Millie's Second Chance (The Town of Pearl 4)

“Your aunt’s truck is in the shop, remember? I figured you might not feel up to walking in the heat all the way to the Triple C.”

She had completely forgotten and she shook her head then looked out across the yard toward the horse stables. The sound of pebbles and dirt crunching under Marco’s boots warned her of his quick approach.

She stood at the top of the three steps to the porch and he stood level with the walkway. He was still taller despite her position.

She locked gazes with him, and damn, did he look commanding.

“If you think I’m going to let you get a ride with some other cowboy besides me or one of my brothers, you’ve got another thing coming, woman. Now let’s get a move on it, I’ve got a couple of hours before work.”

He reached his hand out for her to take it, but she was trying to get over the emotions his words brought out in her. In an attempt to hide their effect, she skimmed past him, brushing against his body without his assistance toward the truck.

Before she could reach for the handle of the door, Marco was there. Their fingers brushed against one another’s and she pulled back only to bump into his chest.

His hand landed on her waist to support her, and she froze in place.

Near inches from her head and neck she heard his intake of breath as his body gently swayed against hers. She felt the thick, long, ridge of his cock against her backside and unintentionally gasped. The heat hit her cheeks. She felt flush with instant desire and was grateful that her back was toward him. Marco then pulled away before she could enjoy the close proximity.

“You smell real good, Millie.”

She swallowed hard, trying to destroy the lustful feelings circulating through her veins as he opened the door and guided her toward the seat with a hand still at her waist. It was high up, so she grabbed the roll bar on the door and was about to hoist herself up, but Marco lifted her as if she weighed nothing at all and placed her in the seat.

She squealed slightly and more out of shock and surprise at his move, but then he went further by leaning across her to push some papers toward the middle compartment. His muscular arm brushed against her breasts, and damn it, did her body renege on the agreement of ignoring her attraction to this man.

His face was inches from hers as he turned toward her.

“Not all men are assholes, sweetness.”

What?

“Safety first, honey. Let’s get this seat belt on and head to the Triple C.”

She sat in utter shock as he guided the strap across her body, buckled her in, and then stepped down from the truck. He closed the door and she ordered herself to breathe and not look into what his comment meant.

Was he trying to justify his actions? Was he trying to tell her that he was interested in her? Maybe he just wanted her to know that not all men were assholes so she didn’t feel like crap for ever getting involved with Frank?

She hadn’t a clue and she knew she was in trouble. She couldn’t even have a regular conversation with a man without analyzing his intentions, or, at minimum, confusing herself about them.

She stared straight ahead as Marco started the truck and chuckled as he headed out of the driveway.

* * * *

Millie was lost in thought as she painted the walls of the rec center. She had spent time talking with Anna and Stacy when she first arrived at the ranch. Stacy had gone outside to talk with Marco while Lena and Anna discussed the events from last night and how Millie was handling things. She knew that Anna, Stacy, and Lena understood what she felt like. But no matter what they told her, she felt guilty about Clare.

As she walked toward the other room and began painting, she was soon lost in her own thoughts. Millie figured that she had a few decisions to make. After going over every scenario in her head, she realized that she had to give Detective Flynn time to locate Frank and handle things. She also decided that Anna and Stacy were right about her being protected in Pearl. There were plenty of men around the area and, due to the new facility, security had to be good. She had learned that Hank and Dalton had trained all of the deputies in town. Apparently, there were a lot of ex-military and active military living on the outskirts of town as well as inside Pearl. Her concern over baby Hope as well as Stacy and Anna would be resolved by Millie staying toward the edge of town at her aunt’s ranch. She might be alone most of the time, but that’s where her other decision had been made.

She was going to have to take care of herself and her own safety, beginning with getting Hank to train her as if she were law enforcement or military. If Frank came looking for her in Pearl, she wanted to be physically ready to fight for her life since mentally she was scared of him. She needed to learn how to turn off that fear and rely on her abilities and training. If she were going to die by Frank’s hands, then she would die fighting.

“It looks great in here.”

Millie jumped at the sound of the male voice. When she turned to look and see who was there, she was surprised to see Hank.

“Thanks,” she whispered then mentally tried to prepare herself to ask him for assistance with the training.

“How are you doing?” he asked as she stepped down from the ladder, placed the brush on the top, and looked around the room.

“Okay.”

“Do you need some help?” he asked, and she realized that he was there because Marco probably asked him to come and babysit her. Damn, why was Marco so controlling and bossy?