Page 20 of Miss Fortune

She turned on her heel, quickly walking out of the house.

I followed her outside. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She wouldn’t look at me.

We both turned when Eric came jogging out. Someone must’ve clued him in to what had transpired. His entire neck and face were red. “Hey, Mr. Morrison. Uh, Daisy.”

When in an informal setting, I often suggested people call me Caleb, but I didn’t offer this time.

“You about ready to head out, Daisy?” he asked.

I told myself it wasn’t jealousy but rather concern for her causing my jaw to clench.

Daisy arched a brow. “I’ll have to pass on dinner, Eric. Apparently, you and Wendy have some unfinished business, and I don’t want to be in the middle. I’ll grab an Uber.”

His gaze ping-ponged between us. If he expected me to excuse myself, he’d be disappointed. I wasn’t going anywhere.

Instead, I offered, “I can give you a ride home.”

I expected her to jump at the alternative, but she turned it down. “Thank you, but I’m good.”

“It was a silly argument,” Eric beseeched.

“You didn’t exactly defend your date,” I said dryly.

Eric scrubbed a hand over his red face. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t acknowledge his apology. “Can you please unlock your Jeep so I can get my purse?”

Eric moved toward his vehicle, unlocking it for her. “Look, I am sorry.”

She put her hand on her hip with a sigh. “Do the next girl a favor and stop trying to make Wendy jealous. And for God’s sake, don’t bring a new date somewhere where your ex will be. Especially not to a work-related event.”

It hadn’t been the dressing down I would’ve given him, but at least Eric had the decency to appear contrite. After he walked away and was out of earshot, I turned toward Daisy.

“I’ll let the contractor know I’m leaving, then I’m free to take you home.”

“I’ll catch an Uber. No need to cut your day short.”

“It’s fine. They’re wrapping up in the next hour anyhow, and I’ll be back here tomorrow.”

She cocked her head to the side. “For a guy who says the charity work is only to make the company look good, you sure put in a lot of your time.”

Charity work such as this home project meant more to me than a photo op, but it wasn’t something I admitted to most people. One, it would come off as bragging, and two, it was no one’s business how I spent my free time. I certainly never told anyone how giving back to people who were grateful was something capable of filling a mysterious hole inside of me.

“It’s hard to explain.”

She sighed. “You don’t owe me an explanation. Thanks for the offer of a ride, but I’m good on my own.”

She’d already turned to go, walking down the driveway toward the main road while typing into her phone.

“Wait. It’ll take forever to get an Uber.” I didn’t like the thought of her sitting alone and upset in the back of a stranger’s car.

She tossed the words over her shoulder as she continued to walk. “You ignored me when I first got here, obviously annoyed I’d showed up, so why would you offer to do anything for me now?”

I kept pace, a little behind her. “I ignore everyone. And when I noticed you arrive with Eric, I tried to mind my own business.”

She stopped, turning toward me. “I thought maybe you were upset about what I asked you yesterday.”