Finally he sighed. “I know. I heard you the first time. You can go now.”
She’d never thought he’d be so harsh. “I want to explain.”
He looked up at her. “What if I don’t want to hear it?”
But she barely comprehended his words as she saw the aching pain in his eyes. Only then did she realize how much she’d hurt him. Knowing that he was suffering because of her foolishness pierced her heart straight through.Oh, Rusty.
He stared straight ahead again but reached down on the opposite side of his chair and grabbed another bottle from the six pack on the ground. He twisted off the cap and took a long swig. Oh boy, this wasn’t good. She walked to him and grabbed the beer.
“Hey,” he said, glaring at her. “What do you think you’re doin’?”
“It’s kind of pathetic to drink alone, don’t you think?” She poured the beverage out on the ground.
“That’s me,” he said, picking up another beer. “Pathetic.”
Oh, this wasn’t going well. “You’re not pathetic,” she said softly.I’m the pathetic one.
He didn’t respond.
She was getting nowhere with him tonight. She also didn’t like this side of him. Brooding, silent Rusty was out of character.
Her feet froze as she tried to figure out a way to get him to talk to her.
He stood and looked at her. “I’ll meet you at Miles Road tomorrow.” Then he turned and headed for the house.
Miles Road? She’d forgotten all about their appointment to see the property. If he ended up buying it, she wouldn’t have to deplete her savings. She’d written a check for five thousand before she left, saying she would have the rest of it for them next week. Since everyone involved with the charityknew Harper and trusted she was good for the remainder, she didn’t have to bounce a check. Not yet, at least. And not if she earned a huge commission from the sale.
The screen door bounced shut, then fell off one of the hinges.
Harper made her way back around the house and picked up her shoes. She looked at the clean yard in front of her. He’d gotten a good start on the rehab. Although he didn’t need the money to buy a new place, once he finished this house, she could sell it at a decent price... if Rusty would agree to let her sell it. That would make a dent in rebuilding her business, and she could build off both sales. Rusty would have the new house he wanted for him and Senior, and she would have both commissions.Win, win.
A dark-colored sedan pulled into the driveway behind Harper’s Mercedes. The passenger-side door opened, and Senior stepped out. “See you next Saturday, Fran,” he said before closing the door. He whistled as he turned around, then stopped when he saw Harper. “Everything okay?” he asked as she opened her car door.
She shrugged. “He’s not happy with me right now.”
Senior nodded. “That was quite the display,” he said. “You and that other lady out biddin’ each other.” He walked closer to her. “If you ain’t figured it out already, my Rusty’s got a tender heart. Be careful with it.” Without waiting for her to reply, he headed for the house.
Too late.
Chapter20
“Where are we going, Don?”
“It’s a surprise. We’re almost there.”
Madge sat back in Don’s Audi and forced herself not to jump to conclusions. He’d asked if he could pick her up after church and take her for a drive, and she’d agreed.He had promised he would be the husband she needed him to be, and he couldn’t do that if she didn’t give him a chance.I have to give us a chance.
He’d made promises before, but she had to admit that something felt different now. She couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Maybe it was how relaxed he was right now. Not rushed or excited or pressing her to match his mood so he wouldn’t be disappointed. He hadn’t pressured her either when she had initially said no to him picking her up. He told her he understood and hoped she had a good weekend. Before hanging up, she’d changed her mind, and now they were on their way to wherever he was taking her.
When he turned down Central Avenue in Hot Springsand headed to the shopping district, she couldn’t believe it. “We’re going shopping?”
Don glanced at her, nodding. “Yep.”
“But you hate shopping.”
“And you love it. Besides, they have the Christmas decorations out.”
“Already? We’re just now getting to November.”
