Page 42 of When You're Enemies

“Is the storm really going to be that bad?” Rose asked, craning her neck to look out her window again. “It doesn’t seem that way.”

“That’s because it hasn’t come over the crest of the mountains yet. The last thing we need is for the cattle to get spooked and charge toward a fence that they end up knocking down.”

“Yeah, I guess that would be pretty bad.” Rose fiddled with the hem of her shirt. After everything that had happened today, she needed to talk to someone but she couldn’t figure out the best way to start. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Ethan glanced at her.

“Do you regret helping me… with the failed gallery?”

“No, why?”

“Because I feel like you don’t think I should have been doing it in the first place. I thought maybe you wished that you didn’t have to…” She swallowed hard, the sting of Mike’s dismissal still sharp.

“I helped you because you’re my sister. It had nothing to do with your art.” Ethan peeked at her once more. “I think if you wanted to get back into the art world, you should take it easy. But I would never say it was a bad choice to give it a try. I mean, look at me. I might not have the big ranch that I wanted to have, but I’m still doing what I love. It wouldn’t be too hard for you to ease back into it. I saw how excited people were about your stuff at that exhibition you hosted.”

“You don’t think I would fall flat on my face?”

Ethan took a deep breath. “You’re my sister. I’m going to try to protect you no matter what. It doesn’t matter if it’s because of your career choice or your choice in men. I won’t hold anything back when it comes to telling you what is in your best interest.” He shifted as if this conversation had gotten harder all of a sudden. Then he sighed again. “If you decide to enter the art world again, I’m going to support you. And if… you decided that Mike was the guy for you… I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I also wouldn’t stand in your way.”

She huffed. “Is that what you call that conversation earlier today where you told me that I need to take some time away from him?”

“That talk is me trying to help you to open your eyes. You can give Mike the benefit of the doubt all you want, but if it comes down to it and he’s still the criminal he was when we were younger, I would say that only trouble would come from dating him.”

“Well, maybe you won’t have to be too worried about that after all.”

Ethan’s head snapped around and he stared at Rose for a moment. “You guys broke it off?”

“We weren’t really together.” She flushed. “But I think you’re probably right. Mike isn’t a secure choice. As much as I thought he might be, I’m realizing that he’s still a guy who says one thing when his actions say another.”

“I’m sorry, sis,” Ethan murmured.

“It’s fine. I get the feeling he’s not gonna be around much longer.”

“I thought he was fixing up the house so he could move in.”

She shrugged. “I overheard him talking to someone at the party. They asked him if he was interested in selling the place. He didn’t say yes, but I could tell it had crossed his mind.”

Ethan went quiet.

“It’s okay, really. At least he’s not gonna sell to a developer, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

The rest of their drive was too quiet for comfort, and Rose almost wished she’d stayed home. But being alone with her thoughts would have felt worse somehow.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Mike stood outside the hardware store, his feet feeling like lead. He didn’t even know what had prompted him to be here. He went over the decision in his head again and again and the only thing that remained a constant was the fact that he couldn’t have the theft hanging over his head.

Not anymore.

It didn’t matter if he decided to patch things up with Rose or not. He wasn’t going to be the guy she was disappointed in.

Then again, it was probably already too late for that.

The way Rose had looked at him when she’d finished her art and he’d told her he didn’t want anyone seeing the softer side of him, he’d broken her heart.

He’d almost heard it shatter in real time.

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