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It was bad enough, Ranger thought sourly, that his twin was full of bad ideas and tomfoolery. Of course, it was all in the spirit of fun, under the guise of tricks, but he didn’t think it was a good idea for her to know any more tricks than she already did. Her repertoire was astonishing. Where did such a little spitfire learn so many sideways maneuvers?
Worse, he didn’t want Archer teaching her anything, card tricks notwithstanding. And he sure as hell didn’t like the repetitious, nerve-grinding, u
Those two were becoming way too close for his comfort. And they were having way too much fun, playing reindeer games in the back seat while he sat up here like a chauffeur. Ranger’s teeth ground together. That’s what it sounded like: reindeer games. Childish. Immature. His twin was leading Ha
“Don’t you think the two of you have played enough games?” he demanded. Cissy glanced up at him from the magazine she was reading, and he gave her a sidelong glance that was empty of the irritation he felt.
Ha
“Gotcha!” Ha
Archer looked at him. “Cool it, bro. We’re not bothering you.”
Oh, they were bothering him a lot. His gaze met Ha
No one else noticed, but that wasn’t the point. The woman was set on bothering him. She was going to make him pay for his remark about Cissy. He shouldn’t have said it, especially since he’d colored what happened between him and Cissy, but it was too late to take back his exploratory quest into Ha
And that naughty pink tongue drove him nuts.
“I’d offer to drive,” Archer said, his tone not serious at all, “but it’s more fun to sit back here with Ha
She gave Ranger one last pointed glare in the mirror before the sound of shuffling cards shredded his nerves.
Great. The two of them were having the time of their lives. And he sat up front with Cissy Kisserton, who really hadn’t sucked the lips off his face at all.
Ha
A burst of laughter erupted from his twin, and Ranger decided enough was enough. “I think I’ll take a break here. Give everybody a chance to stretch.” He pulled the truck alongside a historical marker, well off the highway. The road’s shoulder was thin, and below, a beautiful canyon stretched as far as he could see, dry and majestic and peaceful. Ranger felt his brain start to compress to a normal size. He took a deep breath, determining that he could forgive his twin anything. He smiled at Cissy, who had so far borne her seatmate’s bad temper without complaining.
He could even feel more jovial toward Ha
Ha
“I’m best at strip poker,” she told him.
He choked on his beer. It went down hard on his Adam’s apple, making him mad all over again. “Strip poker! Ha
He had to admit she’d janked him pretty good.
Well, he could jank a pretty mean chain himself. “Strip poker? Go right ahead. Deal me in, lady.”
I’ll just love seeing you lose.
Chapter Three
“I don’t think so,” Ha
Archer shrugged and joined her. “Guess I’m not in the mood, either. Maybe after a few more hours on the road.”
Cissy grabbed her beer and slid into the front seat. Ranger glared after the three of them. “Now, look,” he said. “All of you are riding in my truck, on my gas money. Archer, you’re a stowaway, and you ladies are hitchhikers. That means I get to call some of the shots.” The good mood he’d tried to work himself into was totally, completely gone.
Archer pushed his hat back. “Okay, boss. What do you want us to do, besides play cards? We’re happy to earn our keep somehow. I’ll chip in the gas money for me and the gals. How’s that?”
Ranger liked that even less. “The gas money isn’t the point.”
“What is, then?” Ha
Like Ha
It hurt to be misunderstood. And he just didn’t want to say out loud what he really felt.
But he was going to have to do it. Somehow.
“I think it would be best if you and Cissy changed places,” he primly told Archer.
“Why?” everyone asked at once.
Irritation spiked his brows. “Because it would just be best for the sake of propriety.”
Archer’s expression said Ranger had lost his case with that one. “You’re begi
Ha
Sex with…Ha
“Have you always had mental problems?” she demanded. “I’ve never heard so much nonsense in my life. How can riding in the back seat have a lack of propriety about it?”
“I can’t see you clearly,” he complained.
“We’re not doing anything exciting,” Ha
Maybe the edge in her voice was only heard by him, but it told him everything he needed to know. She’d been jealous of him and Cissy kissing, and now she was feeding him his own medicine with a large spoon.
Well, two could play at that game. “Never mind,” he said cheerfully. “Miss Cissy, let me help you into the seat. Comfortable? Did I tell you how much I like you in those jeans? No girl wears jeans like you do.”