He placed both palms flat on the table and leaned toward her, rocking slightly.
“You are not staying here.”
“Yes, I am.”
His expression narrowed and she rose to her feet, suddenly aware of how tall he was, and automatically calculated his reach.
“Go home, Beth.”
She raised her chin. “I am not a dog.”
His right hand fisted and he hit the table hard. “And I do not need a goddamn babysitter!”
Even as his words reverberated off the rafters, Beth was already ducking, her arm held up to protect her face as she stumbled backward.
CHAPTER THREE
Conner blinked hard and tried to straighten up, as Beth recoiled as though he was going to hit her. She ended up on the other side of the kitchen, her intention to run as clear as the flash of fear in her gray eyes. He took a moment to get his breath before he made himself look right at her. He went to speak but she cut across him.
“Sorry about that.”
“You’re apologizing to me? I’m the one who frightened you!”
“Who says I was frightened?” She shrugged unconvincingly. “Maybe I just don’t like being shouted at when I’m trying to help you.”
Conner considered his options. Whatever she was saying, he’d seen her fear, but if she didn’t want to talk about it, he wasn’t going to push her. It wasn’t as if they were friends or anything. Even as he made his decision, his stupid brain was still asking a million questions. Who had put that look in her eyes and what kind of person hit a woman like Beth Baker?
Aware he was near the end of his strength, he pulled out the second chair and sat down on it.
“If you pass the sandwich fixings over, I can make myself some lunch.”
“No worries, I’ll get it for you.”
He wanted to argue, but after his last attempt to dictate to her he was too wary to try it.
“Thanks.”
He sat in silence watching her move competently around the kitchen, her calm good humor restored, and began to wonder whether he’d imagined what had just happened. But no, he knew what terror looked like—had seen it in his own reflection more than once after a nightmare—and he couldn’t forget.
She put a plate in front of him with two halves of a sandwich on it and his stomach growled.
“Take it slowly, okay?” She placed a couple of pills on the table. “And take these after you’ve eaten. Dr. Tio’s orders.”
He studied the pills suspiciously “What are they?”
“That he’d love you to drop in and see him at some point, but that he wasn’t holding his breath.”
Conner started on the first sandwich and devoured it in three bites. “He’s a good guy for a medic. He doesn’t get bent out of shape when you don’t follow his every word.”
“That’s because he’s used to dealing with stubborn cowboys and ranchers who only come and see him when they’re practically dying.”
She set a glass of water beside the mug. He noticed she wasn’t retaking her seat and wondered whether she didn’t want to get close to him again. He gestured at her unfinished food.
“You should eat. I’m good for a while.”
She chuckled. “Seeing the speed that you ate that first sandwich, I suspect you’re going to need another one. It feels just like home. I’ll bring it over.”
“Thanks.”
She delivered his second sandwich and sat opposite him, her chair pushed slightly away from the table and angled toward the open door.
“You don’t have to stay here,” Conner said quietly. “I’m doing good. I’ve got Loki for company, and I’m sure you have better things to do than look after a miserable jerk like me.”
“Dr. Tio said it would be better if I stayed to keep an eye on you overnight. If you’re fine in the morning, I’ll leave as soon as I can, okay?”
“But what about your kids?”
“They’re old enough to take care of themselves, and a night without their mom nagging them to clean up, get out of bed, and stop gaming will be a treat for them. My brother and his girlfriend live right next door, and my dad has an apartment over the workshop, so I think they’re okay.” She sighed. “Sometimes I need a break from all that testosterone.”
“You’re a single parent?”
“Yes. I’m raising my son, Mikey, and my stepson, Wes.”
“Wes . . .” Conner took a long drink of water. “I think I met him in town. He works with Kaiden