“I’ll give them more time to get there. I don’t want to distract Rosie if she’s driving. It’s bad enough that her grandson Andrew is out here on the road.”
“You didn’t tell Granny Viv that we ran into each other the night before last.” He slid a glance her way, and then concentrated on the road.
“I didn’t want to worry her.”
“Because she knows how upset you are about the casino going in?”
“Oh, I’m not that upset.” She smoothed her hands over her skirt. “Progress, right? Wade told me how many jobs the casino will bring to the area...and our people. That can’t be a bad thing. I understand Nash Dillon is involved in the project.”
“Yeah.” Sam rubbed his chin. “I think he’s more involved with his job with the Border Patrol than he is with his family’s business, but he was at the ground-breaking with the rep for one of the big financial backers.”
“His family has that silent partner—the one who invested in the pecan-processing plant with them. I think he has a financial stake in the casino.”
“Not him, personally. It’s that Karen... Fisher who’s repping the consortium. Nash has his hands full with the baby he and his fiancée are adopting.”
“Yeah, Nash with a baby.” She stared out the window at the rivulets of water squiggling down the glass—just like tears. She should ask him about his own child, his daughter. Her throat tightened, and she rested her forehead against the window.
“My wife and I are divorced.” He blurted out the words, and they hung in the car between them.
Should she pick them up or let them settle and dissolve?
“I heard that one before.” She put a hand over her mouth to stop any more accusations from flying out.
“Jolene, I never told you I was divorced.” The truck hit a puddle and water splashed the window causing her to jerk back.
“Separated, divorced. You told me they were the same thing.” She held her left hand out to the side, palm out. “I know. I believed what I wanted to believe.”
“I thought my marriage was over, Jolene. I wanted it to be over. I wanted to be with you.” He slammed a fist against the dashboard.
Her fingers plucked at the material of her skirt. “I know you had to choose your daughter over me. I understand. Neither of us would’ve been happy if you’d abandoned your baby.”
“And yet, here I am.” He cranked on the defroster as the windows started fogging over. “Working out of state, my daughter in San Diego. Babies can’t save failing marriages.”
“You had to try.” Her eyes followed the slapping windshield wipers, their motion almost hypnotizing her. “Wh-what’s her name?”
“Jessica. I call her Jess.” His fingers flexed on the steering wheel, and his tight jaw relaxed. “She just turned two.”
Jolene knew exactly how old Sam’s child was. It had been over two years now since he’d left her and broken her heart. She could’ve stopped him. He’d been waiting for her to stop him, but he would’ve hated himself and eventually he’d have hated her, too.
His own father had abandoned Sam, his brother and mother when Sam was just three years old. He could never do that to a child of his own.
Whatever had happened between him and his wife when he went back to the marriage must’ve been intolerable for him to end it.
She swiped a hand beneath her nose. “Is Jess talking?”
“Nonstop words and babble.” He made the turn onto her street.
“Do you want to come in for a little while? There’s someone who’d like to see you.”
“Chip? You still have Chip?”
“Of course.” She wouldn’t tell him she’d soaked Chip’s fur with her tears every night after Sam had left. Only she and Chip ever had to know that.
He pulled into her driveway, and she hopped out of the truck before he cut the engine. She ran to her covered walkway, holding her purse over her head to deflect the rain.
She stopped halfway to the door and cocked her head. “Do you hear that?”
“Sounds like a wild bear trying to claw his way outside.”
“Chip knows you’re here. He never gets that excited when I come home.” She nudged a flowerpot to the side and stooped down to pick up her house key. As she pounded on the door with the heel of her hand, she said, “You’d better settle down in there. You should be on your best behavior.”
She cracked the door open and Chip thrust his wet nose into the opening. “Are you ready, Sam?”
“Bring it on.” Sam crouched down, bracing himself.
When Jolene swung open the door, Chip hurtled himself toward Sam and nearly bowled him over. Wagging his tail, Chip put his front paws on Sam’s chest and bathed his face in dog kisses.
“Look at you.” Sam hung his arm around the dog’s neck and patted his side. “He’s so big now. Is he a good guard dog?”
“The best. Can’t you tell by the greeting he gave you?” She tugged on Chip’s collar. “C’mon, you silly boy.”
She widened the door, but Chip wouldn’t budge until Sam rose and strode over the threshold.
Shutting the door behind them, she placed the extra key on the table in the entryway and hung up her wet purse on the peg next to the umbrella she could’ve used earlier. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Just water.” He pulled the shirt of his uniform out of the waistband of his pants. “You know what I’d really like?”
Her heart fluttered and her mouth got dry as she watched Sam’s fingers undo the top button on his shirt. She couldn’t go there with him again, no matter how desperately her body yearned for his touch.
He raised an eyebrow. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to borrow your dryer for about twenty minutes before I go back to the station. This wet shirt is really uncomfortable.”
“Of course, yes.” She ducked down to pet Chip, letting her hair shield her warm face.
“The T-shirt, too?”
She
