Page 35 of In Bed with the Rancher

“Listen, Dad, I’m bringing a guest tonight. She got me out of that canyon and took me to her home. I can’t wait for you and the family to meet her. But right now I better go back inside.” Before he disconnected the call, he added, “I don’t think I tell you often enough—you’ve been a super dad. I love you,” he said and meant it. “See you soon.”

He sighed, knowing that his father didn’t deserve a son like Wynn. Which only made him more resolute in his decision never to marry and risk having a kid like his twin. He thought about Ava. At some point he needed to tell her how he felt. He didn’t want to hurt her, but they’d been together only briefly. Surely both of them could walk away after only a few nights. Or was he fooling himself?

As quickly as that thought came, it was followed by another—he wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. He wanted her in his arms tonight, in his bed, and he wanted to kiss and make love for hours.

He looked at his watch and couldn’t wait for her arrival. Twenty minutes later, Ava turned into the long circle drive and Wade went down the porch steps to meet her.

Eight

Smiling at him, she stepped out of the car, looking like an angel, her silky blond hair framing her beautiful face. Her black dress almost covered her knees and the scoop neckline was not cut low enough to reveal her cleavage, but he knew every curve of her body intimately. She took his breath away just looking at her. He wanted to walk up to her, take her in his arms and kiss her.

Instead, he waited as she walked toward him. “You look fantastic. And I can’t wait to get you home,” he said in a husky voice.

“Thank you.” Her smile broadened. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you remember your past life.”

“You know what I remember most of all?” he said, knowing his voice was deeper, something that happened when he was aroused.

“What?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Making love with you.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I think we need to change the subject right now. Why don’t you tell me the names of everyone I’m about to meet?”

While they walked to the house, he told her the names of his family. They went inside and he introduced her to everyone. He could see curiosity in Wynn’s eyes, but his twin stayed at Olivia’s side, merely giving Ava a curt wave. Lucy and Jack were happy to talk to Ava and hear about the storm and Wade’s wreck. His mother stood talking to Wynn and Olivia. And then his dad arrived. He walked straight over to greet Wade, thrusting out his hand and then giving Wade a hug.

“Thank goodness, you’re home,” he said. “I’ve had business and wasn’t home sometimes when Wynn was here as you. And the few times I was here with him, I just didn’t pay attention. He’s a good actor.”

“Oh, yes. And he knows me well.” Wade didn’t want to talk about Wynn’s charade. There was a more important reason to talk to his dad right now.

“I want you to meet Ava,” Wade said, taking his dad’s arm and crossing the room to where she stood with Lucy and Jack. “Dad, meet Ava Carter. She came to my rescue and I think she saved my life. Ava, this is my dad, Arlo Sterling.”

“Mr. Sterling, I’m so happy to meet you. And I think Wade would have survived on his own, but I’m sure he had a better stay in my place out of the storm,” she said, smiling at his father and offering her hand.

“I’m sure he did, too, Ava, and we’re all grateful to you for what you did to take care of him.”

As they stood talking, Wade studied his dad and realized he didn’t look as good as he had only a couple of days ago. He wondered how much Wynn’s constant annoyances had hurt their dad’s health. His attention shifted to Ava and he wanted dinner to be over and for them to be able to go. He wanted her all to himself and it seemed far longer than just earlier today that they had last been together.

By the time dinner was over and they had visited for an hour, Wade felt they could leave. Goodbyes took time and finally he walked to Ava’s car with her. She slid behind the wheel to drive.

“I keep extra keys in my dad’s safe, locked away from Wynn,” Wade said when he was in the car. “So now I have my condo key and my car keys. The pickup that went into the canyon was one of my ranch vehicles. Let’s go to my place. That way I can get my car and I can entertain you.”

“Sounds like a deal. I can’t wait for you to entertain me,” she said in a sultry voice, her eyes on the road.

“You shouldn’t do that when you’re driving because answers like that, said the way you did, tend to cause me to want to put my hands on you and kiss you and I can’t while you drive.”

“That’ll just make you look forward to being home with me again,” she answered.

“Ava, I’ve been looking forward to getting home again with you since I stepped out of your car this afternoon. You can’t imagine how much I’ve thought about you since then.”

“We better change the drift of this conversation because I need to keep my attention on the road. You’re definitely distracting.”

“And you are definitely sexy and hot.”

Ava glanced his way for a second, then averted her eyes back to the road and sat up straighter. “You have a nice big family. Four kids is wonderful.”

“Three of us are and you’re changing the subject.”

She laughed. “Oh, yes, I am before I throw myself in your arms and wreck the car.”

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