Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) (7 page)

"I don't mean literally charge him for the services, Sophie. A friend of Austin's is a friend of mine. Plus, he never asks me to do stuff like this, especially for a woman. You would be the first in that sense. But I'm thinking good seats to a Twins game, maybe," Emmett said as he looked at Austin.

"What does
good seats
mean?" Austin asked with a groan.

"Behind home plate, first row," Emmett replied slyly.

"Are you nuts? Do you know what those costs?" Austin exclaimed.

"I do recall helping out at the farm a few weeks ago with the west field and helping with taking some of the hogs to the local market when Zane had to take Ava to a doctor's appointment. Oh yeah, and when baling hay comes around, who are you going to call? When are you guys heading to New York? I suppose you want me, Gabe, and Ethan to help with the farm while you're all gone," Emmett pointed out, as he ticked off each item on his fingers as he said it. "And you need to buy a ticket for yourself. I don't want to go to the game by myself."

"Which means I have to buy Ava one because she'd kill me if I went to a baseball game without her. And Zane won't want her going without him," Austin said, trying to process what the cost would be in his mind.

"Great. When do the Yankees come to town? Might as well make Ava happy and go to a Yankees game," Emmett said happily.

"Are you nuts? Do you know the kind of fanatic she is when it comes to the Yankees? We'd probably be kicked out of the stadium or something with her loose lips," Austin said, shaking his head just thinking about it. "Although, she would love that. I know she misses New York quite a bit."

"Zane's a lucky man that he can keep her here. When are you guys heading to New York so I can figure out my work schedule here?" Emmett asked.

"Zane loves her like nothing else. If she asked him to give up the farm, I bet he would. But she would never do that because she loves him right back. She misses New York, but I think deep down she feels better here. I don't know yet. We've talked about it, but nothing is set in stone. Zane keeps hedging because he doesn't want to go, but he will if Ava does. She mentioned around the Fourth of July. Every time we bring it up, he grumbles about it. New York is awesome if he just gave it a chance," Austin said, smiling, thinking of his good memories there, yet he could see Sophie's frightened expression every time they mentioned the words
New York
.

"Are you sure he'll go?" Emmett asked, as the concern filtered into a frown and the sadness poured from his eyes.

"Yes, he will. Kicking and screaming maybe, but he will. If it's a last minute notice, I'm sorry, but I seriously think it'll be around the Fourth. You know it means a lot to us when you pitch in at the farm. Thanks, Emmett. Even now, helping Sophie out. The tickets are yours, front row behind home plate," Austin said sincerely.

"That's what family does, man. I'm always here for you guys just as I'm sure you'd be there for us if we needed it. I'll give you money to buy some Tootsie's to give to Jimmy," Emmett said as the sadness touching his eyes increased.

Austin laughed. "Yeah, he loved his Tootsie's alright. I can do that. Enough of this stuff. Go kill some spiders already. Twins game is starting soon. Do you wanna come over when you're done for a beer and watch it?"

"Yeah. I don't have anything else going on. Is it okay I treat your house, Sophie?" Emmett asked, the sorrow slowly dissipating as he glanced at her for approval.

"Is it okay for dogs and humans alike? Axel sometimes runs around the yard and I don't want him getting sick from the pesticides," Sophie said as she leaned down to comfort Axel, who had been sitting nicely by her the entire time.

"Yeah, it's safe for everyone. I would take him into Austin's house while I administer it, but after it settles, it'll be fine," Emmett replied.

"Okay. Thank you for your kindness. Austin occasionally gives me wood and such things to fix my house and I bake him a pie in return. What's your favorite pie and I'll make you one?" Sophie asked shyly.

Emmett smiled brightly. "I love pie. Any pie will do. That's really nice of you, Sophie." Emmett glanced at Austin, who frowned slightly.

"Good. Let me do that while you work and I'll bring it over to Austin's before you leave," Sophie said, walking away before they could respond.

"She's sweet and very beautiful," Emmett said as soon as she was in the house and out of earshot range.

"Back off, Emmett," Austin growled.

"Oh, you like her then? Are you dating her?" Emmett asked, intrigued.

"She's a friend, nothing more. But she...she doesn't like men. At least, that's what she's told me and the impression I get. She likes her space and she likes her privacy. I don't want anyone upsetting that," Austin said with a serious glower, "including you."

"So, you like her," Emmett repeated, laughing as he did.

"I just said—"

"Austin, I know what you just said. You didn't specifically say it, but you like her. Maybe you don't want to, but you do. Since when do you give women things like you do with her? You date casually, but putting in an effort like this is very strange behavior for you. I'm just saying." Emmett rubbed his chin as Austin's frown deepened. "And I know what you mean about the space thing. I'm surprised she stood so close to you. She's wary. You do know what that means, don't you?"

"She normally doesn't. She keeps her space, even from me, but she's known me a bit longer than you. Maybe that's why. Trust me. It's taken a lot for her to get to know me. She never accepts my help in fixing anything with the house, but she does a great job herself, so it's not like she really needs my help. She never invites me inside her house and when I offer her to come inside my house, she declines. I'd like to say we're friends, but the most I can really say is we're friendly. I have a small idea of why she acts that way. I'm guessing someone abused her before. If I knew who it was, they would be the sorriest man alive," Austin said with a slice of venom in his voice.

"I don't know her that well, but I'd be right by your side if you ever find out. Just say the word."

"Yeah, well, I don't know. I'm not going to ask her or suggest to her that I know anything. I'm keeping it light here. I'm just trying to be her friend because it looks like she needs one. That's it," Austin said, glancing at the house.

