Page 64 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

I KNOW YOU'RE GOINGto think I'm silly for this, but...

Ipanicked,okay?

So the moment I heard Aidan's words, I just up and walked out of the cafe.

But it's futile, of course.

Aidan's long-legged stride has him catching up in less than a minute, and I can't help tensing as he falls into step beside me. The wintry landscape around us is almost whimsical in its beauty, but I'm too anxious to give it the appreciation it deserves. Looking up to him, I ask rather stiltedly, "Can wenottalk about it? Please?"

"You don't sound surprised," Aidan observes grimly.

"Because I'm not." A part of me is just waiting for him to say I'm stupid after this. Maybe even get mad at me or look at me with pity, too.

But none of that happens.

The silence only stretches between us while I feel his gaze on me every so often.

People have always been curious about how my relationship with Jack works, but it's something I've never cared enough to explain. I know people think I'm a fool because of it, but I've never cared about that either...until now.

"I've known about it from the start," I say flatly. "And..." A thought occurs to me, and a frown creases my forehead. "How doyouknow about it?" Jack has always been discreet, and—-

"I got a private investigator to tail him."

"You what?"

Aidan shrugs. "I wanted to know who my rival is."

"He isnotyour rival—-"

But Aidan acts like he doesn't even hear me as he asks, "Is he really your type?"

His skeptical tone makes me feel defensive, and I lift my chin, saying, "Jack's one of Florida's most prominent lawyers—-"

"He can be the fucking pope, and it wouldn't matter." Aidan's voice turns curt. "He'd never deserve someone like you."

Gaaaah.This man is just so, so good at making me want to swoon and stomp my foot in irritation at the same time. He keeps saying things that make it sound like I'm every guy's dream come true when I know from experience it just isn't so.

"You should dump him—-"

"We have an understanding, okay?" I shove my hands deep into my coat pockets to keep Aidan from seeing how tightly clenched they are. "It's unfair of you to judge Jack like—-"

"What do you mean an understanding?"

"Just...that." My voice trails off awkwardly at the way Aidan's gaze suddenly bores through me.

"You should know right now. I can never be that understanding—-"

"Uh..." I actually find myself stifling a smile at this despite everything. "I never thought you'd be that, um, understanding."

"And you? You don't strike me to be the understanding type either."

"It's complicated."

"Try me anyway."

I'm already shaking my head before he's even done speaking. If I explain why I'm with Jack, I might as well throw away my pride.

Beautiful people like Aidan are used to having things go their way all the time. It's just how life is, and while I don't begrudge them that, I also know I'm not like them.

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