Page 42 of The Promise Of Rain

My heart hammered and my vision blurred as my heel sought the first stair, then Deacon stepped out, his face tight and angry.

“God, Deacon, you scared me,” I gasped, slapping my hand over my chest as I bent over to catch my breath.I blew out a harsh breath and retrieved the box of cookies before standing.“I thought you were—"

I swallowed the rest of my sentence.

His eyebrows crashed down as he barked, “Who?Who did you think I was?”

I sucked in a breath and exhaled fully as I shook my head.That was a kettle of fish I never planned to open.

My hands shook, and it wasn’t from the cold.“Nobody.”

“That’s quite a reaction for a nobody,” he growled, stalking toward me.

I shook my head again and brushed him off.“Ghosts from the past.I wasn’t expecting to see you and I didn’t recognize your truck.”

He halted in front of me, his stony gaze holding mine as I held my breath.

My heart pounded.From the false alarm or his proximity, I couldn’t tell.

Tightening his jaw, he offered a short nod then walked around to the other side of his truck and opened the door.“Get in.”

I barked out a laugh at his audacity.If he thought ousting a harmless Hairy Larry would allow him to boss me around, he’d better think again.

Lifting my chin, I tucked my bakery box more securely under my arm.“Sorry, but I’ve got plans.”

He raised his eyebrows.“Going to St.Michael’s, right?”

I nodded, then the meaning behind his words penetrated and I attempted to shake my head.

He snorted.“Don’t take up poker, baby.Let’s go.”

“I don’t want to go with you,” I replied stubbornly.

He prowled around the car and walked toward me until we stood toe-to-toe.Dipping his knees, he looked into my eyes like he was seeing into my soul.“Are you sure you don’t want to be with me?”

I began to nod when he snapped, “Don’t lie.There will be nothing but honesty between us.”

I’d planned to lie until my pants caught fire, but at his words, I snapped it shut.

“Good,” he grunted, straightening to his full height.With a firm hand to my lower back, he guided me around the car.

What was I doing?I’d all but admitted I wanted to be with him.I mean, of course I did.

I climbed in and sat down with my heart beating in my throat.

But I didn’t want to want to be with him.And that had to count for something.

My heart warred with my head as hehanded me my seat belt and closed the door firmly, closing me inside the cab, surrounded by his scent.

This, being with Deacon, won’t keep me safe.

With Deacon, and his family, I’d spend my life defending my right to hold his hand and stand by his side.That was not the life I wanted.

I clasped my hands in my lap and huffed out a disbelieving laugh at the fact my round bottom was currently planted in his passenger seat.

At twenty-one, Deacon had been easy-going and malleable.He was a man who laughed, that long dimple creasing his cheek often.He teased and played and loved with ease and abandon.Other than a possessive streak a mile wide, nothing much bothered him.

Being with him had been easy.