The word motherfucker repeated in my head like a song stuck on loop. I had to get my head on straight. I didn’t know how to do that with her in my life again. Whether she got her money back or not, she would probably leave Boston at some point. I nodded to myself. I had to keep things between us professional, like a lawyer would.
“Who are you nodding to?” she asked.
Not looking up, I said, “You didn’t run, huh?”
“Nah. You’d only chase me.” Her tone was light, sexy, and playful.
Jerking up my head, my mouth fell open. She stood in front of me with her dark hair spilling over her breasts. Her baby-blue T-shirt accentuated her eyes, bringing out the blue over the gray. My throat was as dry as the Mohave Desert, and my dick perked up.
“Stop drooling. It’s disgusting,” she teased.
“You listened to me.” That alone had my heart doing somersaults.
“No, the wig was itchy.”
“Do you need me to scratch anything?” I beg you to say yes.
She threw me the finger again.
“Flip me off again, and I may lay you out on one of these tables.” My balls were turning blue.
“I—”
Bonnie stuck her head in. “We’re closing the offices. If you don’t have everything you need, you can use the library before your appointment next week with Mr. Davenport.”
I tore off my sheets of notes then returned the book to the shelf. I did want to do more research before speaking with Mr. Davenport, but I could use the Internet.
After we thanked Bonnie, we made our way to my Jeep. The sun was finally out after a week of gloomy days.
“Did you get everything you need?” Lizzie asked.
“On the legal end, almost. In the meantime, Zach will be back on Sunday night. I’ll talk to him then. What were you doing with Dillon at Rumors?” Kade had only texted me that Lizzie had stopped by with Dillon. Then followed it up with another text asking me to call him. After we’d left art class, we’d come straight to Davenport’s. With Lizzie in the Jeep, I hadn’t had any privacy to talk to Kade. And most of our conversation from BU to Davenport’s had stemmed around her questions about the legal system, most of which I couldn’t answer.
“Dillon and I paid a visit to a guy he knows. He told Dillon he would call him if he hears about any high-stakes poker games,” she said. “Afterward I went to see Kade. I thought he had an opening for a waitress.”
“I’m confused. You can’t accept my invitation to dinner with my family, but you can ask Kade for a job?” I mentally scratched my head. Not only that, the idea of her waiting on drunk men who would make advances on her dug a hole in the pit of my stomach.
“It was a bad idea. Can we not talk about your family?”
I halted in my tracks as my throat tightened. It hurt like a motherfucker that Lizzie was blowing me off. I shouldn’t have kissed her. I shouldn’t have gone anywhere near her. I should’ve bolted the minute Dillon called her name in the club. The pain in my chest, the one I was trying so fucking hard to avoid, was dull but present.
She threw up her hands, stomping back to me. “What’s wrong? Mad because you’re not getting your way?”
I tugged her toward a narrow side street away from pedestrian traffic. “It’s not about getting my way. It’s about why you’re so terrified to have dinner with my family. And don’t tell me pity.” There were more layers to peel back to get to her main reason. The question was whether she would let me peel them.
She huffed and puffed then poked me in the chest. “I’m in Boston to get my inheritance back. I’m not here to make amends with my past. I never counted on finding you. I’m still in shock that you live with the son of the asshole who has been gambling away my money.” She stuck her finger into my chest again. “I’m sorry about your mom. But I’m not the key to her happiness or her recovery.” She glared up at me, water filling her pretty eyes. “Also, I’ll confront Zach. This is my problem. I don’t need your help.” She marched away.
My whole body was ready to convulse at the sting of her words but also at the truth behind them. My family was thinking of Mom and only Mom. We weren’t putting ourselves in Lizzie’s shoes, thinking about how she would feel, even though she had told me a couple of times now.
Maybe I was using my mom as an excuse, afraid if I asked Lizzie to spend time with me she’d say no. If she did, the sting would feel like a scorpion instead of a bee. Maybe I should have listened to my old man and not lived my life thinking every woman would run from me.
