Beautifully Decadent (Beautifully Damaged Book 3) (40 page)

I wasn’t handling it in stride; I just wasn’t handling it. She gave birth to me, but she wasn’t my mother. “I don’t pretend to understand her life, but she isn’t my mother. She made that choice. My only concern is Dad because despite everything, he still loves her. And whatever is happening now, I don’t want to see him hurt again. Do I appreciate her stepping up? Sure, but it’s too little too late for me.”

“Maybe she had a good reason to stay away.”

“Maybe. And maybe if I ever learn why, I’ll feel differently, but I’ve lived my life without a mom. One small effort on her part doesn’t change that.”

“That’s fair. I’d feel the same if my dad attempted to reach out now after being neglected for so long. But your mom, she had tears in her eyes, so I don’t think it was just your dad carrying the torch. She said the game was changing. What do you think she meant by that?”

“I don’t know.”

“When she came into Clover, she’d been with a man that I didn’t get the sense was her husband. I don’t know why I got that vibe, but he seemed more guardian than husband. He got a call while I was at their table and they both hightailed it out of there. It was odd at the time, seems even stranger now. Knowing now who she is, do you think she knew of my connection to you?”

“Yes.”

“The fact that she’s there, that’s she been watching, I think speaks volumes. And I get where you’re coming from, but it’s so sad that she was forced to be on the periphery of her family’s lives. Your grandfather sounds like a real asshole.”

Even angry she was adorable.

Rolling us so she was straddling my hips, I pulled her mouth to mine. “You’re so fucking sweet.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Mom, aren’t you heading to the West coast to see the Grand Canyon? That’s always been a dream.”

“Are you kidding? My daughter is in love. I want to meet this man.”

“But Mom, seriously, it’s like a bad sitcom. You can’t show up here in your RV with your souvenir t-shits. It’s mortifying.”

“You’re just going to need to deal, baby girl, because Harold and I are on our way. You tell that lovely Rafe we won’t be any trouble.”

“Right, except for the fact that he’s going to have a small house parked in his driveway. Besides Nat’s coming as is Jessica. Your visits are going to overlap and that’s too many people for me to have parading around Rafe’s home.”

“It’ll be fine, Harold and I can sleep in the RV. Oh, I can’t wait to meet him in person.”

I seriously needed to get her off the scent and so I threw my sister under the bus. “Have you heard about Nat and her new beau?”

“What? Nat has a beau?”

With luck she’d detour to Nat’s first, which would give Rafe and me time to make our escape. “She does and he’s wonderful. You really should meet him.”

“I know what you’re doing, Avery, and it isn’t going to work. We’re coming to see you first. You can expect us sometime early next week. How’s the job?”

“Wonderful.”

“That’s what I want to hear.” Her voice turned icy when she asked, “Have you heard from your father?”

“No.”

“I just don’t understand that man, not one bit.”

“Nat wanted to buy me a new car when she was here. I wouldn’t let her because I hadn’t reached the place where she is, but I have reached that place. I understand why you and Dad aren’t together, but we’re his children. I don’t understand how a man can treat his kids like that and even worse, have another child he’ll end up ignoring. My heart goes out to that kid because Dolly will pay that child even less attention than Dad. It’s not right.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Anyway, I’ll tell Nat you’re coming and maybe we can stagger the visits a bit, but first I have to clear it all with Rafe.”

“Good idea, but I’m sure he’s as eager to meet us as we are to meet him.”

I wasn’t so sure that was true, but I didn’t share my doubts with Mom. “Okay. I’ve got to get ready for work. I’ll call you once I’ve spoken to Rafe and Nat.”

“Can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too.”

Returning home from work, my attention was immediately pulled to the back of the yard that, despite being dark, was lit up. Climbing from my car and grabbing my bag, I moved closer to see what Rafe was up to. There was a work light shining on the tree Loki and I often sat under, but it was the sight of Rafe tightening the bolt to the swing that had me feeling all gooey inside. Loki barked, which had Rafe turning in my direction.

He greeted me with a smile before he asked, “What do you think?”

“It’s exquisite.” And it was. It was a wooden porch swing that Rafe had stained a light cherry, but it was the design on the seat back that had my full attention—it was done in the shape of cupcakes.

“I know how much you and Loki like it back here, I thought this might be more comfortable than the bench.”

“Cupcakes?”

He looked down, but not before I saw the grin that curved his lips. “It’s for me too, I wanted a little piece of you outside.”

I dropped my bag and launched myself at him. “I love it.” Taking his face into my hands I added, “I love you.”

