where we couldn’t help you.”
“No, she just doesn’t let me get away with anything. Not like you.”
He smiled. “Okay, so she’s a miracle worker.”
Louisa gave him a playful smack, then sobered. “Whatever, she’s helped me see a lot of things. If I want to get better, I’m the only one who can do it.”
“She’s not pushing you too hard, is she?”
“That’s just it, son. I need to push myself if I want to get back to how I was.” Tears flooded her eyes. “I’ve been putting you and Alisa through so much with my stubbornness.”
“We’ve survived.” In days, Jade Hamilton had accomplished more good than they had in months. “We love you, Mom, and you’re worth it.”
She looked sad again. “And your father …”
Sloan knew that his mother’s stroke had put a strain on their once perfect marriage. It had been hard to watch as she had pulled away from Clay and any offer of help or affection. “Dad will be home soon. Everything will be fine.”
She didn’t look convinced. “It’s only … I’m not the woman he married.”
He would never call his mother vain. Yet she had always taken special care of her appearance. She was still a beautiful woman, but he realized that a stroke changes people.
He reached for her hand. “Talk to Dad about how you feel.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can.”
Surely she didn’t think that Clay would reject her. “Of course you can.” He didn’t want to discuss his mother’s marriage problems. “You’ve always told me he’s the best listener.”
There had been a time during Sloan’s adolescence that he’d rejected any of Clay’s attempts at being a father. It took a year or so before he trusted the man to be there for him.
“Look, he won’t be home for another week. At least think about it. You two have been married a long time.” He smiled. “I happen to know the man is crazy about you.”
When he saw his mother smile, he added, “I better let you get back to your project.” He stood. “Well, if you don’t need anything, I think I’ll call it an early night.”
His mother looked up and shook her head. “You lead a boring life, son.”
“Maybe you’re right, but I’m busy trying to get ready for the roundup.”
“And you’re thirty-two,” she retorted. “You should go out more … find that special woman.”
He’d been through this before with her. He hadn’t had much luck in the relationship department. He wasn’t a good judge of character. His choosing Crystal proved that.
“After the roundup.”
He kissed her cheek and headed to the kitchen and the back stairway to the second floor. Anxious to get away, he’d barely got out the door when he suddenly collided with someone. Jade.
“Oh,” she gasped.
He reached out and caught her around the waist to steady her. Except he wasn’t so steady, either, as her body pressed against his.
“You okay?” he managed as she raised those incredible eyes to his.
She released a breath, then quickly broke the hold and stepped back. “I’m fine.”
Damn if I am. He still couldn’t take his eyes off her. He fought the urge to pull her back, to touch her, to feel her softness against him.
Jade glanced away. “Marta said to tell you she left your supper in the oven.”
The hunger he felt deep in his gut had nothing to do with food. “Your eyes are incredible.” She was tall and slender, but she had plenty of curves.
She lowered her lashes. “Thank you.”
The rest of her was just as incredible, too. “I was thinking of riding out to check my herd tomorrow. Would you like to go?” Where did that come from?
“You mean on a horse?”
He nodded. “It’ll soon come back to you.”
“Your mother’s therapist is coming in the morning for her exercise session. I have to be there.”
“Just call down to the barn when you’re free.”
He glanced down at her sandals. “I’ll dig up a pair of my sister’s boots.” He walked outside and hoped the night air would cool him off before he did something stupid.
Early the next morning, Jade stood next to Louisa in the home gym. The top-of-the-line equipment filled the large room. The therapist had just left and Louisa was finishing up her routine. Jade glanced at her patient and saw the beads of sweat on her face as she worked to raise the small hand weights.
Jade noticed Louisa’s range of motion had increased, and her balance was so much better, too. Louisa’s hard work on the treadmill and weights over the past few days had paid off.
“Let’s take a break,” Jade said.
Louisa put down the weights. “What’s this ‘us’ business. Seems I’ve been doing all the work.”
Jade smiled as she checked the woman’s heart rate. It was good. She draped the stethoscope around her neck. “And it’s showing.”
Louisa’s breathing wasn’t too labored, either. “Not fast enough,” she said to Jade. “I’ve got other things to do besides hang out in here all day.”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly are these plans?”
Louisa gave her a sideways glance. “Stop worrying. I’ve invited the girls here for lunch then we’re working on baby quilts.”
Jade was glad Louisa was being social again. “Sounds like fun.”
“You’re welcome to join us.”
Jade hesitated. She was supposed to go riding today, but she was having second thoughts about spending more time with Sloan. She’d seen his interest in her, and it would be so easy to reciprocate. Definitely not a good idea. This wasn’t why she came here.
“Sure.”
Louisa caught her reluctance. “Well, that was heartfelt.” She patted the towel on her face and paused. “You’re not on the clock all the time, Jade. You’re allowed some personal time.”
“I know that. I happen to like your friends, but if you’d rather I disappeared …”
Louisa studied her. “Okay, what’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” she said too quickly. “I mean, you’re probably tired
