The sound of steady hooves caught his attention. He started to stand, remembered too late he was missing a foot and nearly fell over. He grabbed for the rock and managed to stay upright. But before he could strap his prosthesis back in place, a horse and rider joined him on the rocky ledge.

Mitch stared at the one person in all the world he never wanted to see again. Did it have to be now? With him holding his fake leg in one hand? Did he have to look like the cripple he was?

Anger welled up inside of him. Living, hot anger that wanted to explode and burn and destroy.

“Get the hell off my land,” he growled. “You’re not welcome here.”

“Hello, Mitch,” she said, not acknowledging his order. “I just heard that you were back.”

Skye Titan drew her horse to a halt, slid from the saddle and onto the ground. She pulled off her cowboy hat.

Despite the years that had passed, she looked exactly as he remembered. Her dark red hair contrasted with her pale skin. Eyes the color of spring grass stared into his. She looked good. Too good, all curves and temptation.

“How are you?” she asked.

He motioned to the prosthesis. “How do you think I am? Go away. You’re not anyone I want to talk to.”

She wore jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, one that hugged her breasts in a way that irritated him even more.

“I don’t think I’m leaving just yet,” she said.

His gaze dropped to her left hand. He didn’t see a ring. “What happened to husband number one? Daddy tell you to dump him?”

“Ray died,” she said, her gaze never leaving his.

“Living life as the rich widow or has Jed married you off again? Who is it this time, Skye? An old tycoon or some international banker?”

THE MITCH CASSIDY Skye remembered had been a funny, easygoing guy who rode like the wind and could kiss her senseless in a matter of seconds. He laughed as hard as he played and Mitch had loved to play. She knew war changed a man, but she hadn’t expected him to be a cold, mean stranger. His crack about a second arranged marriage hit close and hard. She took a step back.