“Unsolicited advances.” Instead of being annoyed, he nearly doubled over with laughter. “Damn, Rebecca, I love the way you talk when you’re being snotty. Say something else.”
“I’m sure you’re more used to women keeling over at your feet,” she said coldly. “Or bringing you peach pies. I just want to be certain that you clearly understand the word no.”
He didn’t find anything amusing about that. She had the fascinating experience of watching his grin turn into a snarl. “You said no last night, didn’t you?”
“My point is—”
“I could have had you, right there on my brother’s kitchen floor.”
The color that temper had brought to her cheeks faded away, but her voice remained steady and cool. “You overestimate your appeal, farm boy.”
“Watch your step, Becky,” he said quietly. “I’ve got a mean streak. You want to dissolve some tension so you can get on with your project. I’ve always found honesty goes a long way to cutting the tension. You wanted me every bit as much as I wanted you. Maybe you were surprised. Maybe I was, too, but that’s the fact.”
She opened her mouth, but found no suitable lies tripping onto her tongue. “All right. I won’t deny I was interested for a moment.”
“Honey, what you were was a long way up from interested.”
“Don’t tell me what I felt, or what I feel. I will tell you that if you think I’m going to be another notch on your bedpost, think again.”
“Fine.” In casual dismissal, he walked over to check on his cows. “No isn’t a word I have any problem understanding. As long as you actually say it, I’ll understand it.”
Most of her nerves smoothed out. “All right, then, we—”
“But you’d better keep your guard up, Rebecca.” He shot her a look that had all the nerves doubling back and sizzling. “Because I don’t have any problem understanding a challenge, either. You want to play ghost hunter in my house, you take your chances. Willing to risk it?”
“You don’t worry me.”
His smile spread, slowly this time. “Yeah, I do. You’re standing there right now wondering what in hell to do about me.”
“Actually, I was wondering how you manage to walk around upright, when you’re weighed down with that ego.”
“Practice.” Now he grinned. “Same way you manage it with all those heavy thoughts inside that head of yours. I’m just about finished up here. Why don’t you go on in, make us some coffee? We can talk about this some more.”
“I think we’ve covered it.” She moved just quickly enough to get out ahead of him. “And I don’t make coffee.”
For a skinny woman, he mused, she looked mighty nice walking away. “Don’t you want me to kiss you goodbye, sweetie?”
She tossed a look over her shoulder. “Kiss a cow, farm boy.”
He couldn’t resist. He was on her in a heartbeat, swinging her up into his arms and around in a dizzying circle while his laughter roared out. “You’re the cutest damn thing.”
Her breath had been lost somewhere during the first revolution. For an instant, all she could think was that his arms were as hard as rock, and felt absolutely wonderful. “I thought you understood no.”
“I’m not kissing you, am I?” All innocence, Shane’s eyes laughed into hers. “Unless you want me to. Just wanted to get a hold of you for a minute. I swear you weigh less than a sack of grain.”
“Thank you so much for that poetic compliment. Put me down.”
“You’ve really got to eat more. Why don’t you hang around? I’ll fix you some dinner.”
“No,” she said. “No, no, no.”
“You only have to say it once.” He cocked his head, enjoying the way the pulse in her throat beat like a bird’s, just above the open collar of her silky white shirt. “Why are you trembling?”
“I’m angry.”
“No, you’re not.” Intrigued now, he studied her face, and his voice gentled. “Did somebody hurt you?”
“No, of course not. I asked you to put me down.”