Ellie would live a new life for the next two years, and after that... she had no idea. The possibility of moving away from the Range entirely threatened to tear out her heart.

A lump formed in her throat as the trees hid her family home from her sight.

When the Land Rover rolled to a standstill at the main house, she waited for Ranger to open the door for her—something she wasn't used to doing.

Father raised me to be an independent woman who opened my own door and walked my own path. But I am slowly adjusting to the way the MacPhersons live.

She was grateful for Ranger's jacket as the wind pushed against her side.

Hunter went ahead and unlocked the door, escorting Arielle inside as Ellie and Ranger trailed behind.

"Do you two want a proper cup of coffee?" Arielle asked before they were properly inside the building.

Ranger closed and locked the door, arming the security system.

Then it sank in.

This is now my home as well.

Temporarily.

It was another word she was starting to despise.

The reality of her new circumstances didn't make it feel any more real.

"No," Ranger said. "Do you want some?" he asked Ellie.

She shook her head.

Ellie wanted a shower and her own bed, but she'd have to settle for the shower.

She stifled a yawn behind her hand.

"We still need to discuss whether you two leave for the Maldives tomorrow," Hunter reminded, dumping the keys in a large crystal tray on a fancy ebony bureau.

Ellie glanced at Ranger for confirmation, even though she didn't want to go while everything was still so unsettled.

"No," he said, taking off his tie and stuffing it in his pocket. "Not until everything with Ellie's family is sorted," he decided. "Getting married in Vegas was inconsiderate enough. We'll go on honeymoon after the wedding ceremony."

Her heart filled with warmth.

"That seems like a good plan," Hunter agreed. "We just wanted the two of you to get to know each other without anyone else around."

Now I understand their point of view better.

"It was a nice gesture, Father," Ranger said firmly, "but we need to mend bridges now."

"I agree," Arielle said, heading toward the kitchen. "Go to bed, you two—we'll talk in the morning."

Hunter didn't budge. "Don't you have a new movie starting production in about a week?"

"Yes," Ranger confirmed. He rubbed the back of his neck and rolled his shoulders. "But I talked to the producer, and they don't need me on set until the end of the month. That gives Ellie and me two weeks to settle down."

He hesitated and glanced at his dad as if he wanted to say something but didn't quite know how to approach the subject.

How strange to see him uncertain of himself.

"And I thought it would be a good idea if we moved into the guest flat," Ranger finally said, his frame tense, as if he expected his father to feel slighted.

Ellie liked the idea.

"Your mother thought that would give you and Ellie a little more privacy as well," Hunter agreed.

The tension drained from Ranger.

"Although we'll leave your suite unoccupied," Hunter said. "That way, you can use your office and gym and have a man cave—and Ellie can have the office in the flat."

"You two gave this a lot of thought," Ranger said, holding out his hand to her, and she accepted it—it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"See you tomorrow," Ellie said, not entirely comfortable with their expectations of her. "Sleep well."

"The same for you," Hunter said as he sauntered in the direction his wife had taken.

Ellie and Ranger walked through the quiet house to his suite. The lights went on ahead of them and faded behind them.

"Do you agree with our plans?" Ranger asked as they reached his door.

He unlocked it, letting her enter first.

Ellie curiously took in the very manly, modern, and well-appointed space.

The black and white color scheme doesn't betray any touch of a feminine hand. She didn't know if she should be relieved or concerned.

"Regarding the flat?" she asked, stifling another yawn.

Ranger took his jacket from her shoulders and stowed it in the closet by the door.

The temperature inside the room was perfect, but she missed its warmth anyway.

"Yes," he answered, heading toward the kitchen.

"I think that would be best," Ellie said.

The main house left her daunted. Though still fancy, the flat was more homey.

"You can have the bathroom first while I make a few calls?" he suggested. "I asked the housekeeper to make room for you in my closet. Your stuff will be in there."

Ellie nodded, barely able to keep her eyes open.

He pointed at the charcoal-colored door, and she went on ahead.

The size of the bed made Ellie raise a brow. She'd slept on a three-quarter bed most of her life, compared to it, this was an island. The idea of sharing it with Ranger made her cheeks heat.

There were two doors—one led to a spacious closet. She located her things on the left-side. When she had everything she needed, she made her way to the second.

The bathroom was enormous with a bath that could seat five people. She glanced at it, shaking her head.

She always thought the old claw tub bath in their main bathroom was luxurious, but this was ridiculous. It would feel like a sin to fill that thing just to take a bath.

I'd never be comfortable wasting water like that—even though I know the drainage water goes through filters that water the plants in the atrium.

Why would anyone need such a monstrosity?

