My eyes widened.
She wasn’t actually thinking about calling things off because of Trinity, was she?
Only, she was.
Of course she was.
This was Tennessee we were talking about.
“You’re considering it,” I said flatly.
“I’m trying to figure out the best course of action.” She let her head drop to the edge of my window.
“You’re a medical miracle, you know,” I said.
She looked up, resting one cheek against my window frame. “How so?”
“You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.”
She winced, pulling away from the car.
I snatched her jaw, trying to get her to look at me. She made a low, moaning sound and pulled away, rubbing at her cheek. That’s when I saw she was back to wearing an unholy amount of makeup. And that the makeup was designed to hide something ugly…instead of concealing something beautiful.
I narrowed my eyes, realizing that one of her cheeks was red and had the imprint of fingers on it.
“What the—”
“I’m okay.” She took a step back.
But it was too late.
I’d already gotten out of the car and slammed the door shut behind me.
“The hell you are. Who did this to you? Was it Rob?”
I was going to kill him and then feed him to the coyotes bit by tiny bit.
She snorted. “I’d bitch-slap Rob before he bitch-slapped me.”
My jaw went rigid, and my muscles clenched.
“Trinity.”
“I’ve got it handled.” She tried to scurry away from me.
“The little witch.”
“She was mad.”
“She’s about to be furious when I kick her ass to the curb and make her jobless.”
“Cruz, no.” She clutched my arm, tugging hard. “Please let me handle this my way.”
“Your way is lying on the road waiting for her to run you over. This isn’t just about you—you think I want someone that heartless taking care of vulnerable patients? No, thanks.”
“My way is giving my family time. Easing them into the idea.”
“What idea? Of you going out with a respectable member of the community?”