Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“So you’re giving me an ultimatum?”
“I’m telling you that I won’t accept any insult to her or her family. Not from anyone. If you can’t be polite to her, then stay away.”
“I’m trying to look out for your best interests, son. Do you honestly believe your father would approve?”
“I think Dad would have adored Jayna. He would be deeply amused by her quick wit and impressed with how hard she works.” Why wasn’t he showing her off? He was being self-involved. He was taking advantage of the fact that she didn’t mind quiet evenings. He was also indulging in the way she enjoyed his books.
“So you won’t help your brother?” His mother stood, her chin coming up. “And you won’t help your family?”
“I can’t help Paul if he won’t even give me the tools I need to help him. And if you think I can help the family by breaking things off with the only woman who’s moved me in forever, then no, I won’t help the family and we need to make some decisions about our living arrangements.”
“Are you saying if I don’t accept that woman, you’ll throw me out of my home?”
His mother could be dramatic. “No, but I might buy another house. The apartment is all right for now, but we’ll need some more space if only for the dog.”
Luna poked her nose in. She hung around the office, which was nice because she reminded him to get up and move around from time to time.
His mother looked down at the dog, and her expression softened. “Your father was allergic. I always did like dogs.”
“She’s Jayna’s. She gave up a lot of what her husband owed her so she could keep Luna.” He reached out, and Luna came to sit beside him. “Does that honestly sound like a woman who’s only out for money? There’s always another side to every story. I know your rich friends in New Orleans are going to spout whatever the Shales want them to say, but I believe Jayna. You know, Todd is getting married again. A whole two months after his divorce was finalized, and according to what I’ve heard, his fiancée is at least three months pregnant.”
He could fight gossip with gossip.
His mother looked scandalized. “He was cheating on her?”
“Pretty much through their entire marriage.” He would use sympathy if that was what it took.
His mother stared for a moment. “If I consider giving your . . . girlfriend a chance, will you think about talking to Paul?”
It was as much as he could expect her to bend, and talking to Paul wouldn’t change a damn thing. “Yes.”
And she’d only asked him to think about it. He could easily do that.
His mother nodded and walked out, the bell over the door ringing when she exited the office.
Quaid sat back with a sigh, watching out the window as his mother strode down the street. He wondered if he should go over to the café. There might still be time to grab some lunch with Jayna, but some of what his mom had said was still sinking in.
He hadn’t taken her on a single date.
He grabbed his cell and dialed up his best friend. “Hey, Rene. I need to know what the word is about me and Jayna. What’s the town saying?”
A chuckle came over the line. “Are you sure you want to know?”
If he was going to convince Jayna that staying in Papillon might be a good idea, he had to remind her there was life beyond the office and the courthouse and the café. “Not at all, but hit me.”
Quaid petted Luna as his best friend gave him the lowdown.
chapter nine
“You should talk quickly because as soon as I’m finished with lunch, I’m going back to the courthouse, and you will not be allowed to follow me,” Jayna said as the waitress who’d replaced Sienna bounced away. She was likely in her late teens and looked so young and perky it hurt.
She was fairly certain she’d never once been that perky in her life.
Paul Havery watched the waitress, too, a smile on his face. “I forgot how nice this place is.”
“She’s barely out of high school. What do you want, Paul?” She’d ordered soup and half a turkey sandwich because they wouldn’t take long to make and she could inhale them both, thereby cutting down on the time she was forced to spend with Quaid’s brother.
He frowned her way, his brows meeting over blue eyes. “What has my brother been saying to you to put you off me? You know you can’t believe a word he says about me. We’re a bit estranged, you see.”
The trouble was Quaid didn’t say much of anything about his brother. Or his mother. Or his friends and family. When she thought about it, they talked a lot about her family and past and not much about his. “Yeah, I got that, which is why I shouldn’t be having lunch with you. Is this some kind of setup? Your mom shows up wanting to talk to Quaid and now you’re going to put me in some compromising position?”