Chapter Eight

“Whatcha lookin’ for?” Walt called as he walked from the barn to the house with Sunny and JT in tow.

“Harper was supposed to be here by now,” Monty yelled back as he stood by the metal frame archway over their driveway.

“Who?” Walt asked while walking over and looking down the road.

“That the woman who sprung us in Mexico?” JT asked.

“The D.A., yes,” Monty said as he was joined by the guys who all stood like lookie loos for an accident, but there wasn’t one to see.

“You sure she was coming?” Sunny asked before taking a few steps onto the county highway that ran past the ranch.

“More than,” Monty said with surety remembering about Walt. “She even asked about a place to stay, so she can look further into the file with Walter.”

“Why me?” he asked before kicking some rocks into a ditch.

“Legalese shit.” Monty stepped up his pace before turning around to walk backwards down the road but still see the other guys. “I was looking over Tina’s research—”

“Stop right there,” Walt said holding his hands in surrender. “She’s a step a way from paranoid right now.”

“It’s only paranoia if they’re not really after you.” JT slapped his brother’s shoulder before double timing it to catch up with Monty. “There’s something more isn’t there? I’ve been away too long. Catch me up.”

“Tina found a correlation with some eminent domain takeovers and violent crimes. We know Julio killed at least one man, if Harper’s looking into crimes they don’t want her to…” Monty had made it almost a half mile from the house when he saw two sets of tire tracks on the side of the road. One coming up through the ditch and the other starting just north of the ditch. Worse yet, was a cracked piece of red plastic.

“Turn signal?” JT asked holding up the hard plastic. “What were the violent acts?”

Monty took off sprinting along indents from a set of tires. Cresting a small hill, he saw a car sitting dead with a hood popped up in the middle and the driver’s door window missing. His boots slid as he crashed against the door and saw Harper tucked into herself. “Harper.” Monty made sure to keep his tone soft. The way she was cowering, she had to be conscious, just scared. “Harper, it’s Monty. You know a horse would be easier on your car.”

“Is he gone?” she whimpered.

Monty held his hand up to stop JT, Sunny and Walt from overwhelming her. “There’s no one out here.” He turned to the three men. “Get a four wheeler with a flat bed on the back.”

“We need an ambulance?” Sunny asked. “Mel was going to have a girl’s night with Kendra. You want me to have her meet us at the house?”

“Harper.” Monty reached in and opened her car door, so he could kneel beside her and check her over. “How hurt are you? Did the car flip or anything?”

“Just scratches,” she sniffled and slowly lifted her head.

Now, he could finally see she was okay.

“I don’t even know how long I’ve been sitting here.”

“It’s almost five thirty.”

“Then a while. I was afraid he was waiting for me to get out of the car.”

“We’re closer to MeMaws aren’t we?” Monty asked as he looked over his shoulder. MeMaw’s house couldn’t be that far and if they needed to hide Harper, no one in three counties would cross Theresa Long. “Get the gator and have Mel and Kendra meet us there. Hey Harp, you got a water bottle in your car by chance?”

“In the back, I think I tossed an old one the other day.”

Monty dug around until he found it. Taking off his shirt, he wet it and used it to wipe away the glass shards along her arms. “And I thought it was supposed to be Asians that were bad drivers,” he joked to settle himself if not her. Tremors were running down her arms. Trying to hold them still, he began to extricate her from the car, only to have more glass fall around her. “You’re sure your neck and back are fine?”

“He slammed into the back of my car, then the side after I hit the gas to get away from him.”

“You keep saying he,” Monty inquired hoping to know who to add to his people to kill.

“I saw his mug shot earlier today,” she said as he dabbed the blood from the small slits made by the glass to her face. “Yahir Acosta, I’m almost a hundred percent on that.”

“Why would he hit your car?”

“You think I’m lying,” she snapped and glass chips fell from her hair.

“No, it was a legitimate question. You’re not exactly in the job that keeps bad guys happy.”

“I’m not sure how yet, but I think he’s related to Federated.” Harper jumped up and Monty pushed her back down in the seat. “I need to warn Rusty. They think Julio’s dead, but they’ll find out soon enough.”

“Okay, hey Harper,” he said and took her chin in his hand to keep her looking at him. “Mel’s friend Kendra is a doctor. She’s gonna meet us and…”

“And what?”