If she rejected me, I’d be fucked up. But for seven years she’d dominated my thoughts and lived in my dreams. At this moment, I wasn’t dreaming, not when I could feel a gust of wind slap me in the face. Not to mention that her curvy form was fading into the distance like she had in my dreams. I’d protected my heart for so long. Maybe it was time to let fate take control.
“Lizard!” I shouted.
She came to an abrupt halt.
I ran up to her. Tears poured down her rosy cheeks. Schmuck came to mind. I swallowed hard, forgetting what I’d wanted to say, forgetting that a city of people sped past us on the sidewalks and in the streets. Horns blew. Beeps erupted from a vehicle backing up. Buzz, buzz, buzz went the heartbeat of Boston’s city streets. My heart beat in my ears just as loudly as the sounds around me.
She batted her eyelashes, tears hanging on the edge like I was. I was holding onto some imaginary cliff for dear fucking life, and I was about to fall into oblivion, not certain if she’d be there to catch me.
I searched her eyes for some sign she knew what I was thinking. Or maybe I was too afraid to speak. If I did, I’d scare her off. But when she blinked, the tears dropped, one by one. I went to wipe away her tears. She jerked back as though I was the scum of the earth. Fuck if that didn’t cut like a hunting knife right across my wrists. Her hair whipped in the wind as she skimmed her watery gaze over me before she darted into a group of pedestrians.
“Lizard!” I called again, my voice dying on the last syllable.
She hesitated for a split second before she ran, hard and fast. I watched her weave in and around people. I wanted to chase her, but something told me she needed space and time. And I needed a shrink.
16
Lizzie
Dillon’s Camaro was stuffy. Or maybe it was the fact that I was holding my breath as we got closer to Kelton’s house. Dillon had agreed to drive me out to Ashford. For the past forty-eight hours, I’d been replaying both the strain of Kelton’s voice when he’d called me Lizard and the desperate plea in his eyes. Like he wanted to say so much but didn’t know how. As we stood on that busy street in Boston, the world spun around him, me, us, our childhood, our tragedies. At every blink, breath, and tear, all I could think about was the good times we’d had, the feelings we’d shared, and the dream of him and me forever. I didn’t want to relive the past. Seeing Kelton was already taking a toll on me. Seeing his parents would only serve to open wider the wound that I’d closed to the past. Self-pity. Argh! The damn emotion was like a serrated knife, cutting through me every time I was reminded of the good times I’d had as a little girl when I was happy and had a family.
I toyed with the edges of my jacket then bit on my finger as houses, a farm, wooded lots, and a brook slipped by on the winding two-lane country road.
“I think you should turn the car around,” I said.
At breakfast that morning, Dillon had counseled me that having dinner with Kelton’s family might help to put the past behind me. Maybe so. Maybe I could say my piece and be on my way. After all, I hadn’t come to Boston to pine for Kelton or cry myself to sleep. I’d already done that many times over the years. Maybe it was also time for me to face Mr. Maxwell and get rid of the anger I’d been harboring since the accident. Yet the closer we got to the Maxwell house, the closer I was to puking up my breakfast.
“Lizzie,” Dillon said so softly I barely heard him above the hum of the tires. “I can turn around smoother than a
race car driver, but for your sanity, you need to do this.”
“I know,” I replied as my pulse pushed against my wrists. I’d already called Kelton. He’d sounded excited. Part of me didn’t want to disappoint him. Besides, I was strong. At least, my mom had always told me that when I was crying over Gracie or Kelton. God, I missed my mom so much. Maybe that was one of the reasons I didn’t want to come. I’d always adored Mrs. Maxwell, and at times she would remind me of my mom when she’d told me how beautiful I was as a little girl.
“You think you’ll have nails left by the time we get there?” Dillon’s tone was playful.
“I’m not chewing. I’m nibbling.”
He flaunted a smile. “So, I have good news. Tommy called this morning. There’s a high-stakes poker game scheduled in mid-March. All the big players will be there.”
“And Terrance?” I abandoned my fingers to play with my jacket again.
“Tommy is trying to get his hands on the list of names. All players have to ante up in order to get a seat.”
