Five Alarm Lust (19 page)

Jack snorted. “Yeah, whatever, bitch.” Jack debated deleting it before he shut the phone off and headed back to bed.

He curled around Gillian and closed his eyes. How Gillian still managed to be so warm and caring when her mother was a bitch he wasn’t sure. Still, come morning he’d ask Gillian if there was some reason for her mother’s indifference and rotten attitude. He tucked her tight against him, resting one hand on her hip, the other under her neck, and closed his eyes. She was his.

* * * *

Gillian groaned into her pillow at the pounding on the door. She pried one eye open and swore softly. Who would be stopping by at some ungodly hour in the morning? With a sickening lurch, she knew. Curling tighter into herself, she lay in bed, her mind racing with a way to get out of dealing with her mother.

“Gillian, I know you’re home. Your car is parked out front.” Barbara’s furious voice reached through the silence of the house.

“Yeah, and you’re pissed,” Gillian ground out through clenched teeth. Tossing the covers back, she wiggled toward the edge of the bed, only to freeze at the slow curl of a heavy arm around her waist.

Apprehensive, she glanced behind to see Jack, hair tousled, eyes barely open. “Morning, baby.” Jack yawned, his grip tightening. “Who the hell is hollering like a wounded banshee?”

“My mother.” Gillian focused on finding her clothes. “And if I don’t go out there, she’ll come in here.”

“Let her. You’re a grown woman.”

“I’d rather not.” Gillian patted his arm and rose. She donned a robe and all but fled the bedroom, closing the door except for a half an inch.

*

Jack rolled over, a groan escaping as he sat up. The only clothes he had in here were his discarded jeans. Somehow he’d lost his briefs in the living room. Not wanting to leave Gillian alone to face her irate mother too long, he pulled them up roughly. The sound of her mother’s incensed voice drifted down the hall.

“You stood me up, Gillian.”

“No, I didn’t. I told you I had plans.”

“I told you to cancel them. The dinner was important.”

“To you maybe, not to me.” Gillian’s voice dropped in degrees. “I’m not your lap dog, and I’m not interested in parading about in front of husband number seven. We’re not a family and I’m not going to take part in your little family dinners.”

“You’ll take a civil tone with me. Now, there’s a luncheon scheduled for Monday. I will expect you to be there. Wear something decent. I swear if I didn’t pick it out for you, you’d have no fashion sense.”

“Funny, seems to me you pick everything else out, so why don’t you wear it? I’m not going to be at your luncheon or tea or meeting or whatever it is. Frankly, if you’re involved, Mother, I’m going to avoid the event.” Gillian voice tightened with annoyance until it was almost painful to hear. “Besides, you’re not here about some stupid luncheon. You’re here to see who would dare to be at my house. Probably drove by and saw the truck and decided you just had to go poking your nose in.”

“You will do as you’re told. My God, how did Mike put up with you so long? I’d have left your scrawny, sexless ass long before he did.”

“He didn’t leave me, Mother.” Fear colored her voice. “And I wish
you would
leave me. It would make my life so much nicer. Now, I have to get ready for work today, and I have plans for this afternoon that do not include you, so leave.”

“Is there any wonder Mike felt the need to discipline you? I should have taken a firmer hand when you were younger. Why, I never thought I’d see the day when my own daughter would become such an irresponsible brat.”

“Shut up.”

“You would do well to listen. Mike was a good man who loved you, why I’ll never know, but he did; he still does. You should be grateful for that.”

“Leave it alone, Mother. Mike didn’t love shit and I’m glad to be rid of him. It’d make my day if I could get rid of you.”

“Don’t take that tone with me.” Barbara’s voice had an edge to it like a razor. “I spoke to Charles, he’s agreed to extend your lease.”

“I’m not staying here.”

“Don’t be stupid. Where else will you go? You can’t afford to move. Enough of this stupidity. I want you dressed in suitable attire by eleven on Monday. No later. As for whoever is here, I am your mother and you should be grateful I feel enough to check up on you.”

Jack frowned as he moved down the hallway. What was Barbara trying to pull? Stepping into the archway between the kitchen and hall, he stared. Dressed to the nines in a designer suit, Barbara stood over Gillian, her heeled foot tapping a steady rhythm on the floor. A pained, fearful look covered Gillian’s face as she played with her glasses, her eyes downcast.

