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She was thinking she didn’t know anyone who’d overcome more obstacles than Jarrett, yet remained selfless and humble. But that sentiment seemed too intimate to share. He might suspect she had feelings for him. “I don’t think there’s anything you couldn’t do if you set your mind to it.”
“But I’m afraid… I’m afraid we got him here too late. If we lose him, I don’t know what I’d do.”
Her eyes filled, and she had to blink fast to force the tears back. She’d never seen him this broken before. Had he been like this when Carlie deserted him? Rylie wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him close. Instead, she moved her hand up and down his back in what she hoped was a comforting motion.
The door flung open and Rylie sprang away from him, tucking her hands in her lap. A short, salt-and-pepper-haired Hispanic woman entered the room. Her hawk eyes missing nothing, pinning Rylie in place like a well-aimed spear. Rylie ducked her head as the heat spread from her face down her neck and arms. Carlie had obviously been right about the woman’s attitude toward her.
“Juanita!” Jarrett rose to his feet and embraced the woman, whose head barely reached his armpit.
Juanita’s plucked and penciled eyebrows bent together as she eyed Rylie. “I see you brought your fiancée. Or is she your wife now?”
Though Rylie knew Juanita was simply being protective, she still bristled at her accusatory tone. After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong. But arguing with her would only make things harder on Jarrett.
“I should probably leave,” Rylie said. “I’ll catch a taxi home.”
She moved toward the door, but Jarrett caught her arm and dragged her back, positioning her directly in front of the scowling woman.
“Juanita…” He used a scolding tone. “This is Rylie, Carlie’s twin sister.”
“Jarrett, it’s okay. Really. I’ll get out of your way and—”
Rylie’s words were cut off as the air squeezed out of her lungs by a bear hug. Juanita released her and pushed her an arm’s length away, holding onto her elbows so she couldn’t escape.
“Rylie! I’m so glad to meet you.” Juanita’s chameleon face bore a radiant smile. “I’m sorry I was rude. I thought you were Carlie.”
“Uhm… thanks, I guess… I mean… why don’t you like my sister?”
“That woman ruined my boy’s life.” She put a dramatic hand to her forehead.
Jarrett groaned. “Carlie made the mistake of mentioning to Juanita that we dated a few years ago. Juanita put two and two together and blames your sister that I never married. Even though I told her I’d had plenty of opportunities to find a wife since then.”
Plenty of opportunities? Why did that feel like a kick in the abdomen? Rylie knew he must’ve dated other women during the last nine years.
“I was mostly teasing her.” Juanita moved to the bench and plopped down, breath coming out in a gush. “But she got all defensive.”
“You can be pretty scary,” Jarrett said. “It didn’t sound like teasing.”
“Your sister ran off to become abig-shot singing star.” Juanita rocked her head from side to side to punctuate her last four words. “And now that she had a nasty breakup, she wants him back again. She probably wants him for his money.”
Jarrett gave Rylie an apologetic look. But Rylie could hardly be angry at Juanita, when she’d had the same thoughts about her sister.
“She doesn’t like him for his money, Juanita.” Rylie sat on the bench beside Juanita and leaned close, but rasped in a voice loud enough for Jarrett to hear, “She likes him for hishot body.”
Juanita’s eyes went big, her hand slapping over her gaping mouth. “Girl, I believe you!”
It was gratifying to watch the blood rise in Jarrett’s face, but he covered it, taking the remaining chair on the opposite side of the room.
“But she still shouldn’t have deserted him,” Juanita insisted.
“I agree,” Rylie said. “Carlie shouldn’t have left Jarrett and run off to Nashville. I know I wouldn’t have done that.”
Jarrett’s eyebrows arched. She’d revealed too much.
“Of course…” Rylie cleared her throat, concocting an excuse on the fly. “I wouldn’t have been dating him in the first place. Jarrett and I are too much alike.”
“You’re hard-headed, too?” Juanita asked.
“I’m not hard-headed,” Jarrett objected.
