Page 41 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
“Bullshit.” Tim poked him in the chest, and his use of a cuss word wasn’t lost on Robbie. “You helped me and Kathleen when Mom died. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Pop was silently falling to pieces and working all the time like a tough O’Connor is supposed to do. You—”
Robbie’s eyes were burning suddenly at the shine in his brother’s eyes.
“Oh, never mind. I know you don’t want to hear it.”
“No, say what you were going to say.”
Tim’s mouth worked before he said, “You’ve let yourself get hard, but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost those things. They’re still in there. Just like they were when I needed you. You did fine comforting Reagan last night after Cassidy’s innocent outburst about their mom.”
Had he? Finding that young girl with her hands pressed to her face, crying, had grabbed him by the throat. He hadn’t known what to do, so he’d just said her name softly. Thank God she’d launched herself at him. He’d held her until she’d finally let go and told him she was okay. “Look, I didn’t do anything. She bawled. I patted her back like a moron who had no clue what to say.”
Tim gave a long-suffering sigh before turning away to pour two coffees. “There’snothingto say sometimes, especially when you can’t change anything. Like Mom dying.”
His insides roared with grief. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Fine! So let me use another example. When I’m with a patient who’s just had horrible health news or a bad family visit, I sit there with them. I show them I care by being there. That’s what matters in the end. Oh, why am I even talking? You won’t give yourself a break. Drink your coffee, and then go for a run. You need to blow some of this off before the girls wake up.”
He glanced outside. Summer was probably already running or soon would be. He didn’t want to chance meeting her on the beach. When she and Clarice had left last night, the final look she’d given him had said it all. The usual sparkle in her green eyes was as absent as her bright smile. He’d hurt her, and he knew it. And dammit, he felt like shit about that too. Even though they’d been in agreement about not doing anything about their mutual attraction.
“If you don’t go, you’re a coward,” Tim said, picking up his coffee. “And you know it. That’s not who you are. You should apologize. She’s a sweet woman, and she doesn’t deserve your shit.”
With that final smack to the face, hisnicebrother left the room. Robbie picked up his coffee and burned his mouth taking a sip. He let out a trail of swear words since no one was around, fighting the urge to kick the kitchen cabinets with his bare feet. He was boiling on the inside, and he knew it. Running was the only outlet for him at the moment.
He headed upstairs for some socks and shoes, not seeing Tim anywhere. The girls were sleeping when he checked on them again, but he spotted Miss Purrfect splayed out on his unmade bed the moment he entered his room. She rolled over, pawing at her collar, and gave an audible hiss.
“Hey!” He lurched at the cat, who screeched and took off for the hallway. “It’s not my fault we’re here, dammit. It’s Tara’s.”
He froze. That wasn’t fair either. Yanking out some socks from his duffel, he pressed his free hand to the headache starting at his nape.
Tara. Where was she? How was she? Jesus, being in the Outer Banks was like being in an alternate universe. The Kellys were out there, looking for Scotty and Tara—and potentially him and the girls—and their money. So far, nothing had changed. They were coming up on a week.
Something needed to break and break soon—or he would.
No, he needed to suck it up. Why was he letting a random attraction to a virtual stranger get to him? He yanked on his shoes and socks, tying his shoelaces tightly. He knew the answer. Because he was horny, that was why.
No—it was more than that. Summer was freaking gorgeous, from her long legs to her blond hair and green eyes, but that wasn’t the only reason he felt drawn to her. She was also graceful and kind, grounded. That smile of hers could make him forget what he was about to say. And the way she looked at him, like she knew him on the inside and liked him, understood him even, had been burrowing under his skin, causing all sorts of discomfort.
Tim was right. She didn’t deserve his bad attitude. He needed to apologize.
Leaving the house, he headed next door, not wanting to risk that she’d zoom past him on the beach, leaving him to chase after her—ifhe could catch up. God, how freaking embarrassing if she left him panting in her dust again. He wanted to apologize, not be humiliated.
Clarice was visible in the kitchen window as he stepped onto their patio. The way her black brows rose with disdain was enough to confirm he was on their shit list. Knocking lightly, he straightened his shoulders, ready to take his medicine.
She cracked the door with plenty of attitude. “Looking for your jerk uniform?”
“Actually, I realized I was still wearing it.” He blew out a breath. “I was coming to apologize.”
She touched her ear with a long red fingernail. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
He was supposed to apologize to her? Wasn’t Summer the one who deserved an apology from him?
Well, he had ruined things with her and Billie last night, he realized. His brother had given him a pissed-off shove after the two women had left shortly after picking at their food. Only the kids’ presence had prevented a further blowup.
“I’m sorry for my behavior last night. Iwasa jerk with a capitalJ. It won’t happen again.”
“Forgiven.” She motioned him toward the kitchen. “Come inside and wait for Summer. Since you owe her an apology too. You know… Some people actually embrace having an attraction to someone. You might try it.”
He could see why Billie liked her. She had a frank, straightforward attitude to go along with the curves his brother liked. “My life is complicated right now. I didn’t come here looking for anything.”
