Forever in Love (20 page)

“Yes. I met her once.” Catherine winced, recalling the awful first meeting she’d had with Kerri. What an impression she must’ve made with her wild accusations.

“Do you know she has four male second cousins? They’re Duke Sterling’s grandchildren.”

“And…?”

“Duke Sterling is Barron Sterling’s older brother.”

“And…?”

“Must I spell out everything, my dear? None of them are married. Who says it can’t be you snagging one of them?”

“Why would they want a ‘fossil’?”

“You’re not a fossil, dear,” Olivia said blithely. “Not with the right clothes and makeup. You’ve been dieting, I presume?”

“Skinny two,” Catherine said automatically.

“See if you can get down to a zero before the wedding. You can do this.”

Catherine rubbed her forehead. “Don’t you think it’s like prostitution to go after men I haven’t even met for money?”

A short pause. She could imagine her mother’s disapproving eye twitch. “Most certainly not. Ladies of the evening are tossed out once the evening ends. Wives stay on.”

“I didn’t. With Jacob.” It was the stripper who got to stay.

“He’s not a good example. Things were different with him. Besides, it was actually fortunate he turned out to be what he is. Now you can upgrade, as some would say. The Sterlings are far better catches than the Lloyds…except for Gavin, but your cousin’s got her clutches into him.”

Catherine put a hand over her belly as it clenched painfully. “Is that all there is to men? Their bank account?”

“Of course not! There’s the family name. And where and how you fit there. Men such as they need a proper, well-bred and beautiful and gracious wife. That’s where you come in. Do you understand?” Olivia inhaled loudly. “Remember what I told you. You cannot take care of yourself. You’re not like Pete.”

Of course not. Pete was brilliant. She wasn’t. “You know they’re going to want to sign a prenup and if things don’t work out, I’m going to be left with nothing again.”

“That’s why you pick a man who’s romantic enough not to want such things. If that’s impossible, you get a man who’s malleable enough to offer a generous settlement in case of divorce. But stay away from anybody who’s soft in the head and might do something foolish with their money. You don’t know how much I regret that about your father.”

“That he lost everything?”

“Yes. I told him we needed
more
money, not to lose it all.” Olivia let out a long-suffering sigh. “I only married him because he didn’t insist on one of those ludicrous prenuptial agreements. I should’ve known better.”

Catherine’s hand flew to her mouth, muffling her gasp. “What?” she said, her voice pitched high.

“Your father never got me to sign one, not the way Salazar had Ceinlys. But she wanted Salazar’s money and connections, so she did it. Now she’s paying the price…but I suppose being his wife makes up for quite a bit.”

“No…not that,” Catherine said slowly, trying to process what her mother had just revealed. “Dad made those crazy investments to make more money…
for you?
”

“I wasn’t going to settle for that meager sum he had.”

“He was worth seventy million dollars, Mother!”

“Do you know how much Salazar’s worth?”

Catherine pressed her knuckles against her teeth. She’d often wondered why her father had been so reckless with money when he’d had no debt or cash-draining habits to speak of. It was now crystal clear. Ceinlys was a friend of her mother’s, and her mother wanted what her friend had—no, more than what her friend had. A richer husband and no prenup.

“Why are we talking about your father anyway? He’s not important anymore.”

“He was my father!” Who’d done terribly foolish things to please his wife.

“I understand, dear, but he’s passed. What’s important now is how we can maintain the living standards we’ve become accustomed to. You can do this for us, Catherine. You’re still young and beautiful enough.”

“How can you say that?” Catherine said thinly. Her muscles felt so weak, she could barely keep the receiver pressed against the side of her face. Was her mother capable of caring for anybody except her living standards?

“I mean it, Catherine. Snag one of the Sterlings. If that’s impossible, then any of Salazar’s or his sisters’ sons will do.”

“But—”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. I want to hear you say you’ll do it. It’s not any more difficult than the first time. Actually, it should be easier. I’m sure you know how to entice any man at this point. And you’re more polished now…”

Catherine stared at the mirror in front of her, unblinkingly, as her mother went on. Olivia had a disdain for prostitutes, but Catherine couldn’t see the difference between that life and what she had just recommended for her. She felt so cold and numb it took a while to get the words out: “I won’t be used like that.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I won’t do it. I’m going to the wedding, and I’m going to enjoy myself, but I’m not going to make a spectacle of myself to get a husband.”

