I shook my head on a laugh while Xander and I shook hands. “All right. Talk soon, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Sage replied. “Probably sooner than later. I’m thinking we should probably do Thanksgiving in Redemption this year.”
Xander laughed as I rolled my eyes to the heavens. Then with one last wave, I climbed on my bike and started it up. I had a three-hour ride ahead of me, and hopefully in that time I’d be able to figure out how to make things right with Farah.
And if I didn’t, Sage and my mother both would make sure there would be hell to pay.
Chapter 15
Farah
“This weather is insane,” I stated, pulling the light cardigan I’d worn tighter around me to ward off the chill in the air. As soon as September hit, the temperatures dropped. It went from summer to fall almost overnight, and I hadn’t been prepared.
Shane looked up from where she’d been bent over, picking up all the food Brantley had tossed onto the ground and laughed. “Give it a day or two.”
“Yep.” Poppy nodded her head in agreement. “We’ll bounce around for a few weeks, then boom! Hello winter.”
Lifting my coffee to my lips, I took a big gulp, letting the liquid warm me from the inside out. The three of us—with Brantley in tow—had met at a coffee shop in town, and not realizing the weather turned so fast, I’d suggested sitting outside. The little outdoor area faced the main street and was great for people watching, something I’d always enjoyed doing.
Poppy and Shane started chatting with each other while I spaced out, staring at all the people passing by. Several of them recognized me from the bar and smiled or waved whenever they spotted me. Some even called out greetings.
It took a few minutes for me to fully comprehend, but this was the first time in my life something like that had happened. I’d been in Redemption for a few months now, and the townsfolk had officially embraced me as one of their own. It had taken twenty-six years, but I was finally a part of the community. I belonged here with these people. And as I sat in the small coffee shop, enjoying a coffee with my two friends, that knowledge sank in and warmed me more than anything could.
“So, I heard something at the bar last night,” Shane stated, her voice loud enough to pull me out of my daze. “Apparently Cannon’s supposed to be back in the next couple of days.”
Mentally shaking out the tension that creeped into my shoulders at the mention of his name, I blew out the breath I’d been holding and slowly turned from my view of the street to regard them as they stared over at me with open curiosity, like they were eagerly waiting to see my reaction. Shane knew something was going on because she was the one I’d confided in about Cannon in the first place. When she’d asked how it went, all I’d told her was that it didn’t work out. After several days of watching me mope—her words, not mine—she’d gone to Poppy to tell her what went down. Both of them were concerned and had pestered me for answers relentlessly, but I didn’t want to say anything that would make them look at Cannon in a negative light. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He hadn’t strung me along or played games. Sure, the truths he’d given me hurt like hell, but he was just being honest. He wasn’t interested, and that was that. No reason for hard feelings. But that didn’t mean my heart didn’t feel like one big, throbbing bruise. I did my best over the past two weeks to fake it, pasting on a cheerful disposition, but I guess I hadn’t done a good enough job.
I kept my expression impassive. “Well I hope he had a good time. I bet a cross-country trip on a motorcycle is a lot of fun.”
Shane smacked her hand on the table. “All right, that’s it. You’ve been different ever since you went to see Cannon. Yeah, you’ve been trying to pretend you’re good, but it’s obvious you’re not. You’ve barely said anything about what happened between you guys, but every time someone mentions his name, you get all stiff and hold your breath.” She circled her finger in my face when my eyes went big. “Yeah. Don’t think we haven’t noticed that little tell. Now what the hel”—she peeked Brantley’s way to confirm he was too lost in watching some cartoon on his iPad to pay attention to us—“heck is going on?”
My head jerked back at her unexpected fierceness. I wasn’t used to having someone so upset on my account. Besides Jase, no one had ever cared enough to be openly mad before. I had to admit, even while I was incredibly sad, having these two amazing women care so much felt pretty damn awesome.
“Nothing happened. I went to talk to him, he told me he wasn’t interested, and then he left. That’s it.” I lowered my head, watching my fingers as they pulled at a loose string on the sleeve of my cardigan. “He was the first guy I’ve liked in a long time. That’s all. I’m bummed, but I’ll get over it.” That was an understatement if there ever was one. I was a hell of a lot more than bummed. For some reason, this man I didn’t even know all that well had gotten under my skin in a very big way.
“Oh, honey.” My head came up at the softness in Poppy’s tone, and when I looked at her, sorrow was written all over her face, clear as day. She got it, more than Shane because she knew everything. She understood how hard it was for me to put myself out there, and it broke her heart that the first time I found the courage, it had blown up in my face.
“I’ll get over it,” I said quietly, shrugging one shoulder. “He’s not the first guy to shoot me down, and he probably won’t be the last.”
“I call bull.” Poppy and I whipped around at Shane’s vehement declaration. “That guy’s spent weeks watching your every move at the bar. And I wasn’t imagining the heat I saw between you two when he was pressed against you in that damn stock room.”
Poppy shot back around to me, her eyes bugging out. “He was pressed against you in the stock room?”
“Man looked like he was seconds away from kissing her face off,” Shane declared. “So I think it’s crap he’s suddenly not interested. There has to be more to it.”
