Page 109 of Housebroke

So how was she supposed to believe him, believe in that love? And if he did love her, he would know what she really needed more than anything.

His faith in her ability to forge her own future.

He hadn’t given her that. Not by a long shot.

•••

Linc smiled and nodded as the Realtor and the staging people milled about the house, talking amongst themselves. He was barely paying attention to what should be an important component of getting this house sold. All he could think about as he wandered the house was how Hazel had filled this place with laughter, with heart, with joy.

With love.

Dammit.

But the Realtor knew what she was doing, and she said the people staging the house were experts and the best in the city, so he’d let her handle it while he figured out how he’d screwed things up with Hazel so badly.

He’d tried calling and texting her for the past several days. She wouldn’t answer. The worst part was he didn’t know where she’d gone. And even if he did, he knew that chasing after her would only piss her off more.

He’d bungled this, but he couldn’t figure out how. He’d thought it through thoroughly, every step.

Penny had been glued to his side ever since Hazel and the other dogs had driven away. She, too, knew something had gone terribly wrong. And it was all his fault that she felt abandoned.

She missed her pack.

So did he.

He’d taken her on daily walks, played with her as much as he was able, but no doubt she had picked up on his sadness. She even slept in the bed with him at night, and she normally liked the cool floor. He ran his hand over the top of her head, needing her as much as she needed him right now.

“I think we’re finished here,” Jennifer said. “We should be ready to stage within a couple of days.”

“Great, thanks.”

Jennifer walked out and shut the door behind her. He started to walk off but the doorbell rang. Figuring Jennifer had left something behind, he went to answer it, shocked to see his mother standing in front of him.

“Mom. What are you doing here?”

“I heard that Hazel left. I came to see if you needed help. Or just a hug.”

“How— Oh, Warren.” He’d talked to Warren right after it had happened, knowing his brother would offer a sympathetic shoulder. He had no idea Warren would tell their mother. Though he shouldn’t be surprised. There were no secrets in the Kennedy family.

“Yes, Warren, though I’m disappointed you didn’t call me yourself. And who is this sweet baby?”

“This is Penny. She was one of Hazel’s dogs but I adopted her.”

“Well, hello, sweet girl.” Mom bent and swept her hands over Penny, who wagged her tail enthusiastically.

“I— How about some iced tea? And where are your bags?”

“I already checked into a hotel. And I’d love some tea.”

He fixed them both glasses of iced tea and took them to thetable. Mom sat and took a few sips, leaning back in the chair. “Okay, Lincoln. Spill it. All of it.”

He told her everything, about how their relationship had progressed, about her love of animals and fostering, about what an amazing cook she was, and how he wanted to give her everything. He told her about his plan to stay in Orlando and buy the twenty acres so she could have everything she ever wanted. And then he told his mother how Hazel had reacted, how upset she was when he told her about the money he had, and how she’d walked out on him.

“You lied to her.”

“I didn’t... Okay, I withheld information. But, Mom, you know what happened in the past with other women. How they treated me differently. I didn’t want that to happen with Hazel. I had planned to tell her; it just never seemed the right time.”

“Uh-huh.” Mom sipped her tea and regarded him the way she always had when he’d done something wrong. “And when did you tell her that you loved her?”

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