by Lori Foster
“To keep you safe.”
“—and I could have lost my job! Then what? Did you even think that far ahead? I could have been heading home now an unemployed woman. What would I do? Where would I ever find another job as wonderful as the one I have?”
For a woman who didn’t want to get chatty, she’d sure given him an earful. “Therman cares for you. He wouldn’t—”
“This might surprise you, but I have goals, too, Brodie Crews. Important goals. Things I want.” She flattened a hand to her breast. “Things I’ve been working for. Things that matter to me, even if no one else cares.”
A lot of meaning hung in those words. “What things, honey?”
She crossed her arms and glared straight ahead. “Most people wouldn’t understand, but I don’t care. I’m still going to do it.” Her shoulders slumped. “Eventually.”
“What are we going to do?”
She jerked around to stare at him. “We?”
That was how he’d like it, but she sounded so incredulous he knew he’d have an uphill battle. “Why not? Whatever it is, we could do it together, right?” You’re not alone anymore, Red. It would take time before she believed that.
The laughter burst out, quickly subdued with a hand to her mouth. “Oh, Brodie, you are so nuts.”
He was starting to think so, too. What was it about her that made him want to dig in despite her resistance? He liked to think he was a nice guy, but what he felt for her went well beyond simple niceness.
He asked again, “What are we going to do?”
While he waited, hoping she’d confide in him, she stared at him, unblinking. Brodie could almost feel her wrestling with herself.
“If you weren’t so damned handsome—and so awesome in bed—it’d probably be easier to tell you to go to hell.”
His ego swelled. So did his dick. Hell, he was only human and she sat there, all sweet and tipsy, reminding him of how he’d gotten her off.
“You trust me, remember?” Trusted him to make her climax, but hey, he’d build off that.
After what felt like eternity but was probably no more than half a minute, she whispered, “I’m going to bulldoze my mother’s house.”
Bulldoze? Never would’ve guessed that one. “The house you grew up in?”
“Yes.” Now that she’d admitted it, she leaned toward him, anxious to share her plans. “I inherited it, but it needs to go. Forever. You understand why.”
Sadly, he did.
“The only problem is that it costs a ridiculous amount to do it properly. The house isn’t fancy, but the foundation and all is still in good shape. When I first decided to demolish it, I thought I’d pay someone with a bulldozer to come in and just clear it all away. Easy-peasy. Gone and forgotten.”
Brodie seriously doubted it would ever be forgotten, though he knew that was her end goal.
“The more I looked into it, the more I learned, and the costs for permits, waste material clearing, safety gear purchased, asbestos abatement—it all adds up.” She bit her bottom lip. “The more obstacles I run into, the more determined I am.”
Sounded like his Mary. “Why do you want it demolished?”
Instead of answering, she said, “You’d think they’d be glad to be rid of it, and rid of me, but they’re fighting me.”
“Who is?” Hearing her voice quaver alarmed him. It’d kill him if she cried.
Her eyes, still a little dazed, shifted away. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this. When I decided to do it, to get rid of the house forever, it was going to stay private, something that would die in the town and stay there. It’d be gone, and it’d take all the memories with it.” She sighed. “Now I’ve already told you too much...”
“I’m glad.” Because he needed the touch whether she did or not, he reached for her hand. “You can tell me anything.”
She laced her fingers with his. “I’m going to regret this tomorrow.”
“No, Red. No regrets between us, okay?” He almost added Promise me, but her words were slurring and he wasn’t sure she’d remember anyway.
Her hand slipped from his. “Easier said than done, since I already have regrets.” She leaned back and closed her eyes. “So damn many regrets.”
“You drank too much. Why don’t you nap? Things will seem different after a little rest.” At least, he hoped they would. I already have regrets. God, how those words cut him.
“It’s not just the cost.” She kept her eyes closed. “The town doesn’t want me to knock it down. The town council fights me every step.”
What the fuck? “Why?”
“I think because the land is pretty, or it could be when the house is gone. As a kid, I used to play out there while my mom... While she did stuff.”
Brodie swallowed a groan. “Trees? A creek?”
“Both.” Her lips curled. “I used to climb way up in a big oak until no one could see me in the branches.” The smiled died. “I was there once, hiding, when Mom walked out with the sheriff. He liked her, I think, but she treated him the same as everyone else.”
As a paying customer? Brodie didn’t put the question to her. He half hoped she’d just fall asleep and not finish the awful story.
“He told Mom she should quit, but she said she loved sex and a good high too much.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve.” Her eyes barely opened, sightless, lost in the past. “He asked her if she loved me...”
Brodie swallowed heavily, mentally bracing himself.
“Apparently not enough,” Mary whispered softly, without any sign of emotion. “That’s what she said.”
He imagined she’d replayed those words in her mind a million times, and each time they’d hurt until finally she could blunt the pain with determination. It wasn’t the house she wanted to demolish.
It was her heartache.
“Anyway.” She shifted, getting cozy against the door. “I decided right then that I’d leave as soon as I could, and that someday I’d come back and level the place.”
“Why does the town object?”
