Taming Clint Westmoreland - Brenda Jackson [56]
She was already in bed, but Clint, his brother and cousins were engaged in a card game. Although she was tired and sleepy, she was determined to stay awake and talk to him. He deserved to know the entire story as to why Kim disliked her so…. Not that it was an excuse for her cousin’s behavior.
Later, Alyssa glanced toward the bedroom door. It opened and Clint walked in. He had removed his jacket and tie, and the two top buttons of his shirt were open. He closed the door behind him and stood leaning against it and stared at her. She knew she owed him an apology. In trying to embarrass her, Kim and Kevin had probably embarrassed him, as well. He hadn’t deserved it, just like he didn’t deserve the predicament that had placed her here, messing up his life as he knew it.
He didn’t say anything. He just continued to stare at her. He hadn’t seemed upset with her during the course of the evening but she couldn’t help wondering if he’d only held his temper in check around his family, and if now, since they were alone, he would let her know how he really felt.
“Why didn’t you tell me the full story?” he finally asked.
Alyssa sighed. There was no need to pretend she didn’t understand what he was asking. “At the time I didn’t think there was a need, Clint,” she said, hoping he understood. “Besides, whenever you spoke of your relatives I could feel the love and warmth all of you shared. It’s not that way in my family.”
He then moved and came closer to the bed and sat on the edge. “Kim really has issues, doesn’t she?”
Alyssa thought that was a nice way of putting it. “Yes. She’d always been the center of attention and when I arrived on the scene it didn’t sit well with her. And later when I found out my grandfather was actually my father, then she—”
“Whoa. Back up,” he said, interrupting. “What do you mean your grandfather was actually your father?”
Alyssa knew that he deserved to know everything. “On his deathbed, the man who I thought was my grandfather confessed to being my father. Before then I’d always thought I was the illegitimate daughter of his dead son, the one who had been a Texas Ranger and had died in the line of duty.”
She paused before continuing. “From what I understand, my grandmother died years ago and my grandfather was a widower who had raised two sons, Todd and Kim’s father, Jessie. When Todd was killed, Grandpa was really torn up about it and went out drinking to drown in his sorrows. That’s the night he had an affair with my mother. She was working as a waitress at the bar. She told him she had gotten pregnant and he provided for my care. When she sent me to live with him, a decision was made to let everyone think I was Todd’s illegitimate daughter. The only person who knew the truth other than Grandpa was Aunt Claudine.”
Clint nodded. “What was the reason that your mother gave you up?”
Alyssa sighed again before answering. “Because she found out that her new boyfriend was trying to come on to me.”
She saw Clint’s face harden at that statement. “And you haven’t seen or heard from her since?” he asked.
“No. And according to Aunt Claudine, she never wrote or asked how I was doing. She no longer cared,” Alyssa said sadly.
The pain she felt whenever she remembered her mother’s denial came back, and she didn’t realize tears were in her eyes until Clint reached out and took his fingertip and wiped one away. “This has been one heck of a night for you,” he said softly. “Go on and get some rest.”
She nodded, still unable to decipher his mood or feelings on what she had told him. Without removing his clothes he stretched out on the bed beside her and held her in his arms. And he stayed there with her until she went to sleep.
Alyssa woke the next morning in bed alone. She couldn’t help wondering what the Westmorelands thought of her. Nor could she help wondering what Clint thought of her, as well. This was the first morning, since they’d begun sleeping together, that he hadn’t woken her with lovemaking.