by Jordan Marie
I’ll figure it out somehow. I have to.
“Claude, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Cammie exclaims, and it’s a real struggle to keep myself from slapping her. If there was ever a woman in need of someone knocking some sense into her, it’d be Cammie.
“And yet, here I am,” I say with a shrug. I hear Gray snort in the background, but I don’t look at him. If I do, I’ll probably start laughing and I need to at least appear like an adult here. It’d be much easier to control myself if I could just slap her once. Okay, maybe twice. Three times, tops. “Did you want something, Cammie?”
“I was looking for Gray. I was hoping I could meet with him before the press conference this afternoon introduces him as the face of Riverton golf clubs and merchandise,” she says, sounding put-out. “It’s extremely important we present a united front and send this venture out with a bang,” she explains, but honestly, her voice is droning on so I’m tuning her out. I pull the door to my and Gray’s hotel room back to give her room to enter.
“I’m ready, Cammie. Just give me a minute to grab my jacket and tell CC bye.”
“Oh, no rush, Gray. I’m just excited to get this venture underway. With your face and our quality product, our clubs will become a household name,” Cammie says, and Gray turns his back on her and rolls his eyes. I grin. God, I love him. Shit.
“You sure you don’t want to go with us, sweetheart?”
“Of course she doesn’t, Gray. What on Earth would Claude do while we were talking to the press and deep in business? She’d be bored silly,” Cammie interjects.
I stick my tongue out at her. Sadly, the gesture is hid by Gray’s chest as he blocks me. He laughs, though. His hand rest on my hips and he looks at me when he answers Cammie.
“CC is very astute when it comes to business. I can always use her in my corner. I admire her.” The way he stresses the last part of that sentence is like a verbal blow that sails right over Cammie’s head.
“I suppose, but honestly, that little garage that Claude runs can hardly be compared to the millions we are dealing with. I doubt CC could imagine the money this contract between you and Riverton involves.”
I close my eyes and try to count backwards. I shove down the old insecurities which threaten to rise to the forefront. I’m not the innocent little girl that the Riverton’s nearly destroyed—not anymore. I’ve been trying to play nice with Cammie and her father before I had Banger to worry about. Why do I care now? Why am I not lashing out? Habit? Do I still have the fear? Hell, maybe I just don’t care enough to try and defend myself.
“Cammie, do you have any idea how you sound when you talk?” Gray says, and I freeze. I look up at him and I can see anger and frustration on his face, but it’s not directed at me. It’s totally focused on Cammie. Wow…
“What? I’m sorry, Gray, I don’t mean to hurt Claude’s feelings…”
“You’re not,” I interject.
“You do,” Gray says at the same time, and I look up at him again. “Claudia Cooper is one of the smartest, most dependable women I know. I have no doubt she would have no trouble running a Fortune 500 company if she wanted and do it amazingly.”
“Yes, well… I think you might be exaggerating a little, Gray. But maybe we should just agree to disagree and make it to our press conference,” Cammie says.
“You do realize you just made me sound like a Volkswagen or something, right?” I chastise Gray, because honestly, his words blew me away. Unlike Cammie, I don’t think he was trying to get laid or just defend me; I think he truly believes them—and believes in me.
He kisses my forehead and laughs. “Always busting my ass, Cooper. You own my dick now. I think you get that to me, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“To you? So you’re saying other men wouldn’t do the same?”
“Jesus,” he grumbles, shaking his head.
“I think I’ll just meet you at the meeting. I can tell you’re not in the mood to listen to anything logically.”
“No, he’s leaving now,” I tell her, but all my focus is still on Gray.
“I am?”
“Yeah. I’m thinking of calling Apple. Their stocks fell last quarter. I’m going to pull them out of their dark tunnel and show them the light.”
“I’m going to spank your ass when I get back,” he grumbles, giving me a quick kiss and then walking to the door with Cammie following him like an obedient little dog.
“I’ll look forward to it, Lucas.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Cooper,” Gray says over Cammie’s exaggerated huff of breath.
“Go knock ‘em dead and leave me to my financial planning,” I tell him. He winks and then closes the door as they leave. I just stand there watching the door with a sappy look on my face. Then, I do something every teenager does when the boy they like picks them for the prom—or what I imagined they did, because I was never that girl: I run to the bed and jump on it, squealing.
“What are you doing?” I ask Cammie once the press conference is over. It went really well, I suppose. I’m always kind of lost at these things. Since CC, honestly, I’m getting kind of bored with it all. Golf isn’t even fun anymore; it’s a means to an end. When did that start? Once I get this tournament behind me, I think I may take a year off. Hell, maybe I’ll buy that farm across from Blue. Would CC like to live on a farm? Would she be willing to let go of her garage? I could live in Kentucky. I wouldn’t hate it, though it wouldn’t be my first choice. Still, if I get CC in exchange, I could live there happily. Decisions… I need to make some decisions.
“Texting father some information he needs to know. He asks that we meet him in the south banquet room for lunch with the stockholders.”
“I need to get back to CC, then I will. She’s probably hungry, too…”
“Father was called away on business, Gray. Surely you can go make an appearance and then go find CC, right? So they aren’t left alone?”
