Sunset Seduction

by Charlene Sands

  “Nonsense,” Sophia said, eyeing another item from the rack in Sunset Lodge’s gift shop. “You can’t have too many clothes.” Sophia added a pair of white studded jeans to the pile dangling from her arms. “They’re a gift from Logan, Luke and me.”

  “Do they know about this?”

  Sophia’s chuckle came out warm and friendly. “They give me carte blanche with the gift shop. Neither one of them has ever had anything to do with it.”

  Audrey understood why. The place was a virtual one-stop shop with classic designer items like sequined evening bags, ladies apparel and jewelry that fit with the Western theme of Sunset Ranch. Over in the corner was one small shelf stacked with men’s shirts that were manly enough for any cowboy to wear. Everything was tastefully displayed and organized to appeal to the eye. In short, Sophia’s stamp of approval was written all over it.

  “This is very sweet of you,” Audrey said, humbled by her generosity.

  “It’s my pleasure. I think you’ve got some things that’ll dazzle.”

  “Yeah, the horses at the barn are gonna love me in them.”

  Sophia smiled and began searching the shop further. What could she possibly add to this wardrobe?

  “No, I wasn’t thinking about the horses,” Sophia said. “Here, let me take those from you.” She scooped her arms under the pile weighing Audrey down and carried the clothes to the counter by the cash register. “I’ll put them aside and have them wrapped for you. After I take you on a tour of the lodge, we can swing by here and pick them up.”

  “Thank you.” Audrey didn’t have words enough to express her gratitude.

  Sophia spoke to a young girl assisting behind the counter and then they exited the shop. Sophia guided her into the lobby, past the massive stone fireplace that greeted every guest who entered the lodge. Wood beams overhead and sandstone floors and comfortable sitting areas were set off by big windows and a natural elegantly rustic setting.

  “I don’t remember ever coming here. I’ve only been to the ranch a few times when I was younger but we never stopped by the lodge. This is a beautiful spot. It’s got a rural feel, but it’s up-to-date, too. I like the combination of old and new.”

  “I know what you mean. My mother used to manage the lodge when I was a kid. She was proud to work here.”

  “I can see why.”

  “I’m glad I came back. A part of me never left,” Sophia said, her eyes darkening with memories.

  It was the opening Audrey needed to ask a question that had been burning inside. It was none of her beeswax, but that didn’t stop her. She had a compelling desire to learn about the Slades, Luke in particular.

  “And Logan wasn’t happy about it initially?”

  “No, he wasn’t thrilled when I showed up here. He and I had prior history going back to our childhood and he resented me inheriting half ownership of the lodge from the Slades. His father…well, Randall Slade was more than generous with me. It’s no secret,” she said as they stopped by a large picture window that overlooked the grounds, “that I loved living at Sunset Ranch. I grew up here, but things got complicated for my mom and we moved away. It wasn’t until I came back that I was forced to confront Logan and my feelings for him. After fighting with each other and holding back our feelings, we finally saw that we were meant to be together. We put the past behind us and it’s stayed there. And through it all, Luke and I remained good friends.”

  “Were you and Luke…ever, uh—”

  Audrey was dying to know. Had there been a heated love triangle among the Slade brothers and Sophia?

  Sophia’s head tilted with a negative shake. “Never. We don’t think of each other that way. He’s my friend. I’m his friend. It’s never been anything more.”

  It was hard to believe. How could anyone be that close to Luke and not fall madly in love with him? Was she the only hopeless case around here?

  They walked to the kitchen and Sophia introduced her to Constance, young Edward’s grandmother, who was the head chef. She and the rest of the staff were busy preparing for the dinner meal. “I’ve met your grandson. He’s a nice boy,” she said.

  “Thank you. I think so, too.” Constance’s warm smile told Audrey that Edward was the apple of her eye. “Here, give this a try. I’m not sure it’s quite right.” She handed each one of them a pastry glazed with chocolate. “Tell me what you think. There’s mocha crème filling inside.”

  Audrey took a bite and chocolate cream squirted into her mouth, hitting all the right sensory points. Her reaction was immediate and honest. “Yummy.”

