Page 39 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

“Not without dropping a kitten. They’re squirmy,” Gabe said, confusing her further. She’d given him the perfect out, and he wasn’t taking it.

Throwing up her free hand, she snapped, “Fine. Whatever. Let’s go.”

But as she started down the alley, her little kitten began to nuzzle and knead her neck, its tiny body vibrating with a clicking purr, effectively melting Caroline’s heart and diffusing her anger.

He’s not worth your anger or your energy.

Which killed her, because for just a moment, she’d thought he might be.

GABE, WHY THE fuck do you have to be such an asshole?

Gabe couldn’t answer the question.

It was true he’d seen the vet use mouth-to-mouth on the puppy at the shelter, but the rubbing trick he’d remembered from watching 101 Dalmatians, Honey’s favorite movie.

Now, all he could think about was the time Honey had brought home a very pregnant stray dog when they were kids. Their mother had bitched that they didn’t need another mouth to feed, but she’d let them keep the dog anyway. When the mutt gave birth, one of the puppies hadn’t been moving. Honey started crying and praying, but he’d grabbed a towel from the bathroom and started rubbing.

Gabe had told Caroline that it hadn’t worked because he didn’t want to get her hopes up, but it had worked. The little puppy had started moving and squirming, and Honey had thrown her arms around him.

“You’re my hero, Gabe.”

Hearing the same words from Caroline had sent panic bubbling up his throat. He wasn’t a good guy or a hero. If she started thinking he was anything but an arrogant dickhead, he would only disappoint her. Even at his best, there was too much bad surrounding him to combat the good. It haunted him constantly; if Honey hadn’t sustained brain damage, would she remember the accident? Would she blame him? Hate him? He could only imagine, and the scenes that played out in his mind were never ones of forgiveness.

Which was why allowing Caroline to get close to him would be a mistake. Despite the rocky start between them, he liked Caroline’s spunk. But he didn’t want to feel anything for her, especially when it would only lead to hurt later on. What could he offer any woman but a broken man with a checkered past?

But when he’d come down the stairs and found her in the Dumpster, she’d looked so sad and vulnerable, he’d wanted to help her. Protect her.

And now, the best way to do that was to keep h

er from getting too close.

“I think this is probably her,” Caroline said, breaking into his thoughts when they arrived at the vet’s office just as a large truck pulled up in front. “I can take the kitten if you want to go.”

“I’m good.” He rubbed his thumb across the fuzzy little baby’s back and almost smiled when it arched and mewled.

“You must be Gabe and Caroline,” said the young black-haired woman who jumped out of the lifted diesel truck. “I’m Zoe Carver.”

Zoe was tall and leggy, and as she passed them to open the office, Gabe noticed she walked with a small limp. She pushed open the door and turned to him with a sad smile on her face. “I’ll take the box, if you’d like.”

Gabe handed her the box of dead kittens and let Caroline go ahead of him as they followed Zoe through the lobby and into a small exam room. As Zoe clucked and tsked over the box, Gabe glanced toward Caroline and saw she was fighting to control her expression. It surprised him; he hadn’t pegged her for the type to cry over anything. Ever.

“Most likely, they died from hypothermia or suffocation. Gracie said you found them in a Dumpster?” Zoe asked. She didn’t give them the opportunity to answer before she continued. “Some people just suck.” Zoe came around the exam table and held her hands open. “Why don’t you hand over your little darling, and I’ll examine him or her.”

Gabe released the kitten to her and balked when she said, “You two should get medals for heroism.”

“I didn’t do anything,” he said quickly. “It was all her. I just held the box.” He avoided Caroline’s gaze but could feel it boring into him. The intense stare finally pulled his gaze up to meet hers, and he saw the confusion. The disappointment.

If she knew the truth, she’d understand.

The air around him became hot and stifling as he imagined telling Caroline everything he had done. The disgust and resentment it would cause.

People who found out about his DUI assumed he was an alcoholic, that he just couldn’t help himself. But he hadn’t been drunk or high since that night. He could have a beer or drink, but never more than one if he was out. Still, people didn’t want to hear that. They just assumed the worst and wrote him off.

Which was probably why he’d never gone back to his hometown, except to bury his mother. The Welcome Wagon definitely hadn’t been waiting for him.

No, he wasn’t brave or a hero. Caroline was the brave one, coming back here and facing her past.

All he could do was try to make up for his.

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