A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [83]
Wilson’s features hardened. “Don’t let you mother intentionally put a wedge between you and Brian by filling your head up with foolishness, Erica.”
“Are you saying Brian didn’t know?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
Her sigh was one of heartfelt relief. She doubted she would have been able to handle it had Brian known and not shared it with her. “I’m leaving now, but I’ll return in the morning to check on Mom. And remember what I said about her heart condition. Dr. Cobb doesn’t want her any more upset than she already is.”
Before her father could say anything else, she moved past him and slipped out of the front door.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Brian didn’t get an answer, he used his key to unlock the door to Erica’s home and immediately entered the security code to shut off the alarm. He then glanced around. Not only did the house look empty, it felt empty, as well.
Deciding to do what he normally did whenever he showed up, which was to make himself at home, he carried his overnight bag into the bedroom and began unpacking.
He had slid off his shoes and was leaving her bedroom in socked feet when he heard Erica’s car. His heart began beating fast. She would see the rental car parked out front and know he was here. Would she ask him to leave or would she be glad to see him? He’d never before had to question what her reaction would be to seeing him.
Knowing she would be coming in through her garage, he moved toward the kitchen and was leaning in the doorway that separated the kitchen from the dining room when she turned the key in the lock and walked inside.
She glanced over at him after closing the door behind her, and for a few moments they just stood there, staring at each other across the room. He couldn’t stop his gaze from roaming over her and the male in him couldn’t help but appreciate what he saw.
His gaze traveled back to her face and he saw she’d been checking him out, too.
As they continued to stare at each other he knew her well enough to know that deep inside she was wrestling with her indecision as to what to do with him. He’d been able to tell by a sudden flash that had appeared her in eyes that she was glad to see him, but was afraid to let herself admit it.
“Why did you come, Brian?” she finally asked.
“I told you I would.”
“Yes, but I thought you’d know…” Her words dragged off and she looked past him to the painting on the wall. The one of the pier on Myrtle Beach. Her chest was rising and falling with every breath she took, and it seemed as if her breathing was labored, as if there were knotted muscles in her chest.
“That you preferred I not come because you didn’t want me here.” He decided to finish for her.
Her gaze snapped back to his as if appalled by his words. “That’s not true. And it isn’t fair for you to say that.”
“Then what is true, Erica?” he asked in a low tone. “And you tell me what’s fair? Is it fair for you to decide that a day we’ve looked forward to for six months is being called off because of something our parents did?”
She stiffened her spine. “You’re deliberately making this difficult.”
“What I’m really trying to do is make it damn impossible,” he said, straightening up his tall frame and slowly moving toward her. “I refuse to allow you to let our parents’ behavior come between us.”
“You don’t understand. I know my mother isn’t the easiest person to get along with, but all she has is me.”
“Fine, be the daughter she needs but don’t be the daughter she knows she can manipulate,” he said, coming to a stop in front of her. “I guess she doesn’t like any of the Lawsons about now, and I can respect that. But what I can’t and won’t accept is you allowing her to poison your mind against me, the man you love and will marry, whether she accepts it or not.”
He reached out and cradled her face in the palms of his hands. “I love you, Erica, and I refuse to let your parents or my mother come between us.”
Brian then lowered his mouth to hers and knew the exact