Page 21 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

"Then?"

"Didn't you ever wonder why I never switched to ebooks?"

"You've always been a little old-fashioned," Ethan answered half-seriously.

Anah made a face but was unable to argue his point.

"Whatdidyou lie about?" Ethan asked finally.

"Iwasreading the books," Anah confessed, "but they were also for decoy."

"You had another book hidden behind it?"

"Nope." Anah could no longer stop grinning now, realizing just how good her books had been as a decoy.

Ethan's gaze narrowed contemplatively. What could Anah possibly need to hide so badly that...

Anah knew the moment Ethan realized the truth.

"Well, fuck."

"I know size doesn't always matter—-"

Ethan stared at her in disbelief.

"But in this case it did. I needed somethingreally big—-"

Ethan choked.

"To cover my face," Anah finished primly.

A few seconds had to pass before Ethan was finally able to get past his shock, and the first thing he did was glare at her. "If I ever catch you making that kind of joke around any other guy—-"

Anah was a little taken aback. "Was the joke that bad?"

Ethan's teeth gnashed as he fought against the urge to give Anah a good hard shake. "That kind of joke is only going to give guys the wrong idea, you little idiot."

Anah's eyes widened. If that was what he was most worried about, then...didn't that mean Ethan was (finally) feeling just the tiniest bit jealous over her?

Seeing that Ethan was glaring at her, Anah couldn't resist pursing her lips, as if she were still thinking his words over. "I really don't think it's that big of a deal. I mean..." She glanced at him under her lashes. "You're the first one I've told that kind of joke to, and it hasn't given you the wrong idea. Has it?"

Ethan only looked at her.

"Then I don't see why—-" Anah broke off when Ethan suddenly leaned forward, and she found herself automatically bending backwards...until she had fallen flat on her back on the blanket, and the evening skies disappeared behind Ethan's gorgeous face.

"I'm only going to tell you this once."

The dangerously soft tone of Ethan's voice wasn't lost on her, and she found herself gulping even as her skin tingled in heightened awareness of his proximity.

"Don't even think of disobeying me on this."

Her heart jumped to her throat. "Why does it matter if I do or don't?"

"You really want to hear the truth?"

Yes. No. I think...I don't know.

Anah's heart thudded against her chest while butterflies spread their wings inside her stomach. But in the end, all she could do was shake her head. "Not yet."

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