Page 59 of No Going Back
Janie definitely wasn’t exaggerating when she said she was just in the mood to be mad. “He’s not just a hard worker. He’s also funny and smart and thoughtful.”
“Thoughtful.” Janie slapped another wad of dough against the counter. “Please don’t tell me you’re considering flowers and gifts thoughtful.” She slapped another hunk of dough. “Because anyone can buy you shit.”
For a second, Dianna was a little irked at her friend’s reaction, but then she got sad.
Sad because Janie obviously understood where to set the bar when it came to relationships. She was clearly the kind of woman who made men prove they were worthy of her time and would probably be appalled to know everything Dianna allowed to happen in her life. Everything she accepted.
“No, he’s actually never bought me anything.” She lifted one shoulder as she went to work filling the next cookie sheet. “Unless you count dinner.” She tipped her head to one side, thinking back a little farther. “And he did always grossly overpay when he came in here.”
“So what I’m hearing is he’s fantastic because he does the bare minimum.” Janie slammed her hands against the counter again, eyes fixing on Dianna’s face. “Are you sure you’re not just blinded by good dick?”
“Blinded by good dick?” Dianna shook her head. “I don’t even know what that means.”
“It means he’s so good in bed you don’t notice how shitty he is everywhere else.” Janie slammed another wad of dough down. “At least not right away.”
Dianna thought about it for a second. Griffin was definitely good in bed. But was he good enough to make her overlook things the same way she had in the past?
No. That would probably be impossible.
“Listen.” Janie’s tone gentled as she rounded the counter and came to stand in front of Dianna, resting both hands on her shoulders. “I’m not trying to be a jerk. I just think you should be with a man who deserves to be with you.” Her expression hardened the tiniest bit. “And it doesn’t sound likeGriffinis deserving of all the amazingness that you are.”
Janie gave Griffin’s name a little added inflection again. Like she was just as mad at him as she was at Devin Peters. Honestly, she might be. It seemed like Janie was letting her interaction on the way in bleed over to taint the entirety of the male species.
Yet another thing Dianna understood completely. She’d felt a similar sort of way after splitting up with Martin. It was simply easier to expect every man to be bad than it was to face the daunting task of deciding which ones were and which ones weren’t.
“I promise I will never be with a man who doesn’t deserve me.” She leaned in, softening her tone just the tiniest bit. “As long as you promise not to give Officer Peters too hard of a time the next time you see him.”
“Now that’s just mean.” Janie sighed, eyes rolling up to the ceiling. “Fine. I won’t be mean to Officer Peters the next time I see him.”
Dianna smiled. “Good.”
Janie’s eyes met hers. “Unless he’s mean to me first.”
Dianna tipped her head to one side, giving Janie a stern look. “You’re going to need that emergency contact he told you to get.” She bit back a smile. “But not to help you change a tire. You’re going to need it for bail money.”
Janie waved her off, looking unconcerned. “I’ve already got a bail money bitch.” She went back to her spot at the workstation, being a little kinder to the cinnamon roll dough as she worked. “It’s one of the most important things a girl can have.”
Dianna chuckled, going back to her cookies. “I don’t think I’ve ever had one of those.”
Janie gave her a bright smile. “Well you do now. I would be honored to be your bail money bitch.”
It was an oddly touching statement. One that made her take Janie’s earlier comments a little more to heart. Clearly, Janie was more discerning when it came to the men she allowed in her life, so she should at least give her friend’s fears a tiny bit of consideration.
Even though she didn’t really need to.
Griffin was working really hard to open up. Little by little he was sharing more and more of how he thought and felt with her. But maybe she could expect a tiny bit more. Maybe a little insight into what his life was like before coming to Moss Creek. How he felt when he found out he had a son.
Hell, she didn’t even know if he had brothers or sisters.
The realization was sobering.
And disappointing.
It made her think maybe Janie had more of a point than she’d realized.
* * *
GRIFFIN WAS OUT on his porch waiting when Dianna got home. By the time she got out of her car he was standing at the open garage door, greeting her with a kiss that eased a little of the turmoil winding up her insides.
