Lauren Canan – Lone Star Baby Bombshell (страница 4)

“Kelly,” Jace’s voice barked through the darkness as he pulled up beside her. “Get in the truck.”

She continued walking.

“You’re being a complete idiot,” he insisted.

“You’re entitled to your opinion.” She had to yell to be heard over the downpour.

“You have ten seconds to get your ass inside this truck.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’m going to pick you up and put you in here myself.”

She turned to face him, her eyes narrowing in a glare.

“Get. In. Now.” The darkness concealed his expression, but his angry tone came across loud and clear. She had little doubt he’d do exactly what he threatened.

Just do it and get home to Henry.

She looked from Jace to the dark, seemingly endless road ahead. A blustery gust of rain-filled wind assisted the return of her sanity. Biting her tongue, she walked to the truck and opened the passenger door.

“I’m wet,” she unnecessarily disclosed, taking in the truck’s beautiful interior.

He muttered a curse. “Everything is wet. I don’t care. Get in the damn truck.” His demand was accented by a loud crack of lightning directly overhead. She grabbed the hold-bar above the opening and pulled herself up and inside, closing the door behind her. Jace immediately raised the passenger window.

In the warmth of the cab, her teeth began to chatter as uncontrolled shivers assailed her body. Jace quickly adjusted the heat. The new-car smell and the earthy scent of his cologne swirled in the warm air around her. She leaned back against the rich leather and buckled her seat belt. Without another word, Jace hit the gas, sending the truck speeding toward town.

Town. Home. Kelly didn’t want him to know where she lived. It took away the small sense of protection, even if it was only an illusion. In Calico Springs, population six thousand, it wasn’t hard to find anybody.

“Just take me to the ranch up ahead. The entrance is on the left. I know the owners. They’ll drive me the rest of the way home.”

No response.

As the big truck ate up the miles, she anxiously searched to the left of the headlights for the big gate to the Bar H Ranch. Finally, the reflection of the stone pillars shone just ahead.

“There,” she pointed. “Just pull in...”

The truck didn’t slow as it approached, then passed, the driveway.

“You missed it.” She looked behind them. “Turn around.”

Jace glanced at her, then returned his focus to the road. “No reason to force anyone else out in this weather.”

“Force anyone else? Like I forced you to be out here?” she challenged, still resenting the fact that he’d coerced her inside the truck to begin with. Never mind that she was grateful to be out of the storm.

“That’s not the way I meant it. Of course you didn’t.” He glanced over as she sat back in the seat, her arms crossed over her chest. “And you didn’t leave your handbag in my kitchen on purpose.” He held up the small rectangular purse. “And you didn’t know it was my house you were cleaning or that I would be arriving around six. Kelly, if you want to see me again...just say so.”

Kelly’s head snapped around, her jaw dropping. “Stop this truck.”

Instead of slowing, he asked, “Shall I take that as a no?” as a grin spread over his handsome features.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I mean no.”

Jace pursed his lips as though holding back another grin. “Your sense of humor isn’t quite as good as I remember.”

“No? Try saying something remotely funny.”

He made no further comment. Kelly glared at him for another few seconds before she sat back in the seat, expelled an angry breath and accepted her fate. It was surreal. To not see him for so long, then to suddenly be in the close confines of a pickup cab as they barreled into the darkness. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His big hands on the wheel, his sharp jawline and those full lips caused an unwelcome need to stir deep in her belly, a need she hadn’t felt for over a year.

She remembered everything: every touch, every erotic whisper, the teasing humor and the arguments over nothing that always ended with his lips on hers. Swallowing hard, Kelly inhaled deeply and turned away, fighting to clear her mind, hoping he couldn’t detect her body’s traitorous response.

“So,” she said, clearing her throat, looking straight ahead, “I can’t imagine this tiny spot on the map holding any interest for you. Big celebrity. Small town. Why are you here?”

For a few minutes, she thought he wasn’t going to answer her question.

“I needed some downtime,” he finally said. “I have a friend who lives in the area, as you know, and this seemed to be as good a place as any.”

“You buy an entire ranch to take a break?”

He shrugged.

“And you call me an idiot.”

Obviously, he didn’t care to share his true intentions with her, which suited her just fine. She should be used to his lies and secrets by now.

“What about you?” he asked.

“What about me?”

“Still in school?”

“No.”

So much had happened over the past year his question seemed strange. Her life had changed so radically it felt as though she was answering for someone else. The massive heart attack that had taken her grandfather had been sudden and devastating. Then the bank foreclosed on his farm, leaving Kelly and her younger brother to scramble for another place to live. And just when she thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, she’d discovered she was pregnant by a man who’d hidden his identity, then all but disappeared.

That sobering thought assisted in her return to reality.

“Why did you lie?” It came out a whisper. The question seemed to break free of her mouth, not waiting on her brain to give its permission. “Why did you think it necessary?” He’d wanted someone to share his bed while here visiting friends. She got that. But why lie about who he was? And why promise to call or come back if he’d known all along he wouldn’t?

“What does it matter now?”

“The truth always matters.”

“I gave you a name. That should have been enough. If you’d known my true identity it would have made a difference in our relationship.”

She stared at him in amazement. “Is it tough carrying around all that arrogance?” She shook her head.

“It’s not arrogance,” he shot back. “If you’d realized who I was you would have—” He inhaled deeply and blew it out.

“What? I would have what? Not thought of you as Jekyll and Hyde? Not known you would rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth? Not felt like I was being played? All of the above?”

“You would have treated me differently.” Almost under his breath, he muttered, “They all do. And you were not being played. Ever.”

“They all do? Who is they?”

She saw his hand grip the steering wheel in a tight fist. “What I do for a living had nothing to do with us.” He glanced at her through the dim glow on the dash lights. “People hear my name and suddenly they can’t see me. I should have told you the truth, but I wanted you to know me, Kelly. I’m just a man. And I enjoy being seen as one instead of all the damned hype. I intended to explain when I got back here. I intended to tell you the truth.”

“Really. Why? If, as you say, a name doesn’t matter, why bother?”

She heard him expel a deep sigh. “You’re purposely twisting this around.”

“I am?”

She heard his huff of frustration.

“We were two people who met and enjoyed being together. At least I enjoyed being with you. Why did it need to be more complicated than that? Or am I missing something?”

Her eyes shot toward him. Had he really said that with a straight face? She couldn’t hold back a snort. “You do realize you’re trying to justify your deception?” The man wouldn’t recognize truth if it smacked him in the face. “Unbelievable.” She’d gotten her answer. She should have saved herself the trouble of asking. “At least I provided you and your friends with a good laugh.”

Heat rolled up her neck at the thought of his wealthy friends laughing about his affair with a stupid country bumpkin. How easily she’d bought into his deception.

“I never laughed.” His tone indicated surprise she would think that. He glanced at her, the hard masculine mouth pulled to a taut line, his eyebrows drown into a frown. “Our relationship wasn’t a joke. At least not to me. And I had every intention of coming back and talking to you. I’d hoped you would understand.”

“I’m sure you did.” The anger rolled off her tongue. “But things happen, right?”