“What’s going on with Tessa?”
Rory lifted one shoulder. “She’s acting like Anna for some reason and ended up in some trouble. But the rest of the family is on it, and Basanelli is helping out, so I’m remaining focused on you for now.” Anna was Tessa’s younger sister, and as a lawyer in the city, she often ended up in unusual situations.
Serenity figured she’d call Tessa in a day or so once things calmed down. At the moment, she didn’t mind Rory letting folks know to leave them alone—not that the peace would last long in their small town. “You should go take care of your family.”
“You’remy family.” He sighed. “You mentioned something about phone calls last week when you burst by me in the diner.”
True. She had accused him of calling her. “Have you been calling me?”
He studied her for several long heartbeats. “No. I told you I’d give you until New Year’s to get over this mad, and I keep my word.”
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “You may keep your word, but half of them are lies.”
Finally, the amusement dancing in his eyes disappeared. “We both know that I couldn’t tell you about my job. I took an oath not to reveal the truth to anybody.”
“We were supposed to get married,” she spat. “I had a right to know you were in a dangerous job.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But I had to get an okay from a higher-up to tell you, and I hadn’t gotten that yet.”
So that’s what had taken so long. “That’s unfortunate,” she said. “As I see it, full disclosure was at hand when you asked me to marry you. I deserved to know everything before I said yes.”
“But you did say yes,” he reminded her.
“A temporary mistake, I assure you.” She missed small diamond more than she’d admit to anybody. The engagement ring had been simple and elegant, and the wedding band had been slightly larger. The two had curved together much like she and Rory had.
Of course, she’d thrown the ring at his face when they broke up. Good times. She glanced over to where Earl watched raptly from the far corner and gave him a look. He immediately turned to double-check the stacks of shower curtains on the shelves. “I don’t like your ultimatum of New Year’s,” she muttered.
“That’s unfortunate. You didn’t like my ultimatum of Christmas, either.” He cocked his head. “But I’ll make you a deal.”
She frowned. “What kind of deal?”
“Accompany me to the Elks Lodge New Year’s Eve dance, and I’ll give you until Valentine’s Day.”
Her chin lowered, and her ears heated. “You’re not calling the shots here. What do you mean, you’llgive me? There is no deadline. I broke up with you.”
“Which was a mistake.”
“The heck it was.” Her voice rose.
Earl looked over his shoulder and then quickly refocused on the shelves.
“We’re not getting back together, Rory. You need to get over it,” she said, her heart hurting.
He scrutinized her in that way he had, as if he could see right through her and delve into her every secret. He settled one knuckle beneath her chin and nudged it up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
She could’ve stepped back, but she held her ground instead.
“You still love me.” His voice sounded like rough water over sharp rocks.
She wasn’t a very good liar, so she didn’t deny it.
His smile finally arrived. “My nana would be the first to say that love conquers everything.”
“After you lied to me, your nana said I should take a cast iron pan to your head.” Nana O’Shea may look like a sprite and believe in magic and fairies, but the woman was fully Irish and had the temper to prove it. Of course, when she’d recommended the cast iron pan, she had seemed rather calm about it. She’d also had more than a clue about Rory’s true line of work but wouldn’t go into detail about it.
Rory stepped into Serenity, and his scent of cedar and musk wafted over her.
Her entire body did a slow roll.
