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  As luck would have it, Wednesday afternoon was the best time for Shawn to get with him, and it made no sense for him to drive into Mountain Bend at the same time Sophie planned to have lunch with Nora and Rachel without asking her to ride with him. Considering his disappointment the past two nights following her no-show for dinner with him and Ashe, spending that much time with her in the close confines of his truck would only add to the need for a trip to Spurs. After putting off the invite as long as possible, he headed downstairs that morning later than usual. Reaching the first floor, he went in search of the only person to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of everything else of importance since Nicole’s death.

  Chapter Five

  Sophie exited the large storage closet under the stairs, carrying the floor duster in one hand and a bucket in the other. Not paying attention, she bumped into Adrian, her surprise at seeing him still in the house causing her to lose her grip on the long handle of the duster. It bounced on the floor as her startled gaze flew up to his Stetson-shadowed dark face, her heart leaping into her throat for a variety of reasons. Flustered and annoyed for allowing his drama to affect her and her inability to curtail her instant response to his nearness, she stepped back and bent to retrieve the handle only to bump shoulders with him when he did the same.

  “I’ll get it,” he uttered with a hint of irritation.

  Despite maintaining her distance from him the past two days, she still went hot from that brief contact, the rumble of his deep voice stirring more than her exasperation with herself over that failure. Now that she’d discovered the desired diversion that took her mind off Kasey for short periods, she kept questioning her bad luck in finding it in lustful thoughts involving her boss.

  Life was so unfair.

  “Fine,” she replied with effort at keeping her tone neutral. “I thought you were already at work.” She hoped he didn’t detain her too long. Her tight schedule wouldn’t allow for much delay if she was going to meet Rachel and Nora at one.

  “I stuck around to talk to you.” He handed her the duster then nudged his hat up enough she could look into his gray eyes. “I’m driving into Mountain Bend to meet with someone today. You may as well go with me.”

  He looked and sounded as pleased about that prospect as she felt, likely for different reasons though. His grumbled invitation lacked the warmth filling her at the thought of sitting next to him during the thirty-minute ride.

  Searching for a way to save face for both of them, she finally replied, “Thank you, but I planned to stick around to shop then pick up groceries and wouldn’t want to keep you from getting back. I’ll need the charge account for the ranch.”

  “I’m getting a load at the feedstore, which will give you time to do your thing, and the rear seat will hold the groceries. I’ll be back around twelve fifteen for you.”

  With a nod, he spun around and walked out, leaving her staring at his broad back once again. Despite her reservations, the morning passed fast with Sophie unable to stem the flow of anticipation for her trip with Adrian or get her slutty thoughts under control. By the time she cleaned up and changed into a calf-length denim skirt, soft camel-colored pullover sweater, and heeled suede boots in the same tan shade, she’d set aside her misgivings and was looking forward to the drive.

  Adrian was coming out of his office with Tink at his heels when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Bending to rub the cat’s ears, she glanced up and said, “I’ll bet Tink misses your wife. Ashe said she was her pet.”

  “Nicole didn’t care much for animals, except when it came to cats. Tink stuck around me a lot at first then kept disappearing for days. This last time, she’d been gone for close to a month, and we all thought she’d become prey to a wolf or puma. There’s a small pet door in the pool room. Ready?”

  He surprised her when he held out a hand to help her up. Accepting his offer, she braced for her wayward body’s reaction to his touch and wasn’t disappointed when the familiar spark sent a rush spiraling through her system as he gripped her hand. She didn’t let out her pent-up breath until he released her as soon as she stood upright again.

  “Thanks, and yes, I’m ready.” Grabbing her purse off a hook by the door, she followed him out front to the large maroon truck with the neck and head of a horse on the side next to Coultrane Thoroughbred Ranch in black lettering. After he hoisted her up into the seat, she watched him stride around to the other side, wondering if it was the mutual suffering of losing a loved one that kept drawing her where she shouldn’t go.

