What Tears Us Down: A Single Dad Standalone Romance (Arrow Creek Book 3)

by A. M. Wilson

  “Are you kidding me?” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “Were you not in there when he was all possessive and commanding? ‘Girls, go outside,’” she mimics a deep voice sounding nothing like Rhett. “I’m positive there’s a wet spot on my panties.”

  “You’re married to my brother,” I toss out teasingly. They’ve been in love for so long I know she’s not serious.

  “Don’t you worry, I get hot and bothered plenty when he does the possessive thing too.” She delicately sips her cocktail.

  “I know you’re like my sister and all, but that’s TMI.”

  A shadow crosses over our table, interrupting her response. I know without even looking that Eric stands waiting for my attention. To stall for time, I drain the remainder of my glass.

  “Food should be at the table soon if you’re ready to come back inside.” He announces his presence with the soft-spoken invitation.

  Caiti and I lock eyes as she stands. Her fingers curl around my brother’s bicep for balance, and she rises on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I’ll give you two a moment.”

  “Thanks, baby,” he murmurs low. It slides beneath the noise of patrons but not too quiet I can’t hear the endearment. My heart clenches happily for the two of them. Their love will last a lifetime.

  Maybe someday I’ll find that too.

  I rise in preparation. If he doesn’t apologize, I’ll make a quick getaway until he’s ready to stop being an ass.

  “Wait.” He steps in my path.

  I square my shoulders and raise my chin, but it’s not much help. Eric will always be my big brother—both in size and the fact he’s spent a decade protecting me. I leave the burden to fix this up to him.

  “I’m sorry,” he starts immediately, dousing some of my fire. “When I got here and found you at the hotel, it was like all my worst fears were confirmed.”

  Like I knew it would, the first cracks form in the concrete wall surrounding me. I hold tight to my silence when, in reality, I’m clinging to my emotions in a double-handed grip.

  “You’re homeless, Evie.” His voice splinters on the word. “No matter the reasons for it, I can’t begin to tell you what that does to me inside.”

  “I’m okay,” I croak. My throat could suddenly use that drink I drained.

  “Yeah, you are.” He rubs the back of his head as his face turns deadly serious. He steps closer. “But you have to promise me that as soon as you aren’t, you’ll find someone to lean on. Rhett, for starters, but if that relationship changes, you find someone else, or you come to me. No more keeping secrets.”

  “Did you say Rhett first?”

  Eric shakes his head, and I can physically feel the mood lighten. “Yeah, yeah. He won me over a little bit.”

  “I knew that much when you came out here without a black eye, though I’m glad to hear you confirm it.”

  “You also have to promise to tell me if he fucks you over so I can hop on another ten-hour flight to get back here.”

  “Deal.” I grin up at him. “Let’s go eat before our food gets cold.”

  As I make my way around him, he snags my arm. “One more thing.”

  My stomach gives a hearty rumble. I peer up at him with an annoyed glare.

  “I’ve missed you. A huge part of that is my fault because when things went down, I chose the wrong person.”

  That happy feeling from seconds ago dissipates like a puff of smoke in a breeze. “Eric,” I warn. He knows this isn’t a topic I’m willing to discuss.

  He shakes my arm still in his grasp. “I screwed that up.”

  “You didn’t choose anything. If you did, you wouldn’t be here.”

  “That’s not true. I let Tate say some shitty things about you and some of them I even believed.”

  My hackles raise at the same time my stomach bottoms out. “Like what exactly?”

  He raises his hands with his palms facing me. “I still don’t know the details of what happened. But when he said you were being dramatic and immature, I believed him. I didn’t want to lose my best friend.”

  Knowing all the things Eric doesn’t know, I can’t blame him for his rush to judgment. My brother spent four years of his early adulthood raising me after our parents passed away. I once heard that people will always see others in the form they were easiest to exert control over. I don’t doubt that Eric still sees me as a lost fifteen-year-old girl who was very dramatic at times, regardless of how much time has passed.

