by Lauren Dane
When she’d finished and was waiting for her next client, he approached again. “So Jonah Warner.”
“Yeah. Unexpected, huh?”
“I dunno. You tell me.”
She nodded. “He is. I have rules, Brody. Lots of them. He makes me break them. Left and right.”
“The dumb rules like no sleeping over? Or the good rules like you’d never stay with anyone who harmed you?”
She rolled her eyes. As close as she was with Brody, she’d never revealed why she never slept over to anyone but Jonah.
No one else was close enough to hear. “Well, he does like to use a paddle on me. He also ties me up. But that’s not really harm. At least not in a bad sense. And the only man who has slept over at my place is a nearly four-year-old who likes frozen pudding cups and pees all over the seat.”
Brody laughed. “Rough sex is one thing. Harming is another. He seems protective of you. I like that part. I like that you’re letting him in. You seem calmer lately. Must be all that spanking.”
She burst out laughing. “Could be. I certainly feel so very mellow when he’s done. Who knew? I used to think all that stuff was just role-play. But it’s more than that with us. He takes over and . . .”
“And you don’t have to be in charge. For once in your life, someone else makes the decisions and choices.”
She blew out a breath. “Yeah. I think that’s part of it. If you want to get all psychological about it and all. Anyway, he’s good. We’re good. His family? Well. We’ll see about that. But who am I to talk?”
“I heard part of what happened over the weekend with the mother and sister-in-law. Wasn’t really happy about it. Did like his reaction though.”
“If I mean to do this relationship thing, I’m going to have to find a way to deal with her. The mother anyway. The sister-in-law can eat a bag of dicks. She may never know how close she came to eating my fist.”
Brody laughed. “Maybe she needed that.”
“Not at a charity event, for fuck’s sake. The evening was about raising money for the arts, not for some stupid play for attention by a sister-in-law who wants to bang the brother she couldn’t marry, if you know what I mean.”
“Ah. You think that’s the issue?”
“I don’t know for sure. All I can say is she seems unnaturally interested in where Levi puts his dick.”
“Some people can’t be happy with anything.”
“Don’t I know it. But I’m good. Jonah is good. What it is more than that I don’t know. But for now, I’m happy.”
“How much have you shared with him?”
“More than I intended to. He’s got . . . I don’t know, this way about him. I find myself sharing stuff I haven’t talked about in a long time. If ever. But he never looks at me with disgust or pity.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing to be disgusted over. Not with you. Everything you survived was about you overcoming other people’s shitty behavior. None of it was your fault.”
“I’m no angel, Brody. I was not very nice to Elise when she first came around. I tried to break you up. I broke your heart before that. And you’re still my friend. Thank you.”
He smiled. “You did break my heart. And that sucked. But if I’m being honest—and since I’m an old family man now and all I guess I have to—my heart got broken because I didn’t listen to what you told me. You never made me promises. I just wanted them to be there. And you made your peace with Elise. You went to her and apologized and whatever you said—she won’t tell me—was enough to make her not only forgive you, but be fond of you. You have flaws, no lie. But you own your shit and a hell of a lot of people don’t. Just let this guy love you. Understand you’re worth loving. Because you are. What I have with Elise makes everything different. Better. You deserve that too.”
It couldn’t be avoided any longer. Jonah had ducked his mother’s calls until Wednesday morning when she simply waltzed into his office, dragging his father and his brother Eli.
“As you have deigned to ignore the woman who gave you your very existence, I had to hunt you down. Your father and Eli as well.”
“If you want to count a coy call for lunch that she then sprung on us as ‘let’s all talk about Mal and Gwen,’ yes.”
“You stop that.” Their mother gave Eli a look and he sighed, dropping into a chair at the conference table in the room.
“I’ve been busy. I called you back.”
“You called me back at midnight when your call would go straight to voice mail. Honestly, I don’t know why you boys think I’m so stupid.”
Levi poked his head in and then froze when he saw what was going on.
