Maddox waved his words away. “Don’t apologize. I don’t want an apology. And stop thinking about it. I’m just blowing off steam. Having Atticus in the hospital has brought it all to the forefront again, because it’s harder for Susan and me to avoid each other.”

“I wish you didn’t have to avoid each other.”

“It is what it is. There’s nothing more you can do.”

If only there was some way to atone. But he couldn’t restore what he’d taken.

With a sigh, Tobias got to his feet. “I’d better get going.”

“Wait a second.” Maddox stood, too. “How’re Carl and Uriah getting along?”

“Now that Carl doesn’t have a license and won’t be able to drive, he won’t be leaving anytime soon. I know that much.”

“Oh, joy. He’ll be at the orchard all the time.”

“Right. You know how that will go. He wasn’t at the house twenty-four hours before the first incident.”

“Shit.”

“And he’s starting to mess with me.”

Maddox grew more alert. “In what way?”

“Lurking by my place even though there’s no reason for him to be there. Making snide comments. That sort of thing.”

“He’s an absolute ass.”

“I’d love to teach him a lesson.”

An anxious look came over Maddox’s face. “But you won’t, right? You can’t touch him, Tob.”

“I know,” he grumbled. “I won’t.”

“Great.” He rubbed his temples. “So…on to more positive subjects. Tell me about Harper.”

What was positive about that? As far as Tobias was concerned, that was the most sensitive subject yet. “I already told you about her. There’s nothing going on there.”

Maddox peered more closely at him. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re not listening?”

“I saw how you reacted when you felt she was threatened by my presence. I swear you would’ve fought me for her sake.”

Tobias stretched his neck. “That’s an exaggeration. I was just being polite.”

“Sure you were,” he said with a laugh. “But I can see why. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Tobias narrowed his eyes. “Is this a trap?”

His brother sobered. “A warning. You know how much I think of you. As far as I’m concerned, you should be able to have any woman you want.”

“Except someone like Harper?” Tobias could tell by Maddox’s tone where he was going with that statement.

Maddox winced but nodded. “Yeah, except someone like Harper. Trying to get her would be like…like wishing for the moon. And I don’t want to see you hurt. So, please, don’t set yourself up for that kind of disappointment.”