“
Catherine Scarlett Fairchild!
You know you can’t do that. Remember what your teachers said. You aren’t the most academically gifted, to put it kindly. How are you going to support yourself? Do you think men will give you money for nothing?”

“Then I’ll starve. It can’t be worse than dieting down to size zero.”

“Catherine…dear…” Olivia said, her voice soft and pleading now.

“I’m worth more than that, Mother.” Catherine flexed her hand around the receiver. “I deserve to be happy, and with a man who values me for who I am.”
Somebody who doesn’t think I’m nothing because I couldn’t give him a child or doesn’t hesitate to think the worst of me
.

“
What
has come over you? Have you been talking with Amandine? Don’t buy into that romantic nonsense she’s always spewing about. Do you think she’s with Gavin for ‘pure love’ or some such ridiculous notion?”

“Actually…I do.”

“It’s easy to love a man with twenty billion dollars.”

Catherine shook her head. “She’d still love him just the same even if he lost everything. And he’ll love her the same even after she’s grown old with wrinkled skin and graying hair.” Olivia’s breathing sounded deafening in Catherine’s ears. “I need to go now. Good-bye, Mother.” She hung up before her mother could say anything more.

Her mother was most likely right about how useless she was. How incapable… But she didn’t want people to speak of her the way the people in Cooter’s Bluff had. Or Blaine had. She deserved better, didn’t she?

She sighed and dialed Salazar’s number.

* * *

That evening, Blaine forced himself to return to The Line. It was stupid to neglect his business over Catherine, and what would he do if he stayed home? Most likely sit there brooding like an idiot. He was a practical man and didn’t like to waste his life away.

But even as he did his work behind the bar, he couldn’t stop thinking about how devastated Catherine had looked. The image of her shattered face kicked him in the gut. Had he been too harsh? What if she really hadn’t read the report, like she said?

But if she hadn’t read the report…didn’t mean to read it…why had she kept it?

Half an hour later, Dusty came in and plopped onto an empty barstool. He sighed so loudly probably the folks in Greensville heard it.

“Problems?” Blaine asked.

Dusty sighed again. “Nah. It’s just… Catherine left without saying bye.”

Blaine shook his head. “Did she?” he managed to say evenly, despite the tight feeling in his chest.

“Yeah. Flew out. Heard from Robbie who saw her leave the Blue House with some people. Said a limo came for her.”

Blaine clenched his teeth. Probably Salazar’s car. “Probably went home to her rich friends.” That again proved he was right about her. With her game exposed, she had no reason to stick around. He couldn’t believe he’d thought she might be innocent in all this even for a moment. She was one of those women who could shed tears at will, wielding them like a sword to get what she wanted. If she really had nothing to be ashamed of, she wouldn’t have left so fast.

“I never got to give this back to her.” Dusty pulled out a diamond ring from his pocket.

Blaine stared. “Isn’t that her ring?”

“Yeah.”

“How did you end up with it?”

“She gave it to me.”

He almost dropped the glass he was drying. “
What?
”

“Told me to draw and stuff. Said she’d be my pay-tron-ess.”

“Your patroness?”

“Yeah.” Dusty gave Blaine a slightly superior look. “It’s somebody who helps you pay for things so you can be an artist.”

“I know what it means.”

“Uh-huh. Anyway, I thought about it for a while, and it don’t feel right. No one around here ever paid me for a painting. Why should she pay when I gave her nothin’?”

“Guess she wants to support you.” That ring had to be worth a fortune. Catherine wasn’t the type to wear cubic zirconia. But why would she give Dusty anything? Her contradictions drove Blaine insane. Why couldn’t she just be a consistently greedy and snotty bitch? She had no reason to be nice to Dusty. As far as Blaine knew Dusty had no secret stash of money or a surprise daddy with lots of dough.

“She told me she could make me famous,” Dusty said.

“Famous? You believe that?”

“Why not?”

“She could be lying to use you.”

“For what? She never made it sound like she wanted me or anything.”

Blaine narrowed his eyes in speculation. “Did she ask you to tell her about the people in town?”

