by Tia Siren
I cringed, remembering the plans we had made before I’d run away.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I just couldn’t.”
“But you can now,” he said in a soft voice. “If one of you wants to live here, I’d like to try to keep the place. But I don’t want to live here alone. I could move into that room above Hank’s garage. We’ve already talked about it, and he is willing to take me in.”
“No! You can’t live in a tiny room, Dad. What would you do all day?”
“Retire. Do what retired old men do,” he said with a chuckle.
“You are not old. You have a lot of life to live. I don’t see you being happy kicking around at a golf course or spending your days sipping bad coffee at the diner. You are an active man. If you aren’t moving, you aren’t happy.”
He gave a wan smile. “Ashley, I am not a healthy man. I don’t know if I can take care of myself. I need to look at the big picture. What if I don’t beat this? It means I have a slow death coming and I won’t be able to take care of myself. It makes sense that I would live with one of you, or I suppose you could put me in a nursing home, but living out here alone isn’t going to be an option.”
I groaned. “Those are not good choices.”
“I don’t expect any of you to put your lives on hold or change anything to accommodate me. Believe it or not, I’m a big boy. I can make my own decisions. I chose to be alone, and I’m living with that decision,” he said, shaking his head. “I will miss this place, though.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. This sucks. I can’t believe this is what we were handed. This can’t be it.”
“This is what life is all about, hon. We get dealt the cards that fate thinks we can handle. We have to make the most of it. Sometimes battling against fate is a futile mission, and I think that’s what we’re dealing with now.”
I fought back a sob. None of us understood what he had been dealing with alone all this time. We had been so selfish, thinking only about how his cancer was affecting us and what losing the farm meant to us. I felt horrible. I’d had tunnel vision and never once thought about the stress and strain my dad had been under as he tried to figure out how to save his life while keeping the family farm.
“Well, I’m not going to give up that easily. Don’t start packing your bags yet, Dad. Let me do some checking around to see what I can do,” I said, feeling a renewed sense of strength and determination.
I leaned down and hugged him. Before, getting my arms around him would have been impossible. Cancer had made it a reality. Feeling his frail body gave me the strength to keep fighting. I wanted to save his home. I had some ideas, but first I needed my car.
I left him on the porch and went inside to call Janna. I apologized and then demanded she get back to the farm to pick me up. We had some serious business to attend to.
Chapter 14
Brock
I knew it would happen eventually. Ashley was not an ignorant woman. She was a fighter, and she would do whatever it took to keep her family’s farm. To save the farm, she needed cash, and a lot of it. There was no way she could be doing that well up in New York and have that kind of money set aside, especially now that I knew she had been supporting a child on her sole income. That caused a twinge of guilt, but I quickly brushed it aside. It wasn’t my fault she was the sole supporter. She could have told me and I would have gladly sent a check every month. I would have loved to buy the kid toys and shoes and a real box for those rocks he loved so much.
“Thanks for letting me know,” I said, hanging up my phone.
Ashley had gone to the bank looking for information about her dad’s mortgage. She wanted details about what it would cost to make it all current. I smiled, imagining the look on her face when she realized just how in debt her dad was. It had floored me when I’d found out, but then it had made me very excited. He was in a deep hole, and there was no possible way he could dig himself out. The man didn’t have the income or the credit.
His kids didn’t seem interested, and I knew none of them were doing all that well. Hank and Leslie both had their hands full with their own families, and Anna was definitely in no position to help. That left Ashley. I felt like we were in a game of chess. It was her move. I hoped I had correctly predicted what she would do next, but it was hard to say for sure. She was full of surprises.
The memory of her suddenly mounting me brought a smile to my face. That had definitely been a surprise, a very welcome surprise.
I only had to fend off Ashley for three more weeks. The moment Tanner’s loan defaulted, I would be at the bank with a check, ready to buy. Twenty-one days and I could do that.
“Brock?” Helen said from the doorway.
“Yes?”
I looked up and could immediately see something was wrong.
“Helen?” I asked, standing and making my way to her.
“Do you have a minute?” she asked in a weak voice.
“Yes. Sit down,” I said, putting a hand on her elbow and guiding her to a chair. “What’s up?”
“I have cancer.”
The words hit me like a wrecking ball. I practically fell into my chair, feeling as if I’d had the wind knocked out of me.
“What?” I croaked out.
She looked at me, tears in her eyes. “I have cancer.”
I refused to hear the word. She must have said something else. The woman was in her forties. She couldn’t have cancer. That happened to old people, other people. Not Helen.
“I’m sorry,” I said, not sure what else to say.
She looked as if she was in shock. “Breast cancer. I suspected it, which is why I went to the doctor in the first place, but I assumed I was being paranoid. I never thought he would tell me I actually had cancer.”
I had no idea what to say to her. I was at a complete loss for words.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated, and I truly was. I didn’t know what to say or what to think. I had known Helen since I was a boy. She used to babysit me and was like a mother to me in many ways, even if she was only fifteen years older than I was.
