Jessie might be in there, and he wasn’t ready to face her yet.
When he got back to town, he sent Jake a text, letting him know he could lift the guard since no one had spotted Pendleton again. Then he told him he wouldn’t be around for a few days.
Jake’s simple reply ofno problemtold Robert his brother understood what he was going through, and he’d keep Jessie safe.
So why did Robert feel like he was letting her down in so many ways?
Chapter 24
Robert walked out of the city office building after a lengthy meeting with the mayor and slipped on his sunglasses. He sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. Mayor Conrad liked the sound of his own voice and always droned on too long.
It didn’t help that Lewis Jackson running for Sheriff came up again. Apparently, the man had been busy trying to solicit donations and votes. At some point, Robert needed to get serious about his campaign.
He pulled out his phone and sent Ben a text:You free for lunch? I can pick up something at the diner and bring it to your office.
He leaned against his Tahoe, waiting for Ben’s reply. He couldn’t shake the unease that had plagued him ever since he fought Pendleton at the cabin. Sitting around, waiting for Jessie’s ex to make a move, left him restless and irritated. He’d like to think they had seen the last of the jerk, but Pendleton was out of jail, and Robert knew the man would be back.
Would Jessie’s pregnancy force her back into Pendleton’s grasp?
The thought stole his breath.She can’t go back to that monster. I won’t let her.
Not that he could stop her if she wanted to leave. And therein lay his problem. He didn’t have a claim on Jessie’s heart.
Robert’s phone pinged.
Ben:Sure. I can meet you at Charity’s if you’d rather.
Robert:No. I’ll come to your office.
Robert enjoyed eating at his aunt’s diner, but not today. He needed to vent to Ben, and he didn’t want an audience. Besides, Amy worked at the diner and if things were slow, she’d join them. Robert liked Amy—she made Ben happy—but he wasn’t in the mood for her cheerfulness today.
His phone pinged with another text.
Ben:Sounds good. Everything okay?
Robert didn’t bother to respond because he didn’t know how. He couldn’t tell his best friend through a text his life was unraveling. And it had all started three weeks ago when Sylvia walked into his office.
Twenty minutes later, Robert walked into Ben’s office laden with to-go bags.
Ben stood. “Should we eat in the conference room?”
The conference room wasn’t much larger than Ben’s office, but it had an open doorway on either end and it sat right across from Sheila’s desk.
“This is fine.” He set one bag on the corner of Ben’s desk.
His cousin gave him a long, piercing look before he shifted some files, making room for the other bag.
Ben left his office and returned a few seconds later with two water bottles, leaving the door open behind him.
Robert closed the door before sitting in the chair opposite Ben.
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just thought it would be nice to have a quiet lunch.” Not that there had been any noise coming from outside Ben’s office.
“That’s a bunch of bull.” Ben’s eyes pinned him again.
Robert lifted the Styrofoam container from the bag closest to him. But his stomach had twisted in so many knots he no longer had an appetite. He set it on the desk without opening it and dropped back into his chair with a heavy sigh.
