by Lynn Collins
“Might as well. Selena’s on her way to get me, and you know how that goes. She might get distracted and I’ll be here all-night waiting.” Jesse turned on a 100-watt smile he didn’t feel. He glanced around the nearly empty bar. “Slow night?”
Tina grabbed a bottle out of the cooler and flipped the top off, setting it in front of him with a clunk. “Tuesdays are dead lately. The computer plant up the street is talking about layoffs, so people are staying home. Of course, once they find out if they’re on the chopping block, they’ll be back in, either way. People don’t like uncertainty.”
“I understand. I’m kind of in a period of change, myself.” Jesse twisted the bottle around, peeling off a corner of the label. “I can handle almost anything. But when I know something’s happening, and I don’t know what it is, it’s maddening.”
Tina frowned and scooted her stool over near him. “You got troubles, Jesse? You always seem so put together, so successful. Hell, you’re the poster child for sanity in this place.”
“Sad statement on your patrons.” Selena stood in the doorway, bright sunshine filling the bar for a moment and framing her body.
Jesse smiled; his mother knew how to make an entrance. He knew she felt conflicted, claiming her status as mom of her boys after so many years away. Deep down, Selena was still a Las Vegas-style diva. But she definitely had a heart of gold. Cliché or not. “Hey, Mom. Want one before we go?”
Selena took a deep breath and considered the offer. He thought she took way too long.
“Something wrong?” He put his hand on her back and felt her shaking. “Selena? You’re scaring me.”
She dug in her purse. “I didn’t think she would do this.” She thrust an envelope onto the bar and looked up at Tina. “Get me a beer. I don’t think I can get through this story without some help.”
Tina hurried to pull out a bottle of Selena’s favorite ale. She left the two alone and headed to the other side of the room to her only other customer. The jukebox in the corner started playing an old Patsy Cline song, popular with the older clientele.
He looked at the envelope. “This is from the law offices Taylor uses for the gallery. Don’t tell me they’ve found out about your sordid past.”
“Not funny. Besides, I could pass any background check anyone would run. My ex took care of those types of problems.” She put her hand on his. “Read the letter, then I’ll explain. It will give me time to calm down.”
Jesse opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and quickly scanned the contents. “Wait, they’re firing you? And kicking you off their insurance? How is that even possible? I thought people had a right to some extension of coverage. Some snake name.”
“Cobra coverage. Only if you’ve worked there for a year. I’m still in the probationary period, so I don’t have rights.” Selena took a swig from her beer. “I can’t believe Taylor would do this to me.”
“Taylor fired you? What did you do?” Jesse felt conflicted. Taylor wouldn’t fire Selena without cause, would she? Was this a reaction to their weekend? He didn’t like this one bit.
Selena stared at him, he could see the wheels turning in her head, and finally, she’d made a decision. “I got sick and told her about it.”
“Why would she fire you because you didn’t feel well? What, you were late for a shift? This doesn’t make a bit of sense.” Fire burned in Jesse’s chest. This wasn’t about Selena, it was about him. The girl wouldn’t get away with this; she could ignore him, but she wasn’t going to treat his mom with this lack of respect.
“Jesse, I don’t want James to know. Hell, I didn’t want you to know. I figured I could get this done on my own, but I need that insurance.” Selena took a cigarette pack out of her purse and lit one. The last bastions of the smokers were small dive bars like Alibi.
Dread filled Jesse’s mind as he watched her stall. “Mom, what’s going on?”
She took a puff of the cigarette, stared at it, and then put it out. “Need to stop at least one bad habit.” She tried to smile.
“Mom?”
Selena turned in her chair. “I have breast cancer. I told Taylor yesterday about my condition, and how I needed some time off for the surgery. And today, she dismisses me. I’ve never gotten a ‘Dear Jane, you’re fired’ letter before. Hell, she had to have called her lawyer as soon as I walked out of her office yesterday.”
