Page 5 of Close to My Heart

Wes barely suppressed an eye-roll. “You know she just likes to keep you in line by threatening you with changing it, right?”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “This time she’s using everything in her arsenal.”

“And what would that be?” Wes asked.

I drew in a breath before I said, “I have to get married before she dies, or the estate goes to charity. She claims she’s sick and only has a few months to live.”

His eyes widened. “You’re kidding me.”

“She’s been saying that ever since she was diagnosed with heart issues. The will has already been rewritten. She gave me a copy to show to my attorney.”

I rarely saw Wes angry, but right now he was seething. “What right does she have to order you to get married?”

“She controls everything.” She’s always acted as the puppet master, pulling strings when it suited her. I watched my parents jump on many occasions, trying to please her, hoping it meant more money for them.

I didn’t particularly care about the money. I wanted to preserve the house and the memories inside. The house had been in the Rosesmith family for generations, and I wasn’t about to let the proceeds from its sale be donated to charity. I had plans for how I wanted to use it.

His jaw worked. “What are you going to do?”

“I have to get married.”

“Your grandmother tells you to get married, and you comply. Just like that?” Wes snapped his fingers.

I grimaced. “What other choice do I have? I need the house.”

Wes stood abruptly and paced the room. “She’s playing a game with your life, and I don’t like it.”

“The Rosesmith name can be so much more. I want to keep the house in the family and do something good with it.” Wes had listened to me talk over the years. He knew my dreams inside and out.

Wes’s face softened as he sat by my side on the bed. “You have such a big heart. You’re so much bigger than them.”

“They’re my family.”

Wes sighed. “It doesn’t mean you have to stick around and take the abuse.”

“I want the house.” I’d been saying that to myself over the years every time I was at a dinner I didn’t want to be at or a gala or some other event where my presence was required.

“So what’s the plan?”

“Mom has some eligible bachelors lined up for me to consider.”

“I bet they’re all trust-fund babies who’ve never worked a job before, hoping for a big pay day by marrying you.” He stood and paced again. “And who wouldn’t? You’re intelligent, beautiful, and kind.”

“You think I’m beautiful?” I didn’t think I’d ever heard him say that before, but I’d bumped my head pretty good.

Wes’s jaw tightened. “You know you are.”

Yeah, but it was different hearing him say it.

Wes stopped at the end of the bed. “We’ll figure this out. Just not tonight. You need to rest.”

Wes pulled his shirt off revealing his toned pecs, defined abs, and the sprinkling of hair that thickened toward the waist band of his jeans.

Over the years, I’d seen him in various stages of dress, but this was the first time he was getting ready to go to bed with me.

2

WES

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