Beth Ann nodded tightly. “Thank you, Georgia.”
“I just think—”
Beth Ann’s phone rang, cutting them off. She gave Georgia an apologetic look and picked up the phone, heart thrumming. That was the ringtone she’d assigned to Colt. She put a finger to her ear and turned her back as she answered. “Hello?”
“Hey darlin’,” he said, his voice sending a thrill through her body. “Where you at?”
“I’m looking at places to rent,” she said softly.
“Can I join? Dying to see your pretty face again. Ain’t no one on this last trip half as good-looking as you.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Missed you, too.”
“So?”
“Sure.” She gave him the address. “See you soon.”
When she hung up and turned around, Georgia was giving her a knowing look. “Was that who I think it was?” She wagged a finger. “I knew it was just a matter of time before you two lovebirds got back together. So you won’t be needing my help after all, will you?”
Oh dear. “That was my boyfriend.”
You could have knocked Georgia over with a feather. Astonishment flicked over her face, then speculation. “New boyfriend?”
It was going to be all over town this afternoon, if it wasn’t already. “I’m dating Colt Waggoner.”
Georgia’s mouth dropped a little. “One of the Waggoners?”
Beth Ann crossed her arms over her chest. “Colt, yes.” The rest of the family was a little rough around the edges, but Colt wasn’t like that. “He’s a good man.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Georgia said, and moved to Beth Ann. She rubbed her arm. “I know you and Allan are going through a hard time right now, but he’s a good man with a great job. He’d marry you if you’d just give him the chance. Don’t ruin your pride, tossing yourself at the first man that comes along. You’re beautiful. You deserve so much better than a Waggoner boy.” She smiled at Beth Ann’s frozen face. “Look at you. So young and sweet. You deserve the best man in town. And that man’s not Colt Waggoner.”
Numb with shock at this pep talk, Beth Ann stared at her.
Georgia patted her on the arm. “I realize you’re rebounding, and this is a phase, sweetie, so I’m not going to lecture you. Everyone wants the bad boy before they settle down. You’ll get it out of your system and then go back to Allan. Here.” She pushed the pile of printouts toward Beth Ann, each sheet of paper with a key attached. “I’ve got another appointment I need to run to. Just return these when you’re done and we’ll talk about which one you like best, okay?”
“Sure,” Beth Ann said in a faint voice. “Thanks.”
Georgia gave her a wink and trotted off. Beth Ann heard the Realtor’s car start a moment later, and then Beth Ann was all alone.
You’ll get it out of your system.
And then go back to Allan.
She looked around the ugly duplex she couldn’t afford.
Despair crashed over her. Beth Ann sagged against a wall and slid to the ground, curling her legs close. Hot tears dripped down her face, ruining her careful makeup. She didn’t care. She swiped at the tears, but the more she swiped, the faster they fell.
She couldn’t afford to move out. Her business was failing. She was failing. Everyone thought she was just having a “moment.” That she’d regain her senses any minute now, and run screaming back to Allan because that was the only sane move.
And nobody liked her with Colt. When are you going to wise up and go back to Allan? You had such a good man, everyone told her.
But she had a good man now. And she should have said it, should have defended him. But no one listened to what she said anyhow.
Everyone thought they knew what she needed better than she did.
And it was just too much.
A quick knock came at the front door a few moments later, and before she could respond, the door opened and Colt stuck his head in. “Hey darlin’—”
His gaze darkened as he came inside, studied her from where she was crumpled in the entryway of the small, cramped duplex, her face covered in tears. As she watched, his jaw hardened. He very carefully shut the door behind him, then eased down onto the floor next to her, mindful of his knee, and took her hand.
He still smelled of wood smoke and campfires. He’d wanted to see her so badly he hadn’t even stopped to shower yet. For some reason, she liked that.
“Was it that cocksucker?” he asked, his voice flat and deadly. “Do I need to go rip his dick off to give him the hint?”
She shook her head, wiping at her cheeks. “I think…I think I’m just having a bad day.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, kissed her hair. She snuggled up against him and sighed, resting her cheek against his shoulder.
“You want to talk about it?”
She didn’t want to talk about all of it, because she knew it’d hurt his feelings. He didn’t say much about his family, but she knew that he was sensitive about it. She’d be blind not to know that. “I want to move out from my parents’ place,” she said in a quavering voice. “As long as I’m there, they’re going to drive me crazy with society parties and stupid fund-raisers and trying to push me back toward Allan because he has money.”
“I’ll help you move out,” he said slowly. He leaned in and she felt him rest his cheek against the top of her head, and her heart melted just a little. “You like this place, darlin’?”
“Not really,” she said with a hiccup, and then laughed at herself. “I’m being a snob. It’s small and the bathroom sucks and I think the neighbor is growing pot in his backyard. But I can’t afford it anyhow. I can’t afford anything.”
“You want to borrow a few grand from me?”
Oh heavens, that would just make her feel worse. She shook her head, her fingers stroking down his arm as she stared at the empty, tiny living room, the brand-new yellow carpet. “When I moved in with Allan, I let him pay for everything. He paid the rental on the house. He bought both of our cars. If I wanted something, he bought it. When we broke up the first time…I didn’t have anything. My bank account had been joint with Allan’s bank account, and we’d long since used up my money to send him through business school. I didn’t even go to college. What was I going to do with a degree anyhow? I was only good at looking pretty and fixing hair. So I thought I’d go to beauty school. I’d hidden money over the last year Allan and I were together, and I used that to put myself through beauty school. There was nothing left for opening a salon. I had to borrow money from my parents for a car. I borrowed money from the bank—money that my parents had to cosign for—to start my business. And no one is convinced I can do it on my own.” She gave a watery sigh. “No one understands why the mayor’s daughter wants to play at having a business and do people’s hair. And everyone seems to think I’m going to come to my senses and jump right back into Allan’s arms.”