by Codi Gary
“Should I say I’m sorry or—”
“Stop trying to be charming. You made me love you, so much so that I just blackmailed my own father and told him if he even so much as looked at you and your family again, I would destroy him.”
“Blackmailed him how? What about my dad?”
“Everything he had on your father I gave to you. And as to the how, apparently Ellie never needed my help holding onto her trust fund. She’d been squirreling away information on my dad’s dirty deeds for years and passed his secrets on to me.”
Reaching up to cover his grin, he said, “Your sister is diabolical, but I have to say, it was very Dr. Evil of you to take her up on them.”
She hit his chest lightly. “Seriously, I just cut my dad off and I want you to tell me again that you care. That we’re beyond fun—”
He pulled her body against his and she closed her mouth.
“I meant every word. Now, if you’re done being a drama queen, I’m going to kiss you.”
“You know, it’s kind of a turnoff when a guy asks permission,” she said, a grin spreading over her face.
“Who said I’m asking?”
Justin dipped his head down to claim her lips, nipping at the plump lower one before slipping his tongue inside her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his waist and he wanted to shout to the heavens that this woman was his.
He swung her into his arms and helped her into the cab of her truck. They drove back to his house, and after an intense, passionate round of make-up sex, they snuggled under the covers.
“You have no idea how much I missed you. I’ve been a rotten bastard for days. I was so bad, Everett almost kicked my ass and told me to fix things with you so I’d start acting like his brother again.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my father was blackmailing me too.”
“It’s okay, baby. You’re used to doing everything on your own and dealing with your problems by yourself. But you aren’t alone. You’ve got Ellie and me. Plus, my dad thinks you’re perfect, and I’m pretty sure my brother likes you better than he likes me.”
“I appreciate you saying all that, but they’re your family, Justin, not mine.”
Justin was quiet, wondering if he’d scare her off if he said the words out loud, if he told her what he’d known since that first family dinner.
“What if they were your family?”
She stiffened harder than a marble statue and he almost regretted his words. “What do you mean?”
He brushed Val’s hair off her forehead, giving her a rueful smile as he plunged forward. “I’m saying that we could be your family if you wanted. If you married me.”
AIR BECAME A scarce commodity as Val digested his words.
Marry him? That was certifiably crazy, right? They had just hit a major bump in their relationship and five seconds later he brings up getting married.
Lightly, he brushed his lips against her forehead, and she closed her eyes, her skin tingling where he kissed her. “You don’t have to answer right now. Just know that it’s out there on the table.”
She cuddled into his chest, thankful that he knew when to press and when to let things drop. She still wasn’t quite sure the whole marriage thing was for her, but she did love him, she knew that.
The distinct ring of a cell phone broke the moment, and Val reached for her jeans on the floor, pulling hers out of her pocket. She answered a little testily. “Hey, Ellie, what’s going on?”
“It’s Dad. Theresa found him on the floor in the study and called nine-one-one, but they aren’t telling me anything yet. I can’t even get a stupid nurse . . . Val?”
Val reached for Justin’s arm. “I’m here, Ellie.”
“Please come. I know you guys are in a bad place, but he’s our dad. If he dies—”
“I’m on my way, sweetie. Okay?” Justin stared up at her as she jumped out of bed, searching for her clothes.
Ellie’s sigh of relief was like a train whistle through the phone. “Thank you.”
“Which hospital are you at?”
“St. Luke’s in Twin Falls.”
“Okay, just stay in one place. I’ll be there soon.”
Val hung up the phone and frantically pulled at her clothes, but her vision kept blurring. “Damn it,” she yelled when she couldn’t get her shoes on fast enough.
She heard Justin get up and the rustle of his own clothes. They didn’t say anything for several minutes, but when they were both dressed, Justin said, “Come on, I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to—”
His hands came down to rest on her arms and he squeezed them gently. “You’re shaking so hard, you’re about to come out of your skin. I’ll drive.”
Val didn’t argue because she knew he was right. She was about to lose it.
Despite being finished with Edward Willis and everything he had done, he was still her dad.
Chapter Twenty-Three
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, despite a nurse hollering at her, Val was practically running through the hospital halls, searching for her sister.
“Val!” Ellie yelled. When Val saw her, Ellie stood up with a sob. Ellie’s normally made-up face was bare, likely from crying as her bloodshot, puffy eyes indicated.
Pulling her sister into her arms, Val heard the rapid approach of Justin’s boots behind her.
“Have you heard anything?”
Ellie shook her head. “He’s out of surgery, but that’s all they’ve told me so far.”
Val helped her sister sit in one of the chairs, her eyes burning and her stomach roiling with nausea. Surgery meant something big.
“Can I get you some coffee or something?” Justin asked, standing over them helplessly.
Ellie sniffled. “Yes, please.”
Val looked up into Justin’s face, catching the worry and sympathy there, and she grabbed his hand, mouthing thank you.
He squeezed her hand before turning, and she caught her sister watching him walk away.
“Is it inappropriate to mention what a sweet ass your boyfriend has?”
