Page 10 of Forgiveness
“You really want to have this conversationhere, Duchess? It can’t wait until we’re outside?” Flux’s gaze jumped around the crowded bar as if he was assessing possible threats.
The energy in the bar had all but ground to a halt, and a bunch of eyes were trained on them.Shit, he’s right.Despite herself, she glanced in Chet’s direction. He looked like he was going to implode as his mouth twisted with rage.
That was the clincher.
“Let’s get going, darlin’.” Flux grabbed her hand and she didn’t resist. “You can continue your inquisition once we’re in the truck.”
The hot desert air wrapped around them as Maggie slid behind the wheel of the pickup and let her forehead rest on the steering wheel for the briefest second while she caught her bearings. Flux pulled open the door on the passenger side and slipped into the seat.
“Do you want me to drive?”
His low question dragged Maggie out of her head and she startled in the seat. She put the key into the ignition and turned over the engine. “I got it,” she reassured him and carefully navigated out of the packed parking lot.
They were both quiet. Although Maggie didn’t know the reason for Flux’s silence, her head still spun and her lower back tingled with warmth from his touch that was no longer there. Why did he unnerve her so deeply? She mentally shook off the distraction and pressed her lips together, driving by memory more than anything else.
“What are we doing here?” she asked again.
“We’re driving,” he quipped, and she watched him stretch out his legs from the corner of her eye.
“That’s not what I meant—”
Flux cleared his throat. “I know, I know.”
There was another beat of silence between them. She got the feeling he wasn’t used to having these kinds of conversations.
He bent over to search for something underneath the seat. “How the fuck do I push this back?”
“The switch is on the side of the seat. Just move the knob back.” After he settled down, she threw him a sidelong glance. “So?”
An audible sigh, and then he turned sideways so he was facing her. “I’m not looking for anything serious. Fuck, even being in this truck with you goes against every rule I have, but I’m here, so let’s just leave it at that.”
“You have rules? Are they written down?” She chortled.
“Smartass.” Flux jerked his head back as he stared out the front windshield. “We’re going back to the rodeo? Is this a fuckin’ joke?”
“Look and see, before you judge,” she said offhandedly, as she turned into an employee parking lot, shut off the engine, and pocketed her keys. Maggie turned to face him and made sure to keep her hands to herself. “I’m going to give it to you straight up.”
“Good. I like that.” Flux laughed. “Fuck, it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed so much in one damn night.”
Maggie quirked her lips. “Why’s that?”
“One thing at a time.” Flux stretched, rubbing his hands down his black jeans without answering her question.
“Fine,” she breathed out. “Anyway, I’m not looking for anything earth shattering either, but if you want a one and done, I’m definitely not your girl. I don’t jump into bed with anyone who takes a liking to me, and if you’re not okay with getting to know me as a person before you get access to my body, there’s the door.” Maggie motioned to the passenger side door and sat back in her seat with a small huff. “What’s your choice?”
Flux popped open the door and her whole body deflated in defeat.Really? Shit.She’d hoped he was better than that, but clearly she’d given him too much credit. Now, she was left pretending that the easy rejection didn’t sting like hell. Of course, it made all the sense in the world that a badass biker turned rodeo bullfighter would want easy, simple, wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am fun.
He bent down and looked inside the truck. “Why the hell are you still sitting there, Duchess? You’re the one who brought me here, although I can’t figure out why.”
His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head as she digested his rejection, which evidently wasn’t one at all. Before either of them changed their minds, she scooted out of the seat and slammed the truck door, leaving all of her worries behind.
With Flux’s quick stride and her nerves leading the way, it didn’t take them long to make it to the stables where the rodeo housed all of the horses for the circuit. Maggie was pretty positive Flux didn’t spend much time around there, given the fact that most rodeo employees tended to stick with their own kind—bull riders to bull riders, bullfighters to bullfighters, and so forth.
“Welcome to my home away from home.” Maggie slapped the side of the barn on her way into the musty, manure-smelling passage, and a horse neighed in greeting. “If you want to get to know me then this is the place to do it.”
She took a deep breath, cherishing the varied smells of leather and horse that most people couldn’t stand unless they lived in this world.
“Grab a shovel, big guy.” She stretched her arms out and didn’t wait for Flux to get with the program.
“So, you’re going to get our hands dirty—”
“So, we don’t get our hands dirty. That’s right. You’re quick on the uptake.” Maggie teased and looked back at the badass biker whose eyes were narrowed with both respect and something heavier, which she told herself not to look at too closely.
“We’ll start by mucking everything out and then we’ll replace the hay. Think you can handle it?”
“I can handle anything you throw my way, Duchess,” he said as he picked up the shovel.
Maggie watched the muscles in his arms bulge as he began working, and she quickly turned away.
It occurred to her that this may not have been such a hot idea after all.
