Free Betting Hearts by Dee Tenorio

snit. Which was a good thing. The more she annoyed him, the less she’d arouse him. He hoped.
    “Sorry, kid, the only one of us dumb enough to date Luke Hanson was you.”
    “So why are you lying for him?”
    I’m lying for you . But he couldn’t say that, no matter how hurt she sounded.
    “What did you have to do with Luke leaving RDC?”
    “Nothing.” He wasn’t stupid enough to think she’d let him get away without details. “I held the door open and the weasel ran through.”
    “What did you do , Burke?”
    Nothing you’ll ever find out about. “We talked. I said if he wasn’t ready to marry you, he should go.”
    “Why did he say you knew he wasn’t gay?”
    Damn, that part always made him smile but CB wasn’t in the mood to see him happy. “I have no idea.”
    “Why don’t I believe you?”
    He grinned despite her anger. Anger he could deal with. “Because you’re an untrusting soul?”
    She expelled her breath with an irritated noise. “You’re as annoying as Luke. The both of you act like I need you to do my thinking.”
    “Hey, at least I never talk to you or about you the way he does.”
    “No, you talk for me like I’m a non-entity incapable of making rational decisions for myself.” Now she’s mad about the car. “I can’t believe you bet my Z!”
    “It’s the only bet he would take and you know it.” Luke’s passion for CB’s car was a thing of legend. First he’d begrudged her the time she spent with Burke putting it together. He broke up with her over it and she hadn’t cared much, surprising the hell out of Burke and the town. Once the car was running, newly painted and roaring like a mountain lion, Luke came calling again. As usual, Cass took him back, but she never let him drive it. It stayed a sticking point between them that even the best of the local bookies couldn’t give odds on.
    Blessedly, she stayed quiet until he pulled up in front of his house.
    “Do you really think we can pull this off?” she asked finally, the twinge of worry in her voice threatening to become full on pangs and twangs.
    “Sure we can.” Or we’ll die trying. “You’re a good person under all those bad habits. All we have to do is dig you out and shape you up.”
    “Great!” she complained, smacking her leg with loud frustration. “Even you do it!”
    Burke frowned. “Do what?”
    “Call me a person. It’s annoying.”
    She was off her nut. There wasn’t any other thing to call it. “Since when was being a good person a bad thing?”
    “Since it means you don’t see a woman. I’m a woman . In most cultures I’m an old maid.”
    “Twenty-eight isn’t—”
    “It’s old . Do you realize my ovaries are—”
    He almost covered his ears, but instead he cut the engine and opened his door. “I don’t want to hear about your ovaries, CB. We’ll figure a way to save the car, I swear, but mention your ovaries again and you’re on your own.”
    “Well, at least you admit I have some,” she grumbled.
    When she made no move to get out, he shrugged. “Fine, you have some. Is this conversation done, I’m hungry.”
    “Why didn’t you drop me off at home?”
    Perfect, now she was suspicious. “Because we’ve only got two weeks to make you into a lady. In my book, that isn’t a lot of time and in this situation…”
    Even in the dark he could see her eyes narrow on him. “In this situation, what?”
    Maybe it was time to admit they were both in over their heads. “In this situation, we’re going to need all the time we can get.”
     
     
    “You want me to what ?” Cass knew she heard him, but she had to be wrong.
    “Undo it. All of it. Put yourself back the way you were. The hair, the dress, the shoes. Whatever you did with May Belle, make it stop.” He paced his living room, blue work shirt wrinkled, hair standing on end. If he kept this up, someone might think he was the one who’d spent the afternoon in a torture chamber.
    “Do you know what I had to go