Page 38 of Unbreak My Heart

The site became a hive of busyness as the crew rushed to pack their things away before the incoming deluge hit.

“I’m going to run, Max. I’ll see you on Monday then?” she said over her shoulder as she moved toward where she’d parked her ute.

Max grinned at her, totally not sidetracked by her deflection.

“Will do. Have a good weekend, Eva.” His grin widened. “I’ll tell Simon you said hi.”

She knew her face reacted; she couldn’t help it. She turned and rushed for her car and jumped inside, slamming the door as the rain began in earnest, thunder rumbling all around.

*

Simon pulled upat the worksite just as the heavens unleashed. The sight of the completed framing made excitement curl through his blood just thinking how far along the rebuild was. He couldn’t wait until the roof was on—which was next—and they could walk around inside it. It was starting to feelreal.

He glanced ahead and saw Eva’s tail-lights head off down the road and couldn’t help the pang of disappointment that he’d missed her.

He’d slept in—actually slept in—for the first time in forever.

Shoving his ute’s door open, he bolted for Max’s Jeep as he saw his brother duck inside it; hauled the door open, then slammed it as he fell inside as well.

“Blergh!” he grumbled as he shook the drenched hair out of his eyes and scrubbed his hands over his wet face.

“Really? You had to plonk your wet ass in my car?” Max said as he stared at him.

Simon grinned. “You got leather seats. It’ll survive.”

“You’re late.”

“So?”

Max’s grin disappeared, replaced by anger. “You missed the fun.”

Simon’s stomach churned. That look on Max’s face was never a good omen. “What happened?”

“Eva’s ex happened.”

Simon let out a string of choice words and shook his head. “I hope you set him straight?”

Max nodded. “He also made a smart-ass mention of Eva’sboyfriend. I didn’t disabuse him of the idea.” At Simon’s surprised look, he continued. “It might make him think twice about coming back here to bother her if he thinks youare.”

Simon relaxed back into the leather seat, his hair dripping down the sides of his face. He rubbed the back of his hand over his jaw. “Okay.”

He squirmed a little under Max’s intense stare.

“So.”

Simon didn’t look his brother in the eye, just turned his head a little. “Hmm?”

“Eva.”

That pesky hand was back, rubbing his jaw. Max chuckled. Simon winced. His brother knew it was one of his nervous tics.

“What about her?”

“What’s going on?”

Simon blew out his breath and stared out through the rain-fogged windscreen. “Damned if I know.”

Max waited. The silence ticked on, the pounding of the rain heavy on the roof of Max’s old Jeep. Simon shuffled on the comfy seat. Max knew if he waited long enough that his silence would get the better of Simon and he’d spill.

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