“Oh, sweetie.” Dahlia sighed. “Vaughn’s a grown man. He’s not some stupid kid who is afraid of his parents.”

“Then why won’t he tell me anything real about himself? Sure he’ll talk about his mom and his dad and his freaking grandparents, but God forbid anyone should ask him something real about himself.”

“Why don’t you make him?”

Because I’m afraid if I do, I will fall in love with him.

That was the truth. It had been bubbling up inside of me, trying to force its way to the surface ever since Vaughn’s first rejection of me when we had sex.

I knew if he hadn’t rejected me then, I would have given him a chance.

The girls waited patiently on an answer I was too scared to voice out loud.

When it became clear I had no answer for them, Jess spoke. “What about the other thing he told you? About Vanessa and Jack Devlin?”

Em winced at Jack’s name, and I felt guilty. Had I actually tried to suggest something happen with her and Jack?

More than that, I’d been considering how to reunite Jack with all of us.

Only for the son of a bitch to turn around and stab me in the back.

“It makes no sense.” Dahlia shook her head. “Why on earth would he punch Stu for attacking you and then weasel his way into Vanessa’s pants to get to the inn?”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed at my forehead, feeling the pressure of a sickening headache. “But according to Vaughn, this is their new plan. And Jack’s the willing whore.”

“Cooper will be pissed.” Jess sighed. “I think he wanted to believe that there’s something more behind Jack’s defection.”

“I still think there is. But he’s betraying friends right, left, and center now, and any forgiving feelings I or anyone else might have toward him need to be kept under lock and key. He can’t be trusted. He’s using my sister.” Anger tore through me. “I know Vanessa and I don’t see eye to eye, but she’s still my family. And I don’t want her to get hurt over this.”

“Hurt over what?”

All of our heads whipped around in unison. Vanessa was standing in the sitting room staring at us. We’d been so deep in conversation that we hadn’t even heard her enter the house.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well?”

I looked from her to Jessica, and she read my silent question in my eyes.

“I think we should give them some privacy . . .” My friend stood up, gesturing to Dahlia and Emery.

The three of them got up, hugged me, told me to call them if I needed them, and generally made me thankful for them, before they hustled out of my house, leaving me to tell Vanessa the ugly truth.

Her reaction was to burst into laughter.

I stared at her, stunned.

“What?” She gave me a bitter smile once her amusement died down. “You think a guy like Jack Devlin couldn’t possibly want me for anything else but my connection to that stupid little inn?”

Her insults pricked. “Watch it.”

“No, you watch it. It may be hard for you to understand this but some men like glamorous, beautiful women who know what to do in bed.” She swished her hair over her shoulder with attitude. “Jack Devlin likes the way I get him off, and that’s the reason he’s paying attention to me. Not because of the inn.”

“I’m sure sleeping with you is a bonus.” I attempted to appease her. “But the Devlins are still using you to get to the inn.”

“Is this what your life is?” She looked disgusted. “Are you so bored that you have to make up these little dramas? Is that why you lied and said Stu Devlin attacked you?”

There was really only so much a person could take in one day, and in that moment, realizing how little regard my sister had for me or the business my family had run for generations . . . I lost my shit. “Get. Out.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“Get out!” I yelled, making her flinch. “Gather all of your crap and get out of my house!”

Gobsmacked, Vanessa could only stare at me. “And where am I supposed to go?”

“I could give a flying monkey’s ass! You don’t respect me, you don’t respect this family, and I am done putting up with your shit.” My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath.

My little sister’s lips trembled and I could see the sheen across her eyes as she began to turn on the waterworks. In answer to that I snatched up my car keys and strode past her without looking at her. “You have two hours to get your crap and your butt out of my house. If I come home and you’re still here, I’m calling the sheriff.”

I’d barely arrived at the inn, still shaken from my confrontation with my sister, when the phone in my office rang.

And it was my parents on speakerphone.

“You threw your sister out?” my mother squeaked, appalled.

Vanessa certainly didn’t take long tattling on me.

“Yes.”

“Bailey, we don’t treat family like that,” Mom admonished.

I closed my eyes, searching for calm. Thankfully I sounded pretty in control when I replied, “Yes, well, we also don’t disrespect one another but Vanessa has done that continually since her arrival here.”

“She’s a little temperamental but that doesn’t qualify for eviction.”

“She accused me of lying about Stu Devlin attacking me.”