Rush (11 page)

“Fine,” she agreed on a sigh.

“Yes. I.
Certainly
. Am. Mom says hi, by the way. She wanted to come with me, but it was
Ethan’s
nap time.” His lips pressed into an unattractive line. “Did I mention the part where I. Hate. Pretending?
Hate
it.”

Mi eased into a chair and closed her eyes, rubbing at her temples. She hated it, too. The pretending. But as long as mom was stable. What choice was there?

“I know.” She pulled in a breath and exhaled hard, showing him how exhausted this made her. She was so tired of it all. The tightrope walk between the secret that kept their mother sane and the one that kept them all out of jail. Thirteen years was a long time to hold it all together.

“I don’t know why you do it, Mi.” He looked down at her, a lock of blond hair falling over one eye, and she saw the boy he’d been. The lonely boy who had no friends because his mother embarrassed him. The fearful boy who spent all his time alone in his room rather than face what awaited him if he crossed his mother. The angry boy who got thought of last because he didn’t need as much attention as their mother demanded.

She stood up and wrapped her arms around her brother, thinking-
No, you don’t. You don’t have any idea what I’ve done for you. What I continue to do. I’d do for anything for you. You and mom are all I have.

He took a half step back in surprise and then he slowly enveloped her in a hug that was tentative at best. At worst it was awkward and unwanted. He released her almost as soon as he’d started and moved to the door.

“Come on, Sis. Introduce me to Tracey of tremendous ta-tas,” he threw out over his shoulder as he stepped into the hall.

They each had their own defense mechanisms she guessed. His was a crude attempt a humor, playing his role as the worthless younger brother to the hilt. Hers was avoidance, dealing only with what was in front of her and then only if she had to. She wondered what they’d be to each other if one of them suddenly decided not to play their part anymore. Would they like each other or continue to barely tolerate one another? Would they even recognize each other? Would they recognize themselves?

Who was Jason if he wasn’t constantly disappointing her? Who was she if she wasn’t constantly disappointing him? Who were they as a family without the blame, resentment and anger?

*****

Mi met Lucy at a local Tex-Mex restaurant that boasted thirty kinds of
quesadillas
and chocolate caramel
nachos
that was Lucy’s craving of the week. Mi tried not to think about Jason or her mom, but it was always there, throbbing and flaring into new pain like a chronic toothache. Lucas had been silent on the drive over. Mi wasn’t sure what that was about. Maybe he was tired of following her around. She wondered about his life. He’d pretty much given up his for hers. From what he’d told her he seemed to be at a crossroads, deciding what to do for employment. She didn’t think he had a girlfriend, at least she hoped not after the kisses they’d shared.

Thinking about those kisses, she tried not to shift in her seat. Heat shimmered within her, like the waves still dancing over the pavement even though it was nearly dusk now. She pretended to look over the menu while she waited for Lucy to show, watching Lucas through lowered lashes. He’d situated himself at a nearby table with his back to the wall and a clear view of the room. The sight of him did funny things to her. That low hum pulsed almost constantly, taking up residence in places long neglected.

Not smart, she reminded herself. Their differences stacked up higher than the Dallas skyline. He’d been clear about his views on what she did for a living. Jason’s visit had reminded her of all the reasons she hadn’t gotten involved with anyone seriously in a long time. Then there were the differences in their lifestyles. Images of his home superimposed over images of hers, bringing the depressing reality that they came from very different backgrounds. And to top it off he hated her brother. Well, she couldn’t really blame him for that one.

Lucy walked through the door, bringing a radiance with her that lit the entire room. Just the sight of her brought Mi so much joy, her face split into a grin she couldn’t control. Flushed from the lingering heat and glow of pregnancy, Lucy looked stunning in a yellow and white gingham halter dress trimmed in white eyelet. She’d pulled her long blond hair back into a ponytail that trailed nearly to her waist. When she spotted Mi her face broke into a wide smile and she waved. Heads turned to follow her movement across the restaurant, regardless of her hugely swollen belly, as she picked her way toward Mi.

