This is the reason I didn’t want people to know what Travis did to me, it’s the look that Royce gave me the second he overheard me talking to Trav earlier, it’s the look of pity, and I hate it.
I don’t want people to pity me, I don’t want people looking at me like I’m some fragile, naive girl who got taken advantage of.
“Lorna!” Royce calls louder as I head into my living room.
“What do you want me to say?” I ask over my shoulder, kneeling down to light the fire in the icy cold room.
Behind me, he must flick on the light switch, bathing the room in a warm yellow glow. “How much money did he take?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” I say on an exhale.
“Of course it does!” His tone startles me and my eyes snap to his over my shoulder. He takes a step closer, lowering his voice, “Lorna,how muchdid he take?” he asks again, softer.
I shift to the couch, sinking down onto the plush cushions and lean forward, my head hanging low. “Twenty-thousand,” I admit.
Royce curses under his breath, shaking his head. “Did you report him to the police?”
“Royce, his dadisthe police. He’s the Sheriff. Travis is untouchable here, I’m pretty sure he’d even get away with murder if he wanted to. The diner’s failing, I’ve tried everything to get us out of the red, and seems like everything I do doesn’t work. I’m a failure.”
“No you’re not. You arenota failure, do you hear me?” He crouches down in front of me, his topaz eyes holding mine in his gaze.
“One step forward is two steps back… I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried everything, Royce. The diner was my dad’s dream,andmine. I… I can’t lose it. I can’t fail him.” I can feel the tears burn in the backs of my eyes as I speak but I force them down.
“Let me give you the money,” he says. “However much you need, it’s yours, just say the word.”
I jump up from the chair and squeeze my way past him. “No! Absolutely not. I’m not some charity case. I’ve never taken money from anyone and I don’t intend to start now, now matter how bad things are.”
He spins and rises to his feet. “Lorna, you’ve spent your whole life helping others, making sure those around you don’t go without, giving everything you have to help them. For once let someone help you.”
“Idon’ttake charity, Royce.”
“Then think of it as an investment. I’m offering toinvestin your diner, it’s what I do, and I think it has real potential.Youhave potential, and I’d hate to see it go to waste because of him,” his grip tightens around my hands, “take the money, Lorna.”
I can’t take his money can I?
I’d be a moron to pass it up. This is about much more than my hurt pride, and about keeping my dad’s dream alive, making sure all his hard work doesn’t go to waste.
With Royce’s money, the diner would be safe and all of the worry and stress from the past year will be over.
He closes the space between us and takes my hands in his, his touch sending shivers through my body. “If it makes it easier, you don’t have to make a decision now. Think it over, the offer will always be open.” He gives me a reassuring smile.
I drop my gaze to our clasped hands as he rubs lazy circles over the back of my hand. I like the way it feels right to be so close to him, how good it feels with his hand in mine, and I like how heat pools in the pit of my stomach as the urge to kiss him consumes me.
My heart is racing, my mind spinning. I can’t shake the image of Royce from my mind, the way he held me as we danced in the community hall, how he looked at me, how badly I wanted him to kiss me, and just when I thought it was gonna happen, everything came to a halt. Talk about bad timing.
I’ve known him all of a day and the feelings for him that are growing inside of me are unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I didn’t even feel this way for Travis. It’s fast and exciting and it scares me but in the best way.
I pull my hands out of his and turn to escape the room as quickly as possible, only I stop when he calls my name, “Lorna.”
I turn just as I reach the door. He’s standing facing me. “The money, I never wanted you to think I was giving it to you out of… pity, or because you’re a charity case ‘cause you’re not. I want you to take it because seeing you today… I think you’re incredible, and despite everything you’re going through, you still put other people before yourself. You, more than anyone deserves that money.”
His words startle me, stealing the breath from my lungs. “But why would you do that for me? You barely even know me.”
He advances towards me. “You saved me from being homeless yesterday, you let me into your house, a total stranger… not many people would do that.” He sweeps a strand of hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “A person like you is hard to find, and that’s what makes you special, Lorna.Sospecial.”
I don’t know what to say, it’s not often that I’m left speechless but in this moment, my mind has drawn a complete blank.
“What time is it?” he asks, breaking the silence that’s fallen between us.
