All eyes snapped to Drew, two pairs of them Malory green. “Yeah?” Lucy asked. “Is Ray being slow on the uptake?”
“We’re not getting married,” Drew said, a bit too quickly. “Not even talking about it. Erica is dreaming.”
“Oh, come on.” Erica folded her arms on the chair she straddled, back to front. “Ray spends a lot of nights over, and he sleeps with you. Don’t think I don’t know that. Duh.”
Drew’s face was on fire. “I know, but … We’re taking things slow.”
The three ladies exchanged amused glances, Anna looking relieved the focus was off her.
“I’d say dead slow,” Lucy said. “Maybe watching Kyle marry Anna today will light a fire under his butt.”
Anna appeared skeptical and Grace, ever sensitive to nuance, gave Drew a glance of sympathy. “None of our business, I’m thinking,” she said gently.
Lucy snorted. “Since when have our brothers stayed out of our business?”
“Good point.” Grace put a finishing touch on a bow and found a bobby pin to fix it to Erica’s dark hair. “Lovely. When your mom and Ray finally get married, you can be her bridesmaid.”
Erica’s eyes lit. She was pretty in the slim blue dress she and Drew had chosen for the wedding, so different from the scruffy jeans and cowboy boots she now lived in. She was growing up, Drew thought with a pang. Soon Erica would need a prom dress, and then a wedding dress of her own.
Drew turned quickly away as tears stung her eyes.
“That’d be great,” Erica said to Grace. “If I’m not too old by then.”
The sisters and Anna laughed. Beautiful women together, Drew mused as she joined in the laughter. The three of them happy.
The sound of a door opening made them all jump. Karen entered with her usual flair, no quiet tapping and politely asking admittance.
She wore a white linen dress that bared her arms and showed a lot of leg, but Drew knew she hadn’t been in this outfit when she’d arrived. Drew had watched her roll up with Jack Hillman on his Harley, Karen in jeans and motorcycle boots.
“I hate to interrupt,” Karen said without greeting, “but you’d better come.” She shot a meaningful look at Drew.
Drew’s heart thumped. What had gone wrong? Had the flowers wilted? The arbor collapsed? The musicians gone on strike? Had Kyle passed out and was being rushed to the hospital?
With more and more dire scenarios flashing through her head, Drew hurried with Karen down the stairs and across the full parking area to the house.
The porch, refinished with floorboards painted a dark gray, had been hung with garlands of roses and pink ribbons. The front door, a masterpiece of polished oak, opened to a wide hall that featured the grand staircase.
Restored by Jack’s workers and Ray’s care, the staircase was magnificent, a song of turned spindles and a gleaming railing that led the eye up to the landing. The window there, full of glistening new glass, let in the bold Texas sunshine.
Drew had been stunned by the hall’s beauty when Ray had revealed it to her, but today she hurried through without pausing to admire it, and followed Karen out to the back.
The garden had revealed itself once it had been cleared of weeds, with rows of perennials and bulbs springing into bloom when winter’s chill receded. Jack had hired people to fix the watering system—necessary in a climate where rain was unpredictable—and clumps of bluebells, stocks, and roses now filled the green patches with color. The fields around the inn had blossomed, as Ray had assured her they would, with a riot of bluebells turning the ground a shimmering azure.
The arbor was standing just fine, covered in ribbons and more roses. The minister stood by, chatting with Mr. Carew. No one was rushing around in panic. Kyle paced in the garden under Ray’s supervision, upright and whole, not on a gurney.
Drew opened her mouth to ask, “What is it?” when Karen led her around the corner of the house.
Drew didn’t realize that Erica had followed them until her daughter’s voice rang out, “Uncle Jules!”
Jules Bolan waited under a tree a little way from the main garden, deep in shadow, unnoticed. In the distance, Drew heard car doors slamming as more guests arrived, voices surging as the house and garden filled. The sounds dimmed as her ears began to buzz, her focus on Jules.
Erica passed Drew and Karen at a run. Jules, his pale complexion out of place under all the sunshine, straightened up stiffly. He obviously hadn’t anticipated that Erica would come out for this meeting.
