She had been babbling about herself and the ranch for days. She’d tried asking him questions about himself, which was supposed to be what men liked in a conversation, but whoever said that had never met Kyle Reeves. There was always the weather, but there was little to say about it except that it was gray and wet—hardly a romantic subject.
So she talked about the food, and about the people they had met during their journey. She smiled, she made sure their fingers brushed occasionally, she did everything but bat her eyelashes at him. He didn’t seem notably overwhelmed. Just the opposite, in fact. He made eye contact with the syrup bottle more than he did with her.
How could he transform so easily from passionate lover to cool, near stranger? Was it really so easy for him to deny the emotions that had flared between them last night?
It was impossible for her.
“So what are we going to do now?” she asked as they finished their breakfasts. Rain still poured in sheets down the window next to their table, which didn’t encourage any outdoor activities. As for indoor activities…she swallowed.
“I think I’ll go over to the garage and check on the progress of your car. I’ll drop you at the motel first and you can read or watch TV while you put your foot up and give that leg a rest.”
He spoke casually, almost airily, but the words hit her hard. She didn’t believe for a minute that Kyle wanted to spend several more hours in that depressing garage waiting room. Yet still he found that prospect more appealing than spending time with her.
Fine, she told herself, squaring her chin. If he wanted to get away from her, she certainly wasn’t going to stop him. If he thought looking at old gossip magazines and drinking decaf sludge from a vending machine was preferable to her company, then he deserved what he would get. “Okay. I have a book I’d like to finish, anyway.”
He looked momentarily surprised, as if he had expected an argument. Keeping her own expression as unrevealing as possible, Molly reached for her crutches without saying anything more.
Though she suggested that Kyle could just let her out at the motel and go on his way, he parked and ordered her to wait until he came around to her door with an umbrella. He kept her shielded from the rain as much as possible until she made it beneath shelter, and then he opened her room door for her. He was being just a bit too solicitous—only further indication, in her opinion, that he was feeling a little guilty about his plans for the day.
She was a bit surprised when he followed her inside. She had pretty much expected him to shove her inside the door and take off.
“Is there anything you need before I go?” he asked, hovering just inside the open door.
“No.” She dropped into a chair and reached for the paperback she’d left lying on the table. “I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe I should get you a soda out of the vending machine, in case you get thirsty later.”
“If I want a soda later, I’ll get one for myself.”
“No.” He scowled and planted his hands on his hips. “You don’t need to be going out of this room by yourself. It isn’t safe. Besides, there’s water on the pavement in places. Your crutches could slip and you’d fall flat on your face.”
“I can take care of myself, Kyle.”
“I want you to promise me you’ll stay in this room with the door locked until I get back.”
“No. I won’t make that promise.” She opened the book and looked pointedly at the pages. “Go do what you have to do. I’ll probably be right here when you get back.”
“Damn it, Molly.”
She glanced up at him, letting just a hint of her irritation with him show. “You’re the one who has told me repeatedly for the past few days that I shouldn’t let anyone boss me around. I’ve decided I agree with you-and I’m starting now.”
“You’re mad because I’m leaving you here, aren’t you?”
She shrugged.
“You could always go with me.”
Apparently he thought they would be safe from their libidos in a public place, so it would be okay for her to accompany him. “No. I don’t want to spend anymore time in that boring waiting room. But you feel free to spend the whole day there if you want.”
“I just thought—”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I can cert
ainly understand if you’re getting tired of my company. I wouldn’t blame you a bit, for that matter.”
“Look, it’s not like that.”
“You don’t owe me any explanations.” She raised the book to hide her face.