He flipped over to his side so he was facing the wall. Had she been avoiding him too? He flopped to his back and laced his fingers together over his chest, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn’t a bad guy. He wasn’t a doof. And he wasn’t doing anything to hurt Chloe.
Not on purpose, he could hear his mom say. She used to say those words when one of his sisters would end up in unexplainable tears. He would tell her he didn’t mean to hurt Ronnie or Candace’s feelings, and she’d say that sometimes we do things that hurt others without meaning to and we needed to apologize anyway.
With a groan, he threw off the covers, yanked open the door, and marched down the hallway, where he pounded on the bathroom door. “Chloe?”
“Yes?”
He ran his thumb along the doorjamb, certain he would sound like the biggest dork on the planet. “Listen, I’m sorry about tonight.”
She didn’t answer right away, and he felt an internal pressure to do better.
“I’m sorry I embarrassed you in front of my family. Amy and I dated in high school, but there wasn’t much chemistry, and to be honest, when we broke up, it was a huge relief. She thought she was breaking my heart, but I don’t think I ever really cared about her enough to care that she wasn’t there anymore. It was a shock to see her tonight, especially because she acted like she was interested.” He pressed harder with his thumb. “She wasn’t half that into me in high school. It was strange and I didn’t handle it well, and I’m sorry you got caught up in that.”
He shuffled his feet. “My whole family hates me because they like you more than they like me. I didn’t handle that well, either, and I probably need to apologize to them, but I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry.”
He was finally able to shut his mouth. Dang. He sounded so stupid. Going on about his heart not being broken. Jeez. Who cared? He pushed away from the door, not wanting to sit there and wait for her to tell him to stop babbling.
“Thanks,” came the reply.
That one word yanked him back to the door like he’d been attached to it by a giant rubber band. He leaned into the wood, grateful it was there. Apologizing was so much easier when he was talking to a door. If he had to see the hurt in her eyes one more time, he would lose it.
He searched for something that would lighten the mood. “Ronnie wanted me to invite you to her bachelorette party tomorrow night.”
“She did?” Was that a note of hope in her voice?
“She tracked me down in the parking lot just to tell me.” Well, not just to extend the invitation, but if it made Chloe feel good, then he’d let her think that. “I’ll be at the bachelor party with the guys. We’re going ice fishing on Casperson Pond. I’m not sure what the girls are doing.” He should have asked. He should have cared more about what he was dropping Chloe into. He was such a novice at this whole fiancée thing. Ronnie hadn’t seemed to mind that he didn’t ask. Maybe she thought he knew already. Maybe someone had mentioned it and he didn’t pay attention. Get your head in the game, man.
“Okay, sounds like fun.”
He looked hard at the door, now wishing that it wasn’t in his way and he could look into Chloe’s deep green eyes and see if she meant what she said. “You don’t have to go. You can stay here and …” What? What did she do in her off time? How did he work with her for months and not have a clue?
“No. I want to go. Bachelorette parties are usually a good time.”
“Not too good, I hope?” Images of an exotic male dancer pulling Chloe close made his blood boil. He was all over the place with this woman. One minute as sorry as a scolded puppy, and the next he was willing to tear some imaginary guy apart for looking at her. He ran his hand down his face. He was tired. That was all it was. Tired and worn thin from being around family so much.
“I’m sure it will be tasteful,” she responded.
“Um, okay. Well. I’m going back to bed.”
“See you in the morning.”
He patted the door and then yanked his hand away. When he’d settled back into bed, his back to the door so he wasn’t tempted to get up and make a spectacle of himself once again, he vowed to behave rationally for the rest of the weekend. No more throwing fits over this woman. He would be good. He took a deep breath. He hoped.
Chapter 13
Chloe
Chloe managed to get a few hours of sleep in the midst of wondering what the heck was going on with her. She was here to make Troy notice what he’d been missing and pretend to be in love with him for a weekend. She was helping out her business partner. She was doing a good deed. She was … kind of a mess.