Laughing, she pulled her sister in for another hug, before Ellie laid her head in her lap, just like she’d done when they were kids. Stroking her sister’s long strands of hair, she pulled out her phone and started dialing.
“Who are you calling?” Ellie asked.
“Caroline,” Val said, waiting.
“I tried, but she didn’t pick up.”
But then her sister’s voice came over the line, tired and muffled. “Hey, Val, can I call you—”
“You need to come home. Dad’s collapsed, and I think it’s bad, Car. We’re at St. Luke’s in Twin Falls and they said he’s had surgery.”
Silence stretched over the line, and then Caroline said, “I’ll be there soon.”
Val hung up and leaned her head against the wall. Life had a funny way of screwing you over, that was for sure. She’d just told her dad off a few hours ago and he’d collapsed soon after. Guilt ate at her; it was her fault he was here. No matter what he had done, he couldn’t die now. Not with this rift between them.
“The Willis family?” a loud voice called, startling her.
“We’re Edward Willis’s daughters,” Val said. Ellie sat up when a man in blue scrubs walked over. He had short, dark hair and blue eyes and was younger than any other doctor she’d ever seen, which made her nervous, especially when his grim face didn’t brighten.
They stood as he lowered his voice. “Your father suffered a mild heart attack, probably brought on by stress. We were able to repair the damage, but he needs to take it easy. Strict bed rest and a healthy diet.”
“Ha. I bet he loved hearing that,” Ellie said wetly, sniffling.
The doctor smiled mildly. “He is quite the firecracker. He’s barely awake and already making demands.”
“That sounds just like him,” Val said as she saw Justin coming back with a cup carrier of coffee.
“Yes, well, you can see him now.
Maybe one at a time?” the doctor suggested, a warning tone in his voice.
“You go,” Val said to Ellie, taking a cup of coffee from Justin. “We’ll wait here.”
Ellie followed the doctor down the hall and Val sat back down, accepting the comfort Justin offered as he wrapped his arm around her, bringing her against the wall of his chest. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to keep from crying, but in the end she broke down.
“I can’t stop thinking it was my fault . . . that if I hadn’t—”
“Stop it!” he hissed, squeezing her tight. “You did not cause this. Your father has been in a stressful position most of his life and it finally caught up to him. You are not taking the blame for this, do you understand?”
Her surprised laugh was interrupted by hiccups as she said, “Who made you the boss?”
“I’m not your boss, Val. I love you and I don’t want you carrying around a bunch of guilt you don’t deserve.”
She knew Justin meant what he said. He would never try to change or control her. It was how she knew he really loved her. A willingness to accept another person’s flaws and issues, while fighting for their happiness—that’s what Justin had taught her about love.
“Thank you for being here,” Val whispered, kissing the place above his heart.
His hands rubbed along her spine, comforting her. “I will always be here, Val. There’s nowhere else I want to be but by your side.”
They stayed like that until Ellie came back, looking sad.
“He doesn’t want to see me,” Val said, reading into her sister’s expression.
Ellie shook her head. “He’s just being a stubborn jerk, Val. He’ll come around.”
Val nodded, laughing bitterly. “Yeah, I know. It’s not me, it’s him.”
Needing some air, she headed for the nearest exit, wanting to scream with pain. Even with the chance that he could die, he couldn’t admit he was wrong or that he cared. Why was she here? When was she going to realize that men like him didn’t change for anyone?
JUSTIN STARTED TO follow her, but Ellie stopped him. “I’d leave her for a bit. Val’s got a mile-long streak of pride, and sometimes she needs to keep her dignity intact. She gets that from him.”
Justin’s hands clenched into fists. “I wish the bastard wasn’t so weak right now. I’m tempted to beat the shit out of him for hurting her.”
Ellie clapped her hands, drawing his attention. “You love her!”
Releasing an embarrassed laugh, he felt his cheeks warm. “Yeah,” he said, lowering his voice. “I asked her to marry me.”
Ellie jumped up and down and threw herself against him, squeezing tight, before pulling back with wide eyes. “Wait; did she say yes?”
“Not yet. I’m giving her some time to adjust.”
Ellie frowned at him, her forehead scrunched with worry. “I hate to say this, but you might not like the answer you get. Val isn’t exactly pro marriage.”
Justin’s heart sank. “You think she’ll say no?”
Ellie looked thoughtful before giving him a noncommittal shrug. “Who knows? Miracles happen every day.”
Justin frowned, not liking the less-than-encouraging reply.
“Eleanor!” a woman’s voice yelled from down the hall.
Justin and Ellie turned, and Justin watched Ellie’s eye widen. “Caroline!”
Justin smiled as the two sisters hugged. While they were distracted, he went off in search of Val. She’d want to see her sister.
He saw her standing out in the courtyard, looking miserable, and pushed open the door.
“Your sister’s here.”
Val rubbed at her cheeks, and he saw the wet tracks her tears had caused. “Caroline? That was fast. I wonder where she was.”
He walked outside and pulled her against him. She clung to his body, and he felt her trembles and shakes, the wetness of her tears soaking his long-sleeved T-shirt as she sobbed against his chest.
