Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
E ric was in desperate need of a nap. And maybe a beer.
He scrubbed a hand over his eyes as he put the car in gear.
But definitely a nap.
Turned out, having the beautiful little minx who regularly invaded his thoughts and plagued his dreams under his roof did not lead to a good night’s sleep.
He blamed his spinning thoughts and spiraling emotions on exhaustion as he headed back the way he’d come.
Exhaustion and Willow. They were a lethal combination.
When she was with him, he forgot…well, everything. There was only her and the way she made him feel.
It wasn’t until the Jeep door had slammed shut behind her that he’d felt himself start to come out of the Willow-induced fog.
And the moment he fully surfaced, every thought about why kissing her was a very bad idea reared to the front of his mind.
It was a bad idea. Wasn’t it?
If things went any further between them…
How would he tell his family? How would they tell hers? Her siblings hated him, and?—
He slammed on the brakes.
Swerving to avoid the idiot who’d just stepped out in the road to block his path.
What the hell?
His stomach clenched, the thought dying in his mind as he stared through the windshield at the oldest sibling, Dallas King.
Eric glared at the man, but Dallas was clearly fuming at the sight of him. And he was also very clearly not going anywhere.
With a sharp huff, Eric yanked up the emergency brake. Wonderful. A duel in the middle of the road. This was exactly what his sanity needed.
Forcing a calm he was far from feeling, he slipped out from behind the wheel and said as breezily as he could manage. “Did you need something, Dallas?”
His eyes darted to the vehicle parked on the side of the road, well off the side…which was probably why he missed it when he drove past.
That wasn’t the reason and you know it.
Dang it! He’d been completely distracted by the blonde fairy sitting in his passenger seat.
Ronnie Colbert walked around the side of the car, resting her hand on the hood.
He kept his tone dry and bland, knowing full well it would only anger Dallas. “Has that old clunker of a car finally broken down, or?—”
“You just drove Willow home. What the hell was she doing with you ?” Dallas bit out through gritted teeth, and…
Oh.
Crap.
Years of practice had Eric’s expression frozen in place, but inwardly his mood was sinking fast.
He’d thought they’d at least have a couple of days to figure out what they’d say or how they’d handle it…if they were to take the kissing thing any further.
Which they hadn’t discussed. Because he supposed they both believed they’d have more than twenty seconds before they were called out on being alone together.
Dallas took a step toward him. “I asked you a question.”
Eric looked at Ronnie, but she just crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
Nope. No help there.
So, he turned back to Dallas with a sigh. “I saw your sister hobbling in heels earlier in town, so I offered her a ride home.”
Dallas glared at him. “Why would you do that?”
Eric met his stare. “Because she looked to be in pain? One typically doesn’t hobble unless?—”
“No, why did you offer to help her?” Dallas snapped.
Ugh. Seriously? Eric held his hands to the sides, palms out. “Because I’m a nice guy.”
This got scoffs from both Dallas and Ronnie.
Excellent. Now he could add Olympic snowboarder to the ever-growing list of locals who hated his guts for reasons unknown.
This day just kept getting better and better.
“So, you’re telling me the Spencers are suddenly interested in the Kings’ well-being?” Dallas sneered.
Eric looked away with a huff of derisive amusement. “I had no idea the Kings were so dramatic. It was just a ride for a woman in pain?—”
“Did your father put you up to this? Is that it?”
Eric blinked in surprise at the mention of his father. He turned his back on them as guilt and a nagging fear ate at him.
He’d been so worried about Willow, he hadn’t thought through just how angry his father would be if he knew about last night.
If he felt he had any reason to doubt Eric’s commitment…
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Dallas shouted. “I have questions?—”
“And I’m sure your sister has answers.” He didn’t bother turning back.
If anything, this lovely little detour was just one more reminder of all the reasons that kissing Willow had been a mistake.
A beautiful mistake. A mistake he’d never forget and would likely dream about until the day he died.
But a mistake nonetheless.
He got back in the Jeep and slammed the door. Revving the engine, he made his intentions clear, and this time Dallas moved, taking Ronnie with him. Eric didn’t bother glancing their way as he drove past, and he wasted no time looking in the rearview mirror.
Willow was home safe with her family, where she belonged.
Just like he belonged with his.
He might not know every detail of Rose and Charlie’s demise, but it was safe to say they were a cautionary tale.
Family came first. How many times had his father said that over the years?
Family first. Loyalty was everything.
This was what he knew to be true. An unshakable truth.
One he couldn’t afford to forget again or he might be kicked to the curb. If his father knew what he’d been doing with Willow, Eric wasn’t sure he’d ever get over it.
And he was definitely sure he’d be out of a job.