In Bed with the Rancher

by Sara Orwig

  Wynn paused as he looked around and shook his head. “I don’t remember one thing here. I’m not even sure I like it.”

  “Maybe you’ll feel differently after you’ve been here a while.”

  He looked around and turned to her to place his hands on her shoulders. “The only thing that looks familiar in here is you. Come here. It’s been a long time since we left your place and all I could think about most of the time was getting somewhere alone with you so I can kiss you.”

  He reached for her and she placed her hand on his chest to push lightly. “Whoa. One kiss only, because you don’t have a lot of time. We need to allow thirty minutes to get to your parents’ house. You told them you’d be there at five.”

  “We’re wasting some valuable minutes here,” he whispered, sliding his arm around her waist to draw her to him and kiss her. With every kiss now, she thought it was a goodbye, but then he found a time and place where they could kiss again. The real goodbye was coming tonight or tomorrow, she was certain. She stopped thinking about it because while his mouth was on hers she couldn’t think about anything except his kiss.

  While her heart raced, she pushed slightly and looked up at him. “You’ll be late getting to your parents’ for their family dinner for you tonight. You said you wanted to shower.”

  “Yeah. Want to join me?”

  “You’d never get there for dinner,” she answered, shaking her head.

  “Okay. I’ll go and I’ll hurry. I don’t even know where the shower is.”

  “You’re a big boy. You’ll find it,” she said, turning to walk to the glass doors that opened onto a balcony.

  She heard his boots as he crossed the room and then she was alone. She walked across the spacious room, saw an open door and walked into a large bedroom with black-and-white decor and an oversize bed with a mirror above the bed. She walked over to a glass table with steel legs. A picture in a silver frame was on the table and she picked it up to look at Wynn and a gorgeous blonde smiling into the camera. His arm was around the woman and she had her hand on his knee and was leaning against him. Her black dress was elegant and looked expensive.

  Ava put the picture back. Looking at the picture, she hurt inside, even though common sense made her question if there was a woman in his life.

  She glanced around and walked out onto the balcony to look at Dallas spread below, but her thoughts were on Wynn and how tonight might be goodbye.

  “I’m ready to go to my folks’ house,” he said, stepping out on the balcony minutes later, and her heart thudded. His black eye was gone and his bruises had almost faded away. His thick black hair was neatly combed. He wore a crisp white dress shirt, open at the throat, gold cuff links in French cuffs, navy slacks and his same boots, and if she had thought he was handsome before, it was nothing to the way he looked now. Her heart raced and she wanted to touch and kiss him and just look at him.

  “Wow, do you clean up good.”

  “Dang. Now I really do want to call them and tell them I can’t get there until tomorrow night.”

  Laughing, she took his arm. “No, you don’t. No telling what they’ve been doing to get ready for your homecoming. Come on, handsome man, let’s go. The sooner you go, maybe the sooner you’ll get home.”

  “Yeah, right. I’m sure not the rancher brother—there isn’t a pair of boots in that whole big closet that is filled with clothes. I don’t know where or how I got these. I have to tell you, my taste in clothing must have changed with this bump on my head because there are some flashy clothes in that closet that I can’t imagine wearing.”

  She laughed. “On you, I’m sure anything would look good, you handsome devil,” she teased.

  “I really would like to cancel tonight and go see your house and bedroom and shower.”

  “Maybe we can work that in later or tomorrow,” she said lightly, but she hurt because she thought of the beautiful woman in the picture with him. She could easily be at his parents’ home, waiting for his arrival.

  As they rode down in the elevator, Ava couldn’t keep from looking at him. He still had the shadow of short whiskers on his jaws and chin and the look in his dark eyes made her pulse continue to race.

  “I can take my car and use the GPS.”

  “When you can’t remember you parents, I don’t think I should let you go on your own. I’ll take you this time and I’ll be happy to pick you up and take you back to my place or yours,” she said, turning to smile at him.

  “Oh, baby, I want to turn around now.”

  “No, your family is waiting. Let’s go.”

  She drove to an older part of Dallas, where homes were mansions, set back from the street with landscaped yards, tall shade trees and well-tended beds of blooming flowers in the warm Texas fall.

  “I’d like you to meet my family. Have dinner with me and my family tonight.”

  She wanted to say yes, but she didn’t think she should. “Thank you. That’s nice, but you’re going home to your family and you don’t know what you’ll find. Your memory hasn’t returned. You reacquaint yourself with your family. You may have a girlfriend here tonight waiting to see you and that could be awkward if I’m with you.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’ll be with you later tonight. By then I’ll know my family and any friends they have join us tonight.”

  “Maybe seeing where you grew up and your family will begin to trigger memories.”

  “If it doesn’t, I’ll be sharing my time between a doctor’s office and a home with a bunch of strangers who are my family. I don’t even know what kind of work I do.”

  “I suspect you don’t have to worry about it too much.”

  His family home had a circular drive and she took him to the porch steps of a sprawling three-story mansion with a wide front porch that had white Doric columns.

  “Well, here’s your parents’ house,” she said. “Your childhood home, from what we could learn.”

