Page 88 of Awaiting the Storm
Because no matter how pissed she is, no matter what she saw, she deserves to hear the truth from me.
The drive feels longer than it actually is. My thoughts are a jumbled mess of everything I should have done differently. I should have told her about the dinner as soon as Holland called. I should have made it clear what the Ironhorse’s intentions were for the land we wanted. In fact, I should have insisted we talk before anything was ever signed.
But part of me knew if I did, she’d never agree to the sale. And we didn’t have to disclose our intentions. I wouldn’t have in any other property deal.
It was just business, not personal.
I slam my fist against the steering wheel and damn near run myself off the road.
I’ve never been in this position. Because the minute Matty Storm kissed me as I carried her to her bedroom, it became personal.
And now?
Now she thinks I’m as bad as Carl. Maybe even worse.
I pull up to the ranch, the big house dark, except for the glow of the television flickering in the front window. There’s a truck in the drive, but it’s not hers. I scan the property, but there’s no sign of her.
I kill the engine, hop down, and walk up to the porch. I knock twice.
A beat later, Charli appears in the doorway. She looks surprised. “Caison?”
“Hey, Charli. Do you know where Matty is?”
A look of confusion passes her eyes as she opens the screen door and steps out. “I thought she was with you.”
I shake my head. “No. I saw her in town, but she drove off before I could catch her.”
Her eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “What did you do?”
I straighten my spine.
“Answer me. Did she catch you out with another woman or something?”
“Fuck no,” I say, and it comes out louder than I intended.
“What happened then? Because she sat at supper, checking her phone every five minutes, waiting for your text. When her phone finally rang and she got dressed and hurried out the door, I assumed it was for a little late-night romantic rendezvous with you.”
I sigh. “It wasn’t me who called. Must have been Carl. He saw me out at dinner with Holland and Giles.”
Her brow furrows. “Giles? Why were you eating with him?”
My eyes meet hers, and our gazes lock while she tries to make sense of it all. At the same time, the door opens, and Albert Storm appears.
“Charli? Caison? What’s going on out here?”
She turns to him. “He came looking for Matty. Apparently, Carl saw him in town with Holland and Giles and called her.”
His eyes flick to mine, and I see the moment understanding hits him.
“You should go home, son.”
“I want to—”
He doesn’t let me finish. “I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
Charli’s head swings back around to me. “What am I missing?”
I ignore the question and instead ask, “Charli, can you text me to let me know when she makes it home? Please.”
