Page 52 of Forty and Fighting Dirty
Where the hell did she get that? “I’m just saying we need to fix the structural, plumbing, and electrical issues before we talk about cushions, Piper.”
“See that? That right there? That’s condescending! My cushions are going to sell this place. Nobody’s going to walk in and fall in love with the waterproofing they can’t see.”
“You still can’t pretend it doesn’t have to be done.”
“I never said that!”
“You’re talking about decorating like we don’t have a million things to do first.”
“I’m talking about myideas, Rhett!” Her breath gusted out, and I realized we’d moved closer. Her chest brushed mine with every deep inhalation she took into her lungs. Her cheeks were red, and sparks flew from the fury in her eyes. “I need you to listen to me and treat me like my ideas are worth the time it takes to hear them. I need you to respect me.”
Her voice trembled on the last word, and it sent a knife right through my gut. Shame stabbed me, shame for hurting her, for making her feel like she had to fight me like this. Then I got mad, because what the hell had I done to make her feel this way? I was doing her a favor!
Through clenched teeth, I said, “I wouldn’t have proposed this stupid idea if I didn’t respect you, Piper. I’ve seen the work you’ve pulled off in a few weeks at the office. I know what you’re capableof.”
“You’re real good at saying nice things in the worst possible way, Rhett.”
“I just can’t do anything right, can I?”
Piper let out a long, frustrated growl, then marched past me out of the bedroom. Her scent lingered for a second, and I couldn’t help spinning around to watch her walk away.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home, Rhett.”
“That’s it? Walkthrough over?”
“Walkthrough over,” she confirmed, not looking at me.
Her head disappeared as she went down the stairs, and I stomped around the banister to follow her. “Is this how you usually resolve your issues?” I called out, sounding callous and cold even to my own ears. “You just turn your back and run away?”
I knew I was being an ass. I knew I was needling her, trying to get a reaction. The truth was, I didn’t know how else to act.
I’d proposed this plan of action because I’d felt bad for making her feel bad. I wanted to do something nice for her because damn it, she was new here and she’d done good work and she had two kids, and one of them had a broken arm and I wasn’t acompletemonster. The mask I wore to hide myself from almost everyone wasn’t a total lie. I didn’t want her tosuffer, for God’s sake.
Would it kill her to show a little gratitude? I could’ve easily dragged her through the courts and taken this house from her. I could’ve bought her out for a fraction of what we might make if we flipped this place. Icould’ve fired her.
I did none of those things. I tried to be generous, and this was how she repaid me?
It made me feel unappreciated, unseen, and foolish. I’d gone out on a limb, and all she could do was stomp away from me the minute things got a little testy.
It made me want to fight back, just so she’d turn around and give mesomething. I couldn’t take the cold shoulder.
My mother had ignored me until I lashed out, and then she’d taken all her hurt and aggression out on me. My ex had known how to push my buttons so she could get a reaction and then play the victim. It seemed like Piper was just like them.
And it seemed like I was destined to keep making the same mistakes.
“This isn’t going to work,” I called out. “Forget it. How about I just buy you out and we can be done with it?” Bitterness dripped from every word. She could finish the lodge design, then I’d offer her a generous severance package and we could go our separate ways. I wasn’t going to twist myself into knots to make a woman happy. I knew from experience it was an impossible task.
Piper had reached the front door by the time my words echoed in the foyer. She paused with her fingers on the handle, the jacket she’d slung over the banister hooked over her arm, and I watched her shoulders rise and fall with a slow inhale. Then she turned, and the anger was still simmering in her eyes, but her face was calm.
“I need a minute, Rhett,” she said quietly. “A lot has happened in only a few days, and I just need some time. My son has a broken arm, I’m trying to find us a place to live, and nowwe’re talking about taking on a huge project. I’m not sure I have the bandwidth, especially considering being around you seems to drive me completely fucking insane.”
I opened my mouth, but Piper held up her hand.
“I’m sorry,” she added. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
It was a shock to be spoken to like that in a moment when I was ready to take off the gloves and fight until we were both bloody and broken. I didn’t know what to say. Piper stood there, framed by the door behind her, looking small but strong and overwhelmingly beautiful. Her hair was pulled back, revealing her cheekbones and angled jaw. Her eyes burned with inner light, and her strength made her seem completely immovable.
