He squirmed in his seat. “Well … um … yes … you have worked hard. And I appreciate everything you’ve done to build this business. I will support you, but we’ve got to make sure these reporters don’t scare away our customers.”
“I’m sure it’ll blow over soon,” she assured him, even though there didn’t seem to be a snowball’s chance in Hades of that happening. Reporters thronged her wherever she went, even stooping so low as to set up camp outside her mama’s house the night before last. The whole thing was absurd. All of this because she’d been stupid enough to fall for a movie star. Geez!
Every aspect of her life with Mitchell was being unearthed by reporters. And that bled into her relationship with Christian. She’d even gotten a visit from a representative of the life insurance company that had paid the policy on Mitchell’s death. That’s the part that unnerved her the most. Were they going to demand that she pay back the money? There was no way she could do that. She’d be sunk for life! The long arm of Mitchell’s treachery was with her still.
Christian kept calling and texting, but she’d not responded. She missed him like crazy and regretted that things between them had ended the way they had. Several times, the urge to respond to him was so strong she could almost taste it. But giving him hope that they could build a relationship would be cruel, because there was no way she could live the rest of her life under a microscope. Hopefully, all of this would blow over the moment the reporter sharks caught wind of fresh blood in another direction.
Jordan kept asking to play with Sadie. And several times, he asked when Christian was coming to visit. “He’s teaching me to play catch, Mommy,” he said proudly. Hearing the adoration in Jordan’s voice as he spoke of Christian was salt in the wound. She was grateful Jordan was young. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be tarnished by the ugliness of all that was happening.
As Everly pulled into the carline of the preschool, she surveyed the area hoping there weren’t any reporters present. Otherwise, the school might tell her that Jordan could no longer attend here. The last thing she needed was to have to find him another school right now. As far as she could tell, the coast was clear. Her shoulders relaxed as she moved along the line, waiting her turn. Fifteen minutes later, when she pulled up to the school, Jordan’s preschool teacher approached the car. Everly looked past her to the line of children, waiting for their parents. Where was Jordan? Her heart started to pound as she rolled down the window.
“Hello, Miss Watson.” She smiled politely. “Was there something that you needed?”
“My son,” Everly said, wondering why the woman was asking the obvious.
The young teacher’s smile fell a notch. “He’s not here.”
Alarm splattered over Everly, rendering her weak. “Well, where is he?”
“Mr. Watson picked him up during lunch.”
Everly’s face drained. “What?”
The teacher looked concerned. “I’m sorry, I assumed you knew.”
The words bulldozed over Everly as she shook her head. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she rolled up her window and sped away. Her mind was on fire as she fumbled in her purse for the phone.
Roland answered on the third ring.
“Where’s Jordan,” she demanded, fear rising thick in her throat.
He laughed. “What? No hello? Or how are you? I mean, it’s been what? A week since you got home from your trip?”
“Stop it, Roland. You had no right to take Jordan without my knowledge. Where is he?”
“Take it easy,” he said in a friendly tone, but she caught the blade in his voice. “Jordan’s fine. He’s right here with me. Say hello to your mom.”
“Hi, Mommy,” Jordan chimed.
Tears splashed over Everly’s cheeks. “Hi, honey,” she said, trying to keep the panic out of her voice. “Where are you?”
“Daddy took me to get ice cream! I got strawberry, and it was so, so good.”
Roland came back on the line. “We’re at my place now. Why don’t you join us for dinner? We have much to discuss.”
It was a summons, rather than a request. “I’ll head there now,” she said, determined to get to Jordan as quickly as possible.
“No need to rush, darling,” he said breezily. “Take your time. We’ll be here.”
Her skin crawled. Roland hadn’t called her darling since their divorce. What game was he playing?
“See you soon,” she barked and had almost hung up when she realized Roland was speaking.
“Oh, and by the way, from the looks of the pictures I saw in the rag columns, it looks like you worked up a nice tan in Hawaii. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person.”
The innuendo in his voice turned her stomach sour as she ended the call and threw it back in her purse. She cursed under her breath. The anxiety came a minute later, tightening her throat. She could tell from the smug tone in Roland’s voice that he knew he had the upper hand and was going to use it to his full advantage. How could she have been so stupid? She’d let her guard down with Christian, allowed her heart to overrule her good sense. And now she was going to pay dearly for it. Heaven help her!
Roland was all smiles when he answered the door. Everly pushed past him and rushed into the living room to get to Jordan. He was lying on the sofa with his legs crossed, watching TV. She sat down beside him, relief spilling over her. “Hey, bud.” She ruffled his hair. “How was school today?”
“Okay,” he shrugged, turning his attention back to the TV.
“Let’s get your shoes on. Momaw’s at our house. She’s expecting us to have dinner with her.”
Roland leaned against the door frame, his arms folded, eyes veiled. “You can’t leave.”
The deadly calm tone of his voice left no room for argument, chilling her to the bone. Her instinct was to grab Jordan and get as far away from Roland as she could, but she knew it was crucial to keep her cool. She met his gaze. “I’m sorry. I’ve already made plans with Mama.”
