Bonnie fumed and snapped at him. She was really worried and in no mood for his sarcasm.”You know what I mean. What did my father say to you……”
David laughed at her reaction, cutting her off. He shook his head, giving her a look that blatantly called her a fool. “I will tell you what I think. Don’t waste your time here, princess. Go back to your rich neighborhood, your fancy car and your fancier friends.”
She was so angry, she nearly cried. It had always been that way. She never shed a tear over pain or hurt feelings, but let her get really mad, and she bawled like an infant. His attitude toward her situation infuriated her. David stopped at a traffic light, and she jerked her door open, trying to step out. His long hard fingers immediately wrapped around her upper arm, preventing her from leaving.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he yelled.
“Let me go.” She was proud of her feral tone. “Did you hear me? Get your hands off me.” She struggled, pulling against his hold.
“Dammit! Get back in this car!” The light had changed and the driver of the car behind them blasted his horn.
“I’ve changed my mind, Mr. Stewart,” she told him. “I will get home by myself. I no longer require your help, because I never asked for it in the first place , and let me just tell you for future sake to try not to ridicule your clients every other second.”
He peered at her closely, then sighed. “Aw, hell. Don’t tell me you’re going to cry.” He said, as if that was the worst thing to ever happen.
“No, I am not going to cry!” Bonnie replied. But she could feel the tears stinging her eyes, which angered her all the more. How could he be so wrong about her? She didn’t have fancy friends; at least she didn’t have any friend she could really trust or tell her problems to. Most of the time, she didn’t have anybody—except her grams. She had loved her dearly, and trusted her too. Bella Rimmer had always been there for her, making her laugh, giving her the support she needed to get through it all. She had had her parents, but her bond with her grandmother had been very special.
Several cars were blaring their horns now, and David yanked her back inside, retaining his hold as he moved out of the stream of traffic and over to the curb. He didn’t release her. “Look, I’m sorry. Don’t go and get weepy on me, okay?”
“You, Mr. Stewart, are an obnoxious ass!” Bonnie jerked against him, but he held firm. “Suddenly you are now Mr sensitive. Well, don’t flatter yourself. I always cry when I’m angry.”
“Well…don’t be angry then.” He retorted.
Unbelievable. The man had been derisive, insulting and arrogant from the moment she’d met him, but now his tone had changed to a soft, gentle rebuke. He had a problem with female tears? She almost considered giving in to a real tantrum just to make him suffer, but that had never been her way. The last thing she wanted from David Stewart was pity.
“Ignore me,” she muttered, feeling like a fool. “It’s been a trying couple of weeks for me. But I am determined to see this thing through. I don’t want to leave. I’m going to stay here and figure out what I really want, and I don’t need you around. Especially if you’re only going to be nasty.”
David was amazed by her speech. Then his eyes narrowed. No way in hell was he going to let her run loose. She was a menace. She was a pain. She was unbelievably innocent and naïve. He shook his head, then steered the truck back into the street. “Believe me, lady. I’m about as nice as you’re going to find in these parts. Besides, I think I might be interested in your little plan to hang around. I will tell you about it when I get you home. I mean, what the hell? It's crazy but it’s a lot of money to make on one job.”
Bonnie gave him a confused look, wondering what the hell he meant.
Lifting one shoulder, David said, “Can’t very well turn down money like that, would you?”
“No. No, I suppose I wouldn’t.”
She watched him warily, and David thought, what the hell was he doing asking her that? She grew up getting whatever she wanted and whatever amount of money her father was paying him probably meant nothing to her. It would be easier to work with her, than around her. If he tried to do things forcefully, she’d only manage to get in his way, or maybe try to run again…maybe even get herself hurt. That was such a repugnant thought, he actually groaned. He’d have to keep his cool, and while he was at it, he could keep an eye on her, steer her far enough away from the trouble that she wouldn’t be any problem at all.
Yeah, right.
He glanced at her, saw the rigid way she held herself, and knew he had to try a different approach “You know it doesn’t have to be bad. You want to stay here, and I need the money your father is offering me. He wants me to stay out here with you until he is satisfied that you are safe. Look, we don’t even have to like each other. At least this way we both get what we want. I promise to stay out of your way…well, unless you are doing something that would put you in harms way, then I would have to step in.”
Bonnie heaved a deep breath. “This is ridiculous. What do you need the money for?” she asked.
He stared at her like she had just asked him the worst question ever, then he returned his attention to the road. “Can’t tell you that” he said. “None of your business.”
Bonnie rolled her eyes. “But it’s okay for you to know everything about me”
“It’s my business to know about you, princess. That’s my job.” She didn’t reply and he added, “Look, I don’t particularly like the idea of being your baby sitter, but I need the money…and believe it or not, but you need me. You stand out like a sore thumb out here, honey. We can’t just have you traipsing around like that in that neighborhood. People will wonder what you’re up to. If you want to fit in, you don’t have to go be so extra…especially in the way you dress. Just be casual, you know, like everybody else. You wanna be normal, then be normal. I can help you with all that”