Renegade: A Taggart Brothers Novel (31 page)

“I didn’t think I was throwing any. Merely telling it like I see it.”

And damned if he didn’t feel a stupid-ass grin threatening to slide all over his face. How the hell could this woman shoot him down in flames and make herself seem even more intriguing?

He closed what little space remained between them. To her credit, she held her ground.

“Tell you what. If you’re not opposed, I’ll check back a little later. Maybe if Helen returns, and you decide you’re hungry—
and
you can bring yourself to endure my company—I’ll take you down the row for a brisket sandwich. That shouldn’t be too . . . risky . . . for either of us.”

She didn’t jump for joy, but she didn’t make a pithy comment. Bodey decided to count that as progress.

“What if I’m a vegetarian?”

“Then I’m sure we can scare up some lettuce and rabbit food somewhere.”

Bodey wasn’t sure, but he thought her eyes grew softer,
the tiny lines in the corners appearing once more, so he decided to press his luck. “After that . . . if you’re up for it, I’ll take you to the practice lane they’ve got set up for the scholarship fund. You can’t leave Hell on Wheels without shooting at something.”

“You’re sure of that, are you?”

Again, the thread of mockery, so Bodey pushed things even farther, leaning down so that his lips were a mere hairsbreadth away from her ear.

“Oh, yeah, darlin’. I’m sure.”

Then, knowing that he’d better get the hell outta Dodge before she could think up a snarky refusal, he snagged the handle to his gun cart and scooped his hat off the counter. He touched a finger to the brim.

“Later.”

Then, he braved the glaring sunshine.

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