Rock Chick Redemption (Rock Chick #3)(101)

(I should point out that I didn’t real y know what I was doing, but I thought I kinda did.)

So I announced, “I’m moving back in with Uncle Tex.

He’s a big guy, he has a shotgun. He can protect me until this mess is over.”

Hank’s head came up and he was smiling at me, like I was being cute and adorable. “You aren’t movin’ back in with Tex.”

“Yes I am.”

“Let’s forget for a second that no way in hel would he let you, I won’t let you. First, I want to make sure you’re safe and the only way to do that is for me to make you safe.

Second, Tex is an ex-con. Something happens, he has to use that shotgun, there’l be uncomfortable questions as to why he’s got a gun.”

Shit.

I didn’t want Uncle Tex to have to answer uncomfortable questions.

“So, I’l move into the safe room until this is over,” I tried.

“Lee won’t let you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I won’t let him let you.”

I scowled at him some more.

Fucking Hank.

There was nothing for it. It was now or never.

“Okay then, I’m breaking up with you. Trust me, Hank, it’s for your own good. I know you don’t understand but one day, when you’re with a nice woman who makes you French toast with sweetened cream cheese spread in the middle, you wil .”

And I hope she’s boring, boring, boring. I thought but did not say, because it wasn’t nice and I didn’t real y mean it. I didn’t want Hank to have boring but, if I was honest with myself, I didn’t want him to forget me either.

I made this announcement on a wave of bravado and a seriously painful stomach clutch. In fact, I was almost certain I was going to vomit.

He shook his head and his smile didn’t change. Even though I was breaking up with him, he still was looking at me like I was cute and adorable.

“You’re not breakin’ up with me,” he said.

The nausea left me and I blinked at him. “I am,” I told him.

“You’re not.”

“Hank, I am.”

“Sunshine, you are not.”

“You can’t tel me I’m not breaking up with you when I’m breaking up with you!” I said, fairly loudly.

“I think I just did.”

I looked at the ceiling of the cab. “I do not believe this,” I told the ceiling.

There was just no shaking this guy!

Hank’s hand moved to my chin and he forced me to look at him. “Roxie, I have never met a woman more annoyingly stubborn than you.”

Wel !

He ignored my flashing eyes (and I was sure they were seriously flashing) and went on. “You’ve got some fool idea in your head that you’re protectin’ me and you’re fired up to keep it there.”

“It isn’t a fool idea.”

“It’s beyond a fool idea.”

Well!

Then he ignored my grinding teeth and his grin came back. “Lucky for you, I’m as patient as you are stubborn.”

“You’re not patient. You’re more stubborn than me.”

“That works too.”

“Hank, you have to listen to me –”

“On this subject, no I don’t.”

“Hank –”

“Let’s get you inside, I’ve got to work.”

“We have to talk.”

“We’l talk later.”

“We need to talk now.”

His arms tightened and he pul ed me out of my seat, across his lap and his arm went around my waist as one hand slid into my hair and tilted my head down to look at his face. It was a tight fit and we were super close, his face face. It was a tight fit and we were super close, his face was al I could see.

“When Fortnum’s closes, I’l come and get you. We’l go home, we’l make dinner, we’l make love and afterward you can try and convince me that we’re not gonna work. When that doesn’t happen, I’l convince you we are. Then, we’l probably make love again and then we’l sleep. How does that sound?”

It sounded f**king great.

Jeez.

I was definitely in trouble. In fact I was so in trouble, you could tattoo it on me.

I gave up.

Temporarily.

“I’m going to Tod and Stevie’s tonight. Emergency Wedding Summit and then Tod’s helping me with an outfit for Daisy’s party.”

His body started shaking and I realized, belatedly, he was enjoying this. He actual y thought this was fun. My stomach was tied in knots and Hank was entertained.

“How exactly were you thinkin’ you were going to manage to break up with me and then go back to Chicago when you have no car, a car ful of your shit is in my house and you’ve got a more active social life in Denver than I have?” he asked.

“They’re your friends,” I snapped.

“Too late, sweetheart, you can’t scrape them off either.

Although, it would be amusing to watch you try.” Good grief.

Whatever.

Time to cut my losses.

“Don’t you have to get to work?” I asked, sounding uppity.

“Yeah,” he said.