“You’re right, but—”
“Listen, Cash, I promise you that Tiger’s the best person for this job.”
“Fine, but why does she have to live here? I’m sure the Lyons family own other properties for her to live in.”
“I want someone on site at all times, and that’s why I added the provision in the contract to let her live in the pool house until the project is complete. I’m not changing my mind on this, so if you have a problem with her, I’ll tell her to pack everything and everyone up and clear out.”
I squeeze the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. “No, that’s not what I want. I need this house to be move-in ready as soon as possible. I’ll make it work with the princess.” I blow out a huge breath and scrub my fingers through my hair. “And, hey, man, I was really sorry to hear about Maggie’s cancer. I’m glad she’s better.”
“Thanks, but you need to know that so-called princess is the only reason I didn’t lose my mind and my business during the time Maggie was sick. Tiger is the real deal, and I suggest you try having a conversation with her and get to know her. There’s a whole lot of incredible human underneath the beautiful façade. Listen, if there’s nothing else, I’ve gotta go.”
It’s clear Donny is sick of this conversation. “No, there’s nothing else.”
“I’ll let you buy me a beer when I get back in town.” My old buddy, Donny, was back.
“You got it.” I hang up and move into a small empty room off the kitchen that smells of new paint.
There’s a cot folded up in the corner, but it’s otherwise bare. There’s also a functioning bathroom next to the room. Other than these two places and the kitchen, the house is in varying stages of repair. The work that’s been done is excellent, and the attention to detail is really impressive.
I make my way back to the living area, which is partially complete. Dark exposed beams are beautiful against the gleaming white paint of the of the vaulted ceiling. It’s perfect for my mom, if a bit large, but she’ll love it.
But will she really?
I chew the inside of my lip. She’s so touchy about some things, and our old neighborhood is one of them.
I glance around this huge house I own.
Sun glints off the Bugatti parked in the drive.
The weight of my Patek Philippe watch rests on my wrist.
I’m Cash Fuckin’ King now, and not that King boy from the wrong side of the tracks anymore.
Loud banging comes from upstairs, and I’m tempted to follow the sound, but I don’t want to get in the way. Plus, I don’t think another run-in with Tiger is a good idea, no matter how much I want one, which is a weird thought. I’m usually conflict averse with the women in my life. As soon as things start to get heavy and messy in a relationship, I’m out. So why do I want to go pick a fight with the former Miss Texas, USA?
No idea. I leave before I give in to the temptation.
This isn’t how I planned for my peaceful and ego-boosting trip home to go. Not at all.
I turn on the car and sit in the air-conditioned interior. The regal façade of Wayland Estate looms in front of me, screaming old money with its vaulted porch and big white pillars across the front of the house. The circular drive only adds to the elegance of the home. I remember driving past Wayland Estate as a kid and thinking the king and queen of Ryder must live in the big house on the hill. That thought was pretty much confirmed the one time I visited Tiger to work on our science project. We sat on the back porch, overlooking a fruit orchard beyond the pool, while her housekeeper served us sodas and cookies. I didn’t know that kind of life was actually real, until that day. I’ve never felt more like a street rat than when her parents got home, gave me the once-over, then ended our study session.
The phone in my car rings through the speakers. It’s my trainer, Duke, the best middle linebacker to ever come through Ryder High. His high school and college accolades rival mine. I’d be chasing his professional awards too, if his NFL career hadn’t been cut short by an injury he couldn’t rehab back to top performance.
For the last four years, he’s worked with high-performance professional athletes to improve their play or get them back in the game. We were always friendly, but now that he’s taken on the job of helping me stay ahead of my injuries, we’re closer than brothers.
“Hey, man.”
“How’s the bustling metropolis of Ryder?”
“Weird.”
He laughs. “That’s a given. How’s your mom?”
“Not sure, I haven’t seen her yet.” I glance behind me, do a three-point turn to get out of the driveway, then head into town. “Have you talked to her? If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was purposely ditching me.” Duke and my mom are close. Sometimes I think she likes him better than me.
“No, not in a couple of days. But it’s ridiculous to think your mom’s ditching your calls. Gracie King is the most loving, attentive mom around.”
“I know, that’s why her unavailability seems odd. I’ll figure it out. I didn’t return her phone calls yesterday or the day before. She could be pissed about that.”
“Why didn’t you return your mom’s calls?”
“Do you return all of your mom’s calls?”
“Good point.”
“Besides, I’ve been busy and haven’t felt like hearing Ryder gossip or how her second cousin’s father-in-law had prostate surgery last week. I’ve also had shit on my mind.” I can be a selfish bastard during football season, and this injury has only made it worse. Guilt kicks me in the gut. I should’ve called her back or at least returned her texts. I’ll have to make it up to her.
“Still, your mom is great.”
“Yes, but she also has a temper. You know that as well as I do. That’s probably why she’s giving me the cold shoulder.”
“Good luck with that.” Duke’s witnessed Gracie King’s temper a time or two. “When will you be back to Fort Worth?”
