Page 82 of That One Night
He leaned against the counter, his jaw tense. “It’s not what you think.”
“So I didn’t just see an engaged woman leave your house while you’re half naked?”
He squeezed his eyes shut tightly for a minute, trying to think of the best way to proceed. He’d promised Emery to keep her secret, and there was no way he’d betray that promise.
Opening his eyes, he could see his mom had moved from the kitchen. She was standing by the window, looking out at the farm on the other side of the road. Emery must have made it to the fields, because there was no sign of her. As soon as his mom left he’d check that she was okay.
“Yes, you saw her leave. But…” he shook his head. “It’s not her fault. I’d prefer if you didn’t go spreading it around.”
His mom’s eyes widened. “Of course I wouldn’t spread it around. I can’t believe you said that.”
“I didn’t…” Christ, he was only making this worse. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers.
“What was it, just a one-night thing?” she asked him. “Or is it an affair?”
His chest tightened. It was too early and he was too exhausted for this. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
She recoiled like he’d slapped her. And he hated that, because his mom didn’t have a bad bone in her body. She was a good person, a kind one. She loved him and his brothers fiercely.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He let out a long breath. “I just… I can’t explain it right now. That’s all.”
“She’s getting married, Hendrix. To Trenton Montclair.”
He winced as she saidhisname.
“What if somebody else had seen you two?” she asked him. “What if he found out? You remember what happened the last time the two of you went head to head?” Her voice cracked, like she was lost in her own memories. “I lost you. For years. You just left…” She pressed her lips together, like she was trying not to cry.
“I was a kid, mom. I’m grown up now. I can handle things. I can’t tell you more than this, but I promise it’s not what you think.”
“Is she still engaged to him?” his mom asked pointedly.
He sighed, because he hated doing this. “Yes.”
“Then it’s exactly what I think. And it’s what everybody else will think.”
“Not if they don’t know.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost half-past eight. He should’ve been at his uncle’s farm hours ago. Sure, Logan was relaxed as long as he got his work done before coming home to tend his own farm, but there was only so much time in the goddamn day.
“I have to shower. Then I need to get to work,” he told her.
“I know.” She nodded, still looking wary. “I only popped over to check that you’re okay. I was at Logan and Courtney’s for breakfast. We were going through the plans for the charity launch.” She held up a pad she’d obviously been taking notes on. “He said you hadn’t come to work.” She gave him a small smile. “And of course I wanted to see you. It feels like it’s been too long.”
“You could have called me. I would have picked up.”
Her eyes caught his. “Ditto.”
That made him feel even worse. He knew it had been a while since he’d stopped by to see his parents, but had it really been that long? He had no excuse for it, other than he was an ass.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“I’m worried about you,” she told him, her brows furrowed.
“You don’t need to be.”
“I’m a mom. That’s my job.”
He tipped his head to the side. “Don’t you ever get time off for good behavior?”
That made her smile.
