“Eventually to London to see Ryan.” At least, she would when she could afford to.
“Come back to Howling with me.”
“No.” Her reply was instant, even though there had been a small jolt of longing at the thought of going home. Back to the familiar. A bed, and a roof over her head. But she couldn’t go back there now, she’d been gone too long, and more importantly, she’d have to explain to her mother that she was without a job.
“Why not? If you’re at a loose end, it’s the perfect time, surely?”
Hope shook her head. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t want to.”
His smile was gentle, and she didn’t want that. She’d rather he was taking jabs at her, because gentle made her feel like crying, and Hope had long ago given up tears. They were just a waste of time, and never achieved anything.
“That made no sense.”
“My mother is there, and she takes inquisition to a whole new level.”
“Sure, and others who you know and like. Hell, you could live in Macy’s cabin if you wanted to. It’s empty, and she won’t charge you until you’re on your feet. I’m sure with your skills behind the lens, you could get freelance work. Plenty of tourists come to Howling, you can take pictures of them.”
She’d left her home as fast as she could when she was old enough, and had been searching for a place to land ever since. Funny how leaving was all Hope had ever wanted, and then after a while, home was somewhere that had constantly been in her thoughts.
“No.” Hope shook her head. “I can’t go back now. Besides, I’m on my feet, and I told you, just transitioning.”
He studied her through that lovely blue eye.He really is far too handsome,Hope thought. She exhaled as his cell phone rang.
“Tex.”
He listened as his friend talked. She knew who Tex was, because unlike her, Ryan had friends in Howling, and he kept in touch with a few of them. Tex was Ethan Gelderman, husband to a local, Annabelle.
“That’s actually great timing, bud. All right if I bring someone with me? Yeah, yeah, I get it, first round’s on me, and then the second and third. What? How come you don’t want my firstborn?”
He cut the call and smiled at Hope.
“Good news, I can get you back home without having to pay a cent.”
“I don’t want to go back.”
“You’re at a loose end. Why not?”
“No.” She would not allow herself to even contemplate it. Not until she had a job and money. Not until she had her respect back.
He smiled, and Hope refused to acknowledge how cute he looked. She did not like this man, even if he’d rescued her from her own stupidity, and bought her clothes, washed her after she’d puked on him, and then paid for breakfast. The man was a damn saint.
“That call was from a friend. His uncle’s plane is here, picking up some stuff. He’s then getting it delivered to Brook. He knew I was here, and offered me a ride if I was ready to go home. He said you could tag along.”
“What? No. Who has friends with private planes? That’s just weird.”
“Not to him and his family. Those Texans of his have money.”
“No, I don’t want to go to Howling, Newman, and you’re not ignoring me on this and doing it anyway….” Her words fell away as he read a text that had just arrived on his phone.
“Newman, I’m not going home.”
“You got somewhere else to be? Because it sure doesn’t look like it, and you don’t have money, which has to suck. So why not come home?”
“I don’t want to.” Hope’s heart was thudding hard. “And you have no idea if I’ve got money or not.”
“Do you?”
“What?”
