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  He had wanted them to share his room but felt it was too soon. She needed time to get used to them being a couple. Although she showed no signs of any underlying illness, he wouldn’t take chances. In view of the fact that she couldn’t remember anything about her life, he had to be careful.

  Seeing her obvious enjoyment and excitement at being at the ranch again, he decided to postpone telling her about Haley. She looked so happy that it would be cruel telling her his ex-girlfriend claimed that she was carrying his baby. He would take one day at a time.

  The problem would come from Haley’s incessant need to reach him. He had told her about Sandy’s memory loss and the fact that he couldn’t leave her yet.

  “But I need you, too, Seth. I understand that you have to be with her as a result of her injuries, but I also need you by my side. I’m beginning to develop pregnancy symptoms which have me all emotional.” She had hicupped on the phone and he had gritted his teeth to stop himself from saying anything curt to her.

  There was no doubt in his mind that she was playacting. After all, she had deceived him before. The sweet-natured woman he had fallen in love with years ago was no longer in existence. Unfortunately, he hadn’t come to that realization until he was too late.

  Pushing thoughts of his ex-girlfriend from his mind, he focused on his woman. Malcolm chose that moment to come out of the house. He bounded down the porch steps to wrap his arms around Sandy.

  “I’m so glad you’re fine, Sands,” he said when he pulled away.

  “Thanks, Mally.”

  Seth rolled his eyes at the nicknames Sandy and his brother had given each other.

  Sandy introduced her aunt to his brother and they all went into the house.

  Seth tried to gauge Sandy’s reaction to the fact that they wouldn’t be sharing a room. Her eyes widened a little and then she said it was fine.

  Seth quickly placed her bag in the room and exited before she came in. Being alone in a room with her would be too tempting for him to resist.

  Malcolm had prepared lunch before their arrival. They had a nice time sharing the meal and talking. Seth showed Aunt Karen the ranch and then it was time for her to leave.

  When he dropped her off at the diner, she gazed intently at him and said, “Remember your promise.”

  He simply nodded, smiled at her and drove away.

  Chapter 6

  The aroma of coffee, bacon and eggs tickled Sandy’s nose in her sleep and she smiled. Lifting her arms, she stretched on the bed like a cat and opened her eyes.

  Instantly, she recalled that she was no longer in the hospital and was now at Seth and Malcolm’s ranch. The empty space beside her on the bed gave her a little cause for concern.

  Last night, she had thought that Seth would make love to her, but after a steaming goodnight kiss, he had pulled away and left her alone in the room.

  She had ached to call him back to ask him if anything was wrong. But afraid of looking too forward, she had decided he most likely thought that she needed to rest.

  Seth probably had no idea she was okay now and wouldn’t need to be treated like an invalid, which she guessed was his plan.

  Determined to have a talk with him, Sandy was rising from the bed when a soft knock sounded on the door and then it opened to admit Seth.

  Her breath seized in her chest when Seth came into the room looking quite dashing in a black shirt and blue jeans. His jet-black hair was pulled back and Sandy ached to run her fingers through the dark tresses.

  A smile tugged at his lips as he crossed the room and placed the tray he was carrying on the bedside table.

  “Good morning,” he cheerfully said and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. Headiness swept through her at the scent of his musky aftershave.

  Disappointed, she looked away and said, “Good morning.”

  “How are you feeling today?”

  She shrugged. If he was going to continue treating her like an invalid, she might as well go and stay with Aunt Karen. At least there, she wouldn’t see Seth and keep fantasizing about him making love to her.

  “Are you all right?”

  His softly asked question made her shift her gaze from the bed to him again. The love she read in his eyes had tears stinging in hers.

  If he loved her so much, why was he treating her like she had the plague or something?

  You have probably forgotten how protective he is. Seth undoubtedly thinks you’re still very weak.

  It was left to her to prove to him that she was fine. In fact, more than fine if she was thinking of him taking her to bed again.

  “I don’t know. You tell me.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  Something like alarm flashed in his eyes. She couldn’t be sure since it was gone in an instant.

  “What are you talking about?” he questioned in a guarded tone.

  She raised her hands and dropped them in frustration. “I don’t know what happened between the time of the accident and my waking up at the hospital but I feel something is terribly wrong.”

  His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  Licking her dry lips and staring pointedly at him, she answered, “I’ve noted how you keep your distance from me. You barely touch me. When you do, it’s very brief. Have I done anything wrong?”

  Was that relief she just read in his eyes? Why would her words give him relief? Perhaps he was waiting for her to say something about it first so he could change his attitude. Was actually her place to give him the go-ahead to touch her how much he liked? If that was the case, then she should have spoken sooner.

  Smiling, he sat beside her on the bed and took her hands. He kissed both of them before dropping one to cup her cheek.

  “Honey, you haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve been keeping my distance from you because I think you need to recuperate first. Anytime I touch you, it’s a struggle not to do more than that. And I don’t want to rush you.”

  Happiness flooded inside her. “I don’t mind being rushed. As a matter of fact, I’m more than ready to be rushed.”

