“I had it, he needed it.” Tex shrugged, and to him it was that simple. The man had millions, and he was a generous person. If someone he cared about was in need, then he’d provide.
“You’re related to John Finch, and he owes you two million dollars?”
“He did, we’re square now.”
“Square.” Hope sounded dazed.
The Texan nodded.
“How much money do you have?” Hope asked. “No, scratch that, I don’t want to know.”
“You need a loan, honey?”
“No!” She took a step backward. “Thanks.”
“You only have to ask.”
And he meant it, Newman knew. Because he’d been raised with money, it was no big deal to him like it was to those who didn’t have any—like Hope.
“You don’t know me!”
“My girl likes you, that’s enough for me. Plus you’re a Howler, and I’ve never really met a bad one.”
Hope turned to look at Newman and then back to Tex.
“I can’t deal with this right now. Because it’s just too weird, plus there’s the small matter of you lying to Jay and now I have to find a way to undo that lie, and I don’t know how to, which in turn means I’m probably going to have to move to New Zealand. Which I’ve heard is awesome, but I hadn’t planned on it.”
“Hope, we can work this out. Tex will call his cousin—”
“You can’t just call someone to save me, Newman. Life doesn’t work exactly as you want it to.”
“Actually, I probably can,” Tex said, stating the facts as he saw them. “John owes me.”
“We’ll make it happen,” Newman said.
“Why?” She lifted her arms wide. “You don’t owe me anything, and neither does he.” She pointed at Tex. “I should have just kept my mouth shut and not confided in Buster. This is what comes from breaking hard and fast rules and trusting people.”
“What comes from trusting people?” Tex asked her.
“Nothing good.”
Tex and Newman then watched her walk to the counter and pack up her things. She then left without looking their way again, and Newman had a sudden case of indigestion.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Hope looked left, right, and straight ahead when she stepped out of the Roar. Of Jay there was no sign. Thankful for this small reprieve, she headed down the street and made her way to the water. She found Mikey at the water’s edge skipping stones. Branna McBride and her daughter, Rose, were watching.
Hope stopped several feet away, and thought about retreating, but Branna turned at that moment and saw her.
“Hey, Hope.”
She had a lovely soft burr to her voice that spoke of her Irish heritage, and if that wasn’t a giveaway there was the dark hair, pale skin, and green eyes.
“Hi, Branna.”
She made herself walk forward. The little girl, who’d had her arms wrapped around Mikey’s leg, released him and looked at her as Hope stopped beside her mother. She had a sweet smile tilting her rosebud lips.
“’Lo.”
