14. Lee
Chapter 14
Lee
“ W hy the hell did I let you talk me into this?” I walked beside my brother with a scowl on my face as we traipsed through town. Everywhere I looked was decorated like a scene from a Christmas card, which pissed me off because it only highlighted my terrible mood. I couldn’t rid my brain of the devastated look on Nix’s face when I hurled those awful insults her way.
“Because you might be a grumpy bastard but you’re not as heartless as you want people to believe.”
“That’s what Nix said.” A woman had finally seen me, all of me and she didn’t stay for the money. She’d stuck around for me. And I went and pushed her away, dammit.
“I don’t want to kick you while you’re so clearly down, but man you screwed up. Big time.”
“I know,” I growled but Mac was completely oblivious.
“I mean, this was a major screw-up and it’s so unlike you.” He shook his head. “You’re normally so calm and rational when you make decisions. Usually you end your entanglements with jewelry.”
I felt terrible but I couldn’t say if I screwed up or not. “You didn’t hear what Torey said.” I hadn’t stopped thinking about since I heard it through the bakery kitchen door.
“Yeah, you told me a dozen times Lee. But you know what you didn’t tell me? That Nix laughed with Torey and agreed to it, jokingly or not. That she had ever asked you not to develop that land. You said she hated it and was worried about Holiday Grove, which is great by the way, but you never said she outright asked you not to do it.”
“No, she hadn’t.” My shoulders fell at my realization and my feet slowed to a stop. “But how will I ever know the truth?”
“Easy. Every day that she doesn’t ask for your money. Every day that she doesn’t request that you shutter your business, that’s how you’ll know.” Mac shrugged and turned to face me. “You sabotaged this. I think you’re actually worried that you might disappoint Nix because she likes you for who you are, not what you are.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is. Maybe you don’t dislike the vapid airheads and gold diggers as much as you pretend to. You’re afraid to be with a woman who challenges you.”
“Who has ulterior motives.” Why was he forgetting that part?
“You can prove it, right?”
“I can’t. Obviously.” That’s what had me in such a foul mood. Well that and Nix’s words. Actually falling in love with you. “She said she was falling in love with me, but I can’t unhear what Torey said.” Which was unfortunate because I missed her like crazy.
“The heart what the heart wants,” Mac said with a level of wisdom I didn’t often associate with my little brother. “Do you really need to build this resort?”
“Of course I don’t need to, but the land is bought and the crews have been hired. It’s moving forward like a freight train.”
“Then why not reconsider it? Or at the very least reconsider your plans for the resort now that you have more information.”
He was right and I had no response to that so I remained silent.
“Hey Mac!” Torey stopped in front of us, smiling at my brother before she sent me an angry glare. “Who’d you piss off to end up on dickhead duty?”
Mac laughed. “Nature, I guess, since the dickhead is my brother.”
She rolled her eyes and then sent Mac a look of pity. “I guess that why you got to be a handsome rockstar.”
“Just handsome?”
Her lips twitched playfully. “Your ego is big enough, you don’t need me to add to it.”
“But you have all of my albums so that ship is sailed. Go on, stroke the ego a little bit, Tor.”
Tor? “What the hell is going on here?”
Her smile vanished and she glared at me. “I can’t believe you broke her heart, you asshole.” She let out what sounded like a growl and shoved me. “I went to bat for you. I told her to go for it and she did and she fell for you, and you proved me wrong.”
I took a step back because she seemed like she was about to explode. “Torey,” I began but her nostrils flared and I snapped my mouth shut.
“No! You don’t get to say anything . You, Lee Lancaster are a world class jerk. You took a joke about orgasms and broke my friend and I really hate you right now. A lot.” She smiled at Mac. “See you around superstar.”
“Can I still come for Christmas?” He laughed when she stopped and turned.
“Yeah. And dickhead can still come too. I guess.”
Mac whistled. “She’s really mad.”
“You didn’t stand up for me,” I accused.
Mac shrugged. “I heard your side and her side, which matched yours but was a bit more complete with the context you apparently didn’t hear. And I’m on your side Lee, I just think the best thing for you is Nix.”
“You don’t even know her.”
“Exactly, but I know how you are with her and I like it. You’re less formal and stiff, more relaxed.”
“I miss her,” I admitted as we continued our walk through town and then the park where there was a speed gift wrapping contest happening.
“Then you have to do something about it.”
Yeah, I did have to do something. But I couldn’t imagine what would get Nix to forgive me for everything I said to her.
You won’t know until you try. That’s what my Aunt Nadia always said and she hadn’t steered me wrong yet.