Page 15 of Guarded Secrets
She smacked her fist in the pocket of the glove that was way too big for her. Not that she was small. She was probably medium height for a woman, and he liked her sturdy build. Waif-like women made him feel ham-handed and clumsy.
Keeley looked tough enough to take wild sex and want more. He scowled. That wasnotwhat he should be thinking about. He’d worked damn hard to keep any ideas of Keeley and sex out of his head, and it irritated him that his brain went there.
“You gonna explain the deceitful, lying bastard comment or are we done here?”
She set the mitt back on the shelf and faced him, crossing her arms in front of her. He’d irritated her more than a few times in the past, but he didn’t think he’d ever gotten her mad enough her hazel eyes sparked green. Which was a stupid thing to notice.
“You lied to Lou and told him we’re together.”
“No. Lou came to that conclusion by himself. I didn’t correct him.”
“You should have because Lou’s a gossip and he’s already spread that tidbit around. When I went to get my car, one of the guys who works there, Jimmy Drummond, acted offended I was going out with you.”
“He must want to be the guy to go out with you.”
“Maybe he does. We’d been chatting on this dating app, and today he accused me of being dishonest since, according to Lou, I already have a boyfriend.”
“What the hell are you doing on a dating app?”
She held his gaze even though her cheeks were reddening. “Lots of people find good matches on dating apps. It’s not like I’m selling myself.”
“If he found you on a dating app, he wants in your pants. You outclass him in every aspect. You should be thanking me.”
“Maybe I want him in my pants, as you so crudely put it. Jimmy’s a nice guy, so no, I’m not thanking you.”
“He’s not the guy for you. You’d run circles around him.”
“You don’t know that, and you don’t know what kind of guy is for me. I’d like to find someone, but you acting like we’re together isn’t conducive to me achieving that goal.”
“Those are some big words you’ve got there, Miz Montaigne.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t make fun of me. I’m thirty-two years old and I want to find someone to spend my life with. I’d like to get married and have a family, and suitable men aren’t exactlyknocking down my door.” She glared at him. “Don’t you dare judge me.”
“Jesus, princess. I’m not judging you.” He stabbed his fingers through his hair. He was coming perilously close to saying things he had absolutely no business saying. He needed her to leave before he did something stupid.
“I’ll straighten Lou out if it’s important to you. That all?”
“It is important to me, and no, that’s not all. I told Lou what tires I wanted, what tires I couldafford,and you convinced him the little lady didn’t have a clue what she needed and had him put on different tires.”
“The all-weathers are better tires.”
“I didn’t want the all-weathers. I wanted the ones I ordered.”
“Which weren’t the best for driving in the mountains. It fucking snowed overnight. The roads were icy this morning. Your car isn’t even all-wheel drive. The tires I ordered are safer. I told him I’d pay the difference.”
She stalked toward him, as predatory as a mountain lion. “Listen to me, mister. I chose the tires I did for a reason. I’m selling my CRV once I start my new teaching position and get my first paycheck. Then I can buy a new car better suited to mountain driving. A new-to-me car, anyway, because it’s likely to be a used car. I didn’t want to put expensive tires on the CRV given we’re almost done with winter weatherandI’ll be selling it. Now I either have to go to Lou and explain that you’renotmy boyfriend and have no authority to override my decision, and then get him to put on the tires I ordered, or I’ll have to pay you the difference for tires I didn’t want in the first place.”
“Or take the third option and keep the tires and keep your money. I don’t want you to pay me back.”
“That’s not how I operate, relying on a man to take care of me. I pay my own way, and now I owe you money when I’m without a paycheck for the next four months unless I can get seasonal work for the summer.” Briefly, she closed her eyes. “And it’s dawned on mesince I drove over here, the tires Lou put on have road dirt on them. It’s not fair to him to return used tires.”
“Keep the tires, and keep your money,” he repeated. He raised a hand and when he realized he was going to jam his fingers through his hair again, he dropped it. He hated having a tell. “Pay me back in a different way.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Exactly what are you suggesting?”
“What do you think I’m suggesting?” He couldn’t help messing with her.
“I don’t trade anything for sex, Owen.”