I frown, wondering if Cammie is up to something, but since she’ll be glued to my side, I figure it’s safe.
“Fine,” I tell her, and I know I sound like a sulking child, but the last thing I want to do is spend more time with Cammie Riverton. I really want to get back to CC. My phone rings and I look down at the number and grin. “I need to take this. It’s my manager,” I tell Cammie, already answering the phone.
“Fine, I’ll meet you over by the door,” she says, but I’m already turning away from her to grab the phone.
“Manager? Fuck that shit,” White says. “I ain’t wiping your ass, doesn’t matter how much the job pays.”
“Always great to hear from you, brother, and the day you have to wipe my ass better be the day they put me in the ground.”
“Same goes. How the hell are you?”
“Great, fucking great.”
“Still pussy-whipped over that sexy piece from Kentucky?”
“Sewn up, signed, sealed, and delivered,” I tell him with a grin.
“It’s nauseating how quickly you’ve fallen. Shit, you’ll be like Green before you know it,” he says. The reminder of my brother and his situation cuts like always.
“That won’t happen. We all know what a piece of work he married. CC is nothing like Marissa.”
“Sure as fuck hope not. You know that bitch had the nerve to ask him for money last week?”
“You’re kidding? He pays a mint in child support. Hell, with what he pays her, I could retire on a beach in Greece living the good life.”
“My words exactly. Well, except the Greece thing. You really need to visit the islands more, little bro.”
“Whatever. Want to tell me why you’re calling?”
“A friendly warning.”
“Warning?”
“Yep. Mom, Petal, and Maggie have all been talking to CC pretty regular.”
“I know. CC really likes them,” I tell him with a grin. In my book, that’s just another sign she’s nothing like Marissa. Marissa couldn’t stand anything about our fam
ily or, fuck, anything in Green’s life, really.
“Yeah, well, they’re coming to Georgia to watch your next tournament.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“I thought that would cheer you up.”
“You sound awful fucking cheerful about it.”
“I’ve got to say, I’m enjoying the idea of you dealing with that crew on your own. Plus, hah, I have the place to myself for the next week.”
“You still mending up okay?” I ask because he fucked his shoulder up bad.
“Yeah, I’m good. Hopefully I’ll get the ‘all clear’ in a week or so.”
I look over and see Cammie looking at me like she’s having a stroke, pointing to her watch. “Listen, bro, I better get going. I have another damn meeting to go to.”
“You’re starting to sound more corporate than easygoing pro. It’s fucking sad, really.”
“Later, White.”
“Later, G. Good luck in Georgia.”
“I don’t need luck. I got this.”
“Whatever,” he says, hanging up. I do the same, putting my phone in my pocket and heading towards Cammie. I actually like that my family is coming. It might be interesting to see how they deal with the Rivertons. Maybe I can get Petal’s little boy to pee on Cammie and her father. CC would enjoy that.
At the thought of my woman, I grin, even as Cammie smiles at me.
“What, did Tarzan forget he had to have a card to make the doors work?” I laugh when there’s pounding on the door. I heard it when I was in the shower and jumped out, wrapping myself in a towel and half-jogging to the door. When he pounds on the door again, I open it. “Really, Gray, give me a minute, I was taking a—” I stop when I look up to see David Riverton standing there. “What are you doing here?” I ask, frozen because he was the last person I expected.
“I can see you are just like your mother. Really, Claudia, this is an upscale hotel. You could at least wear a robe when answering the door.”
“What do you want?”
“I think it’s time we had a talk.”
“I think we said all we had to say to each other when Banger got sick.”
“Apparently not because here you are causing problems yet again.”
“I don’t see how. I’ve barely spoken to you. Now, if you’d be kind enough to leave, Gray will be home in a little while. You’re welcome to return then and talk to him,” I tell him, moving to close the door. I knew I wouldn’t get off that easy when he raises his hand and keeps me from closing it in his face. I’d force the issue, but I’m holding onto the towel with my other hand.
“That’s just it, Claudia. This isn’t a home. This is a hotel. You’re here not because you are a guest of the hotel, but merely because you’re sleeping with a guest. You being here puts your face and your very existence too close for comfort for my business, and that can’t happen. We had a deal. Do I need to remind you?”
I really don’t want to have this conversation. I don’t want to have my air mixing with the likes of David Riverton. Apparently, however, God isn’t looking down deciding I need a freak tornado to swoop down and suck the asshole into another universe. So, I back away. If I have to talk to him, I’m at least doing it with clothes on.
“I remember every detail of our last meeting, daddy dear. I don’t need a refresher course,” I tell him, flippantly going to the bathroom. I jump when I hear the door slam behind me, but luckily, I’m in the bathroom and my reaction is hidden from him. I guess the “daddy” barb struck home. Good.
“I told you to never fucking utter those words. Your slut of a mother trapped me, thinking she could use you as leverage for money.”
Oooh, he cursed! I guess I did score a direct hit.
