Page 29 of Passion in Bloom

I hung my head, getting really tired of having to tell people no. To insist that I had to take care of my problems on my own.

“You know, it’s not a crime. It’s not going to make you any weaker to need someone’s help.”

I lifted my head, blinking in surprise. He wasn’t usually this wordy, and he was never so direct as to put me on the spot like this.

“I know people talked shit about your mom and dad. And about you because they assumed you would be just like them. I heard it all.”

At least you were spared, separated and not damned by the association. My aunt and uncle weren’t bad people, and they’d made it clear long, long ago that they wouldn’t give my parents any handouts or offer any loopholes.

“But they are learning. Everyone learns and can change.”

Not true. David won’t change.

“And they’re all learning this new you. The adult you. The woman without the influence of your mom and dad to taint anything.”

I sighed, not wanting to hear this lecture. What he said sounded too good to be true. Sure, in theory, people could change. But I wasn’t in the position to care about all the people in Burton. I had to heal. I had to recover mentally and be stronger on my own before I could consider letting anyone’s opinions make an impact on me again.

“Look at me and how I got better these past few days. People checked on me. Dropped off my prescriptions. Made me soup.”

I nodded.

“Sometimes it does take a village—”

“Yeah. I get it.” I held up my hand. “But I’m not ready to see if this village actually is any fonder of me than they were before.”

“I understand,” he reiterated. “I can see why you were so guarded for so long, cuz. But you gotta give people a chance to show that they’ve changed, too. Being so guarded and independent like this isn’t any way to live forever. Particularly if someone’s bothering you.”

“I...know,” I admitted. And I meant it. I understood what he was saying. It was impossible not to consider his message, but I wasn’t sure if I could convince myself to change the way I viewed my situation.

Burton did seem to take care of its own.

But I had no way to know that it included me—the young girl who dreamed so hard and for so long to get the hell out of here.

“Don’t be a stranger, all right?” He gestured in the direction of the rest of the ranch. “We got good men working here. Todd. Roarke. Gavin.”

I nodded again, not wanting to comment at all about how I felt about Roarke. Not right after sucking him off the way I had, as a way to escape reality for just a moment and be able to know I could have the power to give someone like him pleasure.

“If you need anything...” he said, letting his offer weaken into silence.

“Thanks, Eric.” I patted his back, walking with him to his car. “I appreciate it.”

I really did.

But it wasn’t enough to make me lower my guard.