“I like her,” Lizzy said, coming further into the room.
He squeezed his eyes shut and forced out a long, heavy breath. He did not want to blow up at his niece’s party. He’d had a bad moment, but he was pulling it together, pulling himself back together. He might not entirely like the man he was now, but he could live with it. He could function instead of being the broken-down mess he’d been for so long.
Lizzy opened the dishwasher and started loading it like it was her own house. “She’s nice.”
“Yeah.” Too nice.
“Looks like a keeper,” Lizzy said, rinsing a glass.
“Maybe for someone.”
“Really?” She stopped what she was doing and faced him. “So you’re not trying to keep her?”
“Hell, no.” Stephen turned to stare at her, appalled she would even think that, that anyone would think that. He’d wanted a date, a diversion. Not a— “I was just being nice, for God’s sake. Does she look like the kind of woman I’d want to spend time with? Jesus, Lizzy.”
Movement across the room caught his eye and too-sweet Hannah stood there, looking at him like he’d just slapped her across the face. Her wide eyes swung from his to Lizzy’s and back again. “I um…I was just…” Her entire being seemed to collapse like wet cotton candy.
Fuck. “Hannah—”
“I have to go.” Even as she spoke she was turning, her hair flying out around her shoulders.
Stephen wiped his hands over his face, throwing out every curse at himself he could think of. He caught up with Hannah a half second after she reached her brother, still deep in conversation with Matt.
“I’m ready to go.”
Conversation between the men ceased, her brother’s attention swinging to her. “Okay.”
Luke rose and shook Matt’s hand while Stephen stood to the side like an unnecessary extra.
Matt held out his hand to Hannah. “Glad you came. And thank you for Gracie’s gift. She’ll no doubt be dreaming of horses.”
“She’s welcome anytime.”
Matt gave Stephen a curious look, as he was standing so far away from his date. Yeah, he should be right beside her, trying his damnedest to get another one.
Not going to happen.
Stephen followed the three of them to the door, an awkward few steps behind, saw Luke take her elbow, and caught his low, “What’s up?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
She was lying. Stephen could see that, figured her brother could too. Her smile faked and forced, not at all like the one he’d worked for last night at dinner or the one she’d given freely just an hour ago.
But he didn’t want to have to work to make her smile, or worry when she wasn’t. Didn’t want to be with someone who mattered. So he stepped up, opened the front door, and stuck out his hand to Luke. “Thanks for coming.”
Luke squeezed. The look in his eyes said he hadn’t believed his sister’s nothing answer. Stephen squeezed back, meeting the man’s strength, each sending his own message.
And Hannah walked out of the house without a word or a backward glance, clearly sending hers.
Chapter 7
Hannah stabbed at the soiled hay and hefted another load of manure into the wheelbarrow. She didn’t mind the work, it was the memory of her weekend she was trying to scoop out. Frustrated, embarrassed, and the more she fought it, the louder the replay.
How happy she’d been with his family, how just looking at him gave her butterflies. How she’d started thinking about maybes and what-ifs.
Stephen’s words hadn’t been aimed at her on purpose, but thirty-six hours later she was still feeling the direct hit. A valuable lesson. There was more than one way a man could hurt you. And good that it happened now before she’d figured out exactly what those maybes and what-ifs might be.
With a sigh, she tossed fresh hay on the floor. The scent tickled her nose and tiny bits glittered through a stream of morning sunlight from the stall’s outside window. Had she actually thought a man like him would be interested in her?
She finished spreading and lifted the heavy wheelbarrow, pausing at the initial pain in her arms and hands. Just as she rounded the barn to dump its contents, the crunch of tires on gravel made her turn.
Luke.
Wearing jeans, his standard green T-shirt, and scuffed boots, her brother sauntered to the fence, propped his big foot against the lowest wooden rail, and waited.
Might as well get it over with. She left her chores and came to stand beside his tall, muscular frame. He remained silent and so did she.
Having begged off her brothers’ invitation last night, claiming exhaustion, she hadn’t seen or spoken to Luke since he’d dropped her off after the party. He’d given her a knowing look, but thankfully hadn’t pushed. She wasn’t about to discuss it with her brothers.