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Because I was selfish.
I pulled up to the front of The Lodge. “I’m not sure what time I’ll be done tonight.”
“It’s okay.” Her hands rested in her lap and her shoulders rolled forward.
It wasn’t her fault I was fucking up. Not even close.
I flicked her seatbelt open and pulled her across to kiss her hard and deep. “I’ll find you later.”
She cupped my face and stared at me for a moment before she nodded and gave me a bright smile. “Okay.”
As I pulled away, I watched her standing at the double doors. Each time I glanced in the rearview mirror, she was still there.
I stepped on the gas as I hit the side road that would cut across the orchard to where Justin’s workshop was. When I pulled up, my brother’s head was in the guts of Jolene, our mini tractor that took a drink in the spring, and his music was blasting.
Gravel popped against my undercarriage, warning him of my arrival. He straightened with a rag and socket wrench in his hand. He calmly sipped from his ever-present can of Monster. It wasn’t my preferred dosage of caffeine, but it would have to do.
“Got an extra one of those?” I asked through the open window.
His eyebrow spiked and he shrugged, moving to the mini fridge under his work bench. The bench was covered in what I could only imagine were the guts of Jolene’s innards that needed to be cleaned and greased.
Justin rounded my truck and got in, holding out the extra can. “I only have the extra wired ones.”
“All good.” I popped the tab and took a drink, hiding a wince. Christ, that was sweet. “I need the boost.”
“You know I can handle this meeting.”
“I just want to make sure the paperwork is done.”
“Not my first rodeo.” Justin rolled down his window and flicked on the radio.
I supposed that was that.
I glanced at the clock on the dash and took a larger swig from my can. Over ninety minutes late.
Guess it was past time to be off.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, my mind on the books I hadn’t done last night as I should have.
I knew there was enough funds in the accounts for the sale, but I usually pored over the books at the beginning of the week.
The only thing I’d studied last night was Helena’s shimmering skin.
Justin turned down the music. “I take it the romance was romancing last night?”
My fingers squeaked on the wheel. “Yeah.”
“Look, man. I’m not pissed that you were late. I’m pissed that you keep thinking I’m fifteen.”
“I know you’re not.”
“No. I’m almost fuckin’ thirty.”
I braked at the lone red light on the back road between the orchard and Brennan’s vast property. “I know it.”
“You don’t have to do everything yourself. Mike thinks you’re gonna fire him, for fuck’s sake.”
“What? Why?”
