Page 320 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“Victoria is an intelligent woman with important connections,” Prescott continued. “She comes from a solid family. Marrying her will serve our business interests.”

“I told you I don’t care about that crap, Dad.”

“Well, youshould,” Prescott snapped bitterly. “I thought I loved your mother, but all it got me was a house in the suburbs of Connecticut and three ungrateful children. Get your head screwed on straight, Junior, because Victoria’s mother is planningyourengagement party for New Year’s Eve.”

Lee’s face lost all color, and he opened his mouth as if to protest, but Prescott turned on his heels, his shoes clicking on the sidewalk. He couldn’t be bothered to give Jack a parting glance—confirming Jack’s insignificance in his eyes. Good riddance.

Lee watched his father get in his car and drive off in silence, waiting several seconds before he sucked in a breath and squared his shoulders as though preparing to go into battle. But as he started to turn, he caught a glimpse of Jack and he froze.

“How long have you been standing there?” Lee demanded, his voice filled with rage.

“Long enough.”

Lee’s face reddened. “Do you make a habit of spying on other people’s private conversations, asshole?”

“I wasn’t spying. Your father knew I was here the entire time,” Jack said, his back stiff.

Lee’s jaw squared and his voice shook. “You may have fooled my sisters into believing you’re part of this family, but make no mistake: you never have been. And you never will be.”

Jack felt the pain of Lee’s words as sharply as if he’d been stabbed with a dull knife.

Lee turned around and headed back inside, leaving Jack and Tyrion in the yard.

Jack drew a ragged breath, wondering again why he cared what either Buchanan man thought about him. For a split second, he wondered if he should relinquish his one-fourth share of the brewery, but he reminded himself that Beau had wanted him to be an owner. In this one respect, he was equal to his half-siblings.

Still, he had no interest in spending the evening with Lee. He wanted to go home—to whatever one-fourth section he owned—and forget Lee Buchanan existed.

He pulled out his phone and sent Maisie a quick text, softening his message.

I’m going home, Maisie. I don’t belong here.

Her response was quicker than he’d expected.Don’t go anywhere. I’m leaving now.

He cast a glance at the house, willing himself to go in, to be the bigger person and show Lee that he couldn’t care less what he thought, but he couldn’t muster the energy to do it. He didn’t want to fight the Buchanan men. All he’d wanted was to finally have something of his own. To feel like he belonged somewhere. But they hadn’t allowed him even that.

He tugged on Tyrion’s leash. “Let’s go home, buddy.”

But for the first time since he’d arrived in Asheville, Jack felt the tiny prick of conviction that maybe Asheville wasn’t his home after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

River had called her twice within a matter of seconds, and even though she’d just dropped Dottie off and was on her way to Finn’s place, she pulled over to take the call. Because she didn’t have Bluetooth—another reason Mary had offered to give her a barely used minivan before her trade-in last June—and she’d promised herself years ago, after her parents’ accident, she’d never take a call while driving.

“I’m on my way,” she answered. “Everything okay?”

“No,” he said bluntly. “I…I know something’s going on with you and Jack. So I thought you’d want to know he just left the house. I’m not sure what happened, but I think he had words with Lee.”

So much for Dottie’s lost child theory. A surge of righteous anger took hold of Maisie. “I see. And where is Junior?”

A huff of laughter. “Finn took him outside to show him the back yard. I doubt it’ll buy me much time. You know what Finn’s back yard looks like.”

“I thought Adalia was helping him plant things.”

“Sure, but it’s the end of December, and he still has a black thumb. It just took the plants longer to die this time.”

Part of Maisie wanted to drive straight to Finn’s house so she could let Lee know exactly what she thought of him—and also so she could save River from what had to be the worst bachelor party ever. Except Lurch would be there soon to take them on the Brews and Bites tour, and River had Finn. Jack had no one.

No, he had her.

---