[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Like to think I fuck better than frozen sausages.
She shook her head. Semantics. You mind if I turn the radio on?
Go for it.
She went to the stereo by the TV and turned it on low, a soft drone of monotone
voices that made Shane s eyes roll.
What? she asked, sitting back down. I like to hear the news.
Fucking NPR.
She laughed. Tell me you wouldn t prefer Rush Limbaugh, please.
64
Getaway
Nah& just don t think I m listening to that liberal bull once I convince you to move
down south and have my kids.
She laughed so hard she snorted. Wow, what a very tempting offer, Mr.
Broussard. I ll leave my shoes here, shall I? Doesn t sound like I ll be needing them
down there, all barefoot and pregnant.
Shane enjoyed joking with her, felt only a tiny sting that she clearly found the idea
impossible.
They traded regional insults for a few minutes, then a story about Medicare reform
came on the radio and Natalie shushed him. He freshened their cups and she shook her
head as the segment wrapped, annoyed by whatever the droning had been about.
Government trying to mess with your precious old people? he asked, taking his
seat.
Don t get me going. Her mood had clearly darkened, lips pursed to a tight line.
Silence reigned for a few minutes as they sipped, and Shane knew whatever was going
on between her ears wasn t about health care.
He poked her shin with his bare foot beneath the table. Hey.
She met his eyes, smile weak. Hmmm?
I lost you there. What s on your mind?
Oh, I m just trapped in my own head.
Join the club.
She smiled again, gaze on her mug. It s really nice having you here&
But?
I just want to make sure this is the same for you as it is for me.
How do you mean?
She winced through another sip of coffee then finally looked at him. You keep
teasing me about marrying you, and I know you re kidding. But I want to make sure
65
Cara McKenna
there s not any grains of truth hidden in there. Because I m not looking to settle down
anytime soon.
Shane kept his face neutral, casual, hiding the sting to his ego. Course not. This is
a rebound.
Good. I just wanted to make sure we re on the same page.
You upset you decided to screw up what you had with your surgeon for a few
nights of southern comfort? he asked, nudging her again.
No, not at all. I wasn t really feeling that, with Alex. He s a good guy but I won t
be losing any sleep over him. I just know you ve spent the past year not really knowing
where you stood with Gabriel, so I want to be the opposite. Crystal clear. She smiled at
him. But this is really lovely, being this way with you for a little while. You re pretty
much exactly what I go for in a nutshell, except not all the terrible parts.
What do you mean?
Well, you re sort of a bully. And an ass. No offense. But you aren t really. Well,
you are& but not just for the sake of being that way. Anyhow, you re stubborn and
tacky and a bit annoying. All the things I fall for, but I bet you treat women nicely.
I try. They don t usually stick around very long though.
What s your longest relationship been? she asked, and the question chilled
Shane s blood.
With a woman, she amended, but no matter, the truth would still condemn him.
Maybe six months.
Her face fell. Oh.
I know, my track record ain t so hot.
No, it s not that& I was afraid I just jabbed your bruise there. I didn t know you
and him&
I don t count that as a relationship, Shane said quickly.
Natalie made a little noise, not exactly a laugh. You don t?
66
Getaway
No. I mean, you re practically the only person who knows about it, anyhow. You
and a handful of drunk women who ve passed through the bar.
Heh. Well, not to be contrary, Shane, but what you and him were, that s got to be
more intense than most people s marriages. I can t believe you wouldn t count it.
He was never just mine, Shane said.
Natalie licked her lip, holding back a thought.
What?
She frowned then drained her cup. Whose fault is that, Shane? That you guys
weren t& you know. More?
He rankled. He needed more than I could give him.
Maybe he needed to be with somebody who d admit what you were to more than
just the spare women who passed through your bar.
He didn t reply, not willing to explore that idea.
Maybe he wanted acknowledgment as much as you wanted fidelity. How did he
take it, anyway? You never told me how the breakup went.
Shit, busted. Shane cleared his throat, eyes escaping just as Natalie raised her own
to stare at him.
What? she asked. Was it awful? I mean of course it was awful. Was it ugly?
It ain t technically happened yet.
Oh.
Don t worry, you ain t like, the other woman or anything.
She laughed. I have been before& Oh great. Now you ve both cheated on each
other with me.
It ain t cheating when there s no commitment.
She squinted at him. What did you do, Shane? Just drive away? Tell him you re
going on a road trip?
67
Cara McKenna
I didn t tell him shit. I just left.
She blinked, dark brows pinched together into a perplexed line. What about your
staff? You told them but not Gabriel? He s going to hear it from them instead of you?
He knows. He called me yesterday, actually. Told him where I was. He don t care.
Just misses having a place to sleep.
He doesn t have keys? After a whole year together? she asked.
Like I said, it ain t a relationship.
That is such a load of bullshit. And anyway, he called yesterday and you didn t
tell him you re through with him? What did you talk about?
Nothin important. He just wanted to know where I was& But I ll tell him we re [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl karpacz24.htw.pl
Like to think I fuck better than frozen sausages.
