Page 31 of Just One More Affair
Face flushed, she spun to face him. “Well, that was humiliating.”
He reached out a hand and touched her warm cheek. “You aren’t responsible for your brother’s behavior. But, Charlotte, you can’t keep bailing him out.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “He probably owes dangerous people money and I don’t want that blowback on you!”
Her eyes grew wide at his loud tone.
He’d raised his voice and caught himself immediately. “Sorry. It’s just, the last time someone lost their mind thanks to drugs, my mother was killed. And I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”
She met his gaze and extended her hand. He clasped his palm in hers. “Let’s sit and talk.”
He nodded and she led him to the couch where they settled side by side. He knew he was about to tell her the most painful part of his life. The one he pretended he’d gotten over but instead he’d just pushed to the back of his mind.
But if he could share with anyone, it was Charlotte.
Chapter Eleven
Charlie took Jared’shand in hers. “I know your mom died. How old were you?”
“Thirteen. Dad was on a business trip. Aiden and I were at sleepaway camp. Dex was at football camp. Fallon was home sleeping, and Remy was supposed to have dinner with Mom. There was a girl he liked and he blew off hanging out with our mother.”
“So she was basically alone in the house?”
He nodded. “And one of my father’s clients who’d lost a shit ton of money because he refused to take valid advice to sell, broke in and killed her to get back at Dad.”
Charlotte gasped. “That’s awful! I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hand.
“I tell myself I’m fine, that I don’t have any residual emotional scars, but seeing your brother was triggering. The man who killed my mom got hooked on meds after he lost everything. When he couldn’t get more benzos, he went to the street for drugs. He was high when he broke in.”
He ran a shaking hand over his face and it wasn’t a trembling one like her brother’s. No, she hadn’t missed that Dan was high, either.
“Dan isn’t okay and I don’t want him anywhere near you, the baby, or the twins.”
She opened then closed her mouth again. On the one hand, she completely understood where his concern was coming from. On the other… Dan was the only family she had in her life. “I wouldn’t let him near the girls. Ever. As for me, my brother wouldn’t hurt me.”
Jared’s frown turned into a fierce scowl. “But the men he owes money to would.”
She shivered at the prospect, acknowledging Jared had a point. But she was more concerned about his emotional torment. And she didn’t want his past to cause him pain because her brother brought back bad memories.
She sought to reassure him. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m in a building with a doorman.”
He blew out a breath and nodded. “It’s a start. Promise me you won’t give Dan full access? That he will have to call up each time he comes by and you can make a decision if seeing him is wise?”
“I promise,” she said, meeting his gaze. “And I’ll be careful. Dan usually shows up for money and disappears again for long periods of time. I’m the one who keeps hoping he’ll change. That he’ll come by just to see me or get sober and care about the girls.”
“Who he didn’t even ask about. He doesn’t know you’re pregnant?”
She shook her head. “There’s never been time to tell him.”
“Because it’s always about him,” Jared muttered.
“I know.” She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “I’m sorry this was all triggering for you.”
“It’s fine. I’m more worried about you.”
She leaned over and pressed her lips briefly to his. “Don’t be. I’ve got the situation under control.”
Nodding, he seemed to accept her at her word.
He placed his hand on the arm of the sofa, prepared to stand. “I hate to say this, but I need to get going. I have to stop home to shower and change for work.”
