Page 4 of The Rancher’s Wedding Betrayal (Billionaires of Evergreen, Texas #17)

A CERTAIN PART OF EVE'S body was still pleasantly (shamefully) thrumming when she woke up the next day, and memories from last night instantly flooded her mind even before she could open her eyes.

The feel of Hunter’s mouth on hers, his hands possessively gripping her hips, and her former stepbrother saying...

You’re mine now.

Eve shuddered, but she wasn't sure if it was out of fear or excitement. What exactly had she gotten herself into? This was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, a business arrangement with clear boundaries.

But last night had obliterated those boundaries completely.

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts, followed by Cathy's voice. "Breakfast is ready, Ms. Ramirez."

“Thank you, Cathy. I’ll be right down.”

Eve dressed quickly in jeans and a simple blouse, wondering how to face Hunter after what had happened between them. Would he be different? Would he expect more? Would he pretend nothing had changed?

When she made her way downstairs, she found the dining room empty save for a place setting and a covered plate. No Hunter.

“He left for the stables about an hour ago,” Cathy informed her, appearing with a fresh pot of coffee. “Said he had some business to attend to.”

“Oh.” Eve couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice.

“That man’s always working,” Cathy said with a hint of disapproval. “Been that way since he was a boy.”

Eve nodded, picking at her breakfast. “I think I’ll explore the ranch a bit today. Get reacquainted.”

“Just be careful around the south paddock. They’re breaking in a new stallion.”

After breakfast, Eve wandered the grounds, and more memories flooded back with each familiar landmark. The sprawling Ferguson ranch hadn’t changed much in eight years. Same rolling hills, same weathered fences, same massive oak tree where she used to sit and read during lazy summer afternoons.

She found herself drawn to the stables, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hunter. As she approached, she heard familiar voices and slowed her steps.

“Looking good, Braxton. You’ve done wonders with her.”

Eve peered around the corner to see Hunter inspecting a beautiful chestnut mare, Matt Braxton standing proudly beside him.

“Thanks, boss. She’s got great bloodlines.”

Hunter nodded, his focus entirely on the horse. He hadn’t noticed Eve yet, and she couldn't resist the urge to stare at him. Beautiful and powerful like always, just like his favorite stallion Midnight. But also terribly self-contained, which, come to think of it, was also just like Midnight.

Last night, he’d been passionate, almost desperate in his need for her. Today, he looked completely composed, as if nothing monumental had happened between them.

Matt glanced up and spotted her. His face lit up with a smile. “Morning, Eve!"

Hunter’s head snapped up, his silver eyes locking with hers. For a brief moment, something flashed in them before it was carefully shuttered away behind a mask of cool indifference.

Eve tried to act casual as she stepped forward, not wanting either man to figure out she had spent the last thirty seconds fantasizing about Hunter. "Morning."

She turned to Hunter, about to greet him as well, but he was already busy giving another set of instructions to Matt.

"Make sure those new bridles get delivered to the training arena. I want to try them this afternoon.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Matt headed toward the tack room, Eve found herself alone with Hunter, an awkward silence stretching between them.

“The, um, the ranch looks good,” she ventured.

“It’s profitable.” His reply was clipped, his attention still on the mare’s foreleg.

Eve fought back a surge of irritation. What game was he playing? Last night he couldn’t keep his hands off her, and today he could barely look at her?

“Well, I won’t keep you from your work,” she said, unable to keep a hint of frost from her voice. “Clearly you’re busy.”

That got his attention. He straightened, finally meeting her eyes. “There’s a lot to do around here, Evelline.”

“Of course. And I wouldn’t want to distract you.” She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.

“Have dinner with me tonight. In the main house.”

It wasn’t a request. Eve raised an eyebrow. “Is that an order, Mr. Ferguson?”

Something darkened in his gaze. “Seven o’clock.”

Without waiting for her response, he returned to examining the horse, effectively dismissing her.

Eve left the stables, frustration bubbling in her chest. The man was impossible! Hot one minute, cold the next. If this was what marriage to Hunter Ferguson would be like, she was in for a rocky year.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY , Eve kept busy exploring the ranch, reacquainting herself with its rhythms and routines. She visited the kitchen gardens, chatted with the housekeeping staff, and even spent some time in the ranch office, organizing files that had been neglected.

Occasionally, she’d spot Hunter in the distance, directing workers, inspecting fences, talking on his phone. Not once did he seek her out or acknowledge her presence.

By late afternoon, her irritation had hardened into resolve. If he wanted to pretend last night never happened, fine. Two could play that game.

When seven o’clock approached, Eve remained in her room, dressed in comfortable pajama shorts and an oversized t-shirt. A soft knock came at her door.

“Evelline?” Cathy called. “Dinner is served.”

“Please tell Mr. Ferguson I have a migraine,” Eve replied, injecting just the right amount of regret into her voice. “I’ll be staying in my room tonight.”

There was a pause. “I’ll let him know.”

Eve smiled to herself as she heard Cathy’s retreating footsteps. She’d ordered a sandwich from the kitchen earlier, anticipating this moment. It sat on her bedside table now, along with a glass of lemonade and a novel she’d found in the ranch’s small library.

Downstairs, Hunter sat at the massive dining table, staring at Evelline's empty place setting.

“Ms. Ramirez says she has a migraine,” Cathy informed him, placing a bowl of soup in front of him. “She’ll be staying in her room tonight.”