“Don’t you try to scamper off, Levi. Come and sit.” Liesl pointed at a chair and he obeyed.
“You get conned with a lunch date too?”
Levi nodded. “It was a call from Jonah’s assistant.”
“Mother, leave my staff out of it. She’s already petrified every time you come into view.” Jonah put his phone on Do Not Disturb and headed to the table.
Their father would never say anything to disagree with their mother, especially not at a time like this.
Toby, another brother and Eli’s twin, popped in and then groaned.
“Now, we’re all here. Food will arrive shortly. I did not lie. We will be eating. I figured you were all busy enough that you’d need to eat while we discussed this mess.”
True to her word, Jonah’s assistant brought food in just two minutes later. She gave him a look full of apology and he waved it away. He knew how his mother was; he couldn’t blame his assistant for getting caught up in her whirlwind.
“It has come to my attention that some sort of kerfuffle occurred between Gwen, Daisy and Raven on Saturday evening at the benefit. It has also come to my attention that whatever this kerfuffle was, it spilled out to the hotel’s drive where Jonah and Levi got into a heated argument with Malachi. Do I have this correct?”
“Mother, I’m not sure this is any of your business.”
Oh, Eli; so naive about their mother.
“Elijah, if it is not a mother’s business when her children are in trouble, whose business would it be?” She turned a hard eye to Levi, knowing Jonah would hold out longer than anyone else. Levi knew he was the weaker link of the two and he sighed.
“It was resolved. If Mal wanted you to know what it was, he’d have told you. Leave it be. He’s got to deal with his wife on his own.”
“So it was Gwen, clearly. Stupid woman. What happened in that bathroom? Don’t lie to me. This is one of my boards, you know. People came to me who’d seen the aftermath. I need to understand whether or not I should be sure Gwen is never invited to such events in the future.”
“Yes, don’t invite her to anything in the future.” Jonah spoke quietly.
“Boys, your mother is rightfully concerned. We all know Mal has been having trouble. His work is suffering. You have to share with us. We want to help him. He shouldn’t have to deal with this on his own. That’s what family is for.”
Eli blew out a breath and looked to Jonah. “Tell them.”
“I think Mal should be here for this. I am not comfortable talking behind his back.” Jonah sat back, looking at their mother. “He’s an adult. He’s married. We can’t just talk about him like he’s a kid. Any of you would be angry if this was about you and no one bothered to include you.”
Liesl smiled like the cat who ate the canary and he knew he’d been outmaneuvered. “As a matter of fact, he’ll be here in a minute or two.”
“You’re good.” He nodded her way.
“Where do you think you come by it, boy?” his father asked.
They were eating when Mal came in. He paused in the doorway and then came into the room and sat down with a resigned sigh. Jonah pushed food his way.
“You will be pleased to know Levi and Jonah would not tell me the details of whatever transpired on Saturday evening. Jonah rightfully pointed out that you shou
ld be here when we discussed this issue. And of course I completely agree, which is why you’re here now. What is going on, Malachi?”
“This is really not your concern.”
Jonah kept eating. Mal was the youngest. He’d been spoiled more than any of them had been. But he was weaker against his mother than the rest as well. It was only a matter of time before he broke, and everyone in that room knew it.
“Now you know that’s a lie. Of course it’s my concern. It’s all our concern. Your wife is clearly unbalanced. She’s driving a wedge between you and your family and she has been for some time. We love you. We’ve let you go your own way. But this has to stop. At the very least give me your version of events.”
“She hates Daisy.” Mal put his fork down and ran a hand through his hair.
“Whatever for? She’s delightful.”
No one had ever told their parents about the strife that had been between the two women since Gwen had made a rather ugly and pretty blatantly racist scene. Since then Levi hadn’t spoken more than the words it took to warn her to keep her distance from his woman or there’d be hell to pay.
“What else have you all been keeping from me?”