He ignored the comment. “That was an interesting development about Mitchell.” When she didn’t answer, he continued. “I realize now that you went there searching for him. I’m not sure how that makes me feel, actually.”
She couldn’t give a flying flip how it made him feel, but she didn’t say as much. It was hard enough dealing with Roland as it was. No sense adding fuel to the fire. The whole blasted world knew the intimate details of her life, because it was being broadcast on every available media channel. She’d felt so sorry for Christian because his personal life was put under a microscope, and here she was, facing the same thing … because of her association with him. Very ironic. At this rate, she wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the media started broadcasting the status of her bowel movements.
“You should’ve come to me for help. I would’ve helped you search for Mitchell.”
She glanced at Jordan. “I’d rather not talk about this right now.”
“I can only imagine the turmoil it must’ve caused you to know that Mitchell faked his death and was living another life. You finally found him, only to learn that he really was dead.” He shook his head. “Tough luck.”
It was just like Roland to kick her when she was down. “It’s been a long day. And we need to be getting home. My mama’s waiting for us.”
He waved a hand in dismissal. “She’ll be okay. This is important, and we’re going to have our talk. Let’s go in the kitchen.” He looked at Jordan. “Unless you’d rather have the conversation right here.”
She felt like she was being led to the firing squad as she stood. Roland walked beside her. “You look beautiful,” he said, his dark eyes trailing over her. He touched her arm. “You always did look spectacular with a tan.” She sat down and folded her arms tightly over her chest, glaring at him. This was Roland’s little charade. It was up to him to speak first. She assumed Roland would sit across from her and about freaked out when he sat so close their legs were touching. He took her hands in his.
“I’ve missed
you,” he said softly.
She had to fight the urge to laugh in his face. Admittedly, he was a handsome man with his dark eyes and chiseled features, which is what initially drew her to him. But he did nothing for her now. If anything, she was repulsed by him. On the surface, he oozed charisma and charm, but inside he was cold and selfish. She removed her hands from his. “Don’t.”
He scowled. “Don’t what? Talk to my wife?”
“Ex-wife.” Every conversation with Roland was doomed to take a nosedive, so she might as well get all the ugliness out in the open, here and now, and save herself the trouble of tiptoeing around it. “You had no right to go to the school and get Jordan without my knowledge.”
“If I want to pick up my son and take him out for ice cream, then that’s my privilege. We have joint custody, remember?”
Technically Roland was right. But he played that card only when it suited his purpose. There had to be some way she could get through to him—make him understand where she was coming from. Surely he had a shred of decency somewhere in his wretched body. “Roland,” she began, trying hard to keep the anger out of her voice, “I need to know where Jordan is at all times. Please don’t ever do that again.”
His eyes turned to flint. “Yeah, I see how concerned you were about our son when you were in the hot tub with Christian Ross.”
She had the urge to rush at him, claw the smug expression off his face. “That’s none of your business.”
His cold eyes cut into her. “On the contrary, you and Jordan are my primary business.”
“You had no right to send that thug to Hawaii to follow me.”
“And you had no right to take my son to Hawaii without my knowledge.”
“He’s not your son,” she fired back and then regretted it instantly when she saw the fury on his face.
He grabbed her arm. “Let’s get one thing straight. You and Jordan belong to me.”
The ruthless look in his eyes sent a shiver of fear running down her spine. “Roland, you’re hurting me.”
He let go and drew in a labored breath, like he was trying to gain control of his emotions. A second later, he was all charm and smiles again. “I get it. You were upset about my relationship with the other woman. So you went to Hawaii to blow off a little steam and hooked up with Christian Ross. You paid me back. Hit me where it hurts. It’s time to move on and put the past behind us.”
Her jaw dropped. Was he really narcissistic enough to think her relationship with Christian had anything to do with him? Furthermore, his reference to the “other woman” was absurd. There’d been so many women she couldn’t possibly count them all. Even though she knew it was smarter to just keep her mouth shut, the words issued forth nonetheless. “Do you really think you can compare your numerous affairs with my relationship with Christian?” A hysterical laugh bubbled in her throat. To be such a smart attorney, Roland certainly wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to relationships. Then again, he was most likely just toying with her.
He looked puzzled. “Of course. I stepped out on you, so you stepped out on me.”
“You and I aren’t married anymore.” Indignation buzzed through her as she stood. “I don’t owe you a blasted thing.”
Roland’s voice grew silky smooth. “Sit back down and let’s discuss this like rational adults.” His eyes battled with hers. “Please, all I ask is for another five minutes of your time.”
“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth as they resumed their seats.
He leaned forward and brought his fingers to his lips, forming a steeple. Then a look of intense concentration came over his face, like he was collecting his thoughts and about to bequeath her a great gift of knowledge. She’d watched Roland go through this same routine many times, right before he delivered closing remarks to a jury. She wondered if he knew how disgustingly predictable he was.
