Free Forbidden by Cheryl Douglas Page B

said his good-byes, fearing Indie might ditch her heels and walk home if she over-thought the possibility of being stuck in the cab of his truck with him. Thankfully, when he got to the driveway, she perched on the hood of her compact car with a sullen expression.
    “I hear you got car problems,” he said, placing his guitar case in the backseat of his truck. “Cassidy said you wouldn’t mind catching a ride with me.”
    “I told her I wouldn’t.” Indie twisted her lips as if she’d just taken a bite out of a lime. “I didn’t want her to worry about how I’d get home, but I was thinking maybe I should call a cab.”
    “Why? Cassidy said I pass right by your place on my way home.” He opened the passenger door of his truck. “Come on, hop in. Save yourself the cab fare.”
    “Fine.” She ignored the hand he offered and gingerly placed a high heel on the running board, offering him an impressive view of her backside.
    Closing the door once she was safely inside, Lee warned himself to back off. She wasn’t like most of the girls he met. She wasn’t looking for a good time; she didn’t want to date him. She just needed a ride home. He got in, started the engine, and fastened his seat belt before he reached for the dial to turn down the radio.
    “Don’t, I love this song,” she said, touching his forearm. She withdrew her hand quickly when she gave him a shock. “Sorry.” She placed her hands back in her lap.
    “I’ve heard of two people having chemistry, but I think that qualifies as electricity,” he joked, hoping to make her smile.
    “We don’t have chemistry,” she said firmly.
    She was still wearing his jacket, but she’d rolled it back once at the cuff. It still swallowed her though. She’d stormed off in such a hurry she’d no doubt forgotten to give it back.
    “If you say so.” He manoeuvred around a parked car so he could drive through the iron gates at the end of the circular drive.
    “Even if we did, which we don’t, I don’t date.”
    “Never?” He shot her a sidelong glance, and the stubborn set of her chin hit him hard.
    She tried so hard to be brave, but lurking beneath the surface was a young woman who needed someone to hold her and tell her that everything would be fine.
    “Never.”
    “But you’re gorgeous.” He hadn’t intended to blurt that out, and he was sorry he had when she scowled.
    “No, I’m not.”
    He couldn’t help but wonder if she owned a mirror. Surely a woman couldn’t look at that reflection every day and deny the obvious. “I beg to differ.”
    “If you’re trying to get on my good side with compliments, it won’t work.”
    “I wasn’t aware you had a good side.” Her lips twitched, making him smile. “Hot damn, I did it. I made you smile.”
    “No, you didn’t,” she said, crossing her arms.
    “Yes, I did.” When he pulled up to a stop light, he poked her in the ribs, hoping he’d find a ticklish spot. When she screamed and backed against the door, he cursed his stupidity and pulled over into an empty parking lot. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just—”
    “Forget it.” She covered her face with her hands. “Just take me home, please.”
    “What did he do to you?” he whispered. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel when she started to cry. “Tell me.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Yes, you can.” He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he knew that wasn’t an option. She needed comfort, and he wanted to be the man to give it to her. The only thing standing in their way was Indie’s fear and pride.
    “No, I can’t.” She put her fist over her mouth. “I don’t know what you hope to gain from this. I told you I don’t date.”
    “What makes you think I want to date you?” He shifted in his seat to look at her.
    A vision flashed through his mind: Indie with her hair upswept, wearing a soft velvet dress and high heels, smiling at him with candlelight flickering between them. He’d never