Teeth gritted, he fought the words swimming around his head.
Piper planted her hands on her hips. “I’ll leave you now. But I wanted you to know you made a mistake. Rusty isn’t one to sit around feeling sorry for herself. She’s going to do whatever she has to do, to get past this, to get over you.” A small smile curved her lips. “And I think you have an idea how she plans to do that.”
“Where is she?” The words were out of his mouth in a rush before he could stop them, like someone had socked him in the chest and forced them past his lips.
Piper looked down at her phone, checking the time. “Right now?” The grin turned wicked. “I’d say working very hard at getting over you.”
“Are you telling me she’s on a date?” The possessiveness already thrumming through his veins reared up inside him and took hold. Rusty was his. Fuck this. He could not stand by and watch her date other guys. He knew what she planned to do, she’d made it perfectly clear when she’d climbed into her truck and driven away. But that wasn’t happening. No way would he let anyone touch her. He’d been stupid to think he could.
“I think I’ve said enough. The ball’s in your court.” She turned to go, but then stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. “You know, I never took you for a coward, Reid Parker.” Then she walked out the door.
Coward.
He rocked back on his heels as if she’d taken a swing and hit home. That word described one person in his mind, always had. A coward took his fists to his wife and son without a second thought. He sure as hell didn’t walk away because he couldn’t bear to hurt them.
He rubbed his hands over his face, realization sinking in. Jesus. In his fear, he’d lost sight of that simple truth. Rusty made him a better man, made him see himself as he is, not what he believed himself to be.
He’d let the fear momentarily blind him.
He believed walking away was for the best. But he’d been wrong—about a lot of things. His old man would never have walked away to protect the ones he cared about. And one thing he knew for certain? He would never, could never hurt her. He would take off his own arm before raising it to her, to any woman. He knew that now, despite his fears. He knew it.
He was not his father. Never was. Never would be. Being with Rusty—losing her—had made him finally realize it.
He yanked the door open and raced out. Piper was just about to get in her car. “Tell me where she is, Pipe.”
She ignored him and got in.
“Please.”
She didn’t shut the door. She turned to face him. “Does this mean you’ve had a change of heart?”
“Yeah, I’ve had a change of heart.”
She pulled a pen and a piece of paper from the glove box and scribbled down an address. “You’ll need to wear a suit.” She handed it to him. “I wouldn’t mess around if I were you.” Then she yanked the door shut and peeled out onto the street in her pink Corvette.
Chapter Twenty
Rusty grabbed another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a sip. The restaurant Deke had booked for the evening was gorgeous. The food great, the alcohol flowing. She’d been working toward a good buzz and keeping it since she got here, but it wasn’t really happening, no matter how hard she tried.
Looking across the room, she spotted Deacon and Alex as they moved from guest to guest. Her brother was showing off his bride-to-be, couldn’t help himself. The guy was so damned ecstatic to finally have her where she belonged, at his side, that he hadn’t let her out of his sight.
Rusty understood it. God, she loved watching them together. The way her brother looked at Alex—the adoration, the I-can’t-fucking-believe-she’s-mine expression he often wore—made Rusty’s heart smile. If anyone deserved that, Alex did. But she missed her friend. Since she’d moved in with Deke, a lot of things had changed.
It was selfish, but Rusty needed her. Needed her and Pipe both, more than she wanted to admit. They were used to her getting on with things, getting over whatever upset her and shaking it off. This time wasn’t going to be quite so easy.
Alex laughed at something Deacon said. They were in a huddle with another pair of dudes in suits. God, she was doing great, holding her own with these people. She’d been nervous, but Deacon had been there for her the whole night, his hand possessively on her hip, making sure she knew he had her back, that he wouldn’t leave her hanging. Her big brother was one of the good ones, and she was glad they’d finally found their way to each other.
Checking out the other side of the room, she spotted her sister. Piper had arrived an hour ago but was acting kind of weird, had barely said two words to her. She seemed on a mission to have a good time, and Rusty smiled when she saw her talking to some guy, her head thrown back laughing at something he’d said. Perhaps she’d been more serious than Rusty had realized when she’d made the whole “no more waiting” speech the other week.
Some guy approached Rusty by the nibbles table, and she smiled to be polite, which turned out to be a stupid thing to do because the man opened his mouth and started yammering. She tuned him out, unable to even pretend to be sociable. Suddenly, being here, it was all too much, and just maintaining a neutral expression was work. Hopefully, he’d figure out she wasn’t in the talking mood and go bore someone else. Taking another sip of her drink, she scanned the rest of the party, discreetly checking out the clock above the main door. Maybe she could sneak away soon. She’d been here for a couple hours, and Alex was doing fine without her.
The door opened and her gaze automatically dropped to the man walking through. He wore a black suit, his shirt bright white and stark against his tanned skin. He wasn’t wearing a tie, the top button open, showing a dusting of dark hair. Lifting her gaze, she took in the grim set to his lips, his neatly trimmed beard, the strong crooked nose. Last, her gaze landed on his thick, darkly lashed brown eyes—that were locked on her.
Her stomach dropped, and she actually stumbled back a step. The guy beside her, who up until that point had still been flapping his jaw, grabbed her elbow to steady her. “Hey, are you okay?”
She straightened. “I’m fine.”
His forehead creased. “You’re sure?”
What the hell was Reid doing here?
Then she saw her sister watching from the sidelines, guilt plastered all over her traitorous face. It wasn’t hard to work out her errand had nothing to do with Alex and everything do with the man now heading straight for her.
Goddammit.
Heart hammering against her rib cage, she turned away and, tipping her glass up, downed the last few mouthfuls of champagne.
“Do you want another drink?” The yapper said from beside her.
She shook her head, about to decline, when she felt Reid approach, felt him move up behind her, close. So close, she could feel the heat of his body against her skin, the brush of his jacket on her bare back.
“Rusty.” The rasp of his voice skated over her flesh, causing her to shiver.
Why was he doing this to her?
“Look at me.”
She shook her head. “No. Just turn around and leave.”
“She’s fine,” Reid’s deep voice rumbled, so low it seemed to move through her. “I’ll take it from here.”
She realized he was talking to the yapper. She didn’t miss how the guy’s eyes widened fractionally before he gave a stiff nod, turned on his shiny dress shoes, and without a word strode off. Reid snorted.
“What was that?” She spun around to let him have it, but the words died in her throat when her eyes locked with his, the intensity, the hunger there plain to see.