Page 35 of Revved
“It’s all right. We’ll sort something out.”
Rusty stood and left the room, giving his mother her privacy while she pulled it together. Again showing him that sweet side of her nature, the side she kept hidden from nearly everyone else. Everyone except those she cared about, those she trusted.
She trusts you.
She didn’t run.
Jesus, he couldn’t think about that now. The way he felt right then, about her—he could easily say something he could never take back. Something that would only make it harder to walk away.
When she returned, she had coffee for all of them. They drank their drinks, mostly in silence, and he kept an eye on his mother the whole time. She’d calmed down, but he wasn’t leaving her, not after that. Seeing the old man always affected her deeply. All the self-confidence she’d worked hard to gain would evaporate. The sparkle in her eyes that took too many years to return would dim.
“Will you be okay for a bit? I’ll take Rusty home, then come back. I’ll stay here tonight.”
His mother shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I called a friend, and she’s coming to keep me company. You go on. I’ll be fine.”
“Ma…”
“I’m fine.” She looked over at Rusty. “It was lovely to meet you, dear. I’m just sorry about the reason behind it. You and Reid will have to come for dinner sometime soon.”
His father had just been hauled away for breaking the conditions of the restraining order against him, and she was talking about dinner plans. She hated anyone knowing what she’d been through, was ashamed of it, and was doing a damn fine job of pretending she was okay. Rusty being as astute as she was, picked up on what his mother was doing and went along with it, like his old man hadn’t just tried to break the front door down.
“I’d like that, Carol, very much.” And she offered her one of those killer smiles.
A few minutes later the friend arrived, and they were being ushered to the front door. They said their good-byes, and his ma gave him another hug, squeezing him tight, and before she released him, whispered, “I like her.”
Yeah, you and me both.
His mom worried about him. Went on about him settling down every other week. The last thing he needed was her getting false hope.
They left, and Rusty walked beside him in silence. Then without a word, she slid her hand in his, silently offering up a piece of herself to him. He latched on, took what she was freely giving. Right then he needed it, needed her. Her touch, her warmth—shit, it made his gut twist in knots.
“Take me home, Reid.” Her voice was soft, softer than he’d ever heard it, and sweet. His stomach clenched at her words. Of course she wanted him to take her home.
All he wanted to do was crush her to him and never let her go.
She was going to end it. She’d been amazing through this, had gone to his mother and comforted her without hesitation. Still, he was selfish. He wanted more from her. Shit, he wanted it all. But this was the way it had to be, how could it not after what she’d just witnessed.
“Yeah, babe, I’ll take you home.” His voice came out rougher than he’d ever heard it. He wanted to add that he understood, maybe throw in an “it was nice while it lasted” or “hey, maybe I’ll see you around sometime,” but his mouth felt too dry, and he couldn’t force the words out.
But then she shook her head, moving in closer, tits and belly pressing into his arm. He looked down at her tucked against him, and she stared up, no more pity, just open and fucking beautiful. “No. I want you to take me home, to your place.”
She still wanted him? A fucking boulder formed in his throat, and he swallowed it down so he could speak. “You sure about that?”
“Yes.”
Shit. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Chapter Twelve
Reid’s Plymouth rumbled up a short driveway in the exclusive Lincoln Beach area and slid into a four-bay garage off the side of a two-story house. There were two other cars taking up space, a black Escalade and a beautifully restored cherry red Cadillac Fleetwood.
The garage door slid shut behind them, and Reid turned off the engine and opened his door. Rusty did the same, climbing out. The sound of waves crashing and the scent of sea air surrounded her instantly. They were close to the beach, and the awesome view he’d described over the phone.
The sick feeling in her stomach hadn’t subsided—a feeling that had near overwhelmed her when they’d pulled up outside Reid’s mother’s house—no, it kept growing and twisting. She’d misjudged him, couldn’t have been more wrong. She’d assumed he’d come from privilege, that he hadn’t worked his ass off for everything he had. Jesus, what he’d come from, it made all he’d built, all he had achieved that much more amazing.
But then nothing should surprise her where Reid was concerned. The more she got to know him, the more layers he’d revealed, the more she liked him.
He came around and took her hand, leading her to the door. He hadn’t said much since leaving his mother, and she was struggling with what to say. The man was ashamed of what she’d witnessed, that much was obvious. He had no reason to be, of course. Rusty felt no different toward him now than she had before they pulled up and saw his father. She wanted to tell him that, but the way he held his shoulders, the set of his jaw, made it clear talking about what just happened was the last thing he wanted to do.
