Page 50 of Weston’s Treasure

My honest answer did something funny. His lips tipped up but the gesture died before it turned into a smile. Warmth and understanding swept over him and I wasn’t sure how I knew that’s what he was feeling, but I did.

Not only did I know it but I could feel it. The crackle in the air, the unconcealed concern, the anger on my behalf.

Weston didn’t wait, he didn’t stop to ask more questions, he didn’t tell me everything was going to be okay, he didn’t tell me not to be upset or I had nothing to worry about. He simply closed the space between us and pulled me into his arms. Something he’d pointed out my father hadn’t done.

Once my cheek was resting on his chest and his big arms went around my shoulders, I wrapped mine around his middle and held on. And for the first time since Nixon’s call from Alec about my dad calling the police, I felt safe. Protected. Cocooned. Nothing could touch me if Weston was around.

“Do you think I’m desperate?” I blurted out, and when Weston stiffened I regretted my outburst. “That didn’t come out right.”

“I sure as fuck hope it didn’t. Wanna explain what you meant?”

“I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

“Then don’t say stupid shit.”

That had me stiffening and a little pissed.

“I’m not saying stupid shit, I’m telling you how I feel. How is that stupid?”

“It’s stupid if you’re getting ready to try and convince me you’re desperate.”

The ‘little’ went out of the little pissed and I moved straight to pissed.

“Well, I’m kinda acting like I am don’t you think? I mean, here I am latched onto you like some desperate, lonely fool, thinking that as long as you’re around no one can hurt me when I should be standing up for myself.”

Some of the stiffness from his body waned but the hardness of his voice remained.

“First, pleased you recognize that you are always safe when you’re with me. Can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you trust me to do that for you. Second, even more satisfied you’ve latched on, because, sweetheart, I wasn’t gonna give you a choice about that. And, Silver, you are no fool. Not when it comes to me, not when it comes to your dad. You knew he was diggin’ in, you know he’s stubborn, and you saw the wisdom in extraditing yourself from the situation. That is not weak, that is not desperate, that is you being smart and strong and knowing when to cut your losses and walk the fuck away before shit gets worse. So no, I do not think you’re desperate. I don’t think you’re easy. I don’t think you’re a lonely fool. But I do think you are a beautiful, intelligent woman, who had the misfortune of having two assholes for parents.”

I was silent because I was savoring what Weston said but at the same time, I found it annoying he could make me feel like I was all the things he said I was when I was angry at him. Not that I remembered why I was pissed to begin with. Which was annoying as well.

“Why is he so hell-bent on you taking over his business?”

“He wants to retire,” I semi-lied.

“No masks, Silver.”

“How do you do that?” I fumed. “It’s exasperating.’

“What is? That I know when you’re trying to hide from me by giving me partial truths?”

“Yeah, that.”

“It’s a gift,” he joked.

“Annoying.”

With his arms still firmly wrapped around me, I felt his body shaking with laughter and I really wished I could see his face. I bet he was smiling. Not one of his soft smiles that I loved, but the one I arguably liked better. The one that was full of humor and amusement. Because that one was also soft and sweet but a different soft, and he only smiled that one at me.

“Noted. So why is he pushing you?”

At his question, all the good and fuzzy feelings I was enjoying vanished. I didn’t want to talk about my dad and I didn’t want to have to explain the dysfunction.

“Can we—?”

“Tell me.”

“But—”