“We barely have enough bus routes for the kids as it is.”
“Again, more public services would be offered with an influx of cash flow. I drove down Main Street and saw a lot of empty buildings and storefronts. Imagine all of those being filled once again. Imagine people being able to buy what they need right here in Burning Butte instead of having to drive thirty miles to Minot. They’ll save gas money that they can spend here,” I insisted.
She had a thoughtful look on her face. I loved that we could debate without getting angry. I needed her to point out all the holes in my arguments to convince the citizens of Burning Butte that Western Energies was a good thing for them.
“None of us wants to turn into one of those other places around here,” she said, referring to the oil boom that had practically transformed quaint little towns into booming cities almost overnight.
“I don’t want that either. Western Energies isn’t trying to pull six million barrels a month. We’re looking to keep the operation relatively small but profitable. We can do that while creating jobs and promoting healthy growth that doesn’t put a strain on the schools. There will need to be housing built, and all those people that have had their houses sitting on the market for years are going to find they’re sitting on gold mines,” I told her, thinking about some of the for sale signs I had seen coming into town.
“You bring up some really great points, and while I can certainly see the benefits to having Western Energies in town, I think we’re avoiding the real problem.”
“Us?” I asked, immediately ready to shut that down.
She shook her head. “No. I mean, partly, but Philip is going to be against this whole idea in principle because you’re involved. He feels betrayed by you. Philip holds a grudge. He isn’t going to help you in any way, no matter if it costs me a really great job.”
I knew she was right. “You don’t think he would listen to you? I know he is very protective of you, which is why he hates me so damn much.”
She smiled. “He does hate you. Just in case you were wondering, he really hates you.”
I gave her a dry look. “Yeah, I figured that out the other night.”
“What? What do you mean?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“I mean, he came up to me in the parking lot after you got out of my truck. He wasn’t happy to see you with me.”
Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh great.”
“You’re a grown woman, Erin. He can’t dictate who you see. He couldn’t dictate it back then, but I was too weak to stand up to him. I’m not now. I’m not going to let him dictate shit to me,” I growled.
“It isn’t that easy. You know that.”
“Regardless. This isn’t about us; this is about our jobs. He needs to put aside his issues and think long term. Him holding a grudge could cost the entire town. I would think he could be reasonable enough to see that,” I pointed out.
She sighed, clearly not as convinced. “I don’t know. Philip has a lot of anger over what happened. He’s never really said much to me, but—” She stopped talking, making me think there was something else. I waited to see if she would finish her sentence, but she looked away from me, telling me she was finished.
“Erin, he’ll listen to you. Feel him out. See what he wants to make this thing happen. He’ll talk to you. You’re about the only person I know who can get through to him—you and your dad—and I’m not putting all my eggs in that basket,” I muttered, remembering the sheriff’s threats.
“Actually, he knows you’re back.”
I groaned, dread filling my gut, and the thought of cold steel being slapped around my wrists floated through my mind. I had never actually been to jail, but I didn’t imagine it was a pleasant experience. Arthur Maxwell was a formidable man. There was something about him that still had a way of intimidating me. I couldn’t explain it, but as much as I had convinced myself I could stand up to him, I was still nervous as hell. The idea of meeting him face-to-face made me feel like that scared kid I had been when he’d threatened to ruin my life all those years ago.
“Great,” I mumbled. “Should I get bail money arranged? I’m sure he’s got some trumped-up charges he’s been waiting to slap on me. I am not taking the fall for that tractor that ended up in the canal,” I said vehemently.
She burst into laughter. “Philip already confessed to that. He doesn’t seem bothered in the least by the fact you’re here,” she announced.
My brows shot up. “What? Seriously?”
She nodded her head. “Yep. I told him I ran into you.” “And? Did he go in search of his shotgun?”
She giggled. “Nope. I think he’s getting soft in his old age. But Philip certainly isn’t. He’s still stubborn and mad, and I don’t see him inviting you over for a beer anytime soon.”
“I won’t hold my breath. Any advice on how to make him love me again?” I teased.
“Oh, I have a few suggestions, but I don’t think they’d work well for you,” she said, her eyes dancing with mischief.
That was the Erin I remembered. She loved poking and teasing her brother until he wanted to strangle her. They had a good relationship. I envied them both. They had another person in the world that knew their life on an intimate level. I had no one to share home-life drama with. I had no one that could relate to having a drunk for a father and a mom who just didn’t care enough about anything to do anything.
“He’s always been a stubborn guy,” I said, shaking my head.
“Remember when you teased him about that shirt? I think it was a Metallica T-shirt or something like that?” she said a bright smile on her face.
I nodded, remembering exactly the shirt she was talking about. “I told him it was ugly and old. He always wore it with those ugly-ass faded black jeans. He looked like something from the eighties. That asshole wore the same outfit every day for a month. He told me he washed it every day after school, but I didn’t believe him. He only stopped wearing it when I told him I liked it,” I said, shaking my head.