  “While I can admit now that it hurts he’s still in your life, I can also tell you that as long as you keep him out of mine, it won’t be an issue,” I deliver gently.

  Even so, his face falls as if I said the opposite. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  “People never do. You’ve apologized. You’ve flown halfway across the world to be here. And you aren’t on some crusade to get us back together, so I can leave it alone and say I forgive you. Even when you’re being a giant ass.”

  Eric wraps his arm around my shoulder and nudges me to the side. The message that the conversation is over received. “As if you haven’t been throwing major attitude since I got here.”

  “You mean since you ambushed me?”

  Walking back into Calypso’s, I’m smacked with the mouthwatering aroma of fried foods and beer. My stomach chooses to release a ferocious rumble.

  “If you ever hide from me like that again, I will drag you kicking and screaming to the airport if I have to.”

  I roll my eyes and shake my head at the same time, giving his waist a light squeeze. “And you say I’m the dramatic one?”

  “I mean it. Not knowing where you are isn’t something I want to do ever again. I thought getting you through high school was rough.”

  “Well, you’ll be happy to hear I don’t have any plans to go anywhere in the near future.” I glance around the crowded bar as we make our way to our table. “Something about this town makes me want to stay a while.”

  “Or someone,” Eric says, dropping the teasing accusation as we reach our table. I’m grateful to hear the smile in his tone.

  That specific someone stands from his seat and gestures to my empty chair. My heart gives a dainty flutter.

  “Dane just dropped our plates two minutes ago.”

  I’m cocooned by the warmth in his rich, brown eyes. “Perfect timing then.”

  Rhett waits for me to sit before resuming his place in his own chair. The sound of sizzling from the hot plate beckons me, and I waste no time digging in to the chicken fajitas I ordered. Before I get that first bite, Rhett flips the hair closest to him over my shoulder and runs his fingers through it down my back. Tingles erupt along the path.

  “How long will you two be in town?” Rhett asks, pulling back and retrieving his own fork.

  “Only a few days. We flew out so fast that Eric couldn’t secure more time off,” Caiti answers.

  “We’ll fly to visit Tate in Colorado on Friday and head back home after the weekend.” Even after their long chat and his apology, Eric can’t seem to disguise the warning in his voice. As if he believes Rhett’s waiting until he leaves to drop some act. I’m both touched and annoyed by how much he cares.

  “We should do this again before you go. I’ve been meaning to take Evie to the Tavern on the River. You’re welcome to come.” Rhett delivers his invitation before digging into a pile of fries. Seeing my gaze, he shifts his plate an inch in my direction. I snag one with a smirk.

  “You should totally come. I have two clients this week during the day, and I’ve already shown you all I know of Arrow Creek. Unless you want to see the parking lot where I sleep.”

  If I’m not mistaken, both Eric and Rhett rumble unintelligibly.

  Caiti chokes on her cocktail. “I think we should leave that one up to the imagination. Though we’d love to come to dinner.”

  “Perfect. Thursday?” I ask.

  Caiti sets down her drink. “Sounds good. But don’t think you’re out of seeing us the rest of the days this
week. You can stay in our hotel room while we’re here.”

  “I don’t need to share a room with my brother and sister-in-law,” I protest before biting the remaining half of a fajita.

  “Then we’ll get you your own room,” Eric supplies.

  “No!” I chose a bad time to take a bite of food. Chewing slows down my rapid-fire argument, which gives Eric time to force his side.

  “It’s not up for discussion. You aren’t sleeping in your damn car while I’m here.”

  “I agree,” Rhett adds, earning my scowl.

  “I can’t wait for you to go home so the two of you can’t gang up on me. I think I liked it better when there was a risk of someone throwing punches.”

  “This is much more fun.” Eric reaches across the table and nudges my arm.

  I won’t admit it out loud, but he’s right. Rhett and I may only be friends who’ve had sex, but having him get along with my brother is a million times more fun than having them fighting across a dinner table. And for all the work I’ve put in lately, a few nights in a cozy hotel room sounds like heaven to me.