Lucy hugged her with the exuberance of a long lost relative. “Oh, I missed you,” she gushed, her east Texas accent slow and melodic. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Look at you!” Mi couldn’t get over how much her friend’s body had changed in the couple of weeks since she’d seen her. “Your boobs are huge,” she blurted out without meaning to.

“I know. Kevin can’t get enough of them.” She giggled, her laugh infectious, inviting Mi and everyone else to join in the merriment. “I hardly fit into anything anymore. I’m so huge.” She didn’t seem unhappy about it instead she seemed thrilled as though nothing better could have happened to her.

They slid into the booth and scooted in next to each other. It felt so good to be with Lucy, like lying in the sun on a tropical beach.

“How are you feeling?” Mi asked.

“Gigantic, but the doctor says everything’s right on schedule. Which is good because Kevin planned his business trip around my due date. He doesn’t want to be in Cincinnati or Denver when little Jessalyn arrives.” She patted her belly, beaming a smile that showed signs of overuse.

“He’s been out of town a lot lately.”

“His consulting business has really taken off.” Lucy grabbed a chip from the basket the waiter had brought, broke it in half and dunked it in salsa. “Which is good because we could really use the money for all of the things little Brie needs.” She popped the chip in her mouth with a frown slightly creasing her brow.

“Wait. Which is it, Brie or Jessalyn?”

“Oh, I can’t decide! I change my mind every other day. Kevin likes Jessalyn, but I don’t know.” She scrunched up her cute little nose. “Sounds old fashioned to me. We both like the name Brie though.”

“But you always told me that if you have a girl you’d name her Poppy after your grandma.”

“Kevin doesn’t like the name Poppy. He says it’s a silly name.” Her perpetual grin slipped a little before she caught it and propped it back up.

“Is everything all right between you two?”

“Kevin and me?” Lucy glanced off to the side, concentrating on dipping another chip. “Why sure, sweetie. Couldn’t be better.”

Mi didn’t believe her. Something was off. “And everything’s okay with the baby?”

Her smile returned tenfold. “Oh, yes. She’s going to be so perfect. I can’t wait. I set up the nursery with all of the things I got from my shower. It’s so pretty. You have to come and see. Kevin still has to put the crib together, but he says there will be plenty of time for that when he gets back.”

Their waiter arrived and took their order. As soon as he left, Lucy put a hand over her mouth and whispered. “See that man over there by the potted fern? He’s been staring this direction. I know he’s not looking at me with my big, giant belly.” She nudged Mi. “He’s a big one and kind of handsome in a scary bad-boy sort of way. Oh! He looked over again. He’s definitely looking at you.”

“That’s Lucas.”

“You know him?”

Mi sighed. “He’s my bodyguard.” She dove into the story about why she needed Lucas. When she finished, Lucy was looking at her with a mixture of horror and shock.

“Oh, sweetie. You poor thing. Well, that just isn’t right.” Lucy slapped a hand on the table, making their silver ware dance. “I can’t believe Cal could be so cheap as to get you a bodyguard for free! Calling in a favor.” She shook her head, her ponytail swaying with her irritation. “That cheap son of a bitch makes more money than God and that computer guy put together. He can afford a whole team of bodyguards. Not that big, tall, and brooding over there couldn’t handle himself real good in a fight or anything. I just think you deserve better.”

“I don’t know what I’d do with a whole army of men following me around all day.” The thought of that alternative gave Mi a bad moment. “I’m fine with Lucas. Cal’s increasing security at the studio both inside and out. The police are on top of the case. The detective in charge told me it’s just a matter of time before they catch up to Doyle Gann and when they do, they’ll likely revoke his parole. In the meantime, I feel perfectly safe with Lucas.”

Lucy eyed Lucas’s profile, then looked at Mi, then to Lucas and back again. “I think that tall, dark drink of water wants to do more to your body than protect it.” She nodded as if confirming her own thoughts. “A lot more.”

