As if she couldn’t buy his entire town a few times over.
He didn’t laugh.
He eased his way down the hill, hoping against hope the weird weather hadn’t turned any of the earlier sleeting rain or snow to black ice on the road. And he decided to take the question at face value.
Maybe he could send her across the road to the marina. Call in a favour from August Howe and her teenagers.Can you take my ex-wife in for the night? Put her up and not ask her a single question about our past, why she’s here now, or anything else? Whatever you do, don’t engage her in conversation, because she’s a captivating witch who will make you fall in love with her and then crush your heart when you least expect it. Oh, and you’ll have to check on her repeatedly throughout the night…
Yeah, he couldn’t send Monica across the road.
And he couldn’t ask any of his brothers to have her in their homes. Not after the text chain from earlier.
God damn it.
Because the only other option in the immediate vicinity was Trent Fucking Aitken, who was staying in a trailer at the brewery behind the garage. Who’d already flashed a willing and eager smile Monica’s way once today. Who hit on every beautiful woman who crossed his path like it was his job.
She was going to have to stay with him for the night. Josh honestly wasn’t sure how he’d survive the next twelve hours.
14
While Josh reversedhis tow truck into the garage—tension rolling off him in electric waves—Monica finally updated her mother in the vaguest, most positive of ways. No mention of the car accident, or the hospital.
Monica
You were right about the weather. Staying in Pine Harbour overnight. I’m fine, though! Will update tomorrow.
Bianca
Where are you staying?
Monica
The marina.
Not exactly a lie. It was across the road. But childish parents didn’t always deserve the truth.
Bianca
Are you still coming to New York before meeting the girls in Italy?
Monica thought about her calendar and winced. But she had to, because she didn’t bring anything with her. This was supposed to be a day trip, a brief stop over.
Monica
Of course! Love you! Talk soon.
She was tired of indulging her mother’s worry. She was tired of negotiating everyone else’s feelings.
Nothing was going to plan. And that burned, because she had thought this through. She had angsted and considered and made choices, all to right a wrong. But as soon as she arrived, that plan went out the window.
Which meant she needed a new plan. Right after she caught her breath, and maybe had a nap.
Was it wrong to want to go to bed at seven o’clock at night? And preferably anywhere else but in her ex’s garage?
She was tired. So fucking tired.
Josh turned the truck off, exhaled roughly, then turned to her. “Let me show you upstairs. It’s not much. Lower your expectations.”
“I don’t have any expectations,” she muttered.