Monty wasn’t sure if he should talk about the couple of nights he spent with Kendra this summer or not. Always a dangerous topic, one lover to another. He’d never lied to Kendra and they parted on amiable terms. She didn’t see him as a fuck buddy or anything, sadly. It wasn’t like Harper was anything but a one-night-stand. He didn’t do more than two ships docking for a few hours together anyway, but something about Harper knowing Kendra made him sick to his stomach. “You’ll be at my grandma’s place. Kendra should be able to get you patched up better. She’s in residency at a hospital in El Paso.”

“Is something wrong?” Harper asked as she brought her hands to her face. “Am I mutilated or something?”

“No, baby.” Monty took her hands in his and leaned in to softly kiss her lips. “I want to take care of you the best I can.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“Ashleigh couldn’t find you, it was getting late…I started walking up the road—”

“You walked up the road to find me?”

“I would have walked all the way to Las Cruces if I needed to. I saw tire tracks, JT saw your turn signal—”

The rumble of the four-wheeler they used on the ranch saved Monty from going into more embarrassing detail. JT was driving it and he helped Monty get Harper on the flat bed part of the farm equipment. Harper insisted they grab the files and her bag from the car before traveling to MeMaw’s. The whole way there, Monty held her tight to his body. Using the rationalization he was doing it for her safety and not because he feared losing her.

Lester, the mutt, was the first to greet them as Monty kept Harper close to his body and walked her through the door being held open by MeMaw. The dog sniffed the stranger until MeMaw swatted him with a towel. “Your cousin said you was comin’,” she said as her eyes spied the shaken Harper in his arms. “You flip something?”

“She got in an accident little past the curve,” JT said as he gave his grandma a hug.

“’Bout damn time you come see me boy. You come to town and don’t even stop in and visit your kinfolk.”

“Blame the number one grandson who made me work all dang day.”

“It’s good for you.” MeMaw got some water bottles from the fridge and placed them on the table.

Harper gave a soft thank you before cracking the top and taking a sip.

“No man has ever gotten up from a hard day’s work and felt useless.”

“I know MeMaw,” JT said. “Now how about you help me with this wedding stuff Betsy is making me do?”

“That’s that cracker from over in Texas.”

“Betsy’s family is from Dell City yes, but they’ve sold their ranch, so we’re having the wedding here.”

“I’ve heard, don’t care about the ranch enough to work it, but you two will come back for the beauty.” MeMaw stopped before JT successfully got her to move from the kitchen to the living room. “Speaking of beauty…girl, show me your hands.”

Harper looked to Monty for direction, but he had no idea what his grandmother was doing.

She held up her hands palms up, then flipped them over. “There’s a fading on her third finger,” MeMaw said with a groan. “Montgomery Long, how many marriages will it take for you to learn?”

“Learn what?” Harper asked.

“Don’t you know? This one thinks laying with another man’s wife is acceptable behavior for a man. Bad enough you start before marriage.”

“Exactly how premature was Uncle Clevon when he was born, seven, eight months? And eleven pounds, wasn’t he eleven JT?”

“Don’t pull me into your fight with MeMaw.”

“Oh, we ain’t fighting,” MeMaw said in a sing song way that reminded Monty of the calm before the thunderclouds unleash a downpour of rain. “Are we Montgomery? I just know we raised all you grandkids better than you’re behaving.”

“Middle child syndrome.”

“Oh, now you have some book learnin’.”

“I told you not to invest in that stock.” Monty tried to tamp down his anger. “Don’t know where the Long’s get their stubborn streak.”

“Now, I had it on good authority—”

“You asked for my advice,” Monty snapped until he remembered who he was talking to and brought his hands together in prayer to silence the rage. Beginning again, slowly Monty addressed his grandmother with the respect she’d earned, “You asked for my advice, then didn’t take it. How is that my fault?”

“Because you know I’m a stubborn old fool and you should have pushed harder.”

“Did she…” Monty blew out a low whistle. “…MeMaw, if you weren’t kinfolk—”

“I’ve been divorced for over six months.” Harper drew the attention from the two of them fighting. “I just met Monty. I’m assigned Melody’s case. I’m a prosecutor out of the district attorney’s office.”

“You ain’t laid with my grandson?”

Harper’s eyes bounced between MeMaw and Monty. “Well—I never—it’s just—I’m single. I never stepped out on my marriage. Didn’t even think about it.”

