She doesn’t look fine.She doesn’t sound fine, either.She’s not her usual self.And that’s not okay.I don’t like that shit one bit.
I’m suddenly overwhelmed with the need to protect her, bring her back to her baseline level of happiness, even if it’s abnormal for most of us mere mortals.“Let me drive you home.”
“No.I’m good.Thank you for all your help.I hope my carelessness hasn’t stopped you from getting wherever you were going.”She steps off the curb and slides into the driver’s seat.“Sorry, Evander.”
“Sorry for what?”I hold the edge of the car door while she starts up the engine.“Stop apologizing.And put on your seatbelt.”
The hurt in Phoebe’s eyes tells me I was a little too brusque with her.And now I’m the one who should apologize.But I don’t, because this encounter has knocked me off balance so badly that I just want it to end.
I close the car door and make sure Phoebe gets safely turned around and on her way.I watch her slowly apply the brakes as she approaches the stop light.
I need to apply the brakes, too.
When I head across Main Street to my SUV, I see someone walking my way.Ah, shit.It’s Melissa.And she’s smiling like a woman who’s about to reel in a big fish.
“Well lookie who decided to bless us common folk and come into town,” she says.Her smile doesn’t spread to her eyes.She’s angry.Fine.
I keep walking and make sure my voice remains neutral when I reply.“Nice to see you, Melissa.Sorry, but I’ve got to head out.”
She spins around on the heel of her boot and follows me.“You said you’d call.”
Inside my head, I groan.This is my fault.I know better than to hook up with anyone within a hundred-mile radius, even if that someone is a hard-bodied party girl like Melissa.
But one night a couple of months back, I let the isolation get the better of me.After a few beers at the bar and grill, I went home with her.
Old habits and all.
I admit that I was a real horse’s ass back in high school, and I made the rounds of the available female population—including Melissa.I earned my reputation for being a “hit-it-and-quit-it” douchebag.
I’m not that guy anymore.In fact, women are few and far between for me these days.I keep myself busy with the ranch and StellaR Tech and that’s pretty much it.
I might want a relationship someday, someday far off into the future.I’m in no hurry.And anyway, any partner would have to be okay with living out here in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, which certainly whittles down the number of eligible bachelorettes.
I reach the door of my SUV and pull it open.“I apologize for not calling,” I tell her.“I’ve been traveling a lot for work.And to be completely honest, I’m not interested in starting something right now.”
She laughs.“You seemed plenty interested when you were pushing me up against the refrigerator and screwing my brains out.”
Ouch.
I turn to look at Melissa.She’s a year older than me, and life hasn’t been easy for her.The last thing she needs is more bullshit put in her path.I’ve hurt her, and nobody deserves that.“Please accept my apology, Melissa.It won’t happen again.”
I slide into the driver’s seat, close the door, and continue on my way.
In the rearview mirror, I see her flip me the middle-finger salute as she yells, “You’re damn right it won’t happen again, asshole!”
CHAPTER 6
Phoebe
I’m a Grade-A loser.
I let myself get so distracted with the fantasy—how my fancy-schmancy dress will seduce my make-believe Evander—that I almost crashed head-on into the real one!
And now he thinks I can’t drive.And that’s just not true.I’m a very good driver.My dad taught me how to deal with any condition, in any vehicle.
Ice.Snow.Rain.Flood.Landslide.Mudslide.Blizzard.Avalanche.Dust storm.
Car.Pickup.Tractor.ATV.Flatbed.Snowplow.Combine.Hay baler.Snowmobile.