There was, and I’d been trying to keep that to myself, but these two women were like a dog with a bone. They weren’t going to stop digging until they got answers.
Heaving a sigh, I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table. “It’s because I come from money.”
Poppy’s eyebrows went up. “Huh?”
“It’s not like I’ve been trying to keep it a secret or anything. My family’s rich. Apparently, that’s a problem for him. According to him, it makes us too different. I’m rich, and he’s just a mechanic. His words, not mine.”
“That’s crap,” Shane declared. “Farah, he owns half that garage.”
That was a surprised to me. I didn’t know he was part owner, but that knowledge wouldn’t have changed how I felt. “None of that matters to me. I don’t care what he does, but I guess I was the only one who was able to look past it.”
Poppy’s face scrunched up in indignation as she flopped back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well now I’m just pissed.”
“I’m pissed too!” Brantley shouted, throwing his arms up over his head.
Shane glared.
I smothered my laugh.
Poppy winced. “Sorry about that. Not used to having little ears around.”
“Eh, it’s fine.” Shane waved off her concern. “He’s heard way worse just by riding in the car with me while we’re in traffic.”
In response to that, Brantley yelled, “Get off the woad, jackass!”
Shane pointed to him. “See? And that’s one of the cleaner versions.”
We all laughed and I lifted my coffee, taking the last gulp to finish it off. With Brantley’s little diversion out of the way, my friends turned back to me, and Poppy continued. “It’s his loss, Farah. If he’s gonna let something so stupid get between you guys, then he’s not worth your time.”
Shane leaned closer, placing her hand on top of mine. “She’s right. You’re one of the nicest, most generous and thoughtful people I’ve ever met. You deserve someone who doesn’t let his pride and stupidity get in the way of somethi
ng amazing.”
“I second that,” Poppy added.
My sinuses began to burn at the same time that warmth I’d felt the moment I stepped into town spread through my chest like wildfire. These were my people. This was my town. I belonged. I was home. And I wasn’t going to let anything dampen that.
“I love you guys, I hope you know that, but I need to get outta here before you make me cry.” I scooted my chair back and stood up, hooking my purse over my shoulder. “I’ve got a date with a can of paint and a roller.”
Shane smiled up at me. “You know, you’re paying Clay and his guys to do that for you, right?”
The second Clay told me all the walls were up, I’d been filled with excitement. They could paint the rest of the house, but I wanted to be the one to paint the master bedroom, the place that would soon be my sanctuary. I wanted to put my stamp on it. “I know, but I want to give it a try. I’ve never painted anything before, and I think it’ll be fun.”
Poppy let out a snort and rolled her eyes. “Call me tomorrow and tell me if you still feel that way.”
I gave my girls hugs and leaned down to kiss Brantley on the cheek and tickle his ribs, earning myself a loud peel of laughter. Then I headed for my car, a brand new Jeep Compass I’d gotten all on my own after hours and hours of diligent research, and I climbed in with the biggest smile on my face.
New Farah might have a sore heart, but she was pushing forward.
* * *
Cannon
It was midday by the time I rolled into town. I was in desperate need of a shower after hours on the road, but instead of going home, I headed straight for Redbud Inn.
The Benz wasn’t in the parking lot when I pulled up, but I went and knocked on Farah’s door anyway. When she didn’t answer, I made the short trek to Poppy’s. The moment she opened the door, I knew something was up. “Hey, Pop.”
“Cannon,” she returned, her tone flat and her arms crossed over her chest.
“Any chance you know where I could find Farah? She’s not in her room.”
Her stance was almost defiant as she leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and replied, “Yeah, I know where she is.”
“You mind tellin’ me?” I asked after several seconds where she didn’t elaborate any further.
Her eyelids narrowed into angry slits. I knew she meant the look to be menacing, but the glare was just too damn adorable on her china doll face. “Why? So you can make her feel like shit all over again because of something she has no control over? I don’t think so.”
Damn it all to hell. It looked like Farah’s new posse was closing ranks, and the goal was to keep me away. “Look,” I started on a sigh, reaching back to massage the stiff muscles in my neck, “I know I fucked up—”
“Yeah. You sure as hell did, Cannon Banks,” she clipped aggressively, pushing off the doorframe and standing tall. “That woman’s already had more shitty people come into her life than most of us could experience in a lifetime. She’s been neglected and mistreated by everyone who was supposed to love her. She didn’t have a single person show her kindness, yet she still somehow found it in her heart to be kind to others.”
“I know, Poppy.”
“I don’t think you do,” she snapped. “You already know she gives every penny she earns at Bad Alibi to Shane, but did you know she’s started going over to her house every day to watch Brantley, just so Shane can clean or do the laundry or, hell, take a freaking nap? All she saw was that Shane was tired. That was all it took for her to step up. While you were off on your little trip for the last two weeks, she noticed there were several days where Fletch hadn’t come to the bar. When she asked, Danno told her he’d come down with the flu, and the very next day she was at his house with soup. Soup, Cannon. I mean, who does that?”
