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?"