WHEN SHE FINALLY stopped shaking, she pulled away, and her wet, bloodshot eyes looked up at him with an apology. “I’m sorry I lost it all over you.”
It’s okay,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. “Why don’t we go say hi to your sister?”
She nodded as he led her back inside. When she saw Caroline, she pulled away from him and yelled, “Car!”
Caroline Willis turned away from Ellie and held her arms out to Val. Justin watched the three sisters laugh, cry, and hug, their dark heads pressed together as they talked.
“Where were you? When did you get into town?” Val asked.
“Last night, but I wasn’t ready to face the old man yet, so I stayed at the Holiday Inn,” Caroline said, smiling sadly. “How is he?”
“Out of surgery,” Ellie said.
“A stubborn jackass,” Val added.
Caroline laughed. “Oh joy. So, should I try to visit him?”
Both of them hesitated. “Maybe give it a few days.”
“Figured. Hey, Justin, it’s good to see you.”
Val gasped and turned around. “I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head and came up alongside her, kissing her temple. “It’s okay. Why don’t I give you three some time to catch up and I’ll come back with some snacks?”
“Thank you,” Val said, kissing him briefly.
He pulled away and gave Caroline a smile. “Caroline. Good to see you. Any requests?”
“Chocolate,” Ellie said.
“All right, just text me if you need something,” Justin said, walking away.
The three of them watched him, and Caroline made an appreciative sound. “Little sister, you did good. That man has a fantastic—”
“—ass,” Ellie finished. “That’s what I said.”
Val appreciated her sisters’ attempts to lighten the mood, but her eyes kept straying to the ICU doors.
“Hey,” Caroline said, bumping her. “He’s going to be okay, and when he’s got a little color in his cheeks, he’ll come around.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m the oldest. It’s my job to know things.”
JUSTIN SAT BESIDE Edward Willis’s bed, waiting for the old man to wake up. It was the first time he’d ever seen any kind of vulnerability on the bastard’s face.
He’d told the girls he’d stay while they went home to shower and change. It had been three days, but Edward still wouldn’t see Val, and when Caroline had stormed the room, Edward had become so agitated, she’d been asked to leave.
Justin could tell how her father refusing to see her was eating at Val. No matter what she’d said to Edward, no matter how she’d tried to distance herself, it didn’t stop her from loving and worrying about the undeserving man.
Thank God for Caroline, who was just as shunned as Val, though, unlike Val, she’d laughed it off.
“The old fart just doesn’t like to be told when he’s being a tool.”
Justin smiled, remembering it. Caroline’s presence was good for Val in that it reminded her that she wasn’t the only one with issues. She’d just finally taken her life in her hands.
Suddenly, a pair of steely dark eyes were staring out at him from Edward’s pale face.
“What are you doing here?” he croaked.
“Would you like some water?” Justin asked, reaching for a plastic cup with a straw.
Edward continued to stare at him mutinously.
With a heavy sigh, Justin sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he met Edward’s furious gaze. “I know you’ve never liked me. For whatever reason, whatever grudge or idea you’re holding onto, I can forgive you that. It doesn’t matter if you like me or I like you.”
The man in the bed kept quiet, and Justin continued. “What does matter is that I love your daughter, sir, and you’re causing her pain. What matters is, I’ve asked her to marry me, to spend the rest of her life with me, and I think she’s hesitating because of you. You still have some kind of hold over her, which
is what you like: control.” Justin paused. “But don’t you think she deserves to be happy? To have someone in her life who puts her happiness first? I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I can tell you that she will never be less than perfect in my eyes because that is how she is to me. Perfect. And perfect for me.”
Justin stood up and concluded his speech. “I know I’m not the man you wanted for her. You wanted someone who would keep her in style and be able to back your political plays. But with me, she will never want for anything. I just think maybe you should look at the way your life is headed and reconsider your choices. I doubt your doctor will clear you for the stress of politics, but you have three daughters who are all here, supporting you. Yet you only speak to one. My mother taught me that love was the most important thing in life because without it, we’re just empty shells waiting to die.”
Edward snorted, but Justin saw that his words had affected him.
“It’s not too late for you to fix things with your daughters, sir.”
With that last bit of wisdom, he left the room, bumping into the Willis sisters returning from home, freshly showered and looking a little less weary, in the hallway.
“Hey, is he still sleeping?” Val stood up on her tiptoes and waited for him to kiss her.
“Yeah, he was out the whole time,” he said, ignoring the teasing catcalls from her sisters as he kissed her. If Edward decided to man up, he didn’t want Val to think it was because of something he’d said. “I’m going to head home and shower. My dad and brother probably have forgotten what I look like.”
“Well, thank you for being here.”
“I’ll always be here when you need me.”
THE DAY OF her father’s release from the hospital, Val stayed home, not seeing the point in torturing herself. It had been six days since his heart attack and he hadn’t asked for her once. She’d simply sat out in the waiting room, sometimes with Ellie or Justin.
Caroline had barged in again the day before and ripped into him before getting thrown out by the nurses. Again. Val had actually thought her sister might just get through to him; they were both ballbusting stubborn.
