CHAPTER ELEVEN
Elara
“I am so sorry.” I was apologizing before the other driver’s door even opened. “You!” My voice squeaked involuntarily as that monster of a man climbed out of the cab of the truck. I wanted to be apologetic, but Cash’s words raced back from yesterday. He could be unpredictable and vicious. Cash’s statement had certainly been proven by the mess this flannelled man had left at the bar last night. Anxiety coursed through me, and I tried not to shake. I couldn’t let my nerves get to me.
“Me? You're the one that lost control on the ice and ran in to me. You’re the strumpet that keeps running in to me.” His voice bordered on a growl as he looked over the bumper of his truck.
“Excuse me?” Forget the anxiety. That word pissed me off. “What did you just call me?”
He turned to face me, the circles under his eyes darker than when I saw him in the bar. The previous five o'clock shadow he sported could now be classified as a beard. He had to be hung over from the amount of alcohol I had tasted on his kiss the night before. Rear ending him would have not done his headache any favors.
He planted his feet on the slippery surface and squared his shoulders, his jacket pulling tight across his chest. There was a holster on one hip and a large knife sheath on the other. I’d noticed most of the patrons in the bar had carried similar items. But there was no knife in his. I couldn’t say the same for the handgun.
Those dark eyes were furious as he gazed down at me. I heard a bit of a growl bubble from his lips. Arms crossed over my chest, feet planted, I mimicked his stance. I wasn’t about to back down. I wasn't going to be intimidated.
“You just called me a strumpet. You came looking for me last night. You kissed me! Or were you so drunk you don't remember that?”
I saw a crack in his stern demeanor. It was only the space of a blink, but it was long enough to give him away. He did remember.
“I think you're mistaken,” he spoke with measured words, as if he was trying to make himself believe what he said.
I stepped toward him, putting myself in his personal space. He towered over me by nearly a foot, his broad shoulders straining against the heavy jacket he wore with every breath he took.
“Seriously? That's all you've got?”
He blinked down at me, those chocolate eyes lightened a bit in surprise.
“You kissed me.” I was going to press my luck as I punctuated the words by poking his chest. “You bit my lip, gave me butterflies and everything, but you call me the strumpet, like I came after you?”
His jaw twitched as he tried to find words. I wasn’t about to wait for him.
“Maybe Cash was right in thinking you don't like women.”
“No.” He couldn't contain the sigh as he rubbed his forehead. “I’m just an asshole. Look, I’m sorry. I was drunk. Way past drunk. I never should have slept with you when you came back to the office. I shouldn’t have called you by my ex’s name—” My eyes went wide as he cut himself off. “So, I wasn’t the only one drunk. You don’t remember us sleeping together?”
“I didn’t sleep with you.”
He closed his eyes, leaning against the side of his truck.
“Kiss was nice,” I managed in the awkwardness. He ventured a quick glance at me from under those thick lashes. I wondered how dark his eyes would get in the heat of passion. I seriously needed to get myself together. “I thought you were a lumberjack. Not an asshole.”
“Miner,” he said with a tiny smile. There were those butterflies in my stomach again. “Well, I own a mine. I haven’t worked there in two years. “
“That explains the arms. Not sure about the ass, though.”
“You're just as bad as my sister.” He shook his head. “Look, I’m sorry. I never should have kissed you. I thought you were someone else last night.”
I kicked at the snow with the toe of my boot, contemplating my answer. I let my eyes run over him. His coat and unmarked jeans were in stark contrast to his scratched to hell boots. The scratches looked like they had come from claws digging at his feet.
“Look, girl who likes to run into me—”
“That's my name? It’s better than strumpet I guess, Mister Kisses Random Strangers.”
He gave a brief snorting laugh, the crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes crinkling as he reached for his nose. “I've certainly been called worse.”
“Should I call you worse?”
“No. My name is Valdez. Everyone around here calls me Dez.”
“It's been nice running in to you, Dez. Well, that and the kiss.” I pulled the cardigan closer around myself as the stiff breeze kicked up. I wished for a real coat. I’d have to look through Minnie’s closet again before venturing back out. “And I have to go before I freeze.”
I walked away and climbed back up in Minnie’s truck. I slammed the door and put my head on the steering wheel when I realized we still hadn’t exchanged insurance information. I did my best to calm my breathing. Why did he have to be so handsome?
Part of me wished he’d wrapped me up in his arms and warm me up. Come on, Elara. What are you thinking? That kiss was nothing. He thought you were someone else. He’d obviously slept with someone else. The spark I felt was nothing.
I just hoped it was.
I screamed at the tapping on the window.
Hand to my chest as I tried to catch my breath, Dez motioned for me to roll down the window.
“What?” I snapped without following his instructions.
“Hey, random girl I kissed, do you want a ride?”
“My name is Elara. And no. I’ll be fine.”
An eyebrow quirked up at me, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Humor me. Start the truck.”
I reached to turn the key over, still glaring at him. Nothing. I tried again, and put my head back on the steering wheel with a heavy sigh.
I heard him mutter something through the glass. It sounded like “everything changes in one day.” I tried to put the words out of my head. If he only knew the truth of it.
The door opened, and I was in the arms of the cold again.
“What are you doing?”
I tried to squirm away in shock, but he already had hold of me.
“I’m giving you a ride.”
“And that requires you to carry me?” I squealed as my ass cleared the seat.
“You really think I trust you not to fall on your ass? At least if I’m carrying you, you can’t run in to me. Grab your bag.”
I huffed as I leaned to pick up my bag. I should have managed a thank you, but I was a bit indignant at being carried.
“Did you have any plans for today?”
“Maybe getting kissed by another random stranger. I haven't decided yet.”
For a moment, his brow furrowed in frustration as I settled against his chest. I winked, earning myself a genuine smile and slight chuckle from the flannelled man. He was oh so warm. I tried to fight my body’s reaction to him, but I felt safe in those arms of his. I wanted to snuggle against him.
“I know that's Minnie’s truck, so you're here for the house. Since I was an ass, can I try to make it up to you?” he asked as he carried me to the passenger side of his truck.
I paused to look up at him, studying his face. There was a softness to his eyes that hadn’t been there during our last two encounters. I squinted at him. He was not the man I had expected from Cash’s description of him. He settled me in to the passenger side of the truck, his hand lingering on my thigh for just a moment longer than it should have.
“How do you expect to do that? Help me with the house?”