He cleared his throat, his voice growing reflective. “I know I’ve made my share of mistakes. Done things I regret. But I’ve learned from those mistakes.” His eyes met hers. “I want you to know that you and Jordan are everything to me.” His voice quivered as he reached for her hand. “Everly, I love you and want us to work. Come back to me, I promise it’ll be different this time.”
Roland’s delivery was so over-the-top that Everly felt like she was watching an actor, delivering the final lines of a play. He looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, as if he truly expected her to forgive him on the spot. She just sat there, looking at him.
“Well, say something,” he said, annoyance coating his voice.
“I’m not sure what to say. You and I are divorced.”
His face went slack. “But you must still feel something for me.”
Her neck and shoulders were tense to the point of aching. “No, I don’t.” She looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry. You’re a part of Jordan’s life and must therefore be a part of mine. But as far as the two of us are concerned, there’s nothing there. Any feelings I had for you died a long time ago when you were unfaithful the first time. Since then, there’ve been so many women, I’ve stopped counting.”
He winced.
“I’ve got to get home.”
The mask fell away as malice flashed in his eyes. “Okay, let’s try this another way. There are incriminating pictures of you, plastered all over the place. It wasn’t the smartest move to get tangled up with a movie star who has reporters watching his every move.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I’ve done nothing that I’m ashamed of.” What she could’ve added was that the few precious days she’d spent with Christian had been more real and meaningful to her than all the years she’d been married to Roland. Christian understood her in a way Roland never had, and he was a good person. A deep weariness settled over her, leaving her feeling heartsick. “I don’t know why I’m even trying to explain this to you.” An image of Christian with his contemplative green eyes flashed before her eyes, and she felt such a powerful longing for him that she could hardly stand it. In that moment, she had the distinct impression that she no longer belonged here in South Carolina. Christian’s world—with the lush grounds and salty air—was more genuine than anything she’d ever experienced here. Fate had a funny way of showing her the truth when she least expected it. She’d been so worried that she was making a mistake with Christian—that he might not be the man she thought he was. But sitting here, face to face, with Roland the truth was painfully obvious, like comparing vinyl to supple leather.
Roland continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “And if you ask me, it was rather irresponsible of you to go dilly dallying in a hot tub with some guy you’d only just met, when our son was in the house alone.” He crossed his legs and adjusted the crease on his pants. His expression grew thoughtful. “Let’s examine the evidence, shall we? You take Jordan to Hawaii, without my knowledge. You stay at the home of Christian Ross, whom you’d only just met. A man who, by the way, contributed to his girlfriend’s paralysis and subsequent suicide. And the most damaging piece of evidence … you leave our son alone … in a strange home … while you spend Christmas, frolicking in a hot tub with that man. Doesn’t paint a picture of a very responsible mother.”
Blood rushed to her face.
“I’m just wondering what a judge would think. Don’t get me wrong. The last thing I want to do is to take you to court to get full custody of Jordan. But at the same time, I have an obligation to protect him. You and I both know that he’ll be better off here, with me, where I can keep an eye on him. Of course you’re welcome to stay here too,” he added casually, flicking a piece of lint off his sweater.
She felt like she might have an out-of-body experience as she sprang to her feet. “You’re a horrible person! Stay away from me and my son.” She barged past him.
“Think about it, Everly,” he called after her. “We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. Your decision.”
CHAPTER 16
“Be a good boy for Momaw, okay?” Everly leaned over and kissed the
top of Jordan’s head before reaching for her keys and slinging her purse strap over her shoulder. She was headed to work. Normally, she dropped Jordan off at preschool on her way. However, after what happened with Roland the day before, she decided it would be safer to leave him with her mama. Florence had graciously agreed to come to Everly’s house and stay with Jordan. Everly wasn’t sure how long she would keep Jordan out of preschool. But right now, it seemed to be the only option. She couldn’t risk Roland picking him up from school again. Next time, he might prevent her from seeing Jordan. She shuddered as his threats came rushing back. He was going to fight her for custody of Jordan. And she couldn’t take a chance that he was bluffing. Her only option was to hire an attorney. But she needed to find someone outside of Roland’s influence. She would have to use the money she’d been saving to invest in a fitness center to pay for it. The heaviness of the situation seemed almost too much to bear.
She paused beside Florence, who was standing at the stove making oatmeal. “Thanks again for watching Jordan.”
“Honey, you don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m glad to do it,” Florence said, wiping her hands on a paper towel. “I’m only sorry you’re going through such a hard time.”
The sympathetic look on her mama’s lined face caused tears to well in Everly’s eyes. Hastily, she brushed them away. “I’ll see y’all after while.” She had to turn away before she completely lost it.
“Hey, I know you need to get to work, but do you have a minute?”
Everly nodded.
Florence leaned back against the counter and pushed back a strand of gray hair. Before the cancer, her hair had been the same color as Everly’s, with a sprinkle of gray hairs mixed in. She’d lost it all when she had the chemo and radiation. And when it came back, it was silver. Florence decided to keep it that way for convenience. “I’ve been giving your situation a lot of thought, and I wonder if you’re not making a mistake.”
Love on the Rebound (Hawaii Billionaire Romance) Page 13