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She could hear it. Several years of training her ears to pick up the slightest sound of disappointment or judgment. He wasn’t happy they were having this conversation. Well, that made two of them.
Brielle shot to her feet, prepared to make her escape and just live with the consequences, but her father’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Sit down,” he said firmly.
Her eyes darted to meet his and, slowly, she lowered herself back into a chair that felt more like a prison than anything else.
“You think I don’t know what’s been going on?”
She couldn’t move. The predator had finally found his prey.
“Do you think just because I’ve made a few changes in how I run my household that I’m not aware of what happens beneath my roof?”
Her throat, now painfully dry, made it excruciating to swallow. “No?”
Zeke let out a sigh—the kind that said more about how he felt than any words could. It put a weight on her shoulders, pressing her harder, deeper into her chair enough to suffocate her. “The walls are thin, and people talk,” he said. “Not just your sisters but the men I have working here. News gets around. Now, it’s not for me to tell you who you can and can’t date.”
“Isn’t that what you’ve always done? Sounds like you’re still doing it now.” She snapped her mouth shut, realizing she’d spoken the words out loud without intending to. Her eyes grew wide and she blushed. “I mean—”
He held up a hand. “You’re right. I have tried to control more than I should have when it came to your relationships and those of your sisters.” He cocked his head slightly, his eyes drilling into her with accusation. “But you’ve also figured out ways to skirt those rules anyway, haven’t you?”
Her blush deepened and she tore her gaze from him. “I’m sorry.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, you don’t have to apologize. Heaven knows I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. I just want to make sure you’re not making one right now.”
Brielle allowed her gaze to find his once more. His eyes were softer now, as was his voice. He still scrutinized her like a businessman who demanded to know all the details before he’d make a decision, but something had shifted.
The funny part was that she couldn’t tell if he was the one making the change or if she had finally opened her eyes to what she’d been pushing away for so many years.
All at once, her need to confess her ten-year-old secret burst to the surface and she had to bite her cheek to keep from telling him. This wasn’t just about her anymore. This was about Wade. She needed to protect him fromhismistakes.
The taste of blood filled her mouth, along with a sense of clarity. “It doesn’t matter if I love Tad or not. Everyone has their doubts, and Wade doesn’t love me.”
“I don’t believe that for one second. You’re lying to yourself if you think Wade wouldn’t ride to the end of the earth to be with you.”
She shivered involuntarily at his quiet reflection. Wade’s love had everything to do with her decision to be with Tad. She just couldn’t do a thing about it.
“I’m not going to give you my blessing on this.”
Her head snapped up and she stared at her father with surprise. “Your rules—”
“It’s got nothing to do with my rules. You can marry the man. I’ll do my part and give you away, but I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Lucky for you, this isn’t your decision to make.” Her irritation had returned. She’d never liked being told what to do, and right now, she knew in her heart that she needed to do this for the one man she might have ever truly loved. Something deep inside her needed her father to tell her that she was doing the right thing. And now she wasn’t even going to get that.
Her fingers dug into the armrest of the chair, dimpling the fabric. She might be doing the wrong thing, but she was doing it for the right reasons. Rising from the chair, she set her gaze on him one final time. “Tad would like to get married this weekend.”
A myriad of emotions flickered across his face as he got to his feet. “Tomorrow is Saturday. You can’t possibly be trying to plan this wedding with that short of a notice.”
“Right now, I just want to get out from under this roof and away from this town. I don’t think I can continue being part of a family who won’t support me when I need it.” Her voice hitched. She didn’t think she could stand to see Wade around town and have to face the consequences of breaking his heart, either. She spun around and headed for the door when her father’s voice stopped her.
“Bri…”
She didn’t look back. She couldn’t look him in the eyes anymore. She’d disappointed too many people and it would be better to remove herself from all of it.
“Just think about it, will you? Figure out what it is your heart wants before you make any decisions you might regret.”
Her shoulders slumped as she turned the knob. It was already too late for that. She needed to let Tad know she’d done her part. He would be waiting for her out front under the guise of going on a ride together.
