Unbreak My Heart (33 page)

When I glanced up from my phone and saw the distasteful looks, I offered a benign smile. “I’m sorry, you probably think I’m being horribly rude, but I’m not. See, I wasn’t initially invited to this event and being the boss, I do work on Saturdays so being out of touch isn’t an option.”

They blinked as if
work
was a foreign word.

“Do any of you have jobs outside the home?” When no one answered, the whiskey started talking. “None of you wanted a career outside of…whatever it is you do all day? You’re content to boss the servants around? Have lunch at the club and brainstorm ways to help the less fortunate? No offense, but that kind of life would drive me bat-shit crazy. I didn’t graduate from college and gain all this knowledge so I could support my husband behind the scenes and run a household. I run a
company
. A multi-million-dollar corporation. I have employees who rely on me. I have bosses who rely on me. And since I’ve reached this level of responsibility, I can’t just politely pocket my cell phone in my twin-set and ignore my business just because it’s the weekend. I’ll bet none of your husbands left their cell phones in their lockers this morning before they strutted onto the golf course.”

Two of the woman looked surprised, two looked defiant, two looked embarrassed and one woman looked annoyed.

My drinky-poos caught up with me. I excused myself from the table to search for a bathroom.

Upon exiting the ladies’ room, I saw my mother across the narrow hallway, pretending to study the photos on the wall, but I knew she’d been waiting to pounce.

She faced me. Her eyes had the nasty glint that promised this ass-chewing would be a doozy. “Are you happy now that you’ve humiliated me in front of my friends on what’s supposed to be my big, special day?”

“How exactly have I humiliated you?”

“Where would you like me to start? By getting drunk? By shoving cake in your mouth as if you were food deprived?”

“I
am
food deprived. You can’t have an open bar at noon and then skimp on appetizers.”

She adopted a patronizing expression. “I wasn’t aware an open bar was an open invitation to get drunk. No one else seems to have taken advantage of free booze or taken issue with the food.”

“I’m sure none of your friends noticed as they were too busy gossiping.”

“You certainly presented something for them to focus on with that embarrassing and tacky gift you passed off to me.”

My cheeks heated, more from anger than embarrassment.

“I specifically told you what to buy me and as usual you ignored me.”

“Newsflash; it’s called a gift for a reason. You don’t get to dictate what gift I buy you.”

“If you had, you wouldn’t have disgraced yourself and shamed me.”

“Shamed you,” I repeated. “No. That’s what you’re doing to me right now. Barely acknowledging my existence. Putting me at a table with a bunch of pearl-clutching do-gooders whose only purpose are their pet charities? Yeah, no wonder I was drinking. But I suppose it was too much to hope that I might’ve had a seat at your table, for your ‘big special day.’ After all, I’m only your daughter.”

Her lips curled into a sneer. “Grow up, Sierra. You’ve always been such a brat if you’re not the center of attention.”

Same old shit, different day. I didn’t know why I bothered with her.

“Not to mention your complete and utter disrespect for me when you had your cell phone out and were texting during the entire event. How does that make me look? Like I raised a rude child with zero manners.”

If I pointed out Dad raised me, then she could pass the blame onto him, so I said nothing.

“Now I have to worry that you’ll employ that same ‘humiliate my mother’ tactic at my wedding.”

“Wrong. It won’t be an issue because I’m not coming to your wedding.”

She rolled her eyes. “Again with the bratty, threatening behavior.”

“So with that…I’m done.” I turned away.

Boone was striding toward me. With each step he got closer, that hollow space inside me shrunk.

Then his strong arms were around me. He kissed me squarely on the mouth—not a sweet lover’s peck but a quick reminder of his possession and his passion for me. He peered into my eyes and whatever he saw there had him concerned. “What happened?”

“Nothing I wasn’t expecting. Can we—”

“Who, exactly, are you?” my mother demanded.