  While he unbuckled his seatbelt, he looked intently at her and her heart beat faster. Slipping his hand behind her neck, he drew her closer while he leaned toward her and his gaze went to her mouth.

  The minute his mouth covered hers, her heart thudded. She closed her eyes and kissed him in return, slipping her hand to the back of his neck. It was a long, breathtaking kiss that made her heart pound and made this parting hurt more.

  When he sat back, he looked at her solemnly and she wondered what he was thinking.

  “Go get reacquainted with your family.”

  He glanced over his shoulder at his childhood home. “I’d feel a whole lot better about getting out of this car if you would agree to go out with me tomorrow.”

  She had to smile at that. “Why don’t we discuss that when I pick you up tonight?”

  “Tomorrow I’ll have money, sweetie, and I can take you out to eat at the fanciest place we can find.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “Just go find out about yourself.”

  “Okay,” he said, smiling at her. She reminded herself he had no idea who was waiting in that big house for him. He’d had no past, no ties, and that was about to change completely and she could get a call from him later today canceling tomorrow’s plans and telling her goodbye. She wasn’t going to think about that until it happened.

  “I can’t wait for later,” he said, giving her a look that made her tingle.

  “Call me. You have my number.”

  He nodded. “Well, I hope I recognize my family and I hope this jogs my memory.” He stepped out of her car, closed the door and went up the steps to ring the bell.

  She drove away slowly, but looked in her rearview mirror as she went down the circle drive. He was standing at the door and she saw it open and a man greeted him as he stepped inside.

  Hurting, she wondered if she had just kissed him goodbye.
<
br />   Seven

  Wynn stood on the porch and punched a button, hearing chimes play inside, and then a butler opened the door. “Ah, Mr. Wynn, welcome home. We were so happy to hear you’re safe.”

  “Safe, but without any memory, so tell me your name. I don’t even remember the house,” he said, looking around. But as he studied the surroundings, he had a flash of memory. Walking into this entryway and hall and bringing a woman to dinner with him.

  “Oh, my, they told me about your memory loss. I’m George Bolton, the butler. Let me show you to the great room and I’ll tell your mother you’re here. She and your younger brother, Jack, are home right now. Your sister, Lucy, isn’t home yet, nor your dad. He gets in later tonight.”

  “His sister is home now, George,” a cheerful voice said, and he looked down the hall to see a willowy, black-haired woman striding toward him.

  “Lucy,” he said, a memory coming of catching her when she fell off a horse when they were kids. And then another memory of her running to him when he set a high-school record as quarterback of the football team. And even though George told him, he remembered her name. “Lucy,” he said again with more enthusiasm. She was the first person since the blow to his head that he recognized, and he was thrilled.

  Relief filled him, along with a warm feeling for his younger sister. He was certain he had always been close to her. He started to hug her, but when he reached out, she shook his hand.

  “Welcome home, Wynn,” she said solemnly and he stopped, feeling surprised. She didn’t really sound happy to see him. He shook her hand carefully and she turned away. “I’m going to my room. I’ll see you downstairs at dinner.”

  “I’ll tell your mother that you’re here,” George repeated and left, walking out behind Lucy.

  Wynn looked at his sister walking up the stairs. What kind of dynamic did they have? Her cool greeting indicated she didn’t like him, yet his memories of her were so positive. His reactions when he first saw her were warm and friendly. He wished he could tell all this to Ava. Ava was a good listener, with good ideas and clear thinking. Thinking about her, he felt a pang. He already missed her and that startled him. In spite of their intimacy, he barely knew her. And yet, because of their intimacy, she was on his mind a lot.

  Now he was beginning to remember his life. Seeing his family and childhood home must have triggered the memories that were coming back to him full force. Relief that he remembered his life was overwhelming and he felt a rush of joy.

  After Ava had pulled him out of that canyon in the storm, he hadn’t had a clue about anything in his life or who he was. Ava had been the solid rock that had stabilized him, helped him, gotten a nurse for him and given him reassurance and hope. And then given him the sexiest night of his life. He wanted to be with her right now. That surprised him because he had just left her.

  Thinking about her made him want her that much more. He wanted Ava in his arms, in his bed tonight. Making love to her was a recent memory and he had full recollection of every moment of that night. Total recall of how soft she was. How sexy she was. How fantastic she was in bed. No faded memories there. He was certain there had been women in his past, but he couldn’t imagine any as sexy as Ava. Or as good a friend, even though they had known each other only a few days.

  Was he in love?

  That thought jolted him. He hadn’t known her long enough to be in love. Suddenly another memory came. He didn’t want to marry and he didn’t want kids. He was as certain of that as he was that Ava had saved his life. And his reason for not wanting kids? He didn’t want them because they might be like his brother. They might be like Wynn. They might be like his brother Wynn.

  He ran his hand over the back of his neck as that thought struck him. His brother Wynn. “Damn,” he said aloud, still standing in the hall by himself. His brother was Wynn. He was Wade. He closed his eyes as memories filled his mind.

  “I have a ranch,” he whispered. “I’m a rancher, just like Gerald said.” And then he remembered his brother was a troublemaker in a lot of ways. And Wynn wasn’t a rancher. He hated ranching.

