“Hey, where are you going?” Hale called. “We’re talking here.”
“I’m certain he did not appreciate the two of us arguing about him as though he wasn’t even standing here.” She punched his arm. “You’re so rude, Hale!”
North turned slightly to call back at them. “I’m going inside my house. I served my time. I’m living my life . . . not hurting anyone. I don’t have to answer to anyone about the past.” It wasn’t in Faith’s imagination that he stared at her as he uttered this.
A horrible hollowness filled her as she looked at him. He only stood across the yard from her, but he felt a million miles away.
He waited a beat, letting both Faith and Hale absorb his words before turning around again and disappearing inside his house.
As soon as the door slammed behind him, she whirled around on her brother. She slapped him on the arm. “Way to go! That was mortifying!”
“Mortifying? What did you expect me to do?” He gestured toward North’s house. “You’re living next door to a killer! And you knew it! You. Knew!” He shook his head and looked at her like she had lost her mind.
With a growl of frustration, she stalked inside her house, knowing he would follow. And that was fine. She wasn’t going to have this argument with him in the driveway.
He was fast on her heels, slamming the door to her house after him. “You’re moving.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and whirled to face him. “No. I’m not.”
“Faith,” he started in.
“No. I’m a grown woman. I’m not in danger.”
He raised an eyebrow as though that were debatable.
She continued, “Now I love you, Hale, and I appreciate your concern, but I’m an adult. I bought this house and I’m not selling it. I put money down. Besides. I like it here. I’m not moving. Weren’t you going home?”
“This conversation isn’t over.”
“I’m not changing my mind.” She opened the front door for him and waved him out. “See you Sunday. I’m making chicken-fried steak.”
“Don’t think you can soften me up by making my favorite dinner.”
“I was planning to make it before you turned into a lunatic on my driveway.”
“I’m the lunatic?” He flattened a hand to his chest, his gray eyes wide with incredulity. “You’re the one living next door to a convicted murderer.”
“Perfectly sane,” she replied easily.
Hale rested his hand against the edge of the door before passing through it. “This isn’t because he’s easy on the eyes, is it? I always thought you were smart when it came to men.”
Because her love life was nonexistent? He thought she was smart because of that?
She pressed her palm against brother’s chest and pushed him out. “Good-bye, Hale. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for dinner.” She meant it . . . even if she was annoyed with him right now.
He turned and walked down her driveway, his gaze turning to stare in the direction of North’s yard.
North hadn’t returned yet to finish his mowing. They had chased him off. She felt bad about that. About all of it.
She imagined he would return once her brother’s vehicle left the driveway.
As she heard her brother’s Bronco start up and drive away, she reached for her phone. She pulled up North and fired him a text.
I’m sorry about that.
She stood there, staring at the phone, waiting for him to reply, but somehow knowing deep in her gut.
He wouldn’t.
SEVENTEEN
The next few days Dad and Hale used every opportunity to let her know just how unreasonable she was being. Even Tucker FaceTimed her from some undisclosed location halfway around the world. Haggard and bearded, his gray eyes had stared accusingly at her through her computer screen and wanted to know if she had lost her mind. Hale had apprised him of the situation and, of course, he had to weigh in on Faith’s poor judgment.
Throughout it all, she couldn’t help marveling at what any of them would think if they knew the extent of her involvement with North Callaghan. She shuddered to think of their reaction if they were privy to their text messages . . . if they had witnessed her the other day propped on the hood of her car with North between her thighs. The memory sent her face flaming . . . along with other parts of her body.
Dad stopped by the day after Hale’s visit, stone-faced as he explained that he wanted her to move back home with him. She’d been firm but kind with him as she explained that that was not an option.
Thankfully, North Callaghan wasn’t home during that visit. She hadn’t missed her father’s razor-sharp gaze eyeing North’s house. Had he been home, she knew Dad would have marched over there to throw his weight around. He would have grilled North and then probably ended the conversation by warning him off from even looking cross-eyed at her.