“I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Macy, but I just want to wait and see what this business is with my father.”
She gave a jerky nod.
“I understand that, and in fact I want to be involved in finding out what is going on, too.”
“Sure, I could see that you did, and the inside knowledge on Nadine Buchanan will help us.”
“You mean that?”
He took a step closer for no other reason than he wanted to.
“Mean what?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I'll stay out of the way, but if there's protests to be done, I want in.”
“Why would you need to stay out of the way when you can help with this?”
“You need them, Jake, Annabelle, Ethan, and the others. They're smart, they'll help.”
He had no idea what the hell that meant.
“You're smart.”
Her laugh was short and harsh.
“And you gathered that in the matter of a few hours, did you?”
He could tell she doubted him, and began to understand that she also doubted herself.
“You think you’re not as smart as your friends?”
She waved her hand about again, like she had earlier, dismissing him.
“I have to go now, Brad. If you need anything, just give me a call.”
Brad left his thoughts in his head, because he didn’t need to get closer to this woman, and she certainly didn’t want that. What did it matter to him if she didn’t believe in herself? Hell, he’d been like that most of his life.
He pulled out his cell phone and punched in the number she gave him in case he needed to contact her about the cabin.
“I-I have to go now.”
Brad followed her to the door and watched her round up Billy. The boy threw him a wave and then his mother bundled him in the car. She flicked her fingers at him, and was soon backing down the drive.
“And I thought I had issues,” Brad muttered, heading back inside.
Using the linen she'd pointed out, he made the bed, then made himself a coffee from the supplies in the kitchen. He liked cream, but could handle black if need be. Wandering onto the deck, he settled in one of the chairs and watched the sun leave the sky as he contemplated what he had learned today.
His brother was a respected man among his friends, which suggested he was a good man. Brad also liked the friends he'd met. None of them were aggressive or arrogant, all of which Brad’s had once been. He’d promised Annabelle he’d stay in town for a few days, so he would, and then he’d leave, and very possibly never return.
And then there was Macy.
Brad had a feeling the woman could turn him inside out if he let her. Of course he wouldn't; that wasn't on his agenda, now or ever.
Grabbing his phone because his thoughts were too disturbing, he called a business contact, and was soon lost in the conversation, pushing the disturbing Macy Reynolds from his head.
Chapter 8
Brad woke hungry, and as Newman had told him that Buster's café had the best food in town, he washed, dressed, and then decided on a walk.