“I’m going to need some time off. The details are still being arranged, but I’m going to need surgery and then treatment,” she said, her voice monotone.
“Okay. Okay, yes. So that’s the plan, surgery and then the treatment, and once you get back on your feet, you’ll be back,” I said more to myself than to her. I needed her to be okay. Doctors would make her better.
“Thanks, Brock. Do you mind if I take the rest of the day off?”
“No. Please, take all the time you need. Your job will always be here.”
She stood, tears now flowing freely down her face. I walked around the desk and wrapped her in a big hug.
“Take care of yourself, Helen,” I whispered around the lump in my throat.
After a few awkward moments, she nodded and left the office. I stood there, standing in the empty office, staring at the door. With those few simple words, my life had been turned upside down. My mind raced as I thought about the implications of those words. Helen couldn’t die. I refused to accept that. I suddenly had a vague idea of what Tanner must have gone through when he found out he had cancer. Then I thought about what Ashley had experienced when she’d learned the news.
Suddenly, I felt like an ass, like I was trying to gain from their tragedy. Everything felt wrong and I couldn’t be in the office. It felt as if the walls were closing in on me and I had to get out. I quickly grabbed my laptop and shoved it in the bag. Scribbling out a quick note, I taped it to the front door and darted out of my office. I knew I was running away, but I didn’t care. Even though the business was mine and the office was mine, it felt wrong without Helen in it and I didn’t want to be there.
I knew I would have to hire someone to replace Helen for a time. I couldn’t run the office by myself. The thought made me ill though. Helen was irreplaceable. She knew my routine so well, and I rarely had to ask her to do anything. She just knew what to do and did it. When I was being an SOB,
she would tell me. Helen had a way of keeping me on the straight and narrow. I was afraid of what life would be like without her in it.
Maybe Ashley needed a temporary job. I could only imagine the look on her face when I offered it. It was a secretary job so it didn’t pay the best, but hell, I knew she would be desperate for cash.
I quickly dashed the thought from my head. Working with Ashley would be counterproductive to making money. I would want to fuck her all day, and I had a sneaking suspicion she might just let me if I asked the right way.
I drove home, changed, and headed for the park where I would go for a run. It was a different trail, but one that I saved for moments like this. It was a winding, uphill trail that punished the body. That was exactly what I needed.
When I got to the park, I noticed Anna Parks sitting at one of the picnic tables. A man sat across from her, and they looked to be in a heated discussion. The whole town knew she was pregnant. I didn’t know anything about her boyfriend except that he was new in town. Anna was the typical small-town girl. She saw fresh meat and was immediately intrigued.
Seeing Anna gave me an idea. I knew she would need the money. The diner couldn’t pay great wages, and with Anna’s track record and surly attitude, she would probably quit or get fired soon anyway. She couldn’t be making much in the way of tips either. Babies were expensive. Not that I really knew since my baby mama had decide to bear the full brunt of that burden, but they had to cost a lot.
As I sauntered over, the boyfriend eyed me. I stared back, not threatened by the dirty look he shot me. After a brief stare down, he clearly decided I wasn’t worth it and looked away.
“Anna,” I said.
She looked at me with defiance. “What?”
I bit back a laugh. Surliness seemed to be a family trait with the Park girls.
“I was wondering if you were interested in working part time in the office for me. My secretary is going to be out for a while on a medical emergency, and I could really use the help,” I said. “It would only be about four hours a day.”
She looked at me, disbelief on her face. “You want me to work for you?”
I knew it was a strange request. I was trying to take her family farm, and by working for me, she would ultimately be aiding me in doing just that. I immediately regretted offering her the job. It had been a stupid idea.
She glanced at her boyfriend, who seemed to be eager for her to take the job, and then back at me. “Sure. I’m already the black sheep of the family anyway. I may as well cement my position by working for the enemy.”
I laughed. “I’m not the enemy; I promise. But if you think it’ll be a problem, I’d understand if you can’t do it.”
“I can. I will. When do I start?” she said, nodding her head vigorously, clearly happy about the opportunity.
“How about you come by tomorrow? I’ll give you the grand tour and show you what you will be doing. We’ll also need to fill out the paperwork. Does that work for you?”
She looked at the boyfriend and then back at me. “Yep. I’ll be there. I don’t have to dress all fancy, do I? I don’t do fancy very well.”
I laughed. “Well, not fancy, but I prefer no shorts. A nice pair of jeans works. Just keep it casual, but not too casual.”
What she was wearing now wouldn’t do. She wasn’t showing yet, which was obvious in the tiny tank top and itty-bitty shorts she was wearing. The woman was beautiful and liked to flaunt her figure. I didn’t need clients questioning what kind of business I was really running.
“So, not this?” she said with a wink.
“Um,” I said, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, “probably not.”
Her boyfriend looked at her. “You look gorgeous, baby. I like what you have on.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course he liked it. If Ashley or any other single woman was wearing that same outfit, I would like it as well.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, waving before heading up the path that led to the trail. One of the great things about where we lived was the many trails into the mountains. You could never get bored. I did a few stretches and took off up the hill. The exercise would hopefully give me some clarity.
