Page 89 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

"We're going to fix this—-"

"We are."

"Do you hear me?"

"I do." Thornton reached for Blake's hands and forcibly pulled it down with gentle firmness. "Question is," he drawled. "Have you heard anything I said?"

She stared at him in shock as the past thirty seconds began replaying in her mind.

Oh. Oh. OH!

"You're really not going to break up with me?" she asked in a small voice.

"No."

"Even if I tell you...if you ask me who Curt is, I won't be able to tell you the truth?"

Thornton's lips tightened, but after a moment, he said curtly, "Even then."

"And that I promised to meet with him tomorrow...alone?"

His jaw clenched, and a longer amount of time had to pass before he said finally, "Even then."

"And—-"

Anger blazed in his dark eyes. "Don't push it—-"

"I'm just joking."

He stared at her.

She flashed him a peace sign with a weak smile. "I'm really sorry. I couldn't resist—-holy sheep!" He suddenly jerked to his feet, and she nearly fell out of her chair in shock. She looked up, and the sight of him towering over her had Blake gulping.Oh no. Oh yes.She was once again a confused mass of fear and excitement, with the way one part of her found Thornton's aura of danger terrifying while the other part was undeniably aroused by the menacing feel of his power.

"So you think you could make a joke out of this..."

Umm.

When he put it that way...

Sheep.

"I'm so sor—-ah!"

Blake suddenly found herself lifted like a sack of potatoes and thrown over Thornton's shoulder.

"Thorn!"

But her shriek only earned her a slap on the butt, and she half-choked, half-gasped with laughter. "What in the—-"

SLAP!

"People are typically afraid of me for no reason, and I've become used to being avoided and living alone."

Blake stopped trying to wriggle free at Thornton's words.

"But you..."

Blake held her breath and barely noticed Thornton opening the door to his unit.

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