stared at him in bemusement. “Right. So I just thought we should clear the air. You don’t—”
“Don’t need fancy manners to impress a woman. I drive a big rig, did you know that? An International.”
“International?”
“Yeah. I drive a flatbed from the mill to lumber factories around the state. It’s my own rig.”
“Rig?”
“My own truck,” he said with pride. “I’m an independent contractor, Julia. Make a good living.”
“Er, okay.”
“So about Saturday—”
This time she interrupted him. “Ned, you won’t take no for an answer. You shot out the tires on my SUV!” Not to mention Ty’s tires, but she didn’t think it prudent to mention Ty just now.
He frowned. “I got angry. What the hell did you expect me to do when you’re parading around with that jackass? What do you see in a guy like that?”
Besides smarts, a sexy body and a wily fox? “I’ve known Ty since we were young. We grew up together. He’s the love of my life.” All so true, and so devastating to a young woman who had nothing to offer a prodigal son from one of the finest fox families in town.
“Love.” He snorted. “That’s not real. Hell, look around you. You really think Jason and Meghan are going to last?”
She didn’t, and the notion suddenly depressed her. She sighed. “Ned, I don’t love you. I don’t even like you half the time. The only things I know about you are that you’re a bully and you’re stubborn. You live here, right?”
He scowled. “You like me fine enough. Yeah, I live here. Nowhere is my home.”
“Well, mine is in Montana, and I don’t ever plan on leaving it.”
“You’re here now.”
Like talking to a brick wall. “I’m here for Meghan. She’s only here because of Jason. She’s leaving for Seattle in a few days.” The sooner the better. Julia preferred Seattle to this place. For all that Ned’s relatives seemed friendlier than she’d expected, there were still way too many Williamses in the area for comfort.
“Look, Julia, I know this is sudden for you. But I like you. I really like you.” He sounded so earnest.
She felt her first stirring of sympathy for the big guy. Though a bully with a temper, he had feelings. And then he finished his thought, and her empathy vanished.
“You’re fuckin’ hot. I’m the town catch. You and me together? Perfect. I’ll give it to you good, baby. And hell, things work out, maybe we’ll make a go of it. A kid would make Mama happy. I don’t see the problem.”
“You wouldn’t. Sorry to break it to you, Ned, but we—you and me—are not happening.”
The meanness returned to his gaze. Danger threatened. Flight or fight for Julia meant flight. On four feet, no one had ever managed to catch her. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the freedom to turn at random in Nowhere. She was really starting to hate this place.
“I’m sick of asking. So now I’m telling you. No one says no to Ned Williams. You’re mine.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Think of it this way. I can take care of you and your sisters. Nothing bad can happen to Gabby and Meghan if I’m with you, you get me?”
His obstinacy she’d tolerated. Threats against her family ended it. Rage swelled, and the careful control she exercised at all times started to slip.
“You don’t like to be told no. I get it. But I don’t like to be told what to do either.” He’d hurt her family if she refused him? She gave her fury full reign. Stubborn men. A sister who wouldn’t listen. Relatives who hated her. Responsibilities for everything thanks to a foolish mother and an irresponsible father. No longer keeping her attitude in check, Julia railed at Ned, heaping her frustrations and indignities upon him.
“You don’t own me, Ned. No one does. I’m tired of being told what to do, how to act, what to say. I don’t like Nowhere. I don’t like my sister falling for an outsider. I don’t like arrogant assholes who think they know what’s best for
“Don’t need fancy manners to impress a woman. I drive a big rig, did you know that? An International.”
“International?”
“Yeah. I drive a flatbed from the mill to lumber factories around the state. It’s my own rig.”
“Rig?”
“My own truck,” he said with pride. “I’m an independent contractor, Julia. Make a good living.”
“Er, okay.”
“So about Saturday—”
This time she interrupted him. “Ned, you won’t take no for an answer. You shot out the tires on my SUV!” Not to mention Ty’s tires, but she didn’t think it prudent to mention Ty just now.
He frowned. “I got angry. What the hell did you expect me to do when you’re parading around with that jackass? What do you see in a guy like that?”
Besides smarts, a sexy body and a wily fox? “I’ve known Ty since we were young. We grew up together. He’s the love of my life.” All so true, and so devastating to a young woman who had nothing to offer a prodigal son from one of the finest fox families in town.
“Love.” He snorted. “That’s not real. Hell, look around you. You really think Jason and Meghan are going to last?”
She didn’t, and the notion suddenly depressed her. She sighed. “Ned, I don’t love you. I don’t even like you half the time. The only things I know about you are that you’re a bully and you’re stubborn. You live here, right?”
He scowled. “You like me fine enough. Yeah, I live here. Nowhere is my home.”
“Well, mine is in Montana, and I don’t ever plan on leaving it.”
“You’re here now.”
Like talking to a brick wall. “I’m here for Meghan. She’s only here because of Jason. She’s leaving for Seattle in a few days.” The sooner the better. Julia preferred Seattle to this place. For all that Ned’s relatives seemed friendlier than she’d expected, there were still way too many Williamses in the area for comfort.
“Look, Julia, I know this is sudden for you. But I like you. I really like you.” He sounded so earnest.
She felt her first stirring of sympathy for the big guy. Though a bully with a temper, he had feelings. And then he finished his thought, and her empathy vanished.
“You’re fuckin’ hot. I’m the town catch. You and me together? Perfect. I’ll give it to you good, baby. And hell, things work out, maybe we’ll make a go of it. A kid would make Mama happy. I don’t see the problem.”
“You wouldn’t. Sorry to break it to you, Ned, but we—you and me—are not happening.”
The meanness returned to his gaze. Danger threatened. Flight or fight for Julia meant flight. On four feet, no one had ever managed to catch her. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the freedom to turn at random in Nowhere. She was really starting to hate this place.
“I’m sick of asking. So now I’m telling you. No one says no to Ned Williams. You’re mine.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Think of it this way. I can take care of you and your sisters. Nothing bad can happen to Gabby and Meghan if I’m with you, you get me?”
His obstinacy she’d tolerated. Threats against her family ended it. Rage swelled, and the careful control she exercised at all times started to slip.
“You don’t like to be told no. I get it. But I don’t like to be told what to do either.” He’d hurt her family if she refused him? She gave her fury full reign. Stubborn men. A sister who wouldn’t listen. Relatives who hated her. Responsibilities for everything thanks to a foolish mother and an irresponsible father. No longer keeping her attitude in check, Julia railed at Ned, heaping her frustrations and indignities upon him.
“You don’t own me, Ned. No one does. I’m tired of being told what to do, how to act, what to say. I don’t like Nowhere. I don’t like my sister falling for an outsider. I don’t like arrogant assholes who think they know what’s best for
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