Page 123 of Summer Heat
“Then you should air your grievances with me now.” She smoothed her wrinkle-free shorts for the fifth time in as many minutes.
“Actually, not sure my issue is a grievance.” He stared at her, big blue eyes locking onto her before looking ahead.
“Oh.” Oh?
“You’re breathtaking, you know that?”
Nicola felt her cheeks heat, and she looked out the window. Cash pulled the truck off the worn path, and they drifted to a stop. Panic started in her stomach and climbed into her throat. “What are you doing, Cash?” Shit. Did she sound panicked?
“No idea.” Putting the truck into park, he raked a gaze over her.
She’d never heard him sound anything but Rocky Mountain strong. “Cash—”
“I’ve missed hearing you say my name.” His arms draped over the steering wheel, his head pressed to its twelve o’clock. “Nic, I’m having a problem keeping my head around you, so why don’t you shut your pretty mouth and give me a minute?”
What? There was no way he had the same issues she did. He hated her. Hadn’t forgiven her. “Wha… why?”
He still faced the steering wheel but slid his hands to the nine and two positions and hung on like he was strangling Cupid. “I’m forcing my hands to stay put. Physically willing them away from you. One move, one too-sweet word, Nicola, and I’m done for.”
“I don’t understand.” Because she was the one holding back.
He peered up from his steering wheel pillow. “What’s not to understand?”
“You’re mad at me.”
“Angrier than I’ve been in my entire life.” His eyes held her in place, riveting her to him.
“You said you might hate me.” God, it hurt to say that out loud.
“Yeah, I might.”
“So what else is there?” she asked, scared and hoping at the same time.
“If that isn’t the question, I don’t know what is.”
“You mean…”
“I mean, I’m confused.” He sat upright, straightening his broad shoulders. “I mean, I don’t do this whole soap opera, back from the dead thing. And it’s been so long. But…”
“But?” Her head circled, lungs went on strike, blood pounded in her ears.
Her phone rang. She silenced it without checking the caller, just to hear Cash keep talking, to juggle the want and the worry, to see if he felt the confusion she did.
He cleared his throat. “I have to roll up here to my boys and not look like some moron tripping all over himself to get a date. It’d ruin my reputation.”
There it was, something to protect her heart. Nicola clung to that small shield of defense with everything she had, lest she beg him to take those hands off the steering wheel and do whatever it was that he wanted to do. “Sterling reputation. I heard all about that.” Too bad that defense mechanism just came out screaming I-am-a-bitch. Dang.
He pushed off the steering wheel, stabbing her with a glare. “Jealous.”
“Disgusted.” And sad.
“I’m scared I’m going to kiss you tonight.” He leaned over, put a finger on her cheekbone, and traced a path to her chin. The world spun around them, but he anchored her to her chair, his eyes holding her captive and his touch kick starting a round of goose bumps.
You’re scared? Impossible. Nothing could scare Cash Garrison.
He nodded.
Oh, wait. She must have said out loud. “Would it be the worst thing?” Because heaven help her, she wanted him to.