Hunter nearly said “bullshit” but caught himself in time, knowing it would only displease Cathy and have him suffering burnt bacon for the rest of the week.

“I’ll talk to her,” he said grimly, dropping his napkin beside his untouched soup.

He reached Eve’s door in seconds, not bothering to knock before pushing it open. “Migraine, my ass—”

The words died in his throat as he took in the scene. Evelline sat cross-legged on her bed, calmly eating a sandwich while reading a book. She looked up at him, one eyebrow raised in perfect innocence.

“Can I help you with something, Hunter?”

“You’re supposed to be at dinner.” His voice came out harder than he’d intended.

Eve took another bite of her sandwich, chewing deliberately before answering. “Since you made it clear the entire day that you didn’t want to talk to me, I thought I’d save you the effort and spare you from my presence.”

Fuck.

He should’ve expected she’d confront him straight on like this, just like before. Evelline had never been one to play subtle games or drop passive-aggressive hints. She went straight for the jugular.

He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, okay?” he bit out.

“Not good enough.” Eve set her sandwich down, fixing him with a level gaze.

“What the hell do you want?”

“I should ask you that. You’re the one who changed the rules, you’re the one who touched me, and then you’re suddenly acting like I’m invisible.”

“It’s not like that!”

“It’s exactly like that!”

“You fucking confuse me!” The admission burst from him before he could stop it.

“So do you! You fu—you freaking confuse me, too!”

His anger disappeared at the way her voice unexpectedly cracked at the end. “I’m sorry about how I acted. I’ll never do it again.” He paused. “Truce?”

She hesitated, then stuck her hand out formally.

He raised a brow. “You really think that’s going to cut it?”

“Well, how else—”

Her words were cut off as he pulled her into his arms, his mouth claiming hers in a hungry kiss. She stiffened for a split second before melting against him, her arms winding around his neck.

The sandwich and book tumbled forgotten to the floor as he pressed her back onto the bed. Their kisses grew more desperate, hands tugging at clothing, bodies seeking each other’s heat.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” he confessed between kisses, his hands sliding beneath her t-shirt. “Trying to stay away, trying to give you space.”

“I don’t want space,” she gasped as his fingers found her breast. “I want—”

Whatever she was about to say dissolved into a moan as his mouth replaced his fingers.

With a growl of impatience, Hunter moved back to the small table where her dinner had been, sweeping everything to the floor with one arm. The crash barely registered as he lifted Evelline and set her on the edge, stepping between her thighs.

“Here?” she whispered, eyes wide.

“Here,” he confirmed, capturing her mouth again.

Afterward, they lay tangled together on the bed, both breathing hard. There was so much Eve wanted to say, but the moment was completely ruined when her stomach suddenly growled.

Oops.

Hunter laughed, and her cheeks reddened.

"Let me take care of that."

Eve watched as he pulled on his pants and shirt, not bothering with buttons. There was something intensely intimate about seeing him disheveled like this, knowing she was the cause.

After one quick call using the intercom, someone knocked on her bedroom door, and Eve's eyes widened when she saw Hunter walking to open it. "Wait—"

Too late.

Hunter opened the door, giggles were heard, and well...that was that.

"Everyone's going to know about us," she blurted out as soon as Hunter closed the door.

"They were bound to find out eventually. We are engaged, after all.”

Her eyes widened. Engaged? She hadn't even recalled him proposing.

Hunter raised a brow. "Anything wrong?"

"Nothing." Eve knew she had promised God not to let pride get the best of her, but...

I can't, God.

It just seemed so desperate if she were to ask Hunter how it was they were suddenly engaged. That would make it seem like she was shamelessly angling for a proposal, and... nope, no way, like, ugh, no.

They ate in companionable silence, and Eve's unease gradually faded as Hunter revealed a side to her that she had never seen before. He was relaxed. Almost playful. And oh, the way she would often catch him looking at her with so much hunger in his gaze...

It just made her feel so dizzy, for Hunter to let her know how much he wanted her like this.

Hunter spent another hour with her before finally calling it a night, and Eve couldn't help but feel shy as he insisted on tucking the blankets around her. But just as he turned to leave, Eve couldn't stop herself from calling out.

“Hunter?”

He paused at the door. “Yes?”

“Why...” Eve hesitated, then pressed on. “Why haven’t you tried to have sex with me? I mean, we’ve done other things, but you never...”

“I wish I knew the answer to that."

Oh.

"Don't get me wrong. There isn’t a single moment I’m not thinking of fucking you. I still want to fuck you even now..." Hunter's tone was brooding. "But for some reason, it just makes sense...to wait."

"I see."

"But if you insist on changing the status quo—"

Hunter actually took a step towards her, and Eve quickly pulled the covers over her head. "Good night!"

Her heart started to race when all she heard was silence. She was thirty years old, and yet Hunter was just so good at making her feel more like thirteen—

The covers were suddenly yanked down, and just as she was about to scream, Hunter had already covered her mouth with a kiss, and she could barely breathe with Hunter sucking hungrily on her lower lip, and...and...it was over already?

Hunter smirked down at her. "Good night, love."

Yeargh!

Eve covered her face with her pillow as soon as the door closed behind him.

He had called her... love.

And that...

That was his answer right there.

To why a womanizer like him had yet to take her virginity.

Because even if he didn't know it yet...

Eve had a feeling her former stepbrother was starting to have feelings for her.

And it was the same kind of feelings that she now realized she had for him...from the moment they met.