Jesse’s head spun. He didn’t know what to react to first: his mom’s medical condition or the fact that Taylor had sucker punched her so effectively. He’d thought he was falling in love with her. What an idiot. He should have known. The wealthy think they’re different, and Taylor grew up a spoiled princess in the art world. To her, he had never been anything more than the novelty bull rider who liked to dabble in making pictures.
“I need your help.” Selena had tears falling down her face. “I thought I could do this on my own, but without a job or insurance, I don’t know what to do.”
Jesse pulled his mother into his arms and let her sob. He’d never seen her this upset or out of control. His voice was tight and quiet when he finally responded. “You don’t worry. I’ll talk to Taylor tomorrow and get this all cleared up. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.”
Selena sniffed and leaned away. Her mascara ran down her cheeks, and even in the darkened bar, she looked like a raccoon. “You think she’ll change her mind? Hire me back?”
Jesse brushed a tear off his mother’s face. “I know she will. Now go into the bathroom and fix this…” He waved his hand over his own face. “Then, when you get out, we’ll go to that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. A good meal will make you feel better.”
She laughed. “I might as well eat now while I can. I’ve heard that once the treatments start, I’ll be too tired to eat.”
“Then let’s get you fattened up for the duration.” He kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you through this no problem.”
Selena slipped off her bar stool and clicked toward the bathroom. “You still can’t tell your brother.”
He waited for her to close the door before he took out his phone. He speed-dialed his brother’s number and when the call was answered, he got right to the point. “I need you down here for a family meeting. Bring Lizzie, we might need her. I’ll call Barb and Hunter when I get home tonight.”
“What’s going on?” James’s voice mirrored his own, hard and tight.
Jesse watched the bathroom door, hoping to get off the phone before Selena returned. “Tomorrow. About ten?”
“We’ll be there. Lizzie will call Barb.” James paused and Jesse could hear his brother’s unspoken question: What have you gotten yourself into now, little brother?
He almost wanted to laugh. “See you then.”
Jesse slipped his phone into his jeans pocket and waved Tina over. “What’s our tab? Time for some dinner.”
Tina didn’t even look at the page where she’d written down the beer orders since Jesse walked in. It wasn’t like she’d been swamped with customers for the last thirty minutes. “Twelve dollars.”
He handed her a twenty, and when she walked back with his change, he waved her off. “Yours.”
She smiled and tucked it into the tip jar. “I can always count on you, Mr. Sullivan. Too bad most of the men who come in don’t have your tipping expertise.”
“I just know how it is to sing for your supper, so to speak.” He frowned at the bathroom. Selena was taking too long just to fix her mascara. But then again, she did love her makeup. He smiled at Tina. “How’re classes going? You about done with your degree?”
“One more year, then I’m kissing this place goodbye. My professor says she thinks I can get an internship at one of the accounting firms downtown.” She glanced down at her silver sparkling tank and too-tight jeans. “I’m going to have to upgrade my work wardrobe just a tad.”
“I don’t know about that, dear. You should see the clothes the girls are wearing in the corporate world.” Selena hitched her p
urse up on her shoulder. “You ready to go, cowboy?”
Jesse tipped the brim of his ball cap. “See you next time.”
As they walked out into the bright sunshine, he could have sworn he heard a sigh come from the tough-as-nails bartender. He was really going to have to tread carefully here. He didn’t want to lose his favorite watering hole over girl trouble.
Selena clicked open the doors on her car. “You want to ride with me, or follow?”
He was already opening the door to his truck. “I’ve got an early appointment tomorrow. I’ll follow.”
“Stubborn as the day is long.”
He rolled down his window and leaned out, his arm resting on the doorframe. “Runs in the family.” He motioned to her car. “Go on, I’ll follow you.”
He watched her pull out onto the street that would lead them to the freeway, and eventually, out to Meridian. He clicked on his phone and gave it a verbal command. “Call George.”
George Baxter was part lawyer, part family friend, and a good old boy. Jesse had programmed George’s number into the truck just in case he ever needed him. He thought about how the day was progressing, and today seemed like that kind of day.
