Page 13 of All My Heart

“That must be nice to be able to disappear for a while.”

“You're doing the same thing.”

She huffed out a laugh. “I suppose you're right. No one knows I'm here.”

I frowned. “Where do they think you are?”

“They think I'm visiting my friend. When she got engaged, I rented the cabin, thinking some time alone would be good.”

I had to know more about why she was here. I couldn't stop myself from asking, “What was the deal with your ex?”

Luna shook her head and was quiet for so long, I wasn't sure she was going to answer me. “I came home early from work one day and found him sleeping with someone else.”

“That sucks.” I'd never been with anyone long enough for that to happen, but I could imagine her trust was blown. She was hurt, and she was here to lick her wounds.

Luna nodded. “He had things to say, none of them nice. But we live in a small town. Everyone knows everyone's business. I couldn't face everyone, and their pitying looks.”

“He cheated on you though. Isn't he the one who should be worried about public opinion?”

“I'm the youngest Kingston, the only girl. No one will date me because they're afraid of my big brothers.”

I nodded, understanding her brothers' desire to keep her shielded from the bad guys who wouldn't treat her right.

“But that means that no respectable guys will date me,” Luna said bitterly. “They couldn't understand why I was dating Rex.”

“You liked him?” I asked, trying to understand her. Right now, she wasn't making any sense to me. I saw things in black-and-white. If this guy wasn't good enough for her, why was she with him?

“Maybe I thought I could change him or something. My friends say I have a fixer-upper complex when it comes to guys. I guess it matches my upbringing.”

I frowned. “How does that match your upbringing?”

Luna let out a long sigh. “I forget; you don't know me. I'm so used to everyone knowing exactly who my family is.”

“And who is that?”

“My family owns the only contracting business in town. They kind of run everything. If they decide not to take on your project, you're dead in the water. Not that my brothers would screw anyone over, but there's always that fear. So everyone is always kissing up to them.”

“There's really only one?”

She hesitated, and I wondered what she was hiding. “It's difficult for others to get into the community. We have a monopoly, I guess you could say.”

“Where do you fit in?”

“I handle the calls, emails, the scheduling, and estimates. The office work. My mom does some of it, but I pick up everything else.”

“Do you like what you do?” I asked, a little surprised that she was happy with that kind of job. She seemed larger-than-life to me; her job should be the same.

“I'd love to be more involved with the hands-on work, but they've always discouraged me. There was always a sense that I don't know what I'm doing. But I grew up in construction.”

I frowned. “They don't think you're capable?”

“They've always seen me as the little sister that needs to be shielded and protected. But I want to learn.”

“That must be frustrating.”

I felt invisible in my family, but that was partly my fault. I'd disappeared for years at a time. I removed myself from the equation until I wasn't even a factor anymore.

“I've been around construction my entire life. I absorbed a ton, and I'd like to learn more.”

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