Tom laughed loud and long. “You know, I suspect you and my wife would really hit it off, but I’m not sure the world is ready for the mischief the two of you might get into together. Now, eat your dessert and enjoy that tea. Your guy will be here soon enough.”
Relief that Mikhail was all right tasted as sweet as the blueberry crisp. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, but she wolfed down the crisp and ice cream in record time. At least it took the edge off, allowing her to savor the tea. The combination of spices with a hint of citrus was soothing.
She made a second cup, content for the moment to simply hold the mug and absorb its heat. Too bad the warmth did little to slow the whirlwind of questions spinning in her mind.
How much had her brothers told Mikhail?
What would her parents do when they found out she had a man in her life for the first time? Especially one she’d chosen to keep secret?
And if Mikhail now knew about her past, would he see it as a betrayal that she hadn’t told him herself? Could he understand why she found it hard to talk about and forgive her?
And even if he did, how could she bear it if he started acting like her family did? She didn’t want another person—especially Mikhail—looking at her as if she were a piece of broken china that had been glued back together. Whole again, but not really. Always fragile, never strong.
A shadow fell over her table. The time for wondering was over. Bracing herself for whatever she might see reflected in her lover’s handsome face, she set the mug down and turned to face Mikhail.
One look at the pain in his pale blue eyes and the tension that gave his handsome face all those hard edges, she said the only thing she could. “I’m sorry. I should have told you myself.”
Mikhail’s silence was deafening.
—
Damn straight she should’ve told him, but he bit back the need to rail at her. Only a total bastard would lash out a woman who looked as if she’d just lost her last friend on earth. The jury was still out on that; they had some serious talking to do.
He dropped down into the seat next to her. Close enough so that they could speak quietly, but far enough away that he wouldn’t accidentally brush against her no matter how much he wanted to hold her close. “I ordered each of us a barbecued brisket sandwich, slaw, and fries. I hope that’s okay.”
She pointed toward an empty plate smeared with what looked like blueberries and half a scoop of melted ice cream. “Your friend made me eat a huge helping of his wife’s blueberry crisp, so you can have part of my dinner, too.”
“Not a problem.”
Although he wasn’t all that hungry himself; he was too full of words and accusations to eat much. They could always pack up the leftovers to take home with them. For now, he tried to break through the logjam of questions he needed answered. Maybe he should start off with something simple and nonconfrontational.
“How was your ride up here?”
She stared down at her mug as if it were the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen. “Pretty breezy. In my hurry to leave, I didn’t think to bring my jacket or anything else, for that matter.”
Which reminded him. He held up her pack. “I brought this in case you needed something in it.”
“Thanks.” She took it from him but dropped it on the floor next to her chair without even opening it. “I can’t believe I took off so fast that I forgot everything like that.”
“You had your reasons.”
All she’d been thinking about was getting the hell away from her brothers, not practical things like cellphones and jackets. In fact, she definitely looked cold. This room wasn’t particularly chilly, but she’d spent a long time riding with no protection from the wind except for that thin T-shirt. Without bothering to ask first, he stripped off his flannel shirt and settled it over her shoulders. She immediately slid her arms into the too-long sleeves and rolled them up. Damn, he should have thought to grab her something warm to put on before leaving her house. Of course, once they left the restaurant, he could always crank up the heat in the truck. The pickup might be old, but he and his brothers made sure everything in it was in top condition, just like Joe had taught them.
She smiled her thanks. Maybe she was going to say something, because she opened her mouth as if to speak but closed it again when Tom walked in carrying a tray loaded down with their sandwiches. The rich smell of homemade barbecue sauce and fire-roasted meat filled the small room.
After setting a heaping plate down in front of each of them, he took a step back. “I’m going to close the door to this room. Feel free to hang out in here as long as you want.”
“Thanks, I owe you.”
The big man offered Amy a friendly smile, one that hardened a bit when he turned his gaze in Mikhail’s direction. “I’ll be right out there if you need me, Amy.”
After their host left the room, Mikhail glared at the closed door. “Okay, what the hell was that supposed to mean?”
Amy patted his arm. “He could tell I was upset when I got here, and I think he’s just feeling a bit protective. I already told him you weren’t the idiot who upset me.”
“Good to know.”
Damn, that came out sounding snarkier than he’d meant it to. He really was relieved to know that Amy had been upset with her brothers, not him. Of course, that might change any minute now.
