“No!” Dusty’s pulse quickened. “I-I’m glad you’re okay, Zach. I never wanted you to get hurt. But you can’t help me. Just go away. I don’t want you here.”
“Damn it, Dusty. Why won’t you let me in?”
Let him in? Oh, that was a good one. “I did. I did let you in. I let you into my body.”
“I’m not talking about your body.”
“I am. I gave you something I’d never given anyone, something that was mine to give only one time. I did it gladly. I wanted it. But you…you… Oh!” She turned over, away from him.
Within seconds, he had wheeled himself to the other side of the bed. “Darlin’, what is it? Do you need money?”
How humiliating. “You think this is about money? You’re infuriating!”
“Dusty—”
She clenched her fists. “I lost the barrel race because of you!”
“Me?”
“I lost my horse. I can’t rope tomorrow. And I only stayed on Diablo for six seconds. Six seconds, Zach! That’s three seconds longer than you’ve been able to ride him. But it’s still two seconds short, isn’t it? So I don’t get the purse, do I?”
“If you need the money, I’ll gladly give you the purse.”
“You will, huh? A cool half mil. Is that what a twenty-three-year-old virgin is worth these days? Makes me a damned expensive whore, doesn’t it?”
God, she had gone too far. His blue eye darkened, and his brown eye smoked. Anger. Raw, crazy wrath. Well, let him be angry then. He should be. She had gotten him hurt. She was no stranger to anger, herself. She was damned mad at him. Damned mad at the whole world.
“You’re so determined to push me away.” His voice cracked. “Fine, I can take a hint.” His hands clamped onto the wheels of his chair, his knuckles white with tension.
“Don’t you get all high and mighty with me,” she said. “I’m not the one who was making out with Angelina yesterday. That was you. And during my race!”
His eyes softened. “You saw that?”
“Yeah, I saw that, and I lost because of it.”
“Oh, God, darlin’.”
“Don’t call me that. It’s nothing but a lie. Now get out.”
“But if you’ll let me explain—”
Sam opened the door and walked in. “You need to leave now, Zach. She’s all upset.”
“I’m not done talking with her.”
“Yeah, you are. For now. Go on.”
When Zach looked back at her, Dusty looked away. He didn’t argue any more with Sam. “I’ll come by to see her later.”
“Maybe not a good idea. There’ll be plenty of time for you all to talk when you’re both in better condition.”
“All right.” The door closed with a gentle whoosh, and Zach was gone.
Her mattress sank as Sam sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, Dust.”
She sniffed. “No matter.”
“What is this really about?” He took her hand.