“I just don’t know where I went wrong with you, Gillian. Irresponsible, stupid little girl trying to play house. I just don’t understand you. I have never met anyone so ungrateful for assistance.”

Anger sparked and he strode forward. “Sorry, but Gilli’s got plans all week. She’s going to be too busy to play with you, Barbara.”

“Why, Jack, what on earth are you doing here?” Barbara sniffed, rolling her eyes before turning on her daughter. “Really, Gillian, bringing in a roommate these days? How trite? Though I suppose it looks good, because we both know he wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole. After all, Lenny did tell me about his other, uh, girlfriends. You pale in comparison, Gillian. Although, I heard all about his ‘friend’; maybe he’s just gay and hasn’t realized it yet.”

Jack ground his teeth together. Obviously Barbara had an aversion to gay men. Pity he didn’t feel the same way.

“Mother, please.”

“Oh really, Gillian, we both know the truth. Even he knows it. You are as appealing as a case of genital warts.”

“I don’t think so.” Jack strode forward and put Gillian behind him. Offering a quick grin, he squared off with Barbara. “Of the two, I’d say you’re the unappealing one.”

“Indeed, how pathetic.” Barbara turned on her heel. “I’ll see you at the luncheon.”

“No, you won’t. I’m not going,” Gillian snapped.

“Yes, you are. I’ll pick you up at eleven.”

“She’s busy.” Jack smiled coldly at Barbara who turned to sneer at him.

“Not that busy.”

“Oh, and Barbara?” Jack paused, a sick sense of glee filling him. “I’m not gay. Have friends who are, yes—but I’m definitely not gay.” The door slammed on his words, leaving him and Gillian in stunned silence.

“Wow, what a bitch.”

“Yes.” Gillian leaned forward, her forehead resting on Jack’s back, her fingers tangled in the belt loops of his jeans. “She’ll be back. I guarantee it.”

“Uh…” Jack turned to pull her into his embrace. “I suppose I didn’t help the situation.”

Gillian laughed, the shadows fading in her eyes. “Nothing is going to help, but it was sure funny seeing her face go as red as it did.”

“It was.” Jack chuckled. He gestured toward the coffee pot. “You want coffee?”

“Oh, I would kill for coffee. Can’t start my day without it,” Gillian admitted. “I’ll make a fresh pot. Do you want something to eat? I’m a passable cook and can make you breakfast. It’ll only take a few minutes, just have to clean up from supper.”

“Gilli, sit down. I’ll make breakfast.” Jack paused, his gaze darting from a nervous Gillian to the front door. “Is she always like that?”

“Not always.” Gillian settled on a tall stool. “She can be nice, and has been just often enough for me not to completely hate her. But since she was here because she saw your truck, she laid it on thick.”

Jack opened the fridge door, grinning at the carton of eggs and milk. He piled both on the counter and reached for the loaf of bread sitting beside a glass flour container. Setting the frying pan on a burner, he turned it on. “Are you okay? Seemed like she was close to resorting to force…”

“Oh, you mean hit me?” Gillian flushed and plucked at the counter. “Um, you sure you don’t want me to make breakfast?”

Jack turned the burner off and spun round to grasp Gillian’s hands. “Gilli, I don’t want you to make me coffee or breakfast. I want to help. I need to be here for you. Granted, I don’t know your mother, don’t really want to, but I do know you. Talk to me, please. If there’s a way I can help, I’d be happy to.”

Gillian shuddered, her eyes darting away from his, a lone tear slipping down her face. “I don’t know why she’s the way she is. I tried having no contact, but she always finds a way around it. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, hey.” Hurrying around the island, Jack pulled her into his arms. “Lean on me, and don’t apologize for her. She’s a big girl.” Rocking her back and forth, Jack let her cling to him, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Anger stirred, stoked by the memory of Barbara’s little digs at Gillian’s self-confidence. It didn’t take a genius to see Barbara’s dislike of Gillian went far deeper than a lack of style.

He cupped the back of Gillian’s head, letting her cry. A faint smile curled his lips as she pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “Now, where’s the coffee grinds? I’ll make a pot of coffee, and then breakfast, and we can figure out what to do this afternoon.”

“Of course, in the pantry.” She pointed at the slim door next to the stove. “Coffee is in the red tin.”

“Thanks.” Jack opened the door and stared. Just like the last time he’d been in her house, every shelf was crammed full of food, organized and dated. Tucked in behind a box of cereal, he noted the corner of the Tupperware container. He frowned. Tempted to sneak a peek, he grabbed for the red coffee box, only to swear at the beeping from his jacket pocket.

