Out of Control by Shannon McKenna

steaming mug of coffee before her. “I hope you drink it black. Couldn’t find any sugar or milk.”
    She tried to smile. “Fine. Thanks.” She took a gulp of coffee just as he laid his hand on her shoulder. Bracing heat and strength poured right into her body. She choked, sputtering. She could not project her needy fantasies onto this guy. She had to get a grip, right now.
    â€œI know what you’re thinking,” she snapped. “But it’s not true.”
    â€œOh, yeah?” He sounded amused. “Tell me what I’m thinking.”
    â€œI’m not running away from my pimp. I haven’t ripped anybody off. There’s no drug deal gone bad in my past. I don’t owe anybody money. I’m a dull person, leading a dull life. All I do is work.”
    He sat down in the chair across from her and took a swallow of coffee. “It’s nice of you to tell me what’s not happening. But it would be much more useful to know what actually is happening.” He gazed at her over the rim of his cup. Waiting, just as he had last night.
    She took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and—
    The phone rang. She leaped up, jostled the table and spilled her coffee over herself. “Oh, crap. Sorry. Excuse me while I get that.” She scurried into the bedroom, pathetically grateful for the interruption.
    Saved by the phone from her own insane folly. She’d been a heartbeat away from telling him everything.
    Â 
    Davy strained to overhear her conversation, but after a moment it rose to a volume he had no trouble following.
    â€œâ€¦I know, but believe me, this is an emergency…yeah, I know, but if…yes, but if I had known beforehand that some sick freak was going to splatter blood all over my porch, I would have arranged for a sub to cover for me, but being as how it was a surprise …uh-huh, guess what? The last time it happened, I was surprised too, call me silly…oh. Gee. Thanks so much for your compassion and understanding, Joe. You’re…yeah. Whatever. Right back at you.”
    The phone crashed down. Margot appeared in the kitchen door, cradling her dog. Her face looked pale and pinched.
    â€œTrouble?” he asked.
    She grimaced, and cuddled Mikey as she sank back into the chair again. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
    Davy stared at her graceful profile as she stared out the window, back straight, mouth tight. He wanted to hug her again, but she looked like she might shatter if he touched her. “Problems with work?”
    She tossed her head, a vain attempt to look casual. “That was the owner of the diner where I work part-time. I was supposed to be there by now to prep. I might have just gotten fired.” She dropped her face into her hands. “This, I did not need. Could things get any worse?”
    â€œYes,” he said.
    She looked up, incredulous. “Gee, brighten my morning a little more, why don’t you? That was a rhetorical question, McCloud!”
    â€œDon’t ask questions if you don’t want answers,” he replied.
    â€œYou’re some comfort,” she said sourly. “A little ray of sunshine.”
    â€œComfort won’t help you right now.” He made his voice hard. “You need the cops. If you don’t want real help, don’t ask for comfort.”
    She put Mikey down and blew her nose. “I’d rather not. I rub cops the wrong way. Problems with authority. Daddy issues. You know.”
    He shook his head. “No, I don’t. But if you don’t have the nerve to tell me the truth, at least don’t insult me by feeding me a raft of shit.”
    She winced, and lifted defiant eyes to his. “Would you stop that?”
    â€œStop what?”
    â€œDidn’t anybody ever tell you that staring is rude? I can’t deal with that kind of scrutiny today. I don’t even have my makeup on.”
    He trained his eyes into his coffee cup.