Emmett slapped him on the shoulder. "Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, but you like her. I think it scares you. Don't drink all the beer. I better go kill some spiders."

Austin scowled as he watched Emmett head for the house. Suddenly he worried about Sophie inside the house as a man she barely knew was heading inside as well. Not that he didn't trust Emmett because he trusted him with his life. Sophie didn't know him and could be very nervous. He had no idea if she would hate him coming inside, but what the hell. She broke a small barrier between them today when she stood so close to him as she did.

"Come on, Axel. Let's get you inside my house and then I'm going to check on Sophie, okay?" Austin said, as Axel happily followed him home. He swore Axel's tail wagged faster when he said her name as if he agreed with Austin's worry.

***

Sophie bounced around the kitchen, pulling ingredients out, trying to calm her nerves. But they refused to calm down, jumping with every movement. Her hands shook every time she pulled something from the cupboard, or opened the fridge, or opened a drawer. She'd burn herself, cut herself, or hurt herself in some silly way if she didn't calm down.

But a man was in her house and she hated it. She didn't even know why she offered him a pie. She only did that for Austin. It felt like a small betrayal, but she couldn't allow him to do it for free. Every man expected something in return. He would get nothing but a pie. Not a grape nut pie either.

That was for Austin only.

She wouldn't cross that line. He would get a simple apple pie. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she had apples in the house because she was out of every other ingredient for pie except for grape nut pie. He just wasn't getting that.

She stopped in front of the fridge to take a calming breath when she felt another presence. Everything tightened inside, ready to take flight or fight mode into gear when she heard a familiar, calming voice.

"Are you okay, Sophie?" Austin asked, just within the threshold of the kitchen.

She turned around, pasting a small smile on her face. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I would like to think we've become sort of friends in the past month. You said so yourself that you don't trust men. Emmett's a great guy, but you don't know him and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable while he's working inside. If you want me to keep you company in the kitchen, I can. Or I can go back home because I know you probably don't want me in here either. You never invite me in and you never accept my invite to come into my house. Let me know what you want and I'll do it," he said with concern in his eyes.

"You're too perceptive for your own good, Austin," Sophie said, pulling open the fridge to grab the apples. "I would feel better with you in the house. I know he's your cousin, but you're right. I don't know him and it is slightly uncomfortable."

She closed the fridge door, set the apples on the counter, and noticed that Austin had stepped into the kitchen and taken a seat at the table.

"I can't help myself. What happened to you, Sophie? Why don't you trust men?" Austin asked softly.

She glanced at him. "I don't want to talk about it. Please don't ask me again, Austin."

"Okay. I won't," he said in defeat.

She nodded, surprised he didn't pry further. "Thank you."

She turned back around and started peeling the apples and slicing them up in tiny pieces.

***

Austin watched in silence, enjoying the way she moved about the kitchen. Fast and efficient in every movement she made, especially slicing the apples. Although, she did have a handy tool to help her along. She would grab an apple, slide it onto a device he had never seen before, and then rapidly twirl the knob on the other end as it would peel the apple skin off and slice it at the same time.

Simply amazing.

Then she'd toss the apple slices into another bowl, grab another apple, and repeat the process. Before he knew it, she had finished slicing the apples.

He hated holding back his questions. The need to know more about her coursed through him every time he saw the slight fear in her eyes. Even though he saw that fear, she was still one of the bravest women he had ever met.

Ava, of course, would be the first.

Sophie never let that fear hold her back and bring her down. He admired that about her. He gained a small amount of trust, but he wanted that full-fledged trust that came with a deep friendship. That's how he saw her. A good friend. It didn't matter what Emmett said about him liking her.

He didn't. Not like that.

As he watched her bend slightly to toss the pie in the oven, her petite bottom wiggling, he realized he was kidding himself.

He did like her.

Talk about trying to suppress his emotions. He refused to go down the path of love again, no matter how much it killed him to ignore it. Not that he loved her, but he was on his way to a deep feeling he couldn't describe nor wanted to contemplate.

"All done. Now we just wait for it to bake. Do you think he's almost done? I would hate for you two to miss the beginning of the game," Sophie said, wiping her hands on a towel as she looked at Austin.

He grinned, knowing full well that was her polite way of saying she wanted them out of her house. "I can go see. But it takes time. You did say a thousand of those spiders escaped. It would be a good thing for him to get every single one."

Sophie shuddered. "I don't even want to go down there. It's gross. You're right, though, I do want him to get them all. Would you like something to drink? I don't have alcohol because I don't drink like that, but I have water, iced tea, or milk.

He wasn't surprised she didn't drink. Probably had something to do with the secrets she kept inside. "I'm okay." He saw her nod and then he continued, "You ever been to New York?"

"Why would you ask me that?" Sophie exclaimed.

Austin almost jumped in his seat by her response. "No reason. Just trying to make small talk. I take it you don't like it."

"No. But I gathered from the conversation outside that neither does your brother."

"No, he hates it," Austin replied, wondering why he even brought it up.

"Why does he hate it?"

"Why do you hate it?"

"Perhaps we should skip this conversation." Sophie turned her back to him and started to pick up the mess she created from preparing the pie.

The rigidness as she wiped the counter or the stiffness as she opened the cupboard under the sink to throw some trash away couldn't be missed. Austin wanted to apologize for opening his mouth, but wasn't sure if bringing it up again, even for an apology would be good. Agitated didn't begin to describe how much he upset her.

His mouth started open when she whispered softly with her back still to him, "I lived there before I moved here. It wasn't a pleasant experience and it brings back memories I wish to forget. That's why I hate it."