Free Hands On by Christina Crooks Page B

His controlled voice, so different from the carefree one of just a few moments before, gave her a chill. “I appreciate your good intentions. But don’t tell me what to do.”
    She felt slapped.
    “I don’t share, I don’t open up, I don’t have the slightest need to add up the same old problems to see if I can get a different solution. It’s done. It’s simple—I was a chump. Now I’m a cold son of a bitch, and I’m not ever going to change.”

    “He’s impossible,” Ginnie finished after giving Lara an abbreviated version of things the next day.
    She spoke as she filled in the endless insurance forms and declarations that covered Lara’s desk. “We were having such a good time with the puppets, and then, boom. He leaves.”
    Lara’s curly, dark auburn hair gleamed even under the deadening fluorescent lights as she twirled first one lock then another around her purple-frosted nail. Darlene still hadn’t returned from her “business meeting”. She also wasn’t returning any of the property management company calls. Lara didn’t expect her to come back, she’d confided. Word was she’d been fired by someone at the highest level.
    Lara nodded. “So Harry just up and marched away from you? Definite hot button topic.”
    “He’s not the only one with a past,” Ginnie said. The more she thought about it, the more determined she felt. Just because someone once treated you badly, that didn’t mean you had to swear off relationships forever. Just look at her. If anyone was entitled to become a bitter old misanthrope, it was her.
    But she was actually considering another relationship. Something more than a one-night stand.
    Which of course reminded her of how non-celibate they’d been. An aftershock of lust slammed through her, lingering pleasantly, butterflies in her belly. “He’s unbearably sexy, isn’t he,” Ginnie murmured.
    “Work!” Lara commanded, shooing at Ginnie’s idle writing fingers. “And, sure, I suppose. If you like the buttoned-up, aloof, brooding type. I prefer a more fun-loving guy.”
    “Harry can be fun,” Ginnie protested. “Lots and lots and lots …”
    “I get it.” But Lara stopped smiling. “Ginnie. You have to protect yourself. I mean, he’s said he doesn’t want a relationship. He flat out, no-compromise declared he’s never going to change. I hate to break it to you. You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? Jeez, it’s not fair. You’ve had a couple of years’ worth of drama packed into a week, and here’s Mr. Wonderful telling you he doesn’t want a relationship. It sucks, but…you have to believe it. You can’t change people, however much it’d be in their best interest.” Her dark eyes were warm and sincere and sad.
    Ginnie stared in amazement. “You’re only, what? Eighteen? Nineteen? Too young to sound so experienced. And so smart.”
    “Twenty-two, and thanks.” Lara preened, her eyes full of laughter once more. “I likes me my fun-lovin’ guys,” she admitted. “It’s gotten so that I can read between their lines pretty easily now. But ‘I’m not ready for a relationship’ always means just that. They’re not available, no matter what other signals they send up. Like inviting you to sleep over. There’s a big mixed message there. Move in to my place.”
    “Huh?” Ginnie’s thoughts had to scurry to catch up after hearing ‘sleep over’. She and Harry hadn’t done much actual sleeping together. “Move in with you?”
    “Sure. I have a two-bedroom apartment, and only my cat uses the other room. When you get the deposit and settlement check—” She tapped the paperwork, “—you can get your own place. Or you can stay. We seem to get along pretty well.”
    Ginnie smiled at her new friend. Lara was a wonderful person. And maybe getting away from Harry would clarify matters. He probably preferred she go, anyway.
    The man didn’t want a relationship.
    Ginnie felt a pang of regret. “Okay. Later this afternoon? I’m