Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“She’s just in love with a gay man?”
I smiled. “That’s right.”
“And she lives in the pool house by herself or with the gay guy?”
“Alone. Timothy is married.”
“To…a man?”
“Who else would he be married to if he’s gay?”
“I don’t know. It seems like nothing we’re talking about makes too much sense.”
I laughed. “I guess you have a point.”
Ten minutes later, we pulled up at the Ritz-Carlton. One good thing about my mom’s visit was that it seemed to have gotten my relationship with Wes back on track. Who knew my parents’ nutty situation could be the icebreaker we needed?
Wes stayed downstairs in the lobby, and Paulie went upstairs with us. He had the room next to Mom’s, so the two of us were alone in her suite. Chester took his spot in the middle of the bed, and Mom and I stayed out in the living area.
“How are you, Mom?”
“Old. Tired. Hungry.” She smiled. “Let’s order room service. Hot wings?”
I smiled back. “With bleu cheese.”
“You got it.” She picked up the phone and placed the order. Then she covered the receiver. “Anything else? A drink or something?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Mom grinned and returned to the phone. “Two bottles of merlot, please. And two straws.”
I chuckled. “Actually, Mom, do you think you can get some wings delivered to Wes in the lobby, too?”
“It’s the Ritz-Carlton.” She shrugged. “We can get anything we want.”
After she finished ordering, Mom slipped off her shoes.
“How are things at home?” I asked. “How’s Timothy?”
My mom’s face lit up. “He just got a big promotion at work. He’s the vice president of the bank now.”
“Oh, that’s great. What about Ken?”
I regretted asking when my mom’s face faltered. Ken was Timothy’s husband. “He’s fine. Redecorating again and wasting more of Timothy’s hard-earned money.”
I wasn’t about to point out that my mom’s full-time job was redecorating our family home—the one she didn’t even sleep in anymore. “What about Dad?”
“He’s very stressed. He would love it if you would move back home. So would I.”
“Mom…let’s not go there. I’m happy out here in LA.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“I don’t need a man to make me happy.”
“So that’s a no.”
I rolled my eyes. But then I realized my mother was probably the only person on the planet who understood my situation, and I could talk freely with her. It might be good to discuss how to handle things with Wes. So I took a deep breath. “There actually is someone I’m interested in.”
Mom’s eyes sparkled. She tucked her feet under her butt and leaned in. “Tell me all about him.”
“Well, he’s handsome and smart, has a good sense of humor.”
“Sounds amazing so far. What does he do for work?”
I chewed on my bottom lip before answering. “He’s a bodyguard.”
“Ooh, interesting. For someone famous out here in Hollywood?”
“Not really.”
“Someone with a lot of money then?”
“Definitely not.”
“Why does the person need a bodyguard if they’re not rich or famous?”
I met my mother’s eyes. “Because her father is a kingpin.”
My mother’s brows dipped, and then her eyes grew wide. “You and Wes?”
“Well, there isn’t really a me and Wes.” I sighed. “But yeah. I’ve grown feelings for him.”
“He’s a real looker.”
“And he wants nothing to do with me—at least not in a romantic way.”
My mother looked offended. “Why not?”
“You know why…”
Mom frowned. “Oh. Of course. I wasn’t thinking. Your father must’ve given him the touch my daughter and die speech. I bet it was the same one he gave poor Evan Roberts.”
“Evan Roberts? My prom date?”
Mom nodded. “I was so mad at him for pulling a gun on an eighteen-year-old.”
My eyes flared. “Are you kidding me? Mom, I had no idea Dad threatened Evan. You know he wouldn’t even dance with me at the prom, and he ditched me the minute it was over. All these years, I thought he didn’t like me.”
“How could anyone not like you?”
I shook my head and blew out a big breath. “Whatever. But yeah…Dad told Wes I was off-limits.”
Mom patted my hand. “I’m sorry, honey. But it’s probably for the best.”
“It’s best that I wind up an old maid because everyone in the world is afraid of Dad?”
“No, best because Wes works for your father. Even if Wes had Dad’s blessing, you know what would happen. You’d get sucked back into that life because your man’s life would be tied to your father. You moved three-thousand miles away to escape that world.”
My shoulders slumped. Mom was probably right. The men in my father’s world didn’t go to work at nine and come home at five, leaving their job behind. They were in deep. And half the guys who lived that life wound up in jail or…worse. Right now it was easy to pretend Wes was just a guy who did private security. But what would his next job be? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what my father had him doing before this either.