She knew when the truck door slammed that it was Jackson. She heard his boots crunch across the gravel as he rushed to her door. Her bags were already sitting outside.
He didn’t bother to knock. “Where the hell are you going?”
“I left you a message,” she said quietly, keeping her gaze down. She couldn’t look at him. If she looked at him she would risk seeing the pain she was causing him.
“I know. I got it. You are leaving?”
“I have to. I can’t stay here.” She was on the verge of tears. She should have known he would get here before she could leave. He must have cut his trip to the lumber dealer short to get back here in time. His parents were going to flip if he messed up that deal.
“Caitie-girl, talk to me. Tell me what is going on with you.”
“You shouldn’t have come. If you messed up that deal…”
“Caitie, it’s fine. But you aren’t.” He wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Why are you leaving?”
She couldn’t say anything, and didn’t have to.
“She’s coming with me.” Logan walked down the hall from her room, carrying her last suitcase. “She’s comingback to the city with me.”
Jackson looked sucker punched, his emotions immediately shuttered behind a stoic veneer. He let go of her arms, stepped back and stared at his best friend.
“You’re going with Logan.” His fists curled.
“Yes.” She nodded shakily. “He asked me to and I said yes.”
“My vacation time is up.” Logan slung an arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side, kissing her temple. “I have to get back to the real world, but I’m happy not to be going home alone.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack,” she whispered.
Jackson was too stunned for words. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. With a resigned sigh, he stormed out the front door, the screen door slamming behind him.
Logan dropped his arm away from Cait and ran after him. He jogged down the gravel driveway, catching him by the shoulder. Jackson shrugged him off with a growl.
Logan stepped back. “Come with us, Jack.”
Jack froze, his hand on the truck door. “Come with you?”
Logan smirked. “You know you don’t want to live here. You justwant her. So come and get her. Come with us.”
“You self-righteous son of a bitch. Is this your idea of revenge?” He narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
Logan shuffled his feet and puffed up his chest, the smirk now a grin. “No, justa way forus both to get what we want.”
“You mean a way for you to get what you want,” Jack argued. “I want to stay here.” He stepped forward, forcing Logan to step back. “I have a business to run here, a future, and until last night,” he looked up at Cait, “I thought I had a woman to come home to.”
“A woman you were happy to share with me,” Logan shot back. “It’s not too late. You still have a career to go back to. A real life away from this backwater.”
“That’s not the life I want.”
“Bullshit.” Logan wasn’t going to be convinced. “She can still be yours if you come back with us. I’m willing to share.”
Jack saw red and raised his fists next to him, but he controlled his temper. “No. It is too late.” He ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep breath. He stepped back, putting distance between him and his friend.
Jack slowly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small jeweler’s case. He ran his thumb over it. “Here. You may be able to use this.” He tossed Loganthe case then jumped into the truck and pulled away, gravel flying behind him.
Logan kicked the gravel, watching the taillights recede. He bent down and picked up the case that had landed next to his feet. A perfect two-carat diamond sparkled up at him from the box. “Son of a bitch.” He sighed, snapped the case closed and slid it in his pocket.