“Uh-oh, that sounds serious.”

“Naw, probably Brad forgot to put something away and now no one can find it.” Jack groused as he grabbed his pager. He clicked a couple of buttons and heaved a breath. Recognizing the name and number, he swore under his breath. Two guesses what it was about. Not wanting to upset Gillian, he offered a weak smile. “Guess I’ll take a rain check on the coffee. Lenny needs to see me.”
Didn’t take Barbara long to go running to my boss over this.
The thought drifted across his mind, stirring his anger.

“Oh, okay.” Gillian flushed, her gaze dropping to the counter top. It didn’t take a genius to realize she was feeling more than a hint of vulnerability. Lenny’d been right, she wasn’t a one-time deal. “I suppose I should clean this mess up.”

Jack pulled her into a hug, dropping a kiss on her nose. “You know what, screw Lenny. If he wants to talk to me, he can wait. It’s not like he has anything of importance to tell me, other than I upset his wife. You wanna take in a movie?”

“I really shouldn’t.” Gillian’s flush deepened. “I, uh, have to find a new place to live. One I get by myself without my mother’s input.”

“Well then, let’s go house hunting instead. I have a few friends with rentals. Might not be anything as nice as this, but they’re affordable.”

Gillian’s eyes narrowed, doubt flaring in them. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you be that nice to me?” Gillian bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes. “No one is that nice to me. I’m either invisible or the whipping post for my mother’s irate behavior. I’m not…”

“I’m not being nice for any particular reason other than I like you.” Jack cupped her face. “For the first time in a long time, Gilli, I have no idea what I’m doing, but I want to learn with you.”

Gillian shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ll apartment shop on my own. Besides, by now my mother’s probably told half the town how much of a loose cannon I am, or that I’m a whore or something just as unsavory, and I’ll be lucky to get a hotel room, much less an apartment.”

Jack paused, sensing her refusal was more because of a deep-seated need to prove something to her mother, and perhaps to herself. Still, it hurt to see her struggling so much when he could make a quick call. “Well the offer stands. But first, breakfast, the only way to start the day.” Quick, hard, his kiss skimmed her lips before he gathered his shirt, crammed his feet into his loafers, and grabbed his coat. “Oh, your mother called last night and she didn’t sound happy.”

“Let me guess—she stopped calling around two or three.”

“Yep.”

“Typical. Calls till all hours of the night, then comes by to bitch and moan.” Gillian tugged her robe closed and smiled awkwardly. “Thank you for last night.”

Idly, Jack wondered why he felt like he was getting a brush off. With a sickening sensation in his gut, he stared at her. She wasn’t brushing him off. In spite of the hot sex, she was as innocent as a virgin and just as clueless. She was trying to protect her heart.

“I don’t want you to get into trouble with…”

“Let me worry about them. Now, come on. I have an idea on how we can spend some quality time together.” He nudged her toward the bedroom. “You get dressed, I’m going to go clean out the cab of the truck, and we’ll head over to the Biggest Dinosaur and have a look at the Badlands.”

“Oh, I don’t—”

“Go on.” Jack squeezed her shoulders. “I’m not like your mother, I don’t expect something. I want to spend time with you, and I think this will do us a world of good. Dress comfortably. Those grey sweats you wore when we went for a picnic will work.”

Gillian blushed and hurried toward the bedroom. He listened to her moving around in the room, his heart breaking for the obvious wounds her mother had inflicted. As long as he was around, Gillian wasn’t going to have time to believe her mother, and if the bitch showed up, he’d give her a piece of his mind.

“Gilli, baby, I’m gonna run out to the truck, clean out the cab. I’ll make a couple of calls while I’m doing that so we can get going as soon as you’re changed. Then we can grab a bite to eat before we head over there.”

Jack closed the door and trotted down the steps. He pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed a familiar number. He jerked open the truck door and reached for the old discarded coffee cups from too many stops at the coffee shops on the way to or from work.

“Good morning, this is—”

Jack chuckled at the familiar spiel from his friend. “I know who you are, Tim. Look, I need a favor. Got a friend who’s looking for a place to rent.”

“You know I got two places.”

“Yeah, but she don’t want my help.” Jack glanced up at the window of Gillian’s home. “She wants to do it on her own. If she stops by, consider me a reference, and tell everyone I’m her reference, okay?”