“I’ll be back for the game Sunday.”
“Alright, see you then.”
“See ya.” I disconnect the phone and try to ignore the guilt slapping me in the face. Duke’s right, I should’ve called my mom back. The last time I talked to her before today was about a week ago, but she knows how important football is to me. She also knows all my energy goes into being the best I can be.
Keep telling yourself that, Cash, and maybe you’ll believe it.
I adore my mom, but the truth is, her civic pride gets to me sometimes. She conveniently forgets how terrible people were to her while my dad and uncles were running roughshod all over this town. How she and I weren’t welcomed places, or how store owners used to follow us around to make sure we didn’t steal anything. Or what hearing our last name used like a swear word felt like.
It took my dad and uncles being killed in a car accident, and me excelling at football, for the good folks of Ryder to offer her a seat at the table. A seat she deserved long before they found her worthy.
I’m grateful that I found football and appreciative of how the town has supported my career.
But I have a longer memory than my mom.
Six
Tiger
I throw the last of the debris on the scrap pile behind the house, but some of it slides off the other side. “Damn it to hell.”
“Baby girl, I’ve never seen you this rattled. Is this about the rec center?” James asks.
My anger dwindles some at the use of the endearment. James is in his fifties and has taken on the role as my surrogate father. He and his wife Barb don’t have children, and it was nice to know I had them in my corner as my life went to hell, and my own parents abandoned me. “Not exactly.”
“What is it, exactly?”
“Cash King.” Even saying the name causes the tick, tick, tick of my blood pressure as it rises. “It’s also about the rec center and the fact that he can afford to buy this house but turned down our grant application.” I pick at a loose stitch on my work gloves. “I
haven’t spoken to the man since homecoming of our senior year. I’ve seen him a few times over the years, when he’s come to town, but I’ve avoided him like the plague.”
“Because of an inconsequential rumor?”
“James, it wasn’t an inconsequential rumor. Believe me, there were lots of consequences—for me. He got off scot-free. I never knew something could blow up that fast. It’s all anyone talked about for weeks. It got so bad that I thought I’d have to homeschool for the remainder of the year.”
“I didn’t know how bad it was for you. I’m sorry.”
I wave away his apology. “I know it sounds stupid to still be mad at him for something he did twelve years ago, but it kind of altered the course of my life. Brad and I were broken up when the rumor started, and my parents insisted I get back together with him to save my reputation. If that hadn’t happened, then I wouldn’t have ended up marrying him, and I wouldn’t have spent eight years as his adornment.”
His bushy brows push together, causing the skin between them to pucker. “Hmm.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He reaches down and picks up a chunk of the sink by his feet. “It’s just that, Cash didn’t make you marry Brad. No one did.”
“But—”
He holds up his big, calloused hand with the crooked little finger. “Let me finish. I’m not sayin’ your parents and Brad didn’t make things difficult for you, but ultimately it was your choice to marry him.” His big shoulders rise and fall. “I’m sorry, Tiger girl, but them’s the facts.”
One of the things I love most about James is his no-nonsense attitude. It’s what drew me to him when we first met, but today, I kind of hate it. “You don’t understand.”
“I think I do,” he says, and not without sympathy.
“No, you don’t. You don’t know what it’s like to have no real power, and the one thing you do have isn’t worth a dime.”
I march over to retrieve some more scraps that fell off the pile and throw them back onto the heap, then turn and run right into James’ chest. His big arms come around me, and I’m enveloped in his Irish Spring embrace.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a bad situation worse.”
“You didn’t,” I say, and wipe my eyes on his shirt. I can’t believe I’m crying over this mess. “Cash did when he decided to reject the community, invade my life, and buy this house.”
A sharp bark of laughter rumbles under my ear, and I pull back to see his face.
“It’s not funny.”
“It’s kind of funny.”
“No, it’s not.” But I can’t help the twitch of my lips. “It’s a disaster.”
“Okay, I’m fully on team We-Don’t-Like-Cash-King. Barb would have my hide if she thought I was siding against you.”
A red car, worth more than the national debt of a small third world country, pulls into the drive. That vehicle’s price tag is far greater than the money we requested for the rec center. And my fury flares again. James releases one arm but keeps the other around my shoulders in what I know is a show of solidarity. My heart takes an erratic lap around my chest when the man himself unfolds his long, strong body from the vehicle. The wind catches his hair that’s slightly too long, making him look like he’s on a damn photo shoot. He doesn’t strut toward us. No, he moves like a man who knows life is dangerous because he’s faced it and lived to tell the tale.
A small sigh slips from my lips. Apparently, my hormones have snagged a front row seat to this show. And I AM FURIOUS with my stupid self. Because with a few well-placed muscles and that slow deliberate stride, my body is ready to roll out the red carpet for this man.
Not in this life, sister. Get it together.
