Chapter Nineteen
Rusty slid on the simple black dress she’d picked out. It was short, midthigh, but the neckline was high, skimming her throat. All the action was at the back, scooping down low, just above her ass. It was a nice dress, an expensive dress she’d paid a crapload of money for, just for this occasion. When Reid had agreed to take her to Alex and Deke’s engagement party, before he’d broken it off, she’d been excited, wanted to wow him when he picked her up.
Now getting dressed up, and worse, putting on a fake smile when she should be ecstatically happy for her brother and her best friend, just made her feel crappy…and guilty as hell.
She wanted to be happy. Had been trying to shake off her shitty mood for days, but celebrating love wasn’t something she felt like doing right then. God, she had to get over herself. She couldn’t miss Alex and Deacon’s engagement party.
How selfish could she get? She needed to lighten the hell up. If anyone could make it work it was those two. They’d loved each other for the longest time, finally getting it together when her insane brother blackmailed Alex into a sordid, secret affair. It worked. Her brother won over her feisty friend, despite a few hiccups along the way, and now they were blissfully happy, all set to tie the knot.
She was happy for them, more than happy. Unfortunately, she wasn’t in the party mood, hadn’t been for the last week. Not since she backed out of Reid’s driveway and drove away heart sore. He’d devastated her with his glacial demeanor and biting words. He’d taken every one of her insecurities and brutally thrown them back in her face. He’d wanted to hurt her, to push her away, and he’d succeeded. She knew there was more to it. The reason for the way he’d acted had something to do with what happened with Brian, she was sure of it. But her broken heart wouldn’t let her go to him, certainly wouldn’t let her beg him to talk to her—nor would her pride.
He’d pushed, forced her to open up to him, and she had, she’d let him in. That was the kicker, the part that stung more than anything else. Because in the end, he chose to let her go rather than do the same. She’d given him her trust, more than she’d ever thought she could give any man, and he’d stomped all over it.
A light knock sounded on her bedroom door. “You decent?” Piper called.
“Yeah.”
The door swung open and Piper walked in looking fantastic. Her pint-size sister barely reached her shoulder, but she had banging curves—the prefect hourglass—and no idea how lovely she was. She’d always gone on that she was the chubby one, the plain one out of the three of them. Both Rusty and Alex tended to be on the slim side, but Pipe was all banging curves. The woman was hot. She just didn’t believe it half the time.
The calf-length red dress she wore was snug and low cut, showing off plenty of cleavage. Rusty whistled. “Whoa, woman. You look hot as hell.”
Piper blushed but didn’t try to deny it like she usually did. No, she beamed up at her. “Thanks, I went shopping with Alex last weekend, when you were staying at…” She cleared her throat. “It was on sale.”
“Hey, I’m fine.” She was so far from fine it wasn’t funny, but she didn’t want Piper to worry. She’d get over this. She had to. She just needed time. “You gussied up for anyone in particular?”
Piper shook her head, her soft blond waves bouncing around her shoulders and snorted. “Yeah, right.”
Rusty wasn’t so sure, but didn’t call her on it and sat on the end of her bed to slide on her shoes. They were kick-ass, electric blue, strappy, and breakneck high. They were her favorite and made her feel good. Anything that made her feel good at the moment she was all for.
Ignoring the ache in her chest, she focused on what she had to do. She refused to let anything ruin tonight. She had to get through this with a smile on her face. Shove all the self-pity and other bullshit aside and just be happy for her brother and best friend.
It hurt now. A lot. But she’d get over Reid Parker, she would.
She glanced up at Piper hovering in the door. “You ready to roll?”
“Well, actually, I have a quick errand to run for Alex before I go. You go on ahead, and I’ll meet you there.”
Rusty stood and grabbed her purse. “I’ll just come with you.”
Piper waved a hand. “No, no. It’s better if you go on ahead. Alex might need your help. We can’t leave her to deal with all those snooty bitches on her own.”
This was Alex and Deacon’s second engagement party. The first had been a small group of close friends, a load of alcohol, good music, and a lot of laughing. This was the official one, to appease all Deke’s business associates, which were numerous. Being the entrepreneur he was, he had a lot going on, owned a lot of businesses, dealt with a lot of different people. Alex hadn’t loved the idea, but this was her world now, and she had to play the game. A few of the wives had given her a hard time when she’d first started seeing Deke. Alex had held her own, but Piper was right, she couldn’t leave her to those catty bitches on her own.
“I’ll see you there soon?”
Piper beamed at her. “Yup.”
Right, time to plaster on her happy face.
Reid was talking to Jackson, one of his boys, about a job they had coming in the next day, when Jackson’s gaze moved behind him, locking on something over his shoulder. The guy’s mouth dropped open. “Jesus.”
Reid turned to see what had the man distracted and cursed.
He didn’t blame the poor bastard for losing his train of thought. Rusty’s little sister was striding toward them, cheeks flushed, dressed to the nines. She was curvy as hell, short, cute as a button. The red dress she had on suited the hell out of her.
She didn’t stop until she was standing right in front of him, head tipped way back, gaze locked on his. “We need to talk,” she said. “Let’s go.”
The woman meant business, and he wanted no part of it. He crossed his arms. “I don’t think we have anything to discuss, Piper.”
“You can talk to me if you want, sweetheart,” Jackson said beside him, eyes still glued to her.
Her brows shot up. “Um…”
Reid turned to the guy and shook his head. “Give us a minute.” Jackson chuckled but didn’t push his luck, and with one last look, he left them on their own.
Reid did not want to be on his goddamn own with her. He certainly did not want to hear what she’d come to say. “I’m kind of busy here, Piper. It’s late, and we still have work to do before closing.”