“In that case…make sure that doctor friend of Mel’s uses honey and aloe Vera on your face. No reason to have you all scarred up and let me get you my comb with the point on the handle.” MeMaw carefully ran a finger between two of Harper’s curls to remove a chunk of glass the size of a pea. “That comb will work real nice to get these and the smaller pieces out without damaging that beautiful head of hair. You got a bit of Native blood in you honey?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Let me get that comb and when they’re done with your face and arms, MeMaw is gonna clean up the rest of your head.”

Finally alone, with MeMaw off to the bathroom, Monty could breathe easier.

“Now I see where your bi-polar tendencies come from.” Harper giggled.

“I know you didn’t just call my grandmother bi-polar.”

“You both are passionate and want to help everyone. You also go from hot to cold to warm to scalding in the matter of a few words.”

“I’m nothing like my grandma.”

“Pity, she seems cool as hell to me. And someone who tries to keep you in line.”

“I need to be kept in line?” he asked and was saved by the door opening.

Melody came in followed by Kendra.

Monty stepped back from Harper to give the women room.

Kendra figured things out quick. He’d been too close and too eager to create distance for him not to be up to something. Thankfully, Kendra knew how to separate from situations or at least, she was for the moment. Her long braids were pulled up into a bun today and she was attempting again to be a cowgirl. So not her look, but tight jeans hugged her thick hips and thighs while being low enough to expose her diamond belly ring that sparkled against her mahogany skin. Today, she was going with an Americana themed shirt. If the flag were whole, the top would be over her breasts with strings dangling to help expose her belly. A stark contrast to Harper who was still in her business suit that could have protected her arms if she hadn’t taken the jacket off.

“Do I want to know what happened?” Kendra asked while rifling through the first aid kit Melody had brought with her.

“That depends,” Harper said. “Doctor patient confidentiality still applies at MeMaw’s right?”

“I’m assuming my compensation will be in God’s good graces and not in the form of an insurance payout.”

“Yes,” Monty said. “I’d appreciate your help deeply.”

With an arched eyebrow, Kendra gazed directly into his eyes and asked, “How deep?”

 

* * * *

 

If Harper didn’t know better, she would think Monty was embarrassed. It was obvious he’d slept with Kendra at some point in time. Heck, they may still be having sex. The only thing that irritated Harper was the jealous pang she felt at this revelation. Why did she care whom he’d been with? They weren’t exclusive. They weren’t anything, come to think of it. Yes, being upset that he had a sex life was stupid. Any man who could make a woman feel the way he did in bed, not only had a sex life, he had an active one.

Kendra asked the normal questions. Concussion protocol, checked Harper’s neck for whiplash, and balance issues all before using antiseptic instead of MeMaw’s home remedies to clean her up.

Monty had taken Melody in the other room with JT. MeMaw bounced between the two rooms. The few times Kendra thought she was done cleaning Harper up, MeMaw saw another microscopic size shard of glass.

“I thought eyesight was supposed to diminish with age,” Kendra said with a shake of her head as she used a flashlight to help her find the piece of glass. “I swear, that woman could read the eye chart on the other side of the ranch.”

“The hearing test too,” MeMaw called from the other room.

Both Harper and Kendra let out giggles.

“You’re the one putting the son-of-a-bitch away who went after my girl huh?” Kendra asked.

A quick sting signified the glass had been removed, followed by the cold of the alcohol cleaning the wound and finally the warm smear of antiseptic. “Yes,” Harper replied as she ran a hand slowly up one arm then the other, noting no pulls or pinches. “If he lives that long.”

“I know Monty’s a bit protective of Melody, but he wouldn’t do something stupid.”

“Not him.”

“Sunny then?”

“No, it’s complicated.”

“I like complicated.”

“Obviously,” Harper said as she looked over her shoulder to Monty sitting on the edge of the couch paying more attention to them than the conversation going on around him.

“Mel hid him from me for years,” Kendra commented.

“Why?”

“Oh, who knows? Then again, Monty was in college at Howard while she was at Texas Tech. Not like he could help her move in and stuff. Still, she should have at least told me. My family is from Virginia. I could have helped him out if he needed it.”

“He wouldn’t have taken your help.”

“Probably not.” Kendra let out a light sigh. “He’s a good guy though. He knows good women are out there, but outside of his family, he hasn’t found many that give him hope for the sex.”

