Page 60 of Unexpected Temptation
“Well, I just assumed from our talks that you expected me, and I didn’t use the phone because I wanted to surprise you.”
“That was my fault for not communicating better,” Jaylen said.
Amelia felt bile start to boil up her throat at Jaylen’s calm and somewhat happy tone of voice.He was buying everything she was saying.And why shouldn’t he?Her sister could act as a sweet, loving person when it suited her needs at the time.
“So, what exactly did my sister tell you?”
“She said you had changed your mind.”
Meredith tsk-tsked and shook her head sadly.
“I’m sorry.Amelia has always been jealous of me and has tried to make my life hard at times.She heard her sister say more, but couldn’t hear the words through the pounding of her heart.
Amelia watched through the screen door as Meredith walked to Jaylen and ran her hand up and down his arm.His back was to her so she couldn’t see his face, but the fact that he wasn’t pushing her away or telling her to stop spoke volumes.
“So now you’re here.What exactly do you want?”
Meredith pressed her breasts against his arm.“Darling, I want you.I’m sorry my sister misled you, but I’m here now to take care of you,” she purred.
“And how exactly are you going to do that?”
Amelia pressed her hand against her mouth to keep from blurting out the questions and fears racing through her brain.Why wasn’t he pushing her away or telling her sister they were a couple?
“Well, I don’t know what you need.”
“Do you cook or clean?”
“I’ll do whatever needs to be done, or we can hire people.”
“You’ll be able to live on the ranch full time?”
Amelia caught the sob before it burst from her lips and backed up and away from the house.She couldn’t watch it anymore.All she could think about was running somewhere, anywhere, to hide and deal with the excruciating pain she felt.
For a moment, she stood in a daze on the side of the house and tried to decide what she needed because there was no way she could stay here and watch her world shatter.
Amelia started to move to her car on the other side of the stable, but remembered her keys were inside.Desperation clawed at her throat.
She spotted one of his ranch trucks and headed that way.She was in and turning the key before she lost what little sanity and control she had.One breath at a time, that’s all she needed to concentrate on, besides driving.
Halfway down the mountain, she had to stop to wipe the tears from her eyes.She needed to be able to see, or she could easily fall off the mountain in certain areas.
Her foot eased up enough to get the truck going again.Amelia gripped the steering wheel as the pain continued to grow, taking over her senses.Just a little bit longer, she thought.She could break down later.At that moment, she needed to concentrate on the road.
Amelia breathed a sigh of relief when the truck came to a standstill in front of Kane’s store.She sat frozen, undecided about what she should do.
First order of business, get her things.She bit back the sob that tried to escape.She needed her belongings, and then she could move on, but for that, she needed help.Kane was the closest she had at the moment.
After Kane got back with her things, she’d drive for a while and stop in the next place that grabbed her attention, as this one had.
She felt a little better having a plan.She jumped down from the truck, slammed the door closed, and walked into the building.
She was strong, she reminded herself repeatedly.She would get through this.