He liked that based on how his mouth captured mine, showing me just how much he liked my words. Lust pitched his voice deeper. “Are you getting a shower now?”

Taking a shower with him? Absolutely. But first…“In a minute. First, I’d like to sit on this swing with you and then we’ll get naked and wet.”

“We?”

“As if I’ll ever take another shower without you.”

“As if I’d let you.”

Settling on the swing, Loki dropped down next to us. “You’re right, this is way more comfortable. This is the project you were working on for me, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s perfect. And wait until the gardens are all done, we’ll get to sit here and admire our work.”

His arm came around my shoulders as I curled deeper into his side. I needed to tell him about my mom’s visit, but instead I enjoyed the quiet of the evening with the man I loved. And it was because I was pressed up against his hard, muscular body, that contentment shifted to desire.

Jumping from the swing, I grabbed my bag and started for the carriage house, Loki on my heels. “Last one in the shower has to make dinner.”

The words were barely out of my mouth when a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against a hard chest. “I’ll feed you, but let’s work up an appetite first.”

“I like the way your mind works.”

Folding the chocolate into the whipped cream at work the following day, I thought about my meeting earlier with the sketch artist. He worked for the police department. We actually met at the station, before his shift started, and the experience was exactly like what I’d seen in movies. And when done, it was uncanny how accurately the artist had captured the man. Josh hadn’t been able to join us, so the artist intended to fax the sketch to Josh after work. Hopefully the sketch would help with identifying the ‘who’ and the ‘why’ so this whole mess could be tied up before my family arrived.

And thinking of family had me thinking about the conversation I had had with Mom, specifically how I was ready to move on in regards to my dad. Harder to do than say, but I knew one way to help get the ball in motion. I needed a new car. I called Nat.

“If you tell me there’s a fourth one, I swear to you I will plot your death for real.”

“You’re an idiot. No, I’ve decided it’s time for a new car.”

Her phone dropped; at least I’m pretty sure that’s what caused the loud clanging noise in my ear. Once recovered, she asked, “Are you serious?”

“Yes, it’s time.”

“Shit, I have surgery in a half an hour.”

“I’m working anyway.”

“Oh no. We are striking while the iron is hot. Knowing you, you’ll have a change of heart by the end of shift. I’ll be on the road around three. You have a meal break, you’re taking it at a car dealership.”

“This can wait for a few days. We can do it during your visit.”

“We are doing it today. And call Rafe. Another voice of reason to convince you out of purchasing the offspring of your sad-excuse for a car is wise.”

“Calling you was a mistake.”

“Mistake or not, it’s done.” Silence for a beat before she said, “I’m sorry you had to reach this point, but I’m glad I’ll be there to help you through it.”

Maybe this wasn’t a mistake after all. “Love you, Nat.”

“Love you. See you soon.”

“That’s flamboyant, I don’t want that.” As promised Nat showed up at Clover to steal me away to look at cars. When learning of our plans, Rafe immediately agreed to join us. Jessica was shopping with us too; Nat thought it couldn’t hurt to have a third voice of reason, even though Jessica was not in person, but on the phone—parroting all of Nat’s picks. Sometimes I wondered if they weren’t the sisters.

“You can’t go wrong with a Camaro, it’s Bumblebee.” Nat said, to which Jessica agreed fervently.

Rafe was clearly of a similarly mindset as Nat and Jess, but the car he had them bring around for me wasn’t Bumblebee. A more fitting name would be Maleficent: all that power and beauty. A black, convertible Camaro with tan leather interior and all the bells and whistles pulled up and stopped just in front of me. It was ridiculously expensive and the most beautiful car I’d ever seen, but I wasn’t spending that kind of money on a car. “I was thinking more along the lines of the Spark.”

The disapproving groans were nearly in harmony, ruined when Jessica squawked through the phone. “What? The Spark. What is wrong with you? Are you inhaling the flour at work? You are, aren’t you? Nat! Do not let her get the Spark.”

Nat immediately chimed in, reiterating Jess practically word-for-word. Rafe, who’d been off to the side observing the dynamics, walked to me and draped his heavily muscled arm over my shoulders. I really liked his arm around my shoulders, liked that he was here, but more I liked that he didn’t jump on the bandwagon, even knowing he felt the same about my car. Instead he was offering a silent sign of support. And then he said, “You’ve been driving around in, well, you know my feelings about your car. Live a little.”

“Listen to Rafe, he’s a very smart man.” Jessica commented again, but she was practically licking her phone screen.

“You’re just infatuated.” I muttered.