Page 32 of Saving Jared

"Now, the way I see it, it’s not anyone’s damn business who Willa goes out with. Well, except mine of course," she said matter of fact with a slight grin at Willa before her expression turned all fierce again. Her gaze bounced between her brothers. "But you three." She waved an accusing finger at them. "You three need to get over yourselves and realize your baby sister is a grown-ass woman with a mind of her own. My god, she runs into burning buildings for a living. She saves lives. But you guys—her brothers who are supposed to love and support her—just want to walk—"

"We don’t—"

"I’m. Not. Finished." Kinsley stopped short Eric’s excuse as the tension in Darin’s arm eased in her grasp. Maybe she should have had Kinsley yell at her brothers sooner. She glanced at Jared and Jude who looked more amused than anything. Kinsley must have noticed too, because she quickly jabbed her finger toward Jude. "And what are you smirking about? You need to mind your own business too. And you—"

"I think I’ve got this now," Willa said when Kinsley looked close to laying into Jared. In her current mood, there was no telling what her friend might inadvertently blurt out, and they’d had enough revelations for one morning.

"Then carry on," Kinsley said with a grin and flourish of her hands. What would she do without this amazing woman as a friend? And everything she’d said was almost word for word what she’d been telling her brothers now for at least a couple of years. From their subdued and—surprisingly—chastised demeanors, maybe having someone else point it out to them was exactly what they'd needed. She let go of Darin’s arm and moved away from her brothers. But now it was time for Willa to bring it home.

"I love you guys." She held Darin’s tense gaze. "You know that, right?"

"We love you too Willa-bear," Ben answered for them, while Eric grumbled, "How can you even ask that?"

"And I know you love me," she said holding her hand out to Ben who swallowed it up with his massive one and squeezed. "But I have to be able to live my life. Wait," she said when Darin opened his mouth. "That doesn’t mean my life won’t have all of you in it. God, do you know how lucky I’ve been to have such amazing brothers? How many men would sacrifice the way you three did after mom and dad died? Would raise a kid and keep her in a stable home when they should have been out living their own lives?" Her pooling gaze met Darin’s. "Give up their dreams?"

Darin’s glistening eyes held hers. He may have sacrificed the most. Becoming a lawyer had been his dream. He’d finished law school and passed the bar, but it had taken years in between keeping the ranch going and taking care of his family. But her brother would do it again if he had to. It was just the kind of man he was.

"And I…" She took in a shuddering breath, then cleared her throat. "I am forever grateful. But don’t you think you’ve done your jobs?"

Ben’s hand tightened on hers and he pulled her into his arms where he gathered her in an almost crushing hug. "You were never a job, Willa-bear. You’re our family." She sniffled into his shirt as she wrapped her arms around him the best she could. "And from now on, you have my word we won’t interfere. Right, Eric…Darin?" She didn’t hear a reply, but from Ben’s satisfied sigh and "Good," she had to think they’d agreed. "Now, understand," he said, holding her away from him and gazing down at her with a frown. "If anyone, and I mean anyone," he growled with a glare over her head toward Jared, then back at her, "hurts you, all bets are off."

"Agreed."

"Okay," Kinsley said with a clap of her hands. "Now that that’s settled, someone grab a broom."

"I’ll—" Willa’s text alert tone from the station interrupted her as Jared approached Darin with his hand out. She held her breath as she lifted her phone from her pocket, but then let it out when her brother reluctantly took it. At least that was over.

She opened the text and frowned. How had she forgotten to turn in her report? She could’ve sworn she’d set it on the captain’s desk. "I’ve got to go to the station."

"Is it an emergency?" Jared asked, his concerned gaze meeting hers.

"No just something quick I need to take care of. I’ll be back soon." She gave them a reassuring smile, one that almost faltered when Jared’s worry morphed into something else—something she needed to ignore for the moment since things had finally settled down. Luckily, she’d left her purse on the counter the night before. So, she strode past everyone busy sweeping and cleaning up the mess and grabbed it, then glanced back at her family.

It looked like everything was going to be okay as far as her brothers were concerned. She wasn’t kidding herself it would be easy, but she at least they didn’t have to hide their relationship. At least she hoped what they had so far could become one.

With that thought in mind, she got in her Jeep and headed out, relieved she and Jared had no more obstacles in their way.

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