Sure, he'd seen his share of tears from the women he'd dated, but they'd always been used as a way to manipulate him.
Molly was trying to hold it together all by herself. Tryingnotto cry.
He rubbed one hand on his bent knee. "Do you really know how to fix up those piece-of-junk tractors?"
She still wasn't looking at him, but her head turned slightly in his direction. Like maybe he'd piqued her curiosity. "I've done repairs on my truck since I was fifteen. And some tractor repairs on our ranch. Anything I don't know, I'll bet I can find a video online. Why?"
Was he really going to do this?
He cleared his throat. "Turns out the ranch is underwater. It's... bad."
He was so angry with Mackie that he felt it flush his face.
"The bank won't make any further extensions on the mortgage, which means I need cash sooner rather than later."
She laid her cheek on her knee, finally making eye contact with him. "It's gonna cost money to buy parts. And take some time to track them down."
He nodded. "I need to be back in Houston by the end of the month. If you can get three or four of them in good condition, it would get my head above water.” If he could find a buyer who wouldn't mind this place in the condition it was in… Maybe he could get out from under the No Name with his credit and bank account intact.
It was a glimmer of light on the top of the ocean. Unfortunately, he felt like he was drowning in the depths. It was a chance, even if it was a slim one.
"Don't you have anyone you can call?" It was as if she were turning his earlier inquiry back on him.Didn't you tell anyone?"I thought... Iris asked about your brother, didn't she? How come he isn't here?"
West.
Cord gritted his teeth. "He's in the military. And the ranch is in my name, not his."
"Wouldn't he help, if you asked?"
Probably not. "It's complicated. I doubt he can get leave. And it's complicated."
Her raised eyebrows reminded him he was repeating himself. He'd barely spoken to his brother in a half-dozen years. West might help him if Cord begged on bended knee.
Or he might laugh in Cord's face.
He tapped his thumb on his thigh. "You can stay through the end of the month. Rent-free.Ifyou rebuild the tractors for me. And as long as trouble didn't follow you here."
She frowned. "I don't think h-he followed me. I watched for his car, in traffic. For about two hundred miles."
Good. Then the three weeks until his deadline might allow her to regain her equilibrium. Get back on her feet.
She suddenly brushed her hair over her shoulder and stood, leaving him to push to his feet, too.
"I'll think about it," she said.
What was there to think about? Oh.
"Molly."
He felt hot under the collar as she glanced his way. But he met her curious gaze head-on.
"I want you to know you don't have to worry about me."
She wrinkled her brows.
"You know. About me coming on to you." He didn't think his face could get any warmer.
The last thing he wanted was for her to feel afraidhere.
Her eyes were huge in her face, and he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "We're not compatible. Like that."
Liar, liar.
