Call You Mine (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #4) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,68
don’t want to go back to an empty house. I also don’t want to be alone. If I stay, he might want to continue this discussion. All I want is to head to his bed, snuggle next to him, and forget that I lost eleven years of Beacon because my father couldn’t trust me.
“As I said, I need time,” I repeat. “I’m angry because of what happened and also because I have no idea where to put that anger. Who can I blame when everyone has a logical answer?”
I can’t fix my issues because really, what’s there to fix? I have to get over it and make sure these men understand that I can take care of myself. It’s hot that Beacon is always watching over me, but not when my dad is paying him to do that.
“I’m sorry, G. I’ll do anything to make this better.”
“You need to stop blaming yourself for everything.” I bring back our earlier conversation. “This was my father’s fault, and he used you as a pawn.”
“True, but I could’ve stopped it.”
“I don’t understand why you didn’t tell him, ‘Hey, she’s going to be pissed. You might want to talk to her.’”
He shrugs.
“When?”
“When what?” he asks.
“Stop being obtuse. When did you tell Dad to tell me about it?”
“Please, don’t drag me into this,” he pleads. “I swear I’ll make it up to you.”
“Ten years? Five years? Yesterday?”
He chuckles. “I don’t recall. You know the guy. He likes to think that he knows best.”
“You know how you can make it up to me?”
He lifts an eyebrow, crosses his arms, and says, “As long as it doesn’t involve my family, I’ll do anything.”
“Ha! You have to talk to your brothers about what happened when you were young. I think it’s time to erase that guilt.”
“Let it go, G.”
“It wasn’t your fault that the paparazzi caught your father. Maybe we should start digging more into your parents’ pasts to figure out what happened. It might give us an answer to why you guys are here—it could help you.”
“I don’t need help.”
“You blame yourself for all the shit that happens in the world because you think you’re the one that caused the situation your father created. It might tear down the wall between you and your brothers. A wall that you built.”
“Now you’re analyzing me,” he says, annoyed, and looks at the time. “Can we go to bed?”
“Promise me you’re going to work on that,” I press.
“If I do, can we go to bed?”
“I’m still upset at you.”
“Do you still hate me?
“I could never hate you, Beac.”
He smiles and steps forward until our feet almost touch. “I’m sorry. You’ve no idea how much I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. I was afraid he’d fire me, and I can’t trust you to anyone else.”
“You’re a little possessive, aren’t you, Mr. Aldridge?”
“You’ve no fucking idea,” he says, slanting his mouth on mine.
Chapter Thirty
Beacon
There’s a theory among the Aldridges: Once you give your heart, you never claim it back. It’s true. Grace and I are living proof. That makes me want to research what is wrong with the family that we can’t stay with the one person we love forever.
My grandfather left my grandmother in Baker’s Creek and moved to New York without giving her a second glance. It seems that we always do something that makes our true loves stay away.
Who did my father love and leave? I doubt it was my mom.
If anything, it makes me wonder if William was trying to teach us a lesson by shoving us into one place, like getting back to the one you love or recognizing you are in love. Maybe he was trying to get his family together. But why now and not when he was alive?
Dad grew up in this town. Someone in Baker’s Creek might know about his past and who he left behind. They’re pretty vocal about what they know, but no one has mentioned Dad’s past. With Grace here, we might be able to figure out more.
Will figuring out his past give me any answers about my present and maybe my future?
I look at Grace, still sleeping. She’s my destiny. Everything else doesn’t matter as much, except I don’t want to make my father’s mistakes.
I’m so fucking lucky because she’s going to give me a chance. I know she’s upset, and I have to grovel my way into her good graces. Still, I’m happy about having her close. And how fortunate I am that she loved me