“Jaycee,” she shouted when I walked into the room, and she threw her arms around me.
Of course, I did the same. My baby sister kept Jon and me sane when our lives were anything but. Reed watched with his little boy smile, and Jon scored.
“Kick his butt, Jon; he needs to be taken down a peg or two.”
I picked up my sister, inhaling her sweet smell as she wrapped her legs around my waist. Jon scored again because Reed hadn’t stopped staring at me. I could no longer decipher the look on his face. It wasn’t happy or sad, just intense.
“If you’ll stand there every time I play, sis, I won’t lose another game.”
Reed’s attention finally went back to Jon and the game continued.
I put Bitsy down and she jumped around with excitement. “Reed’s buying me school clothes today at a real store, Jaycee, and he said I can go to Maggie’s house after.”
I looked over at Reed and could tell he purposefully ignored me now. “Oh he did, did he? Reed and I will need to discuss that and it probably won’t happen, sugar.” The look on her face made my heart clench. We only shopped second-hand. A real store to her was Walmart where we bought underwear. Used swimsuits at thrift stores, yes; underwear, no. Probably no difference at all, but even the trailer trash part of me had lines I didn’t cross.
Bitsy knew firsthand what no money meant and she gave me a tiny smile. “I love you, sissy.”
“I love you too, Bitsy.” When things fell apart with Reed, we would be okay. Shumways against the world.
When the game finished, I told Reed we needed to speak privately.
Chapter Twenty-One
He took me to the kitchen and pulled out our chair. Yes, I knew the chair was ours. He took the one next to it, giving me an innocent look. The man was diabolically evil.
I ignored the instant zing between my thighs and got to the point. “You are not buying school clothes for Bitsy.”
He barely let me finish. “Hear me out first, Jaycee.” He took my hands. “You’ve been caring for Jon and Bitsy for years now and you will continue to care for them. They start a new school tomorrow and I live in a ritzy neighborhood with upper-class schools. I know that probably pisses you off, but that’s the world we live in. They’ll have enough problems without adding clothes to the mix.”
I shook off his hands and stood up, the chair sliding back six inches when I did. “And you didn’t think to mention this before we moved in? The last thing either of them need is more problems, you jerk.” I paced across the kitchen and didn’t speak again until I turned and faced him. “What you don’t understand is that they’re stronger than you know. I’m stronger too, and they will walk into that school in the clothes we’re proud of and knock those rich kids on their asses. Their heads held high.”
He looked at me for several long moments. “You’re right, and I should have given you more credit. All of you more credit.” Reed stood up and walked toward me. “You, Jon, and Bitsy are a family. I’m so jealous it hurts. I’ve never had what you have and all I know to do is pay my way into their hearts.”
That stopped me, and some of my anger deflated, though I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I loved my dad, Jaycee, but you haven’t met my mother. I dread the day you do. She’s different, to say the least. But I never had a family like yours. Only stolen moments with my father when he was around, which wasn’t much. My mom hated baseball. Tylers don’t demean themselves playing professional anything. But that’s beside the point. I want you, Jon, and Bitsy to like it here. I want them to like the schools.”
I didn’t know if I could make Reed understand, but I would try. “Jon doesn’t want to fit in. You think his Goth clothes and looks will hook him up with the…” I made finger quotes, “popular kids?” Did you think you could buy him some shirts and nice jeans, and make him into you? I’m not trying to be cruel, Reed, but the world you live in isn’t ours. I’m working for you. A nice roof over our heads is part of my job, but the rest I need to pay for. Shumways earn their keep.”
He slapped me with his next words. “By stealing?”
I couldn’t look at him and tried moving away, but his hands dug into my arms.
“I don’t blame you, Jaycee. I keep hoping you’ll talk to me about the baseballs and explain why.”
Dread filled my heart. He could never know; it was much too dangerous. “We don’t talk, Reed. We fuck.” I saw the deep hurt in his eyes as his hands released me and he stepped back.
His voice held resignation, but he didn’t stop pushing. “I’ll advance you some pay. Jon and Bitsy need clothes and shoes. I don’t care if Jon adds to his all-black wardrobe. I promised Bitsy a shopping trip and I’d appreciate if you’d let me buy her one nice dress. I should have spoken to you first.”
He should have. I took a long breath, trying to calm myself. I could let him buy my sister something nice. It wouldn’t kill me. “You can buy her a dress, but everything else comes out of my paycheck.”
“Small amounts at a time, but I promise you can pay me back every cent.”
“Okay, I can live with that, but please talk to me first next time.”
“I’ll be out of your hair soon and you won’t need to worry about it.”
My heart squeezed tightly within my chest.
***
Reed took us to a huge mall. I hadn’t been into a mall in years. The prices for everything threw me for a loop, but I decided if it took twenty years to pay the money back it was worth seeing Bitsy trying on outfits. We were buying her things first and then coming back to shop for Jon. He was uncomfortable with the prospect, but Reed said something to him I didn’t hear and Jon agreed.
