Two Times as Hot (26 page)

 

W
ith a huff, Tara spun on the heel of her cowboy boot, bound for the building. She
stepped from behind her car—and directly into the path of a truck going way too fast
for a parking lot. It skidded to a stop as she leapt back, and then pulled into the
empty spot next to her car.

The driver’s side door opened and that’s when Tara recognized both the truck and the
driver.

Jace Mills. That figured. Chief idiot and number one annoyance from among her brother’s
roster of friends, and now he’d nearly run her over. “Jeez, Jace. You almost killed
me. Slow the fuck down.”

“You kiss your mama with that mouth, Tara?” Jace raised one sandy brow high above
his blue eyes. “And you stepped right out in front of me. Look where you’re going
from now on.”

Tara clenched her jaw and tried to control the string of obscenities she’d love to
let loose on him.

“I was distracted, but you should still be more careful. There are families walking
around here with kids and stuff.” She frowned at the empty cab of Jace’s truck. “Tuck’s
not with you.”

“That is a very good observation.”

She rolled her eyes in frustration. “Why isn’t he?”

Couldn’t this man cut her even one little break? Every tiny piece of information she
got out of him was a struggle.

“That is a very good question.” Jace grinned.

“Do you have an answer?”

“I do, and it’s a doozey. Wanna hear?” He waggled his brows.

“Dammit—yes, Jace. I wanna hear.” Tara would need dental work from gritting her teeth
if she continued this conversation with this obnoxious, frustrating, annoying man
who made her want to scream.

A wide grin stretched across Jace’s lips. “Tuck’s at a wine tasting with Becca, his
BFF Logan, and Logan’s wife.”

Tara’s gut twisted at hearing Logan’s name. Having Jace mention Logan in the same
breath as his new wife made it even worse. She’d loved Logan for as long as she could
remember, and Becca’s sister had swooped in and stolen him from her. She swallowed
away the bitter taste in the back of her throat, nauseated all over again by the memories
of her last conversation with Logan.

It had been on the day of his wedding. He’d told Tara he’d never loved her and never
would. That he loved Emma. But she needed to focus on the situation at hand and not
her broken heart. Tuck’s sudden interest in wine over rodeo left Tara stuck without
a ride.

“Crap. I needed Tuck here tonight.”

“We’re going to have to talk about your potty mouth, young lady.” Jace crossed his
arms over his chest and leaned back against the truck. “But before we do, why did
you need Tuck here? And come to think of it, why are you here?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m working with the sports medicine team
to fulfill my internship requirement for graduation.”

“Sports medicine? That’s what you’re going to school for?” Jace frowned. “Hmm. I thought
it was veterinary studies.”

“You’re so observant.” Tara rolled her eyes.

Jace’s only response was to lift one shoulder in a shrug. Unfortunately, as much of
an idiot as Jace was, it looked like he was also her only hope for a ride to Stillwater,
where she could crash for the night at Tuck and Becca’s place.

Tara eyed his truck. “Can you tow a car with that thing?”

He hooked a thumb at his truck. “This thing? Tow a car? Uh, yeah. I could tow a tractor
trailer if I had to. Why?”

“My car is dead.” She tilted her head in the direction of the piece of crap behind
her. “One of the stock contractors took a look at it for me and suggested I tow it
to the local scrap yard and junk it.”

Jace eyed the vehicle and let out a long slow whistle. “That bad, huh?”

“Apparently. And then, I also kind of need a ride to Tuck’s place.” She’d work on
her brother’s sympathies when she got to Stillwater. Maybe she could convince Tuck
to loan her his truck for the next few weeks.

It’s not like he needed it. He and Becca both worked at the same damn place. They
should carpool. Save the environment. Reduce their carbon footprint and all that good
stuff.

A smug smirk appeared on Jace’s face. “So what you’re saying is you need my help.”

“Forget about it. I’ll find another ride.” Tara let out a huff. She’d just keep calling
Tuck until he answered.

“Stop pouting. Jeez, you’re such a child.”

Gasping at the worst insult he could have thrown at her, Tara had no words except
to deny it. “I am not a child. You’re a—”

“Tara, if you’d shut up one damn minute and listen, you’d hear I’m saying okay. I’ll
help you. I’ll take a look at your car and if it doesn’t look fixable, I’ll tow it
to the scrapyard and drive you back to Stillwater.”

This man was so infuriating, she’d love to plant the toe of her cowboy boot right
where the sun didn’t shine, but he was willing to help so she’d have to play nice.
“And what would I have to give you in exchange? I’m warning you. I’ve got no money,
not even to chip in for gas. Seriously, like none. I spent it all on that piece of
shit car.”

Jace scowled. “I don’t need your money. I have plenty of my own for gas, thank you.”

She didn’t trust Jace as far as she could throw him. He wouldn’t do her a favor for
nothing. He must have some ulterior motive. “Then what do you want?”

“Hmm, let’s see. What do I want?” Jace stared up at the sky and tapped one forefinger
to his chin. “I know. You have to be nice to me. No name calling. No smart ass comments.
None of your usual shit. Think you can do that?”

Not likely.
“I don’t know. For how long?”

“Until we get to Stillwater. Starting now.”

“How about starting the moment we get inside the arena, until we get in your truck
to start the drive to Stillwater?”

“You’re unbelievable.” Laughing, Jace shook his head. “All right. It’s a deal.”

Jace extended one big, rough hand and, though she’d never willingly touched him before,
Tara shook it to seal the deal on this unholy alliance.

One day, far in the future when Tara had a successful career and a happy marriage,
she’d look back at this time in her life. At how she’d had her heart broken by the
only man she’d ever loved, and she’d survived, become a stronger woman because of
it. How, stranded in Shawnee during week one of her internship, she’d hitched a ride
with the devil. And how, being the mature person she knew herself to be, she’d even
been nice to him for one whole night . . . God help her.

BRAVA BOOKS are published by

 

 

Copyright © 2013 Cat Johnson

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
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BRAVA and the B logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

ISBN: 978-0-7582-8540-9

 

 

 

First Electronic Edition: October 2013

 

ISBN-13: 978-0-7582-8541-6
ISBN-10: 0-7582-8541-8