by Lori Foster
An awful possibility, but she had to admit, having him right next door was beyond perfect.
If he wasn’t as over-the-moon crazy for her as she was for him, she’d deal with it.
And she’d take what he offered all the same because it was more than she’d ever expected.
With so many things on her mind, all of them centered on Jason, it was no wonder she didn’t at first notice her family had come to visit.
They were just circling to the front of the house when Diesel’s sudden fit of furious barking brought her focus back to the here and now.
Looking very out of place, her aunt Celeste’s shiny black Town Car and driver waited at the curb while Celeste stood staring at Honor’s house with a slightly curled lip.
And not just Celeste. Janet, Gina and Terry had also accompanied her, though it appeared they’d driven separately, given the second sleek, new-model Mercedes.
Honor’s stomach cramped with dread.
When her family looked at her, their disdain remained. Honor had the awful suspicion it had nothing to do with her muddy, wrinkled clothes.
Jason calmed Diesel, but it wasn’t easy. The dog disliked them all on sight. She thought of all the people at the picnic whom Diesel had greeted with a wagging tail, but now he turned protective, just as he had when her father came to call.
The dog had amazing instincts.
“Shh.” She put a hand on Diesel’s scruff, and finally he settled. “It’s okay.”
He stationed himself beside her, still alert but now only giving a very low growl.
“That dog sounds vicious.”
Doing her best to hide her unease, Honor stared at her Aunt Celeste. “He can be.”
Near her ear, Jason whispered, “Remember, you’re not alone.”
But in this, with them, she’d rather be alone—and for once, she could admit why.
It shamed her to have family loathe her so openly. She used to think that spoke of her character.
Now she knew it only spoke of theirs.
“Have you been rolling in the mud?” Janet asked with disbelief.
“Yes.”
That left them all in silence.
Sighing, Honor asked Celeste, “Why are you here?”
Never one to quibble, her great-aunt got right to the point of her visit. “As I’m sure you know by now, I inherited Hugh’s home.”
“Yes, of course.” Neil was privy to everything her grandfather had done, and he hadn’t minded sharing. “You’re his sister. It makes sense for you to have it.”
After a brief scrutiny, Celeste sent a smug smile at the others.
Had they complained? No doubt. They were all mercenary in their hunger for her grandfather’s wealth.
Celeste moved closer. “Though it wasn’t specified in any documents, there are items there you might like to claim before I sell it.”
That statement, given with so much disregard, took Honor back a step. “Sell it?”
Her aunt Janet snapped, “Of course she’s selling. You’re the only one who got cash, so what choice does she have.”
After a visual rebuke at Janet, Celeste softened her rigid manner. “I know it has sentimental value for you, Honor, but I don’t need a second home. Neither Gina nor Janet, and certainly not Terry, can afford to purchase it.”
“Not that we would anyway,” Gina said. “It’s like a mausoleum, badly in need of updates.”
For so many years, Granddad had been ill, too ill to worry about modernizing the decor. Everything remained in perfect working order, thanks to an estate manager, but updating style and color hadn’t been a consideration. Thinking of the old-fashioned, well-worn flocked wallpaper in the study, the dark wooden paneling in the library, left her with a pang of regret. She could almost smell those rooms, feel the warmth of them, see how the sunlight filtered in past the heavy drapes.
Regardless of the incredible amount of cash she’d inherited, Honor knew it wasn’t near enough to buy her grandfather’s lavish home, much less maintain it.
As if he understood, Jason rested a hand on her shoulder.
“It’s just a house,” Celeste said with sharp impatience. “Selling it makes sense.”
For Honor, it was so much more than that. It had been a refuge from the hurt of abandonment. Now, however, she had her own home—next door to Jason. She was no longer a lost, emotionally wounded kid. She had to remember that.
Loosening her shoulders, she nodded. “Yes, I understand.”
“Because you lived there,” Celeste said, earning a few grumbles from the other aunts who held back, “I’m offering to let you get your things—if you want them.”
Janet snapped, “They’re not her things! She came to him with nothing.”
“And she’s already gotten more than enough,” Gina added. “Everything else should be sold.”
“Be silent,” Celeste snapped. “You weren’t invited along for this visit.”
“We couldn’t let you come alone,” Gina said with just as much heat. “Losing Hugh has made you as sentimental as he was with her. If we don’t look out for you, you’ll be giving her everything else.”
“Like my father?” Honor asked. “Was that one of your gifts, Aunt Celeste?”
Silence fell around them. To Honor, it felt anticipatory, almost gleeful, at least from Janet, Gina and Terry.
Celeste, who’d always been more subtle in her possible dislike, merely shifted her stance. “So he did come to see you?”
“Yes.” When she said nothing more, offering up no information, Celeste huffed her annoyance.
“There’s no reason to be coy.” Frowning, Celeste asked, “Did you reconcile?”
Honor lifted her chin. “I told him to go away and never come back.”
It took a few seconds; then the smile slowly creased Celeste’s papery cheeks. “Good for you.”
That threw Honor, but only for a second. Her hands fisted and she leaned in. “Why would you do that to me?”
“To shake you out of your doldrums, of course.”