  “Damn.” He was Wade Sterling, and he wasn’t surprised because he realized now that his brother had been impersonating him. And he remembered it wasn’t the first time.

  Memories tumbled through his brain. Wynn had done that over and over through the years. Wade felt certain of little snippets of memories, of fighting with Wynn because he had gone out with Wade’s girlfriend in high school and told her he was Wade.

  And now he remembered that he never wanted to marry and never wanted kids because they might be like his brother. Their dad had had his first stroke when he was fifty-two. Wade thought that was young and he blamed Wynn for causing their dad so many worries. He could remember all of that now. His whole life was coming back to him, pouring back in a rush.

  Relief, joy and a huge longing to tell Ava filled him. He wanted to call Ava, so he just gave in to it.

  She picked up on the second ring. “Wynn?”

  “Ava, I need to talk to you.” Without waiting for her response, he launched into the reason for his call. “My memory is coming back.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful!” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Molly said it would.”

  “Maybe the house triggered it. I don’t know. But, Ava, I have a lot to tell you.”

  “I can’t wait,” she said breathlessly and he wondered if she was thinking about their kisses and making love. He hoped so, because he was.

  “I’m not staying here tonight. I’ll get a car and get back to your house.”

  “Just call me and I’ll come pick you up.”

  “We’ll see. Ava, I’m not Wynn.”

  “What do you mean? What are you saying?”

  “I’m Wade Sterling.”

  “Wade? The other twin?” She sounded incredulous. “But didn’t you say that your twin was on television and he said he was Wade Sterling?”

  “That’s right. My brother has a warped sense of humor and we don’t get along very well.”

  “Mercy,” she said on a gasp. “You do have a lot to tell me later.”

  “Okay. Talk to you then.” Before she could disconnect the call, he quickly added, “Hey, Ava, I miss you.”

  “I miss you,” she said softly. “Really miss you,” she repeated with a breathlessness that made him ache to hold her.

  “I’ll see you later,” he said, then ended the call and put his phone in his pocket. He took a deep breath and stretched, relishing his memories of holding and kissing her last night.

  He stood looking at the house, recalling more moments. He was Wade and his brother was Wynn. And his brother had periodically taken his place, not just in high school, but all through their lives. And he’d done it successfully. Wynn had been in all the school plays and was a good actor. As the years went by, he got better at acting and passed himself off as Wade.

  “I’m Wade Sterling,” he repeated. He thought back to the storm, to going off the highway in a flash flood, his pickup tumbling into the canyon. And he remembered...

  “Olivia.” He whispered the name. He’d been about to break up with her when all this happened to him. They moved in the same circles, but he had lost interest in her and he felt it was mutual. She seemed as ready to part as he was.

  More recollections came back to him. He remembered he liked his younger sister, Lucy, and she had always liked him. The same with his younger brother, Jack. Along with Wade, Lucy and Jack had fought with Wynn all their lives. Now he knew why Lucy had been so cool toward him—she had thought he was Wynn.

  And then he remembered he and his cousins, Luke, Cal and Jake had contributed money to build a new arena in Fort Worth. The arena construction was complete, but they needed to plan a grand opening. He needed to call his cousins.

  Suddenly his mom came rushing in and hugged him. “Wynn, I’m so glad t
o see you. My darling Wynn, I’ve been so worried about you. Dad and I have worried and hoped you’d get home okay. I thought you were going to see your friends in Nashville, so I thought you were safe and Wade was home with us.” She hugged him. “My precious baby.”

  Wade had to laugh as he looked down at her. Her hair was a mass of black curls and her brown eyes weren’t dark like his. He recognized the familiar perfume she always wore, year in and year out. “Mom, slow down. I’m fine. I’m home and I’m Wade.”

  “Oh, darling, you can’t remember who you are. George told me you said you lost your memory. You’re Wynn. Wade has been home in Dallas with us.”

  “Mom, I know you can tell us apart if you really look at us. Look at me.”

  She leaned away and stepped back. She put her hand against her cheek. “Oh, my heavens, you’re Wade.” He smiled.

  “Oh, that naughty boy. Your brother just can’t stop his pranks,” she said, laughing. “None of us even noticed. We all thought he was you. He copies you well. Well, you’re home and fine, so don’t be mad at him and his games. I’m sorry you got caught in that terrible storm. Would you like a drink before dinner? The others will be here shortly. George told me Lucy just got here.” She frowned. “Oh, dear, if you’re Wade, and you are, Olivia is coming with Wynn.” She patted his arm. “Now don’t get angry with your twin. He likes his little jokes and no one was hurt. You didn’t even know that he’s been telling us he’s you until you arrived here, did you?”

  “No, Mom, I didn’t know about Wynn’s little joke.” He didn’t hide his sarcastic tone.

  “Be nice, Wade. We’ll have a party tonight.”

  “Mom, the woman who saved me and got me out of that canyon in a terrible storm lives here in Dallas. Actually not too far away. She saved my life. I’d like to invite her to dinner tonight and let the family meet her.”