As I pushed off the fence post a hand clasped down on my shoulder. I screamed as I turned around fists flailing.
“Whoa, it’s me” Brayden said smirking, “You want a fist fight now?”
“No, I wanted to say, well, it’s been a tough couple months and I shouldn’t take it out on you and I’m sorry.”
“Wow, did you just say sorry?” He turned toward the trees and hollered, “Maddie Jean, my little sister said sorry!” He turned back to me with a smile on his face, “And I didn’t get it on tape.”
I slapped his arm away from my shoulder, “Oh, shut-up.”
“I’m your brother you know and you can talk to me.”
I shrugged, “Sometimes I need a reminder is all.”
“Obviously.”
“Don’t make me take it back,” I said and nudged him in the ribs.
Brayden grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the house, “Gotta face the music sometime now’s as good a time as any.”
I dragged heel, “Ugh, food sounds disgusting.”
“Well by the looks of you, you could stand to eat.”
“Ha ha so funny.” I stopped dragging my feet and let Brayden drag me inside to dinner and my doom.
I fiddled with my cloth napkin folding and unfolding it. When I grew tired of that I played with my fork and knife. Anything to keep from looking at my dad seated at the head of the table to my right. He was blabbering on about politics and office protocol. When the words preliminary-analysis-investigative-report were uttered I pretty much zoned out.
At the edge of his seat across from me was dutiful Brayden getting as animated with the conversation as our dad. Of course Gram was to my left smiling and nodding along pleased as punch to have her son and grandson around her. Where was Margo with dinner? I wanted out of here and fast.
“What say you?” Gram asked, looking at me.
“Huh?”
“About your brother taking over? Isn’t it wonderful?”
Nodding I forced a smile, “Yeah it’s terrific.” I even threw in the thumbs up for good measure. Brayden rolled his eyes and kicked me under the table.
Did Brayden have to get everything? Including mom’s gorgeous blond hair and dad’s blue eyes? Another reason Brayden annoyed me, I could see both our parents in him. In me? I saw neither of them. Mom couldn’t remember anyone on either her side or dad’s, that had red hair like me. Nor could she say why exactly I ended up with hazel eyes since she had green and dad had blue. If not for all the glorious pictures in my baby book of her spread eagle as she pushed me out, I might not even believe they were my parents.
It sucked.
It’s like they put all their good genes in Brayden and gave me the leftovers. Of course, there was the Jean family sixth sense. I got it, Brayden didn’t. Which, depending on how you looked at it, was either an added reason to be jealous of Brayden, or feel sorry for him.
“Uncle Ollie will be joining us for dinner tomorrow night,” dad said.
“Cool.”
It so wasn’t cool. Yes, the whole reason Gram and I had made this trip was to deliver that box to him but that didn’t mean I was actually prepared to do it. Margo finally showed up with dinner and served us. Steak, baked potato and asparagus. I stared at the food suddenly even less hungry than before if it was possible. I moved my asparagus around with my fork. Thinking about Uncle Ollie made my stomach hurt.
“The Rutherfords invited us to a dinner party next Friday,” dad said around a mouthful of steak.
“Oh, that’s lovely. How is Lily doing?” Gram asked. By the look on Gram’s face she didn’t care for Lily at all.
“You should ring her, mom.”
“Maybe I’ll do that,” Gram replied and chugged her wine.
Rutherfords? Rutherfords didn’t ring any bells. “Who’s that?” I asked.
“Of the Rutherfords,” dad said and swallowed down the last of his whiskey. And now it was all cleared up. I rolled my eyes and took a bite of asparagus. Brayden kicked me under the table again and I squinted an eye at him in warning. Brayden cleared his throat, “They’re like the Rockafellers of oil.”
“So they’re rich?”
“That’s an understatement. They make dad look homeless.
“Now, Brayden,” dad turned to look at me, “if our contract goes through with ACS Inc. then we might give old Barry a run for his billions.”
“Ha, so true dad.”
