“I don’t have a bedtime.”
“You should.”
She frowned. What did he mean by that? He led them out the back door of the bar as though he’d used it plenty of times before.
“Have you come here often?” she asked.
“Here? God, no.” His voice was very definite. “Love to know why you’re here, though.”
She tensed up. Crap. She was going to have to think of a good excuse.
“And before you tell me that lie you’re trying to concoct, I would warn you that I don’t like to be lied to. Ever. I’d rather you said nothing at all than lie to me. Understood?” There was no bend in his voice and even though she couldn’t see his face, she knew that he meant every word.
Okay, note to self. Don’t lie to Kent Jensen. Probably not going to be a problem, since before tonight she’d barely spoken to him and she fully expected things to return to normal tomorrow. Tonight, was just some weird aberration where he was taking care of her because he was a good guy, because he was grateful she’d helped Eden.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Chapter Three
Abby frowned as Kent guided her over to a huge ass black truck. “My car is over there.” She waved her free hand towards the left.
“Is it?” He beeped open his truck.
“Umm, yes, so I guess I’ll just say good night here.”
He opened the passenger door and the inner light went on. Then he turned to her. “Abby, didn’t you hear me say I was going to take care of you?”
“Umm, well, yes, but—”
“And that I told the sheriff I would take you home?”
“Well, I heard that, yes, but that doesn’t mean—”
“That I told the paramedic I would look after those cuts on your hands—”
“Yes, but you see—”
“And I told Zeke and Eden I was taking you home in my truck.”
“Urgh! Could you please just let me talk!”
There was a moment of silence. She opened her mouth to speak, finally he was going to be reasonable.
“No.”
No? No? He couldn’t be serious. He reached down, grasped her around the waist and lifted her up into the passenger seat. No doubt she would have had to take a running jump to get up but he’d lifted her in as though she didn’t weigh a thing.
“Kent!” she squealed.
“Yes?”
“You can’t just lift me like that!”
“Why not?” He grabbed the seat belt and pulled it over her, his arm brushing against her already stiff nipples. Oh Christ, he couldn’t feel them through the layers of clothing, could he?
“Because I’m too heavy.”
More silence. Only there was disapproval in this silence.