Always Mine (The Barrington Billionaires, Book 1) by Ruth Cardello

Author:Ruth Cardello [Cardello, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RCardello LLC
Published: 2015-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Asher knew his father had heard too much by the way he folded his arms across his chest and waited for Asher to explain himself. It was a stance he remembered well from childhood but hadn’t seen in many, many years. “I should go talk to her.”

His father shook his head. “No, you shouldn’t. Not yet. Your mother and I have never gotten involved in your business or your relationships, but we like Emily. Right this moment, I like her a whole hell of a lot more than I like my son. You hurt that girl, and you don’t care. What does that say about you, Asher?”

Asher’s head snapped back beneath the smack of his father’s words. “I refuse to discuss Emily with you.”

His father gave him a long, hard look. “Why? Because you know you’re wrong?”

Anger rose within Asher. “Of course I’m wrong. Everything I do or have ever done in your eyes has been wrong.”

Dale’s face twisted with emotion. “That’s not true.”

Asher held his father’s eyes angrily. There was no use debating what his father would never acknowledge.

His father sighed and shook his head. “They say children are made from the best and the worst of their parents. You can’t see it, Asher, but the reason we butt heads is because you’re too much like me.”

“I’m nothing like you.”

His father raised an eyebrow. “I know what you think of me, Asher. You’ve always thought I’m weak because I let someone tear down my political career. I could explain myself and change what you think of me, but I’m too damn proud. Always have been. Tell me, who does that sound like?”

Most of Asher’s anger dissolved in the face of the raw honesty of their conversation. It was the first time his father had ever addressed the event that had changed all of their lives. “Why didn’t you fight for your career, Dad? Why did you just give up?”

“I fought for what was more important, and I’ve never regretted that decision. Your mother asked me not to take on the one who was spreading lies about me. That’s all you need to know. A strong man takes care of those who need him, even when their needs oppose his own. Be the man I know you can be, Asher. Little Emily doesn’t need a hammer; she needs a good man who will treasure her. If you can’t be that man, I’d like you to go back to Europe until after the auction.”

Asher frowned. “Isn’t tomorrow the start of the mandatory week with Mom? The one none of us can miss?”

An expression he’d rarely seen on his father’s face appeared. It looked like rage. Pain. Before Asher could apologize, Dale rubbed a hand over his temple, then after shaking his head, spoke with controlled anger. “Is that what you consider it? It’s not mandatory, Asher.” He shook his head again and seemed resigned to be disappointed.

Disappointed in me. Always in me.

In a quieter tone Dale added, “Your mother always feels

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