Page 9 of Peach

She was looking up at him when she saw his eyes narrow before he pushed her behind him. Something splashed over his shoulder and onto her forehead. It smelled sweet like a soda.

“You’re both going to burn in hell!” Kirsten yelled before she raced off to her van.

Haisley was close enough that she could feel Robert's muscles tighten as if he were agitated. She couldn't believe this was happening. Every time she'd gone into town, she'd insisted that Ellen take her right when the stores opened or almost at closing time. She stayed inside and minded her own business. Coming out in town with Robert had been a mistake.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized, not sure how she could help. Sticky soda dripped off his face and down his shirt.

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I didn’t mean for you to get involved. I just?—“

Robert put his arm around her shoulder and guided her out to his car while pushing the basket. “You didn’t do anything.”

She shook her head as fear and guilt swirled in her belly. “I shouldn’t have come to town with you.”

“No, that woman shouldn’t assault people. Should we call the sheriff?”

Haisley shook her head. “No, he’ll just arrest me.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Why would he arrest you?”

She blew out a breath and waved him off. “It’s not important.”

She’d learned long ago that few people cared. Ellen and John had been the only people who’d offered to help her in a long time. And now they were gone.

Robert put the food into the car and then made sure she was inside before he took off out of the lot. He looked angry. How long would it be before he hit her or did something else to make her pay?

The man was strong, though every time he'd touched her or grasped her arm to keep her from falling, his touch had been gentle. She eyed him, trying not to be too obvious that she was looking at him. He was very good-looking. He reminded her of that popular actor who was in some of the hottest movies. His blond curls made him look very carefree, but based on how sharp the look in his blue eyes was, she knew he thought deeply about things.

He wasn’t at all what she’d expected. He seemed more trustworthy and much deeper than she thought a young man could be. Like he could probably solve all of her problems if she gave him the chance.

Chapter 6

Peach hadno clue what was going on with Haisley. Why had the preacher’s wife attacked? He’d met enough people in his life to know that just because someone claimed to be holy or godly didn’t mean they were.

Getting to the bottom of the problem would take time. Haisley didn't seem like she wanted to discuss it with him. He was a stranger, and he was sure she didn't trust him. Why would she? He'd been shocked when he'd first arrived home and found her in the house. Exhaustion and hunger, along with grief and guilt, had been a terrible mix.

Tonight, he would cook for Haisley and make sure she felt at ease with him. He couldn't get her to relax with wine because he was smart enough to know pregnant women weren't supposed to drink. Maybe he could rub her shoulders, or perhaps that was too intimate.

Earlier when she’d looked him in the eyes, he’d felt something. It would be wrong to act on his lust. This wasn’t the time or the place to find out if Haisley was into him.

Once home, he put up the groceries before heshowered and changed clothes. The sugary cola might already be set in on his shirt, but he decided to wash a load because he didn't want his shirt to be too gross from sitting around with the sticky substance on it.

"Hey," Peach said as he stepped out of his parents' room. "I need to wash this shirt and my pants. Do you have anything to toss into the laundry?"

“I can wash clothes.”

He nodded. “I’m sure you can. How about we work together? I can stain treat this, and you can toss your dirty clothes into the washer."

Haisley shook her head. “I’m surprised you know how to wash clothes.”

“Who do you think has been taking care of my stuff? I left Georgia when I was eighteen and I’ve been on my own ever since then.”

She shrugged. “I’ve never known a guy who?—“

“I get it. You’ve only known men who either were incompetent or manipulative.”

“Hey, your dad didn’t do his clothes.”

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