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She wrapped them around his waist, her heels digging into the small of his back, and he sank into her with a groan that seemed to come from somewhere deep in his chest.

The cottage was quiet around them, the outside world forgotten, and he moved slowly at first, then faster as she urged him on, her nails scoring his back and her breathless pleas filling his ear.

She came first, her body tightening around him, her cry muffled against his neck, and he followed seconds later, burying his face in her hair and letting the pleasure wash through him, clean and overwhelming and somehow sharper than he remembered.

For a long moment, he stayed where he was, their bodies still joined, her arms loose around his neck. Then he rolled to his side, bringing her with him, and pulled the thin blanket up over their shoulders. The cottage was comfortably warm despite the April chill outside, and he couldn't help feeling content as Amanda nestled against him.

“We should thank our friends,” she murmured, her voice drowsy.

“Tomorrow,” he said, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Outside, the ranch lay silent. Somewhere in the distance, a coyote called once and fell silent.

It had been a week and a half since they'd last spent a night together, and Grady hadn't realized just how much he'd missed being close to her until tonight. He wondered when they'd have another chance to be alone together, though he had no intention of bringing it up yet. For now, he was content to enjoy the rest of the night with her.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Two weeks later, she stepped out of the high school auditorium with Rissa beside her and resisted the urge to turn around and check the set one more time.

It was done.

Or as done as anything involving a high school musical could be the night before opening.

Her community service had officially ended days ago, but she’d stayed on to help with the final preparations. Somewhere along the way, what had begun as court-ordered hours had turned into something she genuinely enjoyed. Tomorrow night, the curtain would go up for the first of three performances, and after everything the students had put into the production, she couldn’t imagine leaving before seeing it through.

Her own crew had nearly finished in Antelope Rock too. They had more than enough footage for the show, including a segment filmed in the auditorium after her community service ended. With the school district’s approval and permission from every student’s parents, the production team captured some of the work that went into the musical.

The only thing left on her filming schedule was a return trip to Second Chance Ranch once the renovations and redecorating were complete. After that, nothing would keep her in Wyoming.

She shoved that thought aside as they crossed the parking lot.

“Please start,” Rissa muttered when they reached her truck.

Amanda stopped and watched the teenager climb behind the wheel. “That sounds ominous.”

“It gave me trouble this morning.”

The engine struggled to turn over, then quit. A second try produced the same result. “Come on.”

“Pop the hood. We’ll try jumping it.”

Two boys from the theater club were passing by, overheard them, and offered to help. Within minutes, one of them pulled his car around while the other dug a set of jumper cables out of his trunk.

After several unsuccessful attempts to start it, they gave up.

“Well, we tried,” one of the boys said.

“And I appreciate it, Danny. Thanks.” As the boys left, Rissa sighed and pulled out her phone. “I’ll call Dad.”

Amanda held a hand up. “Don’t bother him. I can take you home.”

The teen’s disappointment vanished as she eyed the vintage ’Vette. “Seriously? I get to ride in that?”

She laughed. “Yes, you get to ride in that.”

“Best breakdown ever.”

Getting the Corvette back from the shop felt like reuniting with an old friend. But the attention it attracted around town made her wonder whether driving something less recognizable might have been smarter.