“What about you?”

“I’d love me a cowboy, that’s why Mel and I go to the Hard Root for girl’s night. No city cowboys there.” Kendra stood up, but put her hand out to keep Harper sitting. “And don’t get me wrong I’d love to have Mel as my sister for real, but Monty is looking for something different. Sadly, I don’t think he even knows what it is.”

Harper lowered her head and a garbage can was placed in front of her.

“Good, now let me get these curls clear,” MeMaw said. Her touch was gentle as she worked her way from one side of Harper’s head to the other. Picking out the glass and then scratching before placing antiseptic followed by petroleum jelly to moisten her scalp.

Harper drifted a bit at the soft touch and care being taken by Monty’s grandmother. When Harper was younger, her mother used to do this to her. She would sit on the floor in front of her mother’s chair for an hour while she watched a show. When she was older, they created a chain and it was Harper’s job to do the same with Kennedy.

Silly, how the ritual had brought them all closer. They usually did it on evenings when her father was stuck working late at the law firm. Maybe that’s why they did it so much when she was younger. He was pushing himself to be partner and eighty hour weeks were the minimum requirement.

Tears began to flow from the memory and confusion of how her mother could hate not only daughters and husband so much, but herself too. Growing up, Harper saw her mother as a strong woman and yet, looking in the mirror shamed her. Yes, she was darker than Harper by about seven shades, but her skin was flawless. Just like she was.

“You okay, baby?” MeMaw asked. “I’m not hurting you am I?”

“No.” Harper wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “It’s been a hard day. You’re making it better.”

“Yeah, nothin’ like getting your head picked and scratched at. My mama used to do this for hours, but then I’d get her all mad when I went outside the next morning. She knew it would be ten minutes and I’d be in mud puddle somewhere.”

“There’s mud here?” Harper asked.

“Oh, no I lived in Georgia. That’s where I met my husband and he drug me back here. Gladly, my mama only visited for the big holidays and kids. She would have been on me every day. I’m more cowgirl than housewife. My hair was always being tied back Aunt Jemima style.”

Harper let out a little giggle. “I tried that one day.”

“Your mama a fool like mine?”

“Yep, she snapped that kerchief off me so fast, I think she straightened my hair from fear.”

MeMaw let out a loud long laugh. “Oh, child, I thought Loretta was going to make Melody’s hair grow by staring at it with nasty glares. What is it with black mama’s and their baby girl’s hair?”

“I don’t know. I love mine like this.”

“Me too,” Monty said making the women turn. “I think it’s beautiful.”

“There’s the opinion that matters,” MeMaw said sarcastically. “Harper, the only person you should be pleasin’ in yourself. That’s what I told Mel.”

“Is that before or after you told me I was too damn skinny?” Melody asked.

“You are too damn skinny,” MeMaw snipped. “That’s a matter of health. Tell her Kendra, you’re a doctor. Tell this child she needs a few pounds on her.”

“Hell no,” Kendra balked. “She’s gotta man, I need one and it’s girl’s night. Good to see you again, Mrs. Long.”

“You too baby.” MeMaw gave Kendra and Mel a hug before they left with JT in tow. “Speaking of being too skinny. Let’s get you all some food.”

After a full meal she would get a good night’s sleep in the spare room with MeMaw warning Monty he would sleep outside if he didn’t either go home or at least sleep on the couch. He opted for the couch.

Monty filled her in on the research Tina had done. It was all adding up to a mini-monopoly. With Sam Trunket, her boss and her ex in the middle of it all. She’d called Rusty and asked if they could talk in the morning at the hospital. Realistically, she knew he couldn’t guard Julio twenty-four-seven, but right now he was the only one she trusted to keep him alive long enough to interview him. There was a reason they hid him.

“Morning,” Monty said as he knocked and poked his head into her room. “You up?”

“Yes.” Harper yawned.

“How you feelin’?”

“Scared.”

Monty opened the door wider and sat at the edge of her bed. He looked like he hadn’t slept a wink. Dark half circles shadowed his eyes and although, he usually had a little scruff of a goatee, this morning his cheeks were starting to have a beard.

“I don’t hunt out trouble. Sure, I’ll take someone on in the courtroom, but the cases I build come to me preassembled.”

“This one isn’t,” he empathized. “Are you afraid of getting something wrong?”

