Red Hot Reunion - Bella Andre Page 0,74

to your father and myself like that! Like some low-class tramp. That’s what being here, with that boy, has done to you.”

Pushing her chair back, she wrapped her bony fingers tightly around Emma’s wrist. “Get up right now, young lady. We are leaving.”

Her mother had never slapped her before, but then Emma had never given her cause to do such a thing.

Especially given that she’d spent the past thirty years playing the role of “perfect daughter” with such precision.

But Emma was surprised to find that she was stronger than her mother. By far. Maybe it was due to all that delicious food she’d been eating, which had given her a couple of extra pounds of strength.

Or maybe it was the knowledge that Jason wanted her. No one had ever truly really wanted her. Not like he did. The real her, not someone he was trying to mold into his own picture of perfection.

Jason’s low voice held thunder and lightning as he stared at Jane with a look of utter hatred. And contempt. “Apologize to your daughter. Immediately. And then get out of my restaurant.”

Emma hadn’t heard Jason come out of the kitchen until he’d leapt to her defense. She was thrilled that he cared so much about her, but tonight, she needed to finally fight her own battles.

Calmly getting up from her chair, she stood before Jason, taking both of his hands in hers. “I know you want to help me, but please, let me do this on my own.”

His jaw was tight as he stared at the raw skin on her face.

“You’re hurt,” he said, and the pain in his voice only served to solidify her feelings.

“I’m fine,” she whispered. It wasn’t true, but, “I will be fine,” which she said next, was. “Please, Jason.”

After a long, tense moment, he gave the barest of nods. “I’m not leaving you alone with them.”

“Good. I don’t want you to.”

Busy gaping at their interchange, Jane found her voice again. “How dare you corrupt my daughter, you reprobate. You weren’t good enough for her in college and you’re certainly not good enough for her now.”

Fire shot into Jason’s eyes then and his hands bunched into fists. Emma moved between them. “This is between me and you, Mother. Leave Jason out of it.”

“He’s trying to ruin your life.”

“No, Mother, he’s trying to help me live it. And don’t you dare ever so much as suggest that he’s not good enough for me—or anyone else—again.” Jane opened her mouth, but Emma put her hand up.

“You’ve had your say. Now I’m going to have mine.”

Jane grabbed her purse and was about to walk past Emma, when Walter forced her to remain where she was standing.

It wasn’t an apology for her mother’s behavior, certainly, but it was something. “I know you only want what’s best for me. What parent wouldn’t? And I don’t blame you for that. But has it ever occurred to you that what you think is best and what I actually need are two different things?”

“You don’t know what you need.”

Emma thought about that. “Maybe not. But I’m trying to figure it out. And I need to do it my way.”

Something that might have been admiration flashed in her father’s eyes. Wanting them to understand, still needing at least a little of their approval, she said, “I will always appreciate what you’ve done for me. All you’ve given me. And I don’t want you to think that just because I’m selling the house and moving my business to Napa that I don’t—”

Jane’s face turned puce. “Moving your business to Napa. My God, you really have lost your mind.” She stalked out of the restaurant, leaving the distinct scent of Chanel No. 5 in her wake.

Walter looked extremely uncomfortable, but he remained where he was. “She’s sorry for what she did,”

he said in a quiet voice and Emma nodded, knowing it was her father’s way of apologizing. For

everything.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know if I approve of what you’re doing.” He looked at Jason and it was clear that he wasn’t just speaking about her house and business. He was talking about whom she loved as well. “But you’re right, Emma. It’s your life.” Letting out a long breath, he said, “I’ll talk to your mother, see if I can bring her around.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Ignoring Jason’s scowl, she leaned over and gave her father a kiss. “I love you.”

Walter nodded and walked away.

It wasn’t a perfect ending to their confrontation, but she felt