“You haven’t called in forever,” Erica said to him. She ceased her mad rush as though sensing he wasn’t in the mood for a hug. “I know how to ride a horse now, isn’t that cool? I’ve already won a blue ribbon!”
A true doting uncle would smile and say that was wonderful. Ray and Carter had taken Erica and Faith out for ice cream after that successful show, both girls winning in their classes.
Jules remained rigid. “Erica, I need to talk with your mother.”
Erica deflated. “I know what that means. I also think I’m old enough to hear some things.”
“Not these things.” Jules gave Drew a sharp look, with a side glance at Karen, who’d planted herself, arms folded. “Can we speak somewhere private?”
“You gave up that right when you paid people to vandalize my house,” Drew snapped.
Jules’s lips tightened. “I’d like to see you prove that. I’ll call it slander, and my lawyers will make mincemeat of you. All right, if you want your friend and daughter to stay, they can. I want you to sign this piece of property over to me. You can do a quitclaim deed. I’ve brought the paperwork.”
“Why the hell would I do that?” Drew clenched her fists. “Grandfather left this property to me and me alone. The trust is clear.”
“And it will bring you nothing but hell. A house like this is difficult to maintain, and the idea of you running a bed and breakfast is ludicrous. You’ll have guests suing you in no time.”
“So I should simply deed the property to you? What will you do with it?”
“Sell it,” Jules said promptly. “Use the money to take care of Erica. Send her to collage. You don’t have a fund for that, do you?”
Jules knew damn well Drew had never been able to afford to put much money aside for Erica’s education. She had started a savings account for some of it when Erica had been born, which included gifts from Drew’s parents and Philip’s. But she’d saved nothing near enough to pay for more than a year at a state college, even if Erica lived at home. Erica had stoutly declared she didn’t mind getting a part-time job when she was old enough to help pay for it.
“If I run the B&B as Grandfather wanted me to, I’ll inherit the rest of the legacy,” Drew pointed out. “More than enough to pay for Erica to go to college.”
“Go to college where? Here?” Jules glanced at the open fields behind the B&B in distaste.
“Texas has some of the best universities in the country,” Drew began, but Erica interrupted.
“I’m going to Texas A&M, like Dr. Anna. I’m going to be a vet!”
“No, you are not,” Jules declared, which was exactly the wrong thing to say. When Erica got an idea in her head, she followed it through to its bitter end … unless she changed her mind. Drew had learned to let her dreams play out.
Erica’s expression turned stubborn. “Why not?”
“You’ll never get anywhere in a school like that,” Jules said dismissively. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Erica looked mulish. “I want to talk about it now.”
“Erica.” Drew kept her voice quiet, so quiet that Erica glanced at her in surprise. Erica had learned to assess her mother’s moods, though, and closed her mouth, though she wasn’t subdued.
“You can’t control her, can you?” Jules had the bad habit of talking about Erica as though she couldn’t hear him. “She’s turning into a brat. Her dad wouldn’t like that.”
The best way for Jules to upset Erica was to talk about Philip. Drew kne
w he did it on purpose.
Drew put herself between him and Erica. “Time for you to go, Jules. This is my home. The only reason you want your hands on this land is that it’s worth a lot of money. Karen explained it to me—this is prime property, close to Austin, ready for a big developer to swallow. If I quitclaim it to you, I get nothing for it, but you can sell it for millions.”
Jules glanced at Karen, tried his belittling gaze, and then looked uncertain. Karen stared him down like a basilisk.
“What does she know?” Jules said. “Backwoods real estate woman.”
“You’re cute, honey,” Karen said in cool amusement. “You remind me of my second husband. He was a total bastard.”
Drew planted her fists on her hips. “I know you, Jules. You’d turn around and sell this property to the highest bidder. Then run back home with your cash while the bulldozers tear the land to shreds and pop identical flimsy houses onto it. Why should you care? This is a small town, a blip on your radar. But it’s my home. My grandparents’ home. I have friends here, and I’m not going to see their town become another faceless housing development.”
