A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3) (6 page)

“Why were you going to leave?”

“Well...things weren’t really going right. A lot of things fell into place right away, but some didn’t. And, before you ask, I stayed because William tipped the scales to make any bad things easily tolerable.”

“You aren’t from money?”

“Elaine! Mind your manners,” Denise interjected.

Lump slowed, tense. Her protective instincts were starting to kick in.

“I’m not, no. In fact, I put myself through college, so I had very little money for the duration. Always enough, but not much extra.”

“Then how did you afford that bull?” she persisted.

“Elaine, now that’s enough. Her monetary funds are no concern of yours,” Denise said more firmly.

Elaine’s eyes never wavered.

I shrugged. It wasn’t a big secret to me, and if it helped her get over this idea that I was with William for the money, I’d write it down for her.

“It’s okay, Denise,” I said, drying a crystal glass. “I don’t have anything to hide. Lump and Adam know this. No reason why Elaine shouldn’t. Although, Elaine, I must please ask that you don’t share this with William. He wouldn’t be thrilled to hear it.”

Elaine lifted her chin slightly, registering that she might be overstepping her boundaries. Not that she would admit it, being her mother’s daughter.

“Uh, well, I had four thousand I could easily turn into cash, plus I could move some things around to get a bit more. I was hoping the cash would do it--”

“But Willie said he offered five, isn’t that right?” Elaine asked her mom. Denise nodded.

“Right, he did. And I had to pretend to dislike the Davies in general to get him to consider a lower amount. Sorry about that.”

Denise just nodded her head, wanting me to go on but not wanting to say so.

“Anyway, so then the negotiations began. I had the four grand cash, cash being a huge bargaining chip, and I had the dumb, weepy girl routine that Lu—Betz helped with exponentially, so I got him down to thirty-five hundred in the end.”

Elaine’s eyes widened in surprise, the first emotion I’d seen her make outside of her interrogation mode. But she wasn’t through yet. “What would you have done if it was more?”

“Well...that part I am not proud of. I could have gone up to six—I’ve saved, but beyond that I was going to have to borrow from Gladis or Betz. I already planned to pay interest on whatever I had to borrow.”

“Gladis wouldn’t have accepted interest,” Denise said in good humor.

“No, she certainly wouldn’t want to. She wouldn’t have a choice, though. Luckily it all worked out. William is happy with the mean little thing, so...”

“You would have dropped everything you had on that bull?” Elaine asked skeptically.

Lump leaned forward, dish and towel now resting on the counter. Her face was flat.

“You sound like Adam,” I said quickly, mostly to keep Lump’s mouth shut. “I’ve been able to save so much in so short a time because William won’t let me pay for anything—unless I get sneaky, that is. Adam was letting me borrow his car, so no car payment, and regardless of how many times I say no, Gladis has my house cleaned and refrigerator stocked regularly. My bills are manageable and I don’t have any debt besides the school loans, so…” I shrugged.

“But you would have lost everything.” Elaine persisted, dishes and wine forgotten.

Denise ducked her head, slightly uncomfortable, but still listening. She’d never gotten over the suspicion I was in it for the money.

Lump’s eyebrows looked like thunderclouds.

“It was a present,” I said evenly, wanting this to sink in. “It wasn’t gambling—it’s not like I would lose my money. It was what William wanted. Like I told Adam; easy come, easy go. I have been working all my life. Money comes in and money goes out, but as long as I keep achieving and saving, with enough to pay my bills, I’ll end up okay.”

Elaine paused in the questioning, unsure how to go on, but wanting to find something to grab onto. She was way worse than her mother! I’m glad I got through Denise first.

Finally she said, “Where did you keep it? The bull, I mean. What did you do with it?”

“Adam’s place. He helped with the whole thing.”

“That’s right,” Elaine said, nodding, already knowing that answer but wanting to see if I would trip up in the story. “Who fed and watered the bull?”

Lump leaned against the counter, her fingers clutching granite.

“I did. I went out four times a week to feed and water it. That was the worst part of the whole encounter. I plan to make William do my chores around the house for a week to make up for it!

“Why do you call him William instead of Willie?”

