Pride

“Do I know you?” she asked, wrinkling her nose to make it clear that an acquaintanceship with his type seemed unlikely.

“You’ve seen me around,” he grunted.

Nice of him not to bring up the time he’d rescued her from some drunken barfly looking for a new floozy for his harem. Kaia had done her best to forget. But now to be rescued yet again by the same deadbeat? It was bringing all the sordid details rushing back. Not that she was ready to offer her thanks. Or even her acknowledgment.

Instead, Kaia snapped her fingers as if she’d just made the connection.

“You’re the pizza guy!” she said triumphantly. “Weed, wasn’t it?”

“Reed.” He shook his head and scowled. “Reed Sawyer.”

“Of course, of course. Can’t imagine what made me think of weed.” Could it be the stench of pot following you around everywhere you go? she added silently.

“Maybe it’s because you keep tossing me away and I just keep coming back,” he suggested, seeming to take cheer from her discomfort.

“So you drive a tow truck now?” she asked. As if she cared.

“It’s my dad’s garage. I help him out sometimes.”

A grease monkey? It figured.

They drove in silence for a while, Kaia doing her best not to admire the way his sinewy body moved beneath the grungy black T-shirt and decaying jeans. Such a shame, a prize specimen like this, buried beneath so much grime. But if I cleaned him up a little… she mused-then caught herself in horror. Now was not the time to be taking in a stray. No matter how his taut, tan forearm brushed her skin as he shifted gears, no matter how firmly his long, thin fingers massaged the steering wheel, no matter how- stop, she warned herself. Just stop.

“So, you okay?” he finally asked.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I pick up a lot of women out here,” he explained. “Being alone, stranded for all that time in the middle of nowhere, it drives ’em crazy. By the time I get there, they’re usually pretty shaken up.”

“And I guess when they see you and that sexy smile of yours, they just fall into your arms, swooning with gratitude,” she sneered. Her voice quivered as he turned his head briefly toward her. She ignored it. “Yours for the taking-is that what you’re waiting for?”

“I’m waiting for a thank-you,” he answered, unruffled. “But if you’re in a swooning mood…”

“Thank you,” she said grudgingly, turning to stare out the dusty window and watch the shadowy scenery fly by.

“You’re welcome.” There was a pause, and then, “So, I’ve got a sexy smile?”

Damn.

“Forget it,” Kaia snapped. “I guess you desert cowboys are as unfamiliar with sarcasm as you are with personal hygiene.”

She didn’t turn back to face him, and he didn’t say anything, but she could imagine the superior look on his face, the mocking smile.

And, for the record, it was sexier than ever.

Adam pulled into the lot and hopped out of his car. He was late. He’d wanted to greet Harper as soon as she’d finished her first shift. But the coach had kept him after practice to work on his free throws.

“You seem off today,” the coach had observed.

Wonder why.

Now he jogged toward the entrance-he hated making her wait.

But the figure standing in the entryway anxiously scanning the parking lot wasn’t Harper, it was Beth. A fact that he registered only moments before sweeping her into his arms.

Instead, he stopped short, and gave a halfhearted wave.

She offered him a weak smile.

“Picking up Harper?” she asked, and he wondered whether she, too, was suddenly remembering all the moments they’d shared in this doorway, Adam rescuing her from a long night of work.

He nodded.

“She’s getting changed,” Beth told him, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Thanks. And… I guess you’re waiting for…”

“Kane. Yeah.” She looked over his shoulder into the parking lot again, as if willing the Camaro to appear. It didn’t.

“So anyway, how’s-”

“Adam, I wanted to-”

They spoke at once, then stopped abruptly and laughed.

“Well, this is awkward,” Beth admitted.

“Tell me about it.” Adam idly rubbed the back of his neck. Where was Harper? “Maybe I should just go inside and-”

“Adam, wait.” She put her hand on his arm to stop him, then snatched it back-they both froze. It was the first time she’d touched him since… since the last time he’d pushed her away. He’d forgotten how soft her hands were. “Adam, there’s something I’ve been really wanting to say to you. I know you think that-”

She broke off, and he waited, wondering. It was the first time in a long time he’d been able to look at her without flinching, without needing to turn away or worse, to hurt her. Did this mean he was finally getting over her? It certainly felt like he was getting over… something.

“Well…,” she began again hesitantly, “I want you to know that, even after everything that’s-”

“Adam!” Pushing past Beth, Harper came flying into his arms. “So sorry I’m late. You have no idea what kind of a day I had.”

He gently extricated himself from her embrace and took her hand. “You can tell me all about it in the car, Harper. I’m sure you did great in there today.”

Harper gave him a kiss on the cheek and then put a possessive arm around his shoulders.

“Oh, I couldn’t have done it without Beth,” she gushed, smiling at Beth, whose face had begun to pale. “I can’t wait to tell you what a wonderful help she was today.”

Adam glanced quickly over at Harper, unable to tell whether she was sincere. It wasn’t like her to have anything so nice to say about anyone, much less Beth.

I never give her enough credit, he chided himself. He’d have to make sure that tonight, at least, he told her how proud he was of her. Not just for the job, but for everything.

Feeling a sudden rush of warmth and gratitude that he had someone like Harper in his life, Adam pulled her into a hug and gave her a long kiss.

“What was that for?” she asked when they finally broke apart.

“Just because,” he said sheepishly, keeping his arms around her.

“He does that all the time,” Harper explained to Beth, who couldn’t even muster a smile. “Oh, but I guess you, of all people, know that!”

“Hey, were you about to say something?” Adam asked, remembering they’d been interrupted. For a moment, he’d almost forgotten Beth was there.

“No, it was nothing,” Beth mumbled. “You guys have a good night.”

Harper and Adam walked off toward the car together, hand in hand. Halfway there, he turned back. Beth’s solitary figure seemed suddenly frail and lonely, standing in the shadows.

“You sure you’ll be okay here?” he called back. “You don’t need a ride or anything?”

“I’m fine,” she shouted, with just a hint of a quaver in her voice. “Kane will be here any minute.”

That’s right-Kane. Beth was his problem now, Adam reminded himself. He knew that. It was just that looking at her there, her blond hair billowing around her head like a golden halo, it was a little too easy to forget.

It had been one of the worst days of her life-which made the night that much sweeter. After driving home, they’d come out back to lie together under the stars, on the large, flat rock between the border of their two backyards. It had been a long and painful day, and all she wanted to do was lie in his arms and breathe him in.