Kathie DeNosky: Rich, Rugged Ranchers

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Sophia rose from her seat and came over to his side of the table, brushing his shoulder to reach for his plate.

Her long tresses flowed onto his lap as she brought her face inches from his. He smelled of earth, rawhide and musk, and her breathing quickened as their eyes met. He was a beautiful man who hated her, but right now, she saw desire darken his eyes. She whispered gently, blowing her breath over his lips, playing the vixen he thought she was, “I’ll clean this up and then we’ll get right to work so you won’t have to stay any longer than necessary.”

Logan stared at her, their gazes linked and then his hand touched the ribbon of exposed skin at her waist. Her breath caught in her throat and her senses heightened as he splayed his fingers along the rim of her shirt.

It was unexpected magic.

Dear Reader,

I’m beyond thrilled that Sunset Surrender is the first book in Mills & Boon ®’s new RICH, RUGGED RANCHERS promotion. Rich and rugged (and gorgeous) describes my hero, Logan Slade, to the letter. He owns and operates Sunset Ranch, raising prized horses on land the Slade family has owned for generations.

In Sunset Surrender , you’ll also meet Sophia Montrose, the beautiful Las Vegas showgirl turned hotel manager who has inherited half of Sunset Lodge located on Slade property. She’s a thorn in Logan’s backside and a woman who can hold her own against a man who bitterly opposes her return to the ranch. But Sophia isn’t the woman he thinks she is—she’s more—and she sets out to prove that Logan has always been wrong about her.

Sparks fly between Logan and Sophia and the sizzle is evident from page one. I hope you enjoy seeing Logan’s ultimate “surrender” in the first installment of the SLADES OF SUNSET RANCH series. Luke’s and Justin’s stories are coming soon.

My motto: the bold, passionate, heart-stopping cowboy always gets the girl!

Happy reading!

Charlene Sands

CHARLENE SANDSis a USA TODAY bestselling author of thirty-five romance novels, writing sexy contemporary romances and stories of the Old West. Her books have been honored with the National Readers Choice Award, the Cataromance Reviewer’s Choice Award and she’s a double recipient of the Booksellers’ Best Award. She belongs to the Orange County Chapter and the Los Angeles Chapter of RWA.

Charlene writes bold, passionate, heart-stopping cowboys and always real good men! She knows a little something about true romance—she married her high school sweetheart. When not writing, Charlene enjoys sunny Pacific beaches, great coffee, reading books from her favorite authors and spoiling her new baby granddaughters. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. Charlene loves to hear from her readers. You can write her at PO Box 4883, West Hills, CA 91308, USA, or sign up for her newsletter for fun blog posts and ongoing contests at www.charlenesands.com.

With all my love to Everley Frances and Kyra Nicole.

You are my sweet little wonders!

Sunset Ranch, Nevada

Sophia Montrose stared into the cowboy’s cold black eyes. His mouth was hard and a twitch away from a sneer.

“Couldn’t wait to show up here, now could you?”

It was not a sunny welcome back to Sunset Ranch. Not that Sophia really expected one from Logan Slade. She’d decided long ago that she would stand her ground and refuse to let him intimidate her. But she hadn’t crossed paths with him since she’d left Sunset Ranch as a girl of fifteen, and had forgotten how his rugged good looks could make her heartbeat speed up. Yet even though maturity had done him justice in a dangerously sinful way, she wouldn’t lose sight of how Logan Slade resented her being here, just as much as he had when she’d lived on Slade land before.

“Is Luke home?” Standing on the doorstep of the ranch house, Sophia hoped to see the friendly face of Logan’s younger brother soon.

“No. He’ll be home tomorrow. You want to come back?”

She shook her head. She had nowhere else to go. She’d given up her small Las Vegas apartment and had driven for hours to reach the ranch this afternoon. She didn’t want to take a room in Carson City. She was ready to start her new life, now. This minute. “I came for the keys to the cottage.”

He leveled an unforgiving look at her. “You’ll get them.”

Logan had instructed his attorney not to give her the keys in advance. He’d wanted her to come for them personally. It was Logan’s way. He wanted to see her squirm, or at the very least, make her feel uncomfortable the second she stepped foot on Slade property.

She put out her hand, palm up, and tried for civility. “Please. I’d like to get settled.”

He assessed her for one moment, then whipped around and entered his house, tossing a command over his shoulder. “Follow me.”

She was left on the threshold with her hand out. Quickly lowering it to her side, she tilted her chin up, and took a few steps inside the house.

The minute she entered, her throat tightened and good memories washed away Logan’s attempt to ruin this homecoming. The place was as beautiful as she remembered. She’d loved the warmth of the Slade home, the pretty earth colors, the cozily arranged furniture that faced a wide stone fireplace that reached the ceiling. Antiques, bronze statues and expensive artwork decorated the room. Hard wood and contrasting soft hues made the Nevada ranch house perfectly welcoming.

How many times had she played here with Luke? How many birthday parties and private Sunset Lodge events had she attended here with her mother? A stream of good feelings settled into her bones.

She followed behind Logan, his shiny black boots clicking against polished wood. His tall muscular frame ate up space as he sauntered down the long hallway toward his late father Randall Slade’s office. Logan was neat as a pin, looking crisp in a blue plaid shirt and brand-new jeans. Broad-backed and slim-hipped, he had a fine way of filling out his clothes. He made no attempt to speak with her. She didn’t expect small talk from him anyway.

Sophia could only imagine his tirade when the terms of his father’s last will and testament had been read by the Slades’ private attorney. It must have been a last-minute decision on Mr. Slade’s part to include her in the will, because when Luke had called—a voice from her past—she’d noted his surprised tone. But he was encouraging. He couldn’t wait to see her again after all these years, he’d said, despite the circumstances.

But no one could have been more surprised than Sophia when she’d learned she’d inherited half ownership of Sunset Lodge from Randall Slade. The only stipulation was that she had to manage the lodge for one year before she could sell her share.