Lump lowered her head, taking large breaths in through her nose, and slowly releasing through her mouth. She was trying not to tear Elaine a new one, it being William's sister and all, but she wouldn’t last much longer.

“That is how he introduced himself,” I answered, walking toward the island, ready to leave the kitchen and take Lump with me. “I asked him if he wanted me to call him Willie, but he said he preferred William, so...”

Elaine’s head swiveled to her mother, where she received a nod. Hazel eyes back to me with the next dig at the ready.

It was here, as I reached for my wine glass, that Adam entered. He was in time to hear Elaine’s next question.

“When did you find out Willie was part owner of the company you were employed with?”

Adam noticed Lump’s angry glare and my flight plan. Before I could answer, he lazily walked over and put his arm around my shoulders.

“Now, Denise,” he said lethargically with the corners of his mouth curved up in a knowing smile, “you ain’t having your daughter ask all the hard hitting questions for you, are ya?”

Denise looked displeased. “Adam, Jessica has already won me over, you know that. But if Elaine doesn’t get this out now, she’ll keep at it until God knows when. I am just the referee.”

“Hmm.” Adam squeezed my head into his chest. “Well, maybe you didn’t know
this.
Our solid little Willie accused this sweet girl of cheating on him the last week before Christmas.”

“Adam!” I said into his stone chest, not able to get myself free.

“It’s true. Willie thought she had come over to the dark side with me. Which she had, but only to feed the young bull she toiled to get, spending most of what she had. You know what she did? She stayed her course. She wanted to surprise him. She didn’t know about his past. That he thought she was a repeat...”

Both women exchanged startled looks, then looked at me, half flailing in a most unladylike fashion.

“But she stayed her course. She went through hell just to surprise him. To give him the dang thing he wanted most, besides her, but that he couldn’t obtain for himself. So don’t you question her none. Anyone would be lucky to get a girl like this here.” My head got a little shake.

Somewhere in the fun Adam had turned passionate, as often happened when he was speaking his mind. I would have liked to see their faces, but my head was rammed into an armpit.

At least this time the armpit smelled okay.

I heard someone come in, then stop abruptly. “Adam, what are you doing to that girl?”

It was Tom.

Adam released me suddenly with a chuckle. “I was just saving our little minnow from the sharks.”

“I think that little minnow has two admirers,” Elaine said with a scowl.

“Maybe, but not in this house, unless you mean Tom or Tom Jr. No, I got my eyes on a different fish. I’m just defending the one person that has always defended me is all.”

He tipped his fake hat to me with a big Texas grin.

William walked in and surveyed the scene. “What’s going on?”

“The Davies women were interrogating your woman. I came to play hero,” Adam said, pouring himself a glass of wine.

William shot his sister a glare. Something unspoken passed between them before he crossed to me with an apologetic grin. “They think because I am the youngest I still can’t tie my own shoes. Isn’t that right, sis?”

“You are a baby—I mean
the
baby,” she said with dry humor.

“Uh huh,” he retorted. “C’mon Jess, it’s present time. Bring your fruity cocktail.”

“Jealous of my drink, are you?”

“I can barely contain the jealousy, yes.”

Chapter Four

The night wore on, everyone mixing and talking. I somehow ended up next to Elaine, sipping wine and looking at William animatedly telling a story to Lump and Adam.

“You really love him, don’t ya?” Elaine asked me randomly.

I did a double take, not realizing she was watching me. I wondered how long she’d been at the occupation. It was slightly creepy.

“Yes,” I said matter-of-fact. I was tipsy and it didn’t occur to me to be polite.

“You’re not after his money.” It was a statement.

I laughed. “Of all the reasons to be after him...”

“What do you mean?” She was tipsy, also. More open minded.

“Really?” I asked in disbelief.

I got a questioning look.

“Okay, let’s talk for one minute as if you weren’t born to wealth. If I must list the obvious: he’s gorgeous, a gentleman, eyes that reach into your soul, a more than great body, generous to a fault, hell bent on pleasing, a good sense of humor, impeccable style, smart, and most importantly, open minded enough to let his girl be how she is. He is better than any other man I have ever met.”