  I briefly wonder what Eric would say if Rhett stayed the night with me. Then I remember I’m a grown-ass adult and not about to ask for permission. It may be on his dime, but I won’t be fooled into thinking Rhett isn’t planning to pay him back the second he regains access to his accounts. That’s just the sort of man he is. Regardless of whether he’s there sleeping with me.

  20

  Evie

  The music blasting through my corded headphones is cut off suddenly by the sound of my phone ringing. I toss down the brush I use for scrubbing grout and tug off one yellow rubber glove. Rhett flashes across my phone screen. I manage to swipe before the call goes to voicemail.

  “Hey, what’s up?” I sit back on my heels.

  “I can’t seem to stop thinking about last night.” His husky voice infiltrates my ear canal and settles in the pleasure center of my brain.

  Now that he’s mentioned it, snapshots of sharing the hotel room shower dance in my head. I can almost feel the hot, sudsy water sluicing down my body. The possessive grasp of Rhett’s hands on my hips turning me to face the wall. His fingers diving between my thighs.

  “Did you call to tease me?”

  “That depends if you’re able to video chat.”

  I glance around the empty bathroom. I am technically here alone, but this isn’t my house.

  “Boundaries, unfortunately. I’m at a client’s house.”

  His deep laugh is rich and warm. “That is unfortunate. Actually, I didn’t have a reason for calling. I guess I just wanted to say hi.”

  “Are you still coming tonight?” Eric and Caiti fly out tomorrow afternoon. Tonight, we’re all supposed to meet for one last dinner before they go.

  “Of course. Unless something’s changed.”

  “Not on my end. I wasn’t sure if you’d change your mind. You don’t have to be pressured to go because of my brother.”

  His heavy breath crosses the line. “This is no different than you coming to help Nathan and Kiersten move. You’ve met my friends. Now I’m getting to know yours.”

  “Except it’s my brother, which is family, and you and I are just friends.”

  His lack of response flusters me.

  “Rhett?”

  “Sorry, Evie. Something just came up at the office. I have to let you go, but I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Okay, bye.” I barely get the word out before the call drops, and my music app automatically resumes.

  The time I use to clean is usually filled with thoughts and problem-solving, but not today. That phone interaction can be filed into the part of my brain reserved for things that don’t need further analyzing. The loud dance music helps occupy my mind while I slip the yellow glove back on my hand and resume scrubbing.

  Two hours later, the obligation for the day is complete. Though my hair is a tangled mess from my efforts and my clothing is wrinkled, the main floor of the house is immaculate. As it should be after a hard day’s work. The wages for today push me one step closer toward that down payment. It’s so close I can nearly taste signing my name on the dotted line.

  As I pack away my supplies in my car, Nora’s sleek SUV glides up the driveway. I give a friendly wave and twist my hair into a presentable messy bun.

  She steps out, retrieving a wiggling toddler. The sight of the delighted little boy spreads warmth through my chest.

  “I was hoping you’d still be here.”

  I snap my stare from her adorable son to her. “Oh? What can I do for you?” I force the confused look from my face before she’s close enough to witness.

  “My boss wants to secure you as his cleaner.” She extends a rectangular piece of cardstock to me between two fingers as she glances me up and down. “Give him a call when you’re free to discuss.”

  “Wow, thank you for recommending me.” This will be my sixth client. The small circle of my business continues to grow simply due to a random grocery store run-in and word of mouth.

  “Do you have a minute to step inside?”

  “Oh, um, I have somewhere to be.” Glancing at my watch reveals I have less than an hour to get showered, changed, and drive the twenty minutes to the restaurant.

  “Please.” The clipped word gives the impression she doesn’t use it often, if ever.

  “I can spare a minute.”

  She’s already marching up the concrete driveway to her front door. I follow hot on her heels.

