Taking several steps, the backs of her legs struck the flowered chair and she froze as he followed her, staring down at her with pent up emotion.
“You crossed a line, Mindy,” he whispered.
“And so have you.” She wished she could control the shaking in her limbs.
“You want answers?” he said in a low, dangerous murmur. “I’d like some fucking answers too. How about we start with why you left Cooper’s Hawk? No goodbye. No kiss my ass. You just picked up and left.” His gaze seethed with anger.
“You knew I was leaving. You were leaving too.”
“My God, must we beat around the bush?”
She slammed her head back onto her shoulder to look up at him. She wasn’t short at five eight, but he was still much taller. Broader. Angrier, and yet, she didn’t feel any fright. “I-I thought I was doing us both a favor.” Her knees quivered. “I thought I knew you as well as I knew myself but turns out I knew nothing about you.”
“You’re the only one that probably ever knew me,” he said the words so softly, but they contradicted the blue inferno in his eyes.
How could he upend her so easily? She had every right to be outraged. Creed and her daddy had kept the situation with Sage Ranch a secret.
A splash of guilt washed over her. She had secrets too.
Why couldn’t she manage to keep her head on straight when she was near him? Why did the old emotions come charging in and threatening to turn her into the woman who thought he hung the moon?
Hurt made her want to bring out the big guns. “If I knew you so well then why couldn’t I foresee that what we shared in the back of your truck would change you?”
His nostrils fared and he looked like he was searching deep for lost patience.
Chapter Six
CREED FORCED AIR into his lungs and exhaled noisily. He heard Mindy’s words but was he hearing right? How dare she come flouncing in here, into his life, and demanding that he open himself up to her. “That’s entertaining. You were the one who walked away, sweetheart. Not me.”
“Things changed after we slept together. I guess you got what you wanted, and it was time to move on to the next one.” Once the word parted her lips, she realized how ridiculous they sounded. Creed had never been a player, not with her or anyone. He’d always been respectful. Why couldn’t she just admit that she’d felt rejected when things had gone back to what felt like “friends” only after they slept together.
He blinked. “You’re really saying stupid shit now. What the hell are you talking about? I was a damn kid, Mindy. So were you. I’m sorry that I was an awkward kid who had no clue how to act after he’d slept with his best friend.”
“So then what? Was I supposed to give you time? My God, I’d already spent most of my life up until that point following you around like I was your shadow. Maybe I’d hoped…”
“Hoped what?”
“You knew how much I cared for you. I made my feelings clear. I wanted—hoped—you’d treat me like a woman instead of a best friend.”
Her words burnt his ears. “We were best friends. Are you suggesting that I mistreated you? I saved your ass how many times? Didn’t that prove I cared?”
“Saved my ass? How?” She chuckled but it lacked humor.
“How about the time you jumped off the bridge into the creek? Do you think I wanted to jump too? I had no choice but to follow because I was afraid you’d drown.”
She squinted. “I didn’t drown. I knew what I was doing. I wanted to swim.”
“Obviously you didn’t down. You’re missing the point. How about the time you climbed into the bull pen and that old fat bull thought you were the red flag. Or how about the time I beat Bobby Sager up because he touched your—”
“I do get the point! You were always there for me.” As if the realization of her own words struck her, her eyes widened, and she dropped her arms to her sides. Her bottom lip trembled. “Just don’t throw those times up in my face. I never asked for you to take on the job as my bodyguard.”
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that? No matter what I say you’re going to peck me to the bone like a vulture on roadkill. Don’t blame me because you went in search of a whole new world in California. You got what you wanted, and life here went on without you. Are you seeing that you no longer have a place here?”
Hurt filled her eyes. “What happened to the nice Creedy?”
“Maybe he went out the door with the nice Mindy,” he growled. “Then again, when were you ever thinking of my feelings?”
“Really? That’s a riot! You talk about the times you were there for me but who was there every time you decided to do something stupid that could have gotten us into trouble?”
“You’re so annoying. I see that hasn’t changed.”
“You’re still an asshole. And like all asses you’re a bigger one now than ever.”
“Oh, that’s just funny. Coming from the woman who had her nose so high in the air she’d drown in a rainstorm. Check out my BMW. Ooh ooh. Check out my pretty diamond. Oh oh.” He mocked her tone, lifting his hand and waving his fingers.
Her mouth fell open, but
