Because she’d lived there.
“Just don’t tell her I told you that. She doesn’t like to talk about her old man. He was alright when he lived here, but the moment he met someone else and left, he turned into a deadbeat dad. A real freaking piece of work.”
“I won’t say anything,” I promised.
“Look, I know she’s capable. But I didn’t see myself retiring on my own. I had a plan. Pearl was supposed to retire at the end of the school year but then changed her mind last minute.”
“Oh…” I wasn’t sure what to say. “Wait, does Candy know? That that’s why you haven’t?—“
“Hell no, kid! She doesn’t even know I’m seeing Pearl. No one does. She’s a very private lady. This is a small town. I don’t want her caught up in the gossip mill.”
“Look, Rusty, I know you didn’t ask for my opinion or advice, but…”
“But you’re going to give it to me anyhow?” He smirked. “Fine. Lay it on me, kid.”
“I think you need to talk to Pearl. Tell her where you stand. What your plans are.” Rusty looked at me like I’d suddenly grown an extra head. “You know… your intentions. What you want. And you need to talk to Candy, too. The sooner the better. Make her understand the situation so she stops taking it personal because right now, she’s been running herself ragged for a year working here and trying to prove herself to you, then working evenings at the coffee shop.”
“I know,” he muttered then sighed. “You’re not going to go running off to tell her about this, are you?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you look at my niece like you want to be her very own Prince Charming,” he laid out. I tried to argue, but nothing came out. Not a grunt or a fucking peep. “Yeah.” He chuckled. “Look, I don’t know what’s held you back from asking her out but?—“
“I can’t. She deserves better—“ I didn’t say another word because Rusty started to laugh. Loud and hearty, so boisterous he had to wipe tears from the edges of his eyes.
“See, what I tell you? You’re nothing but a kid.” He grinned with cocky arrogance.
“I’m a grown man, Rusty,” I mumbled.
“If that were true, son, you would know life’s too fucking short to wait around.”
“Rusty—“
“Look, I’m saying this as her uncle and the only father figure she’s had since she was about seven. You probably aren’t good enough.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, but the asshole simply smiled warmly while his eyes that looked so much like Candy’s shined brightly.
“But then again, no one would be, Onyx,” he added, and I frowned. “No man would be good enough other than the one who wants to be.” As confusing as that sounded, it made sense. “The question is, do you want to be?”
Yes.The word was on the tip of my tongue, but the bell rang over the door, and a couple of guys walked in before I could answer. Shit. I wanted to be that man for her. I’d known that, but had I actually let myself believe it? How could I go back to how things were before knowing what she felt like in my arms as she trusted me enough to cry around me?
“I’ll see you later, Russ,” I said, my voice deep and grave.
I wanted to be that man for her. She was mine.Mine. Mine. Mine.The idea of someone else swooping in and taking what was mine terrified me and made me feel a little unhinged. Fuck. Russ was right. Life was too damn short. What the hell was I thinking even wasting a minute, much less four months?
“Wait, what did you need today?” The question was heavy and loaded.
What had I come for? What had I needed?Candy. My girl.To see her. Talk to her. Be around her. It felt like a palette of bricks dropped on my head at the realization. If I was honest, it was the only reason I kept working on the house the way I had been.
Candy.She was the reason for everything.
When I didn’t answer, Rusty got a look in his eye that told me he knew. He nodded and went on to talk to his other customers, and I hurried the hell out of there. When I stepped out of the hardware store, the cooler air helped me breathe, but I felt a tight knot in my throat.
Candy had been upset and left. Ran away from me. And I had stupidly let her.
Shit.
My phone buzzed and then rang, but I let it go to voicemail. It was Austin and Bash. I knew what they were calling for. The pains in my ass. Just as I approached the little drink cart by the park, I stopped. Taking my cell and not bothering to look which one of my business partners it was, I answered.
