He’d left her to her own devices while he met with his supplier. Kerry used the time to take a local bus to a tourist area filled with intriguing small shops. She lost herself for a couple of hours in a bookstore before heading back to the hotel to meet up with Damian.
They talked the entire trip back to Amarillo. Since she changed the subject whenever he brought up the Albuquerque move, they had a pleasant drive discussing movies, books, and music. No surprise they liked all the same things. It especially rattled her to discover, in spite of the miles separating them, they’d attended two of the same country and western concerts in Oklahoma City.
Her attempt at independence should have been an exciting and satisfying prospect, but now faded in direct proportion to the time spent in Damian’s company. There was simply no denying the pull. Being close to him in the truck on the way home wreaked havoc with her emotions.
****
“That’ll be four hundred ninety-seven dollars and forty-nine cents, Miz Mackenzie.” Boz held out the greased-stained paper with the breakdown of parts an
d labor for fixing the flat and replacing the broken water pump.
Luckily, her insurance covered the tow.
“Ouch.” Kerry sighed as she pulled out her checkbook, wrote out the payment, then handed the check to him. “Thank you so much.”
The mechanic tugged on the brim of his grease-stained baseball cap and smiled. “Welcome, ma’am. I suggest you invest in some new tires, though. I fixed your flat spare, too.”
“I will. Unfortunately, this has already put a serious dent in my moving fund.”
“You moving to Amarillo?”
“Ah. No. Albuquerque.”
Her smiled dimmed when he scratched the side of his nose with a dirt encrusted fingernail and mumbled, “That don’t make no sense.” He lumbered away, shaking his head.
“Told ya.” Damian walked up behind her.
Kerry opened the Chevy’s door, took a deep breath, and extended her hand. “Thank you for rescuing me, and the drive to Albuquerque.”
Hands resting on his hips, Damian stared at her. “Seriously, Kerry?”
She dropped her hand to her side. “What?”
“Do you honestly believe I’ll take your hand, shake it, wish you well, and walk off?”
She clamped her lips together and blinked rapidly. No way would she cry. This was for the best. She didn’t know Damian well enough to throw away everything she’d done to gain her independence. For heaven’s sake, they’d only known each other a few days!
Sometimes that’s all it takes. Especially with the right person.
“In any event, Ms. Mackenzie, I don’t trust those tires of yours, and since it’s getting onto evenin’, I’d prefer if you listen to reason and wait until tomorrow to rush off and begin your new life.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not staying at your house again.”
“Fine. We’ll get some dinner, and then I’ll drop you off here so you can find a motel.”
Drop me off? That stung. Maybe he was ready to walk away despite all his assertions to the contrary.
“All right.” She raised her chin. “But I pay for my own dinner.”
“Darlin’, if it pleases you, then have at it. In fact, I’ll let you pay for mine, too. Actually, why not pick up the check for everyone in the place to celebrate your new life?” His eyes flashed and his jaw clenched.
“That’s not necessary. I’ll just pay for my own.” She sniffed, terrified the emotions clogging her throat would burst forth in a torrent of tears. “Let’s go then. I’ll follow you.”
Damian grabbed her hand and tugged. “No. Leave your car here. We’ll come back for it.”
She should jump in her car and barrel as far away from this man as possible. Neither Tulsa nor Albuquerque would be far enough. Every minute in his company chipped away at her resolve.
Then the traitorous little voice nudged her.