A Better Man by Emilie Rose

Author:Emilie Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ROTH PARKED HIS TRUCK beneath the sprawling oak he used to climb and stared at the old house where he and his grandfather had spent so much time.

Gus had been a no-bullshit, no-excuses kind of guy, and Roth doubted forgiveness was in the old man’s vocabulary. But Roth had to try. And he was long overdue in the asking.

Gus stepped out of one of his two garages. He was still tall and lean, but his shoulders were a little more stooped and deeper lines grooved his face. How old was he now? Eighty?

He crossed the yard. His wise eyes sized up Roth, then he extended his hand. “Wondered how long it would take you to come see me.”

Roth returned the handshake. Gus still had a decent grip. “I wasn’t sure you wouldn’t greet me with your twelve-gauge.”

“No reason to. I know you didn’t wreck that car.”

Roth stared. “How do you know?”

“That Vette meant as much to you as it did to me. Hell, you probably had more hours’ work in her than I did, and you probably cried as hard as I did when you saw her wrapped around that tree.”

“Came close.”

“Hamilton was convinced it was you behind the wheel and nothing I said changed his mind. And you wouldn’t tell him any different. You were loyal. Like your grandpappy. Wilson was the best friend I ever had right up till his last breath. An’ I ain’t saying that ’cuz he left me his Corvette.”

That car, along with the hunting rifle, had been Roth’s last tie to his grandfather.

“I respect your loyalty, son, but I guess you’ve heard how that turned out. Chuck’s still…well, he’s Chuck. More muscle than brains and not too dependable.”

“What makes you think Chuck was responsible?”

“He’s the only one you would have lied for and the only one of your friends cowardly enough to let you take the blame. I don’t know how he convinced you to let him drive—”

“He didn’t. He took the car while I was writing up your bill.”

“Figured it had to be something like that. Then three days after the wreck you lit out for parts unknown. Not a word to anybody. I figured you were running from something else. Maybe you got tired of living in your daddy’s shadow. ”

“A little of both.”

“I hope you came to terms with whatever it was. If not, it’ll follow you like a fine bloodhound no matter how far you go, and you’ll be running the rest of your life. Can’t fix your problems if you don’t look ’em in the eye.”

The words sounded so much like something his grandfather would have said Roth’s throat tightened. “I’m working on it.”

* * *

“I’LL GET IT,” Piper called as she descended the stairs after her post-work shower Friday evening. She opened the front door. To Roth.

Her heart dropped to her fuzzy slippers.

He looked so good in pressed navy pants and a white shirt with the top two buttons unfastened. And she… Ugh. She wanted to run upstairs and lock herself in her room.

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