Covering her face, Maci slowly counted to ten.
“You drive. I’ll follow you and bring you back here.” Ty’s baritone slid down her spine giving her the shivers.
“We don’t need your help, Hercules,” Craig slurred.
“That’d be great, Ty. Thank you.” Accepting his help simply to spite Craig felt fantastic. She’d deal with the fallout later.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s go.”
Her mother paused. “Come on, Craig, it’s time to go.”
Maci held her breath, praying he’d go along quietly for once, and save her the trouble. She’d never hated any one, but Craig pushed her right to the edge of dislike.
“Fine.” Ignoring the red-faced Tangela, he stalked off, grabbing her mother’s arm and pulling her away. The action hit her like a slap in the face. After all that’d happened she had to watch her mother walk away with this man yet again. Disgust, anger, and a healthy dose of shame hit her in the gut. A smart person would walk away. No one would blame her. She’ d hung in there long enough, played the role of parents collecting a wayward child more times than she could count. The logical arguments sounded reasonable, but in her heart walking away felt too much like giving up on her, and that she wasn’t okay with.
The crowd parted, and excitement waned, wilting like dying flowers. Mercifully, Ty remained silent as they made the journey. Craig and her mother climbed into the back, and she paused outside the driver’s door of Craig’s white truck.
“I’m the black truck over there. I’ll follow you.” Ty nodded.
“Okay, they don’t live far, so it won’t take long.”
“I’m not worried about that.” The sincerity in his voice moved her more than it should have.
You’re just setting yourself up for heartache. A little while longer, and he’ll be breezing out of town like all the other roughnecks. Feeling his gaze on her she cleared her throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Hmm. I’ll bring my truck around.”
Relieved that he didn’t pry she slipped behind the wheel and turned over the engine.
****
She climbed into his truck, and he couldn’t help but admire the way her breasts peeked from beneath the dress. Full, round, and inviting they hinted at the treasures that lay beneath her clothing.
His mouth watered. The door shut, and he pulled out of the driveway.
“You remember how to get back?” Her voice was low and subdued. He frowned.
“I have an excellent memory. You don’t have anything to be embarrassed of. You know that, right?”
“So, you’re an authority on this sort of thing? When’s the last time you pulled your Mom out of a bar brawl?”
He snorted. “Never. My brother, however, is another story.”
She gave a bark of laughter, and he grinned. He’d thaw her yet.
“Thank you for that laugh. I needed it.”
“I could think of a more pleasurable way to turn the night around.” His drawl thickened.
“Is that why you did this? You think I’ll sleep with you now?” She huffed.
“I did it because I saw you needed help. You knew I wanted to sleep with you before then.”
“At least you're honest.” She shrugged her shoulders.