“Directly or indirectly, I’ve put away abusers and murderers before. Drug dealers and criminals capable of heinous crimes, but this is the first time I’ve feared for my life. Montgomery, each new thing I discover is pointing me in the same direction and I thought this kind of shit only happened in Hollywood blockbusters. I don’t believe in the grassy knoll. To me, the moon landing happened and as much as it hurts, Elvis, TuPac and Princess Diana are really dead.”

“Are you saying the federal government didn’t put crack in the ghetto to keep the poor under control?”

“Conspiracy theories are bull shit. I believe what’s right in front of me.” Harper ran her fingers through her hair to loosen then curls a bit and to settle herself. “The problem with this case is the conspiracy is unfolding in front of me. I can’t push it off. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. Or isn’t still happening.”

“Well, councilor it looks like you gotta get your big girl legal briefs out and pull them on, because this is bigger than just my family and the Winston’s.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

Monty pulled her into his arms and said the one sentiment she wished she shared, “I know you are. I trust you.”

 

* * * *

 

Monty took the old switchback straight razor that had been his grandfather’s out of the medicine cabinet. A mother of pearl handle concealed the sharp blade. As he lathered up his cheeks, he remembered the first time his father taught him to shave. Each of the boys weren’t allowed to touch one of the disposable ones until they’d mastered the switchback one. Not only did they need to know how to use the razor, but to care for it.

The steel glistened when he undid the safety and exposed the blade. Closing his eyes, he steadied himself before making the first swipe. When half his face was done, he caught the vision of Harper in the mirror. She was leaning against the doorjamb watching him. Running the blade under the water, he cleared it before applying it to the other cheek.

“I’m not a distraction am I?” Harper asked as she turned to the side, so her back was against the doorjamb instead of her shoulder. Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she gazed down the hallway, then back to Monty.

“What would make you think that?” Monty cleared the shaving cream and hair from the upper part of his cheek.

“Wishful thinking I guess,” she said with a smirk before stepping into the bathroom and encircling her arms around his waist as she pressed her chest against his back then kissed his neck. “Like having me close sets you off just a bit.”

Her touch sent a jolt down his back and wrapped around his waist. Not the best reaction to have at MeMaw’s. “Harper,” he hissed while clearing the rest of his jaw, then placing the blade on the sink.

“Montgomery,” she replied while her fingers lowered his zipper enough for a hand to slip in. She then used her foot to close the bathroom door. “You saved me yesterday.”

“I was late.” He swallowed hard at the second worst memory now flooding his mind with visions of his woman hurt. Now he knew he’d lost his mind. Calling Harper his woman. He didn’t have a woman. It must be the lack of blood to his brain. She was holding him in her hand and his body reacted properly, thus draining his brain of much needed oxygen and blood. Fuck, her fingers felt so good.

“I probably would have stayed there all night if you wouldn’t have come along.” Her hand slid up, then back down closer to his base. “Last night, I just wanted you to hold me.”

“Tell me about it,” he said while his head lolled back on her shoulder as her hand stroked up and down faster. “Harper…”

“Now, I want more.” Her body slid down to the floor and when on her knees she guided him around, so he was facing her.

His cock stung wanting to be deep in her throat. Reaching forward, he locked the bathroom door.

Harper unbuttoned his jeans freeing the last restraint on his cock. Her full lips separated and took him deep into her mouth.

Warm and wet—he bit down to keep from moaning. Fisting her curls in his right hand, he tried to balance, but still needed to have his left hand on the pedestal sink.

Slow at first, she kept her hand tight around his cock and let it lead her lips.

When the pace increased, it was her moan he was worried about not his. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks sucked creating an airtight seal that has his balls clenching. “Fuck, woman,” he groaned as her mouth moved along his dark shaft.

Her lips were dark with a bit of red tint to them and glistened as they moved. She slid to his tip then licked the droplets of pre cum. Her head fell back and she looked up at him. “Montgomery, I’ve wanted to taste you again, since that first night.”

Monty balanced on the edge of a climax as her tongue circled the head then flicked up and his asshole clenched. It took everything in him not to come before her mouth engulfed him again. Once she skimmed over his shaft, he released and she moaned before swallowing his seed.

“You still have shaving cream on your cheek.” Harper laughed after the two of them had recovered and they were sitting side by side while leaning against the tub.

