Free Mississippi Blues by D'Ann Lindun

leave.
    â€œYou wouldn’t do that.” She sounded positive. “And I wasn’t raped, thanks to you.”
    â€œRelief filled him at her words. True, he’d never lay a hand on any woman but he wanted her out, now. Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?”
    â€œBecause after what happened to your mama, you would never do the same thing to someone. Especially after what you did to the man who hurt her.” Her big eyes looked as trusting as Bambi’s.
    â€œYou don’t know anything about me or my mother.” Rage filled him. How dare she judge him? “So just shut the fuck up.”
    â€œI know all about you and your family.” She went on as if he hadn’t just spoke to her like she was a bad dog. Hardened men on the inside had backed down from his tone of voice.
    â€œHow? From the newspaper? Because I sure the hell don’t know you.” He racked his brain, trying to place her, but nothing came to mind.
    â€œI know you.” Her big brown eyes filled with tears. “It’s so sad.”
    â€œWho’s your daddy? Another Lookie-Lou with an opinion about me? Probably just someone shooting off at the mouth.” Bitterness filled him as he remembered all the people who crowded into the courthouse during his trial, most there for the entertainment of seeing him go down.
    â€œDon’t you recognize me?” She lifted her head and their gazes locked. “I’m Lindy Bouché.”
    â€œNo way. You’re lying.” Incredulous, he remembered the little girl who’d followed on his heels like a stray pup. She had been a twig. He’d only caught a glimpse of her spectacular tits, but this girl was all grown up. Damn. Time had sure changed her. “You’re what, sixteen — seventeen now? You were just a kid when I left.”
    â€œI’m eighteen, not a kid anymore.” She moved to open the blanket. “Need me to prove it?”
    His ripple of disbelief quickly turned to rage. He grabbed her arm through the blanket and jerked her toward him. He wouldn’t hurt her physically, but he could cut her with his mouth. “No, I don’t want to see your itty-bitty titties.”
    A moment of fear filled her eyes, replaced by anger matching his. “You bastard.”
    â€œYou got that right.” He dropped her arm like it was diseased. If she only knew how bad his cock was calling her name, she’d run away faster than a bullet, screaming all the way. “Get out of here. I’m sure you can’t wait to run to your daddy and tell him where I am. Well, you can walk back to town. That’ll give you a good long time to think up an excuse for being out in the woods with some guy who had only a fast lay on his mind.”
    â€œI won’t tell the Chief anything.” Her eyes flashed fire and her cheeks blazed an angry red. She moved away from him, drawing her blanket tight.
    â€œYeah, right.” He chuckled without humor. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you. The last time I trusted a Bouché to keep their mouth shut, I found myself doing time for life.”
    â€œI’m not Trey, and the Chief doesn’t talk to me. He’s not interested in anything I have to say. Even if I marched in there tonight and said ‘guess what, I have Jace Hill outside,’ no one would notice.”
    â€œI think he might want to hear you’ve found out where I am. What a great way to get Daddy’s attention, huh?” He resisted the urge to shake her. Spoiled rotten brat had ruined everything. Now he had nowhere to hide and form a plan.
    â€œI won’t say anything. I promise.” The fire in her big eyes was replaced with something he couldn’t place. Pleading?
    He refused to soften. “You’re lying. You’ll start blabbing the minute you get home.” He pointed to the door. “Leave.”
    â€œI won’t.” She jutted out her chin daring him to touch her.