by Kim Law
Which was exactly what she wanted. Not because she hated her, but because she had no use for her. At all.
“I have something for you, Mother,” she said.
“Did you get a buyer already? I heard it was a good open house.” She smiled, the move unnatural-looking. “I’m counting on a top price, so we may not want to take the first offer.”
The whole room had grown quiet. Every single person in the place seemed to be leaning toward them, not to miss a single word.
Joanie practically quivered with excitement. She reached into her bag and pulled out the copy of the will that she’d made. “Actually,” she said. “You won’t be getting any money.”
Joanie slapped the will down on the table. “Unless you sell the bed that was left to you.” She smiled, the expression containing as much love as her mother’s. “That’s all you got.”
“What are you talking about?” Grace jumped from her seat.
The crowd closed in as Grace picked up the papers and started reading. When she got to the good part, she jerked her head up and shook the papers at Joanie. “This is fake,” she shouted. “There was no will. You made this up yourself.”
Joanie shook her head. “Not fake, mother. The house is mine. Should I help you pack your bags?”
“You ungrateful little—”
“Now, now, Ms. Bigbee.” Brian had stepped out from the kitchen. He put an arm around Joanie’s shoulders. “I’m not quite sure what you were about to say there, but I have the feeling it wasn’t going to be too polite. I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
Joanie tried to hide her smile.
“You need to back off, Brian Marshall.”
“No, ma’am. You need to get your purse and get on out of here. I’m afraid you aren’t welcome at this establishment.”
Grace’s cheeks flushed. “Does your mama know how you talk to your customers, boy?”
“My mama taught me everything I know.” He picked up her purse and gripped her by the elbow. “Now let me show you the door.”
The crowd quickly parted, leading a path to the door. When Grace and Brian got there, Grace looked back over her shoulder and spewed. “She always did love you more. That’s why I left. She loved you so much I told her she could deal with you. Told her you were no better than me, though. You just pretend better. You don’t even like these people who’re protecting you.”
The door closed on her as she continued to rant. Brian barred it so she couldn’t come back in.
When he turned to face Joanie, the entire room turned with him.
“You okay?” Brian asked.
She nodded. She actually was. Her mother had it wrong, she was nothing like her. And thanks to GiGi, she hadn’t had to spend the last twenty years of her life with Grace as an example.
Her mother was an idiot. Which explained her issues with men. Certainly not some lame curse Joanie had been teased with her whole life.
She smiled, looking around at all her friends and pulled in a deep, lung-filling breath. She had never been so good.
Now if only Nick would come home. She suddenly wanted to see him very much.
She’d just learned that she did know how to love.
And she wasn’t going to lose her man without a fight.
“Not interested.”
The blunt words caused Nick’s fork to slip and clatter to the gold-trimmed plate in front of him. The intrusive noise echoed in the politely muted dining room, and he gave a tight smile to a frowning woman at a nearby table.
He and Cody had finally managed to catch up with Zack the previous afternoon on his way out of his building, but he’d looked at them both as if seeing two people who looked nearly identical to him—less polished, of course—meant nothing in the world.
Not completely discouraged, they’d left their cell numbers then hung around town for the night, hoping he’d change his mind. They’d been spot-on in waiting because the phone had rung at ten that morning.
“I can do dinner at eight if you want to meet.”
The cryptic words had been most of the conversation, but here they were at the tail end of a meal at one of Atlanta’s finest restaurants, working to convince Zack to visit Sugar Springs. The conversation throughout dinner had been more about the exquisite wine and the medium-rare elk tenderloins than about any of their pasts.
“I hope you’ll reconsider,” Cody said. As dinner had progressed, learning more about Zack’s privileged upbringing, and realizing he had little interest in what had happened to either of them, Cody had shut down. Seeing him now reenter the conversation lightened Nick’s mood. “We’re not talking about moving there, of course,” Cody pointed out. “Just visiting. It’s small, but it’s a good town.”
“Cody spent a year there as a teenager, then came back a few months ago. That’s where I found him.” Nick sorted through a mental list of the town’s highlights that might interest Zack, but crossed each of them off. Not because Nick thought they weren’t good incentives, but because Nick found he had no desire to beg the man to give them a chance. They were all brothers, all equal. Even though Nick and Cody’s upbringing hadn’t been as prestigious, Zack was no better than them. The least they deserved was his respect.
Zack balanced his fork on the edge of his plate and settled his hands together in front of him. “Surely you two don’t think there would be any reason I would want to visit. I’m not seeking long-lost family, and I don’t need to see the backwoods of America to know that Atlanta is where I belong.”
What an ass. Nick hid his irritation as Zack once again dismissed everything about them. “We thought you might enjoy spending some time with us.” Nick shrugged. Nick had to return to Nashville, but he hoped to be back in Sugar Springs permanently soon. Assuming Joanie didn’t thwart his plans. “Get to know us a little. We are your biological brothers, after all.”
Zack peered at them both for two seconds before lifting his hand to a passing waiter. “Check please.” He turned back to the table, his tone that of mild tolerance. “Forgive me if I don’t have the same interest in jumping into some forced brother bonding that I can see you two have become quite good at.”