  Reentering the house I just spent all day cleaning, it irks me to find she doesn’t remove her shoes. Knowing how much effort I put into these fucking floors, I take mine off with less patience than I had thirty seconds ago. Whatever. It’s her house, and I’m paid for the work I do.

  She doesn’t stop or speak until she’s in her office. I haven’t entered this room since that first day as it’s not on her list for me to clean. My keen eye can’t help but notice the shelves in need of a dusting. Maybe that’s what she wants to discuss.

  “Nora?” I call when she still hasn’t told me what we’re doing.

  Her back faces me. Papers rustle, and drawers glide open and shut. She retrieves a manila envelope in one hand while grasping the squirming toddler on her hip in the other. As she turns back around, a manic look glints in her eye.

  “Can you take him?”

  “Oh, s-sure.” The twenty-five pounds of toddler settles happily in my arms. I give him a little bounce and embrace the babbling coo he gives in response. Even though my heart cracks, I smile at the little boy.

  With her hands now free, Nora plunges one into the envelope. Only to withdraw it seconds later clutching a wad of cash.

  “Today’s wages,” she mutters. Her concentration is on the twenty-dollar bills she’s counting and not on my stunned expression. She pushes a haphazard stack across the desk and starts counting to herself again. An equally large stack emerges, and she presses it against the first. “Doubled if you can stay a few hours and watch Tommy.”

  I quickly shut my gaping jaw. “I-I’m sorry, what?”

  “Can you watch him? Something important has come up, and I’m in desperate need of help. I’ll double your pay for the day if you can stay.”

  Double my pay? Is she crazy?

  “Nora, that’s way too much.”

  Her head snaps up. “Not to me. Your time is worth exactly what I say it is,” she snips.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sure you can afford what you’re offering, but I can’t accept. It’s too much.”

  “What is it with poor people thinking they know the worth of anything?” She mumbles to herself, but I hear her just fine.

  “Excuse me?”

  She releases a heavy sigh that fills the room with more tension than an overblown balloon. “I’m sorry. I’m in a real jam here. Can you help or not?”

  I should say no. My brother and Caiti are leaving tomorrow. It’s already been way too long since I saw them last. Then again
, I’m supposed to fly out next month to celebrate Eric’s promotion, and this owed favor may go a long way toward taking the time off. There’s also the pay to consider. I’ll be able to secure a place now, as soon as I can find one, which means getting out of my car a heck of a lot faster than I thought.

  This would mean not just canceling on my family but on Rhett too. The four of us won’t have a chance like this for a long while, if ever again.

  I’m about to open my mouth to say no when Tommy grabs a loose curl in his chubby fist and lays his head on my shoulder. The little boy nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. Before I can reconsider, the words, “I’ll do it,” are out of my mouth and into the open.

  Nora’s posture deflates. “Thank you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She gathers the piles of cash. “Where’s your purse?”

  Discomfort prickles beneath my skin. “It’s by the door.”

  I follow hot on her trail to the front door. She stuffs the money into the opening on the top of my purse.

  “Anything I need to know about taking care of him?” I give him a gentle bounce and rub his back.

  Nora leans her torso back inside on her mad dash out the door. “There are leftovers in the fridge. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Without further instruction, she’s fully out of the house.

  I twist the lock behind her. I haven’t cared for a baby since high school. My nerves are on high alert, and she’s barely just left.

  “I guess I should officially cancel my plans, huh?”

  Tommy yawns against my cheek in answer.

  I settle us in a plush recliner in the sitting room and dig my phone from my back pocket. I dial Rhett first, knowing he’ll probably ask the least questions.

  He answers immediately. “Twice in one day, huh?”

  “You called me the first time. Don’t make it sound like something it’s not.”

  “Are you saying you don’t miss me?” The straight grit in his question sends warning bells to my lower region. Now is definitely not the time to stoke that particular fire.

  “Oh, I’d never. That’s admitting way too much. Though I have gotten used to your company over the past few weeks.”