Page 111 of Fall for You
And Willow…
He swallowed hard. Willow was a phenomenally bad liar. He knew this better than anyone. She was an honest person, and the guilt over keeping secrets from her family had to be eating her up, but…
How could she do that?
She looked right at him with those big blue eyes of hers and made him feel like he could give her the world and it’d be safe within her hands.
And then she just turned around and gave them up? Just like that?
He could only imagine her family’s reaction. Was it as bad as his father’s right now? Maybe they’d made it impossible for hernotto spill the beans.
Eric’s blood began to boil. They better not have yelled at her.
He met his father’s rage-filled glare.
Oh crap. How much had she told them? And what had Dallas told his father? Unless he’d made Willow make the call. Had she confessed all to his old man?
Oh, Willow, what have you done?
As much as he hated the idea of her family forcing the truth out of her, he couldn’t get over the fact that she’d given it to them.
And now his father knew, which meant…
He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling twelve years old again and called to the principal’s office. “Dad, I can explain?—”
“I am done with your explanations.” His father’s voice was so cold, so low, so…certain.
His brows drew together. “Dad?—”
“Enough! Our lawyers say you’ve been hesitating over the lawsuit, and now this?” It was the disappointment in his father’s expression that nearly killed him. It was so much worse than his anger.
“I wasn’t hesitating. I had a plan,” he started.
His father scoffed, crossing his arms. “Your sister said you weren’t ready for this responsibility?—”
“What does she have to do?—”
“I should have listened to her. You’re too young, and you don’t have enough experience. What were you thinking, trying to play these games with a King?”
“Dad—” he tried to interject, but his father wasn’t even listening to him.
“I’d hoped some experience at the helm would make you a strong leader, but I will not just sit back and watch you destroy what I worked so long and hard to build.”
“Destroy what?” His own temper flared. “How?” He pounded a fist on his desk just the way his father had. “You haven’t even given me a chance to explain what you think you know. Don’t tell me you’re going to take a King’s word over your own son’s.”
That got through to his father. At least, it seemed to give him pause.
Eric drew in a calming breath. “Since I’ve taken over, this lodge’s memberships have consistently risen. The waitlist has grown exponentially. Nonmembers have to book up to a year in advance now.” As if he’d been preparing for this moment, Eric started rattling off the impressive numbers he’d accumulated.
Heck, maybe hehadbeen preparing. Maybe he’d always known that a day would come when he’d have to justify himself and his position. The numbers he threw out had more of an effect than anything else he could say.
His father understood numbers. He appreciated cold, hard facts.
By the time he was done, his father had settled some. But his eyes narrowed on Eric with a lingering suspicion. “Tell me this. Why did I have to hear about your secret meetings with that Willow girl from Dallas King?”
“I…what?” He shook his head, trying to think clearly. But Willow’s name on his father’s lips threw him off guard.
The older man leaned back, the look in his eyes pure challenge.