Nick glanced at Cody and was taken aback at the anger he saw there. Cody had checked out. Nick couldn’t blame him. If he wasn’t so groomed to beg for love—
His thoughts came to a screeching halt. Groomed to beg for love? Did he really think that of himself?
He thought through all the times as a child he’d done whatever he thought would please his mother, trying to get her attention, hoping she’d do something that implied she loved him. In reality, she was a drunk and only cared if he cleaned up her vomit and brought her beer.
Suddenly, he didn’t feel guilty about leaving her the way he had. He’d done nothing wrong. If he hadn’t left, who knows how screwed up he’d be by now.
Then he thought about Joanie. She hadn’t wanted to date him in the first place and yet, he’d done everything he could to force just that. Had that been him begging yet again? Close to it, probably, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t fallen in love with her along the way.
Dinner was over. He and Cody did not need this crap. He pulled his wallet out but Zack held up a hand. “Let me. It was, after all, my suggestion to dine here.”
Zack pulled his own wallet from the inside pocket of his sports jacket, a gold crest pressed into the soft, black leather, and withdrew some bills. He threw down three hundreds and rose before either of them could say anything else.
“Gentlemen.” Zack dipped his head but didn’t offer to shake hands. “It was interesting meeting you. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
With that he walked away, leaving Nick and Cody sitting at the table, staring at the asshole’s hundred dollar bills tossed carelessly on the table. Irritation threatened to erupt into what Nick was certain wouldn’t be appropriate behavior in the trendy restaurant.
Cody picked up the bottle of wine and emptied it into Nick’s glass. “I’ve got to drive, but no ne
ed letting this go to waste. It cost too damned much. Drink up, brother.”
Nick picked up his glass and waved a silent toast, then chugged it as if it were a cheap bottle of beer. He managed to keep the belch inside, though. When finished, he looked at Cody. “Sorry I offered to buy you a kitchen.” They were family without need of anything else. “You’ll be getting a blender. If you ever want to upgrade, though, give me a call. I’ll be glad to lend a helping hand.”
A fast smile covered Cody’s face. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. That’s what brothers do for each other.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Joanie sucked the thick chocolate shake through her straw, and enjoyed the feel of the warm water bubbling on her feet. She and Lee Ann had gotten shakes and come over to the salon for pedicures. She should probably be at the store preparing cupcakes for the coming week, but she’d been unable to focus since waking up that morning.
She’d stayed at the Barn again last night, wanting to surprise Nick when he returned, but he hadn’t come home. Lee Ann had confirmed he and Cody had arrived back in town sometime after midnight. Their brother hadn’t been interested in getting to know them, and Nick had stayed at Cody’s instead of coming to her. Joanie didn’t quite know what to make of that.
Worry had her chewing on her lip. Had she pushed him away too many times?
“Did you talk to Nick today?” she asked Lee Ann, who had her head leaned back and looked as if she was almost asleep. Her shake tilted at a dangerous angle. She’d admitted earlier that Cody had snuck over to the house for a while after the guys had gotten in last night.
“No.” Lee Ann yawned. She lifted her cup and took a drink. “Cody said he said something about a job he had to take care of.”
“Okay.” Joanie let out a nervous little breath and caught Linda Sue smiling up at her from where she sat at her feet. The new girl, Katy, was taking care of Lee Ann, and gave her a sweet grin, too. Whatever was said there today would be out on the streets before she even left the building.
“Anyone know if Grace left yesterday?” she asked, not caring who answered, but certain at least one of them would know.
Lee Ann nodded, but didn’t open her eyes.
Linda Sue spoke up, “Brian saw her drive away about thirty minutes after he kicked her out of the diner. I heard he went out the back when no one was looking so he could keep an eye on her. Wanted to make sure she left town.” She sighed. “Isn’t he the greatest?”
Joanie had to laugh. Brian had so many of the women twisted around his little finger. He was the greatest if you didn’t get your heart involved. But he was the best kind of friend a person could ask for.
“Don’t go there, Linda Sue,” Joanie warned. “You don’t want to try to tame that.”
Linda Sue giggled and waved her hand. “Oh, honey. I’m aware of that. He went out with my sister once. But man, you should have heard her talk about him before he dumped her. Sweet Jesus, the things she said that man could do.”
The door chimed. “The things who can do?” the newcomer asked.
Gina Gregory walked to the back of the salon and took in the four of them. Her eyes scanned over Lee Ann’s comatose state, Katy working furiously to do a good job, Linda Sue fanning herself over thoughts of Brian, then stopped on Joanie.
Terrific. Gina had been pissed off at her for weeks. Wonder what she wanted now.
“We were talking about Brian,” Linda Sue answered. “About the things he can do.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Gina grinned. “I could probably add a few items to that list.”
Sheesh. The guy had slept with everyone.
The five of them talked for several more minutes about Brian and a couple other men the ladies enjoyed looking at, then Gina turned to Joanie. “I heard there was a commotion at the diner yesterday that I missed.”
“No commotion,” Joanie said. “Just kicking my mother out of town.”