We dropped Bitsy at Maggie’s house. She had a beautiful outside playhouse for her grandchildren, and Bitsy was running around with them within minutes of us getting there. Her little doll was old, but it was her favorite, and two other girls her age showed off theirs too.
We went back to the mall and ate lunch first. Reed signed a few autographs, reminding me that he was famous. I felt uncomfortable at these times because it separated our worlds even further. I watched the way the women followed him with their eyes and I couldn’t help my jealousy. I also saw a few younger girls eyeing Jon. They wore similar Goth clothes and I saw him casting furtive glances their way after they passed. I hoped he found a group of kids in school that he fit in with. He would have more time now to socialize and I wanted him to be a teenage kid for a change.
Reed noticed too and looked at me then Jon. “How does your sister feel about piercings?”
“It’s not up to my sister.”
Reed looked startled until Jon continued. “We’re still wards of the state. If my sister allowed piercings or tattoos, she could lose guardianship. We don’t want them paying close attention to us.”
I explained a little more. “A social worker is coming by to check out our new living arrangement sometime in the next week or so. They need to inspect where we live. They monitor how Jon and Bitsy are doing and how I’m doing as their guardian.”
“I’m sorry, guys, I had no idea. Hit me upside the head when I say stupid things, Jon. Maybe eventually I’ll learn so your sister isn’t always mad at me.”
Jon laughed. “I’ve thought about a few piercings where they couldn’t be seen.”
My head snapped around to Jon. “This is not a conversation you’re having with me present. You need a parent’s or guardian’s signature and I can’t give it. I don’t even want to know what you would consider having pierced that couldn’t be seen. TMI, Jon.”
They laughed at me and I saw a look pass between them, but had no idea what it meant.
“Nipples, sis. Just my nipples. I’ll wait until I’m eighteen to get pierced in other places.”
Reed and Jon laughed at my red cheeks as I started looking through a discount rack for something I could afford.
Reed moved in close. “There’s a dinner next weekend put on by management and I’d lik
e you to be my date. It’s formal and if you say yes, I want to buy you something nice to wear.” He ignored my stiffening shoulders and continued. “There could be times, as my personal assistant, that you need something formal. It’s part of your job description.” His hand came around my waist and he pulled me into his side. He lowered his voice and whispered in my ear, “Say yes, Jaycee, please.”
Oh how I hated when he used sex to lure me in, but only because it worked. “We’ll look at discounted dresses only.”
“And shoes?”
I would love to stomp his shoe. “Okay.”
I’d never owned a formal dress in my life. Never went to prom and didn’t think I’d missed anything. Things were very bad at that time and I was happy to have each additional day with my mom. As I tried on dresses from sales racks, dresses that still cost more than my entire clothing budget last year, I felt excitement flutter inside me. I swirled around in the dressing room, loving the sultry feel of a slinky blue dress that would match Reed’s eyes. I would need a strapless bra, and Walmart would carry one that would work and cost a lot less than what I would find at the mall.
Reed gave me his credit card and left with Jon after I told him I didn’t want him seeing the dress. The clerk wrapped it in tissue and I went in search of the perfect shoes. They were more than I wanted to spend, but they added to the dress. I thought about the purchase for thirty minutes and looked around for something else, but nothing worked. The heavy metal sound of a text from Reed had me smiling.
Buy the shoes and stop looking at the price.
I checked around me, but didn’t see him. He’d been spying, though. Another burst of music.
Meet us at the fountain in five.
He was so bossy, overwhelming, gorgeous, and sexy. And almost impossible to say no to. I straightened my shoulders, remembering this was not a lasting relationship. Temporary happiness—that’s how it came to Shumways.
They waited for me at the fountain, Jon carrying a couple of bags.
“Reed says I can help the yard crew and pay off what I bought. Some of it’s the next best thing to piercings.”
I raised my eyebrow. Reed grabbed my hand and we left the mall and picked up a rosy-faced Bitsy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We both needed sleep, so I didn’t visit Reed that night. I tossed and turned for more than an hour before my exhaustion won the battle.
I worried to death when Reed left with Jon and Bitsy to take them to school the next morning. He’d streamlined everything to get them in the new school. He was so efficient at getting things his way I wondered why he needed help with his personal paperwork. After dropping them off, he would head to the stadium for whatever it is that ball players did the week before spring training. Maggie and I would be picking up my brother and sister from school because Reed would be gone the entire day. We were still in the planning stage for rides during the remainder of the week after I vetoed a private driver. I caught Reed childishly rolling his eyes and wondered if all grown men acted up whenever they didn’t get their way.
Maggie arrived shortly after the rest of them left. We sat at the kitchen table and went over the cleaning, yard maintenance, and other household schedules.
“I usually cook two days each week while the cleaning service is here, and I prepare enough food for five or six days. Reed eats just about anything I leave for him and also orders out or goes out for dinner. I think it’s great that you’ll be cooking some meals for him when he’s home. I try not to complain about my knee pain, but standing on the kitchen floor for hours is difficult.”
“Why don’t you complain?”