Christ, I’d had no idea. “Pop—”
“And did you know she doesn’t even like cats?”
She lost me on that one. “What?”
“She’s a dog person. But those horrible parents of hers never allowed her to have a pet, so when that damn cat decided she was his person after making her wreck her car, she didn’t even blink at the idea of taking him in. She just wanted a pet, for Christ’s sake!” she cried, throwing her arms out. “She didn’t care what it was, she just wanted something to give all that love she’s got stored up in that huge heart of hers.”
Every fucking word out of her mouth was a knife to the heart. “I know—”
“No you don’t. You don’t know, Cannon, because if you did, you never would’ve thrown her wealth in her face like that. She didn’t ask to be born into that family. Believe me, she would’ve been better off being penniless and living on the streets! The last thing she needs is another person making her feel bad about herself, so give me one good reason why I should tell you where she is.”
“Because I can’t apologize if I can’t find her,” I answered instantly. That seemed to do the trick. Poppy’s mouth slammed shut in complete surprise. “I know I screwed up. Hell, Pop, it’s all I’ve been able to think about for two weeks. I want to make it right. I need to make it right, so I’m askin’, please, just tell me where she is.”
She hesitated, and I got the distinct impression she was examining me to try and gage my level of sincerity. She must have seen I meant what I said, because she finally responded. “She’s at her house. The walls went up a couple days ago, so she’s painting.”
My eyebrows climbed higher on my forehead. “She’s painting?”
“Yeah.” Her eyes rolled skyward. “Don’t ask, it’s a whole other thing, but that’s where she is.”
“Thanks, Poppy.”
I turned so I could get back to my bike when she called out, “Don’t make me regret telling you, Cannon!”
I lifted my hand in a salute over my shoulder as I picked up the pace. I wouldn’t make her regret telling me, but I didn’t have time to stick around and put her at ease.
I had to get to Farah.
Chapter 16
Farah
Dropping my arm holding the roller, I took a step back from the wall I’d just finished while wiping at the sweat on my forehead with the back of my free hand.
In the couple hours I’d been at it, I’d discovered two things about painting. The first was that I didn’t like it. My arms felt like they were on fire from the workout they’d been given, there was more paint in my hair and on my clothes than was on the walls, and the fumes were giving me a crazy bad headache.
The second thing I discovered as I moved farther back to get a better look at my handiwork was that I sucked at it. I couldn’t figure out why the wall before me looked so freaking patchy. There were streaks everywhere, no matter how many times I went over it. There were some spots where you could still see the white through the soft dove gray paint I’d chosen for the room and others where there were noticeable globs and drips. And how in the hell did people manage to do this without getting paint all over the ceiling?
“You know you hired a whole crew of people to do this for you, right, Hummingbird?”
Cannon’s unexpected voice caused me to jump and whip around. My heart turned over in my chest the moment I saw him, casual as could be, with his shoulder leaning against the doorway to my soon-to-be bedroom.
I cleared my face of its initial shock and schooled my features. I was good at giving a blank face, after all, I’d been doing it all my life. Turning back to the wall, I mumbled, “So I’ve been told. I just wanted to give it a shot, see what all the fuss was about.”
“And the verdict?”
My eyes narrowed into a glare like the wall had somehow personally offended me. “It’s not for me.”
His chuckle came from closer in the room. He was only a few feet away from me now, and as he looked at me, the hardness that had been carved into his face that day at the garage was gone. That soft, sexy grin of his was firmly back in place.
My body reacted like it always did, my skin tingled and my pulse picked up, but after o
ur last encounter, it was the voice in my head I chose to listen to. Pushing down those flutters in my belly, I kept my tone even and my eyes flat as I stated the obvious. “You’re back.”
He came one step closer, and it took everything in me to hold my ground. “I am. Hit town less than an hour ago.”
“People at the bar were talking. I didn’t think you’d be home for a couple more days.”
Another step. “Cut my trip short to get home.”
My heart started beating a staccato against my ribs. “Well, I hope you had a good time.”
And another step. “It could’ve been better. I wasn’t feelin’ it this year.”
The scent of cotton and motor oil snuffed out the acrid paint fumes. Damn him. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Are you, really?”
My forehead creased and my lips drooped in a frown. What kind of question was that? “Of course I am. Two weeks is a long time, especially if you aren’t enjoying yourself. Is that why you cut it short?”
“Nope.” He ate up more of the space between us, coming so close I felt my composure start to slip.
“Oh, well . . . uh, welcome home, all the same.”
“Don’t you wanna know why I cut my trip short, Hummingbird?”
So in the past two weeks, I’d somehow earned Hummingbird back. I told myself I didn’t care, but I was a liar. Even still, at the very least, I could act like I didn’t care. “Not particularly. I’m sure your reason is interesting enough, but I’m kind of in the middle of something.” I lifted the paint roller in my hand and gave it a little shake for emphasis.
“I can see that.” His hand came up to tug on a lock of my hair that had fallen from the knot at the top of my head. When he brought it back into view, there was a streak of gray on his fingers. “It’s a good color on you, baby.”
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