Page 15 of Manny

“Yeah,” she sighs. “Can I let you in on a little secret?”

I lean in. “Of course.”

“I pick really bad men.”

My eyes widen slightly. “Can I let you in on a little secret, too?”

She nods.

“I pick really bad men, too.”

She chuckles. “What a pair we make. I’m just not used to men taking their time, you know? Most of the guys I’ve been with are just, well, brutes.”

I swallow hard. “Brutes? Did they hurt you?”

She looks down at her lap briefly, then meets my gaze again. “Some of them. But this isn’t a pity party. I just meant, there’s a good kinda brute, and well, a bad kind.”

“Did they hit you?”

“Manny.”

“Did. They. Hit. You?”

She bites her lip. “I was in a bad place until recently. My ex was bad news. And it turned out my employer wasn’t much better. I had to leave a job I really loved.”

“What did you do before?”

“I worked as a tax accountant.”

I’m not that surprised. She’s a smart girl. “In Arizona, right?”

“Yep.”

“How come you’re not doing that here?”

She shrugs. “I wanted a change.” She shuts me down quickly. Okay, so she doesn’t wanna talk about that. My girl is just fullof secrets. Not that I blame her. Nobody wants to hear about my shitty past, either.

“And these other guys?” I need to get back to the main topic, even though at any moment she could shut me down, quite rightly.

She shrugs. “I always pick the bad boys. It’s like a gift.” She laughs without humor.

“But this new guy sounds different, right?” I try to make it sound like I’m joking around. Being the nosy body I’m known as, instead of the man who’s dying for her lips on my body. Now that she’s touched me, it feels like a whole new ballgame.

She shakes her head. “Yeah, he’s not like that. I know he wouldn’t hurt me, and he’s a single dad who seems to have his priorities in order.”

“Just as long as you’re being safe.” It’s my turn to squeeze her hand back, like she did for me. “I know this town can swallow you whole if you let it.”

“I’m being safe. Like I said, it’s new, and he’s kinda old school. We’re just taking things slow..”

I try not to let my relief show. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.”

“If you’re trying to make me cry, you’re going the right way about it.”

Our eyes meet, and my gaze softens. “No tears. Well, happy ones are allowed.”

She rolls her lips, trying to gather herself, then says, “Are there any more house rules?”

“Yes. If you make a mess, clean it up. I can cook our meals, but I hate laundry. And we have to commit to watching a movie together one night a week.”

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