  Sophia nodded, too, as she chewed. They were in agreement.

  “That’s what I was hoping to hear,” Constance said.

  After chatting and testing two more samples, they left the kitchen to head toward the stables. “These horses are for the guests,” Sophia explained. “Hunter and Ward oversee their care as well as the horses at the ranch. We give guided tours and have hayrides and horseback-riding lessons. Most people who come here want to ride in some way or another.”

  Audrey had a chance to meet the horses that weren’t already out with guests and bond a little with each one. A softly spoken word, a pat on the head or an affectionate nuzzle went a long way with animals.

  “You’re welcome anytime to hang out with them. I’m sure Ward would welcome it,” Sophia said. “As you can see, they’re gentle and sweet. We worry that sometimes they don’t get enough attention.”

  “I’ll visit them as often as I can.” She stroked a palomino on the side of her face, looking into her warm brown eyes, and knew they would be fast friends.

  A few minutes later, they returned for the clothes at the gift shop. Audrey was ready to put the packages in her pickup truck and give her thanks once again. Before she got the words out, Sophia tilted her head thoughtfully with a smile on her lips. “Logan and I are having a little engagement party next week. We’d love it if you joined us.”

  “You’re inviting me to your engagement party?”

  “Yes, it’s for family and close friends. Please say you’ll come.”

  Touched by the invitation, Audrey’s heart warmed. “Oh, I… Of course. Thank you for including me. Just tell me where and when and I’ll be there.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that. I’ll call you tonight.”

  “Okay.” Audrey was almost out the door with the packages when Sophia called out. “Wait! I forgot this. I have one more thing for you.”

  Audrey’s eyes grew wide when she saw what Sophia had in her hand. “You… I can’t… What am I going to do with that?”

  “Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, her voice sweetly determined.

  “It’s gorgeous, but I sleep in an old T-shirt.”

  Sophia’s eyes lit with amusement. “When you’re alone, yes. But this is for that someone special.”

  The black negligee spoke of hot, raw, wicked sex. It wasn’t your grandmother’s negligee, she thought, and then laughed at the notion of grandmothers and hot sex. Where had her mind drifted? This nightie was cut low on the bosom, high on the thigh and was woven with intricate, peek-a-boo lace. It said do me in a hundred different languages. “I don’t have someone special.”

  Sophia ignored her and boxed the negligee herself, giving it a light tap with the flat of her hands. “I think there’s someone special for you on this ranch. I’ve seen the way you look at Luke.”

  “Luke?” She gulped air. Was she busted? “Luke and I aren’t…anything. I mean…sure, he’s been my brother’s friend for ages, but—”

  But what? She wasn’t ready to divulge her secret to anyone, much less Luke’s best friend. Oddly, Sophia didn’t pry. She didn’t try to get any further explanation out of her. She listened and nodded and then placed the box in her arms.

  She had an uncanny feeling that Sophia Montrose was wiser than her years. The alternative was that Audrey wasn’t fooling anyone about her feelings for Luke. She preferred to think Sophia had especially sharp perception. “Please accept
this as my personal gift to you.”

  “It’s very kind of you.”

  “Wear it well and knock his socks off.”

  “I’m not knocking anyone’s socks off,” she said mildly, but her throat caught with the comment as an image of making love to Luke in that negligee popped into her head.

  Sophia shrugged. “Then someone like Kat Grady might just turn Luke’s head.”

  “I—I wouldn’t know,” she said, feeling glum. “I’ve only been upright about ten seconds in her presence.”

  Sophia’s gaze stayed on her and a little smile emerged. “Luke was worried about you all evening.”

  “He feels responsible for me.”

  “He likes you.”

  “He thinks of me as a younger sister.”

  “Men can change their minds in the blink of an eye.”

  She was speaking of her experience with Logan. He’d hated Sophia and hadn’t wanted her at the ranch. The irony wasn’t lost on Audrey. She had the opposite problem. Luke had always liked her and had made her feel welcome here, giving her a job and offering his friendship. In a weird and crazy way, she had just as high a mountain to climb to make Luke look at her differently as Sophia had with Logan. “Who is Kat, anyway?”