God what a suck up. Brayden and dad laughed and I stabbed at the potato on my plate. “Awesome,” I said with forced enthusiasm.
“Maddie, you're of the age now where you need to start networking, make connections. Connections get you everywhere,” dad said before taking another bite.
“Okay,” I said and speared my steak.
“Your father’s right sweetie. It ain’t what you know it’s who you know. You remember Taylor Dixon? Your mom’s best friend? That girl barely graduated high school her grades were so bad, yet somehow she lands an editorial position at The Daily Sun right here in Dallas. She only got that job because of you,” Gram said pointing at dad with her fork, “because of her connection to the Scotts.”
“Charlene could charm a snake when she needed to,” dad added. I resented him talking about mom’s charisma as if it were a bad thing. “The Scott name only opens so many doors.”
“Well, lucky for me my photos can speak for themselves.”
“That’s right Gram mentioned something about you changing majors again, photography or something.”
“Art communication with a focus on layout.”
“Where will you apply that?” I couldn’t ignore the condescension in his tone. Whenever the word art came up as a major around my dad he blanched.
“Advertising, editorials, television, the possibilities are endless.”
Dad nodded. “So what you’re saying is that you plan to photograph people in their underwear and call it art?”
Gram was looking at me too.
“No.”
Brayden said, “Come on dad, photographers who take pictures of people in their underwear make a fortune.”
Dad turned to Brayden, “Money or not she’ll be snapping pictures of half-naked people, not respectable.”
“Oh my god there are other things to photograph you know. Maybe I’d get a job with National Geographic. Or go work for an ad agency be responsible for piecing together brochures or—”
“You’re serious about making picture taking your life?”
“Mom said I had an eye—”
“Your mother indulged you too much.”
I threw my napkin on the table and stood. “Mom wanted me to be happy,” with that I left the dining room. There was no way I could take another minute of discussion about me. I stood outside the door, waiting. After a few minutes passed it was obvious no one was coming after me, or cared that I was upset. Tears stung my eyes but I refused to let them fall. If they didn't care then I wouldn’t let them affect me either.
I headed to the staircase figuring seven p.m. wasn’t to early too go to bed. The sooner this week was over the better. Through the picture window I glanced the pool. The pool lights were on flickering under the water like twinkling stars. It was quite inviting. A swim would be better than sleep.
I hurried through the glass doors and down the cobblestone path shucking off my clothing as I went. At the shallow end of the pool I kicked off my ballet flats and sat down on the edge easing my feet into the water. I swirled my toes in the water sending ripples across the water. I closed my eyes and inhaled. The air was warm carrying hay on the breeze. Between the warm water rushing over my feet and the sweet scent in the air all the tension in my shoulders melted away. I would not let dad’s dismissal of my career choice get under my skin.
When I opened my eyes, there he was smiling at me.
It was the gorgeous rider from earlier, swimming towards me. The muscles in his arms flexed with each stroke. My eyes never strayed from his perfect form gliding through the water
. When he got to the steps of the pool he smiled at me. Trails of water glided down over his shoulders and chest wetting me as he made his way past me and out of the pool. My eyes followed the trails of water pausing to admire his back and the two dimples above his ass. His underwear slipped down enough allowing for a perfect view of the top curve of his cheeks.
What a gorgeous, round ass. I wanted to bite it. He was wearing boxer briefs instead of swim trunks. The fabric clung to his skin leaving little to the imagination. He turned around. My mouth fell open.
He was very well …
“See something you like?”
Oh my god I was staring at his junk. I turned away quickly. He laughed. “Don’t worry you’re not the first to admire.” His southern accent was slight, like Brayden’s. Only a few of his words twanged. He must not have grown up in Texas. Maybe a transplant from Wyoming?
I jumped up and turned to him again, “You know they keep spare trunks in the cabana?”
He stopped at a lounge chair, “Would you wear another woman’s underwear?”
“No, that’s gross.”
