Chirp(42)

He advanced on her, and she backed up. He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I know.”

“Then why are you mad at me?”

“I’m not. I’m mad at myself. I should have figured it out the minute I kissed you, and I should have stopped no matter what you said.”

She shrugged. “Just one big solecism, I guess.”

There it was. Her fucking word. “You don’t have to give up your room.”

She started hoeing again. “That’s okay. Hanna is leaving town for the weekend, and I’m taking care of the goats. I need to stay there.”

Rance kicked the dirt and turned to go. There was no changing her mind. He’d only taken a few steps when she called after him, and for a split second, hope overwhelmed him.

“Hey.”

He turned and shaded his eyes. “Yeah?”

“Is it all right if Muttly goes with me?”

His chest tightened. “Sure. Take him.”

“Thanks.”

The heels of Rance’s boots dug into the ground as he stomped away. He wanted to wring her neck. Why did she have to be so stubborn? He whipped out his phone and tried typing in solecism. Thank God Google knew how to spell it. He read the definition. Mistake. Blunder. Error. Damn right. The sex. Her leaving. And most of all everything he’d said.

Even by his standards it was too early to drink, but he needed something to calm his nerves. Hell, it was five o’clock somewhere. He revved up the Harley and tore out down the road, letting the wind clear his head. He cruised into town and parked in front of Fly-By Quickie Mart.

Rance stopped at the end of the counter and eyed Hanna. “Thought you were out of town.”

She looked past him as if she expected to see someone else. “Oh no, I’m not leaving until later today. What can I help you with?”

“Pack of Marlboro short reds in a box.”

She pulled the pack from the rack behind her and laid them next to the register. “I thought you’d stopped smoking. What happened? Fall off the wagon?”

Rance took money from his wallet and handed it to Hanna. “Something like that. So, Chirp’s staying at your place.”

“Chirp?”

“That’s what I call Blaze. Long story.”

Hanna rang up the sale and offered his change. “You’re breaking her heart, you know.”

His hackles went up. “How you figure that?”

“Forget it. I should mind my own business.”

What had Chirp been telling her? Except for the bad decision about sex, he’d been as nice as possible. He clenched his teeth. “But you’re not, so what the hell are you talking about?”

“She thinks she’s in love with you.”

Pain pierced his temples like his brain might explode. “Not possible.”

“Oh, it’s possible, all right. You think she’d ask for sex without an emotional involvement? She’s not like the women you bring home.”

“I know that. And—well, I thought she was horny, and since I was available . . . ” He clenched his jaw. “Wait. She told you about it?”

“The basics. She asked you. It was terrible. And you said you never wanted to do it again. Great pep talk, by the way. You really know how to make a girl feel special.”

“Fuck. I hope she told you I tried to stop.”

“Yeah, she mentioned that. I’m not blaming you. I get it. She’s with you all the time. You’ve been nice to her. The banquet. The dog.”

He held up his hand. “Wait. She knows I bought Muttly for her?”

Hanna widened her eyes. “I meant you let her keep him. But you bought him?”

“Yeah. To make up for getting rid of the cats.”

“Well, you need to put some distance between you. That’s why I have her staying at my place. Maybe by the time I get back in town, she will have come to her senses.”

“What does that mean?”

“That it’s a crush,” Hanna said. “You’re the first man she’s been around, so she doesn’t have enough experience to know the difference between infatuation and the real thing. Just stay away from her. That way she won’t read more into your kindness than you intend.”

Grabbing the box of cigarettes, he shoved it into his shirt pocket. “Yeah. Sure.” He spun around and stormed out.

Rance cursed himself all the way home. So Chirp had a crush on him. Big deal. Not his fault. She’d known from the minute he showed up what he thought about sex. A basic need with no attachments. He’d never led her to believe anything else. Sure, he cared about her, and missed her. But he’d miss anybody when they were in his face all the time.

Okay, she wasn’t in his face, but she was always there. Washing, cooking, and cleaning. She’d made herself useful, and he’d gotten used to it. After so many years behind bars, he figured he deserved pampering, and she’d seemed to enjoy it. Wasn’t like he’d made demands. Hell, he’d told her over and over how much he appreciated what she did.

Had she misinterpreted that? Is that why she’d asked for sex? God, he hated when women couldn’t separate lust and love. He wanted to screw her. He liked having her around. But that didn’t mean he wanted a commitment.

Did she think they’d fuck, and he’d ask her to go steady? He couldn’t help but laugh. With her lack of experience, he guessed that’s what she’d thought.