Everyone was staring again. Noelle’s friend looked like she’d never heard those words before. Of course, Noelle was grinning broadly, like this was the best show she’d ever seen. His daughter had a perverse sense of humor.
A hum was going through the diner, and he knew the gossip mill was at work again.
“Could you keep your voice down? Everyone is listening, and some of them are not used to that language.”
She glanced over and her face flushed. Maybe she still had a few fucks to give. “I’m sorry. I’ll watch my language.”
He leaned over, his voice going low. “I was only trying to point out that you’re attempting to fit in.”
“I’m not trying to fit in,” she replied. “I’m trying to build a life. That doesn’t mean I have to make friends. I might be too old for this, Armie. I don’t think I can be the good girl you apparently need.”
“I didn’t say that. And you’re not old.” Things were starting to spiral out of control. He should have put it better, been more smooth. “You’re younger than I am.”
“I might not be old in years, but I assure you I feel it. If you need a polite woman who says all the right things and lets her rage simmer under the surface, only coming out in the form of insulting baked goods, go back to the Mirandas of this world. I’m not going to be that woman. I think you’re restless again and I’m the new girl in town.”
He couldn’t help but frown her way because now she was getting under his skin, and not in a good way. “You’re making assumptions.”
“That’s been going on a lot between us,” she shot back. “We don’t know each other. You saw me. You thought I was new and shiny. I’m not. I’m busted up and battered, and that shine is not coming back. You gave me some advice. I’m going to give you some, too. Don’t coddle her. She’s smart and capable and she’s planning on spending her life here because she doesn’t think she can hack it anywhere else. You don’t mean to, but you’re holding her back.”
His blood started to heat up. Had she really just said that? “Are you talking about my daughter? You don’t know a damn thing about the situation.”
He was a good father. Sometimes it was the only thing he had to hold on to. He’d sacrificed for Noelle, and now some woman he barely knew was criticizing him?
Lila’s expression didn’t change at all. It was the blank face of a professional stating her opinion. “I know she should be more mobile than she is. I studied her scans. When was the last time she had a physical therapist who got her on her feet?”
He did not have to take this. “That is none of your business.”
“I’m her primary care provider. I assure you this is my business. It’s exactly what you pay me for.”
There was an easy solution to that problem. He’d been blinded by her beauty, her drive. She was right. He’d seen her as something different and thought different had to mean good. “Maybe I should pay someone else if you’re going to be this nosy.”
She sat back and her energy seemed to deflate. “All right, then. I’m going to take this to go, and I don’t think Friday is a good idea.”
“Maybe it’s not.” Maybe she was too prickly even for him. “If you can’t take good advice, then you won’t last long here.”
She didn’t reply, merely grabbed her purse and pulled out her wallet. “I’ve lost my appetite. This should take care of my part of the bill. Good afternoon, Sheriff.”
She pushed out of the booth and dropped a ten on the table.
How had this gone so wrong? One minute he’d felt close to her and now it was like a damn wall had come up. He wasn’t sure he wanted it to come down. But he also wasn’t sure he didn’t. They’d both said some things they probably shouldn’t have said. “Hey, let’s take a breath.”
She didn’t look back as she headed for the door.* * *• • •
She was not going to cry. She wasn’t. The tears were right there, pulsing behind her eyes, threatening to rob her of her vision and her dignity. But she wasn’t about to shed them. Certainly not in front of this crowd. That’s probably exactly what they wanted.
“Hey, are you okay?” Noelle was staring up at her.
Damn it. She shouldn’t have said anything. She didn’t think Noelle could have heard the advice she’d given her father. She’d kept her voice low, but honestly, she’d also meant it. Not that she should have an opinion at this point. It hadn’t been fair to throw that on him, but she couldn’t take it back now. She plastered a smile on her face. The other girl sitting with Noelle stared at her like she expected her to grow horns at any moment.