Page 129 of Tempting Promises
“How’s it going with Charlotte?” Phoebe asks as she hands me a plate that’s piled high with all my favorite foods.
“It’s Charlotte, I expect next month she’ll finally get her head out of her ass.” I’m clearly aggravated. I know she’s got issues, we all do, but I miss her.
Really, that’s the heart of it.
I fucking miss her.
Once I finished fixing the roof, the fence, and plowing, I went back to where my ATV was and found a batch of cookies waiting for me on the seat.
I thought it was a peace offering, that she was ready to talk to me and come up with a solution, but she wasn’t home and didn’t answer the phone.
“You know,” Addison cuts in. “I know you may not want to hear this, but sometimes, we have to make the wrong choice to know what the right one is.”
Phoebe nods. “Preach, sister.”
“Amen!” Brynlee adds on.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “So, you make bad choices just to make the right one? What the hell kind of logic is that?”
“It’s girl logic.”
“Oh, so no logic. Are you all this ridiculous?”
Phoebe tosses a roll at my head. “Now you’ve done it,” Asher mumbles.
I turn to my brothers, who are both silent for the first time in their lives, both with shit-eating grins on their faces. “Some help?”
“Not a chance.” Asher shoves a forkful into his mouth.
Brynn stares at me, a brow raised. “You and Charlotte’s relationship is the equivalent of a newborn. Maybe you should be understanding. She can’t trust you yet, Row. You’re the asshole who bought land out from under her feet last year, and now you’ve gotten the contract she needed. Her sister is a...well, I don’t have nice things to say, and you’re a bit of a dick.” She pauses. “Said with love.”
I know she’s right. I’ve not exactly proven myself to be this trustworthy and kind guy. I’ve done the right thing, like taking care of her when she was drunk or injured, but every man should do that. It’s doing the right thing when no one is looking, that’s the mark of a man.
I’ve always strived to be a man my mother would be proud of. One that my sister would look at with respect. Most of all, one that Olivia would see as a role model.
“It’s not about the time, I get she needs that. I really do. She’s gun-shy, and rightfully so, but I’ve shown up to prove I’ll be there for her.”
Phoebe clears her throat. “As a woman who has been in Charlotte’s shoes, who had a man promise things and completely abandon me, I get why she wants space. I tried to leave Asher for the same reason.”
My brother shifts. “Didn’t work.”
“No, because you didn’t let me take it. You were there. You proved you’d always be there. You loved me when I didn’t think I was deserving.” Then Phoebe looks to me. “She wants and needs space, but she also needs to know you’re always there, standingready. You’re doing that, Rowan. You’re fixing things for her.” She clutches her hands to her chest. “Sigh.”
“Dreamy sigh,” Addison says.
“Good thing then that farm is falling apart. It means there’s no shortage of things to fix.”
And I already know I’ll be back there in the morning.
“Did you eat a muffin?” Micah asks before shoving one in his mouth.
“No, I’m working.” My hands are covered in grease as I search for why the hell this tractor isn’t running. “Which you should be helping.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
I put the ratchet down and wipe my forehead. “Well, considering you work for me, you get to do things for my girlfriend. Isn’t it a great day to be me? I think so.”
“Well, boss, I had to go to Donny’s at o’ dark thirty and play let’s make a deal to get Charlotte’s truck done by today.”