Even though mid-March was three weeks away, I wanted to jump over and kiss him. Dillon was a super-nice guy. Any girl would be lucky to have him. Well, those girls who loved men who wore ponytails. Dillon had his hair tied back in one. “When will he know?”
“Not sure. Once I know, you’ll know. Right now, can I give you some advice about this dinner?”
“Sure.” He’d been giving me advice all day. I was grateful. Since I’d met him he’d been nothing but sweet, helpful, and protective. But I kept thinking about the poker game, not the dinner. If Terrance was on the list, then I had to be there, especially if Zach wasn’t any help before then.
“They invited you. Hear what they have to say. And don’t tear Kelton’s head off. I’m not a love guru, but the man clearly still has feelings for you, even though he’s in denial.”
His last statement erased any thoughts of the poker game. “Did you and Kelton talk about it?” I wasn’t sure I agreed, although he had put some emotion behind his kiss, and his voice had held an enormous amount of tenderness when he’d shouted out Lizard. Part of me thought Kelton was trying to confirm for himself if he still had feelings for me.
“Hell no. The way you two argue, it’s clear you both still have feelings for each other. Why don’t you just admit it?”
“With our pasts, we could never build a relationship.”
“Today’s your chance to clear the past so you can see the future. But something tells me you’re afraid of more than your past.”
I watched the homes zip by. “People I love die.” Saying it out loud sounded like a pity party.
He pried my hand from my jacket and squeezed. “That’s what you’re afraid of? Christ, Lizzie. You can’t live with that way of thinking. Do you think you can kill a tough dude like Kelton Maxwell? You even said yourself he’s a cockroach that can’t be killed.”
I snorted. Then he laughed as he wheeled into a long driveway. A two-story brick mansion sat on what had to be ten acres of land. Not that I’d lived in a dump in Florida. My parents had had a modest home in a gated community. But this place was serene, breathtaking, really, with the lake in the background and the sun setting slowly behind the treetops. Or maybe it was the snow covering the landscape that made the property look like it had jumped off the pages of Better Homes and Gardens, the Christmas Edition.
Just as Dillon braked, Kelton came out and jogged toward us. When he reached my door, he opened it. “You came,” he said. His voice was equal parts nerves and relief.
“Yeah.” I drew out the word, hoping I was doing the right thing.
Kelton squatted down, peering around me at Dillon. “Dude, do you want to stay for dinner?”
Dillon and I exchanged a questioning glance. Or at least he did. I made my eyes bug out, prodding him to say yes.
Dillon laughed. “Why not?”
A lightheaded feeling washed over me. I didn’t have to face the Maxwells alone.
“Park in the back,” Kelton said, taking my hand.
I guessed I was getting out of the car. When I had two feet planted on the driveway, Kelton and I trailed Dillon on foot.
“So, were you waiting like a puppy on the top of the couch with your tail wagging?” I asked.
“Dogs get rewards like petting and stroking when their masters come home,” he teased. “Do you want to pet me? I’ll roll over for you.”
Yes, please. I slapped him on the arm. “Put your tail between your legs.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” He draped an arm around my shoulder.
Goosebumps spread over my body, which helped to dial back my nerve-o-meter from ten to eight.
By the time we’d walked down to the six-car garage, Dillon was leaning against his Camaro. I couldn’t help but grin at how he’d removed his ponytail and combed back his hair, making himself presentable. It wasn’t that he wasn’t before. Ponytail or not, he was handsome, even though his nose piercing and shoulder-length hair didn’t exactly match his lumberjack style of a plaid flannel shirt, T-shirt, and jeans.
Kelton ushered us up the stairs of the wooden deck, which led to a sliding glass door. When he opened it, heat and a spicy aroma filtered out.
I hesitated.
“We don’t bite,” he said. “And you have Dillon and me to make sure you don’t get swallowed up by my brothers.” He winked.
I wasn’t worried about his brothers. His father was the one that drove my nausea. I’d planned what I would say to him. However, at the eleventh hour, all those words I’d had in my brain—gone. Before I could back away or take a step forward, Kade sauntered up with a warm smile that had me walking into the bright and shiny gourmet kitchen.
