Page 27 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

He didn’t say anything, and she finally had enough. “You know, if you want to kiss me, just kiss me.”

He spun around glaring. “I do not want to kiss you.”

“Well, that’s the way you’re acting.”

“Or maybe it’s the fact that you find kissing me so repugnant that rankles me.”

“Repugnant and rankles? Those are awfully fancy words for a good old country boy.”

“Are you saying that just because I live in rural Texas that I must me stupid?”

“No, dammit, I—”

“Fuck this.” Red dropped his roller. “You make me feel like I’m diseased and stupid, and I’m supposed to stand around and take it? Good luck, California.”

He started to walk away and she yelled, “Stop!”

He paused briefly.

“I’m sorry. I know I wear bitch well. It’s kind of my go-to when I’m feeling awkward and vulnerable, but I shouldn’t take my issues out on you.”

He turned around and crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”

If he thought she was going to give him intimate details about her insecurities, he could think again. “I have a hard time trusting people and their motives. It sucks, but I’ve been screwed over, so I tend to push people to the brink. Actually, I’ve been doing that since I was a kid, even to my dad. I just don’t like feeling exposed, okay?”

Slowly, he uncrossed his arms and walked back toward her until he stood in front of her. She had to look up to meet his blue eyes, and when she did, she saw he was grinning devilishly.

“So, secretly you think I’m sexy, but you’re too damaged to admit it?”

His teasing helped her relax, and she snorted. “You do not need any encouragement from me to boost your ego.”

“Admit it, you think I’m hot.”

“Whatever. Can we go?”

She tried to walk around him, and he started dancing and singing, “If you want my body…”

“You are such an idiot,” she yelled as she walked away, fighting a laugh. She was happy that Red wasn’t the type of guy to hang on to his anger.

She heard the slap of his boots behind her, and when she pushed open the door, he brushed against her as he exited, handing her the sweatshirt she’d forgotten. She pulled it on as the cold air prickled her skin and ignored the warmth of him at her back as she locked up.

They walked down the steps, and he went to her side to open her door.

“I can really get my own door, you know.”

“Yeah, I figured, but this gives me an excuse to show off the manners my mother and the good people of Texas have instilled in me.”

She started to climb in, and he wrapped his hands around her waist, lifting her into the truck easily. When she turned in the seat, he still had his hands against her T-shirt, under her sweatshirt, and where his palms met her skin, tingles spread. Their gazes caught briefly, sparks flying, and then he released her with a grin, whistling as he closed her door.

* * *

They’d driven into Austin and gone to Home Depot and Walmart, picking up everything she needed, including a nice piece of granite for the new counters. They drove back to Loco and straight to the Double C since it was almost seven forty-five.

Red parked in front of the house, turning in the seat to face Jessie. “Rand will let us keep the TVs in the house, and I’ll put a tarp over the countertop and other stuff, just in case it rains.”

She nodded, and he noticed how tired she looked.

“Hey, if you’re too tired for this, we can always do a rain check. I know we stayed up last night texting, and Rand will understand.”

---