Such careless disrespect for her feelings shouldn’t have surprised her, but for some reason, this time it did. For once letting her aunt see her inner turmoil, Honor whispered, “It was incredibly cruel.”
“It was a dose of reality.” Unconcerned, Celeste lifted her chin. “You need to understand that your father was never worthy of your remorse.”
Refreshing anger blunted some of the hurt. “Have you never heard of communication?”
The sharp tone lowered her great-aunt’s brows, but Honor didn’t care.
“You could have talked with me, Celeste. You could have shown an ounce of acceptance.” You could have cared...just a little. “That’s what civilized, caring people do.”
“You had a much better life with my brother than you would have had with your father.”
“I already knew that!”
Unruffled by her outburst, Celeste shook her head. “No, dear, you clung to the conviction that somehow you were to blame. Why else would you have not moved on?”
Honor automatically glanced at her other aunts, who throughout her youth had taken every opportunity to point out her circumstances. How could she have believed otherwise, when their every breath proclaimed her an interloper?
Celeste rolled her eyes. “If by now you don’t understand how petty, small-minded and weak they are, then there’s no hope for you at all.”
While Honor stood there, completely overcome, the others started rapid-fire accusations, pointing out in a dozen different ways how it was Honor’s fault, not theirs.
One commanding glare from Celeste silenced them. She’d always been a powerful force in the family, the only one to stand up to Hugh, and now with him gone, she’d taken the position as matriarch. Clearly the others understood that.
To Honor, it didn’t matter. She’d been loyal to her grandfather out of love. Sadly the strongest emotion she’d had toward the rest of the family was guilt...and that was all but gone.
Celeste straightened the sleeves of her blouse, patted her hair and faced Honor again. “Now, back to Hugh’s home, which will be sold. There’s your bedroom suite, school papers of yours that Hugh saved and a few photos of the two of you together that I thought you might like to relocate—” Again she looked at Honor’s house, and finally said with distaste, “Here.”
Not knowing what else to do, Honor nodded. She didn’t need the furniture, but she’d love to have the photos. “That would be wonderful, thank you. When would it be convenient for you?”
Ignoring that, Celeste flattened her mouth with revulsion. “This is ridiculous.”
Behind her, Jason stiffened.
Honor girded herself, then asked, “What is?”
“You living here.” She gestured at the house. “It’s a hovel.”
Ice crawled down her spine. “It’s my home.”
“I’ve done what I can in the ways that I know how. Apparently plain speaking is all that’s left.” She drew a sharp breath. “It’s past time to give up this preposterous pride.”
Her pride was not preposterous. For many years, it had been all she had. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Celeste leveled her censuring gaze. “Even you must realize that this miniscule shed is hardly suitable for Hugh Mefford’s granddaughter, especially since he ensured that you can now buy something much, much nicer.”
Jason’s hand on her shoulder tightened. “Honor...”
She glanced at him over her shoulder. Both he and Diesel looked worried. For her.
Because they cared.
Her heart seemed to fill up her chest, warming her from the inside out, pushing away all the feelings of hurt and insecurity.
Smiling to reassure Jason, she said, “It’s okay.” I’m okay.
After quickly searching her face, he nodded.
Turning back to her relatives, she stated, “I love my house, every broken inch of it. I’m fixing it up, doing much of the work myself, and I love it.” To keep Jason from getting involved, she stated it outright. “Under no circumstances am I selling it.”
Terry laughed. “How can you even call that mess a house? You’re angling for something more, aren’t you? What else is it you want?”
Ignoring the continued insults, Honor declared, “It’s my house and I’m keeping it.”
For once, Celeste aligned herself with the others. “Fine. Perhaps you can get some rent from it. But surely—”
“You misunderstand.” Honor moved closer to her aunt, doing what she could to protect Jason from the ugliness of her family. “I like my life here, Aunt Celeste. No, I love my life here. Clearbrook is home. I’m not moving.”
“You stole his money,” Gina accused.
Done with it, Honor snapped, “Then take the cash. I don’t care.”
Gina looked hopeful until Celeste intruded. “She’s not giving it to you, Gina, so be quiet. My brother wanted her to have it, and by God, that’s what will happen.” Then to Honor, she added, “You can surely afford a real home now.”
“This is a real home. My home.”
Celeste narrowed her gaze first on Honor, then to Jason, and fashioned a look of cunning assumption. “It’s not my business.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“You’ve always done just as you please.” Losing interest, she added, “Anytime this week before three would be fine to come gather a few mementos. My Realtor will be there to greet you.”
Disappointed but resigned, Honor said, “Thank you.”
Janet glared at her. “You think you’re so noble, don’t you?” Without giving Honor a chance to respond, she turned her cannon on Jason. “And you. Even Honor can’t be naive enough to think you actually care. When did this courtship start anyway? I’m betting it was after she inherited.”
Gina snickered, and Terry, unable to control herself, sneered, “He’s using you, Honor. Open your eyes, already.”
“They deserve each other,” Terry said.
Bright fury stole her usual calm. “You will all shut up!”
At her commanding roar, everyone went still.
