When Snow Falls (Whiskey Creek #2)(29)
Author: Brenda Novak

His mood seemed to have sobered. “I’m clean if that’s what you’re worried about.”

They’d used the condoms he’d brought, anyway. Fortunately, he’d been prepared, as if he’d guessed the reason behind her call—before she even knew. “Good information to have.”

Her mother’s voice yanked her out of the euphoria that had descended. “Chey? Cheyenne? Where are you?”

A wave of panic that maybe Anita had overheard them, that they’d given themselves away, brought her crashing back to earth.

Dylan, sensing her reaction, seemed concerned. “Everything okay?”

She forced a smile. “Fine. But I—I have to go take care of my mother. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“It’s awkward timing.”

“Trust me, it could’ve been worse.”

She laughed at his meaning. “True.”

“Anyway, I admire you for the sacrifices you make for her. I know your sister hasn’t helped as much as she should.”

Dylan Amos understood how heavy a load she’d been carrying—and sympathized? That said he was more intuitive and understanding than she’d expected. She was beginning to think she’d been wrong about him in a lot of ways. That frightened her, but she couldn’t say why.

Suddenly, she wanted him to leave. “Thanks for…for everything,” she said as she got up. “I hope that’s the right thing to say in a situation like this. I haven’t had any practice at pillow talk.”

“There’s no manual.”

“Good point. So then I’ll say…I appreciate your time…and your…skill with women.”

That was a send-off if ever there was one. She wasn’t starting a relationship—she was in love with Joe. But he didn’t move. He watched her from the bed, as naked and still as a Greek statue. “With women?” he repeated dryly.

“Yes. You know how to make sex as…exciting as everyone says it should be. That was…great. Really great. I’ll give you an endorsement if you ever need one.”

His tone went flat. “I’d be flattered if you weren’t basically telling me to get lost now that we’re done.”

This wasn’t ending as smoothly as she’d hoped, but she’d never had sex with anyone and wasn’t sure how to wrap up even an isolated encounter. She’d made that clear, hadn’t she? “Like you said, there’s no manual. I’m not trying to offend you. I’m just…” She was a little panicked by what she’d done, but she didn’t think it would be very polite to say that, so she went for something she thought he’d be able to understand. “I’m afraid my sister will come home and see your bike out front.”

“Would that be so terrible?” he asked. “Presley certainly isn’t someone who could find fault.”

She pulled on her robe. “Maybe not, but we live in a small town.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Then you know the gossip a lapse like this would cause if she happened to mention it to anyone else.”

“That’s what it was? A lapse?”

“Other people would see it that way,” she said to avoid answering more directly.

“Who cares? What can they do? Talk?”

“Yes. I realize it wouldn’t hurt your reputation, but it could do permanent damage to mine.” And her reputation was all she had, the only way she could differentiate herself from her mother and sister.

“So…being with me would cheapen you.”

She blinked at him. “Sleeping with you, yes. Don’t say it like I’m acting superior. That isn’t the case. I’ve grown up on the same side of the tracks as you have.”

He got out of bed and began jerking on his clothes. “Yeah, but I’m not ashamed of it.”

“Maybe you didn’t have a mother who hooked for a living.”

“You’re right.” His eyes grew flinty; she could see the shine to them, even in the darkness. “I didn’t have a mother at all, at least not for long.”

Cheyenne should never have brought this up. His life had been as difficult as hers. When his mother took an overdose of sleeping pills and died only five or six years after Mack was born, his father started drinking and, according to all the rumors, he was one mean drunk. Cheyenne was a sophomore, Dylan a senior, when J.T. knifed a man in a bar and went to prison. It was Dylan who’d dropped out of school to take over the family’s auto body shop, Dylan who had cared, all these years, for his four younger brothers. His father was still incarcerated.

“I’m sorry.” She took a shaky breath. She was out of her element, or she wouldn’t have been so insensitive.

His lips, which had kissed her so tenderly just minutes before, twisted into a snarl. “I’m not looking for your pity.”

“Then what do you want from me?” she asked softly. “I thought I already gave it to you.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want anything more. Why would I? You’re committed to someone else. Someone who doesn’t give a shit about you, by the way.”

She winced at the harshness of his words but he spoke the truth. “I’ve been in love with Joe since I was fourteen, Dylan. Whether or not he returns my interest doesn’t seem to make any difference, although I wish it did.”

“Fourteen, huh?” He zipped his jeans but didn’t button them before putting on his boots. “That’s pretty tough to compete with. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

When he chuckled without mirth, she got the impression he was kicking himself for coming over, and she wasn’t sure how to react to that. She’d never imagined that he might regret being with her. Judging by some of the wild stories she’d heard, women were merely toys to the Amos men, interchangeable.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated. His shirt was in the living room, where they’d left it earlier. She wanted to get it for him. He looked far too good without it, even now that she was thinking clearly. But she held back. “I never dreamed you’d take this seriously, not when you have so many other women to…to sleep with.”

He pushed his hair out of his face. “Yeah, well, I guess I was lying when I said it’d been a long time. Or…maybe I’m not as shallow as you choose to believe.”

Cheyenne felt helpless in the face of his disappointment. She could see how her words and actions came across. She’d taken too much for granted. She’d used him without a thought about how that might make him feel because she’d assumed he was using her, too. “I’m not accusing you of being shallow. I thought you’d be satisfied with getting…you know…lucky, that’s all. From what I’ve heard—”