How could he?She specifically told him she’d buy her own car—she didn’t need his help.
The low price the salesman quoted was, of course, possible only because David was paying half!And she believed them, stupid idiot that she was.
She wiped her eyes and stared in amazement at her wet hands.She was crying.
*
Frustrated, David staredat the phone.The salesman from Hermanus had just phoned him.The bloody idiot wasn’t supposed to tell Dana that David was paying for half of the car.But, damn it all, he wanted to make sure she got a good car and wouldn’t be driving around in a dilapidated number like the one she had.
“What did the phone do to you?”Darryn asked, looking up from his computer.
“It’s Dana… I…” he began but wasn’t sure how to explain what had happened.
The office door opened and Don strolled in, a grin nearly splitting his face in two.
“I hear you’re in trouble again.”He slapped David on the back.
“What do you mean?”
“Dana and Caitlin were on the phone when I left.All I could make out was that you thought you could pay for half of Dana’s car and she wouldn’t find out.Dana is upset about something else as well, but I didn’t catch that.You, my poor brother, have a lot to learn about these women.”Don smiled sympathetically.
“Come again?”Darryn looked from Don to David.“What’s going on that I don’t know about?”
Don pointed at David.“He tried to pay for half of a new car for Dana.”
“What are you guys drinking?”Darryn cried out.“Are you also falling for a woman?”
David frowned.“I haven’t fallen for anyone; I’m trying to help her.I feel responsible for the bloody story that led to her dad’s death, and I’m helping her to get to the truth.”
“By paying for half of her car?”Don shook his head.
David rubbed his face.“She found out it was my story that led to her dad’s death, and she was upset.Her car also broke down.I drove her back to Hermanus, we spent time together, and I—”
“Back up a bit.”Don’s eyebrows rose.“Define ‘spent time together’—did you sleep with her?”
David grabbed his laptop.He had to get out of here and phone Dana.“Not that it’s any of your business, but yeah, I did,” he said and walked toward the door.
“Wait a damn minute,” Don called out, and David looked over his shoulder at his brother.
All the mirth had gone from Don’s face.“You know Dana is Caitlin’s best friend?And you know how I feel about my wife?”
David nodded.
“If you mess with Dana, you mess with me.Is that clear?”
“Crystal.”David snarled and stormed out of the office.Damn it all to hell!He was only trying to help.
*
The first fivetimes she didn’t even answer the damn phone.The sixth time, she answered.Well, snarled, really.
“I don’t need your money.I don’t need your help.I don’t need you to make deals for me.I don’t need you.Stay out of my life!”
Before David could say anything, she’d cut the connection.
Frowning, he stared at the phone in his hand.Now what?He couldn’t remember a woman hanging up on him.Ever.What was he supposed to do now?Crawl back?Apologize?But he didn’t do anything wrong!
Fed up with the whole business, he opened his laptop.He didn’t have time for a woman who didn’t want his help, who didn’t need him.Work on the newly finished hotel near the Kruger National Park was nearly completed, and they would have to start their campaign promoting the place in earnest now.