So I get it together and congratulate my psyche for wrangling my estrogen-crazed self back under control. I take a step away from James, but he holds me tightly to his side. I glance up, and his face is hard as a rock. He must’ve seen something in Cash’s gaze that made him think I wasn’t safe. But I’m a big girl. I’m capable of handling a spoiled professional athlete. I take a step away, and this time, my protector releases me. “Cash, I’d like you to meet James Miles, the crew chief on the job. James, this is Cash King.”
James extends his hand and Cash shakes it, but the two are locked in a staring contest.
“Cash.”
“James.”
Finally, they break apart, and my friend resumes his position beside me.
“Listen, Kitty Cat …” The jerk’s top lip curls up into a sneer, and I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say. “I don’t know what kind of operation you ran before I got here, but there’s not going to be any more of this.” He waves his hand between me and James. “I don’t care what you two have going on, but you’re not going to do it on my time.”
The growl that rumbles up from James’s throat is the scariest thing I’ve ever heard. “I beg your pardon?”
I place my hand on James’s chest. “It’s not worth an explanation, James. Go on back inside. Text me if you have any questions about the master bath plans.” To his credit he doesn’t fight me, which makes me love him all the more.
James looks Cash up and down. His nose wrinkles like he smells something foul, then he glances at me. “You were right about him.” With another glare in the new owner’s direction, he walks away.
I cross my arms over my chest and wait. I’m not explaining myself to him. I owe him nothing.
“Kind of old for you, isn’t he?” Cash matches my stance.
Still I say nothing.
“This house needs to be completed ASAP, so save your fraternizing for after work hours.”
A satisfied look slithers onto his face like he’s gotten one over on me. I keep my mouth shut.
“Got nothing to say?” His beautiful honey-colored eyes are hard as granite.
“I haven’t heard anything that is A, your business, or B, worth a response. If you want to discuss the plans for the house, or you have a concern about the remodel, then I’m all ears. Otherwise your opinion of me matters about this much.” I hold my thumb and forefinger as close together as I possibly can without one touching the other.
“Fine. I want to go over all the plans for the remodel—now.”
I hold out my hand toward the pool house where I’ve set up a makeshift office. “After you.”
He glides past me and maneuvers around the patio furniture like he owns the place, which I guess he does. Damn it. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I do work for him now.
Inside the pool house, I flick on some lights and move to the desk in the corner of the living room. It’s big for a pool house, with a large room that includes the kitchen and a small eating area. There’s a bedroom and a large bathroom as well. It’s perfect for me, and I’m super grateful that Donny is letting me live here until this job is complete. If not, I’d be sleeping on his and Maggie’s couch.
I lead Cash to a table and motion to the first set of plans. “This is what we’ve designed for the ground floor. The non-weight-bearing walls have been knocked out to open the space. The kitchen was gutted, and we added a large island that seats four and extended the breakfast nook. We’re pretty married to these plans, but of course we’ll consider any suggestions you have and try to accommodate them. It’s difficult to change midstream, but I’m sure Donny will work with you as much as he can.”
I point to a section in the west corner of the house. “There are four bedrooms upstairs including a master suite. We’ve taken out this wall here and are adding another master suite downstairs.” My finger moves to another section. “And we’ve added a morning room here.”
He scratches his chin and studies the drawing. “I like it. It’s good that there’s a master downstairs. My nan can’t climb the stairs every day.”
“Your nan? You mean your grandmother?”
He doesn’t look at me but continues to evaluate the plans. “Yes, this will be my mom’s home, and where my mom goes
, Nan goes. And Nan’s not going anywhere without Joe.”
“Oh.” It’s all I say. I don’t have to be nice to this man, only professional.
“What’s the estimated completion date?” His gaze isn’t as hard, but there’s something unpleasant there.
“Six weeks, barring any major changes.” I keep my voice as flat as his.
“You don’t like me very much, do you?”
The question is so unexpected that I answer without thinking. “Not really.” I swallow any other words that follow that line of thinking and begin rolling up the plans. “Well, if there’s nothing else, I have someplace to be.” I motion toward the door in the universal sign for you can leave now. “We’ll do a good job for you. The bones of the house are solid, and you should be happy with the results. Let me know if there’s anything you want changed, and I’ll discuss it with Donny and the architect.”
“I’ve spoken with Donny.”
“Oh?”
“He’s made it clear that if you go, then the whole crew goes, and I can’t afford that right now. But you should know, I don’t have a lot of confidence that you can do this job, and I’m not happy about you living here.”
I pull on every ounce of haughtiness that I used to hide behind. This man does not have my permission to make me feel inferior. “That’s a fairly shitty thing to say, but I don’t know why I expected anything more from you.” I want to blast him for rejecting the grant proposal, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how invested in the project I am. It would only give him more ammunition to use against me. I head toward the door, hoping he’ll follow. “As I said, I have someplace—”
“You still think you’re better than me, don’t you?”
I stop mid-step and slowly turn to him. “What are you talking about?”
He leans his butt against the table and crosses his arms over his chest. “You’ve always thought you were too good for me or anyone else. The snobby rich girl who thought she was better than the rest of the town, especially someone from Ryder East.”
Homecoming King Page 4