  Sophia shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know much about her. She’s new to the county and settled in the next town, Silver Springs.”

  “She’s very pretty, in a flashy sort of way,” Audrey said.

  “Luke’s seen her a few times, but he won’t get serious about her. She’s got a little baby.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Luke. I thought he liked kids.”

  “He loves kids. You see how he is with Edward. But he doesn’t want to start up something he can’t finish, and getting involved with a single mother could hurt her little boy when it ended.”

  “How is he so sure it would end?”

  “That you’d have to ask Luke about. But I will tell you that he’s got this thing about long-term relationships. He says he’ll know pretty quickly when it’s right, and so far, that hasn’t happened. He’s usually the first one to walk away.”

  Audrey didn’t want to read too much into it, because hope that faltered and died was worse than no hope at all. And Luke had topped her No Hope list for a long time. If she dared to hope, she could come out scarred for life, but then, wasn’t that the whole reason she took the job here? To have some sort of chance with Luke? Sophia knew Luke better than anyone. Didn’t she? And she seemed to be encouraging Audrey to muster up, dig in her heels and make a stand.

  Yet, deep down she didn’t think Luke would ever see her as anything but a friend. Maybe he thought of her in the same way he thought of Sophia. There was a line he wouldn’t cross with their friendship. Just like the line he refused to cross with the Grady woman.

  Oh, who was she kidding?

  Audrey, you are making excuses for your cowardice.

  It was true. She was a coward.

  She hadn’t fessed up to Luke about seducing him and then running off like a frightened juvenile. She hadn’t spilled the truth to him when she’d first arrived at the ranch. She hadn’t been brave enough to look into Luke’s trusting blue eyes and tell him what she’d done or why she’d done it. There’d been a few really good opportunities to bring up the subject, like when Luke had accidentally kissed her or when he’d come to her bedroom door this morning to check on her.

  “And you think I’m right for Luke?”

  Sophia gave her shoulder a lift and Audrey held her breath waiting for her reply. What would be worse, if Sophia said no or if she said yes? “You could be. But if you don’t give it a chance, you’ll never know.”

  Sort of like, if you don’t try, you can’t fail, but then you’re left with years of wondering what if. “Thank you for the beautiful negligee.” And for the nudge that had her convinced she may lose her chance with Luke if she didn’t act fast. Luke was eligible, handsome and a great guy. He was like a marked target and another Kat might come along and hit the bull’s-eye if she wasn’t careful. Audrey made a silent, determined vow to speak with Luke soon. Her cowardly days were numbered. “I, uh…I owe you.”

  Sophia laid a hand on her arm. Audrey valued the comfort and friendship offered. “I’m happy to do it. And you don’t owe me a thing.” Then a delicious twinkle brightened Sophia’s eyes and she added, “But Luke might, one day.”

  Four

  Luke watched Audrey from a short distance away from Trib’s paddock. As long as she stayed on her side of the half door, she’d be safe.

  “He sees you, Luke. Back up a bit.”

  Luke leaned against the shaded, wide double door of the barn. If he stepped any farther back, beams of sunlight flowing inside would get in his eyes and not allow him to see a thing. “This is as far as I’m going, Audrey. Deal with it.”

  Audrey turned to him. Honey-gold strands of hair bunched under her felt hat escaped their confinement and streaked across cheeks reddened by frustration. She kept her tone light, but hissed the words through barely parted lips. “You’re not helping. He’s wary. Two of us here is hard for him to take right now.”

  He answered her by crossing his arms over his chest.

  Jutting her lower lip out, she blew the strands of hair off her face and whirled back around, giving him a pretty spectacular view of her backside. He grinned at the sequins forming twin diamond shapes on the pockets covering the firm mounds of her butt. She’d grumbled about the designer jeans all the way out here, but Luke thought they looked great on her. So did the tank top tucked inside, with the words Cowgirls Know How to Ride printed in hot pink on the front.

