Wild Irish (Book 1 of the Weldon Series) (13 page)

Jesse later figured out that Langford had been looking for a son-in-law and had probably strong-armed Michele into marrying. Back then, all Jesse could see was that Langford was a man with the inside track to a lot of high society and political VIPs that would make Sheridan-Weldon Solutions a big name. Langford was also a man who held country people in high disdain. Jesse hadn’t invited his family, hadn’t told them of his plans to marry because he didn’t want to expose them to that—at least that had been Jesse’s reasons back then.

“
Ashamed of us?” his father asked. Though spoken softly, his words cut across the room and hit Jesse straight in the gut.

The table grew quiet, the easy jesting tone tense. Jesse felt his mother’s concerned gaze and caught her winding the dishtowel around her hands out of the corner of his eye. He’d often wondered how many of her prayers for her wild boys had been said with her hands wrapped up in a dishtowel. He wasn’t proud for what he had to say, found it painful in some ways, yet he didn’t shirk from the telling of it. “Yes, back then, I was. I equated here, this town, and my family with a road going nowhere.”

Jesse engaged each of their gazes, intent on being understood. “But it was my own fears that were the problem. For eight years I’d had the military shoring me up, a huge buffer from the good old boy, Jesse Weldon, who rode a Harley, skirted just shy of being on the wrong side of the law, and who wasn’t ever going to amount to much. When I got out of the military, when that buffer was gone, I had to prove to myself that I could stand on my own. It took me a while to figure out that it was my family, you Dad, and you Mom, and even my pain in the ass brothers who were the real reason I could stand as a man and be respected. And I’ve done that. I’m even moving part of my company here to Savannah so that I can be back here more. The newspapers can reduce a man’s life to a sorry joke.”

“
A joke?” Jackson picked the paper off the table and read. “Jesse Weldon has become to the security and anti-terrorist industry what Bill Gates is to the computer world.”

Jesse shrugged. “Do you think anybody reading the article is going to remember that? No, they’ll remember only the juicy tidbits the tabloids have blown out of proportion. If anything can be shown in a bad light, it will. Just like the high and mighty in this small town did to anything beneath their wealthy noses. Publicity like this threatens to destroy what I’ve built and I’m not going to let that happen.” As he said the words, the heavy load on his shoulders eased a little. He looked to James and Jared. “I know Shamrock construction is only into the remodeling market, but I’d like for you guys to build my company’s new facility. You interested?”

James’s eyes lit up. “Jared and I have been taking night classes to move into the industrial market. I think we can work something out. Seeing how famous you are, we might have to charge a bit more, but--”

Jared elbowed James in the side. “Count us in,” he said.

“
Welcome home, son.” The light of approval in his father’s eye meant more to Jesse than a thousand newspaper articles.

His brothers made some joking comments about having to put up with his sorry face and his mother had wrung her dishrag into a wad. After a few minutes everyone settled into a different activity. Jesse opted to help his mother in the kitchen.

Despite the years, his mother was still a beauty, silver-lit black hair, a trim figure, and a full heart of compassion in her loving blue eyes. She’d aged, but had done it gracefully.

Jesse set the plates into the soapy water then turned unprepared for the hug his mother gave him. A hint of tears shimmered in her eyes. “It’s about time you came home. You started running when you got that motorcycle at fifteen. I knew it wasn’t the motorcycle that took you away, but I spent most of my time blaming it for losing you. Then I blamed the army. After that I ran out of things to blame and wondered what I’d done wrong.”

Jesse sucked in air, shocked. It had never occurred to him that he’d caused her pain in that way. “Mom, never,” he said, hugging her tighter. “You and dad were the tops. Sometimes a man’s got to find his own way.”

She nodded her head, took a step back and swiped at her eyes. “Best get these dishes done. If I know your father and brothers they’ll be in here eating again inside an hour.”

Considering Jesse already had his eye on the cookie jar, he laughed.

