Page 42 of Worth Loving
“I don’t need anyone to hold my hand,” she argued.
“Really? How long did it take you to decide if you should get a taxi or an Uber here?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. Willow didn’t drive. She never got her license. She didn’t like public transportation either. His parents had drivers at their disposal and that was how Willowwas used to living. He was surprised she’d managed to get here as it was. Probably flew.
“I got an Uber when I didn’t see any taxis waiting outside the airport,” she said, lifting her chin again.
“Didn’t expect or plan on any of that, did you?”
“No,” she said, putting her chin down.
“Do you even know how to register for culinary school?”
“I thought you could help me.”
“No,” he said again. There was a reason his grandfather controlled her, because she let him. And she enjoyed it even though she insisted she didn’t.
“Why?” she asked, stomping her foot and crossing her arms.
“Because at your age you should be able to do simple things like this on your own. You’re sick and tired of everyone telling you what to do, but you need them to do it. I’m not them, I never will be. If you want to be free of it, then you better learn to stand on your own two feet.”
Her bottom lip wobbled a little. “Can’t you show me?”
“Willow,” he said. “This is nuts. You aren’t ten. You’re a full-grown adult.”
“That’s right and I made it here.”
“Fine, you can stay for a few days to cool off and then you need to make other plans.” He’d grabbed a bottle of water, then slammed the door to his room louder than necessary and hoped to hell he didn’t wake his kid up.
He was so pissed off, he hadn’t even gone upstairs to check on his son.
Once the house was quiet and he knew he wouldn’t run into Willow again, he snuck up, saw Jonah content with not a care in the world, the light on under the door in the spare room, but it was quiet and he went back to his bed.
And here he was at six in the morning being woken up because she was slamming cabinets while she tried to figure out where to put things.
Again, not even caring that there was a child sleeping above her.
Then he realized she wasn’t doing that. “Are you rearranging my kitchen?”
“It doesn’t flow properly,” Willow said. “I should know. I have a degree in interior design. This whole place could use a woman’s touch.”
“You’re going to piss me off,” he snarled.
“Fine. I’ll figure out where they go and put them away. So, what are we doing today?”
He just stared at her. “I don’t know whatyou’redoing, but I’ve got a job.”
“You own the place. You can take off any time you want,” she argued. “Take me around and show me your city.”
His head swiveled as he looked around the place hoping to find an answer on the wall of what to say to his impulsive sister. “It’s not my city. If you want to explore, then call an Uber. Look up things on your phone to entertain you. Or better yet, maybe spend some time with your damn nephew while you’re here. He doesn’t even know you.”
“I sent him gifts all the time.”
His lips were twitching. “He doesn’t care about those things.”
“All kids do.”
“No, you did. I’ve got to work in a few hours. End of story. Carly will be here with Jonah, but you could stay and get to know him. Or not. You do what you want anyway.”
