Her face went hard. “What do you mean, listed the property? What property?” She was backing away from him now.
“I mean I…” He stopped there, sensing the sudden closeness of the people around them. The townsfolk were anxious for the details as well. His family likely was too.
Burke narrowed a gaze at Justine, pleading with his eyes as he looked at her. “Please. Can we just go someplace private so I can explain?”
Justine folded her arms across her chest, the hurt on her face like inner blades as he breathed. “On one condition,” she said.
Burke took a step forward. “Anything.”
Whispers among the crowd went silent. Burke watched as Justine eyed those around her for a painstaking beat. At last she squared another look at him.
“On the condition that you did not have anything to do with the purchase or the sale of that land.”
“Justine—” Her name was a broken plea on his lips.
“Did you or didn’t you have something to do with that sale?” Her lip quivered. The mere sight was like razorblades to his heart.
Dear Lord. Burke scrambled for a way out. He couldn’t take the pain on her face.
The accusation in her eyes.
“Please just tell me that you didn’t, Burke.” Her voice wavered.
“I was holding onto it,” he explained. “The property, until—”
Justine rushed forward, bolting past Burke, bumping his shoulder as she picked up speed.
Burke hurried after her, desperate to explain himself when suddenly, she turned back and put up a hand. The look on her face robbed his heart of its next beat.
“Don’t follow me.” She turned from him then, breaking into a jog as she crossed the street.
“Where’s she going to go?” came a small voice.
Burke turned around to see the Bentons gathered behind him. Link stood up front, balancing on his tiptoes to watch Justine as she moved.
“I’ll go get her,” Lorraine said.
“I’ll drive,” Michael added.
Burke stepped forward. “Let me come.”
But Duke reached out a hand and stayed him. “It’s better if you give her some space.”
Zander nodded. “Trust us. We’ve been there.”
But Burke wasn’t so sure that they had. Because there they stood, the women they loved by their side, their future together wide and bright. He didn’t stand a chance in all of Hades to get Justine back no matter what he did with the property. The thought caused a new and scorching ache to tear through him, hotter than Hades itself.
“Come on,” James said with a nod. “Let’s go back to the cabin and talk this out.”
“Yes,” Claudia chimed, stepping into the cluster as well. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
Chapter 25
“Justine!”
The sound of her name caused Justine to shift from a jog to a sprint. She steadied her crown with one hand as she ran, wishing she could somehow outrun the hurt. The humiliation. The betrayal.
“Justine,” came the voice again. A large truck pulled up alongside her, a sight that helped her put a name to that voice. Frank’s tow truck came to a stop just a few feet ahead.
“Get in. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Justine looked over her shoulder, considering the offer, as another car came to a slow behind Frank. A very expensive looking car, by the look of the sleek grill and glossy white paint. The headlights wouldn’t allow her to see inside, but she could only guess it was one of the Bentons.
Quickly then, she darted to the side of Frank’s truck, yanked back the door and climbed inside with a grunt. “Thanks,” she said. “Drive anywhere that’s not here, please,” she breathed.
Her chest ached with tightness as she pulled the seatbelt over her lap. She leaned to catch sight of the car behind them through the large side-view mirror, and sighed as it flipped around and headed back toward the city square.
“Good,” she whispered.
“What was that?” Frank asked. He gripped the wheel as he stared into the night, glancing at her briefly before fixing his gaze on the road once more.
“Nothing,” she said.
“You can talk about it if you’d like,” he offered. “Or you can just be still and I can put on some tunes.”
“Music would be nice, thanks.”
He reached over and flicked on the stereo, immediately cranking the knob to turn the volume down. A soft country song drifted over the cab. Frank rolled his shoulders back and sank into his seat, leaving Justine with her thoughts.
What had just happened back there?
She shook her head, turning to face the window as tears threatened to spill. Forget the tears—she’d have to stifle