13
Could the day get any longer? Out back, where they’d found Tanner working on the tree farm, Kam stood beside Kirby while they
went over what had happened. If he could have handled this on his own, he would have. But Tanner had more extensive experience
and better contacts.
The sun was starting to sink in the sky, leaving behind peach and orange hues. The day had cooled, and here among the trees,
the air smelled fresh and clean.
As Kirby struggled to keep it together, especially against Tanner’s darkening frown, Kam wrapped up his explanation of the
situation.
Still scowling like the devil himself, Tanner put a hand on Kirby’s shoulder. “First, we’ll figure it out, okay?”
Kirby looked ready to piss himself.
“Dude, you’re making him nervous. He doesn’t get that you’re furious at the situation, not at him.”
Tanner didn’t even spare Kam a glance. “I’m angry at all of it.
Angry that Glory got hurt—that she could have been killed.
Angry that none of us knew what was going on with you and your sister.
Beyond fucking furious that Mike is hanging around and causing this type of trouble.
But, Kirby, I mean it.” He gave his shoulder a slight shake. “We’re on it, okay?”
Warily, Kirby nodded. “I really am sorry.”
“I know. It sucks when things are out of our control. Siblings are important.” He slanted Kam a look. “I’ve one of my own.”
“That goes both ways,” Kam replied.
Nervously, Kirby glanced back and forth between them before a small grin, barely there, took the trembling from his mouth.
See, this was the magic touch Tanner had, knowing how to relate to kids in a way that got through to them. He seemed to have
an instinct about when to curse, when to whisper, when to make physical contact, and when to keep his distance, all depending
on the kid.
Damn, he admired his brother a lot. “What we need from you is your word that you won’t do anything like that ever again. You
need money, Kirby, you come to us, and we’ll help you figure it out the legit way.”
Bobbing his head in fast agreement, Kirby said, “I swear.”
Kam nodded once in satisfaction.
Now, with that settled, Tanner asked him, “Shouldn’t you get in touch with Glory? You’ve been gone the better part of the
day. Or do you want Callie to run over there again? She will, you know.”
“I’ll call her now.” He, too, patted Kirby’s shoulder before saying, “I’ll be right back.” He’d need to return Kirby to his
car, since they’d ridden over together.
As Kam walked off, he heard Tanner say, “Now, I want to talk to you about a better job opportunity, and tomorrow, I’d like to introduce you to someone who can help with your sister.
No, don’t get spooked. She’s a terrific person from a local organization.
I trust her, and I want you to trust her, too. ”
Knowing he’d done as much as he could for now, Kam headed toward the house. He’d say hi to Addie, give her a hug, and then
call Glory on his way home. Instead, as he neared the back porch, he found Addie and Shara chatting.
That drew him up short. What the hell? “Shara?”
With giant tears in her eyes, her mascara leaving tracks on her cheeks, Shara hiccupped.
Could this day get any longer? Manning up, he stepped forward to deal with this next issue, and his phone dinged with a message.
Nearly groaning, he pulled it from his pocket and saw it was a text from Glory.
Running behind?
He should have called her before now, should have at least left her a message, but he hadn’t known how to explain any of it.
He wanted to be sitting with her, close enough to touch her, because he knew she was going to feel guilty over the pressure
Mike had put on Kirby.
She wouldn’t hate Kirby, wouldn’t blame the kid any more than he did. And wasn’t that amazing? He had so much faith in her,
in her big heart and understanding nature, that he didn’t have a single doubt.
He started a reply—and Shara landed against him, nearly knocking the phone from his hand. Quickly, he levered her back. “What’s
going on?”
Addie, God bless her, joined them. She even took Shara’s arm and eased her away. “She’s had an upset.”
To be safe, Kam took a hasty step back. Shara looked ready to grab him again. “Okay, let’s hear it.”
“You hate me, don’t you?”
Her wail was pitiful—and annoying. Glory was at home with broken ribs and a jacked-up shoulder, and she didn’t wail. “I don’t
hate you. I just don’t understand what’s going on.”
Out of nowhere, Addie produced a tissue that she pressed into Shara’s hand. “Mop up, honey.”
Turning her back on him, shoulders hunched, Shara wiped her face and then loudly blew her nose. Still, without facing him,
she said, “I’m sorry, Kam. Sorry that I ever bothered you.”
And with that, she quickly started away.
Addie sighed. “Go on. I’ll rescue you in a few minutes.”
Glaring at Shara’s back, he jogged after her. “Unfair. You don’t get to come here, put on a scene, and then race off.”
“Ha! I can do whatever I want. It’s no longer your business. You won’t even care if I’m gone for good.”