Mi’s cheeks flamed and she ducked her head, sure Lucas overheard Lucy’s comment even though he showed no reaction.

“Sweetie,” Lucy said, her Texas drawl slower than molasses over ice. “I know when a man’s interested. Believe me. And that man is interested with a capitol I-want-you-naked.”

“Lucy,” Mi begged.

Their server appeared with their order. “Is there anything else I can get you?” he asked.

“No, darlin’. We’re fine,” Lucy answered.

“Okay, just let me know.” The server started to leave, then turned back and pulled an envelope from his apron pocket. He handed it to Mi. “I was told to give this to you”

Mi accepted the envelope automatically. “Who is it from?”

He hitched a shoulder already moving on to another table. “Don’t know. He gave me twenty bucks to give it to you with your food.”

Mi stared down at the envelope, then back up at the server, but he was already gone.

“I don’t think it’s from a secret admirer,” Lucy said, eyeing the envelope as though it were a coiled rattlesnake.

Mi looked at Lucy and the envelope was snatched out of her hands.

“You’re not opening this.” Lucas towered over her, looking prepared to do damage. He held up a hand. “Stay here.”

They watched as Lucas stormed over to the server, grabbed him by the back of the shirt and marched him back to their table. He held the guy up so that his feet barely touched the floor. He thrust the envelope in the guy’s face. “Who gave this to you?”

“I don’t know, man.”

“What did he look like?”

“I don’t know! A guy. A white guy.”

“Is he still here?” Lucas asked, scanning the restaurant.

“No, man. He gave me the envelope and a twenty, then split.”

The waiter looked like he’d piss himself, but Lucas didn’t care. He gave the kid a shake. “Dark hair? Light hair? Old? Young?”

“Don’t hit me,” the guy whined, putting his hands up in front of his face.

“Lucas.” Mi gripped the wrist of the hand he was holding the letter in. “Lucas, please stop. You’re scaring him.”

He looked down at Mi’s wide eyes and then over at the punk dangling from his fist. He hooked a chair with his foot and dropped the guy down onto it gentler than he would have if Mi hadn’t been staring at him with her golden eyes full of fear. Of him.

Fuck.

“I take it back, sweetie,” Lucy said to Mi from behind her hand. “That son of a bitch, Cal, did right by you after all.”

Ignoring Lucy’s comment, Lucas pulled a chair up even with the kid and sat across from him. “I need to know everything you can remember about the guy who gave you this envelope. What he looked like, what he said, how he acted, everything.”

A man with a name badge declaring him ‘manager’ appeared. “Is everything all right here?”

Mi scooted to the edge of the booth, swung her legs over the edge and stood up. “Yes, thank you everything’s fine. Billy here, gave me an envelope from a secret admirer and my boyfriend—” She motioned toward Lucas. “—got a little jealous. He wants to know who his competition is. Not that he has any.” Mi flashed Lucas a smile that made it clear he had no rival. “Sorry for the commotion.”

“He’s got tables waiting,” the manager informed them before walking away with a warning glare.

When the manager was out of earshot, Mi put a hand on Billy’s shoulder and leaned in. “I’m sorry to cause you trouble, but we need your help. Can you tell me about the man who gave you the envelope?”

Billy cast Lucas a wary glance and straightened in his chair. “Sure.” His voice came out unsteady. He cleared his throat. “He had black hair with some gray.”

“Okay, that’s good. What else?” Mi asked.

“Dark eyes. Kind of small and close together. He was a little taller than me so maybe five-ten, five-eleven?”

Mi nodded in encouragement.

“And a scar. Right here.” Billy drew a line on his face over his left eye from hairline to eyebrow.

“Is this the guy?” Lucas asked, holding up his cell phone for Billy to see.

Billy bobbed his head. “That looks like him, but he didn’t have beard.”

“Who is it?” Mi tried to peer around to see the phone screen.

Lucas turned the phone so only he could see it and looked at the face of a convicted murderer.