Then Toby spilled. The entire story about the first time Gwen met Daisy when Gwen had accused Daisy of being a gold-digging whore, complete with racist overtones, to the situation on Saturday night.
The other brothers stared at him, mouths open.
“What? Fuck this noise. There is no way Gwen should have gotten away with it for so long. She’s an ugly bitch. I’m sorry, Mal, but she is.”
“Tobias, please limit your use of the word ‘fuck.’” Liesl sighed and looked around the table. “Why you didn’t tell me this, I do not know. There’s no way I would have had her in my home over the last few years if I had known.”
“Which is why they didn’t tell you.” Mal spoke and sounded so tired. “They’ve been protecting me.”
“What is your version of what happened Saturday night?”
“I can tell you Gwen’s version. But I believe Daisy and Raven’s version. Gwen says she wandered into the bathroom and was beset by both women. She was so upset I believed her. Even though in my heart I knew she was lying. I’ve moved out.”
“Jesus, Mal why didn’t you tell one of us? Where are you living? I have extra space. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” Jonah felt sick for his brother.
“Or with me. Daisy would be happy to have you with us, too. She doesn’t blame you and neither do I.”
“I’m looking for a house. I’ve got an attorney. We’re filing tomorrow or the next day.”
Liesl leaned close to him. “Darling, we love you. I’m sorry you felt you had to do this alone. Please tell us what you need.”
“Well, that was pretty nice.” He smiled at their mother and then around the table. “I needed to do it on my own. I was licking my wounds. I’ve known for a while that things weren’t going to get better.”
“How long?”
“About two years.”
Jonah snorted. They’d only been married two years as it was.
“I shouldn’t have married her. But I thought we could work it through. That once she got to know Daisy she’d lighten up. But it’s more than that.”
“She’s got a thing for Levi.”
“Subtle, Eli. Well done.” Levi sighed.
“Well, am I lying? I mean come on. The way she is about Daisy is ridiculous. It’s more than racism, though clearly that’s part of it. It’s that she would react that way to anyone with him. It’s Levi, not who he’s with. It’s that Mal isn’t Levi.”
“Sweet Christ.” Levi looked to Mal. “I hope you know I’d never do anything to facilitate this crush, if there is indeed one.”
“There is one. It’s more than that. She’s obsessed with you. She had an affair last year. The guy looked just like you.”
There was an uproar around the table and Jonah rapped several times on the tabletop to shut everyone up. “Okay, so we’re outraged. Let’s not make it worse on Mal. He’s doing what is right.”
“Indeed. Thank heavens for the prenup.”
“Cal Whaley did a great job on it.”
“Honestly I just want to be free of her. She can keep the house. I have no desire to turn her out into the street or anything. She’s got a good job. We have no kids. It could be worse. So much worse.”
“Yes, well.” Jonah agreed wholeheartedly.
“What does she say? Have you told her?”
“We had a very big fight on the way home from the benefit. I moved out that night. She thinks I’m working out my mad. My attorney advised me against telling her I was going to file. She’ll be served at work and I’ll have a moving crew go in and take my stuff at the same time. She can have the furnishings that aren’t Warner antiques. I just want what was mine when we got married. The rest is all hers anyway.”
“Well, there’s some hope for you, darling. Levi and Jonah have done much better on their second choices. Just get this marriage dissolved and move on. We’re behind you all the way.”
17
The weeks passed as Seattle moved from the delightful color of early fall to the dreary gray of rainy and cold late November.
To Raven it used to be the time she hightailed it out of the Northwest and sought out Los Angeles or Hawaii. But she had roots now. Reasons to stick around. One of them currently looked through a book of birthday cakes Jules Lamprey, a friend of Gillian’s and a pretty wonderful baker, had brought over to Erin’s.
His fourth birthday was approaching and Erin was planning his party to coincide with Thanksgiving and their annual football grudge match thing that Raven made a point to miss every year. She usually made it a point to fly in after dinner and right before Alexander’s birthday. She’d never miss that.
