Page 16 of The Rancher's Pregnancy Surprise

"No. I don't."

His gaze gleamed. "Just what a shrew would you say, don't you think?"

She sputtered, he chuckled.

Now this was the Acacia he knew...and missed so fucking bad.

"How have you been, darling?"

"I amnotyour darling."

"Did you miss me as much as I missed you?"

She glared at him. "NO."

"It's nice to know you haven't changed," Ronan said, his voice dropping an octave lower. "You still love lying to yourself even when you're bad at it."

She shot him a look that clearly said two words.

Drop dead.

He laughed, and she turned on her heel, marching back inside the bookshop without a word.

His smile faded as he watched her hips sway, and Ronan had to fight off the urge to haul her close, bend her over, and take her sweet ass from behind.

He wanted her, dammit.

More than ever.

His jaw clenched as he sought to regain control over his body, and by the time he joined her inside, it was to see Acacia punching keys on the computer like it was her enemy. It was clear she was in a hurry to give him the book and get rid of him.

Ronan came up to the counter, but her gaze remained fixed on the screen. "Are you aware you've got everyone curious about you?"

"There's nothing for them to be curious about. I keep to myself."

"And that's exactly why they're curious. Hartland's a small town. People tend to talk about people who don't."

"I just think it's polite to mind my own business." She handed him his package. "Thank you for doing business with us. Goodbye."

He caught her wrist before she could turn away.

"Let go!"

"Have lunch with me."

"No."

"Dinner? Breakfast?"

"Never."

"Why aren't you willing to trust me even just a little? At least give me that much." A part of him expected her to brush the question off...only to have that part proved wrong when she actually answered him with the truth.

"Because the last time I trusted someone, it cost me everything."

Fuck.

"So if you don't mind—-just stay away from me. And if it makes any difference, I'll say it the way you want me to." She looked at him with eyes that were suddenly opaque, and his chest clenched. "Please stay away from me. Please, Ronan. Please."

---