River's End (River's End Series, #1)(69)

“Better? As in you? You want to sleep with me too, don’t you? You don’t even pretend to like me.”

“I don’t have to pretend. But you also live with me. I’m responsible for you in a way I shouldn’t have done what I did.”

She wanted to jerk her arms off him, but he anticipated that and held her arms tighter. “I don’t need to be another of your responsibilities.”

“Yeah, well you are. So is Joey. He’s my brother. I can’t believe I…”

“Got me off so quickly? You did. You were great.”

“Don’t, Erin. Please. The last thing I want is to hurt you. And you damn well know that about me. It wasn’t like that. And there is no way you can convince me otherwise.”

“All you see when you look at me is the slut who screwed Joey, and wears a bikini to work, and makes you look stupid and horny by her continued presence here.”

He shook his head. “You try to piss me off. It took me awhile to get it, and what you were about. You think men want to have sex with you or make you feel stupid, like your brother did. I’m not him. And I’m not Joey. In fact, that scares the shit out of you. You can’t control me like every man you’ve ever been with.”

“You want to bet?”

He stared at her and shook his head. “I’m tired, Erin. Tired of this thing between us that can’t happen. Tired of trying to understand what I’m supposed to do about you. All I know is my relationship with my fifteen-year-old son would have soured for a long while if he walked into the barn just a few seconds sooner. I also know my little brother has the rights to you, that I never should have taken.”

Her cheeks reddened at his flat rejection of her. And at her own gall. How could she act that way with Jack, of all men? She knew not to be that way around him. That’s why she liked being with him, because he didn’t want her to be like that.

“I’ll leave.”

He shook his head with a long, weary sigh. “No. You won’t. This is where you live and we all have to accept that. You have nowhere else to go. And I’m sick of pretending you’re just visiting. You live here. Charlie’s right, it’s stupid for you to eat out here alone. It’s stupid you pussyfoot around, acting scared of me and everyone else here. From now on, you eat inside with us. You can come into the house and watch some damned TV once in a while, even use the internet. You don’t have to keep living like this. And your job isn’t any of my business. I should never have reacted the way I did. I had no right, and I’m sorry. So let’s forget the barn ever happened. The only thing I will ask of you is to give some serious thought to what Charlie tried to do for you tonight.”

She didn’t know what to say. What was Jack doing? “I don’t understand.”

Jack let her go and shrugged. “I realized when Allison was here, you’re more awkward in the house than any guest. And it’s because of how I’ve treated you. That’s stupid. You belong here. And it’s about time we all started acting like it. Ben and Charlie are the only ones who treat you like you belong here, and I finally realized I should take a page out of my own sons’ books. You’re so worried about what’s coming at you next, you can’t even begin to relax. Or contemplate learning to read. So it’s done. You live here. We all have to accept it. You have a home now here. The trailer is yours. No more scathing innuendos from any of us. You can ride the horses or walk to the beach anytime you want. You don’t have to ask my permission anymore. For anything.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yeah, you do. We’ve been treating you like shit. Like an intrusive stranger. Like Chance’s bad sister. And that’s what makes you act out. It’s over. You don’t owe me anything. You don’t owe any of us anything. Next time Joey mouths off or gets rude to you, tell him off. Next time, Shane says something offhand or impolite, nail his ass. And the next time you feel pressured by me, just say no. Tell me to fuck off because I don’t like how you dress for your job. Your spot here at the ranch is safe. This is your home, Erin.”

Her head spun since she expected Jack to blame her for what happened earlier. Or want her to come in and finish what she started. She never dreamed Jack would do that. Give her the trailer. He was giving her freedom. The freedom to live her own life.

Could he really mean she was at home? She’d never been at home in all her life. Never. Not once did anyone try to make her feel at home.

She swallowed and shook her head. “Do you mean that?”

He smiled. A smile that left her knees shaking and her heart racing. “I mean it. No more shit, Erin. You earned your place here, and it’s about damn time you started living it.”

She nodded, her tears nearly choking her. How she got to this point, she’d never understand, but certainly would take it. Freedom. A life. A home. No more bad Erin.

“So are we good, Erin? We’ll just forget it. And you can say you live here now?”

She nodded her head, too confused and choked up to reply. Eventually, she smiled. She fully intended to show Jack how much his gift to her today meant. And she’d prove that she was worthy of it.





Chapter Twenty


Everything changed after that night. Erin didn’t understand why Jack did what he did, or why his sudden, unconditional acceptance of her seemed to make the entire valley more receptive to her. Suddenly, Ian, Shane and even Joey started being nicer to her. They quit avoiding her and started socializing with her. Suddenly, she was allowed inside the house. And even invited inside the house. She realized how much the Rydells revered Jack’s opinion. When Jack didn’t like her, no one else did; and when Jack turned lukewarm towards her, so did everyone else. But once Jack fully embraced and accepted her, she was unanimously accepted.