Page 33 of Forgiveness
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Maggie
Maggie licked herlips and played with the ends or her hair while she waited for Flux to answer. Given his knack for avoiding questions, she didn’t expect much from him. When she’d first heard him call her “my girl” a funny sensation fluttered in her stomach, and she had to admit the whole territorial thing was hot and endearing.
Maggie thrummed her fingers against the steering wheel, but Flux stared out the window without any hint of talking any time soon. She watched him wondering how their agreement to a casual sex relationship had turned into a possessive thing. There was no way she’d ever have consented tothat.A boatload of nervous stallions bucked and galloped in her belly as she sat still as stone.Do I want more with him? Is he just going to sit there all day without talking. What the hell?
Maybe it would be best if they both pretended like he’d never said she was his girl and just continue like it was no big deal. Yeah … that sounded like a nice option.
Maggie cleared her throat. “Maybe we should—”
“I was just—”
They each broke out at the same time before Flux bit off a curse and shifted in the seat.
Maggie switched on the ignition and turned right onto the street. Neither of them said a word the whole drive back to the rodeo parking lot. By the time she’d killed the engine, her shock at seeing Chet again had worn off and terrified anger had taken its place. She cradled her stomach and stared out the windshield. There was no way she could keep letting him get away with following and harassing her every day.
“You’re thinking about that asshole, aren’t you?” Flux’s gruff voice broke the silence, startling her.
“Yeah.”
“Do you want me to put him permanently outta commission?”
Maggie glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and saw that Flux was serious. “Uh … thanks for the offer but I’ll pass on it.”
“Then you need to talk to Charlie about the fucker.”
“I don’t know if that’ll do me any good,” Maggie muttered and turned to face him. “But I know one thing—he sure as hell isn’t scaring me away from my career.”
“Fuck no,” Flux said as he looked out the window then back to her. “Other than exterminating the bastard, if you need me to watch over—”
“Stop right there, big guy. If you’re going to go twenty-four seven bodyguard on me, let me save you the trouble. I stood up to him last night, I’ll do it again. I can handle it. I’m a big girl.”
Flux put his head back and closed his eyes.
“Won’t hear me arguing that point, Duchess.”
“Then trust me.”
“Trust doesn’t have shit to do with this, but I’m reading you. Hands off. Roger. I’m not an idiot.”
Maggie kept the smile off her face, but just barely before Flux looked over at her and winked. She averted her gaze and smoothed her hands over her jeans. Her mind churned with possibilities for what she should say to keep her from climbing over to Flux’s side to mount him.
“You look like you’re thinking too hard, Duchess. You want me to take your mind off it?” Flux said in a low voice, his suggestive tone a dead giveaway that they were both locked onto the same idea.
When Maggie’s breath hitched and she choked a little, his laughter was warm, rich, and a burst of sound that made him look a little less hardened and like the years of shit that had marred his life were slipping away. It was … nice. Maggie grinned as she scooted over in the seat.
“You really want to know what you can do for me, big guy?”
“I’m at your service, Duchess.”
“If you see Chet again, don’t rearrange his face for my honor.”
“I can’t make that promise, but I can say I won’t start shit first.”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble on my account.”
“Trouble and me have been fuckin’ best friends for as long as I can remember. Don’t worry about it. I won’t mess with him unless he starts shit with you … and me. No way a man could let that pass.”
