1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [19]
“Can we talk about this?”
“No.”
Her voice was stark.
“Uh, can you let me know when we can talk about it?”
She didn’t answer.
“I guess that means it won’t be anytime soon?” he asked, attempting a bit of levity.
“Probably not.” She stared out the passenger-side window.
Mack exhaled slowly, then backed out of the parking space. He drove in silence.
“Just when I thought I’d met a man I could actually trust,” Mary Jo blurted out five minutes later, “I discover that not only did you outright lie to me but you continued with the fabrication when you had every opportunity to set the record straight. Were we not discussing this very matter no more than thirty minutes ago?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Can I trust anything you have to say?”
“Yes,” he insisted.
“I doubt it.” She looked pointedly out the passenger window again, her arms crossed.
“Would it help to say I’m sorry?” he asked. And he was. But once he’d told her someone else owned the duplex, he couldn’t ever find a way to introduce the truth. He wished now that he’d tried harder.
“No.”
“That’s pretty harsh, don’t you think? Okay, I screwed up. I admit it.”
“Fine, apology accepted.”
Despite what she said, it certainly didn’t sound as if she meant it. “Thank you.”
“Why did you lie?” she demanded.
“Okay, good question. I was afraid—”
“Of what?”
“Afraid you wouldn’t agree to the lower rent payment if you knew I owned the duplex.”
She threw him an angry look. “You’re right, I wouldn’t have. What I want to know is why you felt it was so important for me to move next door to you.”
“Because.” He didn’t have an answer that would satisfy her. He couldn’t very well say he’d fallen completely and totally in love with her and that he couldn’t stand the thought of losing Noelle. Not that she was really his to lose…
“‘Because’? Oh, that explains everything.”
“I wanted to be nearby in order to protect both of you,” he returned, losing his own patience. “What’s so under-handed about that? If David showed up, I wanted him to deal with me, and leave you and Noelle alone.”
“I can take care of my own problems,” she snapped. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor riding to my rescue.”
More like tarnished armor, he reflected, but didn’t say anything.
“Besides, David did show up,” she added.
“And you panicked,” he reminded her.
“Yes, I did panic, and then you jumped into hero mode again, asking me to marry you.”
That hadn’t been one of his finer moments.
“Of all the ridiculous solutions to come up with,” Mary Jo muttered. “And I was frightened enough and foolish enough to say yes.”
“We came to our senses,” he said.
“Yes, thankfully.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry, Mary Jo. I was wrong to mislead you.”
“You did more than mislead me. You lied.”
“Okay, I lied.”
“I don’t appreciate it.”
“That I get,” he said drily. “I just want you to know I regret the lie—and the, uh, misguided proposal.”
No response.
They arrived at the duplex, but neither seemed ready to get out of the car.
“Where do we go from here?” Mack finally asked.
Mary Jo didn’t answer for the longest time. When she did, she turned sideways and looked at him, her eyes wide and imploring. “Can I trust you, Mack?”
“Yes.” He said it without hesitation. “I’d do anything for you and Noelle.”
“Why?”
His shoulders rose as he took a deep breath. He was afraid of Mary Jo’s reaction if he confessed his feelings. She’d probably leave, go back to Seattle, uproot the life she’d created here.
“You don’t know?” he asked instead.
“No,” she said. “I don’t.”
“You need someone. You don’t want to admit it but you do, and I want to be that someone.” He’d toned down his feelings and hoped she’d understand—and not take offense.
“Of all the people I’ve met since Noelle was born, you were the one I felt I could trust the most. I’m devastated to learn otherwise.