Loving True (30 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

“What should I do about the
Griffin
’s?”
Hayward
asked True, five days later, inside his den. He stared at the plans they still wanted done for their house.
Clinton
had turned them down, but they didn’t want to take ‘no’ as an answer. He still had a bad feeling about these people. His brother usually got results, however this time, he wasn’t getting anywhere with this couple.

Leaning over his shoulder, True studied the contract then shook her head. “I wouldn’t deal with them if I was you. They want this done too bad, so they have to be up to something.”

“I know.”
Hayward
agreed tossing the blue prints down on the table.” The Griffins threatened to sue if we didn’t keep to the terms of our agreement.”

“Can they do that?”

“Yes, they can because we were going to take them on as a client until the arson accusations popped up.”

“So, you have a good reason to keep telling them no.” True pointed out.

“No, I think it might just make the situation worst with them. Campbell Construction and Design doesn’t have time for a lawsuit.”
Hayward
sighed. “I don’t know what we’re going to do, but Clint and I will get through this.” He said, touching her on the leg. “How about we get busy with work and shove all of this to the back of our mind?”

“Sure, why not.” True replied.

* * * *

Hours later
Hayward
lifted his head up from the spreadsheet. Leaning back in his chair; he stared over at True working hard at the desk he had brought for her. She looked so beautiful with her long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. This morning she couldn’t find a shirt to put on, so he gave her one of his. It looked so cute on her body.

 
The sleeves were too long and she had to push them past her elbows to work. Everything about her calmed his senses and it scared the hell out of him.
Did she already know she had him in the palm of her hand? Would she break his heart or worst destroy his soul?
True meant so much more to him than Brooke ever did.
 
He never stopped working to daydream about Brooke the way he did about True. For the first time in years, he felt at peace with his life and wanted to live each day to the fullest.

 
“Baby, I can’t believe in a few hours you’ll be going back home.” He muttered, already feeling lost without her and she hadn’t even left yet.

“I know but I had so much fun with our sleepover.” She smiled looking up from the paperwork in front of her. “I never knew how much fun a co-ed sleepover could be.”

“You can always stay an extra day or two.” He suggested.
 
Say yes!

“No, I can’t,” True replied shaking her head. “I have so much to do at home plus I need to call Stephen.”
 
She added as an afterthought.

Indigo eyes snapped with anger, flinging his pen on the desktop,
Hayward
growled. “Are you really leaving me to call another man?”

“I’m not leaving you to call another man as you put it,” True sighed trying to reason with him. “When I go back home I’m going to call my best friend Stephen. Surely you don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
 

“Hell yes! I have a problem with it. You’re my girlfriend not his. I should be the most important man in your life.” He uttered through clenched teeth.

 
True’s
laughing stopped him from continuing his rant. “What in the hell is so funny?”

“You,” True chuckled softly. “Hayward Campbell, you are jealous of Stephen.” Warmth surged through her body. It felt good to know that he didn’t want her around other men, but Stephen wasn’t a threat to their relationship.

 
“Damn it, what if I am?”

 
Taking a couple of deep breaths, she finally got her laughter under control.
 
“
Hayward
, Stephen and I have been best friends forever. He’s like my big brother. There will never be anything between us except friendship.”
 

“How do I know that?”
Hayward
tossed back.

“Honey, Stephen is gay.”

 
“So, you would have a relationship with Stephen if he wasn’t gay,”
Hayward
continued totally lost in the heat of the conversation. “How do I know Stephen is really gay? It could be a lie that you told me.”

True stood up the chair from so fast that it crashed to the floor. “I don’t have time for this. I didn’t think my last day here would end in a silly fight over Stephen.” She snapped, storming toward the door.
 

“You didn’t answer my question.”
Hayward
yelled at her back.

Looking over her shoulder, she tossed him one finally look and slammed the door so hard a picture fell off the wall.

“Shit!”
Hayward
jumped out of the chair to stop True from leaving but he didn’t make it. Just as he reached the front door, she was carrying her bags across his front yard.
What in the hell had he done
!

 
Walking back into his office,
Hayward
collapsed into the chair behind his desk massaging his temples. “Way to go
Campbell
, letting the green-eyed monster
take
control of you again.” Sighing, he picked up the phone and dialed
True’s
phone number. He got the answering machine and waited for the beep to leave a message.

“True, I’m sorry about our fight. I didn’t want your last night here to end like that.” He paused hoping True would pick up, but she didn’t. Disconnecting the call, he tossed it back on his desk.

* * * *

Sitting on the couch, True listened to
Hayward
’s apology but she didn’t pick up the phone. I’m sorry wasn’t going to cut it this time. He needed to be a little concerned about what happened, she thought.
 
His jealousy came out of nowhere and was uncalled for. The phone rung again five minutes later, but she still didn’t answer it. Kicking off her shoes, she folded her legs under her and listened to what
Hayward
had to say.

“
Okay, I’ll let you calm down some more before I come over there. But realize I will be over there later on and I won’t leave until we talk. Kitten I love you
.”
 
