Rules of Desire: Protecting Erin(21)
“Jared, I—”
Lifting his hand, he effectively cut her off and continued, needing to finish what he had to say. “I never thought you would keep such an important call from us, nor did I think you’d ever keep a potential threat from us. I don’t like the distance this has created between us. It’s out of place. Off. I’m not comfortable with it, and I sure as hell am going to do whatever I can to get rid of it. You’re keeping something from us, but I can see it’s bothering you.”
Erin sighed. “I don’t consider Stark a threat, and I was going to tell you about Wes when I figured out how to tell you without you getting your panties in a bunch.”
He readily admitted that he and his brothers were protective of Erin, her sister, their niece, and their son, but they’d been raised in a town where men protected the women at all costs.
Starting the engine, he paused and met her gaze again. “I know you think that we’re overprotective, but it’s the way we are. That’s never gonna change, baby. And Cramer didn’t come all this way to tell you something he already told you on the phone. Even if he had, that doesn’t explain why he’s still here.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I don’t know why the hell he’s still here. I didn’t even know he was still here until Ace mentioned it!”
They rode in silence for the few minutes it took to drive to the lingerie shop Erin and Rachel owned together.
After putting the SUV in park, he turned off the ignition, staring straight ahead. “There’s something going on there, something you’re keeping to yourself because you think it’ll upset us. We need to know about it. “
Unable to resist, he lifted his head, turning to look at her. “Get whatever is screwing with your head sorted out and talk to me.”
To Jared’s horror, Erin’s eyes welled with tears.
“You don’t trust me!”
Jared couldn’t deny it. “I did. I have to admit my trust is shaken. I’m scared, Erin, and mad as hell. You’ve never kept anything from us before, and a lie of omission is still a lie.”
Erin gasped, her jaw dropping. “Jared!”
Shaking his head, he got out and opened her door, his stomach in knots. “The thought of you having a past with him is bad enough, but your unwillingness to talk about it scares me more than I want to admit.”
She reached for him, and for the first time since meeting her, he avoided her touch, the need to shake her strong enough to unnerve him.
Looking up, he saw Rachel in the front window of the shop, waving frantically.
Forcing a smile, he lifted a hand in return before turning back to his wife. “I’ll get the baby.”
Erin nodded, the fear in her eyes like a knife to his heart. “Jared, I don’t want to hurt you.”
He forced another smile, fear of losing her gripping him by the throat. “I know, baby.”
“Jared, damn it! We need to talk about this.”
“Yes, we do. This isn’t the time or place. That would have been back at the house when we asked you what was going on.”
As soon as they stepped inside the lingerie store, their niece squealed.
“Uncle Jawid!” Theresa, dressed in pink overalls and white shirt with pink trim, raced toward him. Throwing herself against his legs, she jumped excitedly, her curls bobbing. “I wanna see the baby!”
Jared couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. Crouching, he smiled at his beloved niece. “You used to be happy to see me.”
Dutifully, she reached up to touch his cheek, kissing him full on the lips with an exaggerated smacking sound before turning her attention to the baby. “I am, Uncle Jawid.” Poking her lip out in a pout that melted her daddies’ and uncles’ hearts, she leaned against him and reached out to touch William’s tiny fist. “He’s seeping again. Why’s he always seeping?”
Chuckling, Jared licked the cookie crumbs from his lips that Theresa had left behind. “Because he’s growing. He needs to sleep to grow.”
Her eyes went wide. “I have to take a nap because mommy says I’m gwowing.”
Pursing his lips, he adopted a serious expression. “Indeed you are. I think you’ve grown since I saw you the other day.”
“Really?” Turning, Theresa patted her mother’s thigh. “Mommy, Uncle Jawid says I’m bigger!”
As Jared straightened, Rachel reached for William, looking from Jared to Erin and back again. “That’s wonderful, darling. See? If you keep taking a nap when you’re supposed to, and eat all of your vegetables, you’ll keep growing.”