Page 79 of Truck Off

“Why?” Her whispered question is so quiet I almost don’t hear it. “People don’t do things for me without expecting something in return.”

“I don’t expect anything in return for this. This is how it works when someone cares about you.” I place my fingers under her chin and lift her face to mine. “I care about you. Deeply. Despite how much you try to hide from the world, I see the real you. The kind, loving, funny woman who hides behind a scowl and that tough girl persona.”

For a moment, I think she’s going to give in to me. But then her expression hardens, and she pushes against my chest. This time, I let her go.

“You’re wrong. I’m not kind or loving. And I certainly don’t take handouts. Will you please take me home? I’d appreciate it.”

I nod. My shoulders slump as she spins around and heads back toward my apartment. I shove my hands into my hair and tug at the strands as my frustration builds.

So much for being happy and carefree. That version of Lina is gone.

With one act of kindness, her walls are back up. I only hope this time they’re not as strong, and I’m able to break them down faster than last time.

* * *

Lina is quiet as we make our way to my truck. She doesn’t look at me when I open the door for her, and she refuses my hand when I offer it up to help her in.

I shut the passenger door a little too hard after she’s settled. My frustration is near the boiling point.

If I’d thought for one second she’d be this pissed off about her car, I would’ve asked her first. But I thought I was doing her a solid. I get that she’s used to dealing with shit on her own, but she doesn’t have to anymore.

Hell, she never should have had to deal with all this on her own in the first place. No one should.

I make my way around my truck and slide into the driver’s seat. I sit there for several beats, staring at the space in front of me. I’m at a loss about what to say to her to make this right. It’s not like I can ask Sophia to unfix her car. She already installed the new fuel pump. The hoses were trashed, so until the new ones are put in, her car is parked.

“Are we just gonna sit here all morning, or do you think you can start this truck up and drive me home?” She snaps out her question, clearly annoyed. Her tone only manages to piss me off.

“Can you kill the attitude?” I snap my gaze to hers, and she flinches. “I didn’t fix your car to piss you off or control you or to get something from you. I did because you’re my girl and I hated the thought of you getting stuck somewhere when it finally died. It wasn’t something that cost me a lot of money or time. I really don’t see what the big fucking deal is.”

“It is a big fucking deal.” She tosses her hands in the air. “And I shouldn’t have to explain that to you. Just take me home. Then we can go our separate ways and forget last night ever happened.”

“Fuck!” I slam my hand on the steering wheel before I slide my seat back. I reach for her so fast she doesn’t have time to fight me off before I have her in my lap with her body held tightly against me.

I wrap my hand around her neck and hold her face close to mine. “There’s no way in hell I can forget about last night. Ever.” I bark out. “You said you wouldn’t run. So no fucking running.”

She pushes against me, but I hold her tighter. “Let me go.”

“I can’t.” My voice cracks as I pull her mouth to mine. All it takes is one swipe of my tongue and she immediately softens. She opens her mouth and gives just as good as she takes. Our mouths devour each other in a hungry, angry kiss that says there’s no way in fucking hell that we’re walking away from each other.

She can be pissed all she wants, but she’s mine. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to her if that’s what it takes.

When I break the kiss, we’re both panting. I’d been so focused on kissing her into submission that I didn’t even notice she’d rotated until she was straddling me.

“Dammit, Chase.” She cups my face and pulls my mouth back to hers. “I want to be mad at you.”

I growl and squeeze her ass. When I do, it pushes her center closer to my hardening cock. We both moan at the friction. “Be mad all you want, just don’t fucking run, babe.”

“Okay.” She breathes against my mouth before she sucks my bottom lip between her teeth and bites down.

I groan and thrust up as my cock thickens. “If you keep that up, I’m not taking you home.”

“I have to go home.” Her voice is raspy and sexy and so ready to give in to me.

I squeeze her ass one more time before I give it a light pat. “Then I suggest you slide back to your seat and buckle up.”

“Party pooper.” She pouts.

She starts to move from my lap, but I tighten my grip on her hips. Her eyes shoot to mine. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you about your car first. I won’t make that mistake again.”

---