Just Want Somebody to Love (Bella Warren Book 1) (19 page)

He could only shrug. What did she expect him to say? “Just going by what Whitney said.”

She chuckled and leaned forward. “You’ve been had.”

“What?” He was forced closer to hear.

“Whitney. She got you.” She shook her head and pity filled her eyes. “She’s turning you into a laughingstock. Everyone knows.”

Whitney wouldn’t. Their first conversation came back to him in a flood. Where she straight to his face said that she held a grudge bigger than anything. And now she was over an hour later than he’d expected her to be. Was that all this was? Was she humoring him for revenge? His pulse picked up. The laughs, the looks, it was all a joke?

His throat tightened and the world spun. No, no. It couldn’t be faked. They were getting close. He was making up ground with her to get her to fall for him. His papers were all but in his grasp. Weren’t they?

He nodded at Maddy and walked to the other end of the bar. He caught his brother by the arm and tugged him away from the customers as his heart thudded between his ears. “Is Whitney using me as a joke?”

His brother glanced to him, then up. He followed his gaze to Maddy and shook his head. The woman smiled and sipped from her glass. Brandon let out a sigh so heavy, he didn’t even have to answer. “Yes.”

Justin dropped his brother’s arm. Everything was slipping and falling away from what he wanted. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“You wouldn’t have believed me.”

“The scarecrows, the planting?” The way she looked at him? “It’s all an elaborate joke?”

“The planting is real. They’ve done that since they moved here because in the beginning, they couldn’t afford the equipment. In the spring the farm is opened to pick at a lower cost than what you’d find at a farmer’s market. Over the years it’s evolved as something fun. The rest though…” Brandon shook his head and sighed. “Nobody works the fields like that. Maybe years ago they did. But now, people in town pitch in for a couple hours here and there for, I guess just for nostalgia sake.” He lifted his hand and nodded. “And for snacks from Kara and Jana. The only people who work all day are kids in trouble with their parents. For the scarecrows, though, Whitney got you back for standing her up.”

Justin rubbed at his chin, trying to recall parts of the longest day of his life. “She told me over and over to stop whenever I was ready. That it was fine to stop, and I didn’t have to stay. She told me I could leave more than once.”

“Uh-huh. I can see it now. You admitting to anyone, let alone a girl you like, that you can’t do the work.”

Justin snapped his mouth shut. Son of a bitch.

Brandon chuckled. “I got to admit, I was a little afraid how this would turn out with you here and fooling with Whitney, but looks like she has you all figured out.”

Justin narrowed his gaze and faced his brother once again. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She knows you don’t listen to anyone, and you’re arrogant enough to always think you can do everything.”

Justin shook his head. “Gee, brother, do you have any more compliments for me?”

“You’re a bull in a china shop when it comes to people sometimes. For the restaurant, that’s a great thing. For people, not so much. Looked to me like she was knocking you off that pedestal, so that was the main reason I didn’t say anything.”

“I’m not on a pedestal.”

“Seems that way sometimes.” Brandon tossed a rag over his shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest. “When we made our deal, what’d you say? Consider it done. You didn’t think about it or even take anyone’s feelings into consideration. You knew what you wanted and to hell with anyone else. I find it hilarious that while you were playing games, she strung you like a fiddle.”

The idea that Whitney had played him rocked him back on his heels. Sure, he’d been playing her too with ulterior motives, but he also liked her. For all he knew, she was two seconds away from scratching his eyeballs out of his face. Could she fake all the times he’d caught her staring at him? What about the sharp inhales if he touched her. The way she nervously licked at her lips when they talked. If she had carefully planned all that, he was in a shitload of trouble and might as well kiss his dreams goodbye. “Maybe I was too sure of things.”

“Are you packing and leaving now?”

His distracted thoughts about Whitney slammed on the breaks. “Why would I?”

“Because you’re not getting your way.”

“I don’t leave when I don’t get my way.”

He lifted a shoulder. “If you say so.”

“I don’t.” Last time didn’t count, because he left with full intentions of coming back. Or at least calling a lot.

