Free Can't Say No by Sherryl Woods Page B

you got such a crazy idea about being weak. Who put it into your head? That man you were talking about before? He must have been a real louse.”
    â€œHe was right.”
    â€œI don’t believe it,” he said impatiently. “I haven’t seen one shred of evidence to support it. Convince me.”
    To her utter fury, Audrey felt tears brimming in her eyes. She didn’t want to play this game with him anymore. She’d opened up to Blake, shared all of her worst traits with him. If he refused to see the truth then that was his problem. It certainly wasn’t his place to try to convince her that she was someone she wasn’t. If she’d wanted a therapist, she would have hired one. She sure as hell didn’t want one who came with strings attached and who ought to be flying this damn balloon instead of kneeling down beside her, while she moped like some ninny.
    â€œJust go and concentrate on winning the race,” she said. “Leave me alone.”
    He didn’t budge. “I will not leave you alone. This is important. If we don’t get past this image hang-up of yours, we don’t stand a chance.”
    â€œIf this balloon crashes, we don’t stand a chance either,” she pointed out. “You can do more about keeping us aloft than you can about my problems.”
    â€œWe won’t know that until you tell me exactly what those problems are.”
    â€œDammit, I don’t want to talk about it.” She spit out each word emphatically. “Am I making myself clear?”
    â€œVery,” he said slowly, standing up. “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you are a wimp after all.”
    The words fell on her with the sharpness of a well-aimed dagger. Like something that happened when you least expected it, the unfairness of Blake’s comment incensed her. Instinctively, she reached out, grabbed a handful of denim and yanked him back down. She caught him off balance and he landed beside her in an awkward heap, his legs sprawled across hers in intimate abandon. She was so furious, she hardly noticed.
    â€œI am not!” she shouted directly into his ear. With any luck it would make him go deaf. He deserved it after a crack like that. “How dare you say that? You don’t even know me.”
    To her astonishment, instead of cowering beneath her fury the way he was supposed to, the irritating man was chuckling, his face split with a wide grin. He definitely looked like an Irish rogue on a winning streak.
    â€œApparently I know you better than you know yourself,” he said with annoying smugness.
    â€œAre you trying to make a point?” she growled at him suspiciously.
    â€œI just did.”
    â€œExactly what do you think you’ve proved?”
    â€œYou are a very unlikely wimp, Audrey Nelson. With that sharp tongue of yours you could strike terror into entire armies. Now, that’s the last I want to hear about it.” His implacable expression indicated he wouldn’t tolerate any argument on the subject. Audrey glowered back at him, until at last he grinned at her.
    â€œArmies, huh?” she said.
    â€œAt the very least. Now stand up here with me,” he urged, getting to his feet with a quick, lithe movement. “Take a look around. Let’s stop all the heavy philosophical stuff and just concentrate on enjoying the day. When was the last time you simply relaxed and enjoyed yourself? Harvey probably hasn’t given you a vacation in years.”
    â€œHe gave me one,” she muttered dryly. “I’m supposed to be on it now.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to take a few days here, after the race.”
    â€œLet’s start that vacation now.” He held out his hand. After an instant’s hesitation, she put her hand in his and allowed herself to be drawn up. They stood in silence. Toe to toe. Hand in hand. The air grew thick with a