Free Desiring the Enemy by Niecy Lavelle

to the city streets she was accustomed to. Every now and then Wade would surreptitiously glance her way. The wind was playing havoc with her curls, giving her a wild look that made him wonder how she’d look beneath him as he made love to her. He had caught a glimpse of that wild woman, and now he spent his nights wondering what it would have been like if Marla hadn’t come home that night. She looked sweet but was probably a lioness in bed, she had to be to make his uncle stray the way he had. The thought angered him but he decided to just put up with her this afternoon. This past week he had been able to avoid her, he would just have to continue to do so as much as possible. Marla would be leaving soon and he would be able to give up any pretense that this was just a simple houseguest.
    ***
         They got to the center of town and he led her to the main street. She noticed the antique and specialty shops, they were all so quaint. They went into a couple of shops, and although he was still aloof she sensed that he was becoming less tense around her. She even saw him smile a couple of times when she pointed out the odd bric-a-brac on display.
         After walking around a bit they stopped at a small café. As they waited for their order he tentatively began talking to her.
         “So, what brought you to town? When Uncle Stanley proposed that you come he started to tell me about your relationship troubles but the call got cut off before he could finish.”
         Jenna figured she might as well tell him, she was sure Stanley and Rose would fill him in eventually.
         “Well, the relationship ended at just about the same time that I was told I had to leave the house I was renting. Stanley figured that I could come down here until I could sort things out.”
         Wade was surprised to hear that. He assumed that she and Uncle Stanley were still seeing each other and learning that they were no longer together was welcome news indeed. He felt a sense of relief wash over him.
         “I guess that was for the best,” he said. Knowing that things had ended with his uncle made things much more palatable.
         Jenna nodded as she took a sip of the coffee the server had placed in front of her. She decided to change the subject and led him into much more benign territory.
         “Have you lived here all your life,” she asked, truly interested in his answer.
         “Yes I have. My father inherited the ranch and would still be working it if he hadn’t died so young.” Although his death had occurred when Wade was a young boy the memory was still painful.
         “I’m sorry to hear that.” Jenna didn’t know what else to say.
         “Yeah, it sucks to lose a parent. My mother took over and did okay, but as soon as I came of age she handed the reins to me. She was done with it and I was more than willing to take over. Then about ten years ago she passed away and Marla and I inherited the land. When Marla turned twenty-one she asked me to buy her out and I did. So in answer to your question, yes, I’ve lived here all my life.” Wade smiled as he realized that the simple question had elicited this drawn out explanation.
         When he smiled he looked like a mischievous little boy and Jenna had to resist the temptation to brush the hair away from his twinkling eyes.    
         “What about your parents?” he asked as the server laid down their plates.
         Jenna remembered that she had told him she had no family when she first arrived at the ranch.
         “I’m also all alone,” was all she said.
         Wade assumed that she had also lost her parents but found it difficult to speak about it so he dropped the subject.
          “I guess being on a horse farm is pretty different from what you’re used to in the big city,” he said instead.
         “Yes it is, but when I was growing up I would spend my summers visiting my Aunt Ruth.  The