Feels Like Home. Beth Andrews
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been dogs at the vineyard.”
“There weren’t any…”
Before. When they’d first moved to Jewell after his father became sick. When they were still married. Before she’d walked out on their marriage.
“Mom hadn’t wanted to get another dog after their last one died.” He tossed his pencil aside and got to his feet, unable to remain seated. “Too painful.”
Yvonne nodded as if she completely understood, playing the part of concerned, sympathetic ex for all she was worth. She was excellent at all her roles, whatever they may be. Obedient daughter. Beauty queen.
Aidan had thought he’d known her better than anyone else ever would. Ever could. Until she’d left and he’d realized he hadn’t known her at all.
She cleared her throat, glancing at Lily with clear trepidation. “As you can see, I’m a bit…nervous around dogs.”
Not his problem. It wasn’t up to him to make her feel safe. Happy.
But as much as he didn’t want her here, he couldn’t let her think that every time she stepped outside her door, she was risking being torn apart by his good-natured dog. He wasn’t that big of an ass. No matter what his brothers said about him.
He snapped his fingers and Lily padded over and sat next to his leg. “Lily’s a good dog. Sweet as they come and well-trained—”
“I didn’t mean to imply—”
“I know,” he said, “that you didn’t mean to imply I didn’t train my dog. I’m saying that she won’t hurt you. You have my word on that.”
Yvonne smiled, relieved. She trusted him.
It nearly undid him.
He scowled and her smile faded. She switched the laptop case to her other hand. “I appreciate that. Especially as I know you’re a man who always keeps his word.”
“Funny thing about that…once I make a promise, I keep it.” He searched her face, her beautiful, treacherous face.
Her flinch was slight, but noticeable, letting him know his dig had hit home. He didn’t find much satisfaction in it.
Then she tipped her head. “Not everyone has your conviction, or your sense of responsibility and right and wrong,” she said, so sweetly, he didn’t believe she meant a word of it. “And sometimes, keeping a promise means giving up something a person isn’t willing to lose.”
He narrowed his eyes. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was she talking about their marriage, as he had been, and her choice to break her vows? He concentrated on keeping his breathing slow and even, pretended his chest wasn’t tight, his muscles not tensed.
He’d never asked her to give up anything for him—except living in Savannah. But she’d been all for moving to Jewell to help his parents during his father’s illness. She’d even suggested they buy a house, to make the move more permanent. She’d wanted their own place, she’d told him. Their own home. A place where they belonged.
“Guess that’s what they call making a sacrifice,” he said. And he didn’t plan on sacrificing his peace of mind for the next two months, or fall blindly in line with his mother’s plans. “You came in here to get some sort of guarantee I’d treat you fairly. Let me just say that during your stint here, I’ll treat you cordially and with the respect you deserve.” There was nothing in his tone that suggested that amount of respect would be little to none. “And that’s a promise.”
One he could make without any worries about risking his pride. Or his heart. He never made the same mistake twice.
He sat back down and put on his reading glasses with one hand, while picking up a random piece of paper with the other. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do before I can go home, and I’d like to get back to it.”
He pretended to study the paper—an invoice Matt had given him earlier for the cost of new plantings. She didn’t call him on how she’d walked in on him doing nothing more than staring out the window, but she also didn’t leave. He turned to his computer and moved the mouse to wake it from sleep mode.
After a few moments, she finally turned and walked away.
Thank God.
YVONNE DESCENDED THE last step into the foyer, her jaw so tight it ached.
Bastard.
But she couldn’t let him see how furious he made her. Or worse, how much his obvious dislike for her hurt.
Here she was, back in a place where she’d never felt she truly belonged, surrounded by people she’d suspected never really wanted her here.
Not much had changed, it seemed.
She’d been… God, she’d been so…so arrogant. Had seriously thought that Diane needed her. Had imagined how she’d sweep in with her schedules and grand plans and experience and organize their efforts. That Diane’s wedding would be the talk of the South, and the Diamond Dust would be set up as the premier place to hold events in Southern Virginia. Maybe in the entire state.
All thanks to Yvonne.
Showing them all she was more than just the spoiled rich girl Aidan had brought home. The one who’d never fit in.
But Diane didn’t need her. She was using her because of her past with Aidan.
At least that was a new one. Usually people wanted her in their lives because of her name, her wealth, her connections or her looks.
No one ever wanted her for herself.
She was halfway to the front door when someone rounded the corner behind her at the back of the house.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
As with Aidan earlier that day, this voice was familiar to her. Except it belonged to a woman. One she would’ve been happy to have gone her entire stay in Jewell without ever laying eyes on.
No such luck.
Pasting on a fake, toothy smile, the one she’d used to perfection during her pageant days, she faced Connie Henkel. “That’s the second time I’ve been greeted with those same words,” she said, intensifying her accent. She knew the drawl would irritate the other woman no end. “Does everyone here have something against a simple hello? Or maybe y’all just lack manners?”
She immediately regretted her snide comment when Connie’s eyes narrowed, giving her the look of a sleek cat. A dangerous one. And, Yvonne had to admit with an inner sigh, a sexy, confident one in her tight jeans and snug T-shirt the color of a ripe plum. The collar of her own formal blouse suddenly choked her.
Connie had always made her feel as snobbish and uptight as her mother. Like Diane, the other woman intimidated her, pure and simple. She’d fit here, with the Sheppards.
A tall, broad-shouldered man came up behind Connie and the woman whirled around to demand, “What the hell is she doing here?”
He looked over her head at Yvonne, his eyes widening. “Don’t blame me. I had nothing to do with it. But if she sticks around, it’d knock Aidan on his ass.” He smiled at Yvonne. “Please tell me you plan on sticking around.”
It was that grin that helped her realize why he looked so familiar. “Matt?” she asked, taking in the changes seven years had made in the youngest Sheppard’s appearance. Gone was the gangly, baby-faced charmer. Now Matt’s face was leaner, his cheeks and chin covered in dark blond stubble, his long, wheat-colored hair held back in a ponytail.
“One and only,” he assured her with a wink.
Connie sent him a scathing glare. “Really? You’re flirting now? With her?”
He slung a companionable arm around Connie’s shoulders. “Now, sugar, you know you’re the only woman I flirt with,” he said,