  A strange fleeting jab affected him. His mind took a journey in search of something…something teetering on the edge of his memory. Something he couldn’t put his finger on. But at odd moments like this, while focused on Audrey’s sweet derriere, bizarre met with bewilderment in his head.

  The same thing had happened when he’d kissed her the other day and he’d plagued his mind for the answer to a question he couldn’t even fathom.

  Weird.

  Audrey used sweet, soothing words on the stallion. Her voice took on the tone of a lulling siren trying to coax Trib away from the back wall of his stable. Luke could easily fall victim to that melodic sweet tone. He absorbed the sound that calmed his own jittery nerves. Audrey was the best at patience and consistency. She earned trust. But it took time. She was hoping for a sign from the stallion. One step toward her would mean progress. Yet, the horse remained rooted to the spot, unyielding. His snorts were pensive and muted, like the quiet before the storm. Luke had been fooled by Trib once. He wouldn’t let Audrey suffer the consequences of Trib’s explosive temper.

  “Luke, he won’t come over to me with you standing there.”

  “You’re losing your touch, Audrey.” Such a lie.

  “You’re being unreasonable. Go away.”

  “I’ll think about it tomorrow, Audrey. We should get going now.”

  “We just got here. You go. I’ll stay.”

  Luke walked over to her. “He’s in a mood today. You’re not getting anywhere with him.”

  “Let me be the judge of that. If you leave, I promise I’ll be right behind you in five minutes.”

  He shook his head.

  “Five minutes, Luke.” Her pretty eyes beseeched him.

  He considered it for all of twenty seconds. Audrey’s unfaltering gaze stayed homed in on his and it was all he could to do to stick to his guns.

  “Not today. Don’t rush it.”

  “I’m not rushing it. But I won’t make progress unless you give me some leeway.”

  “Not at the expense of your safety.”

  “The stable is sturdy, right? The walls are intact. I’m not planning on going inside the stall.”

  “Damn straight you’re not.” In a second he’d lose his cool. He didn’t have the patience of a saint and he was used to his employees obeying his orders. He glanced at his watch. “Crap. I’m ru
nning late. I’ve gotta go.”

  “Got a hot date or something?” Her face flamed with indignation. “Is that why you won’t let me do my job?”

  “Yes, I have a date.” And he wasn’t looking forward to it. Kat had pretty much insisted he come over for dinner tonight as a thank-you for helping sort through old stable gear, reins, bits and saddles at Matilda Applegate’s run-down little homestead in Silver Springs. Kat had moved in to care for the older woman, who was recovering from a heart attack, and had made it her mission to straighten out the place.

  The first time Luke met Kat, she’d been loaded down with grocery bags, hanging onto a sweet-looking little baby boy named Connor and all of his diaper gear. Luke had offered his help and they got to talking afterward. He learned that the boy’s father was a marine who’d died overseas, and the man’s aunt, Matilda Applegate, was Connor’s only living relative. Kat didn’t like talking about her loss and he hadn’t pried, figuring the subject was taboo and probably extremely painful. Luke should have steered clear then, because the last thing Kat needed was another heartache in her life, so now he had some hard thinking to do. She was beautiful and nice, but there were no sparks.

  An image flashed of the blonde mystery woman riding atop him, sucking every last drop of juice from his body. He should have forgotten about her by now, but memories of that night kept playing over and over in his mind.

  Audrey’s stomping brought him back to the moment. She marched away from the paddock, into the late-afternoon sunshine and kept on going, breezing by him like he wasn’t even there. “Fine, Luke. Just fine.”

  “Don’t go getting your spurs in a tangle,” he said, following behind.

  Her hands flew up and waved in the air and the hat on her head released a few more golden tendrils of hair as she pounded the earth to get away from him. “Just go on your date, Luke. Have fun,” she spat out.

  She was pissed. She felt that he wouldn’t let her do her job. On some level he got that. But he had to watch out for her. There was no sense trying to reason with her right now. Audrey’s mind was made up. He was beginning to sympathize with Casey a little bit more. It wasn’t easy being responsible for someone else.