Chapter One

      Nothing like walking into a situation blind.

      Lucas Wilder bounded up the lodge steps, the late-July wind that twisted across his sun-scorched arms as dry as aged kindling.

      His sister’s text that someone was looking for him in the lodge hadn’t been helpful in the least. And then she’d gone off radar, not answering his request for more info. Was it an employee? Shouldn’t be a ranch guest as last week’s were already gone and a new batch didn’t arrive until tomorrow.

      Luc crossed into the comfortable lobby that guests could relax in after a day of ranch activities, scanning the room for whoever had beckoned as his eyes adjusted to the dim interior lighting.

      “Lucas.”

      The feminine voice slammed into the backs of his knees. He willed his legs not to wobble like a newborn calf’s as he faced her.

      Catherine Malory. She sat in the club chair stationed to the side of the front window, sunlight streaming over her shoulder, highlighting rich, dark-chocolate hair.

      She looked a hint older than the last time he’d seen her. Worried, and yet somehow the addition of a few lines around her eyes and lips only added to her beauty.

      Attraction flared to life, the sight of her like oxygen to an ember Luc was certain he’d stomped out years before.

      What was she doing here? It had been years since he’d left Denver and their relationship, yet he’d never been able to fully erase Cate from his mind. Luc handled forty-some guests each week plus a slew of employees. Surely he could handle one conversation with a woman he’d once loved.

      “Four years.” His words quaked out, a cross between teenage boy and wounded animal. Oh, man. He was doing an excellent job of handling it so far.

      A crease formed between Cate’s slim eyebrows. “I know how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other, Luc. Four years, four months.” So like her to have the details exact.

      He simply stared, not knowing how long they analyzed each other before he managed to make use of his voice again. “What are you doing here?”

      “I—” Her hands clenched together in her lap. “I need to talk to you about something.”

      Ah. This felt like safe ground. She must need something. Help, he could do. Love? No, ma’am. They’d tried that once. There’d been some immaturity on his part—he could admit that—but mostly he’d loved her, and she hadn’t believed him.

      “What do you need?” Even after all of this time, after how they’d left things...he wouldn’t turn her away. But hopefully once she said what she needed to, she’d leave. Luc refused to ride that kind of emotional roller coaster again. Since Cate, he’d barely dated. It was easier to focus on work. He had a good life running the guest ranch with his sisters. He was fine on his own. Work might be a lonely companion, but it didn’t leave him shattered like Cate had.

      “You’re going to need to sit down.” Her voice came out quiet. Beaten.

      “That bad, huh?” Sadness and maybe even a little fear poured from her, and his pulse thundered with curiosity. “Come with me.”

      When she stood, he led her down the hall to his office for some privacy since a staff member could come through at any moment. Cate shuffled along behind him as though he was directing her to an execution instead of a cushioned seat.

      The small space housed a desk, two filing cabinets, framed photos of his family and the ranch in various stages over the years, plus the Top Twenty Guest Ranch Award they’d received the past two years running. Luc motioned for Cate to sit on the charcoal futon that took up one corner.

      She sank down, eyes glazed, almost as though she was in shock.

      For a moment Luc considered sitting next to her, but the air in the room was already on short supply. Unwilling to risk the close proximity, he perched back against the desk instead, stretching long legs out to hold him steady.

      Cate wore a navy shirt with white capris and camel-colored sandals. And even though she looked put together—gorgeous, which he was nowhere near willing to admit—something was definitely off. Luc was almost positive moisture shone in her soft chestnut eyes.

      The silence tortured him. “Just tell me, whatever it is.” How bad could it be? His mind raced with possibilities. Her parents had been pretty tough on her. Could it be something with them? But what would that have to do with him?

      She sucked in a breath, apprehension flitting across her face before she opened her mouth and let loose. “My daughter needs to have surgery.” A hand momentarily pressed against her lips as though stemming the flow. “That wasn’t how I planned to say that.”

      “You have a daughter?” Her revelation pierced like a stab wound. Luc would