“I—” She blinked up at him, her throat going dry. She couldn’t tell him. Well, she could but she didn’t want to go into too much detail. It still felt too raw, too personal, talking about her little family, her only family member. Her grandma, spending such intimate time with Hunter…it was all crashing down on her at once. “Someone’s sick. I need to go check on her and make sure she’s all right.”
; “Who is it and where are they?” He gentled his hold on her, his fingers caressing, his eyes so warm as he stared at her. “Tell me. Don’t keep it a secret. I’m here for you. I want to help you.”
And she wanted to believe him, really she did. But she’d never depended on anyone before. Old habits were hard to break. “It’s a…old family friend,” she lied. Why couldn’t she tell him? Why couldn’t she open up to him like he wanted her to? Like she wanted to? “She asked me to come see her in the hospital.”
“Where does she live?”
“Upstate. I need to go—”
“Gracie.” He shook her a little. “Listen to me. You don’t have a car.”
She frowned. “I know that. I’ll rent one.”
He rolled his eyes and gave her another shake. “I’ll take you.”
“No,” she said vehemently. “I need to go alone. She’s a very—private person.” More like she was the very private person.
“I’m not letting you leave in the middle of the night to drive upstate in your imaginary car. You’re too upset.”
“Don’t patronize me.” She jerked out of his hold, looking everywhere for her shoes. Where the hell were they? “You always expect everyone to just do what you say, don’t you?”
“I’m trying to help you. It’s a damn shame you can’t recognize that.” He blew out a harsh breath. “Come on, Gracie. Let me in. Let me into your life.”
She shook her head, relief flooding her when she found what she’d been looking for. Slipping her shoes on, she ran a hand over her hair. Her makeup was probably smeared all over her face, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t have time to freshen up, she needed to go. “It’s a private matter, like I said. Let me get up there and make sure she’s okay. I’ll—I’ll call you.”
“You are the most frustrating woman I’ve ever met.” He grabbed her again. Tugged her close and wrapped his arms tight around her and she pressed her cheek against his bare chest, closing her eyes. Why couldn’t she let him help her? Why couldn’t she open herself up to him? Why was it always so damn hard? “Take one of my cars, at least. You do have a license, don’t you?”
Nodding, she withdrew from him and met his gaze. “It’s been a while since I drove but yes, I have a license.”
“Take the Mercedes. It’s safe and an automatic. Shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
“How many cars do you have?” She still had a hard time grasping his lifestyle and how he took it for granted. It all seemed like a dream.
“Too many.” He kissed the tip of her nose with a gentle smile. “I’ll take you down to the garage.”
“Hunter.” She pressed her hands to his chest, the heat of his skin nearly searing her palms. “I don’t want you to hold this against me. Like you’ll make me owe you for this or something, using your car, your offer of help.”
He frowned, his expression so fierce it almost frightened her. “Do you really think that little of me? That I would make you owe me for letting you borrow my car?”
“I—I don’t know. I’m no good at this. I’m terrible at this sort of thing.” She’d messed up. Now he was angry.
“No shit,” he muttered, withdrawing from her both physically and emotionally. “That was never my intention. I might be an asshole, but I’m not that big of an asshole.”
“I never said you were an asshole.”
“Yeah, but you implied it.”
“Fine.” She threw her hands up in the air and grabbed her purse, tossing her cell phone inside of it before she slung it over her shoulder. “You’re right. I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to this sort of stuff and I don’t know why I thought I would ever change. Forget it. Forget all of it.” She started toward the door.
“Wait a minute—where are you going?” He followed after her, slapping his hand against the front door before she could open it. “You do realize every single damn time you run away when the going gets too tough.”
“That’s because you’re right. I can’t handle it. I can’t handle you.” Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and she blinked them away. “No matter how good we make each other feel, how good it is between us, it’ll never work. I don’t know why I bother trying.”
“Gracie,” he started but she glared at him.
“Don’t. Just.” She shook her head and cranked the door handle. “Don’t say anything, Hunter. Please.”