Boone held his hand in front of my mom’s face, but he never looked away from me when he said to her, “Hush. I was talking to her.”

“Can we just go? I parked—”

“You don’t get to hush me—”

“Don’t interrupt Sierra again,” he warned in a low, menacing tone.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her jaw drop. No one ever spoke to her that way.

But my man did. “How did you get here so fast?”

“Raj drove me. We left right after your dad called. He wanted to make sure I knew—”

“
Gavin
called you?” my mom interrupted.

Boone stood straight. Shoulders back, his big body facing the threat. Every inch of him a soldier. He flicked a dismissive glance at her. “Don’t interrupt me again. I don’t give a damn who you are. You’re just being rude.”

“Now you know where Sierra gets it,” she shot back.

Oh no she didn’t.

And Mom just kept poking his buttons. “How do
you
know Gavin?”

“I’ve known him for years. But you don’t have a clue who
I
am, do you? So what does that say about you?” He glared at her. “Oh, so now you’re
not
going to interrupt me when I ask you a direct question?”

I choked back a laugh.

“It says that what’s going on in your daughter’s life doesn’t matter to you. Guess what? It matters to Gavin. And it matters to me. So I won’t bother introducing myself.”

He threaded his fingers through mine and led me away.

“Y
ou’re my hero,
Boone. Seriously.”

Gavin Daniels was
my
hero for putting up with Sierra’s bitch of a mother and managing to raise such a beautiful, caring, smart, kind daughter.

Christ, that woman was a nasty piece of work.

“The only thing that would’ve made it better? If you’d marched in wearing your army uniform.”

Sierra actually swooned against me.

Or maybe the whiskey had kicked in.

“But then she would’ve known your name, right? Because you’re labeled with it on the front.”

“Yes, there’s a name patch on the right side of my uniform. My rank is on the left side and both sleeves.” I stopped for a moment and scanned the area. It seemed every other car in this parking lot was a Mercedes. I pressed the horn alarm on her key fob to save time.

She’d parked in the back row as far from the building as possible.

That was telling.

I let the horn blare and didn’t care if it was a dick move. The golfers teeing off at the first hole could deal with it for another minute. Although I could admit disappointment a
Quiet, please
sign didn’t pop up over the perfectly manicured hedge.

Sierra laughed. “I have to use the horn button thingy all the time. I never remember where I park, especially in parking garages. I mean, who pays attention to that stuff?”

“You should always be aware of your surroundings.”

“Says army soldier guy who always checks the perimeter. Amirite?” She bumped her hip into mine and stumbled.

I caught her around the waist. “Careful.”

She twined her arms around my neck. “You are ridiculously hot. I could stare at your beautiful face forever.”

Good to know my girl was a sweet drunk. I kissed her smiling lips. “I hope so.”

“Can I tell you a secret?”

“Sure.”

“My feet hurt and I think I have blisters. I hate these stupid, ugly shoes. My mom bought them for me as a peace offering and she didn’t even notice I was wearing them today. So I’m in pain for nothing.”

“Hang on.” I leaned down far enough to hook my right arm behind her knees. I lifted her up, cradling her to my chest. “This’ll save you a few steps.”

Sierra buried her face in my neck. “You really are my hero, Boone West.”

I set her on her feet beside the car to open the passenger door.

“Just a sec.” She clutched my arm while she removed her shoes. Then she pulled back and let one shoe fly, quickly followed by the other. They landed on the blacktop with a muffled thump.

Except she was drunk and had lousy aim so the shoes didn’t go far.

She dusted her hands together. “There. Now I feel better.”

I was trying really hard not to laugh. Not only was my girl a sweet drunk, she was a funny drunk.

She stepped around me and hopped into the seat. “Oh. And make sure you run over them when we leave. At least twice.”

I did laugh at that. I climbed in the driver’s side and had to move the seat back first thing. How could Sierra drive crammed up under the steering wheel?

And then Sierra was crammed against the steering wheel and me because she’d crawled onto my lap. “Hi.”