They were all working overtime to get a job done, a job they couldn’t really fit in but one he’d taken on anyway because he’d rather be at work late into the night than home alone. Every room in the house made him think of Rusty, his sheets still smelled of her skin. He couldn’t bring himself to change the damn things.
“I think you’ll make time for this.” Then she spun on her heel and strode to his office.
He got the feeling she didn’t plan on leaving anytime soon, at least not until she said what she’d come to say. He cursed again and followed her, shutting the door behind him. “You need to make this quick.”
Hands fisted at her sides, Piper stared up at him, gaze sharp, pissed. She was sweet, had a soft heart. He knew that much from Rusty, had seen it himself. But right now she was not in a sweet mood. This was a woman on a mission. And he would bet everything he had, everything he’d worked for, that he did not want to hear what was about to come out of her mouth.
“You look like shit,” she said finally. She also looked fuckin’ ecstatic about it. “Any reason for that, Reid? Any reason why you look as though you haven’t slept in a week?”
“I told you. We’re busy.” Yeah, they were busy, but that wasn’t why he wasn’t sleeping, and she knew it as well as he did.
Hands on hips, she looked down at the floor and shook her head. “Rusty has looked after me all our lives, did you know that? Even before our mother left. She stuck up for me, hugged me when I was hurt, when my heart had been broken.” She lifted her chin, blond hair bouncing around her face. “She used to say ‘Pipe, they aren’t worth it. No man is worth that kind of pain.’”
Reid gritted his teeth, waited for her to let him have it, wanting her to get it over with. He was hanging on by a thread where Rusty was concerned. Twice he’d gotten into his car with the intention of going to her, begging her to take him back. Twice he’d just barely managed to fight it. He couldn’t take much more. “I get it, Piper, you’re pissed at me…”
Her wide baby blues locked on his. “She thought you were worth it, Reid. She thought you were more than worth it.” She crossed her arms. “You were the first man she ever felt that way about, and now…after what happened, I think you might just be the last.”
His entire body seized. Fuck. His heart stopped in his chest for a few seconds, then kicked into action, hard and pounding against the back of his ribs. “You don’t understand…”
“No, I don’t. I don’t understand how you could let her go, how you could treat her like she was nothing. The sad thing is, if you’d given her time, given her the chance, she would have made you feel like you were everything. You don’t know what you had, Reid. No idea what you threw away when you decided to do what you did. So, no, I don’t understand. But I do know that you’ll live to regret it.”
“Piper…” His voice came out nothing but a rasp. Every word out of her mouth was chipping away at his self-control, tearing him up inside because he knew this. Because he knew what he’d had. Rusty had made him feel all of it…and more.
“Letting you into her life was hard for her. She took a risk, being with you. I think you know that. But I’ve always thought my sister was a good judge of character, and I think there’s more to this than you’re letting on. If that’s the case…if that’s true? Then maybe it’s time you man the hell up and stop running scared. It’s time you took a risk, for her. If anyone’s worth it, it’s Rusty. I think you know that, too.”
Jesus. This woman was annihilating him.
“My sister won’t come to you. If you decide to sit back and let her go, you won’t get a second chance. You might see her across the room at car shows. She might even say hello, but she’ll lock you out, and you’ll never get back in.”
Teeth gritted, he fought the words swimming around his head.
Piper planted her hands on her hips. “I’ll leave you now. But I wanted you to know you made a mistake. Rusty isn’t one to sit around feeling sorry for herself. She’s going to do whatever she has to do, to get past this, to get over you.” A small smile curved her lips. “And I think you have an idea how she plans to do that.”
“Where is she?” The words were out of his mouth in a rush before he could stop them, like someone had socked him in the chest and forced them past his lips.
Piper looked down at her phone, checking the time. “Right now?” The grin turned wicked. “I’d say working very hard at getting over you.”
“Are you telling me she’s on a date?” The possessiveness already thrumming through his veins reared up inside him and took hold. Rusty was his. Fuck this. He could not stand by and watch her date other guys. He knew what she planned to do, she’d made it perfectly clear when she’d climbed into her truck and driven away. But that wasn’t happening. No way would he let anyone touch her. He’d been stupid to think he could.
“I think I’ve said enough. The ball’s in your court.” She turned to go, but then stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. “You know, I never took you for a coward, Reid Parker.” Then she walked out the door.
Coward.
He rocked back on his heels as if she’d taken a swing and hit home. That word described one person in his mind, always had. A coward took his fists to his wife and son without a second thought. He sure as hell didn’t walk away because he couldn’t bear to hurt them.
He rubbed his hands over his face, realization sinking in. Jesus. In his fear, he’d lost sight of that simple truth. Rusty made him a better man, made him see himself as he is, not what he believed himself to be.
He’d let the fear momentarily blind him.
He believed walking away was for the best. But he’d been wrong—about a lot of things. His old man would never have walked away to protect the ones he cared about. And one thing he knew for certain? He would never, could never hurt her. He would take off his own arm before raising it to her, to any woman. He knew that now, despite his fears. He knew it.
He was not his father. Never was. Never would be. Being with Rusty—losing her—had made him finally realize it.
He yanked the door open and raced out. Piper was just about to get in her car. “Tell me where she is, Pipe.”
She ignored him and got in.
“Please.”
She didn’t shut the door. She turned to face him. “Does this mean you’ve had a change of heart?”
“Yeah, I’ve had a change of heart.”
She pulled a pen and a piece of paper from the glove box and scribbled down an address. “You’ll need to wear a suit.” She handed it to him. “I wouldn’t mess around if I were you.” Then she yanked the door shut and peeled out onto the street in her pink Corvette.