His grandmother didn’t like that idea, but she was too busy answering George’s questions about apple turnovers to keep after Trace, and he slipped out of the house. He rehearsed his apology for the tenth time since he’d returned home that morning on his drive. His palms were sweating when he turned onto the café’s driveway.
His hopes died when he found the Jeep missing from where Ethan had parked it in front of the café last night. Ethan’s truck sat in its place. That meant either Ethan and Delaney were here or they’d taken the Jeep into the shop and Avery was using Ethan’s truck until she could afford her own car.
Considering the simple logistics of making sure everyone in the family had a car would now be a huge ordeal since Trace had gone and pu
t one out of commission.
Footsteps on the gravel tripped his heart. He turned his head, hoping to see Avery.
“Hey.” Delaney walked toward his truck instead. She didn’t look angry, but she didn’t look happy either. She leaned against Ethan’s truck, her gaze narrowed against the sun. “You look worse than refried shit.”
“Feel worse.”
“You should.” Her gaze slid over his arm and rested on his hand. “Bet those knuckles hurt.” Her tone quieted. “My dad had knuckles like that.”
Trace’s mind flashed to the moment he’d reached out to Avery, to her eyes darting to his hand, to her flinch . . .
“I just talked to Ethan,” Delaney said, cutting into Trace’s thoughts. “He’s at the insurance adjuster’s office. They have the police report and talked to the truck rental company. There will be some hoops to jump through, but they’re going to give us market value for the Jeep, less our deductible.”
Trace’s brain realigned, and he breathed a little better. One good turn of events. “What’s the deductible? I’ll get a cashier’s check from the bank and drop it off later today.”
“Well, since you actually had your head out of your ass when you rented the truck and took out insurance with the rental company, it’s going to cover the deductible.”
Wow, why couldn’t he get that lucky in other areas of his life?
“Too bad all your decisions couldn’t be so well thought out,” Delaney said.
Bingo.
He nodded again, wondering what the best decision would be now—to check on Avery or just leave. The whole idea of walking away last night had been so he wouldn’t be associated with her. Yet here he was . . .
He’d made such smart decisions up until Avery. Ever since then, he’d been impulsive and reckless.
And spontaneous and alive.
And happy.
“Didn’t expect to see you here again.” Delaney crossed her arms and gave him that contemplative look.
“Guess I probably shouldn’t be.” He glanced at the café, wishing he could turn back the clock and pick up the phone to call the cops instead of going after JT himself. “I just . . .”
“Love her.”
Trace was nodding before he processed the words. “What?”
“Love her,” Delaney repeated as if he were dense. “You just love her. I know.”
His mouth formed words, but all that came out was “I . . . uh . . . that’s . . . well . . .”
Delaney laughed, the sound filled with true amusement. “You’re an even bigger idiot than Ethan was. He’ll be glad to hear he’s been taken off the top of that list.” She pushed off the truck. “I’ve gotta get down to the brewpub.” She rounded the front of the truck calling, “Don’t torture yourself anymore—Avery’s not here.”
Everything inside Trace slid two inches lower.
When Delaney reached the driver’s side, she paused and met Trace’s gaze. “And don’t bother coming back for a while. She’s postponing the opening. She took a mental health trip to the coast.”
“Ah, fuck.” He dropped his head back against the seat. He felt like he’d swallowed a rock. “Everything I did last night was so she could open on time.”
“No,” she said with you-dumb-fuck attitude. “Everything you did last night was because you’re in love with her. Jesus Christ,” she muttered, “why do such smart men act like such morons when it comes to women?”