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“I’m not,” she assures him, not letting go.“I’m honestly not.I really did come out here because I was bored.The kids are at school, and the house is too quiet.I really love the ranch, Dad.Let me show you around a little.I’m so happy to see you.I’ve missed you like crazy.”
“Missed me so much that you won’t talk to me?”
Erin offers her dad a watery smile.“I knew you’d react this way, and I didn’t want to have the argument.I didn’t expect you to just show up.Wait, where’s Mom?Are you guys staying at London and Drew’s condo?”
Who are London and Drew?The family has a condo in Bitterroot Valley?Obviously, I don’t knowanythingabout this woman, and that unnerves me.Will may have questions, but I have a shitload of my own, and I intend to get them answeredtoday.
“No, I came alone, and I’m headed back before dinner.”
“You didn’t eventellMom you were coming, did you?”Erin gasps.“Dad, you’ll be in so much trouble.”
“No, I won’t.”He shakes his head, sweeps her hair off her cheek, and takes another deep breath.“Let’s go outside and talk.”
“Okay.”As they walk past me, Erin mouths,I’m sorry.
When they’re out of earshot, Lucky joins me.“Is that Will Montgomery?The greatest quarterback Seattle ever had?The Hall of Famer?”
“Looks like it.”
“Did you know he was Erin’s daddy?”
“Nope.”
Lucky nods thoughtfully.“Okay, then.”
He wanders away to get back to work, and I see Will and Erin walking slowly toward the house, in deep conversation.Deciding to stay out of their way, I get back into the Jeep and drive home, giving them a wide berth.Once inside, I go directly to my office.
So, Erin doesn’t reallyneedthe job.Mine or the one at the coffee shop.She’s, what, out here playing the part of the broke girl?
I don’t like games, especially when it comes to people who have access to my kids.Particularly when it’s women that I want in my bed.
I feel like a fool.
An hour later, the front door opens, and I hear Erin call out, “Rem?Do you have a minute?”
I walk out and take her in.She looks…contrite.
“What do you need?”I ask.
“My dad would like a minute.”
I nod and walk past her, not touching her, and join her father on the porch.I lean against the railing.
“What can I do for you?”
Will shakes his head and looks out over my pasture, to the mountains beyond.“What kind of security do you have out here?It doesn’t look like there’s much.”
I raise an eyebrow.“I don’t know if you noticed, but we’re in the middle of nowhere.What kind of security would you like me to have?”
“Cameras, alarms, a gate to start.”
“I have cameras,” I reply.“I don’t need a gate.We don’t have the kind of crime you’re used to in the city.”
“You have children,” Will says, turning to me.“You understand what it is to worry about their safety.”
“Of course, I do.And I know that they’re safe here.They’re safe in town.I’m not ever going to put anyone or anything that I love at risk.The most dangerous thing out here is the wildlife, not the people.”
“She was once almost taken,” he says quietly, his blue eyes full of regret as he levels them at me.“Because of me.Because of who I am.”
