Page 16 of Caught in the Axe
A long sigh escaped me. I couldn’t tell him the whole truth. It was way too pathetic. I’d wasted most of my twenties chasing the wrong things and now I had to exhaust myself every day to keep from spiraling. About the mess I’d made out of my adult life. About all the stupid mistakes I’d made and all the ways I’d put others before myself.
“I’m sorry I was snappy earlier.” I was still feeling guilty. “I’m really passionate about food insecurity and helping out.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m an idiot and appreciate the opportunity to learn more.”
“It’s just…” This was hard to say, especially to someone like him. “When I was little, my mom and I used to sometimes have to go to the food pantry. Vic’s aunt, Miss Lou, always made sure we had enough.” My voice shook a bit. This wasn’t something I talked about. Not that I was ashamed. My mom was a child when she had me and did her absolute best to build a comfortable life for both of us.
His face froze. God, I could see the pity in his eyes.
“I’m sorry…”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Please don’t.” I didn’t want his pity. I wanted him to see me as a capable adult. “But that’s why I try to make as much time as I can to pitch in. Small towns run on the energy of their citizens,” I said. “I may only be here temporarily, but I gotta help out where I can.”
He watched me, gaze intense, for several seconds. I could only stare back while some kind of unspoken understanding passed between us.
“So let me help you,” I said softly.
Without a word, he dropped his focus from my face, unbuckled his seat belt, and opened the passenger door.
Then he just stood there, his broad frame blocking out the cold, not looking at me, not speaking, for so long I began to fidget. Finally, he clutched the doorframe and leaned in, studying me.
“You’re quite the surprise, Lila.”
I turned to him, immediately caught up in the way he watched me, wondering if he could read minds, because I thought the same way about him. Then, as I admired the stubble along his square jaw, I hoped that he couldn’t. Thoughts of Owen consumed me so wholly that I couldn’t find a way to articulate what I wanted. Which was to work with him. Spend time with him. Help him in any way I could.
This was why I needed to go to grad school. So I could get a good job with decent health insurance. Because I clearly needed a fuck ton of therapy. So I could one day be a functional adult woman who could express herself with words instead of staring slack-jawed at the corporate guy with the distractingly broad shoulders.
“Have a good weekend, okay?” he said. “Don’t work yourself to the bone.”
“I should tell you the same thing.”
He shook his head and gave me the smallest of smiles. “Noted.”
He closed the door and tapped the roof of the van. Then he took a step back and stuffed his hands into his pockets, watching me as I drove away.
Why was my stomach clenching? Why was I feeling this strange pull toward Owen and his messy family business?
And what the hell was I getting myself into?
Chapter 6
Owen
Iparked my car in front of my temporary log cabin and dug through the glove box for the bottle of Tums I kept handy. Just being here had my stomach churning.
The cabin wasn’t the issue. It was far nicer than I had expected and would be the perfect hideout for the next few weeks. It was being back in this town, a place I’d sworn I’d left behind forever, having to grapple with the legacy of my father and the family business.
And then there was Lila. The unexpected upside of this shitty situation. She was smart and curious and fun. I had a blast driving around with her tonight. Her positive attitude was infectious, and shockingly, she seemed to enjoy talking about accounting as much as I did.
Driving around, listening to music and NPR shows, and making deliveries together was more fun than I’d had in months.
She asked question after question about what I did as CFO of DiLuca Construction, eager for everydetail. Her excitement reminded me of what it was like when I was trying to figure out my own career, desperate for as much information as I could consume.
I wanted to help her.
She had so much damn potential.
Potential she had no doubt wasted on my idiot brother.
