“But it doesn’t matter how much money I earn after the show. I don’t have a lot now. Whatever my grandmother had in her estate went to creditors I didn’t know anything about until she died, and the bulk of my savings has gone to keeping my sister’s lawyer working on her case.” She curled one leg beneath her, shifting positions, not looking at him as she spoke.
He didn’t much care what happened to her arsonist, Corwin-hating sister, but he didn’t blame Lauren for her family’s sins. He’d had enough of being blamed for his own, and he was innocent.
It galled him, though, that the price of fixing her family’s mistakes fell on her shoulders. “Are your parents still building toilets and roads for the poor?”
She grinned. “Yes, they’re still out of the country doing humanitarian work.”
He hesitated about asking his next question then decided what the hell. He wanted to get to know her again, to understand what drove her and why. “That explains why they aren’t here to help now, but what about financial help for your sister’s attorney or for this house? Didn’t they write some huge self-help book?”
She pursed her lips. “They co-wrote a parenting book, and between sales, television appearances and new editions every few years, they earned themselves a huge amount of money. They promptly took their earnings, kept a modest sum to live on and donated the proceeds to charity, something they continue to do yearly. There’s nothing left to help me. And frankly even if there was, I don’t think they’d find my issues outweighed those of the poor.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have thought giving to charity could be a bad thing.” And at the expense of their children, he thought, disgusted.
Lauren shook her head and laughed, a low, dry, humorless sound. “Tell me about it. They believe their money is going for a good cause, whereas my income, earned through a materialistic lifestyle, is expendable. Hence Beth and this house have become my responsibility.” She swept her arm through the air.
He was speechless. She’d stepped up to take care of responsibilities that should rightly belong to her parents. He admired the adult she’d become in light of the obstacles she faced.
“I have enough to cover these repairs, even with the water heater, but it’ll be tight,” she said at last.
“I understand. And I promise to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible.” He’d fix as much as he could himself to save her outside costs, and he’d do it without letting her know. He had plenty of time to spare.
“Thank you for that. And for not judging.” Her smile lit up the room as well as his heart.
It was the first time they’d had a genuine conversation and a swell of emotion filled his chest. He met her gaze and wanted to kiss her. To reassure her that she could rely on him in a way she so obviously couldn’t on anyone else in her life.
He leaned in closer.
She didn’t back away.
And the doorbell rang, breaking the connection between them.
She pulled back, eyeing him warily before heading to answer. Leaving him to dissect the complicated, protective feelings she aroused.
“Where’s my nephew?” a familiar voice bellowed.
Uh-oh.
Uncle Edward was here. Jason didn’t know how he’d found him or why he’d shown up now, but it couldn’t be good news and he didn’t want Lauren greeting the older man alone.
Jason ran to catch up and the three of them converged in the marble entryway.
One look at his uncle and Jason knew something had set him off.
“Hi, Uncle Edward. How’d you get inside?” Jason asked.
“The door was already open, so I let myself in. If she didn’t want visitors, she should’ve locked her door. I always lock mine.”
Jason swallowed hard. The rambling was a sign of his agitation. “Well, I’m surprised to see you here. I’d like you to meet Lauren,” he said, deliberately omitting her last name.
Edward looked her up and down. “She’s a Perkins, isn’t that right?” he asked, running a hand through his hair and making it a mess.
“Well yes, and this is her house you barged into,” Jason reminded his uncle, hoping he’d take the hint and be polite.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Corwin,” Lauren said, extending her hand.
Edward jumped back as if she were poised to attack. “How could you take a job working for a Perkins?” he asked his nephew.
Jason stiffened, mortified on Lauren’s behalf as well as his own. “How did you find out?”