Page 36 of In Bed with the Rancher

“Next time, let me drive. I’ve developed the knack of driving and talking at the same time,” he answered, amused, excited to be with her and aware his condo was closer than her house. He couldn’t wait to get there.

“What part of what I said do you not get?”

He smirked, though he knew she couldn’t see it. “I can’t help it. You are sexy and hot.”

“Stop,” she said, smiling, but keeping her attention on the road ahead and city traffic. “How many more blocks to your place?”

“About another couple of miles. Want me to drive?”

“No, I don’t. Your twin seemed charming tonight.”

“Oh, he can be, especially to a beautiful, sexy woman. He can turn it on whenever he wants. He keeps on Mom’s good side and she adores him. Believe me, you’ll always see his good side.”

“I’ve seen identical twins before and I could tell them apart, but I can’t with the two of you. I can see how he gets away impersonating you—except you have a scar on your left hand.”

“Didn’t you see a band aid on his hand?”

“Yes, I did. I figured he cut himself.”

“And that’s what he would tell you, but underneath that band aid is no cut and no scar. He wears that so women who know me and know I have the scar think he has a cut where the scar is. He’s devious and he’s an actor. In high school he constantly passed himself off as me with girls I dated and only a few of them ever caught on. But he won’t be able to do it so easily anymore.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

“If you ever wonder if you’re really with me, ask to look at my shoulder. Molly said I’m going to have a scar. And Wynn isn’t going to be able to do anything to match the way I’ve got my shoulder scarred.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she teased him.

Wade continued looking out the window. “I recognize everything. Molly was right. My memory came back and it seems to be all there. All this is familiar like I never had a problem.”

“I’m glad.”

He turned to gaze at her. “Best of all, I can fully remember last night with you.”

“I’m not even going to answer that and then you’ll have to stop.”

“That’s okay if you don’t join in my conversation. I’ll just tell you about last night and how we showered together and—”

“If I wreck the car, you’ll be sorry.”

He laughed, enjoying teasing her and talking about sex. “You won’t wreck the car. You’re concentrating while I’m remembering the moments, holding you, kissing you—”

She began to sing softly and he laughed. Then he remained quiet because they were almost to his condo, six blocks off the busy highway.

He had a private entrance and the minute the door closed behind them, he turned to wrap his arms around her. He looked into her big blue eyes and felt his heartbeat race. “Finally, you’re here and I can kiss you,” he whispered. “I’ve waited forever for this moment.”

* * *

Ava shivered as his gaze held hers and she could see his intent in his expression. She shrugged the strap to her purse off her shoulder and let it fall to the floor. There was only the soft light in the entryway, but she was oblivious of everything except Wade, who looked so incredibly handsome tonight.

Her heart pounded in eager anticipation as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him in return, forgetting everything else.

He crushed her against him, kissing her passionately. She trembled with wanting him, feeling as much urgency as he seemed to feel. As he kissed her, his hands were at the zipper of her dress, slipping the zipper slowly down the back.

He raised his head for a moment and pushed away her dress. It fell in a heap around her feet. His muscled chest expanded as he took a deep breath, placed his hands on her waist and took a step back to look at her. While his gaze ran over her, she tingled with the need to kiss him again. “Wade,” she whispered, tugging his forearms lightly.

Instead of reaching for her, he undid two buttons on his shirt and yanked it over his head to toss it aside.

Then he turned his attention to her remaining clothing. He unfastened her bra and dropped it. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered as he pushed down her lacy panties so she could step out of them.

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