Jules scowled. “You’re an incompetent woman and a bad mother. I can prove both. You give this property to me and go back home, and I won’t send child protective services down on your hide. You’ve totally ruined my brother’s daughter, and I will never forgive you for that.”
Drew took a step toward him. She sensed someone behind her, a heat she knew meant Ray, ready to protect her.
But even if Ray hadn’t been at her back, she knew she was finished with Jules. She understood now that Jules had torn Drew down at every opportunity, chipping away at her confidence, playing on her guilt. She should have banished Jules from their lives long ago, but she’d been reluctant to cut Erica’s last tie with her father.
“What you can’t forgive was that Philip married me,” Drew said in a low but fierce voice. “We were young and in love. We had a lot of fun together—until after the wedding. Then he began to change. He regretted marrying me and didn’t fight our separation too hard. For a long time I wondered what was wrong with me that Philip found fault in everything I did.
“But I figured it out a while back. It had nothing to do with me—it was you—I wasn’t good enough for you. My roots were in a little Texas town, and my mom was just an ordinary person, not from an old family or old money, or whatever you think she ought to have been. I brought nothing to the marriage but myself. And that wasn’t good enough for your precious baby brother. How long did you harangue him to change me to your taste?
“Then when he died, you blamed me. Never mind he was driving to Milwaukee to see his girlfriend. So you decided, with your twisted sense of right and wrong, to try to take Erica from me. That was you trying to save your biological relation from the horror that is me and my family. You don’t give a shit what she wants. Don’t pretend what you want for Erica has anything to do with love.”
Drew ran out of breath. She became aware of more people around them, not only Ray but Kyle, the Campbell men and their wives, Olivia and Mr. Carew, Mrs. Ward and Dena. Faith came with Carter and Grace, and the girl moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Erica. Dominic, face fixed in the expression of the tough boy he’d had to be, stood on her other side.
Erica had tears on her face, but she didn’t break down. She stood tall, head high, and Drew’s heart swelled with pride.
Jules regarded Drew coldly, as though her outburst was not unexpected. “You didn’t deserve Philip. You’re right that you weren’t good enough for him. He could have had anyone he wanted, but you latched on to him and twined him around your fingers. Then you dumped him like he was nothing. You don’t deserve this property—yes, it is prime real estate. And I can take it away from you. Like that.” Jules snapped his fingers. “And I will.”
“Like hell you will.”
The low drawl came from Ray. He moved forward only a pace, but his presence was enough to make Jules take a small step back.
“Who are you?” Jules tried to sound derisive, but the squeak in his voice ruined it.
“A friend.” Ray fixed a hard green gaze on Jules. “And you’re not doing anything to mess with Drew or her home.”
Jules wet his lips. “I’ll do what I damn well please.”
“No.” Ray folded his arms. “You’ll get off her property and not come back. You won’t go anywhere near her ever again, or her daughter.”
Jules shot Ray a furious look. “Erica’s not your child.”
“Or yours.” Ray didn’t raise his voice—he didn’t have to. “Let me explain so you understand. You aren’t going anywhere near Drew, or Erica, because you’d have to come through me, and no way am I letting you do that.”
Karen gave Jules an icy smile. “And come through me. The lawyers I know are legendary.”
“And me,” Faith said. “I’m Erica’s friend.”
“And I think all the rest of us.” Kyle stepped next to Ray, the Malory brothers a formidable wall.
The Campbell brothers formed a second wall. Adam, Tyler, Carter, and Grant, the four who’d made it possible for Drew to obtain the funds to work on the B&B, and Ross, the now-elected sheriff who wasn’t looking too happy at this stranger in his county. Jack Hillman and Hal stood next to Ross, two large and dangerous men.
