“And if she doesn’t listen?”
“She will.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve seen how she looks at you. And I don’t think you’re the only one who’s fallen in love.”
He knew he wasn’t. She’d told him on the phone that she’d fallen for him. And that almost made it worse. Because she didn’t give love easily. And if she’d let herself fall, that was big. But in her mind, he’d trampled on that love.
“Thanks.” Joel stepped back. “I’m going to head home and shower. Have a beer and clear my head.”
“Want company?”
He shook his head. “Stay. Be an extra set of eyes on Polly’s room.”
Ryan handed him his keys.
Shit. He’d forgotten he’d come with Ethan.
“It’s in the last row to the right.”
Joel nodded in thanks.
The drive home was a blur. A blur of noise in his head. Of tight fingers around the wheel. Of images of Polly hanging upside down in that car.
He craved to be with her. To sit with her, protect her, make sure she was safe.
But he’d fucked things up. He should have told her. He hadn’t because he’d been scared. Scared that if he revealed the complicated mess of his family, she’d run.
But there was no scenario where he’d thought Bronte would come here. His parents? Sure. But not her. And he certainly hadn’t thought she’d enter his home wearing his grandmother’sring and answer the door to Polly. It was like the perfect storm of everything that shouldn’t have happened.
He’d just pulled into his driveway when his phone rang, his mother’s name flashing on the screen. He shouldn’t answer it right now. He should give himself time to cool off.
He didn’t.
“Mom—”
“You kicked Bronte out? Really, Joel. We’ve come to understand that you’ll willingly treat your father and I like dirt, but Bronte? Your fiancée?”
“I don’t know how to speak to you in a way you’ll understand, so I’m just going to say it as bluntly as I fucking can.”
His mother gasped. “Language, Joel!”
“I’m not marrying her.Ever. I’m not marrying her in Houston. I’m sure as shit not marrying her in Deep River. I amnotmarrying that woman.”
“But her parents?—”
“Could be the leaders of the fucking nation. I wouldn’t give a shit.”
A shuffling noise sounded, then his father’s booming voice came over the line. “That’s it. We’ve had just about enough from you. If you don’t agree to marry her in the next six months, we’ll do it. You’ll be cut out of our wills. You’ll getnothing.”
He laughed. “Do it.”
“Joel—”
“No.I’mspeaking. I don’t want your money. I don’t want your company. I don’t want that ridiculous million-dollar watch you wear to work every day. I wantnothingfrom you.”
“You dare speak to me like that?” his father growled.
