He frowned back. “When it comes to your safety, being a gentleman comes last.”
“You could have told me. A woman needs to know these things.”
“Ginny, what feelings you have for me … we’re traveling in two opposite directions.” Gavin uncaringly said, as he burst yet another bubble of hope that he was ever going to love her the way she loved him.
“Gavin, I can carry my own suitcase.” Her forehead creased in irritation as she set her hurt feelings aside. “I don’t know what women you’re used to dealing with, so I’m going to give you a free clue where I’m concerned. I don’t need you to carry my weight when I’m more than capable of carrying it myself. What I should have said, since you misunderstood me last time,” Ginny spoke clearly and succinctly, “is it would have been nice to have been forewarned that you expected us to be jumped when we got out of the car.”
“I should have told you,” he admitted grudgingly. “But—”
“No buts. Next time, just give me a heads-up. I don’t scare easily, and I can take it when you tell me I need to be careful. What I can’t take is you thinking I’m a nincompoop with no concern for my safety. You may be here on Viper’s order to protect me, but don’t you ever forget this is my life we’re talking about, and if I screw up, the final result could end in not just me being hurt, but you as well, and that thought is unfathomable to me.”
Gavin reached for the handle of her suitcase. “You just don’t stop. I’m going to go get my clothes and load your suitcase in the trunk. Don’t unlock the door for anyone.”
Ginny’s hand went to her suitcase, stopping him. “I don’t play games,” she stated. “I love you, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t.” Her voice became gentler yet was just as firm. “We may be going in opposite directions, but we could both end up in the same place. I can wait for you to get there.”
Gavin gave a bitter laugh. “I was engaged to a woman who promised she would wait for me. Taylor didn’t. What makes you so fucking different?”
“Gavin, when you figure that out, you’ll have your answer.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“There’s a gas station at the next exit.” Wiggling in her seat, Ginny saw the lighted sign ahead.
“We can’t stop there.” Gavin’s firm refusal had her pleading with him.
“I told you six exits back that I have to go,” she complained. “I’m hungry, and we’re almost out of gas.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes, this is the last road trip I take with you,” she complained.
“A road trip we wouldn’t have been on if you had kept your ass in Nashville.”
“You just had to bring that up, didn’t you? For the thousandth time, I regret it. You have no idea how much.” Tapping her fingers on the door beside the window, she leaned forward, seeing a lighted sign. “Can we stop there? They have a gift shop with homemade taffy—”
“No. Besides, the gift shop will be closed.” Gavin unapologetically sped past the exit.
“The sign said it was open twenty-four hours,” she corrected him. “I love taffy. I’ve never tasted homemade.” Ginny unhappily saw the brightly lit store sign glowing invitingly from the interstate as they drove past. The sign was screaming at her to “come here.” I want to, she replied in her head, but meanie over here won’t let me.
“Did you say something?”
“I said I’m never going on a road trip with you again.” Folding her arms against her chest, she wiggled in her seat, trying to relieve the pressure on her bladder. They hadn’t stopped since they had started this afternoon. She was thirsty, hungry, had to pee, and dammit, she had wanted that stupid taffy.
“How many times do I have to tell you where we’re stopping? A brother is going to meet up with us in four miles with gas and something for you to eat and drink.”
Ginny stared at him suspiciously when he left out the most important part. “Does he have a restroom on his motorcycle, too?”
“No, but there will be trees and plenty of privacy.”
Her head fell back to the headrest. Then she straightened at seeing another exit sign.
“Can’t we—”
“No. Ginny, it’s just not safe. I don’t even want you to get out of the car until after Jesus leaves.”
“This illness is worse than you’re telling me, isn’t it?”