Page 81 of Mine to Keep

Well, she couldn’t let that happen.

No way.

Tonight, she’d gather up what she could, take all her savings, and sneak off into the night, never to be heard from again.

She knew it would be hard. But what choice did she have?

“This woman just looked so much like you, and I know you’re hiding something.” He hugged her tighter. “It’s okay. I, of all people, understand. You can tell me anything, though. You can trust me.”

“You don’t believe me?” She stared at him with wide eyes.

“Of course, I believe you,” he said. “It’s just that she looked so much like you.”

“That’s not my sister.”

He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger and kissed her lips softly. “Tell me about your sister, Arleen. What happened between the two of you? I want to know, and only because I care so much about you and Zadie.”

She dropped her head back. Her heart hurt. She absolutely believed Jamison, and that broke her soul. She knew he cared. His feelings were so strong that he wanted to know what’d torn her family apart. Just like she wanted to know about him and his family.

This was genuine.

She knew that to be true. But, sometimes, truths didn’t matter.

Especially when they were lies.

“I really don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“Okay.” He kissed her shoulder. “I won’t push, but I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”

“And if I never want to tell you about her or why we don’t speak anymore?”

“It’s probably too soon to say something like this, but I’m falling for you.”

She opened her mouth to protest his declaration, but he pressed his finger against her lips.

“I can see in your eyes how painful this is for you, and I’m kicking myself for bringing it up. However, I know it’s not me who put that hurt in your heart. Just like if you were to start asking me about Steve, his children, and my mom. And those are all issues I need to come to terms with. That’s something you and Zadie have helped me see. I need to resolve my conflict with the people in my life. Especially my mom. I love her dearly, and I’d hate for something to happen to her and for me not to have put all this craziness in the past.”

“What about Steve, his children, and your brothers?”

“All of them, too. I know I need to find room in my life for them all. And I will. That’s why, when I saw that story and thought if maybe she, or someone like her, could be your sister, I wondered if there was some way you could mend fences.”

She nodded. “While that woman isn’t related to me, my sister is involved in a relationship I can’t stand behind. That’s part of why we don’t speak.”

“Enough said.” He kissed her temple. “I have that deck and dock I need to work on today. You and Zadie are welcome to hang out here all day if you want.”

“I have to get working on some jewelry, so I do need to get back to my place. But not until after her morning nap and my use of your big soaking tub.”

“I have to work a twenty-four-hour shift tomorrow. If you want, you and Zadie can sleep here. Hell, you can bring all your jewelry-making stuff and sit out by the pool and enjoy the sun.”

She let out a long breath and ran her hand over the top of her daughter’s head. “I don’t want to take advantage.”

“I’d like to consider myself your boyfriend. And if that’s the case, you wouldn’t be doing that at all.”

She turned and caught Jamison’s gaze. “I’m not sure I’m ready for all of this.”

“Neither am I.”

“We’ve lost our minds.”

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