Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
“ I ’ll drive us into town and then bring you back.” In the interests of time, Tracy had decided to drive her truck over instead of taking the long walk out to the edge of town. She’d parked behind him.
“Or vice versa.” Adam got out his keys. “My truck’s first in line.”
“There’s room for me to drive around you. Besides, I washed and vacuumed mine last weekend and I want to show her off.”
“Then you win. I washed mine last weekend, too, but you’d never know it. It’s a wonder you agreed to ride with me last night.”
“Beggers can’t be choosers.”
“I’m kidding. You couldn’t tell it was dirty. Too dark.”
“I can barely tell in the daylight. That silver is forgiving. Bluebell shows every tiny speck of dirt.”
“Told you so.”
“Eat maggots and die, Mr. Mayor.” Reviving an old argument was just what they needed
He grinned.. “She’s in perfect shape. You could still trade for a color that doesn’t show the dirt.”
“Or I could keep her because she cleans up so nice. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?”
“She’s a sight for sore eyes. You should take her for a spin around the square so everyone can admire that glistening paint job.”
“And since I’ll be driving, you can hang out the window and wave at all your constituents.” Yeah, this was more like it. Razing each other had been a fun game. It still was.
“I will, too. I’ll look good waving from a blue truck as clean as this one.”
“I’m sure you’ll be a real crowd-pleaser, but I should warn you I’m ready to tuck into a sandwich at the Raccoon. You’ll only get one pass.” She opened the driver’s door. “Get the lead out, Bridger.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He lengthened his stride as he walked around to the passenger side.
This was exactly how they’d behaved BNYE—Before New Year’s Eve. Could she keep it up?
Maybe not. His broad-shouldered self occupied a lot of physical and emotional space in Bluebell’s passenger seat. Her peripheral vision lovingly tracked his movements as he drew the seatbelt over his muscular chest and clicked the buckle into place.
He also smelled delicious. His smooth jaw confirmed that he’d shaved recently, probably after barn chores. She used to help him with those sometimes because she was friends with all the horses.
“I thought you were in a hurry.”
“I am.” Jabbing the key in the ignition, she started Bluebell’s engine. Hers was already running.
“You sure played it cool in there with Angie and her crew.”
“Thanks.” Tightening her grip on the wheel to steady herself, she eased around his massive F-350.
“Was it an act?”
“You tell me.” She pulled out on the road. The sooner they got to the Raccoon the better.
“I thought maybe you’d found the off switch, but now?—”
“It’s because you’re so damned close.”
“Want me to ride in the back?”
“Because that wouldn’t be weird.”
“We could pretend you were my chauffeur.”
“I’m pretending you’re Ronny what’s-his-name, that obnoxious little kid in sixth grade.”
“How’s that working for you?”
“Not great. He smelled bad. Your aftershave is wrecking the?—”
“Don’t go pointing fingers. Your perfume isn’t helping me out, either. You smell like roses.”
“Sorry.” She dragged in a breath. “I researched rebound relationships.”
“Of course you did.”
“The relationship gurus agree with you. They’re a bad idea for both parties.”
“They were for me. Twice.”
“I really don’t want that for us.”
“Ditto.”
“But the problem is I kissed you.”
“And I kissed you back. I’m the one who escalated the?—”
“Nice try, but as the dumpee, I was the one acting out because of low self-esteem.”
“I wouldn’t say that you have?—”
“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck.”
“You just wanted to scratch an itch.”
“It goes deeper than that. I should be practicing self-love.”
“Are we talking battery-operated boyfriend?”
“No! I mean, maybe, but mostly positive self-talk, like in the mirror. I need to build my?—”
“I would love to agree with you on the self-esteem thing, but?—”
“My actions speak for me, Adam. Not a single expert recommends hitting on your best friend eight lousy days after a breakup. This is my issue and I?—”
“You’re not taking all the blame. I won’t let you.”
“Try and stop me.”
“Evidently I’ll have to. You’ve been around the square twice.”
“Damn it.” She checked her location. Sure enough, she was on the opposite side from the Raccoon. She headed Bluebell down the street in that direction, picking out an empty parking spot near the entrance. “Did you hang out the window and wave?”
“Missed my chance. I was too busy arguing with you.”
“At least I hope I made my point.”
“Sounds to me like you plan to substitute mirrors and vibrators for the real thing.”
She groaned. “You’re no help. It’s not just about sex. My actions on New Year’s Eve demonstrate that something’s wacko with my self-image.”
“What if it is just about sex? I wasn’t gonna ask this, but under the circumstances maybe I need to. Was Sean any good?”
“None of your business.” She slipped into the parking space and switched off the engine.
“You’re right. Never mind. I shouldn’t have?—”
“It was one of our areas of disagreement.”
“Look, you don’t have to?—”
“He thought we should have more of it.”
“But you didn’t?”
“He’s a great guy, a wonderful person. I wanted so much to make it work, but I… he didn’t… I wasn’t….”
“Was there ever chemistry?”
“On his side. I figured that given time, I’d feel the same, but?—”
“That’s okay. I get the picture.”
“In other words, he was absolutely right to dump me and find someone else.” She took a chance and turned to look at him. He did understand. She could see it in the glow of his beautiful brown eyes.
Had he figured out the rest? That she’d never experienced the kind of heat he generated? “Long story short, at least I didn’t ruin Sean’s life and I’m determined not to mess up yours.”
He smiled. “I appreciate that, but you can’t do it all by yourself. I’d have to give you permission.”
“Well, don’t.”
He just gazed at her, the warmth in his eyes intensifying.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“I want to kiss you and make it better.”
A wave of heat left her shaking. “You’re not helping.”
“I know. Let’s go have some lunch.” Breaking eye contact, he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his door. “Since I can’t kiss you, I need something else to do with my mouth.”