“Exactly.” He grabbed a towel and started to dry off, “My boys don’t hang in another man’s banana hammock either.” He smirked. “Not that I mind looking, but I don’t want to be a perv either so …” He held another towel out to me.
That’s when I realized I was in my underwear, see through underwear, and instinctively my hands went to cover myself.
“Trust me you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.”
With looks like his I’m certain he’d seen lots like me before, but he hadn’t seen me and I’d like to keep it that way. At least for now. I grabbed the offered towel and wrapped it around myself. Once his towel was firmly wrapped and tucked around his waist he held out a hand, “Jonathan Ryan but you can call me JR.”
I made sure my towel was wrapped tightly too before taking his hand, “Maddie.” Even his hands were beautiful. Large palm that was slightly rough. Long, strong fingers which wrapped around my hand, engulfing it.
“Maddie? Is that short for something?”
“Might be. What’s it to you?”
“It’s nothing to me beyond curiosity.”
Staring into those grey eyes made it hard to think. “Yeah, it’s short for Matilda, and please don’t tell me you like Matilda better than Maddie.”
He laughed. “Oh god no, I had a great aunt named Matilda. She was ugly as a troll. Maddie is much cuter,” he was smiling again, “more fitting for you.”
I rolled my eyes but I couldn’t stop the blush creeping up my neck. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Hmm,” he scratched his chin, “I don’t know. If it was it was pretty bad huh?”
I nodded. “My brother flirts better. Wait that came out wrong.”
He laughed. “It did?”
My face was burning, “No, of course not, we’re not like, I’m not like some redneck who marries her brother or something”
“That’s good,” he said and dropped his towel.
My eyes immediately looked down. I wanted to …
JR snapped his fingers. “Hey, eyes up here.” Damn what a sexy smirk.
I couldn’t meet his eye and instead looked down to the ground engrossed in the cobbled cement there. My entire body was on fire. “If you don’t want people looking maybe you should think about wearing proper swim attire.”
He slipped on his jeans. “Does that go for you too?”
“I’m not nearly as distracting as you are.”
He zipped his fly. His grey eyes on me. “Wait a tick, are you flirting with me?”
“If I were you’d know.”
He slipped his t-shirt over his head, “I was gonna say, I’m not sure I’m your type since I’m not your brother.”
I rolled my eyes, “Shut-up.” Without thinking I slapped his chest. Solid muscle. I held my hand there. Our eyes met. He leaned in exploring my body with his eyes. I swear I saw something flash across his eyes. Desire? Want? Was he going to kiss me? Please let him kiss me.
But he didn’t, instead he pulled away. He put on his boots but didn’t tie them, “G’night Maddie.”
He gave me a lingering look then left. I watched him leave. He looked as good going as he did coming.
By nine a.m. I was up and ready. My hair was doing its best “fuck you” this morning. All frizz and standing at end even hairspray couldn’t tame this mess. That’s what I got for going to bed with wet hair. After another ten minutes of brushing I gave up and pulled my hair back and braided it. Then proceeded to dress into a cute navy-blue sundress and bamboo wedges. I looked good, except for a few strands coming loose from my braid.
As I dabbed on mascara I saw her. There in the corner of the mirror staring at me from the bed was mom. Her blond hair was swept up into a french twist with her infamous chopsticks barely holding it in place. Flyaways everywhere. My mom wore sloppy like couture. My eyes went wide at the sight of her smiling.
“Mom what’s taken you so—”
When I turned around to face her she was gone. I looked back to the mirror but she wasn’t there either. Guess it was just wishful thinking. I went back to my mascara. When I finished getting ready I did one more take of the room.
No mom.
I sighed. Gave myself an awkward smile in the mirror before grabbing my Canon and hanging it around my neck. I snapped a photo of my bed. Then another of my bed framed in the mirror. Then I took a selfie before heading downstairs for breakfast.
My dress fluttered with every step. It was a bit dressy for taking pictures on a ranch in, but it made me look good. I was not trying to impress JR, or anything. I totally wasn’t. He didn’t give off an into me vibe. He was a flirt that was for sure, but I’m sure he flirted with all females. No, dressing up had a way of making me feel better.
