His face turned scarlet. "Well, what did you expect? I walked up to the door with the idea of rescuing you and found you two...well, you can imagine what I thought."
"You thought the worst - like you always do."
He frowned. "Is that the way you see me? Is that why you came out here - to get away from me?"
"Among other things."
He glanced around the room. "Geez, Megan. It's humiliating to think you'd come to this empty furnace just to get away from me."
She followed his gaze, taking in the bare glossy walls and impressive fireplace with one forlorn glance.
"I have to admit it wasn't what I expected to find, but it isn't so bad. I'll bet it's beautiful in the spring, and I can imagine Christmas here with a big tree over there and a roaring fire in the fireplace..."
Her voice trailed off. How could she expect Denton to understand her dream of purchasing the place? But that dream had been smashed to oblivion. Justin owned the land, and he would never sell it to her now. Wait. What was it he said? If anyone could do it, she could. Was he referring to her ambitious nature, as she had thought at the time, or did he mean she was the only one he would sell it to? She sighed. But not now. Now she was the last person he would consider selling it to.
She stood and lifted the suitcase. Almost everything else could be left in the house for the next tenant. Would Justin rent it out, or would he simply move in?
Denton reached for the suitcase. "Well, if you've made up your mind, let me carry that out for you." He cocked his head to the side and arched a brow. "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to him?"
She shook her head. "I'll stop by on my way out and try to talk to him. Maybe he's had time to cool down."
The mustang was gone when she stopped at his apartment. Digging a note pad out of her purse, she labored over a note. Would he read it or toss it in the trash? She tacked the note to the door and shut the screen. Maybe he would throw it away, but if he had second thoughts, at least he had her telephone number now.
From the airport window, she watched a cloud bank build in the northwest. With any luck, she would be out of Arkansas before another storm struck - a storm without Justin to solace her. She dabbed at her swollen eyes again and Denton shook his head.