“We can only hope,” Hallie agreed. “I guess I should pick up some food just in case he’s sticking around. I don’t know where he lives, but based on the way he looked, it seems like he traveled far. Hopefully Jacob doesn’t send him away without letting him get a good night’s sleep.”
A knowing look passed between all of them. With Jacob’s current mindset, anything was possible including him sending his brother packing.
Hallie left the shop and headed for the grocery store. She purchased the ingredients to fix a decent dinner then she headed back to Jacob’s place.
The closer she got to the turn off, the worse her nerves became. She needed to tread carefully. There was no telling what situation she’d walk into when she arrived. If both brothers could keep a level head, then perhaps they could all have a decent evening. If not, then she might be the one who had to get in the middle and remind them they were brothers.
She blew out a nervous breath as she walked up toward the house with groceries in hand. Ryker’s truck was still parked in the driveway. That had to be a good thing, right?
But then she reached the door and quietly opened it and that was when she realized hoping for the best had been in vain.
“Are you kidding me?” Jacob snarled. “You want to tell me that everything worked out the way you wanted it to? That’s a load of bull and you know it.”
“You don’t understand, and you never will until you?—”
“Don’t you dare turn this around on me. We had a deal. You promised. We both did. And then you broke it.”
She could hear the venom in Jacob’s voice and she winced, wondering if she should just retreat back to her car.
“You think you know everything, but you don’t. You’re sabotaging yourself.”
“I’msabotaging myself?” Jacob scoffed. “What aboutyou?”
Hallie pushed the door open, not wanting this to go any further.
“We’re cut from the same cloth, Jake. One look was all it took, and I could tell that you—” Ryker cut himself off when he caught sight of Hallie.
Both of them were on their feet, hovering by the table. Neither one of them looked as though they were prepared to back down. When Ryker stopped speaking, Jacob turned his attention her way and she gave them a little wave.
“I thought it would be a good idea to bring back food. Maybe we could table this conversation and eat?” She could tell that Jacob wanted to argue. It was the stiff way he held himself and no, it had nothing to do with his injuries.
He opened his mouth, but she cut him off.
“Ryker, do you like tacos?”
Jacob’s expression hardened further. “He’s not staying.”
“Actually, I do. It’s one of my favorite meals.” He smiled warmly at Hallie. “Thank you for the invitation. I can tell why Jacob likes you so much.”
She froze, only halfway done removing the groceries from the bags. Her gaze cut to Jacob and she found him watching her with an expression she couldn’t read. No matter how hard she tried to dissect it, she couldn’t.
And that made her nervous.
Had he said something to his brother? Was Ryker teasing them both because he knew she’d put her foot in her mouth when she’d admitted to her feelings? Because Jacob wasn’t interested and he was far more likely to admit that fact to his brother than to admit he might care for her as more than a friend.
Hallie tore her eyes from Jacob and focused on the task at hand. “Jacob’s a good friend. He’s been there for me, and I do the same.”
She refused to look up, knowing she’d likely see an exchange she wouldn’t like. Instead, she turned away from them and placed the hamburger in a pan on the stove. “If you’re good at cutting vegetables, there are knives in that butcher block.” She directed the statement toward Ryker, but it was Jacob who shuffled to her side and grabbed one.
“I’ll get the tomatoes,” he murmured. “And the lettuce. Let him cry over the onions.”
She bit back a smile and goosebumps lifted on her arms when he brushed past her. She risked a look at him and found a small amount of amusement in his expression. It sent her heart into a tailspin because this was the first time she felt like they were on the same side. Jacob needed someone in his corner right now and if that was who she was to him, then she was glad for it.
“So, Hallie, how did you and my brother meet?”
She glanced over her shoulder, finding Ryker at the island chopping onions. Soon the smell of the food filled the air and her stomach growled. She cut a look at Jacob, but he wasn’t paying attention to them or if he was, he hid it well. “I met him at therodeo. My cousin was competing, and he came to congratulate him.”
“Oh, did he place?”
