Not Quite Over You
Page 26

She led the way into a small sitting room. When he took the seat across from her, she leaned forward.
“I want you to know I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
Words guaranteed to strike terror in his heart, even when he didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Mom, I need a subject, first.”
“The bank, of course. Your grandfather is going to be stepping down. You’re the obvious choice for his successor but Libby is going to be a problem. I’m here to run interference.”
“I don’t need my mother helping me at work.” He leaned toward her. “Mom, I mean that. Stay out of my life.”
Instead of being offended, Irene smiled. “Oh, Drew, don’t be dramatic. I’m not going to follow you into the office and make sure your tie is straight. I’ll be working behind the scenes. This is going to happen. It’s part of our plan. You run the bank for two years, then join your father and me at our firm in D.C.” Her expression softened. “You’re going to love it. The people we know. We’re growing in our European influence and isn’t that wonderful? In a few years, we’ll have global reach.”
“Kingmakers,” he muttered, knowing she wouldn’t hear the irony in his voice.
“Exactly. I’m going to ignore Libby and make nice with my father. I’ll play the dutiful daughter so he sees you are the one who deserves to be chairman of the board at the bank.”
“You know it’s not his decision. The board makes it.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “The board will do what your grandfather tells them to do. I’m not worried about him. My bitch of a sister is more concerning, but I’ll take care of her, as well.”
She smoothed her hair. “I will admit, when you first broke off your engagement with Ashley Lauren Grantham-Greene I was very upset. She was a lovely girl and would have made you a beautiful wife.”
“Except for her temper and love of setting things on fire.”
His mother ignored that. “But I’ve come to see it was for the best. Now you can marry someone better, someone who can really help your career.”
If he got in his car right now, how far away could he be by sundown? If he drove east, he would be out of the state. Maybe all the way to New Mexico, and wouldn’t that be nice?
“Mom, you’ve got to stop. I mean it. I don’t want you interfering with my job or my future. I respect what you and Dad have done, but it’s not for me. I want to stay here and run the bank. I’m not moving to D.C. and I’m not joining your firm.”
“Don’t be difficult.”
“I’m being honest. You and Dad have big dreams, but I don’t share them.”
Her mouth tightened. “We’ll talk about that later. For now, let’s just be happy I’m here. Oh! Why didn’t you tell me about your cousin?”
He had several, so wasn’t sure which one she was—He held in a groan as he realized she’d heard about Cade and his engagement to Princess Bethany of El Bahar.
“Clever boy,” Irene said with a sigh. “I wish you’d seen her first. I suppose it’s too late for you to steal her away.”
“Ignoring the facts that they’re wildly in love, that he’s my cousin and best friend, and that it would be wrong, tacky and ultimately unsuccessful, yes, it’s too late.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Irene pouted for a moment. “Still, there’s going to be some kind of event here in town, I’ve heard that much. Her family is bound to attend. Your father and I would very much like to meet the king of El Bahar.” Her gaze locked on his. “You can arrange a private introduction. Some kind of welcome party with just us. Royal connections in that part of the world are hard to come by and very important. El Bahar is one of the wealthiest and most forward-looking countries in the world. You need to get right on that, Drew.”
He glanced at the clock and saw it wasn’t yet four. Too bad, because he was ready for a drink.
He stood. “Mom, it’s been great. I’ve got to go.”
“But we have so much to talk about!”
“I’m sure we do and it’s going to wait.” He leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek. “Have fun with Libby.”
His mother was still calling him back as he headed for the stairs. On the way to the front door, he passed Amelia carrying a tray with tea service.
“Run,” he told the other woman. “Run while you still can.”
* * *
JASPER GOT HOME a little after three in the morning. He’d finished his last signing at nine in Dallas, had taken an eleven o’clock flight to LAX, then had driven straight home. Despite his exhaustion, he was up by seven.
After making coffee, he walked through his house to make sure all was well. The house had started out as a two-room cabin and had been added onto over the years. The charitable description would be eclectic but the more honest descriptor was a big-ass mess.
After moving in, Jasper had added an office and gym. Last year he’d knocked out a couple of walls so the kitchen and living room made sense. The master bedroom was a decent size and had its own bathroom. He figured in a year or so, he would tear down the small extra bedrooms and maybe add a bigger bedroom. Not that he had much company. His friends had their own beds to sleep in and Wynn stayed in his. Now if things ever got serious, her son, Hunter, would be a consideration.
He carried his coffee to the back porch. The morning was cold enough that he could see his breath. He sat in a rickety chair and put his feet on the railing, then breathed in the crisp air. It was good to be home.
The tour hadn’t been too bad. Next year would be better. Longer, but he was looking forward to his time in the trailer. He liked his solitude and he enjoyed a road trip. He could think—about his past, about his book, about life.
His phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his shirt pocket and glanced at the screen.
You back? Want to go hiking this weekend?
His contentment faded a little as he studied the message. The request was simple enough and he enjoyed Hunter’s company. There was only one problem—Wynn.
When Jasper and Wynn had first gotten together, she’d made it clear she had boundaries he was not to cross. They weren’t going to get serious, no one could know and she wasn’t going to introduce Jasper to her then ten-year-old son. What she and Jasper had was between them and no one else.
At the time, he’d been fine on all counts. He’d been relatively new to town and wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone. He’d kept to himself and hadn’t made many friends. He and Wynn had met when he’d gone into her print shop to pick up bookmarks his publisher had insisted he take with him on a book tour. She’d been freaked out because Hunter’s pet snake had escaped its enclosure and she was going to have to find it. Jasper had offered to help. She’d surprised him by accepting.
They’d gone to her house and started looking. Wynn had found the small snake but instead of grabbing it, she’d screamed and jumped on a coffee table. Jasper had rescued the snake, then her. He’d impulsively invited her to coffee. She’d declined, telling him her rules, including the fact that she didn’t want anyone in town knowing she was seeing someone. It had taken him a couple of seconds to figure out there was an excellent chance she was offering to sleep with him, as long as they weren’t publicly an item.