He leaned forward and rubbed his knee. “Once in a while this thing stings like a sonuvabitch. Feels good to sit for a while.”
“What did Amber want you ask me?”
The stress lines on his forehead relaxed as he flexed his leg. “Oh, yeah. I’m going to the ranch when I finish the storage facility job, around the first of August. I’ll stay for about three weeks, then bring her back home before school starts. She wants you to come with me.”
“I can’t possibly be gone for that long. I need to hustle up some real estate sales. This is the time when people with kids make plans to move. There’s not much money coming in for me until I get my building fully rented.”
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Have you considered a new profession? I think you have the hooker thing down pat.”
“Shut up!” She glanced around to see if any strollers had heard. “Like I said, you have a death wish, Dempsey.” She scooted away from him.
“Sorry, honey, I just love teasing you.” He hugged her again and kissed her cheek. “I know you can’t be away for a month, but how about a week? You could drive up with me and fly home from Sheridan. You’d love the ranch. My mom remembers you and Charlene.”
“I’ll think about it. There’s a lot on my plate right now, a lot happening at the real estate office.” Marla’s emotions bounced like a trampoline. She loved him and wanted to be with him as much as possible, but she had a life before they became a couple. She didn’t want to lose her identity or independence.
His sharp perception surprised her again. “Are you feeling smothered by me?”
“No!” She shook her head and knew her response had been suspiciously over the top. “Well, maybe a little. I’ve never been in love and I had no idea it could be so wonderful and so scary. Please don’t read more into it. I love you. I’m just…”
He stood and took her hand. “Let’s get lunch and head home. We won’t talk about it now. Take all the time you need.”
They made their way to the Terrace dining area and discovered it had just closed.
“Let’s go on home, Dwayne. I can wait until we get back to Spring Grove. I’m tired.”
Her admission hit him like a fist in the gut. Had he gone too far, too fast? He didn’t want to lose her, but maybe she needed some space.
He’d driven several miles when she said, “You’re very quiet. Are you mad at me?”
“Jesus, no, honey.” He put his hand on her head and ran his fingers through her hair. He took his eyes off the road for a second and saw a tear slipping down her cheek. “Did you think I was mad at you? Please don’t cry. I have no idea what to do or say when a female cries. I love you.”
Marla lowered her face in her hands and sobbed.
“Oh, shit, honey, please don’t do that.” He quickly took the Sherman Way off-ramp and pulled into a Taco Bell parking lot. His stomach in knots, he turned off the ignition and gathered her into his arms. He kept his mouth shut and let her cry.
Racked with sobs, she gasped raggedly, “I don’t know what’s wr…wrong with me. I never cry. I’m a grownup.”
Still, he remained quiet because he was sure to say the wrong thing if he tried to comfort her. He held her as best he could with the damn console digging into his hip bone and stroked her back.
After an eternity of him getting sicker by the minute, she wiped her face with her fingers and dropped her head against his neck. A wave of relief went through his chest when he felt her relax. “Better?”
She nodded.
Not sure how long they’d sat there, all he could do was wait for her to compose herself. Finally she pulled away and said, “I have to blow my nose. I need a tissue.”
He chuckled and handed her the tail of his shirt. “This is the best I can do, honey. I can go inside and grab some napkins if you want.”
She reached for the latch on the glove box. “Maybe John has some in here.” She shrieked and slammed back against the seat like she’d encountered a rattlesnake.
His heart stopped for a split second. “What?”
“There’s a gun in there.”
“Dad has a CCP. I should have looked before I took the car.”
“A CCP?”
“Concealed carry permit. Don’t worry, it has a safety, you can’t fire it accidentally. Takes a lot of strength to release it.”
She leaned into him and wiped her face on his shirttail. “Sorry. You offered.”
“I guess I can’t complain. What say we go inside and have a cup of coffee?”
“How do I look? And don’t say beautiful!” She wiped her fingertips under her eyes and smoothed down her wild hair.
“Like you got smacked in the kisser with a two by four. Come on, who cares?” He opened his door and stepped out. Leading with his left leg wasn’t ideal, but unless he moved to Britain, where the steering wheels were on the right side, he was stuck with the situation. He leaned in. “You coming?”
She pushed her door open. “Yes.”
He met her at the back of the car, took her hand, and they walked into the fast food place together.
She smiled when he carried a tray to the table with two cups of coffee, two soft drinks, and several greasy paper bags containing tacos and burritos. “Looks like this is dinner.”
“Looks like.” He slid onto the bench across from her and set the tray on the table.
She leaned forward on her elbows, cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered, “Don’t let it get around, but I love their tacos.”
He winked. “Something else we have in
