"That's not a badidea. It could be just what I need. Let's face it…it’s probably all I canafford anyway." She met his gaze and felt a moment of panic. Tory wore hisheart in his eyes and she’d been too wrapped up in her own problems to notice.Some friend she’d turned out to be. "I'll call the agent first thing inthe morning. I might be able to have a look early, that way I can talk to mybrothers with some idea of what I'm going to do."
"It will be goodfor Tamara to come back to family, Rooney."
"Yes, I know that.I worry sometimes that it's my fault she’s missing out on having a familyaround."
"It doesn't haveto be that way."
"What do youmean?"
"You could marryme, Rooney." He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak."Just hear me out here. We get on great, always have. I know we could behappy together. I have my practice set up and doing well. You wouldn't want foranything—either of you."
He gazed into her eyesand took her hand across the table. "We could make it work, Rooney."
"I would want forlove, Tory."
"No, you wouldn't.I love you. I always have." His gaze turned pleading and she looked downat their hands, not loving how this conversation was going.
"I love you too,Tory but not like that. I'm sorry, I didn't realise you felt that way about me.I always thought of you as my best friend, not a boyfriend."
"Yeah well, sillyme for not pushing you then. I figured you would fall for me eventually if Igave you time to get over Stevie." He squeezed her fingers before lettinggo of her hands and reached for his wine. "I'm always here for you, don'tforget that."
"I know and Iappreciate it more than I can say. I don't want to lose you as my bestfriend." A wave of sadness washed over her and she worried things wouldchange.
"Not likely. I'lllive in hope you change your mind and realise I'm the man for you."
Rooney stood and pickedup his empty plate. He grabbed her arm before she could walk away. "ForgetI said anything, okay?"
"Sure, noproblem." Things would never be the same again as far as she wasconcerned. Each time she reached for a friend to lean on, she would see thepleading look on his face as he lay his heart in front of her, only to bebrushed aside.
There was no pointpretending to feel something for him she couldn't. Rooney was honest even if itseemed harsh at times. Tory knew that and he would just have to deal with it.
"Do you want me totake you to the funeral tomorrow?" He walked up behind her and grabbed thetea towel to dry the dishes as she washed.
"That would begreat. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle everything." She passed him adripping plate. "Are you sure you want to do that? I don't want you tofeel you have to do everything for me."
"Things aren'tgoing to change, Rooney. I'll still be there for you. You just won't see mybleeding heart. I'm not the type to put it on show, if you get me."
"Thanks."How the hell is this going to work now? Every time I look at Tory, I’ll see himprofessing his love for me. This could be the death of our friendship and Idon't want to lose him like this.
Chapter Eight
Kate stood under thelarge fig tree tapping her boot, making patterns in the dust when Cade hobbledaround the corner, a sexy smile on his face. The guy knew he was drop deadgorgeous. It pissed her off he was trying to use his charms to get what hewanted so soon after arriving back home, as though nothing had changed. Hestopped in front of her and lifted a hand, brushing back the blond locksfalling over his eyes.
The aching in herstomach returned with a punch, knocking the wind out of her with a soft groan.She pushed down the sound as best she could with a cough but she was too late.Mortification rolled in her stomach and Kate cursed the heat racing up hercheeks. The light in Cade’s eyes showed he’d heard and thought he’d madeanother conquest.
"Well now, littleKate. You didn't have to go all growl and bossy to get a moment alone with me.You could have just asked nicely." He smiled, tilting his head to one sideand watching her.
"Get overyourself, Cade. If I wanted you—which I don't and make no bones about it—Iwouldn't be shy about it. All I want is for you to move that damned car beforeI'm forced to do it myself." She narrowed her eyes and curled her lip."Don't expect me to act like a soppy little girl tripping around afteryou, begging for a moment of your time, sport. That finished when I grew up andyou walked away from your family to further your…" she held her fingers upand wiggle them, "…own career."
"The kitten stillhas claws, I see." A smirk crossed his face and he looked at her lips,before he met her gaze again. "I think you and I could reignite thatflame, Kate."
She laughed, shakingher head. "Oh, Cade, seriously. You don't know how to take no for ananswer, do you?" She caught a lock of hair that had escaped her ponytailand tucked it behind her ear. "I run this place. I don't have to have yourpermission for anything. It's the other way around now." Kate mentallyticked her scoreboard as a dark shadow crossed Cades eyes and a frown marredhis otherwise perfect forehead. Gone were the days when she had to tow the lineto spend time hanging out with him.
"That's right. Getyour little brain around that one. I am the boss now. You get to livehere, but I run the place." She stepped back and nodded at
