by Karen Cimms
The receptionist eyed me hesitantly. “Can I help you?”
“I want to see Preston.”
“If you have a delivery, I can take it.” Given the condition of the flowers, she must have thought I was the worst delivery man ever.
“This is personal. I need to speak with him myself.”
“Which Mr. Jamison?” she asked. “Junior or the third?”
“There’s three of them? Fucking unbelievable. The third, I guess.”
She glared at me and then punched a few numbers into her switchboard.
“Mr. Jamison, there’s a delivery man here to see you . . . No, sir. He said he needs to see you personally.”
She hung up and gave me a smug once-over. “He’ll be right down.”
Good. There would be a witness to what I was about to say.
The jackass kept me waiting a good ten minutes while I paced the lobby, carrying the beat-up roses, which didn’t improve my mood at all. A door opened on the second floor, and Preston appeared behind a glassed-in wall and then descended a flight of open stairs into the lobby.
“Hey, Chance. Am I right?” He held out his hand, greeting me genially, although casting a wary glance at the battered arrangement I held in my arm.
“Save it, Preston.” I shoved the vase into his hands, spilling what remained of the water over his slacks and shoes and sending petals spiraling onto the travertine tile. “The next time you send something to Rain or make a personal delivery to her car, I won’t return it to your office. I’ll bring it directly to your fiancée. Understood?”
“How is this any concern of yours?” he asked, his voice low enough so that the receptionist couldn’t hear him, although given the bent of her body, she was listening intently.
“It’s my fucking concern because she’s my fucking girlfriend, and I want you to stay the hell away from her.”
He reached out to grab my arm, I assume to pull me farther from the front desk, but I raised my hands and stepped back. “I really wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“You? Rain’s boyfriend? You’ve got to be kidding. Since when?”
He laughed, and if there hadn’t been a witness sitting right there, I would have knocked some teeth down his throat.
“Longer than you might think.”
“Oh, really? So when she slept with me last time we were together, she was cheating on you?”
My fist caught his upper lip, cutting my hand in the process. He staggered but was able to right himself before he went down. Several drops of dark red blood dripped from his mouth onto his bright white shirt.
He was smart enough not to fight back, probably for two reasons: one, I was angrier than he was and could inflict a hell of a lot more damage, and two, he didn’t want anyone asking questions. The ruckus had already attracted several bystanders, and the receptionist threatened to call the police.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Valarie,” Preston said. “I think this gentleman is leaving. But if he shows up again,” he announced as I made my way to the door, “you will call the police.”
I issued him a warning as well.
“You stay away from Rain—or next time, it won’t be you I’m coming to see.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
I’d been in bed for a while when Rain came home. The door to the guest room clicked open. She’d stopped to check on Izzy. A few minutes later, I heard water running in the bathroom. Afterwards, she slipped in beside me, put her arm around my waist, and snuggled in, pressing her naked flesh against me. I put my arm over hers, but I didn’t turn around.
“You awake?” she whispered.
“Sort of.”
She giggled, and in spite of how worked up I’d been, I smiled. I loved that laugh.
“How was your day?” she asked, assuming that being “sort of awake” meant I felt like talking.
“Not good.”
“I’m sorry. You want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
She was quiet for few beats, then asked if she’d done anything wrong.
“No,” I said, but because I was a fool, I added, “not really.”
“‘Not really’ isn’t the same as no. What did I do?”
“It’s fine, Rain. Let’s just forget it.”
She sat up and turned on the light. I groaned. I should have just kept my mouth shut.
I rolled over and squinted up at her and those perfect tits.
“Jesus, cover up. I can’t argue with you while you’re sitting there naked.”
“Now we’re arguing? We went from zero to sixty in less than ten seconds. You want to tell me what the hell I did?”
“I said you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You said ‘not really.’ That means something.”
“Lower your voice or you’ll wake Izzy.”
“You’re pissed. You’re wearing pajamas.”
“I was cold.”
“You never wear pajamas.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Liar.”
“Now you’re pissing me off.” I rolled away from her and pulled the covers up.
“What the hell happened to your hand?” She grabbed my wrist.
“Nothing.”
“You were in a fight.”
“Go to sleep, Rain. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
“The hell we will. We’ll talk about it now.”
I huffed loudly and rolled over again. “I had a fight with my brother—”
“You hit your brother?”
I glared up at her, trying to avoid her breasts. “Would you let me finish?”
By the set of her jaw, I knew I was pissing her off. I was pretty fucking pissed myself.
“Afterward, I left work early and I went to your place to pick up Harvey.” Who I’d forgotten anyway. “And I found a bunch of roses sitting on the kitchen table with a card that read, ‘One for every month I’ve loved you. Missing you.’ And signed with a big, fat ‘P.’ I called your mother and she thought they were from me, so she put them in your apartment.”
“I didn’t see any flowers.” Her jaw was so tight I was surprised she could speak. “What did you do with them?”
