“Really. Why? If, as you say, a name doesn’t matter, why bother?”
She heard him expel a deep sigh. “You’re purposely twisting this around.”
“I am?”
She heard his huff of frustration.
“We were two people who met and enjoyed being together. At least I enjoyed being with you. Why did it need to be more complicated than that? Or am I missing something?”
Her eyes shot toward him. Had he really said that with a straight face? She couldn’t hold back a snort. “You do realize you’re trying to justify your deception?” The man wouldn’t recognize truth if it smacked him in the face. “Unbelievable.” She’d gotten her answer. She should have saved herself the trouble of asking. “At least I provided you and your friends with a good laugh.”
Heat rolled up her neck at the thought of his wealthy friends laughing about his affair with a stupid country bumpkin. How easily she’d bought into his deception.
“I never laughed.” His tone indicated surprise she would think that. He glanced at her, the hard masculine mouth pulled to a taut line, his eyebrows drown into a frown. “Our relationship wasn’t a joke. At least not to me. And I had every intention of coming back and talking to you. I’d hoped you would understand.”
“I’m sure you did.” The anger rolled off her tongue. “But things happen, right?”
“Yeah. I guess they do. For instance, you never told me which correctional center you were in. Apparently I’m not the only one who can be accused of keeping secrets.”
Her head snapped around toward him. What did he just say? For several seconds she couldn’t speak. Had she heard him correctly? “What?”
“I said I—”
She raised her hand, palm side toward him. “Does someone write this stuff for you or do you make it up all by yourself?” He expected her to buy the excuse he hadn’t come back because he thought she was in jail? She shook her head in amazement. “You really need to seek help.”
The man she remembered had clearly changed. She couldn’t help but ask herself which one was the real Jace Compton. “Turn left at the light.”
“Left?”
“We live in town now.” Jace was remembering her grandfather’s small farm.
“Kelly, are you saying you don’t have a criminal record?”
“Duhhh. Are you saying you honestly thought I did?”
“But—”
“You know what, Jack... Jace—whatever your name is today—just don’t say anything else.” She’d heard more than enough. “Obviously, you’re incapable of being honest. I don’t care anymore, all right? I don’t care why you lied. I don’t care why you never came back. I don’t give a rat’s behind who you are and I don’t want to sit here and listen to your wild excuses. I’m sorry I even brought it up.”
Jace didn’t speak again, but Kelly felt the anger crackling in the air between them.
The route took them south, toward the low-rent side of town where the small forty-year-old houses marred the landscape and even a fresh coat of paint did little to hide the weathered conditions along the rutted streets. Inside the houses lived people like herself, who worked too hard for too little. But she refused to be embarrassed. The house was old and small, but it was clean. It had a new roof and the amount she paid for rent couldn’t be beat. “Third street to the right and down a block. On the right. It’s the white house with green shutters.”
With her hand on the door handle, Kelly made ready her escape. But by the time they pulled up to the curb and she remembered to unfasten the seat belt, Jace held the door for her, seemingly oblivious to the rain.
Her younger brother stood on the front porch leaning on one of the support posts. The glow of the outside light fanned out over the small front yard.
Jace nodded toward the teen. “How ya doing?”
Kelly watched Matt’s body language shift as he recognized Jace. It was clear he was having a hard time believing it. He stared at the big man standing next to the truck.
“You’re... Are you? You’re Jace Compton!” Matt’s eyes were as big as dessert plates as his mouth dropped open in sheer astonishment.
“Matt, go inside,” Kelly ordered.
“You want to come in?” Her younger brother totally ignored her request. Anger tinged with fear coursed through her, quickening her steps to the house. This was so not happening. What if Matt had picked up Henry from the sitter?
“No,” she stated firmly, and turned back to Jace. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Thanks for the ride. It was very...enlightening.”
Jace made no reply, just stared at her through the soft glow from the porch light. Kelly hurried to the house. “Matt, get inside.” When he didn’t move, she snapped, “Now.”
“But Kelly—” he looked as though she’d just told him to rob a bank “—do you know who that is?”
The question was almost laughable. Almost.
“Have a good night,” Jace called from the curb.
Kelly grabbed Matt by the arm and pulled him inside. At fifteen, her brother already stood a couple of inches taller than her own five foot seven and pulling him anywhere was a challenge. This time, with the adrenaline flowing, she managed. She closed the front door and prepared for the onslaught. She didn’t have to wait long.
“I can’t believe you.” Matt glared in her direction. “The Jace Compton at our house and you wouldn’t let him come inside. What is your deal? Are you like...crazy?”
“Matt...” There was no way to explain.
“Forget all the movies. He still holds the record for completed passes in the entire NFL. The record, Kelly. The guy is a football legend.”
Matt lived and breathed football, so she understood what he was saying. But her brother didn’t know Jace Compton. Unfortunately, she did.
“Come to think of it—” Matt frowned “—what were you doing in his truck? How did you—?”
“He bought the old Miller spread and had a new house built so Don asked me to clean it. When I finished, the car wouldn’t start.”
“Jace Compton is living here? In Calico Springs? Like permanently?” With each question, Matt’s voice rose in excitement. His eyes were wide with elation. He hadn’t even taken note of the fact that they had no transportation.
“I really don’t know.” Kelly didn’t want to discuss it. Jace had chosen to keep his reasons for being here to himself, so there was really nothing to tell Matt. She just wanted the man to stay as far away from her small family as possible. “I’m gonna walk down to Mrs. Jenkins’s and pick up Henry.”