They’d all been there for her, she realized, since day one. The Campbell wives, helping out Drew, and giving Erica a place to find sanctuary and a chance to discover her love of horses. Jack, with his crew who did the grunt work on the house, Manny Judd, who’d eagerly helped take down the vandals trying to destroy her home. Dr. Anna, who was the first to befriend Drew and Erica and doctor their cat. Grace, Lucy, and Kyle, who’d accepted Drew as one of the family. Karen, who’d convinced the Campbell brothers to give Drew the grant, and bestowed sensible, if pointed, advice. Mrs. Kaye, who’d helped Drew understand her grandparents’ past and their love and sadness.
Drew worked on the house not only for her grandparent’s sake, making it the happy home they’d wanted, but also for herself. This was her place, her work, her life.
But she couldn’t have done it without the amazing people from Riverbend.
Her grandfather had known that, she realized. He’d known his town had a large heart, and would help her at every turn. He’d been a wise man, in his way.
“You know what, Jules?” Drew said, an ease flowing into her heart. “You’re done here. This is my home now—this is my family.” She waved at her collected friends. “And they’re one hundred percent better than you and what you think is important. They embraced me, they helped me, while you stood back and waited for me to fail. Well, I won’t fail, because all these people have my back, and I have theirs. That’s what real family is, Bolo.”
Jules glanced at the people edging closer to him, and his face grew even more pale. “You’ve always been a loser, Drew Paresky.” He spit the name. “You owe me.”
“She owes you nothing.” Ray’s quiet voice cut through Jules’s rage. “Now, my brother’s about to get married. I’d say it’s time for you to go.”
Kyle, resplendent in a tux and cowboy boots, nodded. “Yep. I’d hurry, before my wife-to-be comes looking for me. She knows how to castrate.”
Jules puffed up. “Are you threatening …”
“No.” Ross Campbell stepped toward him, his brothers closing ranks behind him. “I’m the sheriff of this here little county you’re dissing, and I’m asking you to leave it. Drew’s free to file a restraining order if she wants, but right now, I can tell you to get out or cool off in my lockup. Sanchez is on duty, a little annoyed he drew the short straw and can’t make the wedding. I imagine he’s a little cranky.”
“I’m not breaking any laws,” Jules said hotly.
“You’re trespassing,” Ross said. “We take that seriously in Texas.”
“I’ll see you—”
Drew pushed past Ray and Ross and stared Jules down. “Just go.”
Someth
ing in her face convinced Jules at last. He met her gaze for a brief moment and then couldn’t look at her anymore.
Jules shrugged, his face tight, pretending to the last that leaving was his decision.
He turned and made for his car, and the whole town walked with him. Jules didn’t offer any eye contact as he slid into the driver’s seat of his Mercedes and started it up. He made a show of putting on his seatbelt and adjusting the mirror before he tried to smoothly pull out.
The purring car clanked as Jules drove over a big rock, but it righted itself and glided down the drive in a cloud of dust.
“Good riddance!” Erica’s shout rose. Her face shone with tears, and she had her arms folded tightly, but her grin broke through.
Drew leaned to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Honey, I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“Don’t worry, Mom.” Erica’s voice was muffled as she hugged Drew back. “I never liked him much. I only was nice to him because of you.”
Drew wasn’t certain she believed that, but Erica was sweet to try to make her feel better.
“I love you, Erica.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
Ray was right beside them. Erica turned and flung her arms around his neck. “Love you too, Ray!” She planted a noisy kiss on his cheek then caught Faith’s hand and Dominic’s and ran with them toward the garden.
Ray slid his arm around Drew, his strength keeping her to her feet. “You’re beautiful,” he said into her ear. “I love you. But you know that.”
Drew took a shaking breath, shocked out of her senses by his words. I love you. But you already know that. Did she?
This man had been there for her from the beginning, from her first attempt to assess the wreck of her house to making Erica comfortable with Riverbend, to finding Drew the money for repairing the B&B, to sending her the first guests so she’d fulfill all the terms of the trust. He’d done all that for her, for no gain for himself.
No one would do that without love in his heart.
Before Drew could respond to this newfound joy, a rustle of fabric and the voice of Dr. Anna broke through the excited chatter and laughter that accompanied Jules’s exit.
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