Page 56 of Malice

“I’m not worried about the truck, but let’s go take a look at this car.” He glanced around the room. “You ready?”

Bonnie grabbed her purse and the keys to his truck from the counter. “I am now.”

“You have a jacket?” he asked, glancing around the room.

“Yeah, why?”

“I thought we’d take the bike and you’ll be cold in that.” He motioned to the cute, thin blouse she wore.

Bonnie looked down at the bright colored shirt scattered with sparkly bits, then back up at him. He had on thick denim jeans and a leather vest over a black t-shirt. “I’ll get my jacket.”

Bonnie spun on her heel and went to the bedroom. It hadn’t even occurred to her he might want to take the bike. A quick check in the mirror told her the jacket was all she needed. She lifted her purse strap over her head, so it hung across her body to rest on her hip, then shrugged into her thickest denim coat and went back out to join Corey in the front room.

“Better?” she asked, spinning so he could get a better view.

“That’s great. You have the address?” he asked.

“I do. Let me send it to you.” She pulled it up on her phone then texted it to him. Looking up, she watched him as she waited for the message to be delivered. Bonnie noticed for the first time how his lashes feathered over his cheeks, then wondered where that thought had come from.

“Got it.” He looked up and gave her a look she knew him well enough to know was him asking if she was ready.

Instead of answering, she dug her keys from her purse and went to the door.

Later, after they’d looked at the car and taken it for a short test drive, they sat in the same diner where she’d first met Corey, talking while they waited for their dinner.

“You don’t think I should get it?” she asked.

“I don’t. The decision is up to you and if you want to know why, I’ll give you my reasons, but I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t know if it was because of her recent experiences with Phillip or if it was just the kind of guy Corey was, but she appreciated that he wasn’t verbally pummeling her with all the reasons she needed to listen to him or do what he told her to. “Tell me why you think I shouldn’t buy the car.”

“You want the whole list or just the ones I think are most important?” There was a light in his eye, and she wasn’t sure if he was teasing or just in a good mood. She opted for good mood.

“Let’s start with the most important, but I reserve the right to ask about the rest of the list after.”

“I can do that. First, it’s got too many miles. Second, it’s got an odd sound to the engine when you hit forty-five. I suspect it will get louder or worse when you’re going faster. Third, I think they’re asking too much.” He paused while the waitress brought their food, and he thanked her. “That’s the main things, do you want the rest?”

“Give me a minute.” She picked up her fork and took a bite, watching him as she thought. He wasn’t wrong. The reasons he’d listed were some of the things she’d thought herself, well, other than the sound bit. She hadn’t noticed it, but she’d been focusing on the feel while driving. She had also noticed an odd feeling when she took left turns. His assessment just reinforced the decision she had been teetering on before. “All right. Tell me what your other reasons are.”

“Well, on top of all that, I don’t think it fits you well.”

She frowned, not sure where he was going with this.

“I just think you look a lot better in my pickup than in that little sedan. And while that sedan will be fine coming out to the ranch for the summer, I’ll worry if you’re in it making that drive once snow flies.”

“And you think I’ll still be making the drive out there?”

“You will be if I get my way. I mean I’m willing to come into town some, but I’m going to want to see you, and I’m hoping you’ll want to see me too.” He tilted his head to one side and glanced up toward the ceiling. “But maybe I can convince you to move in with me by then. Then when the weather’s less than ideal you can drive the truck.”

“But that would leave you without a vehicle. It will be too cold for you to ride your bike.”

“Sweetness, I told you before. If I need to, I can borrow a ranch truck. Besides, whatever you have will be there, if I need it. I’ve missed you this week.”

Bonnie blinked, his words taking a moment to sink in and process in her mind. His sudden change of subject, once it processed, made the whole conversation make more sense.

While he had made some valid points about the car, he wasn’t really pushing her either way. His opinions, or at least the ones in the second list, were because he wanted her back in his cabin.

She wasn’t ready to admit it to anyone but herself, but she missed being there too. Well, maybe she could admit it. Maybe.