But now she’d be coming over to Gillian and Adrian’s place to help with the food prep while they all played their football game outside. Because Erin had asked her to.
But for the time being, Alexander was trying to choose a cake.
“I bet Jules could make a TARDIS cake.”
His eyes widened and Jules laughed. “I could. I’ve never made a TARDIS cake, but it would be lots of fun.”
“Can I have a Dalek cake?”
Raven looked it up quickly and turned her iPad to Jules. “Just in case you didn’t know.”
Jules’s smile was one of those brilliant girl-next-door things that seemed to enrapture males of all ages. Birds sang and mice made clothes. Or something. She was pretty okay though, as people went.
“I’m a huge Doctor Who fan. I think a Dalek cake would be really awesome. I bet we could put mini doughnuts down the sides.”
Raven nodded. “Doughnuts on a cake? Alexander, I definitely think you should have a Dalek cake.”
His eyes were so wide there wasn’t much to do but lean down to kiss his forehead.
“Yes, please. Doughnuts, Daleks and cake!”
“All right then. I’m sort of excited about this one.” Jules closed the book. “I hear you’re both coming out with us tomorrow night. I haven’t been out dancing in so long.”
Jonah had actually craftily conned her into this “group date” thing. His daughter was coming back home for Thanksgiving and he’d be busy with all that stuff so he wanted a fun-filled evening to tide him over. She assured him she wasn’t upset that he wanted to spend time with his kid, for heaven’s sake. He then told her he wanted Raven and Carrie to meet while she was back in town.
No pressure.
When she opened her door at his knock he took a long, meandering look from the toes of her shoes up to her face. He paused at her nipples, of course.
“You wearing it?”
He meant the chain he’d left in a box on her bed before he’d left to go home several nights before. In it was also the dress she currently wore.
“You spoil me.” And she liked it. She’d never been spoiled before.
“Listen, before we
go, I want to talk to you about something.”
“Ugh, really? Am I going to want to punch you in the throat after you tell me?”
He laughed and led her to the couch where he pulled her to sit with him. “I hope not. But it’s been on my mind. Up front, I’m telling you this not because I did anything wrong, but because if you heard about it from someone else you might get hurt and I can’t have that.” He brushed a fingertip over her heart, against the curve of her breast. His fingers sought the cool metal of the choker she always wore. For him.
“You better tell me because now I’m getting worried.”
“At the Halloween thing at Gillian’s, Levi asked me if I wanted him to do a background check on you.”
Was that it? She’d frankly expected him to have done it already anyway. “Oh. Well, what did you find out?”
He shook his head. “I said no. Or rather, look, as he was talking Erin overheard and she was really pissed off. She tore a strip off both of us. Her anger was righteous. She did it to defend you. And you deserved defending. But I was about to tell him no, thanks, when she came down and got in my face.”
Erin hadn’t said a word. Still, it made her smile to imagine what Erin had been like. Her usually laid-back and happy friend could really get scary when people she cared about got threatened.
“I expect your brother was concerned about my lack of stability in the past. He’s just trying to protect you. Though if Erin got that mad he probably made a gold digger comment.” Which would hurt her feelings considering she’d never done anything like that, ever. She was used to being misjudged, but it still sucked.
“Charlotte has treated me like an ATM these last years. Hell, pretty much since day one. She came from money so I figured she was used to a certain level of comfort and as her husband it was my job to provide it. And then when she had Carrie she used to use that to get more from me. A few thousand here to go on spa trips. Plastic surgery. New wardrobes. Whatever. Even after the divorce she was like that. He’s sensitive about it because he saw me get hurt by it. It doesn’t excuse any hurt you’d have felt if it had happened in your earshot, and believe me when I tell you that when Erin was finished defending you, Levi felt like complete and utter shit. He likes you. He was just trying to protect me. Anyway, I’m not doing it and he’s never asked again. I was going to let it be once I figured Erin hadn’t told you, but I began to panic about how hurt you might be if you heard it from anyone else but me.”