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“Most of it was over college vacation and the other I caught up. The professor over the department knew of my situation and I guess he was more lenient with me because of it. He knew I was determined to finish the program.”
“Erin.” He rolled her name around on his tongue a few times while he met her gaze.
“I don’t now what to tell my family,” he admitted. “I’ve never lied to them. Well, maybe once or twice as a kid. If they’ve asked me something outright then I’m always truthful even if it makes me cringe. I love and respect them…Fuck! This is all screwed up.”
The tormented look on his face caused her to move over to him where she took his hand into hers. “Why don’t we go back downstairs, right now, and tell them everything. You can start by admitting that you’d been a drunken idiot and I’ll explain. I, at least, owe you that much.”
What was she doing?
If they told his family everything, then she’d have no excuse to stay and be with Mateo. It would hurt her to leave the handsome man who looked so torn about what to do. But it was the right thing to do. It had gone on for too long and there was no need to continue anymore.
He intertwined their fingers together as though he needed the comfort she offered as he admitted, “They told me I couldn’t talk to anyone about the arrangement. But instead of listening to them, I should have swallowed what little pride I had left and admitted the truth from day one.” He ran his fingers through his hair while he kept hold of her hand. “They’re my family, Erin. All I have. I’d trust each of them with my life. Why the fuck didn’t I tell them the truth?”
“I honestly don’t know. I just knew that coming here for your brother’s wedding had to be the end. I couldn’t do it anymore. I haven’t been paid since your accident, which is fine. But it needed to end and after how I’ve behaved in front of everyone you love, I thought they deserved an ending as well.” She tried to pull her hand free except he wouldn’t let go. He held it against his chest and watched her. It was as though he searched her eyes trying to find something.
“It hurt you being that other person. Didn’t it?”
She nodded and whispered, “So much. I’ve never hurt or been rude to anyone before in my life, and then, all of a sudden, I had to. I really hated it. All I’ve ever wanted was to be part of a large family, and even if it had been for a little while, I’d have loved to have them like me. For them to have made me feel welcome.”
“The PR team didn’t just screw up my life, did they? They screwed up yours as well?”
“Yeah, they did.”
“How about we give you the week here, and then break things off like we planned? We’ll hang out and hopefully, my family will see how much you’ve changed and come around. Emelia might be a problem but the others will be okay.”
“Why? Why would you do that? I caused an accident.” She couldn’t go on with the memory of that.
“You didn’t. It was an accident. You just reacted and Kasey lost control of his truck. We need to put all that behind us because all I know is that your life has changed because of me. What the PR team asked of you was wrong, but it always returns to me in the end. I owe you.”
She met his gaze and finally managed to step away from the heat of his large body. “You don’t owe me, but I’d like to be here for the wedding.” She offered him a shy smile. “I did buy a nice dress to wear, which is me.”
“Then you’ll stay.”
“I still don’t feel right not admitting the truth to your family.”
“I’ll tell them after you’ve gone.” He sat in the chair by the window. “But, maybe your time here would be easier if I admitted to my own stupidity beforehand…fuck, there’s no more beds.” He met her gaze.
She wanted to jump up and down with joy, but instead she turned her back to him so he wouldn’t see the grin she was unable to hide.
“I’ll tell them, but we’re adults and sharing the room won’t be a problem,” Mateo said.
“Are you sure about that?” She glanced at the bathroom and then Mateo.
His eyes widened as a blush coated his cheekbones. He stood and prowled toward her like a sleek cat. “You heard me, huh?” He grinned, all signs of his embarrassment gone. “That’s what eighteen months of going without does to a guy the first time he has a woman’s touch.” His eyes hardened and he looked annoyed. “I would have reacted to any woman’s touch the way I did yours with how fucking horny I was, so don’t worry about a repeat…I’m going to talk to my family.”
Chapter Nine
What the fuck possessed him to tell her that? Any woman would do. What a fucking lie. The fact was that it had been her small hands on his flesh and the innocence that surrounded her now that she was being herself.
Okay, he had no idea what she’d been on about at the time, but no matter what he thought she’d looked so fucking sweet and innocent that he hadn’t had a hope in hell of keeping his libido in check. If only she hadn’t been on her knees in front of him, he might have stood a chance. But the image of her smooth breasts combined with her being eye level with his dick had set him on fire.
Even now, just thinking about her in that position made him twitch. Who’d he been kidding when he’d said there wouldn’t be a repeat performance? Knowing that she really was a young girl…shit, he hadn’t asked her age. He’d bet his truck that she was younger than he’d originally been told. Without all that makeup and designer clothes, she looked younger, which was why he considered her innocent.
Fuck!
With an about turn, he doubled back to his room, opened the door and found her staring out of the window—the same position that he’d been in not too long ago.
“Hey, Erin. I forgot to ask. How old are you?” He watched her and thought her shoulders shook, but he waited and said nothing more.
