Page 24 of The Contractor & the Entrepreneur

It was the wrong thing to say. Her eyes narrowed, the deep brown turning almost black. She sprang to her feet. “That’s where you’re wrong, Rhett Coleville. I don’t need anybody.”

She gave him a sassy glare and strode from the table and out of the restaurant. Rhett grabbed his hat and stormed after her, ignoring the looks of nearby patrons who’d overheard their fight.

He shadowed her to his truck. She stood by the back door of his Ram, clinging to the purse over her shoulder, and said, “Please unlock the truck. I’ll retrieve my things and be on my way.”

“Sloan.” He said her name like a moan. It was probably the completely wrong move, but he edged in and circled her firm back with his hands.

He was prepared for her to slug him or slap him.

Instead, she leaned into him and let out a whimper that about undid him. She didn’t wrap her arms around him, but she did lean.

She straightened just as quickly as she’d leaned and grew stiff as a board. “Please, Rhett.”

Rhett studied her, seeing vulnerability and pain in her eyes and a need that spoke to him. There was also bravery and pride that he understood too. He was the fifth of six boys. His brothers were great guys, but he’d had to fight to prove himself in the pecking order, prove he could stand on his own and they didn’t need to watch out for him every other minute. He’d also had to fight in the construction industry to scrap a name for himself. He wouldn’t have that without Josh though. How to make things right with everybody?

“If you want to stay in a hotel, I will drive you to whatever hotel is most convenient for you,” he conceded, his hands still on her lower back. “I’m not unloading your bags and letting you drag them to the Travelodge five blocks away in the dark.”

He studied her, and he prayed. He needed help and inspiration right now. He needed his heart softened, but he also needed Sloan, Josh, and a whole heap of other people to soften their hearts. Rhett was well-liked and he’d rarely been in the middle of such a muddle. He had no idea how to make it all work out. Faith was all he could rely on right now.

Sloan stepped back, out of his arms. Rhett’s arms fell to his sides. She was going to cuss him out and drag her suitcases to the Travelodge. What a woman. If he wasn’t so concerned for her, he’d be telling her how impressed he was by her.

Finally, she said quietly, “Can you please drive me to a hotel that’s close to the county offices? I can walk there in the morning and figure out who to call to get my car unstuck.” She tilted up her chin and gave him a half-smile. Her chin trembled ever so slightly. Rhett’s stomach tumbled. He knew she was feeling alone, and he knew deep down she needed him, but she wouldn’t accept his help. The more he got to know her, the more he realized he was lucky she hadn’t stepped into the battle with her cousins by herself. Fiercely independent didn’t begin to describe her. She’d have fought those idiots and injured herself.

“Sherman Lodge is a nice hotel and the closest to the county offices.” Thankfully they were far from tourist season and any hotel would have vacancy.

“Thank you.”

He clicked the unlock button and pulled open the door. He reached for her, but she scrambled into the truck before he could help her. They’d regressed horribly in the time it had taken to eat one steak dinner.

Shutting the door, he walked around and loaded up. They drove in silence to Sherman Lodge. She pushed open the door and jumped out before he could help her out. He had to rush around to help her yank her bags out of the truck. Thankfully she didn’t fight him on carrying them up into the hotel. She carried her treats, purse, and the ruined coat that had been on the floor. Her body was ramrod stiff and he could read that she was annoyed he was walking her in, but he wouldn’t leave her alone until he knew she was safe.

The front desk girl was friendly and had her checked in for a two-night stay before too long. Only two nights? Did she reallythink she could solve the mess with the development in two days, or would she look for a long-term rental? What if she was gone in two days, back to Vegas? The idea made a thick cloud of depression settle over him.

As soon as she had her keys, Sloan said to him, “I can get those.”

“Please. Let me walk to your room.”

“Ah,” the front desk girl sighed dreamily. “You two are the most gorgeous couple.”

“We’re not …” Sloan started.

“Thank you,” Rhett finished. He forced a smile and carried the suitcases to the stairs and up them. Sloan stayed in step with him.

He had a million questions for her. What was her plan to keep her cousins at bay? Would she let him help pull some strings with the county and the asphalt guys or would that tick her off even more? Could he convince her they should be on the same team? What was her relationship with her dad or some other man that had made her so prickly about a man helping her? Was she really leaving in two days?

Clearly now was not the time for his questions. The silence was thick between them, and he didn’t know how to penetrate it.

Reaching the door, she passed the keycard over it and pushed down the handle. Rhett pushed the door wide and held it as she walked in. He tugged her suitcases in, then stepped back.

“Thank you,” she said. “I would’ve been in deep trouble without you today.” It seemed to cost her to say the words. Her dark eyes had a shutter over them.

“Happy to help,” he managed to say in a level tone. He wanted to beg her to let him keep helping. That was lame as she only wanted to keep him at arm’s length. “I’ll get a tow truck to get your car out and have them park it here at the hotel as soon as the ground thaws a bit tomorrow.”

“I can call a tow.”

“Please. I know a guy.” He smiled, hoping it would disarm her.

She moistened her lips, and he thought she’d refuse him, but she finally just nodded and studied the door next to him. “Thank you. I don’t know a guy.”

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