Erin's Way by Laura Browning Read Free Book Online Page B

she flinched, throwing her hands out to ward him off. “Don’t touch me.”
    Her nostrils flared and her eyes glittered before she turned her face away from him, pressing her palms against the wall behind her. Stoner raked his trembling fingers through his hair. He had forgotten how many nights he had lain awake, worried sick about her. Now, she no sooner came back than it started all over again.
    Jenny came into the room, took one look at Stoner and Erin’s stiff postures, and ordered him out of the room. When he started to protest, she glared at him. “I am doing this only because you’re her father, but she’s an adult, Stoner. You will not stay in here while I examine her, not even while I talk to her.”
    * * * *
    From the corner of her eye, Erin saw the door shut behind Stoner and Evan.
    “Can I get you a glass of water?” Jenny asked.
    Erin sucked a breath into a throat so tight it hurt. She shook her head and whispered, “I shouldn’t have come back. I keep saying that. Maybe I’ll eventually learn my lesson and leave once and for all.” She cast her hand around the room. “The guesthouse is where they’ve put me. Not their home. I’m a guest, not one of them.”
    Erin blinked a couple of times as she absorbed the hurt and let it pass on through. All she had ever wanted from them was their love, their understanding, but how could they understand? Some of the fault lay squarely at her door. She could acknowledge that now, as an adult. She’d kept the real issues hidden, and done a damn fine job of it.
    Jenny sighed, drawing her out of her introspection. Her sister-in-law sat on the edge of one of the twin beds. “It took me a long time to understand your father, Erin. A long time to forgive him. He is a man of very intense, deeply felt emotions.”
    Erin laughed bitterly. “As deep as a chest freezer.”
    Jenny shook her head. “I can’t help you two with those issues, but I can deal with some of yours. Did you take any of the MDMA?”
    “No. I thought about it, pretty seriously.” Something about Jenny gave Erin complete confidence that Jenny would not doubt her. “My boss, Rick, never had a problem with us being a little loose, but I don’t want to keep doing that.”
    “When’s the last time you used anything?”
    “I smoked part of a joint last night right after I landed in Sam’s pasture with my rental car.”
    “Nothing since then? No alcohol, cold medicine, anything?”
    “Nothing.” Erin met her gaze without flinching. Jenny didn’t need to know the mental battle Erin had fought to leave the pills untouched.
    “May I examine you?”
    Erin nodded and submitted to having her pulse, respiration, pupil response, and reflexes tested. When Jenny asked to see the contents of her purse, Erin dumped them out along with her duffel bag. Jenny flicked open the birth control pills and looked at Erin.
    “This is fine for pregnancy prevention, but you should use condoms to protect against disease.”
    Erin snorted. “It’s not an issue. I take them for severe cramps.”
    “But you make your partners use condoms?” Jenny’s concern was evident.
    Erin raised her brows and said again, more slowly, “It’s not an issue. It’s never been an issue. You’re a doctor. Do I need to be clearer than that?”
    “But…?” Jenny shook her head. “Are you telling me you’re a virgin?”
    Erin laughed bitterly. “What? I’m sure my family led you to believe I’d spread my legs for anyone and everyone, right? Just because…” Erin paused, grinding her teeth in frustration. “You know, never mind. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m almost twenty-seven. They won’t change what they think, and I can’t make them. Just…just tell my dad the truth, please. I’m not on anything. I’m exhausted. Last night was the first night in three days I’ve had any sleep… And I didn’t sleep well.”
    “Why the MDMA downstairs then?” Jenny probed, her tawny eyes intent.
    “I thought about it,”