“Lizzie, I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot the other day.”
Before I could say a word, two Kelton lookalikes ambled in. One had massive arms filling out his plain black T-shirt. The other was also built but was smaller in the chest than both of the other triplets. Since I hadn’t seen them since Texas, I couldn’t tell which was Kross and which was Kody. At least with Kelton the scar on his chin gave him away.
Kelton came up behind me. “Kross is the boxer, hence the arms. Kody is the singer, songwriter, and amazing guitarist.”
Kody’s face lit up with a handsome smile.
“Glad you’re staying for dinner,” Kade said to Dillon. “Welcome.”
After the introductions and a hug from Kody, a young woman I remembered from the gala came in.
“You must be Lizzie,” she said. “I’m Lacey.” She threw her arms around me. “Glad you could make it.”
As soon as she let go, I needed some air. I felt like a celebrity in the middle of the paparazzi.
“Okay, everyone. Stop suffocating her,” Kelton said. “She’s not a new toy.”
I could be for Kelton.
“Kel, Mom and Dad would like to see you and Lizzie before dinner,” Kade said in an even tone.
My nerve-o-meter shot to ten. I guessed we should get it over with. Maybe then my stomach would settle enough so I could eat. Dillon blinked slowly as if to say you got this.
“Come on, Dillon. We can hang in the theater room in the basement,” Kade said, sounding like the commander of an army.
All the guys left except for Kelton. Lacey hung back for a second, angling her dark head as she swung her wide green gaze between Kelton and me. Then I remembered what Peyton had said. Lacey and Chloe were cousins.
“We’re not dating.” I didn’t know why I even said that. I didn’t care what Lacey or Chloe thought of me. I did like Chloe though. Which led me to my next thought. Was Chloe okay? I hadn’t seen her since I’d found her crying on Zach’s porch.
“Mmm,” Lacey said. “I’ll see you guys at dinner.” She whisked out of the kitchen like she had a newfound secret.
“What just happened?” I asked. “Are you in trouble with Chloe? Lacey and Chloe are cousins, right?”
“Let’s go see my parents. My mom has been dying to se
e you.” Kelton placed his hand on my lower back. “And, again, I’m not dating Chloe.” His fingers pressed through my jacket.
That might be true, but that girl in the hall before art class had given him a note. I tore my jealousy to shreds. It wasn’t the time to fret over a girl or note or Kelton Maxwell. We exited the kitchen into a wide hallway that fingered out in three directions. We headed straight toward a seven-foot wooden door with slim glass panes framing the sides. Dusk crawled across the sky in the distance while a soft glow spilled from the room to our left that Kelton was about to enter.
I shuffled behind him, fingering my earring. A bay window, tall ceilings, fabric furniture, a fireplace, and thick carpeting created a rich but cozy atmosphere, especially with the fire flickering from the stone fireplace on the back wall.
Mr. Maxwell rose from the loveseat like an aristocrat, confident and stoic. Mrs. Maxwell sat like a queen, her tiny hands on her lap, her long black hair flowing effortlessly around her, her porcelain skin barely made up, her red lips turned upward. Her blue gaze swung from her son to me. They were both older but still exactly as I remembered.
My heart rammed like a bulldozer plowing through rubble. Memories swept me from the room and back into the past.
“Elizabeth, stop chasing Kelton,” Mrs. Maxwell had shouted from her spot by the pool with a laugh in her voice. “He’ll wear you out.”
Kelton and I had been throwing a football around. When he caught it I would chase him to the back side of his yard, what we had dubbed the end zone. He did run faster than me. It was always fun, though, to chase Kelton. Once one of us caught the other, we would roll around in the grass like two dogs play-fighting.
“Elizabeth.” A hand touched my shoulder.
The sunny day faded back into the soft glow of the room. Mr. Maxwell stood before me, reminding me so much of Kade. Despite the age difference, the resemblance was uncanny.
Dare to Love (Maxwell #3) Page 15