As soon as the line was connected, Jesse said, “There’s a family meeting out at the ranch tomorrow first thing. When can you get there?”
George paused and Jesse could hear paper being flipped. “Nine-thirty?”
“Good enough.”
The man on the other end asked, “Can you give me a hint about the problem? An indiscretion? Drunk and disorderly? Hiring a hit man?”
“Employment law and medical disabilities,” Jesse growled.
A pause hung on the other end of the line. “That’s not what I expected.”
“Glad I can keep you guessing.” Jesse turned the truck onto the freeway, stepping on the gas to keep up with his lead-footed mother. “See you tomorrow.”
13
“Definitely not our normal dining establishment.” Mike glared at the waitress dressed in Daisy Dukes and a tied-up flannel shirt, showing both her midriff and cleavage.
Taylor smiled at the reaction and giggled. “I thought all men liked places like this.” The new barbeque restaurant had opened with a flair last month. Taylor had heard the food was amazing, even if the wait staff needed more fabric to their uniforms. When Mike had called an emergency dinner meeting, she’d suggested the place closest to her new gym.
Mike huffed. “Not me. I’d rather see women dressed to leave something to the imagination. When it’s all out on display there’s no mystery.”
“Well, you’re the one who just had to meet me for dinner tonight. My Pilates class starts at eight, so I had to be somewhere nearby if we were going to make this happen.” Taylor glanced at the beer menu, then pushed it away. No need going to exercise tipsy. After the waitress had taken their order and brought her a large water and a cup of herbal tea, she leaned back and looked at her companion. He was staring straight at her, clearly trying not to let his eyes be tempted by the young, buxom women floating around their table.
He took a sip of his whisky. “There really has to be somewhere else we can eat.”
Taylor sighed. “What do you want, Mike? I think we both know that our relationship is purely business casual. There was never any heat between the two of us.”
“That’s not true. Remember that kiss last New Year’s Eve?” He looked like a puppy that just had his favorite chew toy taken away forever.
“Heat of the moment, not real heat.” Taylor sighed. “Look, I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m not interested in anything but a friendship. And if you’re seeing us being more than that, we need to stop being friends.”
“I don’t agree.” He held up his hand to stop Taylor’s next words. “But if that’s how you’re feeling, I won’t push. We’ll just be friends.”
Taylor reached over and patted the top of his hand. “Thank you.”
“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Jesse stood in front of her, staring at her hand on Mike’s. She resisted the urge to jerk it back. Instead, she removed it slowly and put her hand under the table.
“Hi, Jesse. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” Taylor glanced around the room looking for his date. Finally, her eyes landed on Selena, who quickly turned her head. Had she been crying? What was going on?
“Mom asked me not to make a scene, and I won’t, for her sake.” Jesse leaned closer to her, whispering his next words into her ear. “But you and your lawyer buddy aren’t getting away with this. As soon as the ink’s dry on the contract to buy the gallery, you’re out on your pretty little butt.”
Taylor jerked away. “Get away with what? What are you talking about?”
Jesse hadn’t stayed for a response. He was already heading to Selena’s table, his back to Taylor and Mike.
“What was that all about?” Mike asked.
Taylor shook her head, damning the tears filling up behind her eyes. She wouldn’t cry, not here, not in public, and certainly not over Jesse Sullivan. “Nothing.”
“Sounds like the bull rider is high on something. Probably steroids. I hear they’re pretty rampant throughout the circuit.”
She shook her head. “Stop, this isn’t Jesse’s fault.” It’s mine. But she couldn’t tell Mike, a man who was most certainly in love with her, that she’d snuck out of Jesse’s bed this weekend like a prostitute already paid for the deed. “Let’s just eat.”
When she finished her dinner, Jesse and Selena were gone from the dining room. Maybe Selena had changed her mind and told her youngest son about the cancer. Jesse would be a rock for her. She just hoped Selena’s way would be lit brightly and she’d come through the other side healthy and cured.
