Rock Star Billionaire

Leah pushed her chair back, leapt up, and shot out of the room. I heard the front door open and slam shut, and I knew I'd made a big mistake. Riley looked at me and then looked at the hallway before looking back at me.

"Jack, go talk to her, darling," my mother prompted. "Tell her that you're sorry."

"Sorry for what?" I said defensively.

"Sorry for fucking up in such a big way," my brother said in a dry voice. "Even I recognize that."

"Shut up, asshole," I shot back.

"Boys!" my mother shouted. "I will not have that kind of talk around my table!"

"Sorry," we both muttered.

"Jack, go find Leah and tell her that you're sorry you embarrassed her," my mother instructed. "Lincoln, Jessie’s getting the children ready to go home. Go help her. I'll he

lp Riley get settled in her room."

I got up from the table and headed outside. As I stood on the front steps trying to figure out where Leah had gone, I saw movement in the garden. I headed over and found Leah sitting on a bench with her face in her hands. She was crying.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

The silence that followed was deafening.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Leah

I heard Jack approach and then listened to his apology. I wanted to stand up and yell at him and make him feel as terrible as I felt. But I knew that he had only meant to help and that yelling at him would only serve to upset me more. Plus, I didn't want to yell at my boss and find I'd lost my job on top of everything else. So, I said nothing.

"Leah, I really am sorry," Jack said as he sat down next to me. He sat close enough that I could feel the heat from his body, and while everything in me wanted to lean in and feel him pressed against me, I also wanted to run away.

"I know you meant well," I said wiping the tears from my cheeks and offering him a weak smile. "I appreciate the gesture."

"It's not just a gesture," he said as he looked at me. "I really do want to help. I don't want you to stress about having to find a place to live on top of everything else. I know it can't be easy."

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to hide the fact that my life was in shambles.

"I mean, Riley told me a little about what's going on at home and I just …" he trailed off.

"You just see us as a great way to do your charity work, don't you?" I said bitterly as I felt the resentment and anger rising in my throat. How dare he pity me! "Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Yates. I work hard to do the best I can to support my family, and I'm not a charity case to ease your guilt!"

"Leah …" he said holding up a hand to stop me, but I was on a roll. The emotions that had been building reached their peak, and Jack had knocked down the dam that had been holding them back.

"No, you listen to me!" I shouted. "I'm sick and tired of being 'poor Leah,' the girl whose sister ran off and left her with her kid, or the girl whose mother drinks like a fish and burns down the house, or the girl whose brother ran off and became a priest just to avoid having to deal with such a messed up family! I'm sick and tired of it! I want a life that is happy and has some hope of getting better!"

Jack sat next to me, listening calmly as I let loose with a torrent of anger and resentment, and by the time I was done, I was sobbing loudly as all the pain and disappointment flowed out. Jack leaned over and put an arm around me and drew me to him, holding me tightly as I cried.

"It's okay, Leah," he whispered as he rested his chin on top of my head. "Let it all out. It's okay. I understand."

It took me a long time to stop crying, but Jack sat patiently, waiting for the storm to pass and occasionally patting my shoulder as he reminded me that it would all be okay. When I felt like I'd finally cried the last tear, I wiped my face as I sniffled. Jack offered me a handkerchief.

"I didn't know guys still carried these things," I said as I blew my nose.

"My Pop was big on tradition," he said. "Linc and I always got a box of handkerchiefs for our birthdays, and any other holiday, really."

"Wow, how well did that go over?" I said, laughing weakly.

"Not well," he said grimly.