See, the problem was that the emotionally empty Troy she knew from work had stayed at the shop, and this new Troy, the family man who apologized through the bathroom door, surprised her. She crushed hardcore on work Troy. What woman wouldn’t? The man had muscles for miles, a hot beard thing going, and so much alpha maleness that he could melt stomach butterflies. He’d shaved the beard for the wedding, and what was underneath? Even more hotness. Like that was fair.
But this new Troy had all that and more. He had consideration. He had humility. It took guts to say he was sorry—and he even apologized for the right thing. She could get over him looking at Amy—heck, half the women in the room were looking at her in that dress. Stupid black dress and push-up bra. But it was the shame of being scorned in front of his family that had really bothered her. She liked the Martins. They were good people who accepted her as one of their own without question, without holding back, and without making her jump through hoops.
This afternoon was the wedding welcome party, and then they had the bachelor and bachelorette parties that night. Unsure what she was supposed to do with herself until then, she headed out to the kitchen, where the scent of cinnamon beckoned.
Instead of finding the family sitting around to breakfast, the only person there was Troy’s dad, Brian. He was reading the local paper and not at all in a hurry. “Help yourself to breakfast.” He lifted his mug to her in greeting, took a drink, and swallowed. “I’ve a message for you.”
“Oh?” She went about making herself another cup of cocoa. There were fresh cinnamon rolls on the counter. How Teresa had the time or the energy to make them with all that was going on was beyond her.
“Troy had to help Grady on the ranch this morning. He should be back in time for the welcome party.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders dropped. She placed a mug of cold water in the microwave and set it to heat. “Sounds like fun.”
Brian grimaced. “It’s dirty work.”
She laughed lightly. “Says the mechanic.”
He blinked in surprise and then smiled. “Teresa and Candace are at the church, getting ready for the welcome party. I could drop you off there on my way to the shop.”
Chloe maintained a neutral face. She hadn’t minded helping decorate for the reception, but it wasn’t fun and her fingers were still raw from twisting all that wire. “You’re working today?”
Brian set his mug down and forked off a huge piece of cinnamon roll, which he shoved into his mouth. He chewed purposefully. “Eli Lawson, the welder in town, has a broken ball joint. He’s a handy guy, but he doesn’t have the tools to get this done, and he has a job he needs to get to.”
Chloe nodded. “I’ve never replaced a ball joint before. Mind if I come along?”
Dad narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? It could get dirty.”
She laughed as she looked down at her leggings and sweater dress. The outfit had seemed like a good idea when she thought she’d be spending the day with Troy doing wedding errands. “I have jeans in my room. I’ll go change.”
She hurried off, leaving her mug and roll on the table. She’d clean them up when she got back, but she was too excited about the idea of learning a new skill to take the time to do it now. She changed quickly and was back in the kitchen in no time.
“Here.” Brian thrust a paper plate with her roll and a travel mug with her drink inside into her hands.
“You need to eat more.” He glanced over her hair. She’d done it curly today, not thinking she had time to straighten it. Because of the layers, it had a lot of volume and was a hazard to her life in the shop. “Did you bring an elastic?”
She held up her flannel-clad arm, the sleeve falling just far enough down to expose the three elastics on her wrist. “I’m all set.”
He nodded in approval. “Good girl.”
She grinned. Her dad would have said the same thing.
They rode in silence to the shop, Chloe enjoying the town’s decorations while munching on her breakfast. Snow Valley went all out for the holiday. The bakery widow display was full of sugar and cookies. It reminded her of the stained-glass window at the church. “Oh. I forgot to ask. Did Teresa win the gingerbread house contest?”
“Nope.” Brian leaned against the middle console. He had a nice truck. It was probably fifteen years old, but the interior was newer and the front seat had a warmer. She appreciated the heat since the temperatures were in the thirties. He must have harvested parts from a newer truck and installed them. Nice skills.
