Pain shot through Luanne’s thumb when she bit her nail to the quick. She couldn’t remember ever being this furious. And betrayed. She’d been betrayed, by the only other person, besides Scarlett, she’d ever trusted. Jack-ass.

“You okay over there?” Kyle’s smoky voice interrupted her tirade.

“Dandy.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“All—”

“He pisses me off so much. Do you know what he did?” She turned in her seat to look him.

“Why don’t you tell me?”

“He said he loved me.”

“That bastard.”

She held her finger up to make a point. “And, he told me that I love him.”

“Do you?”

“Of course not.” But even as the words came out of her mouth she knew it was a lie. “Or at least I didn’t think I did, but now that he’s said it…”

“Yes?”

No way, she wasn’t touching that subject yet. She had too many things to be mad about. “Do you know what else he did?”

“I’m still interested in whether you love—”

“He told me we were getting married. Can you believe that? He told me, like I was a child and not a grown woman. What the hell?”

Kyle turned down the radio. “Sounds like his father.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I met Mitch I hadn’t come out yet. I’d been in the closet a very long time. I didn’t want to hurt my family, or that was my excuse anyway. The truth was it was easier to not have to deal with any potential conflict. And Mitch, Mr. High and Mighty, called me on my bullshit real quick. We weren’t even dating.”

“Sounds familiar.”

“We met when we worked for the same tech company. There was a group of us, men and women, that hung out after work. Sometimes we would go to a baseball game or to happy hour. He was out, and one night we’d all gone to his house for a barbeque and I was the last person there. If you think I didn’t plan that then you’re crazy.”

She chuckled and was surprised she still had the capacity to laugh.

“Anyway, I was there and made it entirely clear that I was into him and that I wanted to go out with him.”

“And he said yes?”

“No. The rat bastard told me he wouldn’t date anyone who hadn’t come out. That he’d seen how destructive it could be and he wouldn’t be a part of it. I of course was completely offended and conflicted, because he was absolutely right. But I wasn’t going to tell him that.”

“So what happened?” She didn’t know if there was a point to this story or if Kyle was telling it to distract her from her own misery. Either way she appreciated it.

“We would see each other every day, and say hello. I had a wounded pride, but I’d be damned if I let him see it. Then one day, several months later, he brought a guy to one of our get-togethers. I was crushed. I guess I thought he would wait until I was ready to come out.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Which would’ve been never. Anyway, I went home that weekend and told my family.”

She pulled her knee into the seat and turned to face him. “Why would you risk your family rejecting you over a man who was dating someone else?”

“Because he was right, for one thing, and for another, I owed my family honesty. It was tough in the beginning, but they’ve all accepted it and loved and supported us. But the biggest reason was that I wanted Mitch. Period. And I’d do anything to be with him, even if it meant I had to look at my crap and face it to be with him. Nothing was more important. So you see, I know about bossy Rawlings men.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Did Jack tell you to tell me that story?”

“Jack doesn’t know that story, unless Mitch told him, and besides I haven’t seen Jack today.”

Tears splattered to her cheeks. Misery filled every one of them.

Kyle pulled into a strip mall parking lot. He smoothed a hand down her hair. “Honey, what’s the matter?”

“Oh, Kyle, I think I’ve really screwed up.”

“I’m sure you haven’t. Is this about your father?”

She nodded.

“I want to kick your father’s nuts into his throat.” He took her face in his hands and made her look at him. “You are precious, Luanne, precious. You were born into terrible circumstances, but that isn’t who you are. You’re not part of them. You’ve risen above their pettiness and forged your own path with your wits and your giant heart. You will not let them define who you are anymore, do you hear me?”

She tried to nod her head, but he was still holding her face. They both laughed, and he handed her a tissue from the console to wipe her face. “Thanks.”

“Now what does all this have to do with Jack?”

“I don’t know. It’s all mixed up in my head.” She sniffed and wiped her nose. “In my experience, love is mostly a lie. It makes promises and then it takes your soul. Look at the women in my family, me included, who’ve sold their dignity for crumbs of affection. I would die if I turned into my mother over Jack.”

“Luanne, do you feel weak when you’re with Jack?”

She thought about it. “No.”

“Do you feel used or uncared for with Jack?”

“No. Though I don’t like his bossy You are going to marry me crap.”

“Good. And are you going to tell him that?”

“Absolutely.”

“Would your mother ever have stood up to your father, or your grandmother?”

