MacKenzie Fire(54)

Andie pulls me into a hug. “Have fun. Just don’t get your hopes up or your heart broken, okay? I don’t think I could handle it.”

I lean back to see her face. “Are you crying?”

“Of course I’m crying!” she shouts. “You almost got killed by a mountain lion for shit’s sake and now you’re about to get your heart crushed by a player who I can’t kill because I’m related to him!”

“Awww, poor baby …” I pat her cheek. “Those hormones are just kicking your ass right now, aren’t they?”

She slaps my hand away. “No, stupid, it’s not the hormones. It’s you, taking risks you shouldn’t. Now, where’s the gun?” She holds out her hand as if I’m supposed to put something in it.

“What gun?” I’m all innocence.

“The gun you bought.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’m not technically lying since I don’t currently know where the gun is. I hope Ian has it in his truck or somewhere else safe. That thing saved our lives today. I think.

A knock comes at the door and Ian’s voice floats into the room. “You ready yet? I have to get going. If you want a ride, you’d better come now.”

I cut Andie’s next question off with a raised hand. “Save it for later. I have to get dressed and go before Nurse Ratched brings in the National Guard.”

Andie watches me while I struggle into the outfit Ian bought me at the store. My IV hole is dripping blood, but as soon as I’m dressed I slap the gauze back on it.

When I’m finally done and standing straight, I realize with the red plaid shirt and elastic waistband jeans Ian bought me, I look like a redneck slut from the nineteen forties on a bender. Andie and I stare at my sad self and then burst out laughing together.

“I’m not worried anymore,” Andie finally says, still smiling.

“Worried about what?”

“Worried that Ian will convince you to run away with him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, a little confused.

She points at me. “If that’s his idea of a cute outfit, he doesn’t stand a chance with you.”

Ha, ha, ha.

I laugh right along with her, but inside I’m telling her she doesn’t know diddly squat about me or Ian. He did this on purpose, which is his way of begging me to come at him with everything I’ve got. I’m giddy inside, knowing that he thinks he’s winning but that he’s wrong. I am seriously going to get him when he least expects it. He has totally met his match in me.





Chapter Twenty-Three





THE RIDE BACK FROM THE hospital is awkward. Ian’s rescued me from Andie’s interrogation, but now as I think back on all the things I was saying to her and what was going on in my mind, I realize what I actually meant. I like Ian. I mean, I really like him.

Sneaking glances at him as he drives and hums along to the radio only confirms my suspicion. God, he’s gorgeous. Sexy. Adorable. There’s no way I can just sleep with this guy and escape unscathed. He’s going to take a piece of my heart and I’ll have to leave it behind when I go. Do I want to do that? Can I do that?

“What’s going on in that bean of yours?” he asks without looking at me.

“Just thinking about how sexy I look in these clothes,” I say, glad he can’t read minds. “I don’t know how you’re going to keep your hands off me now.”

He chuckles. “Me neither. Thought those colors suited you.”

I pull out the waistband. “And this elastic too. Sexy, sexy.”

“Makes it easier to get in and out of ‘em with a hurt arm.”

I laugh. “Don’t play. You know you bought these for me because they were the most hideous pair in the entire store.”

“Wrong again,” he says, pulling onto the dirt road from the paved one. “Trust me. There were way worse ones there I could’ve bought for you. I can go back and get ‘em if you want.” He glances at me and winks.

I just blow out some air and stare out the side window. I have no response for that. My brain isn’t running on all cylinders. It sounds like he was being nice again, even though he dressed me like a drunken redneck granny.

“Want me to take care of Candy for ya?” he asks.

I look at him. “She’s real?”

“Of course she’s real.” He frowns at me a couple times before going back to watching the road. “You sure you should be out of the hospital?”

“Of course I should be. I just … wasn’t sure if I dreamed that part or not.”

“No, you definitely didn’t dream it. And she’s probably pretty hungry right now.”

My gut twists uncomfortably as I think about that poor baby starving without me there to feed her. “Hurry up, Ian, go faster.”

“Just relax. I’m messing with you. She’ll be fine.”

I wipe the nervous sweat off my forehead. “Just hurry up.”

The car goes quiet for a while and then he speaks again when we’re not far from the ranch. “You’re really worried about that calf, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am.” I look at him and try to figure out why that’s so surprising to him. “Aren’t you?”