“No, it’s a bingo dauber that happens to resemble a small caliber weapon.” Cowboy stopped rooting through the bag and glared at me. “Of course it’s a goddamn gun.” He shook his head and continued his search.
Okay, so maybe it was a dumb question. “Why is your grandma carrying a gun?” I asked him.
“That insane woman is not my grandma. If she were, I’d shoot myself with her…bingo dauber.”
I gaped at him, appalled by his lack of sympathy and his cold-hearted behavior toward an elderly woman with health problems. “Jesus, what is wrong with you? You’re being so…callous and insensitive.”
“Oh, that’s rich. Especially coming from the woman who won’t go on a date with me all because she’s heard a few bullshit rumors.” Before I could respond to that, he found what he was looking for. “Aha!” He held up a small mason jar of clear liquid. “This is what Momma Belle calls her ‘medicine.’”
I sighed with irritation. “Moonshine?”
Cowboy shook his head at me. “You know, for someone who is supposed to be so smart, you sure ask a lot of stupid-ass questions.”
My eyes narrowed. “Okay, that’s it! I’ve had enough of you and your demeaning insults.” I yanked the purse from him and then snagged the jar from his hand, shoving it back inside the large bag. “If that old lady wants to drink moonshine, then that’s her business, not yours.”
“That insane woman has no business drinking—”
“That’s enough,” I said, huffing at him. “Since I don’t see you over there wrestling the beer out of Hank’s hand, I can only assume you’re saying that because she’s a woman…you…you…chauvinistic pig!”
“Oh, don’t give me that women’s lib crap. You know that’s not what I meant.”
Crap? Really?
“You know what? There’s something seriously wrong with you.” I blew out an irritated breath as I shifted the heavy bag onto my shoulder. “I can’t speak for other women, but I, for one, am not amused by your ludicrous behavior, no matter how ridiculously charming you may be.”
His lips settled into a wide grin.
I crossed my arms, not sure what to make of his expression. “Why are you smiling?”
He raised one brow. “Charming, huh?”
“Oh, good Lord. That’s all you got out of this entire conversation?”
“So how ridiculously charming do you think I am?” he asked as he moved closer, his proximity suffocating me.
Oh, great. I hadn’t meant to encourage him. “I…I don’t.” I shook my head vigorously as heat spread throughout my cheeks. “That wasn’t what I meant. I was just trying to explain how ridiculous you’re acting.”
Cowboy chuckled softly and touched my cheek. “Did you know that your ears and neck turn red when you blush? You keep looking so sweet and adorable, I might have to kiss you again.”
A tingle ran through me straight down to my nether regions, but I held my composure and placed my hands on my hips to show my exasperation. “You’ll do no such thing.” The wicked little smirk he wore had me worried, though.
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, stepping forward until his body brushed lightly against mine. “You sure about that?”
“Y-yes,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “Because not only are there other people around…” I glanced around, realizing that the vehicles blocked their view of us. Damn it. “But because you’re a gentleman.”
He lifted a hand and curled it around the back of my neck, pulling me closer to him as his mouth opened and his breath touched my lips. In that second, my heart raced and my mind drew a blank.
Then I remembered what I was saying. “And I…I’m asking you…to keep your hands to…yourself.” There. I said it.
“Darlin’,” he drawled with a sly grin. “There’s only one problem with that theory of yours.”
“What’s that?” I breathed out, desperately trying to maintain my composure.
“I never claimed to be a gentleman.” Then he covered my mouth with his.