Page 65 of That One Night
And when she was finally talked out, she pulled her knees against her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs like she was one of her students. “So that’s it,” she told him. “You did nothing wrong by kissing me. I’m not taken. Just a liar.”
Hendrix ran the tip of his thumb along his jaw. “So he’s blackmailing you to keep quiet?”
“Until his parents come home from their cruise, yes.”
“Why? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who cares that much about what they’d think.”
“He’s a momma’s boy at heart,” she murmured. “He doesn’t want to ruin their vacation.” She looked at him, trying to make him understand. “I didn’t think it was a big deal when I agreed to it. I might’ve even thought it was a good idea. My mom is going to be devastated, too. I figured if I got everything ready for her here, got her ready to sell the farm, before I told her, things would be easier.”
“Can’t you pay off the loan?”
“Not until the house is sold. And I can’t sell the house until the lien is taken off. It’s a catch twenty-two.” She frowned, because she hated this. “The easiest and quickest way to solve it is to do what Trenton wants. By mid August, it’ll all be over.”
“So that’s it. You’re gonna let him win?” Hendrix asked her, his brows knitted. And she understood that. She felt it too.
“It’s not about letting him win. It’s about me not losing. And if he wants to, he can make my mom’s life really difficult. It’s just a few weeks, Hendrix. That’s it. Then I can move on.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“I’m not angry about the lies. But I’m angry that you’re letting him do it.”
“I get that.” She nodded. “You’re not like me.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re not scared of life. You’re not afraid of making the wrong choices. Of having people think badly about you.” She shook her head, looking at the cotton clouds in the sky above them.
“You’re wrong. Iamafraid of making the wrong choices. Mostly because I know the consequences all too well. I’m the king of bad choices. Just ask anybody.”
“I think I just took your crown,” she said ruefully. “So that’s it. I just needed to tell you.” She exhaled heavily. “Please don’t tell anybody about this.”
“Of course I’m not gonna tell anybody.” He frowned. “I wish you would, though.”
She gave him a soft look. They both knew she wouldn’t. Then she scrambled to her feet, dusting the earth from her legs. “I’ll let you finish up here. It’s getting late. Thank you for listening to me.”
She started to walk away.
“Emery?”
She turned to look at him. He was standing, too. His arms folded in front of him.
“Yes?”
“In a few weeks. When the truth is out and the lien is gone. What happens then?”
She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “Then I put my mom’s farm up for sale.”
“And after?”
“After?” she echoed, as though she didn’t understand the question.
“After you’ve told everyone that you ended things with him? Then you’ll be a free woman, right?”
Her heart thumped against her ribcage. “That’s right.”
He stepped closer to her. Enough that she could see the covering of dust on his skin. “Good. Then I’d like to take you on a date.After.”
“I’ll be back in Charleston after. I have to work.” Her lips parted. His gaze dipped to them, like he was thinking about kissing her again. He reached out and tipped her face up, his thumb beneath her jaw. She swallowed hard at the intensity in his eyes as he stared down at her.
And for a moment all she could hear was the blood rushing through her veins. She looked at his mouth, the same mouth that had kissed her like she’d never been kissed before. The one she stayed awake for most of the night thinking about.
