Page 22 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

And just like that, the spell broke.

Ethan leaned back as Anah slowly pushed herself back up to a sitting position. Her heart was still racing, and she found herself clasping her fingers together just to keep them from shaking. She knew there was a chance - a really good chance - that Ethan would've told her he was jealous. But even if he had said those words, it wouldn't have changed a thing.

"Anah?"

She glanced at him, startled, and then she saw what was in his hand, and a smile broke over her face as she took the bottle of lemon soda he was offering. "You remember what I like..."

Ethan shrugged. "I remember everything about you."

And so he did, Anah thought. Looking back on the memories they shared, she knew what he said was true. He always remembered. But despite this...despite remembering every little thing about Anah, none of it had ever been enough to make him forget Guilia.

Like now.

She only had to look at him, and the bleakness in his gaze would still be the first thing she'd see.

Ethan saw Anah pull her knees up and tuck them under her chin. "Cold?" She shook her head, but he took his jacket off all the same and placed it over her shoulders.

The scent of him surrounded her, and Anah found herself pulling the jacket closer.

Ethan's lips twitched when he saw what Anah was doing. "So youarecold."

"I'm not." She saw him roll his eyes and couldn't help smiling. He was probably thinking she was lying out of pride, and it was best to let him think that. The truth was worse, after all, which was that having his jacket around her shoulders was almost like being in his embrace.

Anah allowed herself a second to imagine saying such words to Ethan...

Never!

Anah barely managed to repress her shudder.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

If she were to ever say such a thing to Ethan, she might as well beg him to love her.

And that was the one thing she'd never do, Anah promised herself.Never ever ever—-

Ethan was amused to see Anah's lovely features suddenly contort into an expression he could only describe as ferocious. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Not for sale," Anah answered without hesitation.

"That bad?"

"Extremely."

Ethan chuckled, and the sound was so, so lovely it almost made her think she had won a piece of his heart to herself.

Almost.

Anah's gaze drifted back to Ethan.Still heartbreakingly gorgeous, she thought,and still not hers. He never was. Probably never would be either, and the thought had her burrowing deeper into Ethan's jacket.Loving someone isn't about making that person yours, Anah tried rationalizing to herself. Rather, loving someone was all about wanting to see that person happy, and in Ethan's case...

Anah had to clear her throat several times before Ethan finally turned her way.

"You have something to say now?" he asked in amusement.

"I do, yes."

"And?"

Anah couldn't help clearing her throat again. "I've been thinking..."

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