Page 81 of Shephard

“Don’t do anything stupid, Shephard. The man has friends everywhere. That’s how I was found.”

“There’s a reason he’s coming after you. A major deal or the girl he’s marrying is from a prominent family. Something else we should look at. It’s called leverage.”

Her sigh was heavy and she threw open the door, Pepper immediately climbing over her to get out. “I don’t want anyone else hurt. Including you. I… I care about you.”

She closed the door behind her, making certain I couldn’t say anything in retort to her comment. I sat back briefly, holding my breath.

My entire world was about to change. The question was whether I could handle it or if I’d hurt her. Not a chance. I’d walk away first.

My mind went straight to the gutter as soon as she walked into the cabin. The vision of licking her naked body all over was a powerful aphrodisiac and one I couldn’t seem to rid myself of. But as I’d been told more times than I could count, I wasemotionally unavailable, which meant I didn’t know how to comfort her in the least.

Whether or not she wanted to admit she was over the guy, she was living in turmoil and had been since fleeing Charlotte. And that’s exactly what had occurred. She’d been run out on a silver platter orchestrated by the Reynolds family.

Here I was dripping with lust, imagining her naked body on that same silver platter and Denise was wringing her hands.

“I heard all the residences owned by your mom and dad were gorgeous.” She seemed more nervous around me than she’d ever been. Maybe because this moment was real. I’d seen her frustration, her fear.

And tears.

The reality was I wasn’t sure how to handle it. “They did well for themselves. It shocked his children. Dad had always floundered.”

“I heard the reason the resort hadn’t sold for years was that the previous owner wanted too much money. I guess your dad had investors?”

“Supposedly.” I could tell it was her way of putting a spin on the good fortune. Meaning she also felt something was off with the entire situation. I’d found little on the investors at the office, which meant my father was keeping close tabs on information he didn’t want his children to discover. The three boys had walked into a land mine. I felt it.

“Why did they ask you and your brothers to take over? From what I heard your parents seemed to enjoy the work.” She wasclutching her laptop bag and the duffle where she’d shoved clothes as if I was going to steal them from her.

No one learned about my private life, but I felt compelled to tell her the truth. Trust was vital right now. On both sides. “My father has stage four cancer with months to live. He made this offer more out of his bizarre desire to have his three sons stop the animosity between us.” I moved toward her, gently taking the items from her hands. While she allowed me to do so, her expression remained pained. The bastard has nearly sucked the life out of her.

I wanted to kill him more now than I had before. I could have easily crushed his windpipe with my knee, a handy maneuver I’d learned a long time ago.

“I am so sorry about your dad. I had no idea. It’s good the three of you are here. I miss my family very much.”

But she was afraid to go home. Fuck Jameson.

“He doesn’t talk about it. Hell, he doesn’t talk about anything personal. Honestly, if my mother hadn’t blurted out his condition with tears in her eyes, I honestly don’t think he would have admitted his illness.” I stopped talking. I never allowed anyone to know my business, but here I was with diarrhea of the mouth.

But she was so easy to talk to and I could tell by the look in her eyes, the way she held her mouth how intensely sad she was here for me and my entire family. People she didn’t even know. Fuck. I needed to try to stay away from her. It was that simple. I would drag her through quicksand instead of mud as Jameson had done. I couldn’t do that to her. I might not have a conscience, but I refused to be an asshole to someone so… damn good.

Yet I couldn’t. It was just too late.

I would do everything in my life to protect her.

Even from me.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked in her sweet, kind voice. She could be such a heavy hitter, but her softer side drew me in like flies to honey.

Damn it.

“I just did,” I stated, my tone completely changing. Again. “I’ll take your things to the guest room in a little while. My guess is you wouldn’t mind a drink and God knows I need one.” I started to storm from the room and she laughed. I knew the sound. She was already disgusted with me.

“No, I wouldn’t mind a goddamn drink because the man who rescued and protected me is being an asshole. Again. I’m not sure what I did to deserve his stupid behavior or utter hatred, but I guess I’ll just get used to it. Lights on. Lights off. Cold. Hot. Steamy. I just wish that man, who I actually kind of like when he’s not being an asshole, would figure out the man he wants to be.” She allowed the words to hang in the room and I did nothing but stand there like a fucking statue.

Like always.

“Are you sure you want me to be here?” she demanded.

“Don’t question my decisions, sweetheart,” I said just as bitterly. “When I decide something, it’s final. I’ll get some goddamn drinks.” I was more forceful in my words than usual, more for her benefit. Maybe it was my way of trying to drive her out of my mind.

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