“That’s what I heard.” She reached into her oversize purse and pulled out a small, but sizeable enough wad of cash. “Bert asked me to drop this off to you. It’s your winnings. Apparently you were the only one who thought we’d get rid of her that soon.”
Joanie leaned forward and took the cash. She would gladly accept the money.
“Course, I told him it seemed unfair to me. What with you having that will and all. Seems you had a leg up.”
“Nothing says that’s against the rules.”
“Hmph.” Gina puckered her full lips. “Just don’t seem fair, is all I’m saying.”
She lowered herself into the remaining pedicure chair, looking for all the world as if she was going to stick around for a while, and Linda Sue returned to Joanie’s toes. Conversation resumed about any and everything. When it turned to Joanie and Nick, they all seemed overly interested.
“So what exactly is going on with you two?” Gina asked.
“You still can’t have him, Gina,” Lee Ann good-naturedly warned the woman off.
“I never said I wanted him.”
Everyone but Gina laughed.
“Like you didn’t want Cody, either?” Lee Ann added, teasingly.
“Geez Louise,” Gina finally admitted. “Who could blame me? Those boys are hot.” Gina always called men who were younger than her “boys,” even if it was only by a few years. “So what’s the deal?” She leaned forward and stared pointedly at Joanie. “This gonna work out between you two, or what?”
Every head swung Joanie’s way.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him since he’s been back in town.”
“They had an argument,” Lee Ann supplied. “He stayed with Cody last night.”
“Oh, no.” Linda Sue reached up and patted Joanie’s knee.
“It wasn’t an argument so much,” Joanie began. Yes, it had been. She’d told him she needed time. He hadn’t called her since.
She would tell him differently if she could just find him. She didn’t want time. She just wanted Nick. She also wanted her house. Even if it meant she had to sell Cakes-a-GoGo to pay off a loan.
But she didn’t want to tell these women all that before she told Nick.
“Also heard you had a breakthrough of sorts while at the diner yesterday,” Gina tacked on. “Nick play into that?”
“What breakthrough?”
Everyone quietly watched except for Gina, who continued talking.
“Admit it. You’re going to settle down with him, right? And you figured this out yesterday at the diner, didn’t you?”
“She hasn’t even talked to him yet, Gina,” Linda Sue pointed out. “She can’t know if they’re going to stay together if he left on an argument and they haven’t talked since.”
“They didn’t even talk on the phone all day yesterday,” Lee Ann added.
“Wait,” Joanie said. She held her hand up and looked from one pair of eyes to the next. “Why are you all so interested in what’s going to happen with me and Nick? And why are you so worried about when?”
Every one of them shrugged and said, “Just curious.”
“You all are so full of crap.”
Silence.
Then she remembered the bet. The one where they were all betting on when she would fall victim to the curse.
“Do I mess everything up if I admit I don’t believe in the Bigbee Curse?”
Linda Sue’s eyes grew round while Lee Ann merely broke out in a happy little smile.
“Is there a particular reason why?” Gina asked.
“Nick, perhaps?” added Linda Sue.
Joanie looked from one lady to the other, still confused. “He might play into it.” He had taught her how to love.
Gina squeaked. “And you figured it out yesterday?”
“What in the world does it matter?” Joanie asked. “The bet was for when I would fall victim to the curse. You all lost. There is no curse.”
Lee Ann reached over and put her arm around Joanie’s shoulders, giving her a tight hug. “It was for when you
’d figure out you’re insane about him, sweetie. And that you want him forever.”
Well, hell. She slumped back in her seat, thinking about that one. They’d all figured out she was crazy about Nick before she did? She shook her head and looked at the women in the room.
“I can’t believe you bet on that.” Then again, it was Sugar Springs. “So you all think I should definitely be with Nick?”
Not that their opinions would change her mind. She had every intention of hunting that man down and making him hers. Permanently.
“Even I do,” Gina said. “Though I would prefer if you told me you came to this decision yesterday.”
Ah, Gina had yesterday.
Joanie looked around. “Who has today?”
“Brian.” They all answered.
Hmmm. So, either her friend, or the woman who’d tried to seduce her man.
“What if Nick says no? Is the bet still good?”
They all eyed each other with confused expressions. Finally Katy, who had remained quiet throughout the whole exchange, spoke up. “That’s not going to happen. Have you looked at that man when he’s watching you? He’s a goner.”
Joanie couldn’t stop the smile, and it seemed to spread to every one of the women. Now she just had to find her man.
Her cell phone rang and they all jumped.
“Maybe it’s Nick,” Linda Sue gushed.
Maybe. But no.
“It’s Jane.” Joanie answered, greeting the Realtor.
“So glad I caught you, sugar. We’ve got a deal.”
The milkshake she’d been drinking grew heavy in her stomach. “Already?”
“Yes, aren’t you excited? And it’s a good one.” The woman’s voice was annoying.
Joanie frowned, then caught sight of all the women around her leaning a little closer. No doubt they could hear Jane’s chirpy voice loud and clear. She swiveled in her seat, hoping they’d get the hint and back off. “How much?” she finally asked.