Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis Page B

hormones that are attracted to each other. I’m thinking once you find out if I’m any good in bed, the fascination will fade.”
    He shot her an aggravated scowl, those dark eyebrows of his furrowed and jaw tensed. “That’s a damn stupid remark. Is that all you feel between us? Sex?”
    Her phone rang, playing, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” She jammed the ringer off.
    His gaze focused on her. “Who the hell keeps trying to reach you? A boyfriend? Are you seeing someone? ’Cause I don’t poach on someone else’s land.”
    She folded her arms under her breasts. “That’s disgusting.”
    “So’s a cheatin’ woman.”
    She didn’t have the energy to reply. Out of the corner of her eye, Tyler’s profile was rigid, his hands gripped the steering wheel and anger vibrated from him. They rode the rest of the way to the Double-L in silence, their personal storm creating tension inside the cab of the truck while the storm outside unleashed its own fury.
    When they reached the ranch and he turned off the engine, she grabbed the door handle to make a quick escape.
    Tyler shifted in his seat and coiled his fingers around her arm. “You open that door, and I’ll paddle that sweet behind of yours. We’re not through talking. You want to explain to me why you made that remark about not seeing me anymore? Are you seeing someone else?”
    “No, I’m not seeing anyone. I told you why I won’t go out with you again.”
    “You gave me some lame, bullshit excuse. Look, if you can’t handle the age difference, then say so. Or if you can’t deal with coming in second after my teenage daughter, tell me straight out. But don’t hide behind something that means nothing.”
    “Nothing? My bare ass is plastered all over the internet, and you call that nothing ? You ignorant jerk.” She wrenched her arm free from his hold and opened the door. Just let him try to stop me. I’ll belt him a shot .
    His truck door slammed a second after hers. Hurried footsteps followed as she charged for the back door. Two steps onto the porch, a band of steel wrapped around her waist.
    “Let go of me.” She struggled to break free.
    “Not until we talk.”
    “Well, I don’t want to talk.”
    “Fine, I can’t make you do something you don’t want. If you refuse to give us a chance, I have no choice but to walk away. But before I go, I have to get one thing through your stubborn and confused mind. I don’t care about that damn video, nor do I care what people say, except when it hurts you.” He kissed the side of her neck as he held her fast to him. “Then I care a lot. I don’t want anyone hurting you ever again. When you hurt, I hurt. Do you hear me?”
    She stopped her feeble struggles. “Yes.”
    “I’ve never felt this way before about a woman. I’ve never cared this much, and I’m guessing you feel the same way—happy, yet scared.”
    Before she knew what she was doing, she instinctively turned into the warmth of him and sobbed.
    “Sugar,” he breathed against her neck, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her against him. “Don’t walk away from me, from us.”
    How could she drag this wonderful man into the darkness of her world? When she moved back home to the sunshine of this part of Texas, she never expected the shadows of her video stardom to journey here. Hadn’t she studied the power of the internet? Didn’t she work with it every day? She should have known better.
    “I…I think we both need time to think this through. If we start dating on a regular basis, people who have seen the video will come out of the woodwork, making it their God-given-duty to tell you about it. What if someone tells Olivia? She’ll be humiliated. Other people’s opinions matter to a teenager. This relationship isn’t just about you and me. It includes her, too. I won’t have her hurt because of me. I don’t want you hurt either. Can’t you understand the position I’m in?”
    “I understand you’re a very caring