Cold rain mists down on me, and I flip the hood up on my coat. Tears well in my eyes, and this time I make no attempt to keep them from falling. I’m sad, really fucking sad, and it’s mostly my fault.
If I could take everything back, I would. I’d accept the nanny job in good faith and show up to actually do the job I was hired for. Crazy thought, right?
Wiping at my eyes, I enter the nursing home. My feet are sore from walking, and my fingers are cold and numb. I forgot my gloves at Weston’s house as well. They’re in his Jeep, I think.
The entrance of the nursing home opens up to the cafeteria, and right now the smell of coffee and breakfast masks the usual sickening odor of this place. I look around for Dad. He’s not as his regular table, and for a minute, I think he’d been forgotten in his room. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Corbin comes down the hall, pushing Dad in his new chair.
“Ohhh girl,” he says, coming to a screeching halt.
“I know, I know,” I say with a shake of my head. He’s obviously seen my luggage in Dad’s room. “I’ll explain later. I just…I don’t even know.” I push my hood back and sigh. “I can’t right now.”
Corbin cocks an eyebrow. “Well you better, because there’s a gorgeous hunk of man-meat looking for you.”
“What?”
“Some guy named Weston is here.”
“What?” I say again. This is a dream, right? Wes wouldn’t…he couldn’t…
“I told him to wait in the nurses’ station. It’s the least stinky place here.”
“Yeah…good idea,” I say, still in disbelief.
“Aren’t you going to go to him? Because if you don’t want him, I’ll take him.”
Weston is here. He came here for me.
“Scarlet?”
I shake myself and inhale, suddenly nervous. Did he come here to yell at me? No, that doesn’t make sense.
“How do I look?”
“You’ve seen better days,” Corbin says honestly. “But you’re still hot.”
“Thanks.” I wipe my eyes and pull the tie out of my hair. Running my fingers through my messy locks, I hurry down the hall, fingers trembling.
Wes is standing in the nurses’ station with his back to me. The moment I see him, tears spring to my eyes again. He turns as if he can sense me coming.
“Scarlet.”
My name on his lips is the best thing he can say. His brow pinches together with emotion, and he strides forward, long legs bringing him to me. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t question me or raise a finger and start lecturing.
He envelops me in a hug, and I’ve never felt more at home than I do wrapped in his arms. It’s safe. Familiar. Where I’m meant to be.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, fighting back tears.
“I came to find you.”
“Why?”
He runs his hand over my hair and steps back, tipping my chin up. Leaning down, he kisses me, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
“Partly to do that.”
“And the other part?” I slide my hands to his forearms, scared to let go. If I do, he might vanish into a puff of smoke.
“What the hell is going on?” His navy-blue eyes hold back a storm. “You left us.”
As soon as he says it, I realize I did exactly what Daisy did.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, voice breaking. Tears fall like rain, and Wes brings me to his chest, cradling me against him. “I didn’t want to leave, but I had to.”
“Why? Why did you have to leave?”
I sniffle, trying to compose myself. “Daisy came to the house when you were giving Jackson a bath. After he got paint on himself,” I remind Wes. “She threatened to have her sister publish an article in the paper about me that would hurt your chances of winning the election.”
“I knew she did something. She came by thinking you’d convinced me to give her another chance.”
“That was part of her ultimatum, but not even I could go through with that. So I left, and I’m sorry. I just…I couldn’t…”
“It’s okay.”
“No, no, Wes, it’s not. What I did…who I am…” I squeeze my eyes shut.
“So it’s true.” He lets go of me, and my heart falls to the floor. “You really are a con artist.”
I can’t look at him. My heart is already shattered into a million pieces on the floor. If I see the disgust or disappointment in his eyes, my soul might break too.
“Yes.”
“And you took the job thinking you’d be able to con me?”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t.”
I shake my head, hands shaking and breath coming out in huffs.
“Why?”
Lips quivering, I look up at Wes. “I fell in love with you. And Jackson. I think he stole my heart first if I’m being honest. I tried to resist you as long as I could.” He doesn’t say anything back. His jaw tenses, and he looks away. “Do you hate me now?”
“No. Maybe I should, but I don’t.” He takes a step away, bringing his hand to his forehead. “I need some time to think about this.”
“I understand.” I turn to walk away, going back toward Dad’s room to hide from the world.
“Will you come home with me while I think about it?” Wes asks before I get too far.
I whirl around, blinking as if that would make me hear him more clearly. Because I must have misheard.
“Are you sure you want me to come home with you?”
“Yes. I missed you a lot last night. Jackson did too. And I have to work the night shift and could really use a nanny.”
“You still trust me?”
“I don’t know. I think so.”
“That’s fair.” I swallow hard. “I’m not going to scam you.”
“I know. I don’t have much for you to take, anyway.” He gives me a half-smile. “You stayed that first night when you realized I wasn’t a rich doctor. Why?”
I shake my head. “For one, I had nowhere else to go. And from the start, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was something about you and Jackson. You two are the perfect family…and then when I met the rest of your family…” I trail off, eyes filling with tears again. “I’ve wanted a family like that. I didn’t think families like yours actually existed outside of Hallmark movies or fairy tales. You…you made me a better person, Wes. And even if you don’t want anything to do with me ever again, I’ll always be thankful for that.”
Wes takes another step forward, and I can tell he’s fighting against himself not to come any closer.
“Wait,” he says, shaking his head, and I think he’s going to take back the invitation to go home with him. “You left so Daisy wouldn’t publish an article in the paper?”
“Right.”
“What was the plan for after?”
“I don’t know. Hide here and cry until I figured out something better to do.”
Wes frowns, exhaling heavily. He looks so tired and worn.
“Do you want to go get some coffee?” I offer. “You look exhausted.”