Jenna sighed.
***
Daisy gave a happy bark as they climbed back into the truck, and Jenna laughed as the dog licked her ear.
“Sit down, dog,” Curt stated firmly, although she saw his quick smile.
She turned to him. “So, that was fun.”
He grunted.
“Much like getting a tooth pulled. I’m sorry about the way they reacted. They had no right to speak to you like that or blame you for Amelia’s death.”
“I knew they felt that way. They’re not entirely wrong, you know.”
She stared at him in surprise. “You didn’t have anything to do with Amelia’s death. It was her fault.”
He just looked over at her for a moment, his face impossible to read.
She decided on a change of subject. “I need to go to the house.”
“No.”
“Curt—”
“No.”
“Will you just listen to me?” she asked with exasperation.
“I’m not taking you there. End of story.”
***
Curt had to work hard to suppress his fury at the look of sadness on her face as she took in the words spray-painted on the locked gates in front of her house.
Murderer.
Die.
Traitor.
He waited for her to say something. To get mad, scared, sad.
Nothing.
Amelia would never have remained silent. She’d have vented her every emotion and then she would have found some way to blame him for everything. Jenna was the opposite. Getting her to open up was difficult and he would have to watch that she didn’t try to take everything on herself.
He spoke briefly to the guard that worked for the firm Hunter had hired. Curt intended to reimburse him for the cost. Over the years, he’d built up a nice portfolio. He wasn’t rich like Jenna’s father, but he certainly had enough to support her, and probably her mother as well.
As he drove down the driveway, he couldn’t believe he’d agreed to bring her here. He’d had no intention of giving in until she’d begged him. And when those big, blue eyes looked at him with such pleading and sorrow, there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do. He’d seen the way her mother’s reaction had affected her. Damn the woman for not being able to see past her own pain. He’d known there had always been some strain between Jenna and her mother but hadn’t known the cause. But now he knew—her mother was a selfish bitch.
Not that he could say that to Jenna. How someone as sweet-natured and caring as she was had come from that viper, he had no idea. But he knew Jenna wouldn’t appreciate him talking badly about her mother, so he kept his mouth shut.
“We’re doing this quickly,” he told her, still feeling like it was a bad idea. “I don’t want anyone seeing you here.”
She nodded tensely as she unlocked the house and turned off the alarm. She walked into the large house, which had always seemed so cold to him. Not that his place was much to speak of. But many hours of thought and money had gone into designing this house, and its interior, and it still felt lifeless.
Growing up, he hadn’t had much. His dad had retired early from the navy due to a back injury and hadn’t been able to work much. His mom had died when he was young. Still, home had been warm, lived in, and happy.