“No.”

“See, you’re nothing like them. And Jack is nothing like your father.”

“You’re right. But if we’re going to get married he has to understand that if he tries that shit anymore, I’ll cut off his balls.”

Kyle’s smile lit up the car. “That’s my girl.”

She stared at her hands in her lap. She really was going to marry Jack, because she loved him. She loved Jack Avery. Crazy.

“Kyle, would you take me back to Mimi’s house? I’ve got a fiancé whose ass I need to kick.”

* * *

Jack paced the living room, heartsick and exhausted. He’d royally screwed up and he knew it. But he didn’t know how to make things right. Even though he was apparently horrible at relationships, he knew in his gut she had to come back to him. He’d grovel for days, but she had to be the one to return, or it would never work between them. Bottom line, she had to trust him enough to come back and fight this out.

The sun cast tiny rainbows through the stained glass Mimi had hung in the front window. Luanne was probably getting on the plane by now.

He missed her. She’d become so much a part of his life, he couldn’t imagine a day without her.

His phone dinged with an incoming text. Maybe it was her. The device nearly flipped out of his hand as he yanked it from his pocket. It wasn’t her. It was his dad. With a trembling finger he swiped the screen and opened the text. It was short and to the point and made his knees turn to water.

Ray: I’m sorry I was an ass.

Jack: It’s alright.

Ray: No, it’s not.

Jack: Can I call you?

Ray: Not yet. Give me a little more time. I love you, Jack.

Jack: I love you, Dad.

The thousand-pound weight he’d been carrying around since he read that letter lifted and blew away. He and his dad could work this whole emotional mess out, but it would take some time. He wanted to tell Luanne. Everything he did or thought came back to Luanne. This was going to be one long, lonely life if he couldn’t make it right between them.

He heard Kyle’s car come up the drive. He couldn’t bear to see him. Kyle probably hated his guts too, after talking to Luanne. She’d come to care for Kyle in the short time they’d been there, and would’ve shared all the stupid things Jack had done to make her run.

He couldn’t face Kyle, so he made his way upstairs to avoid the man.

He heard the front door open just as he closed the bedroom door. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and he squared his shoulders, ready for battle. Evidently Kyle wasn’t going to let him off the hook.

When the door flew open he almost went to his knees. His fiery pixie stood there, like an avenging angel ready to do battle.

“Luanne.”

“Don’t Luanne me, mister. I have a bone to pick with you.”

“I’m sure you do.” He allowed a spark of hope to crawl through his belly.

She advanced into the room with a can of whoop-ass in her back pocket. He was in for it, and he’d never been happier.

“You and I, we need to get a few things straight.”

He shoved his hands into his back pockets to keep from reaching for her. He was thrilled to see her, but he wasn’t an idiot. If he tried to touch her right now, he’d probably pull back a nub. “I’m all ears.”

“First, you will not tell me that I am in love with you. I will tell you that I love you, do you understand?”

“Do you?” He could barely get the words out of his throat.

That threw her. “Yes. But that’s not the point. Second—”

“Screw it.” He’d risk dismemberment, because he had to get his hands on her. His arms went around her and he crushed her lips with his. She didn’t fight him. She was warm and pliable against his body and returned the kiss with everything she had. Then she tried to push him away. But he had her in weight and didn’t budge, although he did stop kissing her.

“I’m not finished. Don’t try to distract me.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He nibbled up the side of her neck.

“Um…what was I saying?”

He licked the shell of her ear. “Second.”

“Oh, yeah, second. You will not tell,—mmmm…” The moan she let out rattled the windows.

“Yes?” He moved to the other side of her neck.

“You will not tell me we are getting married. You will ask me like any civilized person.”

He stopped feasting on her neck and dropped to one knee and took her hand in his. “Luanne Price, will you forgive me for being the biggest idiot alive?”

She caught her lip between her teeth, then released it. “Yes.”

“Will you also forgive me for not begging you to stay earlier, and for not telling you that you’re the only thing of value in my life?”

A tear slipped down her cheek and she let it fall. “Yes.”

“And will you put me out of my misery and agree to be my wife?”

She nodded while the tears flowed freely. “Yes.”

He scooped her up and spun her around. “I love you, Lou.”

She held his face in her hands. “I love you too, Jack Avery. But if you ever do anything like that again, I’ll cut your balls off and feed them to the pigs.”

“You have such a way with words, darlin’.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”