Beau’s first instinct had been to yank Delaney into the Chevy and get her the hell away from there.
It was only for her sake that he stood stock-still, willing himself not to make a scene. He didn’t know Jasper, but it was obvious Delaney did, and she didn’t like the smug bastard any more than Beau did. It was easy to see why. Jasper seemed to think he had the upper hand, smirking as he’d happily rubbed Delaney’s nose in the fact that Carlton already had a replacement.
His mother forced a smile, clearly picking up on the tension. “How nice that you know each other. I should introduce my son as well, since his newly refurbished truck was the inspiration for our fun little fifties theme.”
Gesturing to the judges, she plowed on, “Beau, this is Jasper Ford, the governor’s son. You just met Miss Sizemore, and that’s John Dunlap, one of the news anchors at Birmingham This Morning, and Ms. Townsend, editor-in-chief of Small Town Living. Judges, my son, Beau Rodney.”
Recognition flared in Ford’s eyes as his gaze darted between Beau and Delaney. “Beau Rodney?” he said slowly, astonishment clear in his tone. “Oh, Delaney, why am I not surprised?”
Her posture rigid, she lifted her chin. “Good to meet you all. I’m certain you will judge this fine town on its own merits. If you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to keep you from your work.”
She turned and walked away, heading right down the middle of the street. Beau easily caught up to her. He hated to think what that bastard’s sneering look had done to her still-fragile heart. He set his hand to her back, wanting her to know that he was there for her. “Hey, you okay?”
Instead of accepting the gesture, she stiffened away, her jaw going taut. “Not here. Please.”
Behind them, his mother herded the group along, bless her soul, and he waited until they were out of earshot before grabbing Delaney’s hand and firmly leading her to the opposite side of the truck where they could have a small amount of privacy. “I’m sorry—I know that wasn’t easy just now.” He hated the tension he saw etched in every feature of her beautiful face.
“Not easy? That was humiliating.” She drew in a shaky breath, crossing her arms over her cheery polka dot dress. “Jasper is Carlton’s best friend. This whole thing, me being here with you—that’s all going right back to Carlton. And God, he’s engaged to that woman. It’s only been two freaking months!”
He squeezed her hand, wanting to comfort her but knowing she wouldn’t allow him to do much more. “You’re well rid of him, Delaney. You know that. So what if he found another woman to believe his lies? Consider yourself lucky and give that woman your pity.”
She nodded, but her movements were jerky. “I know. I know. It’s just, God, you saw his face. He’s going to go tell everyone that we were here together. It will just give more reason for them to believe I cheated with you. They’ll all have a field day with it.”
He spread his arms. “Who the hell cares? You know it’s a lie. Isn’t that all that matters?”
The pain in her eyes made his heart ache. “It should. But it still hurts. It still makes me feel like a terrible human being somehow. Like I’m the stupidest person on the planet.” She shoved her hands through her hair, ruining the neat retro curls. “I just want to get out of here. I was supposed to be in Florida by now, far away from all the drama and emotions that have wrung me dry for months. I’m supposed to be at my new job, starting my new life, without any messy entanglements making things difficult.”
Her eyes sheened with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. “You and me?” she said, waving her hand between them. “This isn’t going to work. We don’t have a middle ground. I can’t go back to Birmingham. And you can’t not go back. I need to get where I’m going and start the life that’s waiting for me. The longer I stay here, falling more for you by the day, the more it’s going to hurt in the end.”
Her words felt like little daggers straight to his heart. He never wanted to hurt her. He wanted the exact opposite of hurting her. It wasn’t fair that something that felt so damn right could still be so wrong for them.
But as much as he wanted to tell her he was sorry, he couldn’t. No matter what, he wasn’t sorry for the week they’d shared, for the opportunity to set things right between them. For the opportunity to fall in love with her.
His stomach clenched at that thought. When in the hell had that happened? Because, God help him, he couldn’t say it wasn’t true. He’d fallen for the woman he’d been half in love with for years, and all he wanted in the world was to make things better for her.
She needed escape, and he was going to give it to her.
Mind made up, he pulled the truck keys from his pocket, took her hand, and dropped them into her open palm. Closing her fingers over them, he bent to press a kiss to her knuckles before straightening to meet her gaze. Her eyes were wide, confusion pulling her brows together.
“Beau, I—”
“Take the truck. Take it home to get your things, print out some directions, and go to Florida now.”
She shook her head vehemently. “I can’t take your truck, Beau. It’s your baby! I can wait for my car.” But even as she said it, shadows darkened her blue eyes.
“You can, and you will. Take it now, then after my brother gets his sorry ass back to town, I’ll drive your car down and we can swap.” He angled his head, making her look him in the eye. “Maybe by then you’ll be able to breathe again. Maybe you can realize that no one else’s opinion matters.” And maybe she’d realize that there was something between them that was worth fighting for.
“I can’t.”
“You can.” He smiled faintly in an attempt to lighten the mood, if only a little. “And I’m being selfish, here. This way, I’ll be able to see you in a few weeks, far away from anything that reminds you of why you left. Maybe then I can convince you to take me up on my earlier offer. And if not?” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I’ll always be glad to call you my friend.”
***
Delaney looked down at the keys in her hand, wrestling with the desire to get away from her past, and the warring desire to have more time with Beau. As much as she wanted those few extra days with him, she knew it would ultimately just make it harder to leave.
Why couldn’t she have realized a long time ago that Carlton was all wrong for her? Beau had been there, right under her nose, for years, yet she hadn’t admitted to herself that she wanted him. She could barely admit it now. She closed her eyes. She knew, deep down, that she needed to go. Her heart needed time to heal, her thoughts time to unscramble.
Still, the truck was his labor of love. His baby. His passion, even if he didn’t know it. She raised her eyes, ready to tell him no, when he smiled and said quietly, “Please.”
It was so simple, so honest. He meant it, and she could see it in his eyes.
Nodding, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, burying her face in the soft fabric of his shirt. It smelled of sunshine, the lingering hint of grease, and him. It was a scent she’d never forget, that much she knew. After a minute, she pulled back, her heart already aching. “See you in a few weeks?”
He nodded. “Take care of yourself.”
Holding the door wide, he waited for her to climb in before gently swinging it shut. Taking a deep breath, she turned the ignition and listened as the engine roared to life, smooth as the day it was new. He’d really knocked it out of the park with this truck. Biting her lip, she put it in reverse and backed into the middle of Main Street. How had it only been a week since she first drove through here? It felt like a lifetime.
She shifted to first, put her foot on the gas, and headed for the house. As she drove down the unbearably familiar street, where every shop bore reminders of her unexpected love for this place and its people, it was all she could do to keep her eyes off the rearview mirror and the man she was leaving behind.