Page 82 of Stealing Home

For a second I wonder if it’s too late for me to run away. I could have stayed with Wren for a couple of days while Scott visited his parents. There’s no way this is going to be anything other than awkward. Scott isn’t about to let me run off though. He puts his hand on my back and guides me to follow after his dad.

“Where’s mom?” Scott asks, as he pulls out a stool for me at the breakfast island in the kitchen.

“She’s getting ready. We thought we could go grab breakfast,” Aiden tells him.

Scott yawns. “I haven’t slept yet. Harlow only caught a few hours of interrupted sleep. I was hoping we could sleep for a couple of hours before you both were up and ready to do anything.”

“You could have flown in this morning. I don’t understand why you decided to leave in the middle of the night to get here.” Aiden assesses me like he’s sure I’m the reason.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault,” I speak up.

Aiden’s eyes narrow, and his jaw clenches. Without thinking I slide off the stool and start to back away. I recognize that seeing an angry man is a trigger for me, but I can’t seem to rationalize the fear away.

Scott swoops in and pulls me into his chest. His arms wrap around me, and one hand cradles the back of my head while I bury my face between his pecs. Slowly, he works his hand through my hair. “You’re okay, Low. I’m here. I’ve got you, and I’m never letting you go,” he whispers so only I can hear.

It takes a couple of tries, but I’m able to take a full breath. Pulling my head back so I can look at him, I put my hand on the side of his face. I don’t need to say anything, because he sees the gratitude on my face. He tips his head, just a tiny bit, but he doesn’t let me go.

When he speaks to his dad, I understand he’s holding on to me because he needs the support now, so I don’t try and pull away. It’s hard though, because I can feel the judgment radiating off his father. Not that I blame him. I knew his parents weren’t going to be thrilled about our relationship and accept us right from the start. I do worry about how Scott is going to handle it since he’s always been so close to his parents.

“We went out last night, and when we got back to Harlow’s place, Coach was waiting on the stairs. He’d disabled the security system, and broke the bulbs in a couple of the street lights.”

Aiden crosses his arms across his chest. “You mean her husband was there waiting for you. Son, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think he has a right to try and work things out with his wife.”

“He has no fucking rights to her what so ever.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see smoke coming out of Scott’s nose. He’s angry, but for once it doesn’t frighten me.

His dad holds his hands up in front of him. “We’ve always been able to talk, and I have to say, I’m a bit concerned about this relationship.”

He turns his icy gaze to me, and though he’s got the same dark blue eyes as his son, I’ve never seen a colder blue. “I think you’re a nice woman, and I am sorry for the situation you’re in, but it isn’t my son’s responsibility to save you.”

This is not the charming man I met at the banquet, and while I couldn’t give a flying fuck what he thinks about me, I don’t want to damage his relationship with Scott. My chin tips up as I gather all my inner strength. “You’re absolutely right. I don’t need him to save me.”

“I don’t see what the two of you could possibly have in common. You’re so much older than him. You’ve already gone to college, been married, and had a full time job. These are still things he should get to experience for the first time. I don’t care whatever crisis you’re going through that makes you want to relive your twenties, you shouldn’t have gone after my son to do it.”

“What is all the shouting about?” Becca Ryan asks as she breezes into the kitchen.

Scott is staring his father down, while Aiden continues to look at me with disdain. She takes in everything, and huffs. “This won’t do. Scott, why don’t you take Harlow upstairs so you can both freshen up. I’d like a moment to talk to your dad.”

My feet refuse to move that direction. There’s no way in hell I’m going to feel comfortable under this roof. I pull Scott toward the front door so I can talk to him away from his parents.

“This wasn’t a good idea. You should stay here and visit with your parents. I’m going to get an Uber and check into a hotel for the night.”

I can’t take the look of dejection on his face, so I try and comfort him the best I can. “I’m not running, hotshot, but I told you I won’t come between you and them. I don’t think it’s going to help for me to be here while you work this out with them.” I take a deep breath to try and power through what I need to tell him. “If the cost of being with me is too high, I understand.”

“For fuck sake woman, if you want to leave me, I’ll let you go, but stop trying to protect me.”

He grabs my hand and drags me back into the kitchen. I resist the entire way, but since he’s almost a foot taller than me and at least fifty pounds of muscle heavier, my efforts are useless.

“I’m taking Harlow to a hotel in town,” he says when we enter the room.

Aiden nods. “I think that’s for the best. You can use my car, and we’ll talk when you get back.”

Scott crosses his arms, mirroring his father’s stance. “I don’t think you understand. Where she goes, I go. Keep telling yourself that she’s controlling me if you want, but that won’t make it true. I pursued her. Relentlessly.”

“You just got here. I’d really like it if you stayed,” his mom begs. She looks at me and adds, “Both of you.”

“Just show Mrs. Rivera to the guest room,” his dad grumbles.

Becca’s head whips around to glare at him. “Aiden, I love you, but I will punch you in the throat if you don’t stop being an asshole.”

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