“I’m just glad you’re willing to give us the benefit of the doubt.”
“I’m trying to remember not to judge everyone based on my mother and father’s example. They were two peas in a pod with friends to match. When I was little, I thought everyone was like them. I didn’t know that other kids had parents who took care of them and loved them. When I started working odd jobs, I realized there were kind people in the world. I had a hard time finding work. No one wanted to hire a scrawny, underage kid. A lady who owned a Chinese restaurant let me wash dishes for cash and food. Whatever day I showed up, as many days as I’d show up, she let me work. She made all the difference in the world sometimes. When Justin was a tiny baby, I’d bring him with me. She’d sing to him in Mandarin while I washed dishes and mopped the floor. She taught me how to take care of him properly. Later, she helped me get the job at the garage keeping books. Any time she heard of an odd job here or there, she’d send it my way. I met more nice people along the way.”
She sighed. God, she was so tired. “Sometimes I go with my first instinct that people are generally bad. I’m sorry I did that with you. It wasn’t meant to hurt you so much as it was to protect Justin and myself.”
“Fair enough,” Grandpa agreed. “You’re smart and capable. I imagine your skill at sizing up a person’s character comes in handy, living and working in the city.”
“You mean in the neighborhoods most people avoid if they can help it.”
“Right.”
“So, you don’t mind that someone who works for you is interested in me?”
“Blake is as good a man as I’ve ever known. I wish Ron had turned out to be even a quarter of what Blake is for my daughter’s sake. For your sake.”
“Well, that’s saying something.”
“I won’t interfere if seeing him is what you want. But understand this, I’ve made it clear to every man on this ranch that this is your home. They are to keep their distance and act professional when you’re around. If you want to get to know Blake, or one of the other men better, you hold the power and their job in your hands. If they make you unhappy, or look at you the wrong way, I’ll oust them from this land. If God forbid one of them hurts you, they’ll leave this place full of lead.”
Wow, no one had ever been that protective of her. She kind of liked it. But she didn’t like knowing that if she dated Blake and it didn’t work out, he’d lose his job and his home. Her grandparents were like family to him. She didn’t want to be responsible for him losing so much. She needed to process and think about her grandfather’s words.
No matter what Blake was or wasn’t to her, he wasn’t her priority. She needed to get Justin settled in school. She needed to find her footing here. Grandma Dee had been right. Gillian needed time to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
She wished she could think through the pain and breathe without suffocating on her past.
Chapter 15
Gillian hadn’t really paid attention to the quaint town of Crystal Creek when they’d driven through the first time. She’d been focused on getting to her grandfather’s place and finding the store to get Justin some medicine. Now, she looked around from the front seat of the truck, where she sat between her grandfather and Blake. Justin and Grandma Dee sat in back. No way for her to get back there with the brace on her leg. Both men took up a lot of space, but Blake seemed to invade hers just with his presence beside her. Hyperaware of him, she squirmed, pressing her legs together. She tried not to think of how good he smelled, or how his jeans stretched taught over his thigh muscles.
They drove past the post office and grocery store and turned down First Street. Cute shops lined both sides. People window-shopped and sat on benches next to pots overflowing with vibrant red, white, and blue flowers. Small-town Main Street was alive and well here. Her grandfather found a lucky parking spot outside the general store. Everyone got out. Blake helped her down. Actually, he grabbed her waist, plucked her from the seat, and set her on her feet beside him. He touched his hand to the small of her back and pushed her toward the door. She didn’t mind the good manners, but having him that close did something strange to her insides.
She stepped up onto the sidewalk and stared down the street, drawn to the rumble of a motorcycle idling by the coffee shop.
A man sat with his tattooed arms stretched to the handlebars. The sun brightened his shaggy blonde hair. He turned and looked right at her. Time stopped along with her breath. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out.