“I undelivered them.”
“What?”
“I undelivered them. And I told him the next time he sends you something or leaves a fucking note on your car, I would undeliver them to his fiancée.”
Her eyes widened.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the notes?”
“Because I didn’t want you to get upset. I threw them away. How did you find out? The only person I told was—” She shook her head and frowned. “Wally, right?”
“Yep.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I trust you, and I figured you didn’t tell me for the exact same reason you said. Although you know, for as much as you cared about him, part of me still has to wonder—”
She leaned over and kissed me. Every time I tried to speak, she did it again until I seemed appropriately silent.
“Let’s get a few things straight,” she said. “I’m nuts about you. Okay?”
I nodded.
“Also, you shouldn’t open my mail or my deliveries, but in this case, I understand and I forgive you. But it’s not okay to go over there. Please tell me you didn’t hit him.”
She wasn’t the only one who could set her mouth in a tight, thin line.
“Chase!”
“Why? Do you care what happens to him?”
“No. But I care what happens to you. Didn’t you think he might have you arrested or sue you for damages or something?”
“Yeah, which is why I didn’t throw the fucking vase through the windshield of his Corvette.”
“Oh, baby.” She climbed on top of me and pulled my undershirt up over my head. “I love that you’re defending my honor and going around beating people up for me, I do, but you don’t have to. You’re all that matters. Preston can send me all the
flowers and jewelry he wants, and it won’t change a thing. I don’t want him back. I’ve been happier in these past couple months than I’ve been in my entire life.” She kissed my neck and started working her way down my chest. “I mean that.”
“Jewelry? He sent you jewelry?”
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“What do you mean, ‘not really’?”
She sighed and sat up again. “A few days before he and Suzanne got engaged, he showed up at my place late at night. First he asked me to marry him, which was a desperate, bullshit move on his part, and then he begged me not to shut him out. He gave me all the same lame excuses he’s been giving me since I found out about Suzanne. I told him not to bother me anymore, but he got upset and he made me feel guilty—”
“He made you feel guilty?” I snorted. “That’s rich.” I couldn’t believe I was hearing this.
“Yes, I felt bad, but I told him it was over. I was pretty sure I wanted it to be over, even if he had ended it with her.” She drew her finger down my chest and smiled. “You see, I’d met this very handsome mechanic—”
“You felt so bad you slept with him, right? In spite of telling me now that you already had feelings for me at the time.”
The second the words left my mouth, I knew I’d made a huge mistake.
She climbed off me and stood before I could grab her, then stormed out of the room.
I snatched her robe off the floor and followed her into the living room.
“You’re standing in front of the window naked.”
She wrenched the robe out of my hand. “I don’t give a fuck.”
“I’m sorry.” I put my arms around her. She struggled, but I was a lot stronger. When she calmed down, I relaxed my grip. Which is when she elbowed me in the stomach.
“I’m with you. Isn’t that enough?” she demanded. “I don’t owe you any explanation for anything I did or who I did it with before we were together. Did he tell you I slept with him? Is that why you hit him?”
“Yeah.”
“I’d like to hit you both.”
She turned away and stared out the window. I waited a few minutes, hoping she’d cool off, then carefully put my arms around her. She didn’t fight me this time.
“I love you,” I whispered, watching her reflection in the glass. “I’m sorry I’m acting so crazy. I don’t know what’s come over me.” I rocked her gently. “I’ve never been jealous or possessive before, and I do trust you. It’s everyone else I have a problem with.”
“I’m not interested in anyone else.”
“I know.” I kissed the top of her head. “I’ll try my best to start behaving like I belong in this century, okay?”
I could tell from her reflection that she was smiling.
We’d cleared one hurdle, but it probably wasn’t a good time to ask her about the calendar.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I told Rain my brother and sister-in-law were going to her family’s for Thanksgiving and taking my mother with them, so if she wanted, we could go to Diane and Wally’s for dinner. I hated lying to her, but I couldn’t tell her the truth either. I hadn’t spoken to Dylan since our fight unless I had to. He didn’t appear in any hurry to speak to me either.
When I called to invite my mother for dinner on Friday so she could meet Rain, things didn’t go any smoother.
“Chase, your brother is worried about your relationship with that woman.”
“He’s jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not. You need to meet her for yourself—and before you come over here with any preconceived notions, which I assume are coming from Lorraine for some reason, since Dylan doesn’t even know Rain. I’m asking you to judge her for yourself. I’m in love, Mom, and I don’t need to justify my feelings to you or Dylan or to anyone else.”
“You’re being awfully defensive, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t expect my brother to uninvite me for the holiday because his wife doesn’t like my girlfriend.”
“From what I understand, he didn’t uninvite you. He just didn’t invite this young woman.”
“Same thing. And as far as Rain is concerned, you all are going to dinner at Lorraine’s parents’ house. I’m not going to hurt her feelings and tell her she wasn’t invited. And I’ll tell you another thing: until Dylan apologizes, he’s on my shit list.”