With the way the last few weeks were tracking I needed a pick me up. I hadn’t even fully wrapped my head around my mother’s death yet. Maybe I never would. Was she really there with me or was it simply me wishing her there?
Nobody was down in the dining room but three covered trays were sitting on the table. Under one was croissants and danishes, under the second was eggs and sausage and under the third was fresh fruit. I debated the eggs but decided on a cheese danish and banana. My stomach couldn’t handle heavy right now. I poured a glass of juice and sat by myself.
Halfway through my danish Margo showed up. “Miss Maddie, I thought you left with Mrs. Shirley to go shopping?”
“Nope,” I said around a mouthful of danish, “didn’t even know Gram liked to shop.”
“Do you have a dress for the Rutherfords’ gala?”
“I’m not going.” I finished my danish and took a sip of apple juice.
“Your father won’t like that.”
“He won’t even notice I’m not there.”
“Miss Maddie it may not seem like it always, but your daddy loves you very much.” Margo shrugged then held out a pot of coffee, “could you use a cup?”
I nodded through a yawn.
Margo pulled a coffee cup from the china cabinet behind the dining table and set it before me. “Late night?”
“I’m just getting used to the time difference.”
Margo smiled. “Even tired, you look lovely today miss Maddie.”
“Thanks.”
Margo worked for my dad for as long as I could remember and she was very observant. “Hey, Margo do you know if my father hired any new hands?”
Not that I was asking about JR or interested in him. I just wanted to know how long he’d been working on the property. He had to be new because I’m positive I’d never seen him before.
Margo handed me a sugar bowl and creamer boat. “Your father hasn’t hired a new hand in years. After the fiasco with George he decided to let a few go, but never replaced them.”
“George?” I racked my brain trying to put a face to the name, but came up empty.
“Miss Maddie is one of the
hands giving you trouble?”
I didn’t like the way she was staring at me. “No. I was just … ” my face was turning six shades of red I’m sure. I don’t know why I was acting guilty. I didn’t do anything. “It’s, um …” if JR wasn’t supposed to be using the pool I didn’t want to get him in trouble either. “Never mind.”
Margo’s face softened like a light went on or something and she started smiling. “Trust me Miss Maddie everyone around here is far too old for you.”
“What?” my voice reached a new octave, “No! Gross I was just making small talk.” Sheesh. I snapped a picture of Margo making sure to have the flash on. Throw her off as she’d thrown me off.
Margo took the hint. She stopped talking but continued smiling. When she finished topping off the coffee decanter she left me to eat alone. Staring at the empty chairs all around me wasn’t helping the loneliness. I’d finish breakfast outside. I stuffed the banana in a side-pocket on my dress, snapped a picture of the over-the-top-breakfast for one, and headed outside to the stables snapping random pictures as I walked.
My shoes. Snap.
A bird flying off from the juniper bushes, snap.
Nothing was safe from my lens as I made my way down the pebble path to the horse stalls. Horses whinnied and stomped when I approached. There were over twenty stalls in the barn but only about four horses. I snapped a picture of the leather reins and saddles hanging on the wall. Continued past the empty stalls to the first stall with a horse. There a gorgeous brown arabian stuck his head over the stall door and neighed at me. “Hi there handsome,” I said.
He neighed and stomped again, probably wanted a treat. I felt the banana in my pocket, wrong treat for a horse, next time I’d have to grab an apple or some carrots. In a metal basket attached to a pillar by his stall was some alfalfa hay. I grabbed a handful of alfalfa and held it out. The horse was gentle eating the hay from my hand. It tickled. I rubbed the soft fur above his nose. Hay and horse poop filled the air stinging my nose making me sneeze.
“Bless you.”
I looked up, Wesley was walking towards me. “Thanks, never got used to the smell of this place.” Before he could object or get embarrassed I snapped a picture of him.
Southern Seduction Page 45