  He chuckled. “I’m realizing that now, but honey, you left the hospital just yesterday.”

  “Because the doctors gave me a clean bill of health. I didn’t leave the hospital on my own accord. After examining me, the doctors felt I was well enough to go home. So, please stop treating me like an invalid or a Chinese doll.”

  Laughter rumbled from his throat and she marveled at the sound. She hadn’t heard it in a long while.

  “I didn’t realize that. I’m sorry.”

  Smiling, she replied, “You better be. Now kiss me properly.”

  “Your wish is my command,” he replied and gathered her into his arms.

  He crushed his lips against hers in a sensual kiss that left both of them gasping for breath.

  “Now that’s how you should kiss me good morning from now on,” she suggested cheekily.

  “Anything you say, my love.”

  “Do you think we could possibly do more than that right now?”

  His eyes widened in shock, causing her to blush fierily. Maybe one of the medications she was taking had her so horny, she didn’t understand what was going on with her. All she wanted was to be ensconced in Seth’s arms again as they made love.

  Biting her bottom lip and lowering her eyes, she explained quietly, “Ever since I woke up, I have ached for you to make love to me again.”

  He stiffened in her arms and her eyes darted to his. Anxiety filled his blue eyes. Sandy frowned. What was going on?

  “What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m just surprised that you remember us making love.”

  She sighed with relief. “For a moment there, I thought something dreadful happened.” A shy smile spanned across her face. “Yes, I remember.”

  Pulling away gently from her arms, he asked, “What else can you remember before the accident?”

  Although the question had been asked lightly, Sandy had noted a
n edge in his voice.

  She shrugged. “I remember us going back to my place to make love and then planning on coming back to the ranch for me to spend the weekend. I guess I must have tried crossing the road to get something then and got hit.”

  Seth’s eyes shielded and something began to nag at Sandy. She had been having that niggling feeling ever since she woke up in the hospital. Something told her that there was something she had to remember. Something about that day. But anytime she tried to recall, she always developed a headache so she left it alone. But now, she was beginning to wonder if Seth had told her everything that happened that day. With the way he was behaving, she had started thinking that something was up.

  “What about before that day? What else can you recall?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t remember much. Did something significant happen?”

  For a moment, he looked as if he was trying to decide if he should tell her something. Then he shook his head and sighed.

  “Nothing happened, Sandy. The doctor said that your mind has chosen to remember some things and leave some behind, but with time, you will remember all.”

  Sandy knew that wasn’t what Seth had been about to tell her. But she didn’t push it. The doctor had truly told her that she would remember a lot of things when she was good and ready. However, the nagging feeling remained.

  “Just now, I thought that maybe you wanted to say more,” she pointed out, regarding him with keen eyes.

  “I was merely concerned you might be working your mind too soon,” he explained and turned to the bedside table. “Your food is getting cold. One of the things I ached to do for you when you woke up was to serve you breakfast in bed. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be doing that right now.”

  His words dispelled any unease she felt at his change of topic. Her smile widened and she reached out to place a kiss on his lips.

  Sandy enjoyed the meal he had made for her and she fed him at intervals even though he mentioned that he wasn’t hungry. Then he lay down on the bed beside her. They stayed like that in companionable silence for a while. And then when Seth was about leaving to go and carry out his chores, Sandy just knew that she couldn’t let him go without kissing him. She could only hope that it would lead to other things.

  Her heart dropped when he pulled away as the kiss was getting pretty heated. He wasn’t interested in making love to her but she was having none of that.

  Swiftly, she got out of the bed and walked to the door. When she reached the door, she turned around to look at him. The ferocious hunger in his eyes told her that she was doing the right thing. Why was he denying himself and her? She turned the key in the keyhole.

  "What are you doing?" he asked with widened eyes.

  She had never seduced a man before, so she hoped she was doing it right when she swung her nightgown over her head and slowly walked towards him in only her panties.

  By the time she stood before him, her nightgown was on the floor and her nipples were rock hard.

  For a reason she couldn’t understand, he closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to blot out temptation from his sight.

  Seth shutting his eyes nearly made her to bolt with tears, but when she looked down, the unmistakable buldge was there, straining against his jeans. That gave her so much hope, she straddled him. Shock shone in his eyes when he opened them, and he parted his lips to say something but she took the opportunity to slide her tongue in between them.

  She wasn't usually this bold, and had been contented with him initiating the act while she participated fully; but desperate times called for desperate measures. She loved him to distraction and wanted to feel him inside her again.

  His hands shot out to grip her arms and he gently pushed her away. He wrenched his lips from hers. She stared dazedly at him with lust in the depth of her eyes.

  “I have to tell you something before we make love,” he rasped in a voice filled with passion.

  She regarded him with disbelief. “Like seriously? I don’t care what you have to say right now unless you want to tell me how you’re going to blow my mind.”

  His eyes enlarged as he held her at bay. Some seconds later, however, after he must have read the desire in her eyes, his tongue drove into hers with savage hunger.

