Free January (Calendar Girl #1) Anthology Anthology by Audrey Carlan Page A

almost too much to bear for someone like me who never had a real family unit myself. It had always been my drunk father, and my baby sister, Maddy, who I spent most of my childhood and teen years raising. Even though I knew Daddy loved us more than anything, he could never stop his gambling or drinking away the memories of what our life had been when Mom was around.
    When we left, Claire made Wes promise to bring me back next Sunday. He agreed. As we made our way to his Jeep, he hugged me to his side and planted a sweet kiss on my lips. “That was fun, you know?”
    I smiled back, warmth filled my heart to bursting. “It was. One of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Thank you for bringing me.”
    He grinned and winked. “Anytime, sweetheart. They liked you.”
    I buckled up and looked out the window as he drove out the gates back down the winding road out of their posh neighborhood.
    “I liked them. Very much. You have a cool family. You’re lucky.”
    His lips turned down into a frown. “What’s your family like?” he asked so softly I could barely hear him over the sound of the wind whipping my hair around.
    Leaning back, I watched the beach in the distance and the waves crashing over the shore. “My sister Maddy is amazing. She’s brilliant. Going to be a scientist. I spent most of my time growing up taking care of her.”
    “Where were your parents?”
    “Parent,” I corrected. His eyes shot to mine briefly. Within them I could see remorse and sadness. Not for himself, but for me. I turned away. “My mom was a showgirl in Vegas. Left my Dad and us girls when I was ten, Maddy only five.”
    Wes worried his thumb nail but kept his eyes on the road. “She never came back?”
    “Nope,” I shook my head. “And because of that, my dad started drinking. A lot. Gambling, even more.”
    He grabbed my hand and twined our fingers together before pulling it against his lips kissing the top of my hand. “Is that why you’re doing what you’re doing?”
    I could’ve lied and told him some made up bullshit story, but that would’ve ruined what we had—the complete and perfect honesty we’d come to rely on in order to make this situation work for us both. Instead of responding, I just nodded.
    “Want to tell me about it?” His tone was soft and pleading.
    It was too soon. I wasn’t ready to share my burden with someone. He was such a good guy he’d just want to fix it. Pay off the debt or something crazy. It’s my problem. My father and my own constant desire to save him. I have to be the one to do this.
    “Will you tell me someday?”
    “Yes,” and that was as much as I could promise for now.
     

Chapter 6
     
    “Wake up, sweetheart,” I heard right before the tingling burn of Wes’s hand met the bare skin of my ass. 
    “Jesus, Christ,” I jumped up grabbing at the comforter to cover my unmentionables. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I yelled.
    I was greeted with a grin instead of an apology. “Come on, get your suit on and some comfy clothes. We’re hitting the beach!” Wes exclaimed, clearly thrilled with the prospect of a new day and visiting the coast.
    He’d been working his ass off the past week. I only saw him late in the evening, excluding one unbearably boring business dinner. Though in the meantime, I’ve had lunch with Jennifer Underwood, the director’s wife on his current movie, and Wes’s mother, Claire. Everyone seems to be taking things in stride. Wes didn’t have a problem with it either. Said it was great I was making new friends while he was busy. He seemed to be more concerned with me being bored all day rather than the potential blurring of any emotional lines by me hanging out with his family and getting close to his coworker’s wife.
    “What do you mean we’re going to the beach? You realize it’s January and cold as hell?” I pulled the comforter over my head and slouched back into the cozy hidey hole it offered.
    I felt the mattress dip, caging me