He whispered before hanging up.
 

“God, he can always draw me back in with those three little words.” She whispered, dropping her head on the back of the couch. After a few minutes, she stood up and stretched her arms above her head.
 
“I guess I better find something for dinner.”

Walking into the kitchen, she opened the refrigerator grabbing two steaks along with items for a salad for dinner. Kicking the door shut with her foot, she laid the items on the island.
 
She moved to the sink and started washing the vegetables for the garden salad and then the doorbell rung. She wiped her hands on a towel and went to answer it.

 
Hayward
stood there with his hands in his pockets. “Can I come in?”

She moved away from the door and he walked in past her. Closing the door, she went back into the kitchen without saying one word to him.

“Are you going to talk to me?”
Hayward
questioned, following her into the kitchen.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “What do you want to talk about,
Hayward
?” Shaking off the vegetables she laid them on a paper towel and put the steaks on top of the grill.

 
Pushing up her glasses,
True
rested against the counter looking at
Hayward
. “Are you going to apologize for being jealous,” she asked. “I don’t know what came over you back at your house. I have never seen you act like that.”
 
It did bother her more than she wanted to admit. Rubbing her chilled arms, True studied
Hayward
from across the kitchen. He did look hurt, but it didn’t matter. His jealousy reactions had to stop or she would break up with him. She didn’t belong to anyone and never would.

Hayward
moved to stand in front of her bracing his hands on either side of her hips. His mouth was mere inches from her, “Please forgive me for being a jealous jerk back at my house. I didn’t like the idea of you leaving my bed to call another man.”

He raised her hand to stop her from interrupting, “I know Stephen is your best friend, but I thought of him being a man first and your friend second.” Holding up two fingers he promised. “I won’t ever let my jealousy get out of hand like that again. Can you find it in your heart to overlook it this time?”
 

True placed her hand over his heart. “Don’t you know
Hayward
you are my heart. As long as we are honest with each other, our love is unbreakable. Now move out of my way so I can finish fixing dinner.” She teased, shoving at his chest.

* * * *

 
Moving his plate away forty –five minutes later,
Hayward
leaned back in his chair and he stared at True across the table. “Why did your parents name you
True
?” He loved her name so much.

“My dad told my mom she was always true to herself. She didn’t do what people wanted her too. He told her while she was pregnant he wanted their daughter to be the same way so she named me True.”

“I like that story.”
 
He smiled.

“Do you know my parents told me that story a week before they died?”
 

“Have you ever thought about getting counseling?”
 
Hayward
questioned, hurt by the agony he saw on her face.

 
“Did you get counseling after Brooke and your son died?”

He gazed away from True.
He didn’t need counseling
. His past was deeply buried inside his heart and that is where it would stay. No, doctors were going to poke into his mind and search for answers to help him.

“I take your silence as a no.” She sighed. “Why didn’t you talk to someone after the accident?”

“Because I didn’t want to discuss my life with a stranger I wanted to be left alone to think about things myself.”
 
He dragged his eyes back to
True’s
face and hated the worry he saw in their brown depths.

“I think some counseling would do you some good after the tragedy you went through.” True shrugged.

“Let’s not go down that road. I have dealt with it and put the accident in my past.”

“Okay.” True agreed, changing the subject. “Have you bought the plane tickets for our trip to
Connecticut
?
 
I think it’s very sweet of your father to invite me. I didn’t think he was too fond of me.”

Smiling at her honesty
Hayward
replied. “Dad is known for his directness with people. Most people are thrown by it and then there are a select few who love it. He always wants the best for his sons.”

“I know I’m the best woman for you
Hayward
.” She teased, winking at him. “I’ll be more than happy to tell your father this.”
 
True got up from the table and grabbed for his plate.

Reaching out he wrapped his fingers around her arm, guiding her to him, he closed the gap between their bodies.
 
Kissing her temple he asked, “Will you spend the night at my house?”

“No, I still have to take care of some stuff over here.” True replied.

 
“I don’t mind waiting for you.” He answered. “There’s a movie I want to see on television anyway. I can watch it and wait until you’re done.”

She frowned at
Hayward
. “Do you not want me out of your sight?”
 

“Can you blame me?” He questioned, ignoring her stare. “It’s not everyday a man finds the love of his life.” He admitted, kissing her mouth. Brushing away her frown lines with his fingertips,
Hayward
continued. “Don’t frown it will add wrinkles to your beautiful face. Now go and call your friend. I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but I am and I promised to work on it.”
  

“Okay, I’ll go check my mail, and then we can go back to you house.” True eased around his large body. She picked up the mail out of the basket behind her front door and went into the den.

* * * *

Moving across the room, she flipped through the stack of mail, when a purple envelope sticking out from the bottom, caught her attention. “What is this?” She asked sliding the envelope to the top of the stack. She looked for a return address, but there wasn’t one. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.” She opened the envelope and pulled out the single sheet of paper.