  Something was different about him, but the sensations moving all over her body in triumph that he couldn't resist her caused her not to dwell on the thought. He plunged his tongue deeper and deeper into her mouth as if it was oxygen to him. She felt as if she was drowning in a sea of emotions.

  He broke off the highly erotic kiss and rose abruptly. He lifted her and placed her on the bed. She had never seen him this wild before and it increased her passion for him. His mouth descended on her rosy peaks with ferocity as his hands massaged her creamy folds. Her back arched and she whimpered. His hand found her hot and ready core and his fingers did wonders to her body.

  It registered in her brain that he was awfully quiet, but as his fingers went deeper into her tender flesh, all thoughts disappeared from her head except the yearning for completion.

  "Please, Seth. I need you now."

  He stiffened but that didn't stop her from undoing his belt and unzipping his jeans. She freed his throbbing flesh into her hands and stroked the hot, hard length of him. He tore her panties from her waist.

  She shivered as he settled himself between her legs. She spread her legs wider when his hands cupped her buttocks and lifted her to receive his rigid shaft.

  He grunted when he slid into her. "This is heaven," he finally said.

  Her hands linked around his neck and went into his hair and she incidentally noticed that he had left it to grow a little longer. He moved inside her and her head flung back, her teeth biting deep into her bottom lip as she felt she would die of pleasure.

  His rhythm became very fast as he drove into her again and again. The tempo increased as he pounded into her without mercy. Her buttocks moved on the bed as he continued driving into her with fevered intensity. Her hands became too weak to continue holding him; they fell to her sides and she gripped the sheets hard.

  A shout burst came forth from her lips as she reached an explosive climax. She lay back on the bed breathing heavily. After a few more hard thrusts, her lover found his own release.

  Breathing heavily as if he just ran a marathon, he gathered her boneless figure in his arms. He stepped out of his denim and fell on the bed beside her.

  "I can’t get enough of you," he huskily said, taking in heavy breaths.

  She shivered with delight.

  Over the next few days, Sandy felt like a queen. Seth treated her as if she were the only woman in the world and she basked in his attention. Even though something still nagged at the back of her mind, prompting her to try to remember, she pushed it away. Nothing would spoil the wonderful time she was having with Seth and Malcolm as well.

  She went riding around the ranch with Seth when she was strong enough to do so without getting tired. Although she sensed that Seth was holding back from her, she decided not to dwell on it.

  She was aware that the former Sandy, the Sandy before the accident, would have sought to find out what was wrong. But she didn’t want to take life seriously anymore. If it wasn’t for her aunt, she wouldn’t have allowed Seth into her life. And look how happy he made her.

  She was blissfully happy to be in love with Seth and to be loved in return. However, she began to wonder if she wasn’t being foolish by not trying to find out what was going on with Seth.

  There were times when he would leave her to answer phone calls outside. When she tackled him on it, he told her he didn’t want to disturb her since it had to do with business.

  Sandy thought it odd, but she decided not to make a big deal out of it. He went everywhere with her, driving her around town, never letting her out of his sight and she loved it. She thought it was very sweet of him to be so protective of her.

  Sandy finally got to understand why Seth had been going outside
to receive his calls, when a week after her departure from the hospital, she opened the door one afternoon and saw Jules standing on the other side of the door.

  She screamed and threw her arms around her friend, sobbing with joy.

  “Seth wanted it to be a surprise.”

  Sandy smiled through her tears. “It’s indeed a pleasant surprise,” she admitted and hugged her friend again before leaning behind her to place a kiss on Seth’s lips.

  “So, that’s what all the numerous secret phone calls were about, right?” She laughed and turned away, not catching the unease that pervaded his eyes.

  Sandy felt as if she would burst from happiness. Everything was going so well, she didn’t think anything could possibly ruin it.

  Chapter 7

  “Dammit, Haley, you’re getting on my last nerve. What do you want me to do about the situation? Leave Sandy to come be with you?” Seth snapped into the phone, almost reaching the end of his tether with his ex-girlfriend.

  “Yes. I expect you to come and be with the woman who is carrying your baby,” she shouted into the phone.

  “Correction. The woman who is allegedly carrying my baby!” he curtly told her.

  “Well, if you had come over like you promised over a week ago, it wouldn’t be a speculation, would it? You would have ascertained by now that I’m telling the truth.”

  “What truth, Haley? What truth? That all you want from me is to build your career and have the finest things in life?”

  “Why would you bring up such a thing, Seth?” She sobbed into the phone. “What must I do for you to forgive me for that slight mistake on my part?”

  “Did you just say slight? Haley, you shattered my heart with those words. Fortunately, Sandy came and mended it right back. And you expect me to leave someone who has shown me love unconditionally for someone who is more or less a gold digger?”

  A sharp gasp sounded across the line. Seth scratched his forehead at the drama he was sure to receive from his truthful words.

  “Well, excuse me! How do you know she isn’t a gold digger? Simply because she’s from that backwater of a town doesn’t mean she doesn’t have gold-digging aspirations.”