was dating someone. He still considered me his, and getting a guy into the mix, even one as big and brawny and who could clearly take care of himself as Clint, was just stupid. I had no idea what kind of spin Todd would put on it before a judge. I was already desperate to get our divorce finished before he discovered I was pregnant.
I shrugged. “Probably some neighborhood kids.”
He cocked his head, searching my face like he didn’t believe me, but then took the tire iron from my hand. He stood so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. He brushed his finger over my cheek. “Go wait inside where it’s warm. I’ll get this changed for you and get you on your way.”
That bossiness again.
I didn’t know why it was so damn sexy coming from him. It was the complete opposite of Todd who was manipulative. A gas-lighter. Always making me feel like I screwed up and needed to scramble to fix my mistakes.
Clint hadn’t suggested I couldn’t fix the tire on my own, only said he’d do it for me. Somehow, he made me feel like I was perfect, and he’d take care of everything.
I wasn’t sure he’d still think that if and when he found out I hid my pregnancy from him. Our pregnancy. God, that sounded strange.
I let him nudge me toward my door and went inside, taking the opportunity to get some more food in me before I got queasy. That was the trick with morning sickness—never let your stomach get empty. It was counter-intuitive because I’d learned the hard way once I felt sick, I sure as hell didn’t want to eat anything, but eating down the nausea was the only thing that worked.
I kept a sleeve of crackers in my purse at all times, but since I was still at home, I fixed myself a second piece of toast with avocado mashed on top. When I wasn’t nauseated, I was ready to eat for ten. I had a feeling it was only going to get worse.
I ate the toast quickly, but it wasn’t quick enough because a knock at the door indicated Clint was already done. I swore that guy was so manly he made the Marlboro Man look weak.
I threw open the door just as he was about to knock again.
“All set,” he said. His gaze raked over me in my pink scrubs beneath my opened coat. “You’ll have to get a new set of tires for the front. I called Bishop’s, and they should be able to hook you up this morning if you have time to stop there now on your way to work.”
Two new tires. Yay! Not.
“Thanks, I do,” I said calmly. It wasn’t his fault I was wasting my money on things I shouldn’t even need. “I really appreciate your help. It was really nice of you to stop.”
He stood in the doorway and watched as I zipped up my coat and grabbed my purse then locked up. I followed him out to my car.
“Guess you must be feeling better,” he said, turning to face me, like he wanted to make small talk. Like he didn’t want me to leave.
Oh God, this guy. I wished he wasn’t so damn sweet, not that I’d tell him that to his face.
I glanced up at him and smiled. He smiled back. Oh shit, was that a dimple in his scruffy cheek? My stomach flip flopped and not from morning sickness. What was he doing hanging with me when he had a hot grocery-store-shopping girlfriend? No, she was family, but there were hot, single women all over Cooper Valley eager to nab a hot cowboy like him.
“Much better,” I said when I realized he was waiting for a response instead of me staring at him. “Promise not to puke on you today. So how was your, um, family thing, that you went to with your cousin?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “Shelby. My cousin, yes.” We stood beside my car. He advanced, like a hunter stalking his prey, backing me against my door and caging me in. One hand was on the roof, the other at my hip over my thick coat.
“You weren’t—you know—a little bit jealous when you thought she was my girlfriend, were you?” A dark brow winged up as he waited.
I let out an exaggerated pfft and stared at his Adam’s apple. Even that was manly. “What?” I blinked, and I knew my cheeks turned