Ellie left her stuff on the black marble vanity, shrugged off her clothes, dumped them into the laundry bin, and headed for the shower.

The water pummeled some of her fatigue away, and she just stood there for a while, enjoying the moment.

When she finally reentered the room, there was still no trace of Ranger.

She considered searching for him, but he'd headed toward what she assumed was his office.

Ellie instinctively chose the left side of the bed, where none of his things were stowed.

She slipped between the silk sheets, intending to rest her eyes for only a few moments—but the quiet, the warmth, and her exhaustion pulled her under.

A loud knock startled Ellie awake.

She jerked.

Her elbow encountered a wall of muscle as the back of her head hit something much harder.

It felt like a balloon popped in her skull.

I'm not alone in bed. The realization sent a rush of adrenaline through her, clearing the cobwebs from her mind.

"Fuck, Ellie," Ranger swore.

Ellie turned on her back.

He was doubled over—holding his left hand to his ribs and his right beneath his chin.

She rubbed the back of her aching scalp.

"Sorry," she muttered.

The banging became louder, more aggressive, distracting her from her discomfort.

A frown tugged at her brow as she glared in the direction of the sound.

"Go see who it is, please," Ranger said with a grimace.

At least I didn't wind him or crack him in the family jewels.

She rolled out of bed.

Ellie was halfway to the door before noticing she still wore only a pink short-sleeved pajama top and a pair of very short shorts.

She considered going back for her wrap.

The insistent hammering continued relentlessly.

"I'm coming!" she yelled, losing her patience.

Ellie rubbed the heated patch of skin on the back of her head, her stomach hollowing out.

"Dammit," she hissed when her disgruntled answer had no effect.

She stomped over to the door on her bare feet, swinging it wide—fully intending to give whoever it was a piece of her mind.

She blinked in surprise.

A red-faced Jaden stood in the hallway—dressed in her running clothes and sweaty from her morning jog.

The veins in her neck stood out, her brow furrowed, and her lips turned down.

Ellie recognized that expression, her stomach turning.

The housekeeper stood a few steps behind Jaden, looking both reservedly angry and disapproving.

"Sorry, Mrs. MacPherson," Martha apologized. "I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

Martha cast an icy glance at Jaden, but she ignored it as if the housekeeper didn't exist.

Jaden's gaze was fixed on Ellie.

Those blue orbs are cold as the polar sea, she thought disjointedly.

"I didn't think calling security would be an appropriate response," the housekeeper said dryly.

"Thank you, Martha." Ellie sounded strangely in command of herself and the situation. "That will be all."

The woman nodded, stalking off. Her low heels clicked on the marble floor, each sharp echo landing like a hammer strike to Ellie's already raw nerves.

She took in the tension in her sister's frame—and her white-knuckled fists.

Ellie stepped back, allowing Jaden to enter the room.

"I don't want to come inside," her sister bit out through clenched teeth.

"And I don't want to argue in the hallway where everyone can hear us," Ellie insisted, glancing meaningfully in the direction Martha had disappeared.

The calm in her voice did not reflect her feelings.

Jaden stalked into the room, her trainers squeaking on the tiles, but she only took a few more steps before spinning on her heel.

Her arms crossed, her face set, and her legs braced.

She's ready for battle.

Frustration edged into Ellie's turmoil, almost pushing her to sigh.

"What the hell's going on?" Jaden demanded. "I saw on the news that my sister got hitched in Vegas like some cheap tramp."

Jaden shook her head, her expression growing even angrier. "Without a single word to me."

The harsh words jolted Ellie from her stupor.

I assumed Lissa would tell Jaden, but Dad would have forbidden it—he would want me to face the consequences of my actions.

"We had planned a marriage ceremony here in town after Mom and Dad got released from the hospital," she said with as much dignity as she could muster.

"Ranger's psycho ex called our vendors and canceled everything." She shrugged. "We knew if we tried to marry at city hall, everyone would interfere and make us wait. Mostly, we were tired of delays and things going wrong."

Ellie hated that she knew this rhyme by heart.

"And you couldn't tell me that?" Jaden demanded, taking half a step toward her.

"Would you have felt obliged to tell Mom and Dad?" Ellie asked point blank, mimicking her sister's stance.

The words brought Jaden up short.

Ellie's head throbbed where Ranger's chin had collided with it, and she hoped he was okay.

"Yes, but what you did was wrong," Jaden hissed coldly.

"It wasn't meant to hurt anyone, sister," Ellie said.

Her feet were getting cold on the marble floor.

A movement drew her attention, and she watched Ranger enter the room.

He shrugged his shirt over those washboard abs as he approached the bar fridge.

There was a huge red spot over his rib, and his chin was swelling.