Page 20 of The Bride's Desire

He looked perplexed. “Why?”

“Because we both know the last thing you want to do is spend time with me.”

“Now, wait a minute,” he said. “That’s not true.”

“You have a funny way of showing it. You can’t stand to touch me, or vice versa, and it seems you leave a room if I’m in there.”

“Damn, woman, we really need to talk. I don’t think we’re communicating at all, and we are both on different pages.”

She shook her head. “We don’t have to keep going over it, Joe. It’s all right if you’re not attracted to me.”

“Not attracted to you? Are you fucking kidding me?”

She looked around at his outburst to see everyone staring at them. “Keep your voice down,” she hissed.

“You’re so far off base, it’s crazy.”

“Can we talk about this later?”

He sighed and picked up his fork.

The bell over the door rang, and Naomi automaticallylooked that way to see Ginger coming in with another woman. And dread filled her when the woman saw her, smiled, and headed over to her.

“Hello again, Naomi. I didn’t know you knew Joe here?” Ginger said.

“Did you just meet in the drugstore?” Joe asked them.

“Yes, dear.” Ginger turned toward her. “I hope that friend of yours gets everything worked out okay.”

Naomi started to nod.

“What friend?” Joe asked.

“The friend she’s helping,” Ginger said.

Naomi felt like her face was on fire. “Thank you, Ginger. We have to go.”

“Wait,” Joe said and reached for her arm.

“Please. I’m not feeling very well.”

He nodded, put down some bills to cover the snack, and then helped her out of the booth.

Naomi looked back once to see Ginger and her friend whispering to each other and pointing at her. God. Now she knew she had just a little time to figure everything out before Joe knew.

Joe opened the truck door. “What was that about?”

“Nothing, really. Can we get home … I mean back to the ranch, please.”

She had to stop thinking of the place as her home. It just made her feel worse about the situation.

He sighed and started the truck.

She made sure she held her sack from the drugstore close so nothing spilled out.

They pulled up next to the house, and she jumped out again.

“Dammit, Naomi,” Joe called. “We need to talk.”

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