“That’s too bad.”
“I don’t think she tried all that hard this year. She’s more worried about the wedding.”
“That’s understandable.”
“She worries too much about these things.”
Chloe didn’t respond. But she noted that Brian and Troy were both worried about what Teresa thought and felt. “Is she bossy?” Chloe tried to probe.
“She takes on too much. Stresses herself out over small details.”
“She’s a perfectionist.”
“You wouldn’t think so, considering she married me,” he joked. “But yeah. She gets headaches, and I’m sure she’ll have a bad bout of the flu once the wedding is over. Wish she’d figure out how to stay even.” Brian wasn’t worried because he was trying to manage Teresa’s moods; he was worried because he loved her and didn’t want to see her suffer. Trying to save someone from themselves was hard work, but a lot of spouses probably took on that job.
“It’s sweet of you to care for her that way.” Troy did the same thing. That’s why they were doing the whole fake engagement. And if his mom had a tendency to make herself sick, then she could understand why he worked so hard to keep her emotions steady.
Brian lifted a shoulder like it was no big deal to care about his wife. Except that it was a big deal to the wife. Chloe was sure of that.
They made it to the shop and cut the engine. “I can see where Troy gets his organizational skills.” Chloe smiled at the broken cars lined up, their bumpers on the white painted line of the freshly plowed parking lot. The snow was all pushed into a large pile at the back of the lot. The parking lot was clean of litter and small pieces like nuts or bolts. She’d been to a few garages where they didn’t care about the look of the place. This was nice to see.
The sign above the door said Martin & Son. Chloe wondered if Brian was upset that Troy had gone off on his own, or if Ronnie was upset that it said son instead of daughter. Maybe, like an old aunt that always said the wrong thing, the family just accepted the sign as it was and didn’t try to change it.
A man who could only be Eli got out of his blue Ford, his Levi coat unzipped and his hands in his jean pockets. “Sorry to bother you today, Brian.” He lifted his chin in greeting to Chloe.
“I didn’t have anything this morning. It was a good time.” Brian’s words made Eli’s tight shoulders relax. “This is Troy’s fiancée, Chloe,” Brian introduced her. “That’s Eli.”
She stepped forward and extended her hand. They shook and exchanged pleasantries while Brian opened the shop door, the metal making a racket in the calm morning.
“Get her on inside so I can shut the door. Don’t want the world thinking we’re open for business.”
Eli did as instructed.
Chloe followed Brian into the shop, feeling like the little girl who had followed her dad around. Dad never seemed to mind having her as a shadow, and she was always thankful for his strong presence. They got the door down and the heater kicked on. Brian motioned towards a rack of coveralls. “Go put those on.”
She didn’t mind his bossy tone. This was his castle. At home, he was quieter, didn’t talk much. But here, here he was the man in charge. She smiled to herself.
“What?” he asked gruffly.
“Troy is a lot like you.”
“Yeah?” He leaned back. “In a good way?”
She nodded. “In the best of ways.”
Brian’s ears went red at the compliment and he worked his mouth, but no words came out.
Chloe hurried to the coveralls, eager to give him an escape. She’d put him on the spot. It was okay; she just couldn’t stand there and make him more uncomfortable. Once she was properly dressed, she pulled her hair up into a knot on the top of her head and secured it in place. Then, she made her way over to Brian, who was loosening the lug nuts. Eli was in the waiting area, thumbing through a fishing magazine.
She looked around for the jack. If this were their shop, it would be … against the wall by the toolbox. She grinned when she found it there. She carried it over to the truck and placed it under the axel. Once the lug nuts were loose, she lifted the truck.
Brian grinned at her. “You know your stuff.”
She brushed her palms together. “Didn’t Troy tell you I worked with him?”
Dad grabbed a can of penetrating fluid and began spraying all the nuts and bolts they would need to remove. “He doesn’t tell us jack crap.”