“
There’s something else, I’ve got to say. I know you’ve known Alexi Jordan a long time. I saw you two together twice just before you lit out of town all those years ago and I’ve wondered if she had anything to do with you leaving. From the look of you two kissing, maybe there’s some unfinished business between you and her?”

“
A little, nothing big.” Jesse winced. That was one hell of a way to put it. He had no doubt exactly what his mother’s opinion would be of him if she knew what had gone on yesterday.

Suddenly Emma narrowed her eyes and shot him a warning glance, which took him aback. “I love you, but I know my boys. Alexi Jordan is something special, so don’t go hurting her. She’s got a heart of pure gold.”

“
Alexi is nice…” He frowned at his lame response.

“
God’s own angel,” his mother said.

“
Angel…” Hell she’d been that and more yesterday. Jesse quickly shut off his X-rated memories. They didn’t fit with him and his mother in the kitchen.

Emma kept washing dishes and just when he thought the conversation over and he could escape, she started again.

“
There’s this little girl in the hospital, God Bless her, her kidneys are failing. When the insurance stopped paying, it was Alexi Jordan who picked up the slack. She’s done everything possible to help little Lucy Taylor. For a woman of means, she spends a good deal of her time at the hospital helping out, too. It’s a shame she has to suffer having her life spelled out on the front page of the newspaper.” Emma shook her head.

“
Tell me about it,” Jesse said dryly and picked up the dishtowel. But somehow a little nagging thought in the back of his mind told him he’d earned some of his notoriety and Alexi Jordan hadn’t. He’d also been given another glimpse into Alexi’s character and it didn’t match up to the sexual box he wanted to put her in.

“
It would be nice if you brought her around to meet the rest of the family sometime.”

Jesse’s heart knocked like it did when a horror flick caught him off guard. Bring Alexi home to meet the family? Hell, all he was planning on doing was taking her to bed. Family didn’t enter the equation. “Mom, I don’t want you getting any ideas that Alexi and I are seeing each other. That kiss was just—”

His mother lifted a questioning brow. “Bring her, unless you’re still ashamed of us.”

Oh shit. He had a lot of crow to eat. “I don’t even know if she’ll want to come. We hardly know each other.” Right. They knew enough to drive each other into sexual oblivion.

“
She’ll come,” his mother said.

That’s what he was afraid of.

“
You remember that we’re having a barbecue for your brother’s birthday tomorrow night, don’t you?” Though his mother didn’t specifically say she expected him to bring Alexi, he heard the implied message loud and clear. His cell phone rang, offering him a short reprieve from what surely was shaping into a trap. He’d never brought anybody home to meet the folks, and bringing Alexi onto his home turf was more ground than he ever wanted to cover with her. What they had was a sexual thing, a temporary situation that wasn’t going to last much more than a weekend…well at least only a week…or two if she called him. As he pulled his phone out of his pocket, he didn’t even realize he was holding his breath in hopes that Alexi would be on the other end. It was his real estate agent, Liz Bynam. “I’ll be back in a minute,” Jesse told his mother then stepped out the back door.

“
Tell me you have good news, Liz.”

“
I do. How does plenty of acreage and privacy sound?”

“
Excellent. When can I see it?”

“
Will tomorrow morning do?”

“
What time?”

“
At your convenience.”

“
Let’s shoot for eight-thirty,” Jesse said, and disconnected the call thinking that at least one thing was going his way. Maybe he’d stop by Nan’s and see how Alexi was doing.

* * *

Alexi threw the newspaper down, picked up a pillow, covered her face, and groaned. “Jesse is another Roger.” Maybe she could just bury her head in the basket of one of the potted plants filling Nan’s apartment.

“
Not quite. No mention of group gatherings,” Nan said.

“
I am so relieved to hear that!” Alexi said, sarcasm dripping like rancid syrup. She heard the newspaper rattle and figured Nan had it.

“
Shakespeare. No. He’s destroying your historic picture.”

