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I get in the truck and fasten my seat belt.
“No, you can’t!”
I arch a brow and turn to her. “You’re the one who said it.” I pause. She’s adorable when she’s frustrated. “There’s tension between us.”
“Yes.” She sneers. “And you had your opportunity, not once but twice to alleviate it and chose not to.”
“Well…” I press the ignition button. “I’m more interested in getting my alleviation in small doses.” I turn to the windshield.
“That’s not an option, and I don’t agree with it.”
“But you will.” I put the truck in drive.
“Listen, I just wanted to have sex with you, and I can assure you that want has passed. So don’t get any ideas in your head.”
“I’m not.” I back out of the parking spot.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” I flash her a grin as I straighten out the wheels.
The ideas are already in my head.
She’s been dumping them in there since the day I met her. Now, I just need to get them into her head.
“You can take me to Willa’s,” she says, crossing her arms over her heaving chest.
“Okay.” I nod.
???
The drive back to Ruskin remains quiet. I imagine she’s fighting with herself about what happened the day before. She blames herself, and I get it. She forced me to understand by mentioning Emily. I blamed myself for what went down with her. It took time for me to get through it.
We have no control over what people do. Or why. We can only survive and move forward.
If Harper’s going to take over for Willa for the time being, she’ll have to learn how to manage her feelings, learn from them, and store them in a safe place to draw from later. Doing what we do it’s not for everyone. Still, I have confidence she’s got what it takes.
She’s tough. And while I get a sense that she struggles to use it, she has a caring heart and is empathetic. What she’s been through these past three days it’s enough to send anyone packing. Yet she’s still here, pushing her way through it. I’ve got respect.
I’ve got other things for her as well. I must sort out my own shit before acting on any of my feelings.
She’s Willa’s niece.
I don’t know how long she plans on staying in Florida.
If she’s going back to Texas.
After the taste I got last night, she could mess with me. My heart included. And that’s insane. It’s only been three days.
Then again, my life changed in a split second or however long it takes to pull a trigger and kill someone. It tore my family apart. And as fucked up as our lives might have been, it was the only life my brothers and I knew.
Getting starry-eyed over a woman I just met is nuts.
I don’t have much experience with women. I don’t date. That’s not to say I don’t get laid. But between working long hours until the job is done and the escorts, there’s not much time to get involved with anyone. Not to mention, the unpredictable calls that take me away for a few hours. The bruises and late nights. All that shit would be difficult to explain to a girlfriend.
It’s best to stick with casual sex.
Fuck, if Brett isn’t right, though. Am I romantic?
