Page 5 of The Rancher's Amnesia Bride

"Ouch!"

SWAT! SWAT!

"You made Heart's Match seem like a sex-for-hire agency!"

SWAT! SWAT! SWAT!

"I said I'm sorry—-"

Charlotte focused all of her energies to give her sister-in-law one last swat, and Charlee-Mae's subsequent yelp was music to her ears.

"Jesus, Char!"

"You deserve it," she said without pity.

Charlee-Mae rubbed her arm gingerly. "Are we okay now?"

Charlotte's pursed her lips. "I'm not sure. Ask me tomorrow."

Charlee-Mae rolled her eyes. For all of Charlotte's mature ways, one thing the other woman had not outgrown was her tendency to hold grudges.

"Now..." Charlotte felt so much calmer now, having found the proper outlet for her annoyance. "Where were we?"

"You were telling me about how perfect Mr. Red Folder is for me."

Charlotte's gaze bore through her sister-in-law. "Seriously?"

Charlee-Mae's expression turned innocent. "Did I remember wrong?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Anyway..." She pointed back to Mr. Blue Folder. "You should really reconsider, you know. This guy will make you a good husband—-"

"But why should I settle for good," Charlee-Mae asked, "when I can have someone great? You know me better than that, Char. I've never been the type to play it safe." She tapped the red folder in emphasis, saying, "It has to be him or no one else. I can already tell this early there'll be fireworks between us," she enthused. "I can just feel—-"

"That a temporary marriage is all he wants?" Charlotte cut in dryly. "Did you feel that, too? Because that's the first thing he told me on our first meeting." She was hoping this would be enough for her sister-in-law to change her mind, but instead Charlee-Mae only appeared intrigued.

"Did he explain why?"

"His recently-retired mother will only turn over her shares to him if he marries—-"

Charlee-Mae brightened. "Then—-"

"But his mother also happens to disapprove of the woman he does want to marry."

Charlee-Mae refused to be discouraged. "Who's this woman trying to steal my man?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake. He's not your man yet—-"

"He will be," Charlee-Mae said with a flip of her hair. "So tell me. Who is it?" She saw Charlotte's expression turn sly, and Charlee-Mae knew right away something was up. "You think I won't be able to steal him away from her, don't you?"

"You'll have a fight on your hands, yes."

Charlee-Mae's gaze narrowed. "What does she have that I don't? Is she super famous or something?"

"As far as I know, no."

Charlee-Mae suddenly looked fearful. "Is she super smart?"

Charlotte couldn't help laughing despite everything. "No, Cha-Cha. As far as I know, the other party isn't super smart."

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