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“You ready?” he asked, and afraid to trust her voice, she nodded. “Then let’s do this.” He put the car in drive and headed toward the local hardware store.
The silence was deafening as he stopped at each stop sign along the street. Silence had never been an issue with them before, but that was then and this was… well, she wasn’t even quite sure what this was. He was helping her when he had no obligation to.
She had been so determined to show him that during the time they’d been apart, she’d become an independent woman who no longer needed him. Boy, that lasted long. One burst pipe and here he was, rescuing her again, just like he always had.
“Thank you for helping,” she finally said, mainly to fill the silence, but also because she didn’t want him to think she expected his help.
“It’s no problem. Like I told you, it’s giving me something to do.”
“Because you’re not working.”
“Exactly.”
“Why aren’t you working?” It was a personal question, and none of her business, but she’d been curious. “I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it…” She shrugged. “I just thought that maybe talking about it would help or something.”
His eyes drifted to hers, and a smile quirked the corner of his mouth. “You’re just being nosy.”
“Maybe I am, but it’s been three years since you left, and then one day you’re just back, moved into your parents’ old house. Anybody would be curious. And since I’m your neighbor, I just want to make sure you’re not running from trouble.”
He laughed. “Running from what?” He laughed harder. “What kind of trouble do you think I’d be running from?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you had some bad investments, and you skipped out, and a mobster that was in charge of collecting your debt is trying to find you.”
He pulled into the hardware store and put the car in park before turning to face her. “Do you honestly think I spiraled into a life of mayhem after I left?”
“One can never be too sure.”
“Isla, you know me, I would never.”
She smiled, but it was half-hearted at best. “I used to, but a lot can happen in three years.”
He turned the ignition off and pocketed his keys. “I’ll give you that, but I assure you, I’m not on the run from mobsters or any sort of trouble for that matter. I just needed to come home.” His voice softened on home, and Isla reached across the console and squeezed his hand. She didn’t care that they weren’t together or how many years had gone by, not when he sounded like he could use a little comfort.
He looked down at their entwined hands, then at her. The sunlight danced in the blue of his eyes, reminding her of sunny days at the ocean. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but if you ever do. I’m only next door.”
“I know you wanted to prove that you’re not the same girl anymore, but this right here?” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. The brush of his lips against her skin shot heat to her core. “This is the girl I remember, and I’m happy she’s still here.”
“You are? Because I thought…”
“Your heart is the best thing about you. It’s why I fell in love with you in the first place. To have lost that would have been a travesty.” He kissed her knuckles one last time and loosened his grip.
Slowly, she brought her arm back to her side of the car. She didn’t want to make it awkward and linger, so she smiled at him, then got out of the car.
She had a pipe to fix.
Chapter 11
After spending most of the day with Isla, helping her fix the pipe, Nolan needed to get away. The more time he spent with her, the harder it was to remember why they were no longer together. She was beautiful and had a heart of gold, but she also betrayed him and let the whole county know that she didn’t trust him after years of dating. It had been humiliating and a real kick to the balls.
Isla insisted she’d changed, but his heart couldn’t handle another betrayal. If she was still insecure, still unsure of his devotion to her, he couldn’t risk it. He wouldn’t. Which was why he called Milo to see what he was up to.
He was down at Pinot and Gogh, setting up easels. Nolan offered his help and Milo jumped on it. He’d arrived shortly after, but spent ten minutes trying to find a parking spot. Once he did, he headed inside where Milo jumped up from the floor and threw himself at Nolan.
“My savior!” he exclaimed, and Nolan laughed at his antics. Some things never changed, and Nolan was grateful for that.
“How many have you put together so far?” Nolan asked.
Milo put his hands on his hips and sighed. “Five.”
