He cast her a suspicious glance. “It’s none of my business but why can’t she drop your things at my place?”
“Because,” she said and left it at that to look out the window.
“Because you don’t want her to know we’re working together after the way I bailed on you,” he said, his tone deep and emotionless.
“Yeah.”
“She’d give me a piece of her mind, I’m sure.”
“And then some.”
“I can handle it, if it’s easier for you.”
“It’s easier for her not to know.”
“Then take my truck if your vehicle isn’t fixed.”
“Okay,” she said, more to silence him than anything. She would ask Russ about rental cars. If she decided to stay with Finn, she didn’t want her every move controlled by him. By any man. By anyone. She liked to be free to do her own thing when the mood struck.
He drove them to a well-maintained garage painted a bright green and white on the edge of town. He parked and held out his hand. “If you give me your keys I can arrange for the tow and repair.”
“I can take care of my own car.”
He let out a long breath. “Is this the way it’s going to be between us? Everything a fight?”
“No, I…” No point in arguing. She got out her keys and dropped them on his palm.
“Be right back.” He exited his truck at top speed, likely thinking she might change her mind and snatch her keys back.
What was the big deal for him to arrange for her tow and repair? He knew the mechanic, and it would be faster and easier for him to handle it. So why be disagreeable?
Because Finn had hurt her, that’s why! Big time hurt her. And she didn’t want his help with anything. Not now anyway. Maybe after they hashed out their differences she would change her mind, but she just couldn’t see that happening.
Petty of her when he was simply being kind. But feelings had a way of taking over. Especially hurt feelings. And they colored everything in sight. Everything, until she let them go and reason returned.
Right now the only way to do that was give this whole situation to God. She should’ve done that the minute she clapped eyes on the infuriating man.
She closed her eyes. Prayed. Sincerely. Earnestly. Asking God for the ability to trust His reason for putting Finn in her life again. To let down her carefully erected wall and be accepting.
The door clicked, and her eyes startled open.
“You okay?” Finn asked, sliding behind the wheel.
“Just praying.”
“Sorry to disturb. Go ahead and resume, and I’ll get us to the sheriff’s office.” He glanced at his watch. “We should arrive right on time.”
She looked out the window but didn’t go back to prayer. Instead, she watched as they drove into the small town with narrow streets lined with small older houses at first and then turned into a commercial area. An ice cream shop, café, and stores with bright banners lined both sides of the streets. The sidewalks were filled with tourists buying souvenirs and antiques, laughing and enjoying themselves, oblivious to the recent bombing and murder not far away.
Hopefully, when they heard the shocking news, it wouldn’t ruin their vacation. Days spent in town with her sisters and the Maddox brothers had always been a highlight of her summers. The lazy, idyllic sun-kissed days were different from life in the big city.
Ah, simpler times. She longed for them. She sighed.
Finn glanced at her.
“Sorry. Just going down memory lane. Maybe I told you how I used to hang out in town a couple of days every summer with the Maddox brothers. Or we just came in to grab an ice cream cone.”
“Did we pass their property on the way in?” he asked.