“I can’t believe MeMaw hasn’t started hollerin’ at me.”

“She went out.” Harper arched an eyebrow. “My mama didn’t raise a fool.”

The knock on the door countered her statement.

Harper’s face dropped into her hands. “Yes she did,” Harper cried. “A damn stupid fool. Oh, my God, I’m so sorry Monty!”

“For what?” He laughed before unlocking and opening the door. “My MeMaw would expect nothing less from her least favorite grandchild.”

 

* * * *

 

“And here I thought you had some sense,” MeMaw chided as she stared at Harper sitting on the floor with her knees bent and face hid. “Oh…don’t let me stop you from fornicating in the house my husband, your grandfather built.”

“How ever did you conceive my dad and uncle if you’re using those rules?”

“So you were up to something,” she snipped with her finger waggling between him and Harper.

“I was shaving. Harper was still upset from last night.” Monty lied and had to turn away from MeMaw. No way in hell, he could say this to her face. “If someone would have let the woman with post traumatic stress be held all night—”

“The last thing you think of with that woman is to hold her. Hell, any woman. You got a wanderin’ willy. Those are only good for spring break trips to Mexico and heart break.”

“MeMaw,” he started only to have a hand fly up in his face.

“How about you remember there ain’t nothin’ new under the sun and I’ve spent almost eighty years without sunscreen.” She then spied over his shoulder to the sink. “You are going to clean up your mess, aren’t you? The reason I have nice things is because I didn’t let you raggedy ass children destroy my treasures.”

“MeMaw, I’m more scared of what my mother would do to me if she heard I damaged that blade.”

“I like your mother,” MeMaw said with a bit of bite to her tone before going back to her usual grumbling. “How she raised you to be such a fool, I’ll never know.”

“Melody was born and she needed to focus on her.”

“This more of your psycho babble bull pucky about being a middle child.” MeMaw threw up her hands and walked back down the hall to the kitchen. “Goddamn generation of victims!”

“She’s gone,” Monty said as he turned around and began cleaning the razor.

Harper still had her face buried in her hands.

“This time for real.”

“She had left the house,” Harper said in her defense.

“I’m sure she had, but she’s never gone long.”

Lester padded his way into the bathroom and snuggled up against Harper. She scratched his head and he rewarded her with a little kiss on the cheek.

“Lester, don’t make me pull rank on you,” Monty warned as he put everything back in the medicine cabinet and wiped the sink dry before hanging the hand towel back up. “That’s my woman right there.” Fuck! Now he said the damn thing out loud. What the Hell was happening to him? “I didn’t mean— see what I meant—”

“Little possessive there Montgomery?”

She had to say his whole damn name didn’t she? Damn it that made him want to claim her more.

Standing up, she looked him directly in the eye. “He’s just a little puppy.”

“You know how girls are with dogs.” It was a shit excuse, but at this point, he didn’t really have a choice.

“They do cuddle with us when we’re sad.”

“He didn’t,” Monty said feigning his indignity. “You slept with him last night didn’t you?”

“MeMaw thought it would add a layer of protection.”

“A dog is better than me?” Monty shook his head. “Well, I suppose I should leave you two alone.”

When he turned, Harper caught his belt loop and tugged him back. Curling around him, she caught his chin and captured his lips. “Not for all things.”

There was no leaving MeMaw’s without a breakfast meant for a group of ranch hands. Luckily, his mother came by with Melody. They wanted to talk to Harper about the case and what was going on. The relationship between the two of them had been left off the table, thankfully.

During the drive to the hospital, Harper was quiet. She used the time to scratch out something on a legal pad. After the third full page of notes, Monty put his hand over the yellow paper. She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“I said something stupid in the bathroom,” he began. “I didn’t want you to think that I saw you as mine.”

“Gotcha,” she replied and lifted his hand off her legal pad. “We good?”

Was this a game? Making him think she didn’t want him to be hers? Most women did. How could she not? When the hell did he care? “We could you know…”

“Could what?” she asked with a bit of a sigh.

“Never mind.” He returned his focus to the road ahead of him.

“Monty what I said on the beach I meant. I’m so far from a relationship, it’s insane. I wanted sex. Thank you.”

“Why do I feel like a Tijuana whore?”

“I have no idea,” she replied not glancing up. “We were a day’s drive away from Tijuana.”