“Exactly my point. Philip has only gotten more stubborn and defiant with age. He always has to prove a point, and he has some serious dedication when it comes to doing just that. I gave up trying to win an argument against him a long time ago,” she said, shaking her head.
I got to my feet, my hands in my pockets as I looked around the spacious office. I was slowly adding little things to make it feel like my own. I didn’t want to lose it. I liked where I was at. “I have to think of something.”
Erin stood up as well, not more than a couple of feet from me. “I honestly wish I could help you,” she said, her voice sweet and melodic.
I turned to face her and was once again struck by her beauty. She was so pretty and so natural. Her skin was perfect, slightly tanned from being outdoors, and I detected very little makeup. Her eyes met mine, catching me staring at her. I didn’t try and hide my obvious attraction for her.
I pulled my hands out of my pocket and rested one on her trim waist before reaching up to brush her hair off her shoulder. I couldn’t resist kissing her. I leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed as I stepped closer, pulling her body against mine as I deepened the kiss. I felt no resistance from her. Her arms went around me, one hand pressed against my back as she pulled me in closer.
The only sound in the room was the sound of our breathing and quiet moans of approval and excitement. Anytime I was alone with her, all I thought about was putting my mouth on her in some way, shape, or form. Hell, I thought about it when I wasn’t alone with her. I wanted her all the time.
Her mouth opened, inviting my tongue inside to play. I could feel my arousal growing as our tongues dueled and our bodies rubbed together. It was the best kind of friction. My hands dropped lower, squeezing her ass and grinding her pelvis against my growing erection. I heard her groan and was eager to hear more. I slowly walked her backward, lowering her to the couch with me spread out over her. My hands moved under her shirt; our lips stil
l locked together as I fondled her breast through the satin bra she wore.
Her hands squeezed my ass, pulling me against her. I was hard and ready to dive into her sweetness. I knew no one would disturb me. I had her all to myself.
14
Erin
His kisses had a way of making me forget everything. All I could think and feel was him. It was all I wanted to feel when his lips were on mine, his body covering me like the best warm blanket on an icy-cold winter night. I wanted him. I was ready for him and would worry about what all that meant later. Just then, it was me and him and the world didn’t matter.
It was the ringing of his cell phone that brought me back to earth in a hurry. I pushed at his chest and scrambled to sit up on the couch. Jacob jumped up and grabbed his phone from his desk, his erection evident from my view on the couch as he stood next to his desk. I jumped up, smoothing my hair down and trying to think of an excuse to run.
“Hello?” Jacob answered.
He held up a finger, telling me to wait. I shook my head. “Philip. I’m going to try and feel him out,” I whispered before rushing out the door.
I could see he wanted to say more, but I didn’t want to stick around. I rushed out of his office, hoping no one noticed what felt like swollen lips and my hair in total disarray. I got into my car and quickly turned it on, blasting the AC on my face in an attempt to cool myself down from the inside out. What the hell was wrong with me? I couldn’t even keep my own promises to myself. I shook my head in disgust and leaned my head against the seat.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart and libido before grabbing my phone to text Philip. I was hoping he would agree to lunch. He replied almost instantly that he would be happy to meet up. I headed to the diner he had suggested, already knowing he would choose that place. I went inside and found him sitting at a table, a disappointed look on his face. Obviously, his crush wasn’t working. I sat down, trying to act casual. He had inherited that cop sense from my father and was eyeing me closely, suspicion all over his face.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I wanted to have lunch. Can’t a girl just want to have lunch with her big brother?” I said with an overdone smile.
“Bullshit.”
“Hey! You’ve been working a lot, and I’ve been with the kids. I thought we should catch up,” I said, trying to appear nonchalant.
His dark eyes bored into mine. “I know you were with him.”
“What?” I choked out, my mouth suddenly dry. “With him who?” I squeaked.
“I saw you,” he said. “Don’t lie to me. You know I hate that.”
“And?” I questioned somewhat defiantly. “So what if I was?”
“He’s nothing but trouble; always has been and always will be. You can do better than him.”
I rolled my eyes. “Really? Do you have a list of eligible bachelors here in Burning Butte?” I asked sarcastically.
“You know what I mean. There are better men than him. Go out with anyone except him,” he grumbled.
“You don’t know anything about him anymore Phillip. What if he isn’t the same guy that left town all those years ago?” I asked.
“A leopard doesn’t change its spots.” I tapped my fingers on the table impatiently. “Philip, I’m not a kid. I don’t need you babysitting me. I can make my own decisions about who I hang out with. You are supposed to be the sheriff of the entire town, not just me. Don’t you have citizens you should be protecting and serving?” I quipped.
“I watch out for you on my own time.”
“In your government-issued car,” I snapped.
He didn’t say anything. He looked at me as if I were a little kid who was asking for ice cream for breakfast. Before I could lay into him and let him know just how stupid that was, the waitress appeared. We each quickly ordered burgers and fries before I turned my attention back to him.
