away when she d shown signs of wooziness.
And, she d been the one to encourage him to
kiss her in the first place. She had practically
begged him to do it. If this was Jackson s way of
softening her up for the financial kill, it was a
darned strange way to accomplish it, leaving all the
decisions in her hands.
275
Philip, on the other hand, had pushed her subtly
every step of the way. The expensive dinner to turn
her working-class head, the lounge at the Ritz
where he d repeatedly topped off her glasses of
champagne, devilish caresses in dark corners that
wore down her attempts to resist him.
Embarrassment stole over her, even after all these
years, to think about what she had let him do
during the elevator ride to their room. Yes, she had
consented and enjoyed the sex, despite the difficult
deflowering. Philip had ensured that she d been
satisfied.
But he d wheedled and cajoled and tempted,
manipulating her in one constant direction. In
contrast, Jackson had gone out of his way not to
take advantage.
Her sister was right; it didn t add up. So what
was the phone message about? Was Jackson really
thinking about merging with that baker in Holden,
or had he just said it to piss her off? Strange
feelings came over her as she contemplated Jackson
joining forces with another caterer, especially a
female one. She didn t want him to be any other
baker s man.
Why, why, she was jealous! Crap, what was
wrong with her? Jealous over a business
relationship between Jackson and someone else?
Stamping her good foot, she muttered, I seem
to have fallen for the jerk. What an idiot I am.
And which jerk might that be? Wait, don t tell
me, she heard Annie tease from behind her. Oh,
and if you re calling yourself an idiot, don t expect
me to argue you out of your opinion.
Lena scooted over and held her sister s hot cup
for her so that she could sit on the stairs. Annie
settled herself with the help of railing and crutches,
and then reached for her teacup full of an herbal
citrus blend.
Smells good, said Lena.
276
It is. I wanted something other than
peppermint.
The pie done?
Yep.
Want dinner soon?
In an hour or so. Not right now.
The two women relaxed, their enjoyment of
each other s company keeping them warm despite
the air that felt more like November than May.
So. You re an idiot? Annie smiled.
I hate hormones, Lena grumbled while her
sister laughed at the comment. Well, I do, she
said defensively.
Lena, you re amazing. The biggest control freak
on the face of the earth.
I am not.
Yes, you are. You want everything to be
perfect. You hate risk and change. You don t like
anything unpredictable. And hormones are about as
predictable as, as, well, life itself. You don t hate
life, do you?
I have my days, she admitted. But most of
the time, life is good.
I told you before: life involves risk. So does
love. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don t. But
it s a game I enjoy playing because the payoff can
change your life forever.
How did you become so wise at twenty-one?
Lena ruffled her sister s hair.
By making mistakes. God knows I ve made
plenty.
Annie s bald admission disturbed Lena. I did
everything I could to keep you from making hurtful
mistakes. I m sorry I let you down.
Oh, please. You would have let me down only if
I d never had opportunities to try and fail. Failure
builds character and good judgment.
But it hurts. I don t ever want you to hurt.
277
It s not fun, that s for sure. But when life kicks
you in the ass, you cry, rub your butt, and carry
on.
Guess I never had the courage to try again,
Lena murmured. Sorry to be such a coward.
You re no such thing. Anyone who would
willingly shoulder the burden of being Papa s
whipping girl and who would give up college to raise
her sister is the bravest person I ve ever known.
You re a fighter. You never give up in the business
world. Why won t you fight equally hard for love?
I don t know.
But you re going to talk this out with Jackson
tomorrow morning, right? her sister pressed. He
might need help. Ricky will be working the mayor s
luncheon.
Maybe, Lena hedged.
Damn it, Lena, I m gonna kick you in the ass
myself if you don t take this one chance. It s not as
big a risk as you fear. Plus, you told the guy you d
help, and I ve never known you to back down on
your word.
And I m gonna wash your mouth out with soap
if I hear one more cuss word out of you. Lena
smiled to rinse the harshness from her words.
You d better buy stock in Ivory, Annie said,
giggling.
___________________
Lena lay on the couch in the sitting room off the
kitchen, trying to concentrate on Catering Magazine.
She wasn t sleepy; she didn t want to read, and she
was tired of thinking about The Problem With
Jackson, as she now labeled it. Dinner was long
over; chores were finished, and her sister was
playing cards with her boyfriend in the kitchen,
Barenaked Ladies on the boom box.
Maybe she d join them. She felt cranky and
bored and restless. Annie, she called, Want a
third?
278
No answer. She sat up. Annie?
She padded to the kitchen. It s All Been Done,
one of her sister s favorites, was playing for no one
but Lena.
Wondering what she might find, she crept up the
stairs to the second floor. No, both bedrooms were
empty. The two of them must have gone outside.
She checked both the front and back porch. No
couple.
She remembered she wanted to check
something in the Range Rover. Grabbing her jacket
off the back of a chair, she walked to the old,
standalone garage. She was about to throw open
the side door when faint but distinctive sounds hit
her ears. In fact, she recalled hearing similar
wordless syllables the night before; only she and
Jackson were making the noise.
Oh, jeez. Her little sister and Ricky were she
swallowed hard, embarrassed over what she was
hearing. In her heart, Annie was still fourteen. But
her brain reminded her that Annie was twenty-one
now, and probably knew more about sex than she
did.
Lena backed away quietly. Ricky was different
from Annie s usual boyfriends. Maybe she should
stay out of it. They did seem good for each other,
and you couldn t ask for a harder worker or more
respectful young man.
She snorted. Young man! She sounded like
somebody s grandmother. Next, she d be serving
them milk and cookies and wearing flowered aprons
over shirtwaist dresses and high-heeled shoes. She
was still in her twenties, for cryin out loud.
And nothing said she couldn t have a little fun.
She grabbed three bottles of water from the fridge
and sat on the back steps, waiting. She d finished
about half of her bottle when the couple emerged
from the garage, cuddling and giggling as they
crossed the yard.
Hey, you two. Need something to drink?
279
Annie and Ricky froze. Lena watched the hand
he had planted on her sister s backside drop
immediately, while her sister s smile weakened.
Lena. What a surprise. I thought you were
going to read and turn in early.
And I thought you were going to play cards. In
the kitchen. She was having a hard time keeping [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]