Nate drained his beer and shot the happy couple a significant look that said they didn’t need to be making out in front of guests. “Thanks for the beer. I’m outta here.” He looked at Slade. “You coming?”
“In a minute.” Slade kept his gaze carefully on the river, finishing his beer more slowly. He’d never been jealous of the love his friends had found.
All the same, he felt a twinge of what felt like jealousy for a love like theirs. A love that didn’t count his past against him. It was dangerous thinking. Dangerous because what woman could find it in her heart to love him—scars and all?
* * *
CHRISTINE TRACKED SLADE down at his home after dinner that night. He lived on the north end of the town square just a block and a half away from Nana’s house.
His house was a narrow, white-planked two-story home with a small porch out front and a driveway that led to a small detached garage in back. Although the lights were on, the drapes were shut tight, giving the house a neglected look.
Slade opened the door and frowned at her. “Did we have a meeting?”
“No, but I need one. Can I come in?” She hitched her laptop bag, loaded down with papers, higher on her shoulder. “I have my budget and purchasing proposal. I would have brought them earlier, but the mayor came by, and then the town council, and then...” She noticed he wasn’t speaking. And still had his tie on.
“Oh, shoot. You have company, don’t you?” She backed away from the door. “A date? I’m sorry. I just assumed—”
“There’s no one here but the twins and me. I just don’t...” His voice dropped almost to a whisper as he smoothed his tie. “I don’t let people inside the house.”
Grace appeared behind him, a small smile on her face. She touched her hair and looked sideways, presumably at her sister, who came to join her.
“Is it haunted?” Christine meant it as a joke, but Slade stiffened.
His eyes glazed with pain. “If you must know—” the confession fell reluctantly from his perfectly chiseled lips “—my parents died here.”
“I’m so sorry,” Christine said, automatically modulating her smile. She had a vague memory of someone telling her that once. “Did they die recently? Like, is it safe to be inside? Is that why you keep people out?” She was only half joking.
“They didn’t die of anything you could catch,” he snapped.
She was learning that his bark was brief and usually territorial. “So it’s okay to come in? You just don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable?”
The twins drifted away from the foyer.
Sighing, he opened the door wider. “The bridge club calls this the Death and Divorce House. Death being my family’s contribution.”
“Wow. I’ve never lived in a house that has a name.” She said it lightly to prove to him the house didn’t bother her. Then she stepped inside and the claustrophobic atmosphere of the place closed around her as firmly as the door shutting behind her.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Slade grumbled. “I’m used to it and the girls don’t seem to mind.”
“Hi, girls,” Christine called, cheerfully waving a red flag in the house’s face, because, dang, there was a weird sensation skimming up and down the back of her neck.