Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

he’l come here. Nothing wil stop him.â€
    Jackson felt his gut tighten. He turned his head slowly, locking his gaze with hers. “He’s in love with you. Damn it, El e.â€
    â€œHe only thinks he is, it’s not the same thing.â€
    â€œYou were taken. You’ve always been taken.â€
    â€œYou never made a move, Jackson.†She jerked her hand away from him and stood, wincing as the wounds pul ed and stretched with her action.

    â€œI went out with him a couple of times and then told him it wasn’t going to work.â€
    â€œThat there was someone else,†he prompted.
    â€œThere wasn’t anyone else,†she denied. “You didn’t want me.â€
    â€œI’ve always wanted you. I moved to Sea Haven for you. Don’t give me a load of crap, El e.†He stood up, too, stepping close, crowding her. “You wanted me on your terms.â€
    â€œYou should have wanted me on any terms,†she snapped. “If I mattered, then the circumstances shouldn’t have.â€
    â€œWhat the hel am I to you, El e? A legacy. Someone your damned house chose for you. You wanted a yes man to go with your little fantasy about seven children and—â€
    â€œHow would you know what I wanted?†she interrupted. “You never took the time to find out. You found out about my family and you just stepped aside. You didn’t want me but you didn’t want anyone else to have me.â€
    â€œSo you go off and put your life in danger? What the hel kind of crap is that? You’re so fucking stubborn, El e. You get your mind set on something and you don’t want to change it for anyone—especial y me.â€
    â€œYou wanted to take over my life.â€
    â€œNo, you thought I wanted to take over your life. I wanted you to see what you were getting into, not what your legacy dictated. I’m not the nice guy your daddy picked out for you. I’m not going to say yes when I don’t think it’s right for us—or for you. You didn’t want that. It’s not political y correct in this day and age with strong women, is it? I’m a throwback to the cave days and you wanted me to change for you.â€
    â€œI just wanted you to want me. The real El e Drake, with her crazy family and her seven children and the house from hel . I wanted you to love that El e Drake. Was that real y wrong for me to want you to want me as I am?â€
    â€œI do love El e Drake, her family and her seven children and even the house from hel . But I’m going to be me, El e, and you’re going to have to accept who I am and the baggage that comes with me.â€
    She threw her hands up into the air. “You think I don’t know you? I know exactly how you think. You’re so damned bossy and you think you know what’s right for me.â€
    â€œFor us.†His eyes glittered down at her as he corrected her. “I want you to argue with me, El e. I don’t mind heated discussions, but I’l be damned if you walk out on me every time you’re pissed.â€
    She gasped. “I didn’t do that.â€
    â€œThe hel you didn’t. I’ve had a lifetime of that and I won’t take it from you. You stand and fight with me, baby. Al or nothing. Do you understand me? You’re not going to have one foot out the door because you don’t like me tel ing you what to do. You’d better make up your mind that I’m your man and then you stick.â€
    â€œI’m not the one with commitment issues,†she snapped. “That would be you.â€
    His eyebrow shot up. “Real y? Because I believe every time I came near you, you ran like a rabbit.â€
    â€œMaybe I needed you to help me face what I’m supposed to do, Jackson. Did you ever once think I might need you? You think you have a difficult time thinking about becoming part of my family and having seven daughters, but has it once, just once, occurred to you it might be difficult for me? I heard your voice and I knew your mind. I’ve walked there, wrapped myself in you and you stil were far from me. You didn’t want me there, inside of you.â€
    â€œDamn it, El e.†He shoved his fingers through his thick, wavy hair. “You saw what they did to me. And there’s my childhood, so different from yours. The torture.†His hand crept to