That was too over-the-top dramatic to dismiss. Gently, he caught her arm, halting her rapid retreat. “You and I are friends,
Shara. Only friends, but friends help when they can, so tell me what’s wrong.”
Groaning, she turned toward him again.
Good God, all that tissue had done was wreck her makeup more. How much did she wear, anyway? Squinting at her, he detected
paler flesh beneath beige smears, blotchy blush, mascara streaks, and something shiny blue . . .
“Stop it,” she wailed, covering her face and sobbing
“Hey, come on.” Despite his frustration, pity welled up. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
“It’s worse.” Again, she swiped at her face with the tissue, which was swiftly deteriorating.
Too bad he didn’t carry a hanky on him. “Take a breath. That’s it. If you have a dry spot left on that tissue, give your nose
another blow.”
“I have napkins in my car.”
By silent agreement, they headed to the driveway.
Kam’s thoughts were all over, mostly trying to think of ways he could expediently—and safely—get her on her way. Right now,
she shouldn’t drive. Not until she got control of herself and calmed down.
Opening the passenger door, she reached in and snagged several napkins off the console. She scrubbed over her face, blew her
nose again, smoothed down her hair, and released a shaky breath.
Over her shoulder, she gave him a cautious glance. “If you start staring at me again, I’m going to sock you.”
“I think I’m better prepared this time.” Trying for some errant humor, he visibly braced himself.
With a small smile, she turned—looking better, not as messy, but with very red eyes and a pink nose. “You always were a comedian.”
“Glory says I’m outrageous.”
She huffed. “Yes, that, too, but always in the best ways.”
Would Glory agree with that assessment? He hoped so. He was growing anxious, knowing Glory was still waiting. “What’s happened,
hon?”
“I think I really screwed up and now I don’t know what to do.”
“Tell me and I’ll see if I can help.” That is, if he didn’t have to help right this minute. He didn’t like that Glory had
been flying solo for most of the day—especially not while she was hurt.
Not when he wanted to be there for her.
Shara leaned back on her car, her gaze on her feet. “There was a man . . . He was sitting alone at the bar, so I went over
to talk to him.”
“Looking to hook up?” He wasn’t one to judge.
“I was exploring the possibility. You’d already rejected me, and I had this stupid idea of getting even.”
Definitely off the mark, because he didn’t care who Shara slept with, as long as it wasn’t him.
“He was a snooty guy, in a hilarious way. Like he was from the wrong century or something. Too proper. I don’t remember our
exact conversation, but he told me he was in love with someone else.”
Those damn prickles of alarm attacked him again. “What did he look like?”
Lifting one shoulder, she said, “Tall, slim. He had dark hair, but I think it was dyed. Like . . . it didn’t match his eyebrows.
Pretty sure he was wearing contacts too, because his eyes didn’t look natural.”
Mike. “What did you do, Shara?” If she’d said or done anything that would help Mike, he’d—
“He encouraged me to go after you. To . . . throw myself at you? He said when you accepted what I was offering, your girlfriend
would realize you weren’t worth her trouble. I don’t know. Something like that. I’d had a few drinks and wasn’t really thinking
clearly.” She frowned at him, as if it were his fault. “Anyway, that’s why I’ve been coming on strong. At the time, what he
said made sense.”
“No, it doesn’t make a bit of sense.” Jesus, he hated stuff like this. Taking Shara’s shoulders in his hands, he bent down
to see her face. “Ruined makeup aside, you’re a gorgeous woman. Funny, too, and easy to be around when you aren’t playing
games.”
“Don’t you just mean easy?”
“No, I don’t mean that. You’re a healthy woman and it’s great that you like sex.” He sure as hell liked it, too, but from
now on, he wanted only Glory. “The last thing you need to do is chase a guy. Any man who doesn’t want you isn’t good enough
for you, anyway.”
Her gaze searched his. “Even you?”
“Especially me.” He didn’t plan it, didn’t even give it a lot of thought before admitting, “I’m in love with Glory.”
Eyes flaring wide, she stared at him.
Huh. Saying it out loud somehow made it more substantial. Real. Validated. Kam wanted to say it again, but to Glory, not anyone
else. “You don’t ever need to play second best.”
“See, that’s the problem. You’re such a nice guy, it’s easy to fall for you.”
“You haven’t,” he pointed out.
“No, I guess not or I’d be extra-crushed right now.”
Relieved on that score, he let out a breath. One catastrophe averted. “So what did this asshole do that has you sobbing?”
Her lip started to quiver. “He called me a worthless slut.”
Anger swirled in Kam’s gut—for Shara, who he really did consider a friend—but also for Glory, because he just knew this was