Totally, Sweetly, Irrevocably(53)

One look from Rick silenced him. Maybe the jackass had a few brain cells, after all. Rick needed to get him booked and get through the next few hours, and then he and Gina could have their little chat. Though Rick didn’t know what he expected from it. Or even what he wanted from it.

She’d broken her promise. She might have given him a head’s up she was doing it, but the fact remained. If she’d been anyone else, he’d have arrested her for the little scene she’d made back there. He couldn’t be with someone he couldn’t trust, someone who couldn’t even keep a simple promise. Or hell, keep from breaking the law, like any normal citizen.

For one of the few times of his life, Rick was well and truly conflicted over what he should do. Everything he was, or had been, up to that point in his life, said to walk away. They weren’t right for each other. They’d never make it work. Especially if she had unresolved feelings over her ex, as she definitely seemed to. The whole episode had been one huge glaring wake-up call.

But the thought of not seeing her again, of not seeing that smile of hers every morning or hearing her laugh, or even fighting with her, twisted his heart into a seething mess.

He’d better figure out what he wanted pretty damn quick. Because they needed to get things straightened out before both their lives got screwed up more than they already were.





Chapter Eighteen

Gina took a deep breath and immediately coughed. The sharp tang of bleach hung in the air, and while the gleaming surfaces in the truck probably thanked her for ridding them of Tony’s nastiness, her lungs weren’t so happy. She moved to the back of the truck and sat down, letting her legs dangle over the side. It was late. She was tired. Her friends had stuck around until everything was pristine and sanitary again but had left to get some sleep. Like she should do. But she couldn’t face going back to her apartment alone. She was alone in the truck, too, but it felt less lonely somehow than being where she could still smell the lingering scent of Rick’s soap, see the imprint in the pillow where his head had been just that morning. She needed a few more minutes before she had to deal with the fallout from this mess. Though she hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

Of course, her mind hadn’t really been on Tony, even while she’d cleaned up the mess he’d left behind. Instead, Rick had filled her every thought. Like he’d been doing since the moment she’d met him. She leaned her head against the side of the truck and sighed. She knew what she needed to do if she wanted to keep her sanity.

Rick must disappear from her life.

That was the only option that made any sense. Her life had been going along great until she’d met him. She had a job she loved, friends she loved, friends with benefits when she needed them. She’d been happy, carefree, doing what she wanted, when she wanted, without some by-the-book know-it-all ramming his restrictions down her throat. She’d seen the way he looked at Tony before he’d realized Jenny was even there. The way he’d looked at both of them. She’d seen that flicker of mistrust. That slight question in his eyes. There were a lot of things she could handle. A jealous and controlling boyfriend wasn’t one of them.

So why did the thought of telling him good-bye hurt so much?

And speak of the devil.

Rick approached the truck, his hands in his pockets, and came to stand in front of her. She hadn’t heard him drive up, so he must have walked.

He stood, staring down at her. Well, if he was waiting for her to say something, he’d be waiting a while. She had no clue.

“The truck looks good,” he said, leaning in a bit so he could check it out. “A little strong on the bleach, maybe…”

She gave him a small grin. “It’s too bad I can’t bleach my eyes.”

“Yeah. Let’s not mention any of that again.”

“Agreed.”

“I would have helped clean up.” He took another step closer, and Gina resisted the urge to back up. His being so close made her brain go fuzzy. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and pretend like the whole awful night hadn’t happened. Like they both didn’t know that they were headed for disaster on a fully loaded train.

“I know you would have. But my friends came. And even without them, I’m pretty used to taking care of things myself.”

“Just because you’re used to it doesn’t mean that’s the way it always has to be.”

She glanced up at him. Met his gaze and held it.

“We’re not talking about the truck, are we?”

Rick took a deep breath and rubbed his hand over his face. “No.”

“Look, Rick. I…I don’t know. I don’t know about anything anymore. Before tonight, I’d thought that maybe…”