I flinch at the term—one that’s bothered me for the past eighteen years or so. “She’s not my anything.”

The icy bite of my words isn’t meant for Willa, but she feels the sting anyway. She goes quiet, slightly fidgeting in her seat. I feel like a total asshole.

“That’s my brother Hugo’s house,” I mumble, trying to change the subject. “He lives there with Spencer. His second wife, Neena, recently pulled a disappearing act on him.”

She nods but doesn’t say anything. I know she’s feeling confused about my lashing out. I owe her an explanation.

“Jamie. Her name’s Jamie.” I let out a heavy sigh. “My dad’s wife.”

“Okay,” she murmurs. “And you don’t like her?”

Not in the least. There was a time when I thought I loved her, but if she could forge a secret relationship with my father behind my back, then love was never a part of our equation.

“She’s my ex-girlfriend.”

This gets her attention. Her head snaps my way. “What?”

“I really, really liked her,” I say as we turn into my driveway, “but she was seeing my dad. It all blew up in a messy as fuck way when she turned up pregnant. She wasn’t even eighteen yet.”

“Wow,” she breathes. “I’m sorry.”

I pull into the garage and hit the button to close us inside. Once the car is turned off, I glance over at her.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you. It’s just a touchy subject with me. My dad…” My voice breaks off as anger seeps in.

“He betrayed you.” She brings my hand to her lips and kisses it. “You didn’t deserve that. You were just a kid.”

Her words are a salve to my heart, softening the edge of the painful bite. Besides my brothers, I’ve spent a lifetime shutting people out. Letting someone—not just anyone, but her—in, feels right.

“Come on. Leave your bag in the car. I’ll show you around and then cook us a couple of steaks.”

We climb out of the vehicle and head inside. She marvels over the décor, smiling as she takes it all in. I know my house is nice, but I don’t ever take the time to appreciate it. Willa takes the time, slowly roving her gaze over every detail.

While I give her a tour of my house, I add in the generic bits about my family history. How the Parks were some of the first settlers in this area long ago and commandeered most of the property, including Park Mountain and the surrounding acreage. I tell her about Grandpa and Jude, Hugo and Spencer, my uncle Theo, and of course the twins. I even tell her about my mother and the gaping hole her death left inside each of us.