All I could think about was Helen. If this deal went through, I could afford to pay her some of her wages even while she was off and I was paying someone else. I had to take care of her. She had worked hard for me and I owed her. I would pay her insurance premium so she didn’t have to worry about that, too.
Now that I had an idea of how to help her, my mind shifted back to Ashley. It was always on Ashley. I wanted her all the time. Just when I’d thought I had finally rid myself of my addiction to her, she came blowing back into my life and, just like that, I was hooked again.
Chapter 15
Ashley
I already knew Brock wasn’t at work, so I didn’t bother going there first. Anna had called me to gloat. Why the stupid girl was so dead set on making my life a living hell, I would never understand. I had pretended I didn’t care that she was going to work for the enemy, but I was livid. How dare she? I could be self-righteous because no one knew I had slept with the very same enemy.
Anna told me she thought Brock was going for a run. She made sure to point out how sexy he looked without a shirt. She couldn’t make me jealous. Brock wasn’t mine, and I knew even if Anna threw herself at him, Brock would shoot her down. I thought. I hoped.
Oh God. What if they had hooked up while I was gone? I wouldn’t put it past Anna to go after my ex. She always wanted everything I had. I shuddered at the thought of the two of them together. It hadn’t taken me long to find out where Brock lived. The town was growing in size and numbers, but there was still a small-town feel and people liked to talk. Brock had made a big deal about where he lived. It was a status symbol for him. He had made it out of that horrible trailer he grew up in and now owned a nice home in a nice neighborhood.
Good for him.
I sat on his front step, taking refuge from the sun under the small roof over the front porch. I planned on waiting there until he showed up, and then I was going to let him know his little plan to get inside information from my sister wouldn’t work. Anna didn’t care about the farm, and I would not share any details about what I planned to do with her anyway.
When he pulled into the driveway next to my rental car, my stomach flip-flopped. I hated that he looked so damn good.
He eyed me as he came up the walk. I stood, waiting for him to say something. He said nothing as he unlocked the door and walked on through. I followed him inside and slammed it shut behind me.
“Brock!”
He looked over his shoulder at me. “I’m going to take a shower. You can bitch at me when I’m done.”
I stared at him. “No!”
He grinned and kept walking down the hall.
I followed him. “You going to follow me in there too?” he asked, slightly perturbed.
“Brock, I need to talk to you,” I said, ignoring his suggestion.
“I told you, I’ll be in the shower. If you need to talk to me, I guess you better be prepared to get wet.”
He walked into the bathroom, shutting the door in my face. I stood there, staring at the door. I didn’t hear the lock. That was significant. An image of him stripping naked popped into my head. No. I couldn’t.
I walked back to the living room, taking in the high-quality furnishings. It was sparsely decorated and clearly the house was that of a bachelor, but it was nice. I was secretly happy for him. He deserved to be successful, but not at the expense of my father. That irritated me, which had me walking back down the hall to the closed bathroom door.
I stared at the door and quickly settled on what I knew was a horrible decision. I turned the handle and stepped inside. I could see the outline of his body through the fogged glass shower door. I stripped out of my shorts and T-shirt and quickly got naked.
I looked at myself in the mirror for a brief second and then walked to the door, opened it, and stepp
ed inside.
He turned around to look at me, water sluicing over his naked body. I took my time staring at his tanned skin and defined chest muscles. He had definitely grown up. There was a smattering of chest hair and a lovely trail from his naval to his cock. I looked back up to meet his eyes. He didn’t make a move, just stared at me as I drank in the sight of him. I was aroused just looking at his naked body.
I knew he was waiting for me to make the first move. His body was beautiful. Heat pooled between my legs as I reached out and ran my hand over his chest. My fingers trailed a line up to his shoulder before I traced the tattoo on his arm that had captivated Jasper.
“Me?” I whispered, my fingers gently touching it.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I felt a twinge of guilt but promised to assuage my guilt and his pain with one act.
I stepped forward, my bare breasts pressing against his chest as I turned my face up to his.
“Kiss me,” I murmured.
The water ran down his face as he leaned forward, then hesitated a split second before he slammed his mouth over mine. He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing my butt before running then up my back. His fingers trailed a line up my spine, causing me to shudder. I pressed my hips against his groin and relished in the feel of his hard thighs pressed against my own.
He backed me up until the cold tile pressed against my back. His hands roamed over my waist before moving up to cup my breasts. His mouth left mine and ran over my collarbone before he closed his mouth over my nipple. I arched my back, pressing my breast into his mouth. He kneaded and suckled, making me crazy with need.
I could feel his own need increasing. His gentle touch soon became one of desperation. He moved one hand between my legs, tickling my clit until I felt an orgasm brewing. I squirmed, pushing against him. My hands were running up and down his back, my fingers digging in the closer I got to my climax.
“Brock,” I moaned, wanting to alert him I was close to coming.
He didn’t stop his ministrations to my pussy. He kept fingering me.