“Don’t,” he said before I could get a word out.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t tell me you’re seeing him again,” he growled.
“Why do you care?” I snapped.
He took a drink from his glass of cola. “I’ve been watching him.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You’ve what? Like stalking him? Surveilling him?”
“I heard he was back in town and wanted to see what he was up to. I don’t trust him. He might come back and look all slick in his fancy suits and driving his fancy truck, but I know his type.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, for Christ sake, Phillip. Well?”
He scowled. “Well what?”
“What has he been up to?” I asked, trying to get my brother to admit that there was nothing sneaky happening with Jacob. He sighed. “Nothing. He’s the VP at the new Western Energies outside of town. He was staying at the inn, but I heard he just found a house to rent and is looking to buy. He goes to work and home. Oh, and sometimes he goes drinking with my little sister,” he said, giving me a dirty look.
“We didn’t go drinking. I was out. He showed up. Again, that isn’t your business,” I said.
“It is.”
“Honestly, Philip, he was your best friend at one time. Are you ever going to get over it? It was eight years ago. Ever thought of moving on?” I snapped.
“Nope,” he replied, sipping on his drink.
“Ridiculous,” I muttered under my breath.
He glowered. “The guy has never even apologized for what he did to me.”
I closed my eyes, praying for patience. I had to be nice. I needed him to be fair so I could keep my job. Philip had been making the situation all about him since it all came out. “Poor you,” I grumbled.
Neither of us spoke for several minutes. Thankfully, our meals were delivered a few minutes later, giving us a good excuse not to talk. I wasn’t hungry, but I still had to broach the subject of why I wanted to see him in the first place.
“He could have said he was sorry,” he started again.
“Sorry for what exactly?” I asked, genuinely curious to know why he felt he deserved an apology.
“For betraying me. You know that.”
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t keep biting my tongue. I was sick and tired of listening to him cry, whine, and pout over what Jacob had done to him. I dropped the half-eaten fry back on my plate and very purposefully wiped my hands on my napkin, trying my hardest to calm the anger.
“Seriously, he was supposed to be my best friend. It’s guy code—you don’t sleep with a guy’s little sister,” he pouted.
“Stop it,” I hissed.
“Excuse me? Stop what?”
“Stop being such a little brat! You’ve been walking around with your knuckles dragging on the ground and whining about your best friend betraying you for eight years. Get over it! You’re not the one who is raising a little girl on your own because your Neanderthal brother chased off the father of her child! You’re not the one who lost something important! I’m so absolutely sick of hearing you complain. Man up. Quit bitching, and find a new fucking friend,” I snapped, tossing the napkin on my plate and stomping out of the restaurant.
His face had been filled with shock and surprise. I hadn’t said anything to him in the past. I had let him cry and bitch, keeping everything I felt locked down tight. God forbid I have any feelings about what he and my father had done to my life by butting in. I got in the car, slamming the door hard and speeding out of the parking lot. He could give me a damn ticket if he wanted to. I didn’t care. I did not fucking care anymore.
I started the drive out to the Welsh mansion, passing the building where the sheriff’s office was housed. It was a dose of reality seeing the old wooden building with a metal roof. It was old and had been the sheriff’s office for more than fifty years. The roof was new, but the building was the same, just like so many of the other buildings lining the street. Things didn’t change often in Burning Butte. There was no way I was going to get Philip to agree to welcoming Wes
tern Energies and Jacob with open arms.
He was a lost cause, and I just didn’t have the patience or energy to try and persuade him. Being with Jacob and getting to know him all over again was serving to remind me of all that I had been missing. Not just me—Ellie. I was done trying to be nice to Philip. He would never agree to be a part of the welcoming committee so he could fuck off.
It was time to shift gears and rethink our plan of attack. I parked my car, sitting inside for a few minutes. My day had not gone like I thought it would have. I had thought about telling my brother just how I felt about the whole situation about a thousand times, but I never said a word because I didn’t think I had a right to. He had made me feel guilty about the situation, like it was my fault his best friend left. He’d blamed me for flirting with Jacob and ultimately destroying his friendship.
It wasn’t until recently I realized that it had been his choice to ruin that friendship. He was the one that had the big hang-up. He had loved Jacob like a brother. Why was it so bad that I had fallen for him?
I couldn’t answer those questions, and I didn’t think he could either. That was a problem for another day. For now, I had to think of a way to keep not only my job, but Jacob’s. I knew Philip was set on getting Jacob out of town for good this time. He wouldn’t care if it disrupted my life. It hadn’t stopped him the first time, and it wouldn’t stop him this time. I was collateral damage. He would reason Ellie and I could move back home with dad and I could get a job at a restaurant or something.
I stomped up the stairs to my apartment and walked inside, looking around at the space and realizing if I didn’t think of something and fast, I wouldn’t get to have my own place again. I would never find a job in Burning Butte making enough money to rent a house for me and Ellie. Lord knew I would never be able to actually buy my own home.
15
Jacob
Bad Boy’s Secret Baby Page 8