“He’s the best of us, surely. He learned from our mistakes as well as his own,” she said darkly. “I’m sorry for my questioning you earlier. There are just so many girls that want him only for his money. Forget your list of qualities—they don’t look past this money to see those things. Not even the girls that
have
their own money.”

“Age old truth, yeah. Just like a pretty girl has to wonder if the guy is after her because of her looks, or because he actually got to know her.”

“Hmm. Never thought of it that way. So I guess you would wonder if Willie just wants you as a trophy?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I wasn’t talking about me, no. That thought never entered my mind. No, Lump,” I motioned to her. “She had a lot of problems with that in L.A. Airhead L.A. beauty, but with more than air in the head.”

“You are both pretty girls. Adam looks infatuated with her. That must be the girl he has his eye on.”

“Adam has a girlfriend.”

“No, they broke up over this Christmas thing. It was going to happen, anyway. I couldn’t imagine a worse pair.” She shrugged. “Is your friend—wait, did you call her Lump?”

“Oh. Yeah. Her real name is Betsy but she hates it. Adam and Gladis call her Betz, but she has always been Lump to me so...”

“Where did she get that name?”

“Long story short—she gave someone a black eye for making fun of her name, so they called her Lump. Have her tell you the story.”

“But Adam calls her by her real name?”

“By a nickname of her real name, yeah.”

“Hmm.” She smirked and her eyes twinkled.

“What?”

“Adam is like a window. He’s hard to read at times, but you hear one thing that acts like Windex, and suddenly you can see right through him.”

“He likes Lump, then.”

She giggled delightedly. “Betcha! He probably has for a while. He is patient about a lot of things. There would be a part of him that would wait forever. Worse than a chick!” She rubbed her hands together and looked toward the kitchen. “Look, let’s have some fun with them. Will your friend forgive us?”

“Uh...what did you have in mind?”

“Nothing really. Just a little matchmaking.” She giggled.

“It’ll be good for her,” I said, intrigued.

“Okay, let’s pretend I pissed you off with a question or something. Stalk off to the kitchen. Lump will probably follow you--”

“William will follow if that happens.”

She made an irritated sound, loudly, and looked at Adam angrily. Him and Lump noticed, their eyes pulled our way. William’s eyes followed a second later, so I did my best to look mad, too. Or was I supposed to be trying to be embarrassed?

Adam and Lump looked from me to Elaine, buying that something was the matter and Adam was the problem. William looked straight at me. I could tell he knew we were up to no good.

Elaine flicked her hair and let her gaze settle back on me. In a mock whisper, she said, “He might try to sell you that he is a poor boy, but have you found out how much he is worth?”

Not where I thought she was going with that one. Elaine wasn’t messing around! I bet she played a lot of pranks as a child.

I couldn’t help looking at Adam in embarrassment.

William stood up slowly, now looking at his sister, silently pleading with her to stop. Oh yeah, a
lot
of pranks.

Elaine grabbed my arm. “C’mon. Let’s get some more wine.”

She threw Adam another glare before letting her eyes settle on Lump.

“
Lump
, why don’t you join us.” As she said the nickname she threw Adam an
‘I know what you’re up to!’
look.

Lump stood up confusedly, following me like a meek lamb. Adam stood up quickly beside her, wanting to stop Lump from going, but not knowing how.

I wasn’t ready for the big leagues. I felt really guilty!

About ready to stop this charade, I followed Elaine’s eyes. Then let a smile curve my lips. It was worth it.

“C’mon Lump,” I said, walking off.

“Jess,” William said as a warning, playing into this nicely.

Lump followed me, trusting, glancing back at Adam in confusion. Elaine scooted off in the lead.

Adam watched us go, expression unsettled and betrayed. Whatever Elaine knew, it was a series sore spot, which meant it probably had to do with his trust fun; money he got from his abusive father and didn’t identify with.

But this would only work if he followed, because I damn well didn’t want to know whatever secret Elaine had rolling around in her head.

I stopped, holding Lump’s arm to get her to stop, too. “Adam, I just don’t understand!” I pleaded.