I rephrase. “I don’t like being in a car on long, winding roads with no streetlights when it’s raining.” I cross my arms. My cell phone is heavy on my lap.
“Baby, you live near farm towns. The roads are long and winding with no streetlights, and it rains nine months out of the year here.” He glances at me for a heartbeat before he returns his attention to the road.
It’s clear skies, but panic rises inside me. What should I say or do so that he doesn’t look away from the road again? What if there’s a curve we don’t know about? Bobby lives in Alexandria. He wouldn’t be familiar with these long stretches of winding roads, would he?
“I know it’s crazy, but I really don’t like being in a car when it does.” My body goes cold. I clutch my stomach. “Please keep your eyes on the road.” I have to make my needs clear.
It’s the only way I’ll stop panicking. Bobby probably thinks I’m nuts. I bet he’s regretting ever having met me.
“I can do that if it’ll make you feel safe.” Bobby takes my hand in his and rubs his thumb across my knuckles. “I’m fine with going back to Dumas. We can hang out at the botanical gardens or go bowling. There’s also roller skating. Then we can have dinner at Gigi’s Diner.”
“You’d do that? You don’t think I’m crazy?” I’ve never been this open and vulnerable with someone.
“Hell yeah. Baby, if you’re crazy, I am batshit crazy. Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“Crazy and batshit crazy stick together like white on rice.” He brings our clasped hands to his mouth and kisses my hand.
My panic vanishes. I relax into the seat. “How do you know about those places?” Some of the students aren’t even aware there’s a skating rink in Dumas.
“My sister goes to DU.”
“Instead of the U of A?” I’m surprised his sister would rather attend a college two hours away from her brother.
“How often do you see her?”
“Should I turn around?”
We spoke at the same time.
“I haven’t been to Bryne.” I want him to myself.
If we’re at any of the places he mentioned, we could run into my friends. Worse is having girls my age salivating over him. Bobby is sexy in a button-up long-sleeved black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing his full sleeve of ink.
Bobby loosened the first three buttons when he got in his truck at my place, and it took every effort not to stare longingly at the dark chest hair peeking over the shirt. And those black slacks . . . I hum low in the back of my throat. They fit him well, like a second skin, hugging his tight ass and long legs.
“Is that a yes to flowers, produce, and trinkets?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s do it.” He sets his palm on my thigh and squeezes. Heat shoots to my sex. I clear my throat and stare at the passing scenery.
“Ask your questions, Ever.”
I sigh. Why am I so easy to read? “You’re very chummy with Maggie.”
“That’s not a question.”
“When did you see her? I thought you didn’t have friends.” Why am I upset that he’s made friends with my coworker and her husband?
“I ran into her and the hubby at the store yesterday after I dropped you off.”
That makes sense. Maggie and her husband live in Dumas. Bobby dropped me off long after Sweet Creations had closed.
“We got to talking, and her husband, Evan, had seen me park my motorcycle. He wanted to know more about riding.”
“He has a baby on the way.” I look away from the scenery at the same time Bobby turns his head to me.
