Part 7 (1/2)
Suddenly, he jerked his face away, breathing hard. He looked out across the parking lot at the fire station. ”h.e.l.l,” he said in a low, rough voice, ”we're acting like a couple of teenagers. Anybody could see us. We don't want to put on a show for the entire town to hear about.”
She inhaled sharply as she tried to catch her breath and regain her composure, but it wasn't easy.
”Sorry. I started that and I'm out of line. But-”
”You had some help.” She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, knowing he was right to consider their location. She eased off his lap and scooted close to the pa.s.senger door. She folded her arms over her stomach, feeling defensive at all the emotions that were cascading through her. Hot. Cold. And oh so very achy.
”I apologize.”
”There's no need.”
”Yes, there is. I didn't mean to come on so strong. It's just that-”
”It's been a long time.”
”h.e.l.l yeah.”
”Let's not rush into anything.” She tried to sound cool and reasonable, even thought she was burning up inside and wanting so much more of him. ”I just got back into town today.”
”My lucky day.” He leaned forward and put the booster into drive, then glanced over at her with eyes still dark with desire. ”You always did know how to get under my skin. Guess you still do.”
”I'm not immune to your charms either.”
”Good thing.” He focused on the station again. ”We'd better get back to business-”
”Before the barbeque gets cold and Aunt Hedy comes looking for us.”
”Right.”
Still, he hesitated, and then glanced at her. ”Can I have a rain check on Lovers Leap?”
She smiled despite herself. ”Only if there are old, soft quilts and the Chuckwagon Cafe food, too.”
”You mean I'm not enough?”
”You're more than enough.” She knew she was getting in deeper by the moment, but she didn't have the will to stop. ”That's just the trouble.”
He grinned, flas.h.i.+ng white teeth and deep dimples. ”Maybe a little trouble is what we've both been needing in our lives.”
She couldn't help but smile as he sent the booster forward with a sudden burst of speed. He was definitely Trouble with a capital T.
Kent pulled up in front of a station bay and picked up the remote control from the dashboard.
She glanced down the line of empty parking s.p.a.ces. She recognized Hedy's van next to a blue pickup that looked like it needed help. Her own white SUV that had a light coating of dust from the trip was where she'd left it several spots down from the other two vehicles.
”Do you think Aunt Hedy called a tow for that truck?”
”Tow? Why would you say that?”
”Look at it. Not only is it covered in mud and dirt, it's got several big dints that I can see from here. It's probably got bald tires and has a flat.”
”It looks like a perfectly reasonable work vehicle to me. Stuff happens out on ranches.”
”Stuff?”
He gave a big sigh as he used the remote control to open a bay door of the station. ”Why don't you grab the barbeque and I'll meet you at Ruby's.”
”Wait!” She turned to look at him. He appeared a little hot, or uncomfortable, under the collar. ”Oh no!” She quickly swiveled her head to gaze at the vehicle then back at him. ”That's not your pickup, is it?”
He rolled his eyes in exaggerated annoyance, but the hint of a smile lurked about his lips. ”That big dent came from a hardheaded bull bent on revenge. And the tires aren't bald. I've never been known to drive an unsafe vehicle.”
She felt a sudden attack of giggles coming on because she'd just insulted his ride. And guys were notoriously sensitive about their vehicles. It shouldn't have struck her as funny, but it did. She put a hand over her mouth to try to stop the laugh that threatened to erupt, but pretty soon she choked, then chortled as her shoulder shook with mirth and a giggle rolled out.
”Go ahead and laugh,” he grumbled as he pointed to her vehicle. ”I suppose that pristine little prissy SUV belongs to you.”
”I'm sorry,” she managed before she laughed harder, feeling her eyes burn with moisture. She tried to stop, honestly, but she felt as if something had broken inside of her or had been let loose after so many years of pent-up tension and worry. She hadn't laughed this hard since the last time she'd been with Kent all those years ago. And the laughter felt wonderful.
”For your information, everything about my truck is in fine working order.”
”Except the outside?”
”Not important.” He looked at her, turning serious. ”If I wash my truck, it'll just get dirty again. If I get that dint fixed, some other critter will take into his head to b.u.t.t it again. Why bother?”
”You make a good point.” She took a deep breath, tamping down the humor of the situation, because she could see he was serious about his vehicle. She might even be hurting his feelings, but he'd always played fast and loose with stuff. It just didn't matter to him.
”If it offends you, I can wash the truck.”
”Oh no, it's fine. I remember now that you never did much care what was on the outside of anything.”
”It's what's on the inside that counts.” He reached over and took her hand. As he rubbed a rough thumb over her soft palm, he gazed into her eyes. ”Lauren, you've always been beautiful. Everybody knows that. But it's your inner beauty that's always shone through that's nigh on irresistible.”
”Oh, Kent, you big silly.” She felt his words go straight to her heart, and now she felt like crying with the sheer tenderness and sincerity of his words.
”It's the truth.”
”You've got a big heart that sees the best in everybody. Kent, I-”
A loud knock on the pa.s.senger door made Lauren jump, so she quickly looked out the window.
Hedy grinned at her. ”Hey, let's get this show on the road!”
Lauren smiled back as she lowered her window. ”I take it you're hungry.”
”And I'm anxious to meet that little tyke of yours.”
”She's going to love you.” Lauren glanced back at Kent. ”Guess Aunt Hedy's right. We need to get a move on.”