“
Good.” Alexi peeked from the pillow. “I’ll feed you a whole can of tuna,” she said, encouraging the crazy cat. His sharp claws flew faster and confetti went flying.

“
For a cat’s godmother, you’re an awful influence.” Nan snatched the paper, shooing Shakespeare away.

“
I’m worse than awful. I’m downright unfit.” Alexi pointed at the paper. “Do you know how mortified I am? I took him home and stood up for him in front of my family. I had sex with him yesterday. I’ve joined the ranks of bimbos around the globe. Prominent Playboy Steals Bride! I’m ruined for life.”

“
Ruined from what? Savannah’s highbrow society matrons? That’s a plus. Besides, you don’t know how much of this is true. I wouldn’t throw the babe out with the bath water.”

“
Babe?”

“
Your man here. So what if the water he’s in is a little muddy? You aren’t marrying the guy.” Nan flicked her nail on the front page of the newspaper. “Have a little fun for once in your life. Have an affair. A man with his kind of sex appeal is hardly going to be a saint.”

I'm not a gentleman, Lexi. So don't make that mistake
. The memory of Jesse’s voice washed over her. You couldn’t be a lily-white saint and walk on the wild side. Alexi shivered.

“
Talk to me, Lexi. Surely you aren’t going to give up having sex, excuse me, great sex with a man who is equated in his professional field as being as innovative as Bill Gates just because of a newspaper article. One that, I might add, shows him kissing you like you’re the only women alive.”

Alexi bit her lip.

“
At least see and talk to him. Don’t make the same mistake you did before. He can’t be as bad as the paper says.”

Nan’s doorbell rang and they both jumped.

“
I bet he’s come back to see you,” Nan said, sounding as if Prince Charming was at her door.

Was it Jesse?
Alexi’s heart kicked into high gear. For a second, she thought about dashing into the bedroom and pretending anything just so she wouldn’t have to face the prominent playboy who’d seduced…no that wasn’t fair. The sex had been mutual. She’d wanted it as badly as he did. Part of it had been because of the past, but most of it had been pure animal attraction and she’d gone for it. She squared her shoulders and stood. Whatever she decided to do about seeing, Jesse, she’d meet it and him head on. “I’ll go see.”

Looking through the peephole, Alexi gasped. It was her grandmother, accompanied by the family chauffeur, Davidson. Upon seeing him, Alexi realized for the first time that she’d have to buy her own car. Alexi opened the door. “Grandmother.”

“
Alexandria,” Katherine Jordan nodded her head. “Davidson, you may await me here. I won’t be but a minute, and then Alexandria and I will be returning home.” Leaving the chauffeur outside, Katherine stepped inside and firmly shut the door.

“
At least you had the intelligence not to move in with that lowlife. Go pack your things immediately. My lawyers have called the editor of the paper. They’ll either face a multi-million dollar lawsuit, or will print a full front page retraction of their hideous accusations that you are in any way involved with that cheap, lying—there are no words to describe so despicable a man.”

“
Grandmother,” Alexi said, but Katherine kept on talking.

“
I’ve fully explained that he forced himself upon you when you were quite upset over a family crisis. Once this has been settled, we'll make an announcement concerning your relationship with Roger. Perhaps all the boy needs is a little counseling. He may have had a moment of weakness and someone took horrible advantage of him. Violet and I have discussed it and we’re sure that Roger is sincerely heartbroken over you.”

“
Jesse did not force himself on me and if you print anything that says so, I will personally go on a crusade to clear his name.” She shook her head at her grandmother’s stubborn refusal to face the situation. Alexi tried to be gentle but firm, despite her anger. “I’m one hundred percent sure that Roger is not heartbroken, but that doesn’t matter. I will not, I repeat, will not, have anything to do with Roger Holstead ever. And I am not moving back home. It is time I started living my own life and not the life someone else thinks is best. That includes you, grandmother. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but the time has come for me to find out what I want out of life, and that something may not be what you want.”