him," she mumbled into Cade’s
t-shirt. "He comes every couple weeks now, sliming around and
trying to get me to sell. I won't. I'll never sell this
land!"
    "He's gone for now," said Luke,
stepping away from the window flanking the door. "Hopefully for
good."
    Clara huffed skeptically. "He'll be
back."
    "Then we'll make sure he gets the
message," said Luke, his voice cold but his hand warm as he rubbed
her back. "Don't worry."
    Clara raised her head, sniffed the air
and her eyes went wide. "The steaks! They're going to
burn."
    Cade laughed as she extracted herself
from his arms. "I do love a woman who gets completely distracted by
food."
    "You'll be distracted if dinner burns,"
she chided.
    "Come on. I took the steaks off the
coals already." He grabbed her hand, tugging her after him, Luke
following behind like her rear guard. "You go sit outside and chill
with Luke. I'll get the salad."
     
    ***
     
    Cade looked down at the sleeping form
of Clara and