Page 58 of Rocky Mountain Desire
“When did you guys start seeing each other?”
Like she was about to share heart-to-heart stories with Helen. “Are you nearly done? I need to be getting down to the shop soon.”
“Why are you acting all stuffy? I thought we were supposed to try to be friends.”
Hope ignored her.
Helen shook her head. “So now you’re not going to talk to me? That’s mature. Fine, you can just listen.”
The temptation to slap her hands over her ears was strong, but as Helen had pointed out, childish.
“I bet you’re only seeing him as a thrill to prove you can have what I had. Well, good luck keeping Matt interested in you. You’re not the kind of woman he likes anyway.”
“And what kind is that?” Even as she spoke Hope knew she should seal her lips shut. To not let the frustrations bubbling up escape, but the sweet pleasure she had shared with Matt was too fresh to let Helen taint it with bitter accusations. “Do you think he likes a woman who goes off and fucks complete strangers? Is that what he wants? I don’t think so.”
Helen’s face went white. “You have no idea. You think you’re so smart, but there’s more to the story than you know. You’ve heard the rumours about the Coleman boys. There’s a bit of truth in every one. He likes to share. Matt and me were with someone else, and he was the one who set it up.”
“Matt’s interested in me, not you. And whatever kinky sexual things you guys did have nothing to do withourrelationship.”
“You keep telling yourself that. All the way up until he asks you to do something with another guy. Then you can try to be all righteous on me.”
Helen stormed from the room, and Hope eyed her retreat warily.
Fuck. She shouldn’t have gone there. Shouldn’t have stooped to getting involved in a dirty word war. Plus now, she was fighting against time because while she didn’t want to leave Helen alone in the apartment, she couldn’t let the shop sit unopened.
A solid knock landed on the outer door. Hope glanced at her watch and wondered who was up at eight thirty in the morning and crazy enough to come her direction.
A glance through the peek hole shocked the hell out of her. Hope swung open the door and gaped. “Jaxi?”
Her friend pushed into the apartment, the most fearsome expression on her face. “She still here?”
Sweet relief rushed her. “Matt called you.”
“Damn right, he did.” She turned and wrapped Hope in her arms. “Figured if you didn’t need any backup, you’d need a hug.”
Hope squeezed her before shuffling back and sharing quietly, “It was okay last night, but it got a little messy this morning. I told her she had to leave. She’s not happy about that.”
Jaxi nodded. “You need to open the shop, right?”
“In about thirty minutes, but yeah, I need to get things set up.”
“Anything else I need to know? Other than she’s supposed to get out?”
Hope shook her head.
Jaxi tilted her head toward the door. “Then go do what you need to get ready for the day. I’ll stay until she’s gone.”
“I’m sorry for taking you from your work.”
“You kidding? The babies are happy to get spoiled by Gramma for a couple hours, and there’s no way I’d let you bear this alone. Matt would have come over himself, but I figured I’m a less likely target.”
Hope’s head was filled with fog. “Thanks. I’m just…I didn’t want to drag anyone else into this confusion.”
Jaxi pushed her toward the bathroom. “Don’t worry about me. I can deal with Helen. Now, hurry, you’ve got less time to get ready than before.”
Hope brushed her teeth and rushed through her final routine. All the while banging noises came from behind the guest room door, and she hoped her sister was being reasonable and packing.
She knocked then spoke before Helen could answer. “I’m off to work. Call me when you get settled.”
