“Did I just see Natalie?” Luke asked, standing in her doorway.
“Yes, why?”
“I’ve never seen her anywhere near the salon. Do I even want to ask?” He shut the door behind him.
“I didn’t invite you to stay,” she said to her long time friend.
“You should have thought about that when you started avoiding my calls and not seeing me. We’ve known each other our whole lives. What’s going on?”
This is what she’d been hoping to avoid—Luke bitching and moaning about his brother.
“Nothing is the matter. Go back home. I’m sure you’ve left tons of work to your brothers.”
“Which is why I’m here. Neal has been an asshole since that cowboy dance. Why?”
“You should ask him.”
Silence descended on the room. Sandy ignored Luke, pulling out some paperwork and looking over the figures. Natalie’s words echoed in her head. After the way Neal had treated her, there was no reason to stick around for him to make the wound any deeper.
“You look like shit,” Luke said.
She slammed her pen down and regarded him across the desk. “What the fuck do you want to know? What will get you away from me and out of my salon?” she shouted. She didn’t care if the girls heard her outside. Between his visit as well as that of her sister, she’d had enough.
“Tell me what went on between you and Neal.”
“You really want to know? Is it that important for you to pick my life apart?”
“Just tell me, Sandy,” he growled. Both stood up facing each other across the desk.
“I’m not good enough for your brother. Is that what you want hear? Having two lovers and some fun put me in a slut category. You know how much I hate that term and anyone who uses it. What do you think, Luke?” Sandy ran her fingers through her hair, turning away from the anger.
Natalie had been right. She didn’t need to stay here and wait for life to give her something. Neal made it abundantly clear he didn’t feel anything for her. Growling in frustration, she slammed the file cabinet closed.
“I’d no idea he felt like that.”
“Luke, I’m tired. I’m feeling a little fed up at the moment. Please, leave me alone. I’ve got to think about my future,” she said. Tears she’d tried to keep at bay leapt to the surface again. Biting her lip she brushed at her eyes.
“Don’t cry, baby.” Luke went to her, pulled her in his arms and held her. She didn’t want to be crying from a broken heart.#p#分页标题#e#
“This is awful. I feel like Trevor has called me fat again.”
“If he does, I’ll kick his ass around the high school for a second time.” He kissed the top of her head. “I know our relationship didn’t work, Sandy. But I want you to know I love you. I’ll never stop.” After prom night they’d decided even though the kisses were nice being friends meant more to them.
“I love you too.”
Luke held her for a few minutes before he left.
Alone her mind wandered, she began to make plans. Staying in town wouldn’t do her any good. She needed to get out, start breaking free.
She picked up the phone and dialed a number.
Chapter Fourteen
As Neal cleaned the muck out of each stall, the breakup with Sandy still flashed through his mind. Sandy deserved better from him. She’d given him everything and all he’d done was throw it back in her face. The pain in her eyes broke him. She really believed what he’d said. Seeing those assholes touching her had driven a part of him insane with jealousy. At the time he hadn’t thought about her reaction. No thoughts went through his mind other than to kill the bastard for touching his woman.
The only person in their situation who’d been in the wrong had been him. Trying to bend a woman like Sandy to do his bidding had been wrong. The fact she’d accepted his life at all, surprised him. Lifting up from his work, he rubbed his eyes as weariness threatened to take over. Whining over a woman wasn’t his style.
The pain of looking in his play area every night and not seeing her left him empty inside.
In the lonely hours of early morning he’d come to see his true feelings. Sandy Breeden owned his mind, heart, body and soul. He was completely in love with the little fire cracker.
“I’m an asshole,” he muttered.
“Where the fuck is he?” Luke yelled from outside the stalls.
Wondering about the commotion, Neal dropped the brush and went outside. The moment he stood in the sunlight, Luke stormed over to him, his eyes red with furry. Before he could understand what was about to happen, Luke raised his fist, then slammed it against Neal’s face. Neal didn’t respond or defend himself. He took the beating his brother dished out, thankful for the pain. For a few minutes, his brother’s fury would help him to deal with the pain in his heart.