“Someone wants to buy it.” A deep breath expanded her chest. “But I’ve refused.”
“Selling it might be a good way to let it go.” She could not only remove it from her life, but add to her bank account.
“No.” Closing her eyes again, she sighed sleepily. “No one should live there. Not ever.”
Brodie whispered, “Damn, Red, you break my heart.”
No reply. He glanced at her and saw she was asleep.
It felt like a reprieve, a chance for him to catch his breath and consider all the things she’d revealed. A chance to recover—because the pain she worked so hard to hide left him hurting, too.
She had regrets. What if tomorrow things didn’t look different to her? What if by protecting her tonight, he’d alienated her forever?
He couldn’t believe that. He wouldn’t accept it.
Soon as she was clearheaded again, he’d start a campaign for winning her over.
He’d always liked a challenge.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MARY WOKE WITH a jolt. She was still in Brodie’s car, but instead of smooth driving on the highway, he’d slowed to a stop as three youths walked slowly across the street, pants hanging low, feet shuffling.
“Too cool for school,” Brodie said, shaking his head.
“Um...” She felt a little fuzzy still. The setting sun painted the sky a beautiful crimson with streaks of purple and yellow. She pulled out her phone and checked the time.
She’d been sleeping for two hours? Good grief.
Flipping down the visor, Mary took a quick peek at her hair and gasped. Apparently she’d slept the whole ride home with her head jostled between the seat and the door. She had a crick in her neck and long hanks of hair looped out aroun
d her ears. She tried to tuck it in, but it didn’t work, so she loosened it all and took it down, working the tangles out with her fingers.
“You snored,” Brodie said.
Did she need to know that? “Thank you for informing me. You’re always so helpful.” She deliberately laid on the sarcasm while hoping she hadn’t also drooled like Howler.
“It was cute.”
She seriously wanted to smack him. “Too bad you weren’t as forthcoming about your plans to talk to Therman.”
He shot her a quick look. “I was hoping you’d wake up in a better mood.”
Stalled in the middle of untangling her hair, she said, “Maybe I’d have been in a better mood if—”
“You hadn’t guzzled a bottle of wine?” he asked innocently.
“—you hadn’t tried to sabotage me with Therman.” Remembering annoyed her all over again.
And yes, she’d guzzled her wine. Ugh. Her head was still a little fuzzy and her mouth tasted sour. She didn’t need to banter with Brodie right now.
She yanked on a knot and winced at the pain in her scalp.
“I love your hair, Red.” Dead serious, he added, “And I would never try to sabotage you. You gotta know that.”
“You pretended I wasn’t there.” Giving up on her hair, she checked her makeup. Ack! Even worse.
“Relax. You look hot.”
She snorted at that nonsense. Her mascara now smudged around both eyes.
“Like you just got laid,” he added in a gruff voice. “It’s a good look for you.”
Oh no, she would not let him distract her that easily. Never mind that her bones seemed to be melting and that her thoughts jumped right back to that little hotel room...and Brodie naked...and his hands, his mouth...
“I’m always aware of you, Red. Know that much at least.” He pulled up to a stop sign, this time waiting while an elderly woman pushing a grocery cart full of cans crossed in front of him. “If it felt like I was excluding you, it’s because you wanted everything kept professional, right?”
“Professional means courteous.” Why were there so many people out tonight? How ridiculous would she look if she put on her sunglasses?
“Sometimes, sure. But if I’d been all solicitous and shit, you don’t think Therman would have seen through that and known I was personally involved? That I was worried for you?” As he pulled forward again, he growled, “That I wanted to rattle his damn wheelchair for putting you at risk?”
Her heart softened at the idea of personal involvement, even as her brain froze up in fear. She liked Brodie, way too much, but she had a lousy track record with relationships.
“You didn’t have to do the whole man-to-man thing with Therman, as if the little lady didn’t have an opinion.”
“Seriously? You gave your opinion, Red—or don’t you remember?”
Yes, she remembered and it was starting to make her stomach hurt. She’d not only contradicted Therman, she’d made her annoyance known. Instead of being professional, she’d blown it.
“Cut yourself some slack, honey.”
When had he started calling her that?
“We’d had a hell of a day, in case you don’t remember. Therman owed us—both of us—an explanation, along with some assurances that it wouldn’t happen again. You had a right to be annoyed.”
Another stop sign had her ready to hide. Especially when a familiar face left the curb and walked around to the driver’s side.
With a low muttered complaint, Brodie rolled down the window and greeted Gina. “Hey, what’s up? Everything okay?”
Smiling, Gina leaned down to brace her crossed arms over the bottom of the window frame, showing off a lot of cleavage in the process.
She was just as attractive now as when Mary had first met her...draped all over Brodie’s back. Although, granted, dressed in jeans and a V-neck T-shirt, she showed less skin now.
“Wow, you have a carful,” Gina said, spotting Howler in the back seat as he came awake and yawned.
She ignored Mary.
Just as well, Mary thought, since she was a wreck, still a tad off from the wine, and not in the best of moods.
