SWNOVELS Chance: Chapter 18
Chance flippedsteaks and gazed out at the side yard where he and Rory had set up tables and dragged out folding chairs from the barn. The big oak tree shaded the tables, and birds chirped from high up in the branches. There was a light breeze that blew across the yard and ruffled his hair.
He could hear Emma and Rory inside, laughing about something. Rory’s laugh was like sunshine, and he knew she was happy in that moment. He wished he knew how to make her happy all the time because he’d do it just to hear that laugh of pure joy.
The guys were at the tables, drinking beer and talking about range shit. They’d invited Daphne, but she’d gone out with Warren again. Chance didn’t see that pairing at all, but Daphne seemed to like the guy.
She was a knockout in a quiet way, and Warren was the quintessential nerd, but stranger things had happened.
Kane’s interest/lack of in Daphne was one of those strange things, in his opinion. Chance told his friend to just ask the girl out for fuck’s sake, but Kane’s eyes got big and he’d denied even wanting to do so.
“Just looking out for her, man. I don’t want to date her.”
Chance didn’t believe that for a second. But considering Daphne worked at the range and they needed her to keep doing so, it was probably a good thing Kane didn’t go there. Last thing they needed was Daphne quitting because Kane pissed her off or broke her heart. She was too good at keeping things running smoothly to lose her.
And Kane was too good at breaking hearts to trust him not to break hers.
Seth got up and made his way over to Chance. “How they coming?”
“Be done soon.”
He took a drink of his beer and gazed across the fields. “It’s nice out here. Peaceful.”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“I know we aren’t supposed to get involved with anyone while working this assignment, but it seems to be working for Blaze.”
“And you’re saying this why?”
Seth shrugged. “You said Rory doesn’t want anything from you. I’m just telling you that if I were you, I’d fight like hell to change her mind.”
Chance felt the words like a blow. He also got a tight feeling in his chest from the way Seth talked about Rory. “Wait, are you telling me you have the hots for my woman?”
Seth arched an eyebrow. “Seriously, that’s what you took from what I just said?”
Chance squirmed. “Well, yeah. What was I supposed to think?”
“You’re supposed to think that maybe you need to fight for what you want and not accept this bullshit about her not liking you or not wanting you in her life. I get that’s an easy thing to tell Ghost, especially when you believe it’s true, but you made a baby together. You’re going to be in each other’s lives for the rest of yours, so maybe try to build something instead of believing there’s no foundation and it’s useless to try.”
“Wow, who died and made you a philosopher?”
“I dunno. Maybe I’ve been where you are now. Maybe I didn’t fight. Maybe I lost everything because of it.” He took a swig of beer and shrugged again. “Or maybe I’ve got no reason except common sense and I’m trying to sprinkle some of it on you.”
Chance stared at his friend. Seth wasn’t a talker and what he’d just said was a lot. It also made Chance think. Had his friend really lost someone he loved because he didn’t fight? Or was he making it up so Chance would fight harder to win Rory?
“Thanks, I guess. I’m not giving up, but Rory’s not someone you push too hard. Makes her shut down.”
Seth arched an eyebrow. “See, just the fact you know that says something.”
“Everybody knows that. Rory’s not hard to read.”
Seth snorted. “Dude, she’s a woman. You have to study her to know what she’s thinking, and even then you’ll be wrong the majority of the time.”
Now he was really curious. “You got any particular woman you’re studying these days?”
“Nope, not me. Keeping my head down as ordered. I plan to save the world and head back to DC where I’ll shake off the red clay of Alabama for good.”
“You don’t like it here?”
“I like it just fine. People are nice. Town is cute. But it’s too small for me. Everybody knows everybody else, and knows their business too. Can’t throw a rock without Colleen Wright watching. Worse, she’ll tell you that you threw it clean through a ghost and you need to apologize.”
Chance laughed. “Or you hit an alien spacecraft and you really need to apologize before they suck you up and use the anal probe.”
“God, that woman. Asked me last week if I’d come and record her and Reba communing with the aliens in the field.”
“She asked me, too. I told her she needed to get a smartphone and record it herself. She lectured me on the advantages of flip phones.” He was thoughtful a moment. “She also told me that Rory was in trouble, and she wasn’t wrong about that.”
“That’s because she’s nosy and observant. Hell, maybe we should hire her to do surveillance.”
They both cracked up at that. Colleen would notice everything, but she’d also be unable to keep her mouth shut. Everyone would know what she’d observed and the whole town would be talking.
Chance took a drink of his beer. “What do you think about all this shit with the plants and the drilled pipe?”
Seth shook his head. “Seems like it’d be related. Also seems like somebody wants revenge against Theo specifically. Could be a pissed off woman he dated a while ago. Doesn’t have to be recent.”
“That’s true. Maybe she held a grudge and bided her time.”
“Also seems like the kind of thing somebody might do who wanted to cost them a lot of money and put the farm into play.”
Chance’s gut tightened. “Yep, thought of that too. Rory mentioned her neighbor wanted her to sell but she insists he’s not capable of doing something like this. Makes me wonder why he would anyway. All he had was an idea they might get more money if they all agreed to sell. Unless Davis told him they’d pay more for all three properties together. Davis didn’t tell Rory that, though. Not that she gave him a chance when she went to meet him with a shotgun.”
“Doesn’t make a lot of sense the neighbor would do it, unless the offer is significantly more.”
“Could be. But Rory also said the mother isn’t inclined to sell, so maybe if Rory and Theo were onboard, her son could talk her into it. Which means he and his brother could get jobs with benefits and stop working the farm. I imagine they’d get some cash to split, too. On the other hand, Ronnie Davis’s driver had no issues tearing up her driveway when they peeled out of here on Thursday. A little extra destruction might not bother them at all.”
“Especially if they were pissed she met them with a gun and refused to consider the offer. Lotta men in this world can’t take it when a woman knows what she wants and won’t accept their shit.”
“Truth, brother.”
The back door opened with a creak and then the screen slammed shut. Chance turned as Rory and Emma walked toward them, carrying dishes. Rory was still in the sundress, still looking like summer sunshine and happiness in his mind. His belly twisted and his heart thumped as he watched her approach. She was smiling, and the smile didn’t dim when she locked gazes with him.
Thatwas nice. It wasn’t often that Rory smiled at him. Smiled at everyone else a whole lot more than she did him. He didn’t know what’d caused it this time, but he wasn’t looking away. Couldn’t look away.
Something shifted deep inside him the longer he stared. It wasn’t lust, though he certainly felt that. It was something else.
Home, his brain whispered. You’re home.
Jesus God. His body braced as truth bombs dropped on him.
Rory was home to him. He could stand at this grill and watch her walk toward him every day of his life and he’d be a happy man. He wanted to go to sleep with her in his arms, wake up with her wrapped around him.
He’d crawl across hot coals for one of her smiles. He’d throw himself in front of a bullet to keep her safe. He’d never let anyone harm a hair on her head for as long as he lived. The idea someone had tried made a knot form in his gut.
Jesus God.
This was it. The big L word. Something he’d never felt before, never thought would happen to him.
He was in love with Aurora Harper. Bone deep, world shaking, life changing love.
And there was no way he could tell her. He wanted to, desperately.
But he knew how that would go. She’d scoff or tell him to get lost or flat out say he was lying.
Worse, she’d tell him she didn’t feel the same way. Which he already knew, but he didn’t want to hear her say it.
Nope, no way could he tell her. He’d have to prove it to her. And he’d have to win her.
Challenge accepted.