“
You waited up for me
.”

Her voiced sounded out, and like the sad pup he was, he turned for it. The fact she’d used the hell out of him, made a fool out of him, and God only knew what, disappeared at the sight of her leaning on the bar with her wild blond hair loose around her face. She couldn’t be stringing him along as a complete fool because she’d shown up tonight.

Unless this was still part of her ulterior motives, and she showed up to keep him on her line. Just how much of his time had she wasted?

“You’re late,” he answered.

Her head tipped to the side as she grinned. She didn’t look like a ruthless, cold-hearted revenge seeker. Or maybe she was a good actress. A brow rose on her face. “I don’t think you get to judge me on lateness. And we didn’t set a time to meet.”

Fine, she had a point there. “You’re later than I expected.”

“I had dishes to do.” She adjusted in her seat. “Besides, do you think hair like this is easy?”

Wild and waiting for his hands? No, he supposed it wasn’t. Her gaze strayed over his shoulder, and he turned to find Brandon back there scratching the back of his head and glancing away.

He looked at her and her smile was a little bigger and somewhat frozen. Her eyes had also grown to saucers. He leaned forward on the bar, knowing full well Brandon just spilled the beans. He glanced over his shoulder and shook his head at his brother. “You know, by default, you’re supposed to take my side.”

Brandon shrugged. “I like her better.”

Whitney’s broad smile had fallen. Her lips pressed together. Time to see where the cards were going to fall. He tapped the bar top. “You can leave now, since the joke’s out.”

Now she frowned. “Leave?”

“Yeah. Go back home. I know about your scheming.”

She winced and pushed hair back. “You still up for that walk?”

He braced his hands on the bar across from her, still unsure what she was getting at. He had millions of dollars on the line, and she was playing games he couldn’t afford. “Not if you’re going to get us lost.”

“I know other places. Unless you want me to leave.” Her gaze strayed off to the side, then reconnected to his. “And if that’s the case, I’ll lose all respect for you.”

“You’ll lose respect for me?”

“Yeah.” She eased off her stool. “Because then you won’t be the man I thought you were.”

“And what did you expect when all this came out?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I didn’t expect it to go this far because I thought I’d kill your will to live before lunch on the first day.”

Brandon snorted behind him. Justin sent him a look to go away. A look he ignored. He turned back to Whitney again. “Charming.”

“That’s me.” She shrugged. “I thought you were big enough to handle it. Guess I was wrong.” She started off and left him behind shifting his feet. Damn it.

Brandon pushed him in the back. “Why are you just standing there?”

Justin just stared at his confused brother. He lowered his voice so the rest of the bar couldn’t hear. “Why are you encouraging this? It’ll get me what I want.”

Brandon shook his head. “If I didn’t want it, I never would have agreed to this dumb idea in the first place. I already told you, I like what she’s doing to you. Quit talking to me like a dumbass and go after her.”

A breath filled his chest and he chased after her. There was no missing the pairs of eyes following him across the room. He caught her just as she reached the front door, and he led her out with a hand at her lower back.

The night air washed over him. Fresh air and the scent of her perfume coated him. After the last few minutes, both were welcome. She turned and faced him as the door closed. That world inside with spying eyes disappeared. His number one reason for hating a small town. All the judgmental stares who couldn’t mind their own damn business. If this had happened in the city, none of those people would give two shits about either of them. “Well?”

Her mouth opened, but then closed. She started to say something else, but instead turned and walked. “Let’s go this way.”

“That’s it?” He moved alongside her and kept his hands to himself when he wanted to reach out and grab one of hers. Or maybe instead reach around her shoulders and pull her in against his side.

She pushed at hair hanging in her face enough that she could see him. “I started to say I was sorry.”

“I noticed you didn’t.”

She glanced his way. “Because I’m not. Not really. I probably should be.” She gave a shrug. “But that’s not my style. You had it coming and I delivered.”

“I was sorry for standing you up.”

“You were. And the fact that you apologized was very nice of you. But…” She chuckled and then cleared her throat. “You were so determined to make it up to me and act like we’d just jump right between the sheets. So I let you have it. Sometimes I’m not a nice person.”

