Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) by Leeanna Morgan Page A

The thought of Sophie not being here left a hollow feeling in the pit Ryan’s stomach.
    For most of last night, he’d been trying to work out what it was about her that made her different. Until Sophie had appeared in his life, he hadn’t met anyone who made him feel happy just because she was there. He looked forward to working with her, to seeing the difference she was making in his office as well as his life. She never hesitated to do what Jamie asked of her, and she never complained that the work was too hard.
    But the biggest reason he liked her was because she was normal. Up until yesterday, he thought he knew her. She treated everyone exactly the same regardless of who they were or what they’d done in their life. Only now, he didn’t know who she was.
    Danny looked out of the kitchen window. “Someone’s pulled up outside.” He leaned forward and frowned. “It’s Jamie. He was going to town early to get supplies. Looks as though Sophie’s with him.”
    Ryan quickly cleaned his bowl and left it inside the dishwasher. He walked through the gallery and opened the front door. He nodded at Jamie, but his attention was firmly on Sophie as she got out of the truck. “Where’s your car?” he asked.
    Sophie didn’t look at him.
    “Engine trouble,” Jamie said as he opened the tailgate of his truck. “I gave her a ride from the campground. I’ll take a look after work and see if I can work out what the problem is.”
    “You’re staying at the campground? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Sophie took a box out of the cab and walked toward him. “There’s nothing wrong with the campground. It’s clean and tidy.” She went to move past him.
    Ryan reached out and stopped her. “It’s not safe. Anyone could walk in there and find you.”
    “It’s the best I could afford. If anything did happen, there are at least twenty people within yelling distance. I’m probably safer there than stuck in a motel on my own.”
    “We can talk about it later.”
    Sophie frowned. “I didn’t come back to argue with you. I can look after myself.” She went inside with her head high.
    “Put the box in the kitchen,” Jamie yelled after her. He looked at Ryan and scowled. “What’s your problem?”
    “I’m not the one with the problem,” Ryan muttered. “I need to talk to Sophie.” He left Danny and Jamie standing outside. His talk with Sophie was going to happen now. He wanted to know what was going on and he wanted to know that she was safe.
    Sophie was unpacking the box when he walked into the kitchen.
    She glanced at him as she put a packet of cookies in their makeshift cupboard. “Did Jamie tell you what he wants me to do this morning?”
    “You’ll have to ask him.”
    Sophie put a carton of milk in the fridge. Before she closed the door, she opened the top of another carton and sniffed. Her nose scrunched up and she nearly gagged. “You really need to check the best before dates. This milk has been sitting in here for three weeks.”
    “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or pretend that nothing’s happened?”
    “I can’t tell you any more than I have.”
    “You didn’t tell me anything yesterday apart from the fact that someone is looking for you. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
    Sophie poured the sour milk into the sink and washed it down the drain. “I don’t need your help. I’ve thought about what you said, and you’re right. If I keep moving, I’m going to run out of money and I still won’t have anywhere safe to stay. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep working for you until your home’s finished.”
    “You can stay as long as you like. Just give me more than ten minutes’ notice next time you intend to leave.” He took a bag of sugar out of the box and put it on the shelf in the pantry.
    Sophie opened a container and held out her hand. “You might want to give me the sugar. The wildlife around here might decide to investigate your