his big body, ignoring the way those well-worn dark blue jeans clung to powerful thighs and accentuated the length of his legs. And the way the green and gold t-shirt of the National Parks Service he wore highlighted his green eyes.
Not that I noticed or anything. “I’ve got it, thanks.”
He shrugged, but his hand didn’t let go of the shopping cart. “There’s no harm in lettin’ people help you, Mikki.”
Of all the condescending things to say to a woman… “If I needed help, the kid inside whose job it is to help would be helping me. So, it would seem, since he isn’t here, that I don’t need help.” Why the heck was he being so darn persistent, anyway, when he couldn’t wait to get away from me the last two times I saw him? Oh, of course. “Of course!” I shook my head and moved the cart around him, barely holding back the string of profanities on the tip of my tongue.
“Of course, what?” His words came out on a growl that I shouldn’t have found sexy, but dammit, I did.
With my trunk wide open, I spun on him and poked a finger against his hard, massive chest. “I don’t need you doing me any favors because you have some misplaced sense of guilt, Nate. I never expected anything from you but the good time you gave me, so your conscience is clear. Totally.”
He blinked, confused, but that didn’t stop him from wrapping a hand around my wrist. “Guilty? What the hell do I have to feel guilty about?”
Of course, he wouldn’t feel guilty. I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Whatever it is you’re trying to fix by offering to load up my car. It’s not necessary.”
“I’m just trying to be helpful. Neighborly. It’s what we do around here.” He reached for a bag, but I snatched it before he could. I could take care of myself. Regardless of what Daddy or Mitchell, or even my own mama thought, I could take care of myself just fine.
“I don’t need your help, Nate.” And I didn’t want it. When and only when I wanted help would I ask for it—until then, I was determined to be as independent as possible. And Nate was a strong reminder of why.
The last time I trusted a man, it didn’t turn out well for me. It wasn’t a mistake I was keen to repeat.
Nate
“A little help here!”
After my encounter with Mikki, I was in a bad mood and taking it out on everyone. Luckily for me, I worked with a bunch of men who didn’t give a damn and who gave as good as they got.
Preston came out of the emergency services building first, using the entrance reserved for Tulip’s big red fire trucks. “Who took a dump in your oatmeal?”
I raised a brow at him and shoved three bags into his arms. “You’ve been spending too much time with Nina.” The old Preston would have never said something so crass, and I kind of liked the change.
“Well, she is my wife, so time together is hard to avoid. Plus, she’s awesome. So, who took a big nasty in your cereal, Nate?”
“Mikki,” I grunted and turned around, because I knew Preston wouldn’t let it go at that. Ever since he’d hooked up with Nina, the dude wanted to talk about his feelings and her feelings—hell, everybody’s feelings—day and night. “Who else?”
“Considering your stance on commitment, it could be anyone. When did you start something up with Mikki?”
“We didn’t start anything. It was one time, well, one night. Just one night and now she’s being, I don’t know, a brat.” No, that wasn’t exactly true, but I couldn’t explain it.
“She’s asking for more than you want to give?”
I barked out a bitter laugh and slammed the back of the SUV shut, picking up the rest of the bags as we made our way inside.
“Hell no. I took off before she woke up and now, when I’m just trying to be nice, she’s acting like I’m a leper. I think she’s upset.”
Preston stared at me like I was a stranger, or maybe from outer space. “Yah think?” He shook his head as we made our way between the fire trucks and across the communal living room, decked out with recliners and a big screen TV, and passed into the kitchen.
“Why the hell should she be upset? I made sure we both had a good time—a real good time.”