A Town Called Valentine(16)
He frowned. “Grandma likes to meet new people. She called me right after you left to say you’d been so sweet to them. Hard to believe right now.”
He hadn’t meant to antagonize her, especially since he felt uncomfortable about all the work she had in store for herself. But from the moment he’d laid eyes on her, she’d drawn him like steel to a magnet, and he knew he had to pull away. Her building wasn’t his problem—she wasn’t his problem, he reminded himself.
Her chin came up, and those sky blue eyes glittered. “Your grandmother is a lovely person.”
Unlike you, seemed to be her unspoken words.
“And I am grateful to her for agreeing to let me briefly stay there,” she continued. “I have offered to pay rent.”
He rolled his eyes.
“You think I haven’t?” she asked icily.
He held up a placating hand. “No, I just know my grandmother. Taking care of you will make her day.”
“I don’t need to be taken care of.”
He said nothing, hoping that was true.
She put her hands on her hips. “Did you just come by to annoy me or to watch me work and have a good laugh at my expense?”
“I haven’t laughed,” he said. She was touchy, but he couldn’t blame her. This was damn awkward between them.
“So you meant to annoy. Why are you checking up on me? Here are the details, if you absolutely need them. My building is a disaster that will take weeks to repair and keep me here even longer. They can’t turn the electricity on for two days, so my hours are limited, further lengthening my time in Valentine Valley. Oh—and my car needs to be towed. Does that satisfy all your questions?”
Nothing the two of them said to each other was going to work after their abrupt encounter last night. “Look,” he said with a sigh, “I didn’t come to check up on you. I just wanted to tell you I had your car towed to Ute Auto Repair, which is at the gas station at the end of Main Street back by the highway. They’ll give you an estimate. You can trust them.”
He was at least gratified to see her hostile expression turn wide-eyed before she winced at his news about her car.
“Let me get my purse and pay you for the towing. I don’t want to owe you after last night.”
“Owe me?” he said in disbelief. “You think I’ll hold that little bit of money over your head to get something out of you?”
She looked so mutinous, he knew he’d hit the nail on the head. And he deserved her suspicion.
“Look, I’m sorry about everything. I’ve got to go ride my little bike up into those tall mountains and try not to slide on my face in the springtime mud. But you have a pleasant day.”
Then he turned around and strode out the door, whistling for Scout.
Emily clapped both hands over her face, wondering how many times her own behavior could mortify her. He’d done her another favor, on top of all the others. This, after he’d been so angry that she’d turned him down last night. She must be giving off a very needy vibe. She didn’t want to be that woman!
Or had he simply been drunk and angry, just like she’d been drunk and a tease? She didn’t want to contemplate that, didn’t want to think too nicely about him. She wasn’t in Valentine Valley to make friends with men.
“Hello?”
Emily gasped and stumbled over a broken chair.
“I’m so sorry!”
Emily looked up to see a pretty, young, black woman with shoulder-length curls framing her elegant face like sunbeams. With her high cheekbones and slightly slanted eyes, she could have been a model. Instead, she was dressed casually in capris, sandals, and a sleeveless blouse, as if she was anticipating summer to arrive momentarily.
The woman reached toward her as Emily stumbled over another chair. “Can I help you?”
Emily pushed the chair aside. “Only if you want to get filthy.”
The woman grinned. “I wouldn’t mind a little dirt for a good cause. But what I really want to do is meet the person who put that thundercloud on Nate Thalberg’s face.”
Emily felt her cheeks heat up. “It wasn’t exactly intentional, but I can’t seem to help it. We . . . don’t get along.” She sighed. “I’m Emily Murphy.”
“Monica Shaw. I own the flower shop next door.”
“Monica’s Flowers and Gifts. I thought your window displays looked adorable, all decorated for spring. The crocheted flower baby caps were an inspired idea.” And had made her positively ache, remembering her own baby’s kicks, the way she’d held her belly between both hands, as if she were already trying to protect the little girl. But she hadn’t been able to protect her from whatever whims of fate had chosen to curse Emily. And there would never be another baby inside her. After a shaky start, Emily was dealing with it the best way she could.