“Uh. Hi. What are you doing?”

“Seducing you.” She hit the lever that lowered the back of the seat to the horizontal position.

Fuck. She’d hiked her dress to her hips, exposing those smooth thighs I loved to be between. My hands immediately sought contact with her skin.

Warm lips landed on mine. I could detect the flavor of whiskey. I got the full taste of it when Sierra shoved her tongue past my teeth.

Stop this. Pull back.

Easier said than done when the woman was pulling out all the stops. Her hands gripping my hair. That hungry mouth feeding me hot, wet, deep kisses. Her lithe body writhing on mine. Then she started that teasing pelvis roll that drove me crazy.

She backed up to get a better angle and her ass bumped into the horn. She broke the kiss with a laugh. “Oops.”

But that allowed me to regain my senses. “We can’t do this.”

“Yes we can. I’ve wanted to do it in a car with you since I was sixteen. Just give in to the moment. I’m on top. I’ll do all the work.”

“Another time, in a less public place.” I didn’t tack on
when you’re not drunk
.

“Boone—”

“Stop.” I clamped my hands on the backs of her legs. “I don’t want these creepy country club dudes seeing this hot ass bouncing up and down, okay?”

That caught her attention. She sighed and kissed the hollow of my throat. “Okay. But promise me we’ll do it in a car. In a kinky role-playing game, where you’re wearing your uniform and you pull me over. I tell you if I have another traffic violation I’ll lose my license so I’ll do
anything
not to get that ticket…”

I groaned. “Have you been watching porn?”

She giggled. “They’re full of really great ideas.”

I slapped her ass. “Get back in your seat and behave.”

“Yes, sir, officer.”

Smartass.

Once we were both buckled up, I peeled out of the parking spot and ran over her shoes. Then I put it in reverse and backed over them.

Sierra laughed hysterically.

Then she asked me where I’d hidden the fried chicken because she was starved.

Next time I glanced over at her—like two minutes later—she’d conked out.

She didn’t stir when I lifted her out of the car or when I carried her into the house.

I settled her on the couch instead of the bedroom so I could keep an eye on her. After I tucked an afghan around her and kissed her forehead, I noticed Lu standing between the great room and kitchen.

“Didn’t mean to startle you.” She dipped her chin at Sierra. “Rough time at the bridal luncheon?”

“A seven-whiskey luncheon, apparently.”

“Yikes. Poor thing.” She returned to the kitchen.

I followed her, wondering what she was doing here.

She’s Sierra’s roommate. She lives here.

“Raj fell into bed after he came back from dropping you off. I’m letting him sleep.” She scanned me, head to toe. “You’re wiped, dude.”

“Midnight to noon shifts suck, which is why I mainline caffeine.” I gestured to the groceries strewn across the counters. “What’re you up to?”

“Cooking. Living in this house with Sierra and this dream kitchen has spoiled me. So I’m making Raj dinner. Shish-kebobs, mushroom risotto, arugula salad and angel food cake.”

I whistled. “Lucky man. But I know it’s not his birthday.”

“I wanted to do something nice for him.”

“He’ll appreciate it. Neither one of us is a great cook.”

She started chopping something green.

“So I’ll let you get to it.”

“Stay, if I’m not keeping you from something. I promise I’ll clean up my mess when I’m done and Sierra won’t know I destroyed her kitchen.”

Weird thing to say. “Cool. I’m grabbing a bottle of water. You want one?”

“I’m good. I’ll have a glass of wine when I open the bottle to make the salad dressing.”

I took a seat at the breakfast bar.

Lu lowered her knife and studied me. “It’d probably be good for us to get to know each other better, since Raj is your BFF and Sierra is mine.”

“Agreed. So should I call you Lu or Lucinda Grace?”

“Lu.” She scraped the greens off the cutting board into a small bowl. “Sierra called you to rescue her from luncheon hell?”