She picked up her purse and threw a couple twenties down for the waitress.
Mike picked the money up and pushed it back into her hand. “I’ll bill the office. I was going to talk business tonight, but I think it should wait until tomorrow. I’ll stop by the gallery late morning.”
Taylor nodded. “I’ll be there.” She excused herself and turned toward the restroom.
When she returned to the dining room, Mike was gone and the table had already been cleared. She checked her watch and pulled her tote closer. She had five minutes to walk to class and get changed. The way her stomach was rolling, she probably should just skip tonight.
She was still arguing with herself when she saw Jesse leaning against his truck, watching her. Determined, she squared her shoulders, unwilling to go on the defensive. If he wanted to fight, they’d do it on her terms. She pointed a finger at him. “What did you think you were doing in there? Mike is my lawyer, nothing more. And your fight is with me, not him.”
“I beg to differ. His name is on the letter.” Jesse tipped his hat further back on his head. “He’s just as much to blame as you are. Although, I think you’re cold-hearted, from what Selena told me.”
“I am not cold-hearted,” she said, angrily, before his words sunk in. “Wait, what are you talking about? What’s Selena got to do with this?”
He stood up straight, fury burning his cheeks a flame red. And heaven help her, she wanted him. Hot and angry, the boy was as sexy as he had been when he looked at her with lust. Or love. Her brain changed the descriptor without her permission. She took a step forward, but caught herself before she’d gone running into his arms.
He reached into the cab of the truck and grabbed a piece of paper. “Don’t play dumb-blonde with me.” Jesse crumbled the page in his hand. “Are you really that heartless?”
“What’s that?” Taylor tried to see what was written on the page, but Jesse wouldn’t hold still.
“It’s the letter you had your henchman send to fire my mom. What did that cost you? Dinner and some extracurricular activities later tonight?” His gaze flowed up and down her body. “I guess you’re good enough to sell it.”
Any touch of positive emotion she’d felt at seeing Jesse escaped her as his words hit her like a sucker punch. �
�You are nuts. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t care.”
“Of course not. You’re punishing Mom for what went on this weekend. Hell, I would have sworn you were having fun, too.” Jesse didn’t meet her eyes. “At least, until I woke up alone in that hotel room with no note, no goodbye. You could have left some money on the table and at least I would have understood. Or was this all payback from Ontario?”
“I…” Taylor paused. What could she say? I did enjoy myself? I fell in love, so I ran? You’re too good for me? No, there wasn’t anything she could say to redeem her actions that night. She had decided their fate the minute she ran. “I really don’t know why you’re so upset about this. I had to catch an early flight back. Gallery business.”
This time, Jesse looked at her. She felt his eyes burning into her soul, and she almost cringed as she realized he knew the lie. “I called Brit on Sunday. She didn’t know where you were. Unless your gallery business involved spending some one-on-one time with Mikey.”
“It’s not any of your business who I spend time with.” She regretted the words as soon as she said them. Jesse nodded, knowingly. Why wasn’t she just telling him she was confused, that she hid from everyone at the spa? Then the reason hit her: she didn’t want to appear weak. She didn’t want him to know that she needed him. She’d been strong and independent her entire life. Like Selena. Leaning on a man, especially one like Jesse, just wasn’t in the cards for her. She didn’t want to give in to anyone.
“Bingo.” Jesse crumpled the paper in his hand tighter. “I should have seen that coming. Girls like you don’t fall for bull riders. They like their men more metrosexual. They like doctors and… lawyers.” The word spit out of him like a cuss word.
Taylor bit her lip. “Look, we had fun. Can’t we leave it at that?”
For a minute, she thought he was going to try to convince her it wasn’t just fun. He took a half step forward, then sighed and climbed into his truck. “Fair warning, I’m going to destroy you. After we sign the contract for the gallery, you’re out of a job. I’m going to tell every gallery owner in the area how you treat employees. They may hire you, or not. Of course, you always have Mike to take you in.”