Run To You

her to-go cup at her chest. “I’m annoying?”
    “This can’t be news to you.” He shoved his own cup into the holder. “Someone has to have told you that before.”
    “No. I’ve never met anyone as rude as you.”
    “You’re a bartender. I call BS.”
    She’d had to put up with some really obnoxious drunks, that was true. “No. You’re the rudest person.”
    “I prefer honest.” The corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile.
    “I prefer rude.”
    “This disagreement is what’s called a teachable moment.”
    She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Who’s supposed to learn something? Me or you?”
    “You are, Boots.”
    “I’m wearing flip-flops.”
    “Boots is a new recruit.” He looked at her and grinned like he was really funny. “See what you just learned. Maybe you should call me Staff Sergeant Junger.”
    “You’re a sergeant?” Of course he was.
    “First Battalion, Fifth Marines.”
    She returned his smile. “What were you trying to teach me last night in the pool, Sergeant Junger?”
    “Last night was a bad idea.” His smile fell and he looked back at the road. “We should forget it happened.”
    “We should?” He was probably right, but that wasn’t likely to happen. At least not for her.
    “We’re going to be cooped up in this car for a least two more days before I can dump you off in Texas. We don’t need complications.”
    Dump? Dump! “Like the complication of your tongue down my throat?”
    “You weren’t complaining.” His frown deepened. “You were moaning.”
    “I didn’t moan.”
    “You moaned.”
    Maybe a little. “You groaned.”
    He glanced at her and she could feel his hard gaze from behind his mirrored glasses. “Let’s just forget it happened. Do you think you can do that?”
    “It wasn’t that memorable.” She waved a hand. “It’s forgotten.”
    He looked like he wanted to argue about his memorability, but he returned his gaze to the road and said, “You don’t have to worry that it will happen again. It won’t.”
    She knew she should be more relieved than insulted. And she was. Really. If he wanted to forget it happened, fine. She had enough to think about besides the shock of Beau Junger’s hot mouth on hers. Like her mess of a life.
    After they’d said a quick good-bye to Naomi, they’d jumped in the Escalade and headed to the nearest Starbucks, where she’d been confronted with reality. She didn’t have a job and five dollars was a lot for coffee. Beau had paid for the coffee and Naomi had packed apples and croissants for them to munch on, but this trip was going to put a hit on her back account. A hit she couldn’t afford.
    Her rent was paid for the month and she did have some money in the bank. Maybe if she was really careful, she’d be okay financially. She’d have to find a new job when she got back, not to mention a new place to live. Stella wasn’t worried about finding a new job. She was a damn good bartender and made good tips. She could always find a job.
    A new apartment was going to be trickier.
    Stella pulled at the legs of her jean shorts and sank further in her seat in an effort to get more comfortable. She figured she had about five days. Two days to get to Texas, two to visit her sister before she flew back to Miami and found a job.
    Sadie. She didn’t want to think about her sister. Thinking about Sadie made her stomach get all tight and nervous. Thinking about Sadie made her feel like a kid again, sitting at the library, surfing the Internet and the Amarillo Globe for news of Clive and her sister. And while she’d hung on every mention of Sadie’s 4–H accomplishments, her sister hadn’t even known she was alive.
    Stella chewed on the inside of her lips and looked out the side window. She’d think about Sadie later. When she was alone. Right now she needed to think about the Gallo boys and Ricky. Did she really need to relocate? Moving to a new city was expensive and she hadn’t saved for it. Did she have a choice? Where would she go?
    She glanced across at the man who’d help blow her life too hell. He was rude and she’d prefer to ignore him, but she had to know. “Do you really think I need to move out of my apartment? Or were you just being dramatic?”
    He looked over at her. “I’m never dramatic and yes. You need to move.”
    She closed her eyes. “How?” she said, more to herself than to him.
    “Hire movers.”
    She opened her eyes. He made it sound so easy.