“It’s not an invitation. We both need to eat and this tiptoeing around each other like something is gonna break isn’t going to work.” Arms crossed, he looked determined.
That was his problem, not mine. “You don’t need to tiptoe around, Lasso, this is your home.”
“Maybe, but right now it’s our house and it’s damned uncomfortable.”
I nodded my head because he was right. Those rare occasions we were here together were tense and silent. Uncomfortable, as he said. “This is your home Lasso and you’ve been kind enough to let me stay. I really appreciate that. But, I’ll be out of your hair tomorrow.”
It wasn’t ideal since I’d already given myself a deadline to put a plan into action, but I could probably find a sublet that wouldn’t require me to use a credit card or my social security number.
“Goddammit Rocky, you are the most infuriating woman I have ever met!” He raked both hands through his thick blond hair, blowing out a long, pissed off breath as he began to pace the porch behind me. “I’m not asking you to leave.”
“You didn’t have to,” I reminded him. “I was always going to leave.”
“Where will you go?” He stopped and dropped down beside me, looking at me with concern.
“I haven’t decided yet, but once I’m gone, Lasso, that’s it. You won’t see me, see us, ever again.” I stared at him for a long time to make sure he understood what I was saying to him.
Those blue eyes that most often were the color of the sky, darkened to midnight blue as he unfolded his big body until he stood, towering over me once again. Trying to intimidate me. “Don’t fucking play games with me, Rocky. I won’t be manipulated or guilted into a damn thing.”
I was surprised by his outburst, but it helped my decision. “Good to know.” Standing, I stretched my aching back and now that Lasso was here, I went inside and closed myself up in the guest bedroom, stripped down and settled down for a nap.
A minute later, Lasso burst in, burning with anger. “What the fuck is your problem?”
I pulled the covers up to my neck and sat up on the bed with a sigh. “You, apparently. What’s wrong now, Lasso? I’m leaving. I’ll be out of your hair soon. Your life can go back to the way it was and yet you’re still unhappy. Do you want me to terminate the pregnancy, is that what all of this is?”
He wouldn’t be the first guy to go a little crazy at the thought of impending fatherhood, and he certainly wouldn’t be the first to pressure a chick into ending a pregnancy.
“What? No! Why would you even ask me that?” His chest heaved, his skin was flushed, and I must’ve been a sick and twisted bitch, because I was instantly turned on. Wet and ready for another night with Lasso before I never saw him again.
My brows arched at his question. “Fine, Lasso. Tell me how I’m the bad guy now.”
“What the hell do you mean I won’t see you or my kid again?” I could see the rest of the words perched on the edge of his mouth. If it really is my kid. He wanted to say it, but good manners wouldn’t allow it.
“What do you think it means? The only chance I have to survive this is to disappear completely.”
He frowned, the grooves between his brows growing deeper with every passing second. “I don’t like it.”
So much for a late afternoon nap.
“Turn around,” I said.
“What the fuck for?”
“I’m not going to stay in this bed all day and I don’t have any clothes on. Now turn the fuck around.”
He did, making sure I saw a little smirk around the corners of his mouth first.
I slid off the bed and grabbed a long, peach colored dress. It was gauzy enough that I wouldn’t pass out from the heat and it was nice enough I could go wherever I wanted and right now, I just wanted peace.
“I’m not asking you to like it. You don’t want me here anyway and soon, I won’t be your problem,” I said as I slipped the dress over my head. When I was dressed I tried to push past him, but Lasso held a tight grip to my arm.
“I never said I didn’t want you here.”
“You didn’t have to,” I told him and tried again to yank from his grasp. “Let me go.”
“No. We need to talk about this plan of yours.”
“No, we don’t. It’s my life and my plan. I asked you for a place to lay low, that’s it. I already have one asshole trying to run my life, I’m not in the market for another.” With those evil words, his hand released me.