  There had been anger when he’d spoken of his wife, which was understandable, but there had also been remorse and sadness. Because she didn’t like talking about Kasey, she didn’t ask him why he questioned her death even though she was curious. Instead, a herd of graceful deer caught her attention as they got onto the highway.

  “What are those, gazelle?”

  “Pronghorns, members of the antelope family and abundant around here. Hunters and wildlife help keep the numbers manageable.” He slid her a sidelong glance. “I don’t imagine you see much wildlife living in the city.”

  “Just alligators if you’re near the bayous, and I’d rather not come across them.” She nodded out the window. “This is nice. I love the history of New Orleans, and the people, but there’s something to be said for views not crowded with buildings and vehicles, and the noise that comes from large populations. I’m not looking forward to colder weather than I’m used to, but, so far, it hasn’t been bad.”

  “The snow will start in a few weeks, and we’ll suffer through several long periods of anywhere between a foot to several feet in the drifts. You might go stir crazy then,” he warned as they drove past a herd of grazing bison, their heavy, shaggy coats sure to insulate them during the harshest winter weeks.

  Seeing so much just from this drive made Sophie itch to explore the trails in the woods surrounding the ranch, and she made a mental note to do that this weekend, as she saw the city limits sign for Mountain Bend. Reading the small population, she turned to Adrian and asked, “Does such a small town offer much in the way of groceries?”

  He shrugged, as if unsure. “If not, make me a list of what you don’t find, and I can pick it up next time I’m in Boise. Ashe and I aren’t picky, and we’ve enjoyed what you’ve fixed so far. I was serious when I told you to feel free to join us, Sophie, although I realize you don’t know when we’ll call it quits for the day.”

  Since she couldn’t very well admit she was avoiding him until she got her needy emotions under control, she floundered for an excuse. “Thank you, but it’s easier for me to finish eating before I head upstairs at the end of the day.” She flipped him a rueful grin. “Once I get comfy and relaxed, I don’t want to budge again.”

  “Okay, that I get.” He drove down a street with old buildings renovated to house the sheriff’s office and city building, and he pointed to the precinct. “I’m meeting my friend, the sheriff, after I drop you off at Rachel and Nora’s shop. They can take you to the grocery store after lunch. Call me when you’re done.”

  Rounding the corner, she saw the library and small park before he went down a street lined with shops and a deli. He parked next to a van with the back hatch raised, and she recognized Nora pulling a box from the rear space.

  As Sophie opened her door, Adrian surprised her when he said, “Sophie, I’m sorry about your daughter.”

  Unprepared for the sentiment, she couldn’t prepare for the familiar wave of soul-crushing sorrow that gripped her and closed off her throat. With a jerky nod, she jumped down and shut the door, refusing to look at him again, afraid his astute gaze would read too much.

  “Come on in, Sophie,” Nora called out. “Your timing is perfect. We’re more than ready for a break.”

  “Oh, this is great. Hi, Rachel.” She smiled at Rachel who was placing cute wildlife figurines on a shelf.

  “Hi. Glad you could make it. Are those the wreaths, Nora?”

  “I think so.” Nora set the box on the counter and pulled out a wreath made of twigs, cones, and evergreens. “Yep, and it looks like Matilda has been busy. She sent at least six.” She looked up from the box to Sophie. “Matilda is in her eighties and still scouring the forests with her daughter and now granddaughter for her arts-and-crafts projects. Tourists love them.”

  “I can see why.” Sophie walked over to the counter to get a closer look at the wreaths before her attention was snagged by the paintings on the wall behind the counter. “Those are stunning. They make me want to pick up a paintbrush again.” Too late, she realized she gave them an opening that would require mentioning Kasey. She blamed Adrian for muddling her thinking with his condolence.

  “You paint? Why’d you stop?” Nora asked, joining them.

  Sighing, Sophie realized she couldn’t avoid the topic of what had driven her here much longer anyway. “I lost my daughter last April, and I couldn’t muster up any interest after that. I used to love to paint landscapes, though, and a few I did of New Orleans historical sites are hanging in a library there, and one in city hall.”

