hands capturedher shoulders, tightening there when he lifted his face away from her warm mouth. âDonât do that,â he said tersely.
âWhy not?â she asked.
âI donât need comforting!â he said curtly.
She moved back a step. He looked as if sheâd done something outrageous, when sheâd only meant to be kind. It irritated her that he had to be antagonistic about it. âOh, I see,â she said, staring up at him. âIs this how it goes? âMen are tough, little woman,ââ she drawled, deepening her voice and her drawl, ââwe can eat live snakes and chew through barbed wire. We donât want women fussinâ over us!ââ She grinned up at him deliberately.
He glared at her, his eyes glittering.
She raised her eyebrows. âWant me to apologize? Okay. Iâm very sorry,â she added.
His broad chest rose and fell heavily. âI want you to quit while youâre ahead,â he said in a tight voice.
She stared at him without guile. âI donât understand.â
âDonât you?â His smile was full of mockery and he was seeing a succession of women from his wild days who liked to tease and run away, but not too far away. His lean hands tightened on her shoulders as his eyesslid down her body. âYour husband didnât tell you what teasing does to a man?â
âTeasingâ¦?â Her eyes widened. âWas I?â she asked, and seemed not to know.
That fascinated expression was real. He did scowl then. âWhat you were doingâ¦it arouses me,â he said bluntly.
âYouâre kidding!â
He wanted to be angry. He couldnât manage it. She did look so surprisedâ¦. He dropped his hands, laughing in wholesale defeat. âGet in the damned truck.â
He half lifted her in and closed the door on her barely formed question.
She was strapped in when he pulled himself up under the steering wheel, closed the door and reached for his seat belt.
âYou were kidding,â she persisted.
He looked right into her eyes. âI wasnât.â He frowned quizzically. âDonât you know anything about men?â
âI was married for two months,â she pointed out.
âTo a eunuch, apparently,â he said bluntly as he cranked the vehicle and pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic. âI am pregnant,â she stated haughtily.
He spared her an amused glance. âPregnant and practically untouched,â he replied.
She sighed, turning her attention to the city lights as he wound south through Houston to the long highway that would take them home to Jacobsville. âI guess it shows, huh?â she asked.
He didnât say anything for half a block or so. âDid you want him?â
âAt first,â she said. Her eyes sought his. âBut not like I wanted you in the parking lot,â she said honestly. âNot ever like that.â
A flash of ruddy color touched his cheekbones. He was shocked at her honesty.
âSorry, again,â she murmured, looking away. âI guess I havenât learned restraint, either,â she added.
He let out a long breath. âYou take some getting used to,â he remarked.
âWhy?â
His eyes met hers briefly before they went back to the highway. Rain was beginning to mist the windshield. He turned on the wipers. âI donât expect honesty from a woman,â he said curtly.
She frowned. âBut surely your wife was honest.â
âWhy do you think so?â
âItâs obvious that you loved your little boy,â she began.
His laugh had the coldest ring to it that sheâd everheard. âShe wanted an abortion. I threatened to take away her credit cards and she gave in and had him.â
âThat must have been a difficult time for you,â she said softly.
âIt was.â His jaw clenched. âShe was surprised that I wanted her