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“We always go to Mindie’s,” he said, shifting in his seat. “It’s like, what we did as friends.” He kept his focus on the road, because he didn’t want to see Tam’s reaction this time.
“Ah, I see,” she said.
He wanted to ask her what she saw, but he decided to keep the question for now. They drove to the dealership on the outskirts of Lexington, which was also where Cattleman’s was. It was an expensive, upscale restaurant that served only grass-fed beef and farm-raised produce. The chef and owner had a twenty-acre farm west of the city where she sourced everything that went on her menu.
Blaine liked the food there, and he liked that he could support a local business and a Kentucky farm all at the same time.
In the lot at the dealership, about a dozen men worked near a whole fleet of new trucks. “Looks like you’re in luck,” he said. “They just got in new inventory.”
Tam laughed, and Blaine looked at her as he parked in one of the spots in front of the indoor showroom. She shook her head as he twisted to look at her. “What?”
“Those are sixty-thousand-dollar trucks, Blaine. They’re brand new.”
“Ah, I see.” He grinned at her, held up one palm, and got out to hurry around to help her out. She waited for him, which was a relief. He’d never bothered with opening her door for her when they were best friends, and as a rush of foolishness ran through him, he reminded himself that they were more than that now. Hewantedto be more than that now.
“What can I help you folks find?” an older gentleman asked, his voice raspy and weathered.
Blaine smiled at the old-timer, recognizing him a moment later. “Darren?”
“Good to see you, Blaine.” The old man shook his hand, his grip just as strong as it had always been, despite his health issues.
“What are you doin’ here?” Blaine asked, his stomach painfully tight. “I thought you retired.”
“Just showin’ my son the ropes,” he said, and Blaine’s whole world started falling apart piece by piece. He had enough sense to step next to Tam again and take her hand in his, though. Maybe he’d done it to ground himself. Maybe he knew what was coming next. Maybe he just wanted to hold her hand for as long as she’d let him.
Darren stepped to the side, and none other than Hayes Powell stood there. He wore a bright smile that disappeared the moment he laid eyes on Blaine.
“You remember my son, Hayes?” Darren beamed at the man like he was indeed the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Hayes wore a cold look now, and he scanned Blaine and Tam standing there in their clean clothes, their hands clenched together.
No one said a word.
6
Tam could not believe this was happening, and on her and Blaine’s first real date too. She told herself this would not ruin their night. It would not. She’d simply ask for a different salesman. There had to be someone else who could walk her around the lot and show her used trucks.
Blaine’s hand in hers squeezed painfully tight, and he said, “Yes, sure, I remember Hayes.”
Hayes stood there like a blasted statue, a horrible scowl on his face. He knew who’d been on the other end of the line this afternoon now. Tam found she didn’t care. She hadn’t told Blaine what Hayes had been saying, and she hadn’t dared to admit that he’d started to reel her back in with the simple sound of his voice.
Looking at him, though… That was different. She remembered all the awful things he’d said to her, and she remembered how long it had taken her to shake off the chains of his lies and abandonment. She was not going back to him.
“Yes,” she finally said. “I remember him, too. Darren, I’m Tamara Lennox. Your son broke off our engagement two months before the wedding, remember?”
Darren Powell looked at Tam, his eyes lighting up when he finally recognized her. “Oh, uh—”
“I think it’s best if someone else shows us some trucks,” Blaine said, his voice highly political. It actually bordered on kindness, and Tam wondered how he did that. She wanted to lunge at Hayes and rip that perfect cowboy hat from his head and stomp it into dust as she told him all the ways he’d hurt her.
She hadn’t seen him in the flesh since the night he’d broken up with her, and she realized she had so many more storms that needed to blow themselves out of her soul before she could truly be rid of him.
“Of course,” Darren said. “Let me get Keith. He’s an excellent salesman, and he can help you with whatever you need.” He tossed a look at Hayes, who hadn’t moved or spoken. He didn’t do either now as Darren led her and Blaine inside.
She finally faced forward when she couldn’t keep glaring at him. Once free from his intense glare, Tam’s chest heaved as she sucked in breath after breath. Beside her, Blaine kept a firm hold on her hand and said something. She heard his voice, but it echoed through her ears and brain.
Darren walked away, and Blaine stepped in front of her. “Hey,” he said, reaching up with both hands and brushing her hair back. The heat from his hands raced through her skin, and she looked into his eyes.
He smelled like every woman’s dream, and she wanted to step into his strong embrace and hold onto him until she felt like she wasn’t about to splinter into a thousand shards. Sometimes, Blaine seemed to know exactly what she needed, and right now, he folded her into his chest and whispered, “Don’t cry, Tam. Whatever you do, don’t cry.”