She shook her head. Semantics. You mind if I turn the radio on?
Go for it.
She went to the stereo by the TV and turned it on low, a soft drone of monotone
voices that made Shane s eyes roll.
What? she asked, sitting back down. I like to hear the news.
Fucking NPR.
She laughed. Tell me you wouldn t prefer Rush Limbaugh, please.
64
Getaway
Nah& just don t think I m listening to that liberal bull once I convince you to move
down south and have my kids.
She laughed so hard she snorted. Wow, what a very tempting offer, Mr.
Broussard. I ll leave my shoes here, shall I? Doesn t sound like I ll be needing them
down there, all barefoot and pregnant.
Shane enjoyed joking with her, felt only a tiny sting that she clearly found the idea
impossible.
They traded regional insults for a few minutes, then a story about Medicare reform
came on the radio and Natalie shushed him. He freshened their cups and she shook her
head as the segment wrapped, annoyed by whatever the droning had been about.
Government trying to mess with your precious old people? he asked, taking his
seat.
Don t get me going. Her mood had clearly darkened, lips pursed to a tight line.
Silence reigned for a few minutes as they sipped, and Shane knew whatever was going
on between her ears wasn t about health care.
He poked her shin with his bare foot beneath the table. Hey.
She met his eyes, smile weak. Hmmm?
I lost you there. What s on your mind?
Oh, I m just trapped in my own head.
Join the club.
She smiled again, gaze on her mug. It s really nice having you here&
But?
I just want to make sure this is the same for you as it is for me.
How do you mean?
She winced through another sip of coffee then finally looked at him. You keep
teasing me about marrying you, and I know you re kidding. But I want to make sure
65
Cara McKenna
there s not any grains of truth hidden in there. Because I m not looking to settle down
anytime soon.
Shane kept his face neutral, casual, hiding the sting to his ego. Course not. This is
a rebound.
Good. I just wanted to make sure we re on the same page.
You upset you decided to screw up what you had with your surgeon for a few
nights of southern comfort? he asked, nudging her again.
No, not at all. I wasn t really feeling that, with Alex. He s a good guy but I won t
be losing any sleep over him. I just know you ve spent the past year not really knowing
where you stood with Gabriel, so I want to be the opposite. Crystal clear. She smiled at
him. But this is really lovely, being this way with you for a little while. You re pretty
much exactly what I go for in a nutshell, except not all the terrible parts.
What do you mean?
Well, you re sort of a bully. And an ass. No offense. But you aren t really. Well,
you are& but not just for the sake of being that way. Anyhow, you re stubborn and
tacky and a bit annoying. All the things I fall for, but I bet you treat women nicely.
I try. They don t usually stick around very long though.
What s your longest relationship been? she asked, and the question chilled
Shane s blood.
With a woman, she amended, but no matter, the truth would still condemn him.
Maybe six months.
Her face fell. Oh.
I know, my track record ain t so hot.
No, it s not that& I was afraid I just jabbed your bruise there. I didn t know you
and him&
I don t count that as a relationship, Shane said quickly.
Natalie made a little noise, not exactly a laugh. You don t?
66
Getaway
No. I mean, you re practically the only person who knows about it, anyhow. You
and a handful of drunk women who ve passed through the bar.
Heh. Well, not to be contrary, Shane, but what you and him were, that s got to be
more intense than most people s marriages. I can t believe you wouldn t count it.
He was never just mine, Shane said.
Natalie licked her lip, holding back a thought.
What?
She frowned then drained her cup. Whose fault is that, Shane? That you guys
weren t& you know. More?
He rankled. He needed more than I could give him.
Maybe he needed to be with somebody who d admit what you were to more than
just the spare women who passed through your bar.
He didn t reply, not willing to explore that idea.
Maybe he wanted acknowledgment as much as you wanted fidelity. How did he
take it, anyway? You never told me how the breakup went.
Shit, busted. Shane cleared his throat, eyes escaping just as Natalie raised her own
to stare at him.
What? she asked. Was it awful? I mean of course it was awful. Was it ugly?
It ain t technically happened yet.
Oh.
Don t worry, you ain t like, the other woman or anything.
She laughed. I have been before& Oh great. Now you ve both cheated on each
other with me.
It ain t cheating when there s no commitment.
She squinted at him. What did you do, Shane? Just drive away? Tell him you re
going on a road trip?
67
Cara McKenna
I didn t tell him shit. I just left.
She blinked, dark brows pinched together into a perplexed line. What about your
staff? You told them but not Gabriel? He s going to hear it from them instead of you?
He knows. He called me yesterday, actually. Told him where I was. He don t care.
Just misses having a place to sleep.
He doesn t have keys? After a whole year together? she asked.
Like I said, it ain t a relationship.
That is such a load of bullshit. And anyway, he called yesterday and you didn t
tell him you re through with him? What did you talk about?
Nothin important. He just wanted to know where I was& But I ll tell him we re [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]