“Reed needs someone here with him and I wouldn’t leave him alone for the world. I was his nanny when he was young and I feel as if he’s one of my own.”
Maybe I could dig a little information out of Maggie. “Reed told me his mother is difficult.”
Maggie laughed, but it wasn’t full of cheer like most of her laughs. “That woman is a monster. She should never have had a child. I’m sure you’ll meet her, but please give me a call if she shows up unannounced. You’ll need backup and I won’t let her push me around. That stopped the day I quit working for her. Reed hired me after he graduated college and bought this house. That was after the Bandits drafted him and he lucked out by staying in Texas. There’s no way I would leave my grandbabies and he knew it. I think he could have done better by going to another team, but he wanted to stay here. He was more a part of my family than his own while he grew up.”
“What about his father?”
“Samuel worked and stayed away from home as much as possible. Mrs. Tyler ruled their house and made the poor man’s life miserable. She married Sam for his money and never loved him. She secured her standing by getting pregnant with Reed and that was it, no more children. Sam was a good father when he was home and no one on earth loved the game of baseball more than him. He told me once that he could have played professional, but his parents nixed the idea and guilted him into taking over their business holdings. The game is in Reed’s blood.”
My brain was swirling. Reed’s mom married his dad for his money. Did she come from a background like mine? I wanted Reed’s money too. Would I marry him if he asked me? I was a horrible person because yesterday I might have, but today, knowing about his mom, I don’t think I could. But then, I thought about providing a safe home for Jon and Bitsy. Even with all the things I objected to Reed about, the thought of security was just too much. If Reed asked, I might marry him and that was so unfair.
“Where does his mother live?”
“About an hour’s drive from here. She mostly stays out of Reed’s business. He no longer allows her to dictate anything about his life. That keeps her away more than anything.”
I needed time to think. “I don’t mind cooking tonight’s dinner.”
“I’ll just cook for tonight. Do you think you can handle the rest of the week?”
That made me laugh. There was really nothing to do but cook and start on the paper aspect of my job. “I think I can handle it.”
A twinkle entered Maggie’s eyes. “Of that, I have no doubt. Reed talked about you last week. I haven’t ever seen him speak of a woman like he went on and on about you.”
I blushed.
“Don’t let him run all over you and you’ll be fine. He mostly takes after his father, but every now and then, I glimpse his mother’s temper. It takes a lot to bring it out, but when it comes everyone needs to clear away.”
I’d seen that part of Reed, and Maggie was right—I didn’t want to see it again. She started preparing dinner and I headed into his office. A large note was stuck to his computer.
Jaycee,
I hoped you would make it in here today.
Here’s my computer password, banking info, and so on.
Have fun.
Reed
There was another page with everything he promised. I couldn’t decide if he was stupid or crazy. I broke into his home for god’s sake and now I had access to his money. Reed Tyler was a fool and that I didn’t need to debate.
I soon got lost in his paperwork and began searching the internet for information about securities and dividends. I’d only uncovered a small amount of his financial information, which showed that he was loaded. How could he keep such horrible records? I found a letter from his attorney. There were papers for him to sign dated a month ago. At least he had someone looking after some things.
I heard a melodic sound ring through the house and realized it was the front doorbell. I made my way to the door and opened it. A middle-aged man stood outside.
“May I help you?”
“Are you Jaycee Shumway?”
I nodded.
“I’m here for your driving lesson.”
“My what?”
“Mr. Tyler set up a two-week driver’s training session for you. I’m to explain it will take an hour every afternoon Monday through Friday and that this will enable you to pick up your sister
and brother from school after you have your license.”
I was going to kill Reed for doing this shit again without talking to me. But I would take the lesson first because I did need to drive. A car to do it in was another story and I knew this argument would be big. It wasn’t good to fight with your boss, but Reed was a different story and even Maggie said not to let him run all over me.
“I’ll be out in just a moment.”
The man nodded and walked out to the waiting car. I told Maggie what was going on and my angry look made her smile. “Learn to drive and put Reed in his place. I’m rooting for you.”
Tom, my driving instructor, was great. He didn’t blink an eye that a twenty year old had never been behind the wheel of a car. My mom didn’t own one, so I had nothing to learn on. I did the driving, but stayed on the quiet neighborhood streets during the hour lesson. I was high on adrenaline when I returned to Reed’s house.
“I didn’t wreck the car or run a stop sign, Maggie.”
“Good job, dear. Your brother will be driving next year and it’s a good thing that his older sister learns first.”
“Yes it is. Maybe I can teach him. It’ll serve him right for all the times he gives me a hard time.”
“All men deserve to have a woman teach them to drive.”
Maggie drove me to Bitsy’s school first. My sister was a little bundle of energy and talked the entire time we drove to the high school. Jon was much more subdued, but he didn’t seem upset. It had killed me that I couldn’t take them to their first day of school. Jon sported thick metal cuffs with spikes on his wrists. That was the “almost as good as piercing” items referred to at the mall. At least the school didn’t make him remove them.
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