Will flashed back to the night of Jason’s memorial. Nothing about that encounter had been polite. It had been raw and emotional. Naked. Panting. Clinging to each other in an effort to feel alive amidst the day’s crushing sadness. Taking support and pleasure in each other’s arms. They’d needed connection and oblivion.

The trouble for Will was that he still needed her. In his bed. At his side. Making love with Megan had blown a hole in what Will believed he wanted in his life. Now he recognized that he wanted more. He just wasn’t sure she felt the same. Or that she ever would.

Will held on to her open door, preventing her from getting away. “You’re right. We haven’t talked much about the emotional ramifications of Rich taking over my life.”

He had dozens of questions bubbling in his brain, but with curiosity came caution. How many of her answers would tell a tale he didn’t want to hear?

“How about we drink a few shots and you can ask me anything with no repercussions?” she offered.

“I think that sounds like a great idea. We really should get to know each other better.”

“The feeling is mutual,” she said, her smile creating more confusion than clarity as she pulled her door out of his grasp.

* * *

On a dark patch of Main Street between two streetlights, Richard Lowell sat behind the wheel of a nondescript pickup truck and watched Will Sanders disappear into the sheriff’s office. Inside were dozens of people who had been actively seeking him for months and sitting here in the open like this was a grave risk to his freedom.

He shifted on the seat and pain blazed in his side where Megan had shot him. Before following her to the police station, he’d checked the damage and determined that the bullet had merely nicked him. It didn’t stop the graze from hurting like a son of a bitch, but he used the discomfort to fuel his determination.

Who would’ve guessed that his wife would’ve grown claws in the months since they parted ways? He’d never imagined she’d buy a gun to defend herself against him, much less use it. This turn of events meant he’d have to plan more carefully if he intended to take her with him across the border into Mexico. Or he could say screw it and take Vanessa with him instead.

The stripper was younger, prettier and more to his taste in bed. Not to mention she did whatever he asked. As long as he indulged her craving for designer fashions and fed her opiate habit, she’d be decent enough company. At least until he wearied of her.

So why wasn’t he putting the truck into gear and heading for Vanessa’s dumpy apartment? He was already weeks past when he should’ve collected the gold and gotten the hell out of town. To linger invited capture. In fact, he would’ve been long gone if Sanders hadn’t showed up at his funeral.

Rich hadn’t foreseen that development and would’ve given anything to see the expression on people’s faces that day. Of course, at the time Rich had been too pissed off to find any humor in the situation. And he still couldn’t believe Will hadn’t died in the explosion. Nor could he figure out where Will had been in the year since. He struck the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. It was just like that bastard to survive and make a triumphant return to Royal.

At least a dozen times in the last few months Rich had thought about going to the Ace in the Hole and finishing the job he’d started off the coast of Mexico. But the ranch security was more than a match for him. Instead, he had settled down to wait, knowing Will would eventually make a mistake. Only, he hadn’t. He remained frustratingly vigilant. Which was why Rich had decided to grab Megan, go after the gold and get the hell out of town.

But Megan refused to go and now Rich thought he knew why. Given the speed with which Will had showed up at the police station, no doubt she’d called him. Had Megan transferred her love to the real Will Sanders? The thought twisted in Rich’s gut like a knife. Should he be surprised? She’d confessed to having an unrequited crush on Will in high school. It was what had made it easy for Rich to seduce her.

As for why he’d decided to marry her when so many other women appealed to him more? Rich had noticed Will’s attraction to her, yet he’d never acted on it. He hadn’t been convinced by Will’s denials that there was anything to it and gotten a rush out of moving in on someone Will coveted but had never had. Even better, he liked the idea of destroying every good thing in Sanders’s life from his solid family relationships to his reputation as a businessman and community leader.

But the best part? After he’d finished dismantling Will’s life, he could collect his plundered millions and head somewhere tropical to live like a king for the rest of his days. Or that had been the plan before his dear old friend had turned up alive.

Now, with Will back in Royal, working behind the scenes to fix all the damage Rich had done, it wasn’t good enough that he had stolen millions from Spark Energy Solutions and the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Nope. His hatred ran so much deeper than that. It was about revenge. Payback. Taking what should have been his in the first place. Bottom line? Rich refused to allow Will to be happy. So he had been hanging around, looking for a way to cause the maximum amount of mayhem. Now, seeing his old buddy come to Megan’s rescue, he had an idea how to make Will pay.

Three

Megan smoothed her damp palms along her skirt and eased her foot off the gas as the brake lights on Will’s Land Rover flared ahead. They were nearing the road that led to the Ace in the Hole entry gates. Moments later, her Porsche followed Will’s luxury SUV onto the driveway.

