Page 15 of Slide
Chapter Four
“How’d you know I like my burger this way?” Miles asked after unwrapping one. “Or that I like Dr. Pepper with cherry syrup?” He pointed to the Styrofoam cup with his name written on it.
“I told Mr. Duggans at the diner that I was bringing lunch over here but wasn’t sure what the two of you liked.”
“And he told you?”
“It’s not a national secret, Miles. It’s a damn hamburger.”
“I know, but what else is anyone going spill around her because she’s a pretty face? Did he tell you that he had to mortgage that place after what your brother did?”
Bella nodded. “He made a point of reminding me about Artie and what happened. I apologized. It was all I could do. And he didn’t tell me what you like to eat. He made it without telling me.”
Travis spoke up. “Glad he didn’t give you any more trouble than that.”
Bella blushed and glanced away for a second, then back again, composed once more. “It helped that Mrs. Cleary was with me. One look at her and he turned into a pussycat.”
To both Bella’s and Travis’ surprise, Miles laughed at that. “I bet that was a sight to see.”
“Does he have a crush on her?”
Miles choked on his drink. “Oh God, I hope not. I don’t need that visual.”
Travis shivered in disgust. Mr. Duggan was well over six feet tall and three hundred pounds if he was an ounce. That wasn’t what freaked most people out, though. It was the size of his hands. He had small, dainty hands that didn’t belong on a man of his shape and stature. To imagine those hands and that man and a formidable, albeit beautiful older woman such as Mrs. Cleary? “No one needs that visual.”
Bella laughed. “It’s sweet.”
Miles coughed. “Not if she has a crush on him too.”
“She doesn’t. She’s still in love with her husband. She’ll never marry again.”
“He’s been dead for what?” Travis tried to remember. “Twenty years?”
“Love like that is rare,” Bella said. Her voice was soft and Travis turned his head. She was picking a French fry apart and looking down at her lap. Something about her in that moment tugged at him, deep down inside. He’d never thought about love, falling in it, being a victim of it.
He’d seen too many people hurt by and in the name of love. He wasn’t a cynic. His parents had loved each other. He loved his family, but romantic love for himself? It never interested him.
But with Bella sitting next to him, a ray of sunshine in the dingy, gray surroundings of the garage office? He could see how love like that might be a good thing.
For the next little while, the three of them ate in silence. Miles had perched himself on the edge of the rickety metal desk. Travis caught his brother staring at Bella every so often, a curious look on his face. There wasn’t a trace of anger, but Miles’ posture was stiff. He didn’t look ready to bolt, so that was an improvement. But it seemed more as if he were trying to figure her out.
Good luck with that.Travis gave himself a mental shake. No matter how many days he spent with her, enjoying the decadence of her body, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to figure her out, either.
She looked different to him today, too. She looked less drawn, less stressed. The blue of her eyes seemed brighter and she’d worn her hair down.
“So, umm … How’ve you been, Miles?”
Travis’ gaze flicked from Bella to Miles. His brother looked like a deer in headlights and Travis wondered if he should jump in to change the subject. He decided against it. He had a feeling Bella could handle herself with Miles.
“I suppose all right. Considering.” His voice was hard, but all Bella did was nod.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You’re sorry?”
“Yes.”
“And you think that makes it okay? That you’re sorry? Do you know what I’d like to do to your brother?”
