Tangled Up in You by Rachel Gibson

apprehensive.
    As she rinsed her plate in the sink and put it in the dishwasher, she wondered exactly how angry Mick was likely to get. Until her friends had mentioned it, she hadnt thought of packing her Taser when she told him. While he seemed perfectly nonviolent, he had shot Hellfire missiles from helicopters. And of course his mother had been a nut job, and while Maddie liked to think she had a special psycho radar, honed after years of meeting with them while theyd been chained to a table, it never hurt to err on the side of caution and a really good pepper spray.
    The doorbell rang, and this time she wasnt surprised to see Mick standing on her porch. Just like last time, he held a business card between two fingers, but there was no mistaking that the card was hers.
    He stared at her from behind the blue lenses of his sunglasses, and his lips were set in a flat line. He wasnt wearing a happy face, but he didnt look too angry. She probably wouldnt have to hose him with the pepper spray. Not that she even had it on her.
    Maddie lowered her gaze to the card. Where did you get that?
    Jewel Finley.
    Crap. She really hadnt meant for him to find out that way, but she wasnt surprised. When?
    Last night at Traviss T-ball game.
    Im sorry you heard about it like that. Maddie didnt invite him inside, but he didnt wait for an invitation.
    Why didnt you tell me? he asked as he brushed past her, six feet two, one hundred and ninety pounds, of determined man. Trying to stop him would have been as futile as trying to stop a tank.
    Maddie closed the door and followed. You didnt want to know anything about me. Remember?
    Thats a bunch of bullshit. Light from outside flowed in through the large windows, over the back of the sofa and coffee table and across the hardwood floor. Mick stopped within the spill of light and took off his sunglasses. Maddie had been wrong about his anger. It burned like blue fire in his eyes. I didnt want to know about your old boyfriends, your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, or who you sat next to in the second grade. He held up the card. This is different, and dont pretend that its not.
    She pushed her hair behind her ears. He had a right to be angry. That first night at Morts, I went there to introduce myself and to tell you who I was and why I was in town. But the bar was busy and it wasnt a good time. When I saw you at the hardware store and on the Fourth, Travis was with you and I didnt think it an appropriate time then either.
    And when I was here alone? He frowned and stuck his glasses on top of his head.
    I tried to tell you that day.
    Is that so? He slid the card in the pocket of his black Morts Bar polo shirt. Before or after you stuck your tongue down my throat?
    Maddie gasped. Yeah, he had a right to be angry, but not to rewrite history. You kissed me!
    An appropriate time , he said as if she hadnt protested, might have been before you glued yourself to my chest.
    Glued? You pulled me in to your chest. Her gaze narrowed, but she wouldnt allow herself to get angry. I told you that you didnt know me.
    And instead of you telling me the important shit like youre in town to write a book about my parents, you thought I would be more interested in knowing that youre kind of sexually abstinent. He rested his weight on one foot and tilted his head to one side as he looked down at her. You werent planing to tell me.
    Dont be absurd. She folded her arms beneath her breasts. This is a small town and I knew youd find out.
    And until I did, were you planning to fuck me for information?
    Dont get mad , she told herself. If you get mad, you might get out the Taser. There are two problems with your theory. She held up a hand and raised one finger. That I need you to give me information. I dont. She raised a second finger. And that I was planning to fuck you. I wasnt.
    He took a step toward her and smiled. Not one of his nice, charming smiles either. If Id had more time, you would have been flat on your