Page 19 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
Lawson’s stomach soured. He gently removed her hand from his body and guided her away from his truck. “Speaking of friends, I have to go see another one right now. Good seeing you, Mel. Have a good night.”
“Oh. Okay.” Her eyes were wide as he waved at her, slipped inside his truck, and cranked the engine. He needed to get to Julie like his life depended on it, although he wasn’t exactly sure why.
Chapter 6
Julie was two minutes from home, literally two minutes, when her car sputtered, spat, and gave a little lurch. She steered to the side of the road just before it died completely. And she’d thought her night couldn’t get any worse.
Before she could start devising a plan to get herself and her car home, two headlights slowed behind her and pulled to the side of the road. Apparently the night could get worse, she thought, groaning out loud as she watched Lawson step out and approach her car. He was the very last person she wanted to talk to right now. Anyone but him.
He tapped on her window. Just like that morning at the Veterans’ Center, when he’d done the same in the pouring rain. She hesitated, but she had no choice.
She opened her car door and stared at him. “The window doesn’t roll down because my car is not currently working.” There was ayou-idiottone in her voice that she couldn’t help. He deserved it. He’d just ruined the class that she’d been so excited about for the past week. Just like Daren and Mr. Banks, Lawson had acted like yoga was foolish. He hadn’t put her down with his words, but he’d definitely put her down with his actions tonight.
“Julie.” His eyes softened. “About tonight.”
She held up her hand. “I’m not talking about tonight. I just need a ride home. I’ll call someone to help me tow my car tomorrow.” She got out and pushed past him, walking to his truck without him offering her a ride this time. He owed her this much. Slamming the passenger door, she buckled herself up, and took a deep breath. It didn’t calm her.
Lawson stepped inside the truck, also. Glancing in her direction, she saw him nod from the corner of her eye. Then he cranked the engine. The ride to her house was silent until he pulled into her driveway. “I was an idiot, and I’m sorry,” he finally said.
“You don’t have to say that.” She crossed her arms in front of her defensively.
“The hell I don’t. I hurt your feelings. I’m sorry about that.”
He wasn’t sorry for criticizing her passion, though. Just for hurting her feelings. How many times had Daren done the same, hurt her feelings and then apologized? How many times had she stupidly accepted his apology? Too many.
She pulled the door’s handle and stepped out. “Thanks.” She slammed it and headed for her front door, aware that a towering figure was following. Couldn’t he get a clue?
He grabbed her elbow and pulled her to look at him just before she reached the porch steps.
“Don’t touch me!” she snapped, jerking away. Her heart was suddenly hammering and every hair on her body was at attention.
Lawson’s hands flew up. His eyes grew even softer, which made her emotion suddenly raw. She’d overreacted. One unexpected touch and she’d acted like he was about to hit her.
Damn it.
“What do you want?” she asked, hating the little fault line in her voice. “You said you were sorry. Great. Anything else?” To cover the pain, she feigned more anger.
He kept his gaze steady on her. “I’m not like him, Julie.”
She stiffened. “Like who?”
“Whoever made you react like that just now.”
She tried to maintain her composure. “I reacted like that because you grabbed me.”
“Barely,” he said softly.
“Your apology is accepted. Thank you for the ride, Lawson.” She looked down at her feet, not trusting her eyes not to show him everything. He’d already seen too much and had read her like a damn book.
“Save a horse,” he said, humor lacing his voice as he attempted to lighten the mood.
She was grateful for that.
Tipping his hat, he said, “I’ll see you in class on Wednesday.” Then he turned and walked away.
On an inhale, she hurried inside and closed the door, leaning against it. Her body was trembling from the interaction she’d just had. She would’ve preferred to still be angry at Lawson. Anger served her better than thinking maybe he was a decent guy. Anger was better, too, than letting him see her weakness. He somehow knew she had a past.
A past she never wanted to repeat.