  Rachel gave her a quick hug, just enough to convey empathy without clinging. “I’m so sorry,” she said, stepping back.

  Nora blinked away the damp sheen in her eyes. “That explains why you’d leave such a warm climate for our cold winters. I’m sorry, Sophie. I won’t insult you by pretending to know how difficult such a loss must be. If you decide to take up painting again, we’d be happy to show your work here.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate that.” The last thing she had painted was Kasey’s portrait, and the thought of picking up a brush again still caused butterflies to flutter in her stomach.

  “Let’s go to the deli. Hatti made potato soup today.” Nora came around the counter, grabbing h
er and Rachel’s purses.

  “It’s not the same, but if you ever need to cry, or rant, we’re here for you. Adrian’s wife, Nicole, was our best friend since middle school, and we’re still struggling with her death,” Rachel said as they left the shop.

  As far as openings went, Sophie couldn’t resist taking advantage of that one. “He mentioned her the other day when I was dusting Nicole’s portrait. If you don’t mind me asking, why does he think her fall is suspicious?”

  Nora took a deep breath and shook her head as they strolled down the sidewalk toward the deli. “Who knows? I admit that was my first thought because she was a skilled hiker, and careful. But park rangers checked that ledge and found erosion where she slipped. I remember how upset she was the first time he mentioned divorce, but she cared more about his money than she did the marriage, as difficult as it is for me to admit that.”

  “Don’t get us wrong, we loved Nicole, and because we did, and knew her so well, we weren’t blind to her faults.” A tear rolled down Rachel’s cheek, and she brushed it away. “She didn’t deserve such a tragic, early death, though. Adrian makes it harder on everyone by believing one of us would harm her.”

  “He suspects one of his friends, even his cousin?” Sophie couldn’t imagine living with such mistrust toward those she was closest to. No wonder Adrian was so moody.

  “Yes,” Nora muttered with disgust. “And nothing we say will convince him he’s wrong. We’re hoping he gets past this stage of his grief and over his guilt because of their last fight soon.” Opening the door to the deli, she smiled at Sophie. “Try some of Hatti’s soup, and we’ll lighten the mood by telling you about the private club he’s a member of, now that you know about our playroom and proclivities.”

  Private club? All kinds of images popped into her head, her curiosity piqued enough to want to hear more. Nora’s lighthearted attitude helped Sophie feel more comfortable about discussing such a subject and her boss as she followed her into the deli. The small eatery was quiet, with only two men seated at one of the round tables as they went up to the counter. The gray-haired, rosy-faced woman greeted them with a beaming smile.

  “Welcome back, ladies. How’s the shop coming along?” she asked.

  “It’s getting there. We hope to open next week. This is Sophie, the Coultranes’ new employee.” Rachel turned to Sophie. “Hatti owns the deli.”

  “Welcome to Mountain Bend, Sophie. Potato soup is the special today.”

  Hatti reminded Sophie of her grandmother, who loved to cook. “Thank you, and I’ll have the soup.”

  “Have a seat, then,” Hatti said after getting Rachel and Nora’s orders. “I’ll bring it to your table.”

  “Thanks, Hatti.” Nora led them to a table by the front window, passing the two men who nodded politely.

  Sophie murmured hello, thinking if more men of her acquaintance back home were as appealing as the rugged cowboys she’d encountered in the last few days, she might have found herself pregnant a lot sooner. Her amusement at that thought didn’t last past taking a seat, her mind automatically leaping to Kasey.

  “Everything okay?” Rachel asked, taking the chair next to Sophie.

  “Yes, fine. Just wondering how you’ve cornered the market on guys with rugged good looks and shoulders that stretch the seams of their shirts. I mean, let’s face it, other than the stunning views, there’s not much else around here, from what I’ve seen, to draw anyone’s attention.”

  Nora chuckled. “Aren’t they enough to make you want to either come back or stay?”

