Page 55 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

My gaze darts back guiltily to his direction, and I feel my cheeks turn pink when I realize he's caught me ogling his lovely behind. "Um...oops?"

He doesn't say anything this time, but the way his dark gaze smolders has me torn between swooning and panicking.

A little help here, God? Please?

I've long sworn off forbidden fruits like Chief Aidan Blackwood, but how the heck am I supposed to stay unaffected when Wyoming Keanu keeps looking at me like I'm his next meal?

I wait for God to answer, but all I hear is crickets.

Fine then.

I look back at Mr. Temptation-Come-To-Life, thinking it's time to make things clear, but—-

"About your car," he suddenly murmurs, and I perk up right away, relieved to hear him changing the subject just when I need him to.

"I can have it towed first thing tomorrow."

"That would be a huge help," I say right away.

"But in the meantime...if you've got somewhere to go, maybe I can give you a lift?"

THINGS MOVED PRETTYquickly after that, and before I know it I'm struggling to contain my breathless excitement while seated next to Aidan in the tight, dark quarters of his pick-up. The whole thing feels rather surreal, and my heart's pounding so hard I'm seriously worried it's about to burst out of my chest.

Distraction.

That's what I needa.s.a.p., but when I ask for his permission to play some music—-

"I'd rather talk to you," he murmurs, "if you don't mind." He slides a glance at me, asking, "Are you here for business or pleasure?"

I frown at him. "How do you know I'm not local?"

Wyoming Keanu smirks. "Anyone who doesn't know the difference between a snowstorm and a blizzard better not be local or he'd be dumber than a doornail."

I gape at him, torn between shock and laughter. "Did you just call me stupid?"

"Only if you're local."

I make a face, knowing he has me there.

"Well?"

"You already know I'm not local."

"And?"

I roll my eyes but answer him all the same. "Both, I guess?"

"You don't sound sure."

"Story of my life." The words are out before I can stop myself, and I can't help wincing at how terribly emo I sound. "Sorry. Ignore that, please—-"

"What are the other things you're unsure of?"

"I just asked you to ignore that," I exclaim.

"Ignoring things isn't one of my talents, I'm afraid."

"But rudeness is?"

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