Chapter Four
And just like that Breeze was back facedown, crying on the bed in her temporary room. She could hardly believe that Seth had admitted to being interested in her and offered to pay Ridge’s debt and set her free, and like an arrogant idiot she walked away. The only thing she’d ever truly owned in her life, truly known was hers, was her pride. Except for when neighbors back home brought by a loaf of bread or a plate of cookies, she’d taken care of herself and Ridge and never, ever taken a handout. She had even become downright feisty in refusing money or clothes or any sort of help from well-meaning neighbors.
Yet Seth … had there ever been a man so incredible, kind, and thoughtful? He truly would’ve paid her debt. That was a huge amount of money and he’d acted like it was nothing. She couldn’t stand the thought of owing him so much.
Not only that, he’d offered to have her come stay at his parents’ house! She looked down at the t-shirt and shorts she’d lived in the past three days. She showered often and tried to stay clean, but it was downright gross to be wearing the same clothes three days going. She couldn’t imagine how much she’d stick out in his family—like a filthy pig in a thoroughbred stallion’s spotless barn stall. Goodness.
She curled onto her side, said her hundredth prayer of the day for protection and strength, and blessedly fell asleep. When she awoke before dawn, she forced herself out of bed and into the shower. She’d showered last night but constantly felt dirty in this house. The shower helped her wake up and feel like she could face the day.
She told herself it was just another day of cooking and cleaning and trying to stay away from Flint and ignore the leering looks from the other gross men, but it felt so much heavier and harder. Why had she rejected Seth’s offer? Oh yeah, her miserable, stupid, high-handed pride. She wanted to rewind last night and beg Seth to pay the debt and take her and Ridge far from here. No. Her brother had made this mess and, somehow, they’d get through it together, like they always did. There was no reason to make herself more miserable and dwell on what she couldn’t have. Seth Jewel was an unrealistic dream.
Dressing in that same t-shirt and shorts, she once again wished that she had other clothes, but she hadn’t originally planned on staying. She bravely walked out of her room and down both flights of stairs. The early morning was her favorite time as most of the men left her alone. They were usually sleeping off whatever drugs and alcohol they’d filled their bodies with the night before.
She started the coffee and then re-cleaned the kitchen and main living area. After cleaning the mess the men had left, she started cooking. It was almost nine when the hungover occupants of the mansion started wandering into the kitchen and grabbing eggs, bacon, pancakes, and fruit off the platters she’d filled with her hard work. Some of them thanked her, more of them seemed to check her out, but thankfully they seemed reluctant to go beyond that. She wondered what Flint may have told them. As long as they stayed away, and Flint didn’t come after her again, she didn’t care. Sadly she knew her illusions of safety were just that.
There was a loud rap on the front door and it sprang open. Breeze had a clear view of the door across the huge open area of the main floor. When she recognized who was standing in the door frame, she dropped a pancake on the floor.
“Seth,” she gasped.
His incredibly welcoming blue eyes swung around the room until he spotted her. He stepped into the entryway, ignoring everyone else, and gestured for her to come to him. Breeze wondered if he didn’t want to turn his back to any of the men on the main level. She wondered why he had come when she’d told him last night that he couldn’t pay her debt. Did he have another idea? Was he going to swoop her off her feet and take her away from here? She’d dreamt about that very thing all night, but she still knew she couldn’t leave Ridge behind.
She had the presence of mind to flip the pancakes off the griddle and unplug it before she wiped her trembling hands on a dishtowel and slowly crossed the room to him.
“You’re Seth Jewel,” she heard one of the men say to Seth before she reached him.
Seth kept his gaze on her and extended his hand. Breeze reached him and clasped his hand. The warmth of his palm and strength of his grip reassured her and helped her stay on her feet. What was his plan? How was she supposed to respond? She’d dreamt all night about a do-over and here it was. Yet could she let down her pride, and in front of all these awful men?
“Seth Jewel, it’s Seth Jewel.” she could hear different men muttering now and some were coming up the stairs from the basement rooms and down the stairs from the upper loft. Those in the kitchen crept closer to the two of them. Apparently, Seth was every bit as famous as Ridge had claimed he was.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
“Y-yes,” she squeaked out. Her mind raced and she wanted throw her arms around his neck and hold him tight and ask him a bunch of questions about his plan and his intentions.
He gave her a reassuring smile and then turned to the man who’d first recognized him. “Yes, I am Seth Jewel. Can you please ask Flint Brooks to come speak with me?”
The man swallowed and nodded. “It’d be a pleasure, sir.”
Breeze hadn’t been aware any of these men knew how to say “sir”.
“Thank you.” Seth looked majestic, and completely out of place here. Though he was tough and famous for his dirt bike and snowmobile skills, he had a natural charm, intelligence, and culture about him that made him stick out. This ultra-appealing combination made Breeze even more certain she wasn’t worthy of him. Her pastor might tell her that she was worthy of every good blessing, but truly, Seth Jewel? That was too much of a blessing for someone in her situation to hope for.
She sensed movement behind them. Turning slightly, she saw four well-built men file into the room and stand behind her and Seth. She recognized his twin, Caleb, first. He gave her a wink and an over-confident grin. The other three men were obviously Seth’s brothers as well: tall, strong, good-looking, sharing the same bright blue eyes and an inherent confidence and class that demanded respect. Though they were dressed casually, she suspected they were usually wearing business suits worth more than her trailer house.
Breeze’s mind was spinning to understand what this all meant. In her Idaho hometown, there were a lot of “good-old boys” who treated a lady with respect and would step in to protect a woman. The Jewel brothers gave her that same feeling, though she knew they were heaps wealthier and more accomplished than any person she’d ever met.
Loud footsteps pounded down the staircase. Breeze gripped Seth’s hand tighter as Flint descended the steps. His gaze darted over them, pausing on their joined hands before focusing completely on Seth. Splaying his hands wide and grinning as if he’d just won the lottery, he reached the main level and said in a booming, obnoxious voice, “Seth Jewel. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Seth tilted his chin up at him. “Flint,” he said, in a level tone that didn’t reflect any of the warmth of Flint’s greeting. “I just found out that my friend Breeze and her brother are working for you.”
“Yeah.” Flint nodded. His gaze traveled lazily over Breeze, as if she were his possession. “Breeze has proven to be quite the—” He licked his lips and dropped his voice, “—worker, If you know what I mean. But from the look of you all coming in here for her, as if she’s some innocent filly, maybe you don’t know quite what I mean yet.” He gave a nasty-jerk wink to her, as if he and Breeze had some inside secret.
Breeze clung tightly to Seth’s hand. She wanted to scream “liar” at Flint for his creepy insinuation. She felt like she was in the middle of a medieval battle, like any sort of upset in balance caused by her would cause Flint to throw a javelin through Seth’s heart and take away her hope of being rescued. A mix of fear and hatred toward Flint boiled within Breeze.
Seth’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t say anything. Did he believe Flint? Breeze had told him that Flint hadn’t tried anything with her, but what if he believed that she was the kind of girl who welcomed that sort of behavior?
Seth released her hand, and her heart dropped with disappointment, but only for a moment. Seth immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his side as if to shield her from Flint. The strength in that arm and his chest brushing against her was a comfort she’d rarely felt.
One of his brothers let out a low growl that made Flint ease back a step as his smile slipped a little. Breeze’s heart leapt. Maybe these impressive men were on her side. She should stand on her own like she always did, but she couldn’t dredge up her pride or turn Seth away right now. She simply wanted to stay close to him, let this incredible man protect her.