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“Never did. My wife—my late wife—loved it, especially casseroles. This is her recipe. Guess I started doing it to feel like she was still with me. Turns out, I don’t mind cooking so much. Every week or two, I go over and stock Mackenzie’s fridge. Well, I did. Haven’t since she got married.”
I think that’s the most he’s ever told me about himself, and I turn over all the details in my mind. I have so many questions.
He must see it on my face. He flinches as he says, “You can ask about her.”
I’m suddenly aware of just how tender Rogue’s heart is. He rescued a dog that was about to be put down. He adores his daughter, and he’s lived through the loss of his wife. I want to phrase the question just right, but I don’t know how. The last thing I want to do is press on his wounds. “How long…how long have you been without her?”
“Four years.” He blows out a breath. “We were fooling around on the porch swing one night. There was a lump in her breast. She wasn’t worried. She had…I don’t know what they call it. A condition where women get cysts, but I got a sick feeling in my gut this time. I insisted she make an appointment. The biopsy news came back on the day Mackenzie graduated high school.”
He pushes his plate away and shakes his head. “We hadn’t told anyone, but we were planning to sell the hardware store when Mackenzie went to college. We were going to travel the world. I’d always told her I’d take her on a cruise when our girl was grown. I never got the chance.”
I don’t know the right thing to say to someone who’s grieving a loss like this, so I do the only thing I can think of. I reach out and thread our fingers together. I squeeze his big, calloused hand.
He puts our hands on his thigh and stares down at them. “Thank you.”
I don’t say anything. For a long moment, we’re both silent, then my phone rings. The sound is muffled. “That’s mine. It’s probably still in your bedroom.”
“I got it,” Rogue says and disappears. He returns a few seconds later and passes it to me.
I frown at the number. It’s Greer calling. He’s Ginger’s older brother. Her family has invited me to spend Christmas with them. I still don’t know if I’m going to do that. I don’t want to feel like I’m intruding on their holiday. “Hello.”
“Susie, are you OK, sweetheart?” His voice is so quiet and calm that the hair stands up on the back of my neck. It sounds like something is very wrong.
“Yes.” I twist the bottom of the flannel shirt around my finger and try to keep my breathing even. But Rogue senses my anxiety and puts a hand on the back of my neck. The simple gesture soothes me.
“Are you alone?”
My cheeks heat. I’m not about to tell him I’m with Rogue. While I seriously doubt that Greer is a part of the gossip chain in Courage County, I still don’t want to risk it. “Not really.”
“OK, that’s fine.” His tone is still too eerily calm. “Can you tell me what you see?”
I pull the phone away from my ear and frown at it. Why is Greer acting this way? Is he drunk?
Rogue takes in my confusion and snatches the phone away. “Who the hell is this? Greer? Yeah, it’s Rogue. What’s going on? You’re scaring the hell out of my girl. No, she hasn’t been fuckin’ kidnapped. Well, a little bit kidnapped.”
I should have known that someone from Courage County would be at the hospital’s event tonight. Of course, the gossip would already be making the rounds. I gesture for the phone and tell Greer, “Listen, it’s not what you’re thinking. Well, I appreciate May Weatherford’s concern. I know. She’s a sweetheart. But I’m perfectly safe. I promise.”
“You’re sure you’re safe?” He asks again, a note of uncertainty still in his voice.
I can’t believe he’s acting like my big brother. I guess it wasn’t in my imagination that it seemed like the Maple family was trying to adopt me. “Greer, I’ve never been more sated.”
He stutters a curse under his breath. “Then I have a few calls to make.”
Another wave of embarrassment washes over me. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. Just let me call Sheriff Luke and Griffin. They’re probably five minutes out from storming the place.”
I gasp. “You’re joking.”
“Not even close. But you have a uh, good night, I guess. Tell Rogue sorry for the mix-up.” He ends the call without saying goodbye.
I chuckle in disbelief and glance at Rogue.
He’s scowling at me, a look of fury on his face.
I scowl right back at him. “I did not tell anyone you kidnapped me.”
“That’s not why I’m mad, baby girl.”