Jason stared at her in surprise, Diesel went still with uncertainty. Gina and Terry glanced around in worry.
Sucking in air, Honor reached for some measure of recognizable calm.
Then Janet stiffened. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
Renewed anger brought Honor charging forward. “You petty, mean-spirited idiot. That’s enough out of you!”
“Honor,” Jason said quietly. “It’s fine.”
“No, it is not fine.” She encompassed Janet, Gina and Terry in her rage. “I’ve had just about enough of your combined stupidity. I’ve let you all have your say, nasty as it’s been. But you will not come onto my property and insult my friends.”
Janet started to speak.
Leaning into her, Honor whispered with menace, “Say it. I dare you.”
Janet clamped her mouth shut.
Satisfied with that reaction, Honor looked at them each again. “Get out, all three of you, and don’t ever come back.”
Shaken, big tears welled in Janet’s eyes and she spun away on a sob. Terry put an arm around her, quick to offer comfort, though she’d given no backup at all.
Gina stood there gaping in shock.
And into the tense silence, Celeste clapped. “Bravo.”
Honor rounded on her, only to see her smile.
“I guess Hugh wasn’t wrong about your inner fire. It just took a man to bring it out.”
“No,” Jason denied. “It was always there. It’s one of the things I first admired about her.”
After a lengthy pause, Celeste nodded approval. “I believe you.” She turned back to Honor. “Let me know when you’re coming by the house. I’ll meet you. Perhaps we’ll do lunch.” Assuming Honor’s compliance, Celeste put a hand on Gina to get her moving, and shortly Honor’s unwanted visitors were gone.
As if the entire visit hadn’t been momentous, Celeste waved as the driver drove off.
Depleted, Honor stiffened her legs to keep from stumbling. She felt like she’d been under siege and had just succeeded in fending off an enemy. Her stomach churned and her eyes burned. She struggled to calm her breathing.
With them now gone, the quiet neighborhood came alive with singing birds, a chirping squirrel and the rustle of leaves in the many trees.
Grateful that the others were still at the picnic and hadn’t witnessed her loss of control, Honor kept her back to Jason.
When Diesel snuffled against her hand, she knew she had to say something. “I’m sorry. That was pretty awful.”
“No,” Jason said. “That was wonderful.” Gently he turned her to face him, showing her a slight pleased smile. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
Unbelievable. “Proud? My family despises me and I clearly can’t deal with them.” She covered her face. “I screamed like a maniac.”
Jason tugged down her hands. “You should be sainted for how patiently you’ve dealt with them. No one could have done better.”
“You really believe that?”
“Silly, Honor.” He put his forehead to hers. “You’re beautiful inside and out. If they don’t see that, it’s their fault, not yours.”
That made her both blush and sigh.
“Sometimes it’s impossible to know what makes people the way they are. But that group is so petty and spiteful, I’m pretty sure they despise themselves the most.”
She’d often wondered that herself, if maybe they were all so miserably unhappy because they couldn’t find any inner peace. “Maybe.”
Diesel leaned against her leg. She looked down at him, then knelt for a furry hug.
“He loves you,” Jason said.
Honor nodded, but she knew Jason saw the truth. “He’s fond of all of us, and he’s especially protective of me. But you know he’s Colt’s dog, right?”
“Yeah, I know. Hogan just hasn’t realized it yet.”
Hogan still had a few things to settle, but he was overall a terrific dad. How else could Colt have turned out so amazing? “If he doesn’t take Diesel with him when he moves, I’ll keep him. But I hope that doesn’t happen.”
“Me, too.” Jason pulled her back to her feet. “You’re okay?”
She nodded, laced her hand in his and started toward his porch. The dog needed to eat, drink and rest after all his activity. “When I offered my inheritance to Janet—”
“It’s yours to do with as you please.”
“I know it wasn’t a factor for you.” She needed him to understand that.
“Whatever you want, honey. Okay? Keep it, give it away, burn it for all I care.”
Such a remarkable man. She wasn’t certain of much, but she knew Jason wasn’t a man lured by money. “I wouldn’t have really given it to Gina anyway. Aunt Celeste is right that Granddad wanted me to have it, and I’d already decided what to do with it.”
“When was this?”
“At the picnic.”
He opened his front door and unleashed Diesel, who ambled off for the kitchen and his bowls. “And?”
Honor stripped off her muddy shoes, then set them outside the door on the porch. “I want to finish fixing up my house.”
One brow went up. He pulled off his shoes too, put them beside hers, then reached inside to hang the leash on the hook by the door. “You could easily rebuild it many times over with what he left you.”
They stepped into the cooler interior. “But I don’t want that.”
“If your family made you uncomfortable about the house, it really does have potential—”
“I know, but it has nothing to do with them. When people look at the house, I want them to see what I see. It’s a lot smaller than your home, but I think it can still be as beautiful.” And it’s right next door to you.
“Absolutely. It has loads of character. All it needs is some TLC.”
God, she loved him. Getting excited, she shared her plans. “I want to completely remodel the kitchen and bathroom, but keep the look.”
“Totally doable.”
“And I need a new roof, landscaping, maybe windows—and I can’t wait to hang those incredible shutters you made.”
