Page 36 of Make Her Mine

“Jefferson!”

He’s heading for his truck, parked along the curb of the square. He grins down at me, but says tightly, “We’re in love, remember?” He leans in and kisses my cheek.

I hate him so much.

I want to fight with him. I am mad at him. But, he’s right. This is day one—actually we’re only a few hours in on our plan—and I can’t ruin it all by throwing a fit in the middle of town.

I stop squirming and take a deep breath.

“Good girl,” he murmurs.

I growl.

He chuckles.

At his truck, he walks around to the passenger side, somehow pulls the door open, even with me in his arms, and deposits me on the seat.

“You’re kidnapping me now?”

“Duct tape over your mouth sounds very appealing,” he comments before he slams the door.

I sit on the seat, arms crossed. I don’t know where he thinks he’s taking me, but I do want to have this conversation, and bursting out of his truck and stomping up Main Street is also not the way to convince anyone that we are in a serious romantic relationship.

He gets in the driver’s seat and I look past him to see Margot and Mia watching us. Both grinning.

Well, I’m glad that everyone’s enjoying this. Including the two women who suddenly think Jefferson is such a great guy.

“You need to leave Mia alone,” I tell him before he’s even pulled away from the curb.

“I’m not messing with Mia.”

“Why can’t she just be happy? Why can’t she just forget about the past? She doesn’t need to get involved with those kids that you want her to talk to.”

He grips the steering wheel. “Then she can tell me no.” He looks over at me. “But she hasn’t done that, Harlow.”

“Everyone in this town, for some reason, has a hard time saying that word to you.”

“Present company excluded.”

I shift on the seat to face him. “Damn right. At least someone around here realizes that you don’t actually have the ability to turn water into wine.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

“And you’re such a meddler!”

“Hi, pot, I’m kettle. “

“I don’t meddle! I support people. I help them. I comfort them. I help them find homes and families and love and support! You’re the one who’s always trying to push people away. Trying to find them something else. Somewhere else. It’s like you think going somewhere bigger, far away, alone is some badge of honor. That being stuck in this little town with people you know and love is weak and sad.”

I see his hands tighten on the steering wheel. “You don’t really think that’s how I feel.”

“That’s how you act.”

“Jesus Christ, Harlow, I live here. I came back here. I love this town. I teach here. I see my family every damned day. What the fuck are you even talking about?”

“Then you are only targeting people I care about?”

He pulls into a driveway and I realize we’re at his house. He slams the truck into park then turns to me. “Get in the house.”

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