“He’s your brother!”
“Exactly.” I was being rude, but I didn’t care, even if it was my mother. “He should know better. I’ll see you Friday night. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.”
My mood hadn’t lightened much by Thursday, which only served to remind me of the way my family was responding to Rain and to me, by extension. I’d promised to try to handle this jealousy thing better. It was a completely new and unexpected emotion for me.
When I picked Rain up at her apartment Thursday afternoon, I was relieved to see she was wearing a simple, light-colored lace dress with a high neckline. It was still tight and short, but it was one of the most conservative things I’d ever seen her wear. She looked beautiful—and yes, sexy—and I told her so as she slipped into her coat.
She grabbed two apple pies off the kitchen counter as we headed for the door.
“I thought you were making a pumpkin pie.” Pumpkin was my favorite.
“I was, but when I opened the can, it made me gag. It must have been bad, so I tossed it and made another apple. My mom’s making a pumpkin pie and bringing it with her, so you’ll have your pumpkin pie. Oh, and I invited her for dinner tomorrow night, so she can meet your mom too.”
She gave me a big smile and I smiled back.
“That will be nice.”
Actually? It might be anything but nice.
I loved Dorinda. Rain took after her in a lot of ways, so how could I not love her mother? She was sweet to me even before Rain and I were a couple. And she was in my corner, and for that I was grateful. But like Rain, she was a bit flashy. She was only in her midforties but dressed like she was in her twenties. She easily pulled it off, but I cringed at what my mother would think. My mother was the grandmotherly type—and a bit judgmental, which worried me.
“Will Chase’s mommy be my new grandma?” Izzy asked from the back seat.
“Izzy!” Rain spun around. “What did I tell you about asking those kinds of questions?”
I glanced in the rearview mirror. The kid must take after her mother in the psychic department.
Izzy’s little face crumpled. “Sorry.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “What kinds of questions has she been asking?”
I glanced over at Rain. She didn’t blush easily, but her cheeks were pinker than usual.
Before she could answer, Izzy did.
“I only asked if you were gonna be my daddy.”
“Izzy!”
“And what did Mommy say?” I persisted.
“She told me to mind my pool cues.”
“P’s and Q’s,” Rain corrected her.
“I don’t like peas,” Izzy said.
Rain sighed. “Never mind. Just don’t ask questions like that. It’s not polite.”
I reached across the console, took Rain’s hand, and gave it a squeeze. “I don’t have any problem with questions like that.”
She shot me a look, but I caught the light in her eyes. “You mind your pool cues too.”
I smiled all the way to Diane and Wally’s, but it faded almost as soon as Rain took off her coat. I was waiting to hand her the pies when Wally whistled.
Rain’s somewhat conservative dress wasn’t conservative at all. A heart-shaped cutout exposed most of her back, enough to see that she wasn’t wearing a bra. She was all smiles with the attention, and as she turned to carry the pies into the kitchen, Wally swatted her bottom with an open palm.
I took off my jacket and jammed it against his chest. I leaned in close enough so that only he could hear me.
“You do that again, and you
and I are going to have a serious problem.”
He looked about to laugh, but when he realized I wasn’t joking, he checked himself.
“C’mon, man. I don’t mean nothing by it. I’ve always done that.”
“Well, it’s going to stop. And if you know of anyone else who thinks it’s okay to put their hands on her, then you better let them know I won’t tolerate it. She’ll be treated with respect just like everybody else’s wife or girl, or I’m going to start busting heads.”
Wally rubbed the spot on his chest where my fingers had connected. “What the hell’s gotten into you?”
Maybe I was overreacting, but my blood was boiling. No one had the right to do that to her, although she should’ve been the one to say something about it. It had been going on so long, I don’t think she even knew it was wrong anymore. That was just the way they treated her. My chest tightened as I thought of the calendar. For some reason, she treated her body like it was a public commodity—like sharing it was part of who she was. Well, it was going to stop. I had no idea how I’d get that across to her, but I would.
“Just . . . don’t. Okay?”
He raised his hands in surrender and directed me to a cooler on the deck with the beers. “Take two,” he suggested.
When I came back in through the kitchen, Rain was trying to extricate herself from an older man, probably Diane’s great-uncle, who seemed intent on dancing with her, even though there was no music. I assumed she could read my mind, because when she saw me watching, the look on her face said: Let it go. I’m handling it.
I shook my head, found a seat on the couch, and watched Green Bay get trounced by the Lions for the next two hours.
Izzy fell asleep in the truck on the way home. I carried her into the house, slipped off her coat and her shoes, then tucked her under the covers. Before I left the room, I dropped a kiss on the top of her head and ran my fingers over her soft, golden curls. We’d planned to read another chapter from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tonight, and I’d been looking forward to cuddling with her. Our nightly ritual had become one of my favorite parts of the day.
“She’s out like a light,” I said, returning to the living room.