Was coming here a huge mistake? Driving for half an hour had calmed Megan’s nerves and allowed her to think clearly instead of just react. When she’d agreed to Will’s suggestion that she spend the night at his ranch, she’d been anxious that Rich might show up at her house. Now, however, she had a whole new set of concerns to consider.

The last time she’d felt this vulnerable, she and Will had fallen upon each other with no thought to the consequences. She shuddered at the memory of his lips sliding over her skin and the way he’d filled her.

She cursed as an insistent ache began between her thighs. The craving to be possessed by him again consumed her. And this time it had nothing to do with grief or loss. The strength and confidence he exuded was like an aphrodisiac, turning her thoughts lusty and her impulses wanton.

Earlier she’d suggested they drink shots and get to know each other better. How shocked would he be to discover she’d made the offer while imagining herself pouring whiskey over his chiseled abs and licking the strong liquor off his skin?

Megan blew out a shaky breath as the wide iron gates, adorned with the ranch’s brand, slid aside, offering them passage to the road beyond. The enormous ranch house had been built on a 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 insecurities she worked hard to hide.

“What’s weird?” she echoed.

“That Lowell was able to step right into my life and nobody questioned it. Was he so much like me?”

“He was a poor man’s Will Sanders,” she said lightly. “Everyone remarked on the differences, but we all put it down to the accident.”

“Well, he must’ve done something right to get you to marry him.”

Megan considered what Will hadn’t asked and remembered that she’d agreed to open up. “Frankly, I was so thrilled that he—you—finally noticed me that I got sucked in.” Megan noticed Will’s surprise and forged ahead. With everything she’d been through tonight, why not take a chance and let Will know about her past crush on him? “Back in high school I would have given anything for you to smile at me, but you didn’t know I existed.”

“That’s not true. I knew.” He released a rough breath. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t ever smart enough to appreciate you. We’ve known each other for a long time, but I never wised up and took my shot.”

“I didn’t help you out any,” Megan said. “I was always so awkward around you. I guess it came from having such a huge crush on you when we were young and assuming you could never be attracted to me since I was such a tomboy back then.”

Will shook his head. “I don’t want you to think I wasn’t attracted to you. Then...or now. You are an intelligent, beautiful woman with drive and passion...and I find that extremely appealing.”

“That’s really nice of you to say—”

Will interrupted her with an impatient snort. “Why do you think Lowell picked you out of all the women in town to pursue?”

“I don’t know.”

When she’d first learned that she was married to an imposter, Megan had suspected Rich had zeroed in on her because she’d never really gotten over Will even though her heart had been broken when she’d heard that Will married Selena Jacobs in college. One thing about Rich, though, he was good at preying on vulnerable people and had probably decided her unrequited love made her an easy mark.

“He wanted my life,” Will continued. “Maybe he thought that should include a woman who I admired and lusted after.”

“You lusted after me?” Megan shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

“You can’t be serious. After what happened between us the night of Jason’s memorial service?”

“That was...” Oh, hell. What had it been? She knew what it had been for her. Had it been more than grief and a need to connect for him? “I just thought we were both upset and needing comfort.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Whenever I pay you a compliment, you wave it aside like you don’t believe I’m telling you the truth.”

“I do.” But in truth she had a hard time accepting his claim that before he’d gone on that fateful fishing trip, Will had noticed her. Seeing his doubt, she amended, “I want to.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“There’s a critical voice inside my head constantly telling me that I need to do better, work harder. It’s as if I can’t enjoy my success because it’s never enough.”

“If that’s because you’re constantly comparing yourself to Jason and Aaron, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. What you’ve built at Royals Shoes is fantastic and I know both your brothers are...were very proud of you.”

A spasm of pain crossed his features. Jason’s death had packed a double whammy for him. Not only had he loved Jason as a brother, but he also felt guilty that his friend had died at the hands of the imposter.

“I know that’s true,” Megan said, reaching out to cover Will’s hand with hers. “I guess I continue to be the product of two older brothers. Competitive older brothers. They rarely took it easy on me because I was a girl.”

“They should’ve cut you some slack. Not because you’re a girl, but because I know how they could be, and I’m sure they ganged up on you. That wouldn’t have been fair regardless of your gender.”

“It made me tough.” At least on the outside. “I’ve learned to smile through every meeting I’ve ever taken.”

“You don’t have to be strong for me. Or with me.” Will set his fingers beneath her chin and turned her face until their gazes met. “In fact, I like riding in on my white steed to rescue you.”

“Having you as my knight in shining armor sounds really nice,” she said, leaning the tiniest bit into his space, hoping he’d see that she really wanted him to kiss her.