“Never. I think you’re just mad because she left without saying bye to you.”

“Mad? I’m not mad.”

“C’mon, man. You got a soft spot for her. I can tell. And yer mad for sure because you been giving nasty looks.”

Blaine folded his arms. It irritated him that Dusty thought his mood had anything to do with Catherine.

The door opened, and a suave-looking man in his late fifties or early sixties sauntered in. You didn’t have to know fashion to see the guy’s suit was pricey. Scenting a generous tipper, Mimi and a few other waitresses started to gravitate toward him. Blaine hissed as he recognized the classic clean-cut profile.

What was Salazar Pryce doing in The Line?

The older man looked so damn comfortable, like he was certain of his reception. Oh no. He was getting kicked out. Right now.

Blaine made his way around the counter and intercepted Salazar before he could move very far from the door. “What are you doing here?”

“What everyone does here. Getting something to eat.”

“Sorry. You’re not welcome here.”

“Are you throwing me out?” Salazar asked with a bemused smile.

“Pretty much.”

“I thought you’d be rational about it. But then I should’ve known better from the immature way you’ve conducted yourself.”

Blaine tightened his hands into fists. “You know, I’d hate to have to hurt an old man. But—”

“Come to the Blue House tomorrow morning for breakfast. We’ll talk then.”

“Don’t believe there’s anything to discuss.”

“Well, suit yourself. But if you don’t come by, I’m giving
your
fifty million bucks to
my wife
.”

Giving his money…to
Ceinlys?
“No, you aren’t.”

“Why not? You don’t want it. Why shouldn’t she have it? She loves to support worthy causes.” Salazar waggled his eyebrows. “Eight thirty. Don’t be late.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I have”—Blaine jerked his head at the counter behind him—“this to run.”

“Don’t be absurd. That’s what staff are for.” Salazar left, whistling cheerfully.

“What was that about?” Mimi asked even before the door closed.

Blaine cursed. He hadn’t realized she was standing so close. “Nothing.”

As he made his way to the bar counter, she followed. “He said ‘your fifty million,’ Blaine.”

“It’s nothing, Mimi.”

“But—”

“If you say one word about this to anyone, I’m going to fire you, I swear.”

“But Blaine, it’s fifty million dollars. Yours, from the sound of it.”

“What fifty million?” came Sean’s voice.

Blaine squeezed his eyes shut. “Sean, it’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” Mimi said. “That man said—”

Blaine pointed a finger at her. “You wanna lose your job? Go ahead.”

She looked like she’d swallowed a cockroach, but stopped talking, thank god. Snorting derisively, she spun on her heels and walked off, her hips swinging in fury.

Sean looked at her marching to her tables, then at Blaine. “What was that, bro? Did you just threaten to fire her?”

“Wasn’t a threat. I promised to fire her.”

“But what did she mean by fifty million bucks? Did you win the lottery or something?”

If having Salazar as your daddy could be called a jackpot… “No. It’s the money I told you about.”

“Oh. That. Okay. You are gonna take it, right?”

“I don’t know yet. Depends on what kind of strings are attached.”

“I see.” Sean shoved his hands into his pants pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. “By the way…do you know how to reach Catherine?”

“Why?”

“’Cuz she left before I could pay her back.”

Blaine scowled. “You owe her money?”

“Yeah. She, um, paid for some new clothes for me.”

God give him patience. “If you needed something, you should’ve come to me.”

Sean laughed. “You mean, come out from under my bridge and ask you for money? You weren’t exactly at the top of my list of people to call when I needed help.”

A knot formed behind his left eye, ticking madly like a bomb. Blaine held tight to his control. Yelling at Sean wouldn’t do any good. “It doesn’t matter. You’re my responsibility. You come to me.”

“You know what? I’m not a kid, bro. I’m old enough to be in college, live on my own, all that. You aren’t helping by acting like you own me. Always telling me what to do even if it’s something you wouldn’t have done if you’d been in my shoes.”

“Oh really?” Blaine crossed his arms.

“If you knew your brother was taking out a huge ass loan to pay for your education, you wouldn’t have stayed in school either. You would’ve tried to stop him and find a way to pay for it yourself.”