LITMIR.BIZ

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but Zoe could have sworn he was laughing at her. “Maybe you’d like me to check it out first.”

      “For more rats?” she inquired sweetly.

      He didn’t look in the least bit ashamed of himself. “You never know.”

      Before Zoe could suggest that there was a two-legged rat standing right in front of her, Delia firmly stepped between the two, her flattering, social smile in place. “You’ll have to excuse Zoe, Ty. She’s tired, and a tired Zoe is a grumpy one.”

      Zoe turned away, piqued for no particular reason. It was her own fault, she reminded herself. They’d come here at her insistence, at her excitement at completely starting over.

      Not that Delia and Maddie hadn’t wanted to come, they had, but they just hadn’t been quite as sold on the idea as she. Yet they’d given up their lives, anyway, for her. A pressure built in Zoe’s chest, a familiar one. The pressure of their love, which she was eternally grateful for. But deep down, somewhere in a place she didn’t like to go too often, were the same old doubts.

      She didn’t deserve all they gave to her, not when she didn‘t—couldn’t—give it back. She had long ago locked up her heart from hurt.

      As if she sensed her unease, Maddie slipped an arm around Zoe’s waist, giving her a quick squeeze. She reached for Delia’s hand, uniting them without a word. As always, at the caring, kind, accepting touch, Zoe immediately softened; she couldn’t help It.

      “Ready, ladies?” When they nodded, Ty took the keys from Zoe, and before she could analyze why the slight brushing of his work-roughened fingers against hers made her stomach tighten, he’d unlocked the front door. “This will have to be fixed,” he said, easily maneuvering open the rickety screen.

      Standing just behind him as she was, with her level of vision at his shoulders and his own truck headlights highlighting his every movement, Zoe had no choice but to stare at the way the muscles in his back flexed and bunched beneath his shirt. No choice at all. Nor could she help but smell him, all fresh and delicious male. That he smelled so good made her annoyed all over again.

      Ty flipped on his flashlight and beamed it inside. “The door will have to be replaced, too.”

      “That’s not all,” Zoe said as she caught sight of the interior.

      Ty hit a light switch on the wall and let out a low, heartfelt oath. The light illuminated what had been their hopes and dreams, and Zoe’s stomach sank as they all crowded in. They hadn’t gotten a good look at the outside in the dark, but she had gotten an image of a two-story sprawling ranch house in desperate need of repair.

      The inside was worse, far worse.

      The paint on the walls was peeling off in long strips. The wood floors were thick with dust. The light above them flickered warningly, but at the last second, somehow managed to hang in there. Standing in the midst of it, Zoe saw past the gloom and straight to the heart of the matter—this place was theirs. Theirs.

      The thrill of that would never wear off, no matter what happened.

      “But...how can this be?” Delia asked in a confused voice that didn’t sound at all like her usual take-charge attitude. “I thought Constance lived here.”

      “She did, up until two years ago, when she had to move to a retirement home.” Regret and sadness filled Ty’s voice. “Had no idea it was this bad.”

      Silence fell at that, and sadness welled through Zoe, overcoming her strange protectiveness of the house. If only Constance had found them sooner, she thought, then nearly laughed because that wouldn’t have changed much. They couldn’t have helped her financially.

      But they could have gotten to know Constance, and at the knowledge they’d just missed that opportunity, her throat tightened. For years she’d yearned for more information about her past. Since she’d been so young when she’d arrived at the foster home, she remembered next to nothing. Yes, there was every possibility Constance hadn’t been her grandmother, that she’d been Maddie’s or Delia’s, but it didn’t change Zoe’s need.

      All her life she’d been an outsider, without a background, always a burden, always dependent on the kindness of others. It had left scars.

      She needed to know more about herself, needed to really belong somewhere. To someone.

      She needed, with every fiber of her being, for this place to be hers. And she hated herself for the selfishness, because her sisters deserved it every bit as much as she did.

      “She couldn’t swing all the work by herself and she couldn’t afford help.” Ty’s face was tight, and surprisingly full of compassion. “I did what I could, but I have a ranch, too, and between my land and hers, there aren’t enough hours in the day. Constance wouldn’t consider my offer... not until she’d located her granddaughter. And that, unfortunately, came too little, too late for her to enjoy.”

      “Offer?” Zoe narrowed her eyes as his words sunk in. “Wait a minute. Are you telling us...you wanted this place?”

      His eyes, dark and full of a whole host of things she was sure she didn’t want to know, met hers straight on. “Yes.”

      “No wonder you’re being so neighborly,” she said without thinking, a bad habit she had yet to learn to curb.

      “What are you talking about?” Delia asked, coming closer.

      Zoe’s gaze didn’t leave Ty’s as everything fit into place. “He wants to buy the ranch.”

      Ty looked at her, his eyes cool and assessing.

      “Don’t you?” she pressed.

      “Yes,” he said, without a hint of apology.

      “But...” Maddie looked at the mess in confusion. “why?”

      “Good question,” Zoe said quietly, even as her possessive, protective feelings for the land continued to swamp her. This place was theirs now. “Why?”

       Chapter 2

      Ty hesitated, absorbing three women’s gazes. He had to be careful, because not all those gazes were friendly.

      Dammit, he did want this land. Badly. And he’d almost had it. “It’s a little early—or late—to be discussing business, don’t you think?” he asked.

      Zoe’s eyes, fascinating as all hell in their shade of mystic forest green, sharpened. “No,” she said. “But I do think we can handle everything from here.” She opened the door, inviting him to leave.

      He spared a thought for the condition of the bedrooms upstairs. “But—”

      “No buts.” Her voice had chilled twenty degrees, if that was possible. She was the tough one, and he doubted anyone ever got anything past her. “Good night,” she said.

      Dismissed! The woman had a major attitude problem. Too bad he enjoyed baiting such a problem. Ignoring her, he crossed the room, reaching up to fiddle with the flickering light above them.

      Immediately, it came back to life full force, illuminating the shabbiness of the room.

      Delia shot a sharp look to Zoe, but spoke in a voice full of sweet honey. “We appreciate your help, Ty. Please...just ignore Zoe. She’s—”

      “Grumpy?” he interjected, giving in and letting his grin spread across his face. “I hadn’t noticed. Can I help you with your things from the car?”

      She smiled. “Oh, yes, please.”

      Zoe shook her head. “Didn’t you hear him, Delia?” she demanded, hands on hips as she glared at her sister. “He wants to buy this place.”

      “Well, since we’re not selling, this shouldn’t be a problem for you, hon.” Back in control after her initial shock, Delia took over, and

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