Page 56 of The Runaway and the Rugged
Jesus Christ.
Where the hell was Griff? I’d been surrounded by women for too fuckin’ long now and needed a male’s presence.
“I’m not being hostile, Mom! I’m a sister who is worried that her brother could very easily fall for the woman who just hours ago called off her own wedding.”
Another deep breath, and I leaned my back against the wall, pinning myself in place.
“Your brother is a grown man who only asked her what either of us would have eventually asked.”
Greta’s shoulders had fallen, along with her resilient facade.
“I just— Don’t get me wrong, I like her, I really do. I think she was undeniably right to call off her wedding, I’m just worried about what her staying here will ultimately lead to. I just don’twant anyone to get hurt,” she explained, and when she said that, I knew she was referring to me.
She didn’t want me to get hurt, not again.
I laughed. She knew more than anyone that I didn’t let anyone in. In the past ten, eleven, twelve years, I remained closed off to the idea of finding a woman, and right now it wasn't any different. My priorities were still the same; nothing changed or will ever change.
“No one’s going to get hurt, all right? We’re just helpin’ her out until she gets on her feet,” I clarified, hoping this would be the end of the discussion. “Nothin’ more, nothin’ less.”
My mom eventually nodded in agreement with a knowing smile while Greta sighed in acknowledgement.
“Good.” I pushed off the wall I was leaning against. “Now that’s all cleared up, I’ve got work to do.”
I waited for Emelia’s friend Clarke to leave before I decided to go check on her, and of course Grace had to tag along too. Her eagerness to visit our guest made my skin all itchy and when we finally pulled up to the front of the cabin, she instantly jumped out with a wide-set grin and ran to the front door.
“Jesus, hold on a second…” I grumbled, but my words went unnoticed as she abruptly jumped toward the door and began to pound on it.
“It’s me! Grace!” she continued to knock as I gradually made my way out of the ATV with one groan at a time.
Moments later, the door slowly swung open, revealing a fresh-faced Emelia who was peering down at my daughter with a confused grin.
“Hey, what brings you here?” She asked Grace, her eyes growing more narrowed at the excitement pouring off her. “Your dad knows that you’re here, right? The last thing I need is for him to…” Emelia’s eyes captured mine just before she could finish what she was saying.
Taking the hat off my head, I lowered it to my side while walking over to the steps of the porch with a laugh threatening to escape from the back of my throat.
“The last thing you need is for me to do what, Outlaw?” I teased, taking the spot beside Grace who was busy giggling while Emelia looked all flustered.
Eyes wide, she widened the door until stepping out onto the porch with bare feet and a red face.
“Oh, I—I didn’t realize you were here.” Her voice rattled with nervousness, but she never shied away from my gaze.
“We wanted to check on you,” Grace clarified, and that’s when I noticed the darker shade of reddish pink beneath Emelia’s eyes. She’d been crying and if I knew any better, she was crying up until Grace knocked on the door.
“I’m okay.” She forced a smile. “Clarke just left not too long ago, so I’m trying to figure out what to do right now.”
Still wearing the pajamas I brought her, I assumed she wasn’t able to get her suitcase, which meant she had no clothes, no necessities. She had nothing.
“Assumin’ you have no shoes?” I nodded in the direction of her feet as her toes curled in response.
“No, just the heels.”
Damn torture device is what they are.
“All right,” I sighed, knowing I couldn’t let her go a second longer without having basic essentials. “Let me get the truck.”
Both looked at me.
“Where we goin’, Dad?” Grace asked.
