“It was Hannah who told me, and the fact that you live with her was kind of just a bonus, I guess.”
He blew out a huff of air. “You definitely shouldn’t ever listen to Hannah. And I don’t live with her. She lives with me, temporarily since I was doing a favor for a friend, but that ends today. She’s all packed and ready to go.”
I laughed bitterly. “I think you forgot to mention that little fact to her. She’s in love with you, you know.”
“Bullshit. She’s in love with my family’s ranch, with our money, with my truck, and very possibly my little brother, but she’s not in love with me.”
“If she was, would you go out with her?”
“Hell no. She’s not my type.”
I found that really hard to believe, since Daisy Duke was every country boy’s type and she wasn’t that far off. “What is your type, then if it’s not Daisy Duke?”
He took a few seconds to answer. “Head strong. Smart. Beautiful. Funny. Good at blackjack. Maybe a little more conservative than Hannah Banana.” He glanced at me, smiling devilishly. “I like a little mystery to my women. I think the song lyric says it best: Lady on the street but a freak in the bed.”
I whacked him hard on the arm, my faced burning. “Shut up. I am not your type. And I am not a freak anywhere.”
He reached over and took my hand in his warm one, pulling it against his leg. “I’m your type too, you know.”
“No, you’re not.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he had a hell of a grip.
“Sure I am. I’m educated, business-minded, sexy - you said so yourself, so don’t try to deny it - and I can make you scream like nobody else can.” He lifted my hand and put it on top of his leg, very near his crotch.
My heart was hammering in my chest now, making me feel like I was going to start panting like a dog any second. Control yourself, Fido! He’s just a guy!
I pulled my hand back more insistently this time, and he let it go. “Sex isn’t love. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it is.” Memories of my mother flashed before my eyes. She was always in a dreamy state after being with her boyfriend in the bedroom at night, but it never stopped him from smashing her in the face later.
“You’re not her, Andie. You’re not your mother.”
“Shut up! You don’t get to talk about her to me!” My shouts echoed around the small space of the truck’s cab, making my ears ring. My face burned with embarrassment over losing my temper. “Sorry for shouting. Just … don’t talk about her, please. She’s off limits.”
“Sounds to me like you’d be better off talking about her rather than pretending she doesn’t exist, but I’ll leave it alone for now.” He reached over and put his hand on mine, stroking the side of it with his thumb. “I got some things for us so we can take a little ride this afternoon.”
“A ride? Where?” I asked, suspicion ruling my emotions. “I don’t want to take a ride with you.” The words came out, but the feelings weren’t backing them up.
“Up into the hills a little bit. I think we need some privacy so we can talk this out and get things straight. I know you have a lifeplan to follow and all, so no reason to delay anymore.”
I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or sad or anything else. “I’m surprised I met you that night,” I said.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because with that poker face of yours, I’ll bet you could make a lot of money at the poker tables instead of the blackjack tables.”
He smiled, sending a shock of attraction right through my chest and down to the space between my legs. “I do like to play poker now and again, but I always warm up with a little twenty one first.” He patted my hand before putting his back on the wheel. “Glad I did that night, I can tell you that.”
I said nothing, not sure whether he’d changed my life for the better by playing blackjack that night or doomed me to a life of misery.
Chapter Thirty-Two
I SAT ON THE PORCH waiting for Mack to come around to the front. He’d told me he was getting our transportation. I leaned against one of the posts holding up the porch’s roof, my feet resting on the steps. My mind wandered as a cool breeze moved bits of my hair around my face, tickling my skin.