Free Midnight Wrangler by Cat Johnson

she’d rather be anywhere but there talking to him. Her words were polite enough, but there was something about her. A stiffness in her spine. A shift in her gaze as it darted away from his whenever their eyes met. A nervousness he sensed in her when there was no need for it.
    They were old friends. Hell, so much more than friends. For one summer, as seen through the eyes of teenagers, they’d been each other’s worlds—until she’d gone off and never came back.
    If she hadn’t left, what would have happened? There was a good chance he never would have met Lila. He probably would have married Bonnie. If he had, would they still be together today instead of him being alone and lonely?
    Rohn pushed the traitorous thought aside. Guilt hit him hard for even thinking it. He wouldn’t trade the years of happiness he’d had with Lila for anything in the world. Even as lonely as he was now without her.
    He drew in a breath, centering himself, and forced his mind back to the here and now and the woman in front of him. “So, anything I can help you with at your father’s place? Moving boxes? Fixing things? I’m strong and I’m pretty handy when I put my mind to it.”
    â€œNo, thank you. I couldn’t accept your help.”
    He drew his brows down. “Why not?”
    â€œI wouldn’t feel right.”
    â€œNonsense. That’s what old friends are for.”
    She waved off his offer. “I’m just going to rent a truck for a day or two to haul some stuff from the house. I’m going to have to make a few trips to the dump. And I figured I’d donate the clothes and some of the furniture to the church.”
    â€œI’ve got a truck you can borrow.”
    â€œNo, Rohn. I couldn’t—”
    â€œI insist.”
    Bonnie hesitated. “Okay. But I’m paying you for using it.”
    â€œNope. No payment necessary.” He shook his head.
    â€œNo, I insist.”
    â€œBonnie, I won’t take your money.”
    â€œThen I won’t borrow your truck.” She folded her arms, standing firm and stubbornly.
    â€œA’ight. We’ll discuss that later.” No way was he letting her give him money to use his truck, but that could be battled out at a future date.
    â€œYes, we will.”
    â€œI got three young guys working for me with good strong backs, too, if you need ’em.” When she opened her mouth, he held up one hand. “We’ll discuss your trying to pay them later, too.”
    She couldn’t move heavy furniture by herself. If she insisted on refusing free help, the least he could do was offer her his hired help . . . and if he happened to stop by and check on the guys while they were there and got to spend some more time with Bonnie, that wouldn’t be so bad, either.
    Finally, Bonnie dipped her head. “All right. Thank you. I might take you up on that since I don’t know anybody in town to hire.”
    â€œGood. Glad to hear it. And if you need anything else, a friendly ear to bend about, I don’t know, the market for sales of farmland, or the current state of interest rates, give me a call. My phone number’s listed. Lerner comma Rohn, spelled with an h. Remember?”
    She rolled her eyes toward the sky. “I remember.”
    Rohn realized he’d held her outside in the heat for a long time. “You here to eat?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWant some company?” Damn, that was presumptuous of him but he wasn’t letting this chance pass him by.
    â€œUm, I was going to grab something to take out. You know, get right back to work at the house. So, is this place new?” She’d effectively declined his offer and changed the subject.
    The question was, why? What was making her so uncomfortable? The situation she had to deal with or him?
    While he figured out the answer to that question, he’d have to keep things casual. Play it cool. God, he hated