He had to know what this meant about them and what they were now. Was he back to square one? Did he still have a chance? “Was any of it real? Not the scarecrows. I realize those are fake, but the rest?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

He stopped and faced her. Suddenly, with him looking at her, this had to do with more than just his papers. If he was going through with this crazy plan, there was no one else he’d rather do it with. He cupped her cheeks, brought her in, and pressed his mouth to hers. She stilled, but didn’t pull away.

He cupped her jaw and stroked his fingers along her cheeks. “This,” he whispered against her lips. “Is any of this real?”

Her hands fisted his shirt. Her mouth was against him. They weren’t kissing, just touching. “We haven’t done this since you came back.”

“Maybe not, but don’t think for a second I haven’t caught you staring at me. I know I’ve stared at you and thought it. I touched you under the table and you froze. Were you freezing out of distaste or…?”

Her hands softened against his chest and moved over his shoulders and wrapped behind his neck. “There was one flaw to my revenge plans.”

“What’s that?”

“You. I wanted to squish you under my toe. I wanted you to suffer with the looks and pity hugs I’d been getting. I underestimated you in my memory. Resisting you since you got back has been the hardest part.”

He tightened his hold on her. “I know the feeling.”

“Are you mad?” She seemed to hold her breath for a moment. “That I got even.”

He thought about it for a moment and tried to place what he felt. Anger wasn’t in there. There was so damn much relief lifting off his shoulders over the fact that she didn’t hate his guts, he didn’t have room for anger. “If the roles were reversed, I would have done the same.”

“You didn’t give me much choice.” She poked him in the stomach. “You wouldn’t leave when I told you to.”

“When I came back this morning, you still let it go on. How much longer did you plan to let it?”

“I don’t know.” She chuckled. “I worked you hard. Not just with the scarecrows. With the planting too. You planted more in the morning than most people do across two days. Wade begged me not to pull out the scarecrows because you were so efficient.”

He groaned. “Your family was in on it?”

“It was either that or let Wade land in the middle of you. Then mom wanted a turn too.”

He frowned. Mrs. Jana? She was too nice. “I don’t see that in your mom.”

“You should. She can be ruthless when she wants to be.” She lifted a shoulder. “You’ve won them all over, though.”

“I can’t help it.” He turned them back on the sidewalk and started their walk again. “I’m just good that way.”

She shook her head. “Mom said if she were twenty years younger, I’d have competition.”

He didn’t know whether to laugh or be afraid.

Then she chuckled. “Everyone seems to find you irresistible. Wade even said you weren’t the worst thing I’d brought home.”

That was… He didn’t know. He was touched and it fit right in with his plans, but for the first time, a little guilt pinched him for his motives. He put an arm around her shoulders and brought her in against his side. The papers were his main focus, but it wasn’t like she was a horrible bump in the road to getting what he wanted. More like a pleasant stop. “I’m almost afraid to know where you’re taking me on this walk.”

“Just a walk through town. No motives. I promise.”

“Sounds public.”

She laughed. “Yeah, it’s a little public, but we’re guaranteed not to get lost.”

The path was dark, but the moon was bright. Busted bits of concrete interrupted the sidewalk. and more than a few places were uneven. Different from the city. Not just in the sidewalk quality. Also because he wasn’t catching bits of conversation off other people walking nearby. No traffic buzzing by either. He glanced up and smiled. He could even see the stars. “It’s not too public. though. I can’t remember the last time I went on a walk like this. So close to so much, but still secluded too.”

“It’s part of why I like living here. There’s not a killer night-life, but there’s plenty to do during the day to keep yourself busy. The people are nice too.”

More like the majority of the people were nice to her, since her family was loaded. Best he could tell they did good things for the community. They weren’t poor. They weren’t from the other side of town. He squashed the old memories before they could surface and find some running room in his head.

There was just that one thing his brother mentioned. “I heard that’s not one hundred percent true.”

She frowned. “Whoever told you the people here aren’t friendly are lying.”