“Anyway. I’ve got to get the stuff with my dad’s nurse situated. I really can’t put that off.” She chewed on her lip like there was something else she wanted to say, but she didn’t.
Because they were not in a relationship. Not the kind where you told each other everything, confided. Wasn’t that perfect? He’d suck at that anyway.
You haven’t so far. “So far” being the operative words. Why did his brain have to keep arguing with itself? Maybe he was getting those mountain crazies she’d talked about the other day. Let her go take care of her crap. She’d come back. For fuck’s sake, he could probably tell her to jump off a cliff and she’d come back. She was seeing this through, because that was Mel.
And if you asked her to stay? Would she come back, or would she run far, far away?
Yeah, he didn’t want to think about that. “It works out. I was going to make a trip out to the llama breeder this week, and I bet I can do it today.”
“Isn’t that over in Preston?”
“Yeah.”
“You can’t drive out there on your bike.”
“Sure I—”
She slapped her keys to his palm. “Take my truck.”
He stared at her keys. “What are you going to do?”
She glanced back at the kitchen thoughtfully, and then she smiled sweetly. “I’ll take your bike.”
“Noooooo. No.”
“Don’t be a baby. I’m an excellent driver.”
“In your big-ass truck. It’s a motorcycle. It’s a completely different set of skills.”
“I’ve driven a motorcycle before, Dan.”
“When?”
She smiled sweetly. “Tyler had one.”
“He absolutely did not.”
“He did too!” When he only glared at her, she slumped a little.
“Okay, his brother had one and he taught me to ride, but still. I know how to handle a motorcycle. Don’t you trust me?” She fluttered her lashes at him, like it was a joke, but it felt bigger. This all felt bigger, and he knew he should get the hell away from bigger before he crashed it all.
But he ran his palm down her braid instead. He stepped closer instead. He did everything he knew was wrong instead, because it didn’t feel wrong, and he didn’t know how to fight that.
“I trust you.” He cupped the back of her neck, pulling her mouth closer to his, though he didn’t close the distance completely. “You trust me with your truck?”
Her eyes searched his, all seriousness. So much so he almost told her to forget it, almost released her and changed the subject.
“Yes,” she said on little more than a whisper.
They were talking about driving each other’s vehicles. Nothing else. So why did he feel all cracked open and not up to the task? “Good.”
“Yeah, good,” she said on a wavery exhale. “Um, I have to get going, but… If you stop by the ranch when you’re done, we can switch.”
“Or…you can come back when you’re done.” He rubbed his hand up and down the back of her neck, some kind of satisfaction working through him that her shoulders relaxed, that she leaned against his hand.
He brushed his mouth against hers, because the curve of her bottom lip, the way her mouth was slightly parted, was irresistible. “And if it’s a rough day, I can make you forget all over again.”
Her mouth curved just a hint, so he kissed her again, until her arms wrapped around his shoulders and he was ready to make her forget right now.
But she eventually pulled away. “I really do have to go, but I’ll bring your bike back.”
His grip on her neck tightened in spite of himself. “And you’ll stay?” Not supposed to ask that, dipshit.
“I…I’ll stay,” she said, her eyes wide and serious again.
So he released her, and forced a smile and a joke and everything that was ten million times lighter than he felt.
“Don’t be surprised if my llama herd multiplies on your day off.”
She smiled ruefully. “Nothing you could do would surprise me at this point, Dan Sharpe.”
He tried to smile back. Considering everything confusing and deep he felt about her surprised the hell out of him, he was pretty sure there were quite a few ways he could surprise her.
Not always the good kind of surprise.
“Be careful, honey.”
She gave him a little nod. “Have a good day, Dan.” And then she was gone, and he was alone in this tiny bedroom. With nothing but the prospect of llamas to keep him going.
Well, at least it was something.
Chapter 18
Mel probably shouldn’t get as much of a kick out of driving Dan’s motorcycle as she did. It had been a long time since her life had been free and easy enough to ride something so impractical. A small piece of machinery that probably cost at least as much as her giant old truck.
It made the amount he was paying her seem like nothing. Which, technically, it would be once she used it to pay off debts.
But it’ll put Shaw closer to even ground.
That was supposed to be the only thing she cared about, everything she worked for. Shaw. The thing she could depend on. The life and blood of her.