He turns to grab the landline off the counter behind him and passes it to me.
“Just leave it on the desk when you’re done, man,” he says. “I need to get started for the day.”
I nod in agreement and wave my thanks to him as he trudges toward the back. The sound of tools clacking against each other sounds before I even finish dialing the number for the ranch’s office. It’s Al who picks up, thank fuck, because I don’t have the energy to deal with any of the younger boys right now. They’re all good kids, but they’ve got too much damn spunk.
A few minutes later, Al is sending Tony on his way to pick the two of us up, and I’m heading back out onto the sidewalk.
The diner across the street smells heavenly, but I know we won’t have time for breakfast. The thought of sitting across from Mary and eating has my stomach in knots anyway, so it’s probably for the best. I shove my hands in my pockets and start down the road toward Mary’s hotel, mentally preparing myself to face the music.
I don’t know if it’s a good idea to apologize in a situation like this, but I’m smart enough to know that ignoring it is definitely not a good idea.
Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to rehearse what I want to say. Just as I step off the crosswalk and onto the sidewalk in front of Mary’s hotel, she slips out the front door, giving her thanks to the old woman behind the desk.
“Mary,” I say.
It slips out before I can catch it, and she whips her head around in surprise. Her eyes go wide when she sees me, and I rush to clear my throat and amend my words.
“Ms. Bryce,” I correct myself. “Good morning.”
She blinks at me for several long seconds before responding.
“Everett. Morning.”
Her voice is clipped and chilly in the morning air. Part of me wants to flinch away from it.
“I called the ranch from the mechanic’s phone,” I say, unused to being the one filling the quiet. “Tony’s on his way to pick us up. Said he’d meet us in front of the diner.”
She nods slowly, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. Her hair is a little messier than usual, and it looks like she got about as much sleep as I did. A pang of guilt twinges in my chest. I should probably apologize.
“What about my car?” she asks.
“He said the part’s on back order,” I tell her. “Be about two weeks until he gets it in, but he’ll have it delivered to the ranch when it’s fixed.”
Her brows raise in annoyed surprise, and I see the muscles in her jaw tick as she grinds her teeth.
“Twoweeks?” she huffs. “I’m just supposed to leave my car in the middle of nowhere for two weeks?”
I shrug, wishing I had something better to offer her. I’m pretty good with engines most days, but a stalled out computer isn’t something that can be fixed without a replacement part. The only option is to wait.
“Sorry,” I say quietly.
I don’t look at her as I say it, too scared for her to see my whirling thoughts in my eyes. She doesn’t answer me for a long moment, and I don’t raise my eyes from the concrete between my feet until she sighs roughly.
“Fine,” she bites out. “Let’s go meet Tony, then.”
She marches right past me, and I scramble to follow her. I don’t watch the way her hips sway in her skirt even though I trail a few steps behind her. Part of me still feels guilty for thinking about her like that, and part of me is terrified to accept that I really do want her.
I’ll have to do something to make this better, but now isn’t the time.
The walk back toward the diner is silent, and we thankfully only have to wait a few minutes before Tony’s ancient truck rumbles up to the curb in front of us. I pull the passenger door open for Mary, but she ignores me completely and opens the door for the back so she can slide into the bench seat.
“Tony,” she says, her usual smile plastered across her cheeks. “God, am I glad to see you.”
“Happy I could come to the rescue,” he says with a laugh.
I try to tamp down my frown as I climb into the passenger seat. Tony’s seen me in many stages of my usual grouchiness, and he won’t be surprised at my bad mood. I just don’t wantto invite any questions. Let him assume that I’m tired and annoyed, like usual.
“Just get us back to the ranch,” I grumble, leaning back in my seat. “Been a long damn night.”
