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She disengaged her arm from his hand and took a step back. “I think you’re nice.”
He frowned. “Nice?”
“Yes, nice.” She shrugged. “I went for what I thought was nice before, and it got me nowhere. Not that I’m looking for a bad boy or anything. Just, I think you’re wanting to settle down, raise a family. I don’t know if I’m looking for that anymore, and seriously, you’re much younger than I am.”
He stood to his full height. “I’m twenty-seven.”
“And I’m thirty-four.”
His eyebrows rose. “You look much younger.”
“Thanks.”
He rushed on. “But I don’t care about that. We’re adults.” He hesitated as if debating his next words. “You say you’re not looking for a bad boy, but what if you’ve found one? What if he hurts you, really hurts you?”
“That’s enough, Jerry!”
They both whirled to see Ryan standing there. Keena froze, not a little shaken by the rage she saw in Ryan’s face. It seemed too coincidental to Jerry’s words of what if her lover hurt her. She wanted to ask him what he meant, but not with Ryan here. Ryan had always seemed calm, his emotions controlled. Had the story about Anne leaving him because of an injury she saw no evidence of all been a lie? Had he hurt her in some way? She didn’t want to believe that.
“Don’t you have work to do?” Ryan asked Jerry.
Jerry glanced toward the setting sun. “I’m finished for the day.”
“Then you have an early start tomorrow,” Ryan insisted.
For a minute, Keena thought he would resist the obvious dismissal Ryan hinted at, but his shoulders sagged, and he nodded. “Yeah, I do have to be up early. Keena, I enjoyed our time together. Please think about my offer, and I’ll give you my number before you leave so we can get together.”
He cast a defiant look in Ryan’s direction and stomped off. Ryan waited until his employee was out of sight before he closed the space between Keena and himself and grasped her around the waist. She gasped when he dragged her roughly toward him.
“What was that about? What offer did he make you?” he demanded.
Keena frowned. “If you stop manhandling me, I might tell you.”
They stared into each other’s eyes for a few beats, and then Ryan eased his hold but didn’t move his hands from her sides. “I’m sorry. I know he likes you, and I don’t like it.”
She rolled her eyes. “You mean you know he likes me, and it makes you nervous that he will tell me your secret.”
That startled him, she thought. He went still like a statue, not seeming to breathe.
“What did he say, Keena? Tell me.”
She thought about lying, but what was the point? Ryan had some deep, dark secret, and from the looks of things, she’d do better to pack up her things and get the heck back home while her heart wasn’t in danger—at least while she didn’t think it was in danger. When she said nothing, Ryan stroked her sides and leaned down to kiss her. He had decided on charm, she figured.
He smelled good, felt good, and being in his strong arms, listening to the sweet words he spoke in her ears, how could she walk away before it was time? She wanted to absorb everything he offered, to ride with him, and talk to him. But maybe being here on this ranch was a dream, one soon to end, and the real world, her students, and the city awaited her.
“He wants me to meet him at his parents’ farm in Pennsylvania. You’re right. He likes me, but I’m not interested.”
“Good.”
Ryan ran his hands down over her ass and lifted her into him. His hard-on made her wet for more. He licked her neck, breathed deep against her skin. A shudder went through him, and he pushed her back, almost knocking her off her feet. With his heavy hands on her shoulders, he steadied her.
Keena stared at him, trying to figure out his odd mood. “What is it?”
“I’ve been thinking about how we can continue for a while. I have something I have to do tonight. Will you wait for me?”
She nodded. “Of course. I always do.”
He grinned. “Okay, I won’t kiss you again or hold you, else I won’t leave. I’ll be back. Stay away from Jerry. Got it?”