  “I’ll let you know in a few weeks. In the meantime, what’s this about a club?” Every time Sophie had gone by the room converted for alternative sexual play at the mansion, she couldn’t help picturing Adrian and his friends indulging their kinks. She wasn’t into such things, but that hadn’t stopped the images of her strapped down on a bench with her boss eyeing her bared butt from filling her head and distracting from her work.

  “Our membership has lapsed, but I doubt much has changed in the year, year and a half, since either of us has visited Spurs. It caters to people with dominant and submissive sexual preferences but is also a fun place to just hang out, even if you don’t lean that way. You can get drinks, dance, and socialize if you’re not offended by the other activities going on around you.”

  Before Sophie could comment, Hatti set a large bowl of steaming soup in front of her, along with a soft roll and piece of cherry pie.

  “Pie’s on the house, a welcome token to entice you to return,” she said, delivering the same lunch to Nora and Rachel. “How is Adrian holding up? Must be hard on all of you.”

  “We miss her. Thanks, Hatti, and we’ll tell Adrian,” Rachel said softly.

  “I’m sure I would have returned just for this soup, Hatti,” Sophie said after taking a bite. “But thank you. I appreciate it and love cherry pie.”

  “Me, too, but you knew that.” Nora turned to Sophie, smiling. “No one has a memory like Hatti.”

  “That’s right, which means, I’ll know if you stay away too long. Don’t be a stranger, Sophie.”

  “I won’t. Thanks,” she returned, picking up the roll.

  “Now that she’s gone, would you like to go to Spurs sometime? We could see about getting guest passes.”

  Sophie couldn’t imagine herself in such a place, but the socializing sounded fun. “Thanks, Nora, but I’m not sure. Maybe after I’ve acclimated more to being here. As long as you realize I would only go to hang out.”

  “That’s all I did the first few times I went,” Rachel admitted. “Watching got me interested in giving bondage a try, and my first Dom was good at putting me at ease.”

  “Jessie isn’t into the club scene. He prefers smaller gatherings, says after dealing with a crowd at the bar five nights a week, he’s ready for quieter get-togethers.”

  She wanted to ask Nora how long she and Jessie had been a couple but sensed things weren’t going the way Nora would like between them. They ate in silence for a few minutes, and then her attention was snared by a dark-haired woman entering the deli carrying a paperback book. Nora greeted her with a squeal of happiness.

  “Is that my signed copy?”

  “It sure is,” the woman said, coming over to hand the book to Nora. “Clayton was dropping me at the library when I saw you walking in here, but I had to help set up a display before I could run this over.”

  “Thank you. I’m thrilled to have a signed copy from you. Oh, sorry. Have a seat and meet Sophie Turner, Adrian’s new employee. This is the writer, S.L. Anders, I mentioned the other day, Sophie.”

  Ms. Anders smiled and held out her hand to Sophie. “I’m Skye Trebek. Since you don’t appear to recognize my author name, I think I can trust my anonymity to stay safe with you.”

  “Oh, certainly.” Sophie shook her hand, glad Skye trusted her. “I feel like I should apologize for not reading your work or having heard about you.”

  Skye laughed and took a seat. “Nonsense. With the huge influx of e-books saturating the market, it gets harder and harder to gain recognition. I’m lucky to have already amassed a following before things changed so drastically.” Without a word, Hatti set a piece of pie in front of Skye, patted her shoulder, and returned to the counter. “Darn, there goes my diet for this week.”

  Rachel shook her head, taking a bite of her pie. “I’ll bet your husband loves your curves. We were telling Sophie about Spurs, and that she can visit to socialize without being expected to participate.”

  “Sure. That’s how most of us started. But fair warning, those guys are darn good at breaking down barriers. My husband, Clayton, is with your boss right now. He mentioned Mr. Coultrane hasn’t been to Spurs in a while. I think he and Shawn will try to convince him to come back, if for no other reason than to offer support with his loss. That must be so hard.” Compassion laced Skye’s soft voice.