Page 7 of Where We Call Home

“You sure?” he asked, arching a thick brow. “I don’t think Aspen would be too happy knowing you came all this way just to leave because you couldn’t get out of your car.”

I scowled.I could do it myself.

Determined, I extended my knee, only to feel a sharp jolt of pain shoot up the back of my thigh.

Fuck.

He was right.

I’d made it this far—it wasn’t worth turning around now.

With a groan, I swallowed my pride and held out my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, engulfing them entirely. Damn, he was big.

This was the second time he’d come to my rescue.

And the second time I’dlet him.That? That was the alarming part.

The first time I saw Rhodes after coming home, my stomach droppedlike aten-pound weight in quicksand. I’d always known he was attractive, butwow, he’d aged like fine wine.

I’d been home periodically over the years, but somehow, I’d never run into him.

Rhodes and Jess had always been a pair—practically attached at the hip. The golden couple. When Aspen and Penny told me Jess had left him, shocked didn’t even begin to cover it.

They had been the small-town Hallmark romance—the kind of couple you’d bet your money on.

And when I saw him for the first time after hearing the news?

I cringed just thinking about it.

I’d awkwardly blurted out some poorly worded condolences, stumbling over myself like a total idiot. Not exactly my finest moment. And ever since, I couldn’t help but feel off around him.

Every interaction since Boone and Aspen started dating had been a struggle to keep my cool.

On the outside, I managed to look calm and collected.

On the inside?

I was burning up.

His flirty comment from a few months ago still played on repeat in my mind.

I’d wished—more than once—that I’d just handed him my number that night.

But even if I had… what then?

By the way, I’m pregnant with a random guy’s baby! I hooked up with him once while traveling in Greece! Want to grab some decaf coffee sometime?

Yeah. No.

I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for that conversation then, and I sure as hell didn’t have it now.

I’d have to live with wondering what could have been.

Looking at him now, Rhodes was all man—tall and broad, with muscles that had muscles. A bear of a man. Messy jet-black hair tucked under a backward trucker hat. Grass-green eyes that could wreck a girl if she stared too long.

And I was definitely staring too long.

“Thanks,” I muttered, smoothing my hands down the front of my black overalls.

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