“Been working, huh?” She reached in and boldly brushed the backs of her fingers over Brodie’s cheek. “I see you still hate to shave.”
Women, Mary told herself, should support other women, not eviscerate them. Never mind that harsh words teetered on the end of her tongue.
“I shaved a few days ago.”
“You’re such a man. It’s sexy.” She lowered her voice. “I think of you all the time, Brodie.”
Am I invisible? Mary looked down at herself, but no, she was right there, taking up space on the seat. She wanted to say, Yoo-hoo, I’m an unwilling witness to this come-on. But she didn’t. Women should herald other women for their confidence, not ridicule them.
“We’re holding up traffic, Gina.”
Shiny lips curled in a sensual smile. “There’s no one behind you.” Her gaze dipped to Brodie’s mouth. “Though I wouldn’t mind having you behind me.”
Women, Mary reminded herself around choking amusement, should not laugh at other women who were desperately trying—no use. The snicker escaped, and of course, that drew Gina’s attention.
Pressing her lips tightly together, Mary tried to suck it up, but the laugh squeaked out anyway. “Sorry.” She flapped a hand, choking on her humor. “Carry on.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell happened to you?”
Mary touched her hair to smooth it, and before she even realized what she would say, Brodie’s description slipped out. “Wild sex?”
Gina jerked back so quickly, she smacked the top of her head on the way out.
“You okay?” Brodie asked.
Mary allowed herself a smug, malicious smile. Fine, so she’d embellished a bit, but Brodie had said she looked like she’d gotten laid. It was better than admitting that a few glasses of wine had knocked her out and she snored all the way home.
Actually...could she blame her nasty behavior toward Gina on the wine? Yes, that was what she’d do.
Breathing hard, Gina glared an accusation at Brodie. “You’re screwing her?”
He wisely stayed mum.
“I like his whiskers, too,” Mary offered, trying her best not to laugh again.
“We should go.” Brodie fought his own smile. “Howler needs to visit his favorite grassy spot.”
“Bye, Gina.” As he carefully pulled the car around her, Mary waved. “It was good seeing you again!” Once they were out of range, a touch of guilt hit her. “That was mean of me.”
“You enjoyed it.” He maneuvered them through the crowded area.
It was terrible to admit, but yes, she had. “I don’t know what got into me.” She cleared her throat, then tried out her excuse. “Too much wine maybe?”
He slowly nodded. “Probably.”
Glad that he’d so easily accepted that, she started to relax.
Then he said, “But here’s the thing, Red—you said you wanted to keep things between us private, and admitting to Gina that we’re mattress dancing is a guaranteed way to get it blabbed all over town.”
“Oh.” The gravity of that sank in. She didn’t yet care all that much, but she knew by tomorrow she would.
Hard to care when she was still savoring a minor victory.
So catty. Where had her good manners and business sense gone?
Two older women, busy chatting, stepped out in front of Brodie. If he hadn’t been paying attention, he might have hit them.
The two women looked up and waved.
He waved back.
“At least your town seems friendly.” Hers had never been. Not with her mother, and by extension, not with her. “I’ve enjoyed driving through here. It surprised me a little every time.”
“Yeah, Red Oak is a constant source of amusement,” he said in a wry drawl. “In the mornings you can see the farmers working the fields at one end of Main Street, and at the other is Freddie’s, the local bar.” He bobbed his eyebrows at her. “You meet a lot of interesting people staggering out of Freddie’s at 6:00 a.m.”
“I suppose you’d know that better than me.”
One brow shot up over her prim voice. “You keep your heavy drinking to the dinner table?”
She winced dramatically. “Today was an aberration.”
Grinning, Brodie said, “I know. Believe it or not, I’m not a big drinker myself. It’s a rare occasion for me to close out the place, but luckily when I do, I can walk home.”
Mary could picture him with friends, all of them laughing and drinking and having a terrific time together.
She had no idea what it would be like to cut loose that way, but she was willing to bet it was fun. “If you ignore the bar, you notice a lot of unique houses. The architecture is amazing.” And unlike the house she’d grown up in, these houses were neat, close together and well tended.
She often saw children playing in the yard or along the sidewalk. It never failed to make her smile. All children deserved to be that happy and carefree.
“The houses are interspersed with two churches, a gas station, convenience store, furniture and tool rental, hardware store—”
“Tobacco shop and pizzeria,” she finished.
“I almost forgot the pizzeria!” Putting on a serious face, he stated, “They sell sandwiches and barbecue, too. You knew that, right?”
Mary laughed. “So where do Red Oak residents go when they want fine dining?”
“You mean for like a date?”
Yes, she’d like to go on a date with Brodie...but did she dare? For her, actual dating would feel more involved than sex, so she said, “Or as a family—assuming you ever get tired of Shorty’s pizza.”
“Pizza and sandwiches, but yeah, that can only sustain you so long. When either of us wants really good food, Jack and I go to Mom’s.” He grinned. “But for a night out, we head north an hour or so. Lots of choices there from family restaurants to fancy dining. Actually, shopping is the same. I grab some groceries from the little family-owned place here in town, but I go a half hour south for stocking up.”