“That’s good because I intend to be there if Lowell shows up again.” Will’s somber vow sent goose bumps chasing over Megan’s arms. His fingers stroked along her cheek, leaving tingles in their wake. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”

To her dismay, when the longed-for kiss came, Will’s lips brushed her forehead, not her mouth. She sighed at the contact, anyway, impressing a memory of the scent of his cologne and the softness of his breath against her skin.

“Now,” he said with a wry smile, “can we talk about the pistol with the pink grip?”

Megan rolled her eyes, accepting the ribbing but still feeling like she needed to explain herself. “I did my research and the gun had great reviews.”

“But it was pink.”

“It was the only one they had in stock and I wanted to get it as soon as possible.” She made a face at him. “And it did the trick. I shot Rich, didn’t I? Or, at least, I grazed him. In any case, I surprised him and that’s what enabled me to get away.”

“You did a stellar job defending yourself. No one could have done better. I just wish I’d been there to see his expression when you pulled out that gun and pointed it at him.”

“It was pretty funny,” she admitted. But her satisfaction was short-lived. “And most of the reason he was probably surprised was that I didn’t exactly stand up for myself during our marriage.”

“Why not?”

“I was afraid. What did it say that I couldn’t keep Will Sanders interested during the honeymoon stage of our marriage? And if I lost him...” She glanced away as she spoke, but Will reached out and touched her chin, guiding her head until their gazes met. The understanding in his eyes gave her the courage to finish her thought. “I would’ve been a big fat failure.”

“He should’ve been the one afraid of losing you. You’re worth a million Rich Lowells.”

Definitely Rich Lowell, but maybe not Will Sanders.

Initially, while pretending to be Will, Lowell had showered her with cheap phrases, praising her beauty, how she dressed, making a point to tell her how sexy she was. She’d been too besotted to notice that he only pointed out what was on the surface.

By contrast, Will saw beneath her skillfully applied makeup and designer fashions. He glimpsed her flaws and didn’t judge her for them. This allowed Megan to relax in his company and loosened her tongue.

“I’m sorry that I ever thought he was you.”

“I’m not.” And he sounded like he meant it. “We wouldn’t be married if that was the case.”

“We’re not really married.”

“Technically we are.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, neither speaking. Megan’s brain was scrambling for what to say next. A dozen replies reached her lips, but none passed. Each of them sounded too much like an easy, flippant retort.

But what if she put her cards on the table and he freaked? After all, he hadn’t chosen her as his wife while she had fallen in love with and married Will Sanders. Granted it had been the wrong Will, but she’d enjoyed plenty of time to think about what she did and didn’t want out of her marriage. And the truth was, after the fireworks of their courtship, marriage to Will’s imposter was a low point in her life.

“Did you love him?”

Megan regarded Will, trying to determine what was at the heart of this question. Was he wondering if she still loved him? The simple answer was no, but she hadn’t married Rich Lowell. She’d married Will Sanders. Or, at least, she’d thought she had.

“I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t love him,” she declared, still unsure what that said about her judgment.

Looking back she realized that Rich Lowell had been a poor man’s copy of Will, lacking depth, character and compassion. So what had attracted her to him? Had she loved the man or who she’d believed the man to be?

Megan had no good answer and that bothered her immensely. Would she ever be able to trust herself to make the right decision when it came to love?

A muscle jumped in Will’s jaw before he answered. “Of course.”

Was Megan fooling herself to think she detected the slightest hint of disappointment in his manner?

“I promised you the truth,” she said, “and saying that I loved him is a straightforward answer to a complicated situation.”

Will nodded. “I imagine you have all sorts of crazy mixed-up emotions when it comes to Lowell.”

Not just Lowell.

“Not when it comes to him.” Megan traced the pattern of the pillow she held on her lap. “Our marriage wasn’t all that great. He became a completely different person after the wedding.”

“How so?”

“When we first started dating, he was the most romantic man I’ve ever known. He sent me flowers and called just to say he missed me. I got swept off my feet.”

“Sounds like he was a better me than me,” Will said with a self-deprecating grin. “I’ve never worked that hard to get a woman to like me.”

“But you’re Will Sanders. I’m sure most of the women you date don’t require much encouragement to fall hard for you.”

“Why? Because I’m wealthy? And easy on the eyes?” The corners of his mouth kicked up, but Megan noticed a hardness around his eyes. He was pretending to poke fun at himself. Pretending his experiences over the last year hadn’t changed him.

“Don’t forget successful in everything you do. Every guy wants to be you. Women want to be with you.” Even as she spoke Megan realized he no longer took all those things for granted. How hard it must have been for him to come back from whatever he’d gone through in Mexico only to discover the man he’d thought was his good friend had betrayed him in every way possible. “And you’re a good man.”

“My psyche isn’t all that fragile,” he said and this time his irony appeared real. “You don’t have to assure me I’m okay.”

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