Damn the woman. He sucked air through his teeth, and yanked his arm away. When he raised his eyes to Mel, the weight of a truck sat on his chest. They were just friends, well, they had settled for friends after a few botched dates… but the pain flickering in her eyes told him she’d hoped for something more. He had, too—but he hadn’t been ready, and that wasn’tfair.
“Well, by all means, show her around. Nice meeting you, too, Lola,” Mel said before moving in the opposite direction, her boots crunching on the ground.
“What the hell are you playing at?” He gripped Lola’s arm, tightening his fingers on her soft, mocha skin. Skin he’d kissed and drooled over in the past, but should cause repulsion now. It fucking should. He would give anything not to feel his jaw clenching, his blood pumping, and his cock stirring. He hated himself for wantingher.
She glared at his hand clasped on her arm and then raised her eyes to him, challenging him. But he didn’t move. The depths of her gleaming chocolate eyes triggered him into strengthening his resolve not to let her go. She took a deep breath, and when she opened her mouth, a couple of low gasps followed. This time there would be no running. She wasn’t even making an effort to move away from him. The intensity filtered across her face, making a shot of adrenaline zap all the way down to his stomach, where it exploded into currents of unwelcomed, unwanted heat. Heat that branded like a horseshoe.
He narrowed his eyes, and with a slight shake of his head, loosened his grip on her until he perched his fingers on his belt. “Answerme.”
“You thought it was a good idea to make me ride a horse, didn’t you?” The sharpness in her voice sliced the air and matched the vein pulsing in her neck. “You expected me to get scared and realize I can’t face the big bad country world and hurry on back toLA.”
He rubbed his palm on his forehead. What was there to deny when for once she was right? He didn’t believe in her. He didn’t trust her. Didn’t even … like her anymore.
“Well, I’ve got news for you, Jack. You can try to shove me aside and make me uncomfortable all you want, but I’m not fucking going anywhere.”
He snorted. Who was she trying to fool? Loving and leaving ran in her DNA. “You only know how to start things up, but you never finish them. Ever.”
She took a couple of steps forward, her big dark eyes trailing down his face. She curved her lips into a menacing grin. “This time, lover boy, you’ll be around to see me finish.”
Lover boy. The irony in her voice dripped into his ears without his consent. His cock twitched. He took a step back, his lungs restricting as if he’d just finished a session of intense physical labor.
“I have to go,” he grunted, and paced out of the barn. “Do you know your way back?” he halted, and asked over his shoulder.
“I’ll find my way back,” she said with a confidence that almost convincedhim.
He fixed his hat, and without as much as a word, strode to the back parking lot. With the nonsense of having Lola back, he forgot about calling Mel and explaining the situation. Now, he didn’t have a choice, and he blamed himself.
He saw Mel fumbling for her keys in front of her pickup truck. He shortened the distance between them with decisive strides. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this—as if things hadn’t been awkward enough between them before.
He cleared his throat. “Mel.”
She raised her gaze to him, her green eyes darkening. Even though she had the face of an angel, a blend of pain and frustration hardened her expression. “I thought we were friends, Jack. You don’t have to lie and hide things fromme.”
He took off his hat and held it with both hands. “I’m not. Lola arrived yesterday without even a phone call to prepareme.”
“Didn’t you talk it over with her when you went to visit her father’s grave?”
He shook his head. “I paid him a very quick visit.” Short and secretive. Though his heart twisted for not being there for the funeral or memorial, he hoped wherever Milton was, the old man understood him not showing up. He knew a coffin and a sad nostalgic ambience wouldn’t be enough to keep him from harboring dirty thoughts about his estranged wife. And shit, Milton deserved better—the reason why he’d visited the grave the next day, and the day after, in a trip to California he hadn’t told Lola about.
The clinking sound from Mel’s little metal charms on her keyring brought him back to reality. “It doesn’t look like she’s around for a quick visit now. She doesn’t seem in a hurry to leave, does she?” she asked.
Not yet.Hopefully besides her strong front, the horseback riding had served to show Lola what she was getting into. Jack hadn’t gotten deep pockets without hard work. And there was no way she would get to where she thought she wanted to without some serious grinding. “Lola thinks she wants to open a bed and breakfast. Just a matter of time before she changes her mind,” he said, injecting the enthusiasm he certainly didn’t feel. Sure, she wouldn’t last long in Texas, but seeing Lola everyday and keeping his hands off her wouldn’t be a piece ofcake.
“How about you, Jack? Will you ever change your mind?” She squared her shoulders and fidgeted with the set of keys. “About the two ofus?”
Jack sucked in a breath. When he’d asked Mel on a date, he’d been straight about his marital status. He’d tried to tell himself he was a free man, only married on paper. But, as he’d closed his eyes to kiss the wonderful woman in front of him, a huge weight had crashed on his shoulders, stoppinghim.
“Mel, I’ve never lied to you and I won’t start now. I don’t have feelings for my wife any more, but I would never string you along,” he said. “You’re a damn good vet and an even better friend. The man who gives you what you deserve will be lucky.”
“I… see. Thanks for your honesty.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment as if assimilating his words.
He put on his hat and tipped it, waiting for her acquiescence. She turned from him and got in the car, mumbling a superficial, “See you later.”
She drove away, a circle of dust shaking the dry leaves as the pickup disappeared. His chest tightened. Hurting Mel had never been his intention, but if Lola hadn’t shown up—if she hadn’t acted so sassy, maybe he wouldn’t feel like the biggest jerk. How could there still be anything between them, when the only thing he experienced was resentment?
His pulse raced. Well, okay, not the only thing. His body responded to hers in a way that astonished him. As long as he kept his reaction under wraps, he was good. All I need is showing her there’s no room for her in Red Oak, or in mylife.
