Page 85 of Resisting His Charm
“Yes, he was. It takes more than a sperm donation to be a father. And the man you grew up with, hewasyour father, Poppy. Nothing will ever change that.”
“How did she love me?”
“You’re pretty fucking easy to love.”
“She was raped. How did she look at me every day without being disgusted?” I ask him.
“Again, you’re fucking easy to love. And how you came about being doesn’t define who you are now.”
“I blamed your family, and it was mine.” I cry harder.
“No, it was one person. Your cousins didn’t know, Poppy.”
“I want to leave. I want to leave this ranch and never come back here,” I tell Sammie.
“If that’s what you really want, I’ll take you home. But, first, I need to know what you want me to do with your uncle.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s your family. I’m not going to kill him if you tell me not to.”
“Did he kill my mother? My father?” I ask.
“I’m not sure, but we can go back in there and find out,” Sammie says.
I wanted the truth…
“It was easier when I thought it was your family that killed them, not my own.”
“Yeah,” Sammie agrees. “But you can’t put the actions of one person against the rest of your family, Poppy. I really don’t believe your cousins knew anything.”
“I know.” I saw the look on Jaxson’s face. He didn’t know. “Okay, let’s go back. I’m sorry I lost it.” I stand and turn on the faucet. Washing my face before I lean over and slurp a mouthful of water. I squish it around and then spit it into the sink. I repeat this process two more times. “OMG, what is your mother going to think of me? I’ve dragged you all down here into this mess.”
“Babe, I’m pretty sure my mother likes you more than she likes me.” Sammie laughs.
“Doubtful.”
“It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that I love you.”
“You love me?” I still, my eyes lifting to meet his reflecting back at me in the mirror.
“Yeah, I do.”
“I told Alice that I loved you today,” I admit.
Sammie smiles. “You told your best friend you loved me?”
“Mhmm.”
“Okay,” he says, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Let’s go face this, so we can go home.”
“You’re coming to LA with me?” I twist around and smile up at him.
“I can. Or you could come to Vegas with me.” Taking my hand, Sammie leads me back into the living room.
I pull out of his grip and walk over to the bar, picking up Jaxson’s good whiskey. I pour some into a glass and bring it to my lips, swallowing the entire thing in one go. Slamming the glass down, I turn around and face everyone.
“Nope,” I mutter, turning back around. I refill the glass and swig the amber liquid, enjoying the burn in my chest before steeling my resolve. When I finally spin and look out into the room, everyone is staring at me.
