Page 168 of Remiss
“Diesel’s your adopted brother and our subconscious plays a big part in who we choose as lovers. Christopher is likemydaddy in so many ways, but Daddy was just Daddy to me. I loved him dearly. There was nothing gross or sexual about it.”
“So, I’m not a creep?”
“Of course not! You’re a beautiful young lady who loves a guy, but you were wrong to corner Diesel the way you did the other day before he went on his trip.”
Rebel’s eyes widened. “You saw?”
“I did. As brutal as he was when he told you about Torie, you left him no choice, love.”
“I’m sorry!”
“You owe him the apology. Not me.” Heaving in a breath, Momma said, “I intend to let Kaia go.”
“What? No!”
“It isn’t fair to him, Reb. You want Diesel and—”
“But I don’t see much of Kaia! I’ve either been in the hospital since you hired him or here in LA.”
“I haven’t seen Christopher in several days. That doesn’t mean I want another man.”
“You don’t understand!” Rebel wailed.
“When Christopher left me with Johnnie, Istillwanted your daddy. I loved him whether he was with me or not. That was your observation a little over two hours ago, sweetheart.”
“I didn’t say those exact words,” Rebel grumbled.
Momma lifted a brow.
“I like Kaia. I swear! I want a chance with him.”
“He’s a good guy, sweetheart. He shouldn’t be hurt because of Diesel. You’ll string him along as your second choice. Then when you’re old enough and if Diesel’s available, you’ll leave Kaia in the wind.”
“That isn’t true!” Rebel said wildly. “Diesel’s mybrother.”
Confusion spread across Momma’s face and she snapped her brows together. “He’s your adopted brother,” she reminded Rebel. “And you can’t jerk Diesel’s feelings around either, love.”
“I don’t want to marry Daddy! A man like Daddy.”
Sighing, Momma got to her feet. “Unfortunately, you can’t deny your deepest longing. For you, that’s Diesel.”
Rebel felt as if she were going insane. She longed for Diesel. She’d loved him for so long, but…but…it suddenly feltwrong. The way Momma laid everything out was more effective than Daddy’s shouting and threatening. “Please don’t fire Kaia, Momma. Please. He needs the job.”
“And you want a chance with him.”
Rebel nodded frantically.
“I’ll think about it.” She started for the door and halted. “And tell Diesel that you want a chance with Kaia. Girl-to-girl, that’s the right thing to do.” She squinted. “As long as you’re absolutely sure you don’t want a future with Diesel.”
“He’s my brother and we’re both just like Daddy,” Rebel blurted. “It’s disgusting.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Momma said sadly. “But I’m a romantic.” Lowering her lashes, she shrugged. “Just another way you and Diesel are like Christopher.”
Blinking away tears, Rebel met her mother’s understanding gaze. “I’ll talk to Diesel,” she whispered. “And apologize for everything.”
“And welcome Jana?”
“I don’t know if I can go that far.”