“Well, I guess you showed her. Oh, wait. You did give her money. Tell me again, how much did you pay my mother to skip town with her mouth shut?”
“Apparently not enough to make sure she took you with her.”
“Yeah, you totally overestimated good old Margaret’s maternal instinct with that one,” I half-joke, coming back through the room with a t-shirt and shorts on. I’m running a towel through my hair, wondering how long it will take before Riverton grows tired and leaves. I really can’t handle him. Today started off so well, too.
“How sad it must be to know that no one really wants you. Even that broken down old biker mostly just put up with you. He felt sorry for you, I suppose.”
And just like that, his words strike like a dagger into the pit of my stomach. David Riverton is a king at knowing exactly how to wound an opponent. It’s how he got to where he is in life.
“I’m not discussing Banger with you. You don’t deserve to even mention his name. If you came here to remind me that I’m the scum beneath your gardener’s fingernails, I got it. I got that message a long time ago, Daddy. I don’t need it again. You’re just wasting your time.”
“I came to tell you that you need to tell Gray you’ve changed your mind and leave him alone and return to Kentucky.”
“What? Why in hell would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, I’ll destroy that damn garage you came and begged me to save years ago.”
“The garage is mine. I paid the last payment on it three years ago,” I tell him—damn proud of that fact. “There’s nothing you can do to it now.”
I’m trying to sound self-assured, but I’m not. The truth is, I’m scared. Riverton has money, and with money comes power. When Banger’s medical expenses were destroying us, we took out a second loan from a high rate lender. They paid off the first part of the medical bills while Banger was in remission. When the cancer came back with a vengeance and we had both loans and more medical bills piling up, I swallowed my pride and bargained with the only thing I had to keep it: the dirty truth. Riverton gave me the money in exchange for my signature on documents stating that I would never reveal the truth about my mother’s sperm donor. I paid off the second loan with the money and have been working like hell to pay off the original loan ever since. I got it done and the place is completely mine, now… I hope. Something in his eyes tells me it’s not going to be that easy.
“You know how I know there’s none of me in you, Claudia?”
“I haven’t grown horns and a pointy tail yet?”
“You didn’t even bother reading the contract that you signed.”
“I did,” I tell him, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.
“The details are always in the fine print. Specifically in this case, the one that says, if at any time I find you are no longer abiding by our terms set forth in the contract that I will demand the entire two hundred and fifty thousand dollars back or you will hand over the deed to the garage.”
His words rob me of air. There’s no way I would have signed that, right? But then again, I think back to when I was a kid who felt like she was drowning. I hated coming to Riverton and I knew that I was going to lose Banger—no matter what I did. I just wanted to make sure he was comfortable. I wanted him… not to worry.
“I… don’t believe you,” I lie. Oh, God. What have I done?
“But I think you do.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve not violated the terms of our agreement.”
“But you have. You’re insinuating yourself into my life and interfering with my business. You’re causing problems for my daughter—my true daughter.”
“I haven’t! I haven’t done anything to Cammie!” I growl, and I hate that I can hear desperation in my voice.
That’s when Riverton plays his trump card and I should have known he had one. He brings out a manila envelope he had under his arm. He opens it up and takes out some photos he had inside, throwing them on the coffee table between us. I lean down and pick one up. It’s a grainy photo obviously taken from a security camera which shows me entering an employee-only entrance at the country club back home. The others show me in the room. There’s even one that shows me turning the sprinklers on. Several others are pictures of Gray and Cammie. I look a
t them and then back up at the monster who fertilized the egg I was unlucky enough to hitch a ride on.
“I think that picture would tell all the story I need. Don’t you?”
“Get out,” I tell him, my voice quiet as the implications of what this could mean settle upon me.
“I’ll expect you to disappear from Grayson Lucas’s life before the tournament in Georgia next week,” he says calmly, gathering up the photos.
“You can’t make me do that.”
“I thought that would be your answer, so here’s your official notice. I foreclose on your garage at the end of the month, unless it’s paid in full. I hope being Lucas’s whore is worth your garage, CC, because that’s all you are. Men never pick women like you permanently. I had to explain that to your mother, too.”
“Get the fuck out of here!” I yell, grabbing wildly and throwing something from the table at him. I shouldn’t have bothered because once he has the photos, he’s gone, leaving only the foreclosure papers and likely feeling secure in the knowledge that he’s destroyed my world.
What do I do now?
“You okay, Cooper?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t know if you realize this, but you’ve barely said two words.”
“I’m just eating, Gray.”
“Really? Because all your food still seems to be on your plate.”
“Okay, fine,” she sighs, pushing her plate around. “Some things came up at home today and I need to get back and try to figure them out.”
“Well, that’s clear as mud.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” she says with another sigh. I study her face. She looks so lost. I want to shake her for not letting me in.
“Try me.”
“The shop. It… appears there was a problem with the loan, and instead of having it paid off, there’s an… an outstanding balance now.”
“Let me pay it.”
“Gray!”
“What? I have it, and the garage is important to you. I can pay it. Problem solved.”
“No. Problem is not solved. I’ll deal with it. We’re going back to Kentucky tomorrow anyway.”