Chloe chewed her lip. She was walking a fine line here. Troy wouldn’t have told them much about his fiancée because she only became his pretend fiancée a day ago. But she was a little annoyed that he hadn’t said a word about his new partner. She dug her hand into her hip. “He didn’t say anything about me?”
Brian grunted as he loosened a bolt. “He said you had signed on as a partner. He was glad to get the money for the new truck.”
She narrowed her eyes. She was more to the company than an influx of cash. She’d overhauled their old accounting system and found them thousands in write-offs that their second-rate tax consultant had missed. “Yep. That’s all I am, a bundle of cash.”
Brian angled himself under the truck. “I doubt he’s marrying you for your money.”
No, he wasn’t. Because he already had all of it. She’d held on to that money, looking for the right opportunity to invest. She’d felt good about GT Trucking. They had a solid business going, one that would grow over time. And they needed not only her cash but her experience and expertise.
Brian reached for a wrench that was too far away. Chloe handed it to him without him having to ask. “Still, he should have told you more than the fact that I had a big purse.”
“He’s not one to talk much. I blame it on growing up with two sisters.”
“I blame it on him.”
Brian chuckled. “What’d your family think of him?”
Her indignation cut off immediately. She had told her dad about the guys she worked with, but in general business terms. A girl didn’t just outright tell her dad about a crush. Especially if that crush was her new business partner. “It’s just me and my dad. My mom died when I was little, so …” She trailed off, leaving the rest of the answer to his imagination.
“Sorry,” came the muffled reply.
Chloe kicked the breaker bar with her toe. “Troy talks about you guys. Not a lot, but he opens up when he’s working on a truck. He’ll tell stories about how he learned to test a battery, or the time he worked all weekend with you to change out an engine for someone who was in town for a funeral. He really looks up to you.” She hadn’t noticed while she was talking that all the clanks and clunks from under the truck had stopped. In the silence, she ducked down to make sure Brian was okay.
He laid his forearm across his eyes and swiped down. “Darn dust.” His voice cracked with emotion.
Chloe’s heart melted. She knew better than to call
attention to his tears. She handed him a rag. “Here, this’ll clean it up.”
“Thanks.” He cleared his throat and his voice was stronger. “He should have brought you around before now. You make sure he comes home often, you hear?”
Chloe squatted down and took the cloth from Brian. “I will.” She stood so he wouldn’t see the moisture gathering on her lashes. Was it possible to fall in love with a guy’s family? Because her heart was getting bigger and bigger.
Troy was so much like his father that she could almost picture him as a little kid, needing a haircut, shadowing his hero around the shop. He’d have a kid just like that one day. A boy or a girl, he wouldn’t care either way, as long as he could get them under the hood of a car to talk. It should have been Troy here with his dad. Maybe if he’d come, they could have had a heart-to-heart.
Still, Chloe was glad it was her. She picked up a flathead screwdriver and loosened the ABS wire to loosen the tension.
Brian sat up. “I thought you said you hadn’t done this before.”
“I haven’t. I just thought that needed to be loose.”
He patted her back. “You’re a good woman, Chloe.”
Chloe glowed with the praise. Guys like Brian didn’t hand it out like Christmas candy. She hugged herself happily. Being here was comfortable, like she’d come to another place she could call home. With a tinge of worry, she wondered what she’d do when she couldn’t come back. After all, ex–fake fiancées weren’t exactly on the invitation list for Christmas dinner.
Chapter 14
Troy
Troy pinched the cow’s hide and inserted the fat needle. The needles weren’t anything he’d like to see at a doctor’s visit, but the cow’s hide was so thick, the needle needed to be strong enough to penetrate. He pressed down with his thumb, emptying the syringe. The cow didn’t so much as blink at him. He patted her side and nodded to Grady’s dad, Glen, to open the chute. The big brown heifer trotted out and bellowed, looking for her herd. One of the animals on the other side of the pasture answered, and she set off at a trot to join up with them.
Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set Page 60
