rise nearly a mile down the curvy driveway and couldn’t be seen from the road.
Although she’d been to the Ace in the Hole many times, she never lost her appreciation for the main home’s long, low profile with its white paint and expansive windows, placed to best enjoy the sweeping views. Chairs and a swing stretched along the broad wraparound porch. Against the dark sky she could almost make out two chimneys poking up from the roof.
Megan parked her car beside Will’s and walked beside him up the wide steps to the porch. A soft glow spilled through the side panels on either side of the center-set, double front doors. After her wedding to imposter Will, she’d been disappointed to learn he didn’t want to live at the ranch. She loved it out here. The wide-open spaces, the scent of rich soil and grass, and the intermittent lowing of the cattle from far off in the fields.
“You’re smiling,” Will said as he ushered her into the main living space. “That’s good.”
He didn’t ask her why as his gaze roved over her expression, but his curiosity was palpable. After gesturing to the couch, he crossed to the bar and poured shots of whiskey into cut-crystal tumblers for each of them.
Megan kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet beneath her. Propping her head on her hand, she observed his smooth, economical motions. Damn, she enjoyed looking at him. All broad shoulders, muscular thighs and rock-solid abs. Tonight he was dressed in jeans and a white button-down shirt. He wore his black hair longer these days and the untamed style gave him an edginess that Megan found exciting.
“I feel safe when I’m with you,” she explained, accepting a glass from Will and feeling a shivery tingle run up her arm as their fingers brushed. “And I like being here at the ranch.”
“Can we talk about what you did tonight?” He dropped beside her on the couch and cradled his glass in both hands, staring at it for several seconds as if searching for answers in the amber liquid. When his gaze switched to her, anxiety and respect warred in his electric green eyes. “You are incredibly brave.”
Heat suffused her from head to toe and she basked in Will’s admiration. “I can’t believe I shot him.”
“I’m sure he can’t believe it, either.”
“Do you think it will make him more or less determined to get to me?”
There was a significant pause before Will answered. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
His fervent declaration swept over her, igniting her blood. He sounded possessive, like she was his to protect. It made her want to curl up in his lap and show him just how much she liked the idea of belonging to him.
“I hope they find him soon,” she said. “I can’t wait for this nightmare to be over.”
“That makes two of us.” A lengthy pause followed his words during which they both sipped their drinks.
“You know, we should talk about what happens when Lowell gets caught.”
Her heart gave a little jump. “What do you mean?”
Despite what Megan had said earlier about answering whatever questions Will might have, she was nearing her last sip of whiskey and too drained to guard what she said.
“For now, while Lowell is still at large, the FBI wants us to act as if we’re married. But once he’s caught, we need to consider how to go forward. Legally, I mean.”
Megan knew what he was getting at, but how did she divorce someone she hadn’t actually married?
“Technically,” she began, “I married Will Sanders.”
Will’s lips twitched. “And he’s a lucky man.”
His playfulness gave her the courage to ask, “Are you wondering if I’m going to ask for alimony?”
He grew immediately somber. “I’m happy to pay you whatever you want.”
“I was kidding.” She frowned at him. “You don’t seriously think I expect financial remuneration.”
“I think you’re entitled to some sort of a settlement. After all, your entire life has been turned upside down because of Lowell pretending to be me. That makes me responsible for you.”
“That’s a terrible...” She didn’t want to insult him but his assumption that she should receive money from him annoyed her.
“Terrible what?”
“I’m not some gold digger who needs or expects to benefit from marrying you,” she huffed. “You might have a lot of money, but I’m not exactly destitute.” In fact, she was doing better than she’d ever imagined.
“Of course not, but legally—”
“Stop right there,” she said, throwing up her hands. “We are going to end up in our first argument if you keep on that way.”
Will’s quicksilver grin was back. “But think of the makeup sex we’ll get to enjoy afterward.”
To her horror, Megan’s cheeks went hot. So did other parts of her. The whiskey had dimmed whatever qualms she might’ve had about tearing off her clothes and throwing herself at him again. She shifted on the couch all too aware of the ache between her thighs.
“Then by all means,” she said, her voice sounding odd to her ears, “let’s get to it.”
They stared at each other in silence while Megan’s heart pounded so hard she couldn’t imagine how Will didn’t hear it. What would it take for them to come together in this moment? If she got to her feet and started unbuttoning her blouse, would Will stop her or meet her halfway?
Will blinked, breaking the spell. A grin slowly brightened his expression.
“You know,” he murmured huskily, “I’ve enjoyed being married to you.”
Disappointed that neither one of them had stepped up, Megan finished the last of her drink and held the empty glass to him. “It’s been nice being married to you, as well. I’ll have another, if you’re pouring.”
Will tipped the balance of his drink down his throat and got to his feet. Taking her glass, he crossed to the bar once again. For a moment there was only the sound of the top coming off the bottle and the splash of whiskey into the glasses.
“It was a pretty major shock to walk into my own funeral and realize I had a wife,” Will said, returning to the couch.
“I’m sure you had several major shocks that day.” Megan took the refilled glass and peered at the level. Had he given her a healthier dose this time? “Discovering you were dead, for example.”
“It’s weird, you know.” Will turned sideways on the couch and watched her through half-lidded eyes.
She surveyed his features, pondering the edgy intensity he sometimes displayed since returning to Royal. Where once he’d been easygoing and wholly confident, these days she sometimes glimpsed discontent. He wasn’t as perfect as he’d once been and that made him more human and less godlike. More like a man who might be interested in a woman like her with flaws and
