Free The Lonesome Rancher by Patricia Thayer

relationship with their son.”
    “But they did,” he said. “Although the daughter-in-law wouldn’t give them the time of day, Sam came by to see them.”
    “I’m glad.” Sighing, Jade looked around. “I bet with a little cleaning and some paint this place would be almost new again.”
    “I guess we should preserve our heritage.” Sloan looked at the beautiful furniture that Otis had made. “Alisa will inherit all this one day.”
    He saw Jade stiffen. “It’s important to keep it in the family. Didn’t your parents have a house?”
    She shook her head. “Not anymore. My mother’s care was expensive. She had to sell it. My father has never been in my life.”
    Sloan barely knew Jade, yet he felt bad for her. Nofather. “At least you get to keep some of the family’s things.”
    She hesitated. “They don’t belong to me, either.” Those beautiful eyes were sad as tears filled them. “I’m adopted.”
    He went to her. “Oh, Jade, that doesn’t mean your mother loved you any less.”
    He leaned closer and closer to her, feeling the heat radiating through her still damp clothes, her scent was intoxicating. His gaze locked on hers with an intensity that seemed hypnotic. He wanted her.
    “My mother’s cousin, Margaret, asked for most of her grandmother’s keepsakes since I’m not a blood relative.”
    “You are a part of that family, too. Your mother wanted you as her daughter. Did she will those things to you?”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t want to argue about it. It was a rough time for all of us.”
    He touched her cheek, telling himself he only wanted to give her comfort. But it was more than comfort; it was need. Her eyes were mesmerizing, drawing him deep into their depths. Silence surrounded them, except for the soft tapping of the rain against the windows.
    “You were special to them.” He couldn’t stop what was going to happen. He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her mouth. When she sucked in a breath, he went back for another taste.
    Jade knew she had no business letting Sloan get this close, but she couldn’t help herself as she allowed his mouth to capture hers. She couldn’t seem to deny him or the desire he stirred in her. When his hands drew her against his body, she was lost.
    Her arms circled his neck and she opened her mouthto deepen the kiss. Sloan was just as eager when his tongue slid inside her mouth to taste her.
    Suddenly Sloan’s phone rang, bringing her back to reality. She jumped back breaking his hold.
    He cursed. “Bad timing. I need to get this.” He turned away as he opened his phone. “Hello.”
    “Sloan, thank God.” His mother’s voice came over the line. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
    “Mom, what’s wrong?” He glanced at Jade, seeing her concern.
    “Nothing, I’m fine. It’s you and Jade I’m worried about. When I couldn’t get you on your phone I was so worried you got caught in the storm.”
    “It’s okay, Mom, we found cover. We’re at Otis’s place.”
    He stole a glance at Jade’s thoroughly kissed mouth and felt another surge of desire. “We’ll be riding back as soon as the weather clears.”
    “That’s just it, honey. You need to stay put because there are severe weather warnings out for the next few hours.”
    The sound of the rain intensified at the same time he lost the connection. “Damn. The phone died.” He glanced out the front window where rain was sheeting off the porch roof.
    “Well, it looks like we’re going to see how well old Otis built this place.”

CHAPTER SIX
    O VER the next hour, Jade fretted as the wind howled and rain pounded the old house. The windows rattled under the stress, but held. They’d lost the electricity shortly after Louisa’s phone call, but there were candles and the light from the fire. Daylight was quickly fading away. And the storm hadn’t shown any signs of dying out.
    She rubbed her arms in worry as she stole a glance at Sloan. He was kneeling in front of the hearth