THIRTY-SEVEN
“THIS IS COOL,” Roxie said as Wishbone’s buildings passed by the limo’s windows. “Pretty.”
A limo. Unless it was prom season, those were never seen in these streets. Not that the chopper landing in a Greenhaven field was discreet. Even without saying a word, she’d be causing a to-do.
Twenty-four hours ago, she’d been making love with Struan in her apartment. Now she and Roxie were on their way to her mother’s. What would be waiting for them? She couldn’t even imagine. The clowder of press better have moved on. If they were there, what was she supposed to say?
“Thanks.” Her heart was hammering. “It’s nothing to Chicago.”
If only they were heading for Roxie’s instead of hers, more anonymity there.
“No! Everyone loves novelty! If we stopped and got out right now, everyone would know you. I love that, it’s cozy.”
“They’d know you too.”
With a dismissive wave, Roxie’s interest stayed pinned outside. “Yeah, but for different reasons, boring reasons. These people are your family, they know your past, who you are. All your stories.”
Including the ones she’d rather forget. “Thank you for this, for coming with me.” Watching her friend say goodbye to Zairn that morning wasn’t easy. “You don’t have to be here. Zairn and Tripp need you in New York.”
“Tripp is like our oversized child, it will do him some good to spend time with Daddy. Mommy has better things to do.”
“Zairn will be worried about you.”
“I am a pro…” Stated with confidence until her friend conceded. “Plus, my Casanova knows Stone’s already got guys in place. Him and his team arrived last night.” Roxie linked their hands on the seat between them. “Don’t be shocked, okay? This is going to feel a little different than usual.”
“This?”
“Coming home. Have you talked to your mom?”
“Yesterday, I told her we were coming. And not to talk to anyone.”
“It’s normal. A culture shock, but normal. When the press came after my family, Zairn had to put everyone I knew in hotels and surround them with security. It’s par for the course. Not fun, just part of the deal.” She sighed. “Actually, you know, it can be fun, if you’re into that kind of thing.”
Being mobbed by strangers? Was anyone into that? More people than she could count probably. That’s what fame was all about: popularity.
“I don’t know what they want from me.”
“It’s not fair, but the truth is, they’re never satisfied, they just move on to the next story when this one gets old. When these things happen, with the internet and everyone having a camera these days… nothing is out of reach. Every piece of information is juicy gossip. Here, I know what will help…” Roxie shifted to rest a shoulder on the backrest and maneuvered her until they faced each other. “Boundaries.”
“Boundaries?”
“Set them early and stick to them. Decide your boundaries and no matter what, under all circumstances, stick to them.
“You really know what you’re talking about, don’t you?”
“It’s unlike me not to claim all the credit for smart advice, but these are Z’s words. It’s one of the first things he told me. Getting overwhelmed is easy, to fight that and not succumb, what you have to remember is, you set the rules. We have security to keep people away from you, and if you want to load up your family and take a trip to some deserted island, we’ll do that. No one has the power to make you do anything you don’t want to do. If someone pushes your boundaries, you set the limits. Don’t accept anyone overstepping. You don’t owe anyone anything.”
She smiled. “I owe you. And Zairn. We would never have been able to—”
“This is nothing. What else are friends for? Besides, I can’t wait to meet your mom. And your sisters. Stone’s people are looking after them at their places.”
“They are?”
“They’ll need security too. You don’t need to be worried about their safety. Stone’s amazing, and he has a family of his own, he completely understands doing anything to protect the people we care about.”
“I don’t know if anyone can truly understand until they face it. Stuff like this happens in the movies, and you think you know, but…”
“Oh, trust me…” Roxie squeezed her hands. “Stone knows. I’d say he knows better than us, actually. His wife was abducted and held prisoner for weeks. He’s had the person he loves kept from his reach; he’d never let anyone else endure that. He wouldn’t watch anyone being harassed and hurt without stepping in. Ryder Stone is the definition of a ‘good man.’” Roxie settled back in the seat again. “I’d say his wife’s a lucky fox for stealing him before the rest of us got a chance.”
She laughed. “Sure Zairn would be happy to hear that.”
“Like he wouldn’t drop me in a heartbeat if Lara Croft came to life. Trust me, everyone has a list, no matter their bank balance.”
Only one name on her list: the man she’d left in her apartment in LA yesterday. It might not be much of a home, but she was pleased to leave him in one and not at the mercy of his brother. He’d stayed there the previous night, alone, while the rest of them stayed over in a fancy Seattle hotel.
On their late-night call, lonely though it may have been, he’d said goodnight appreciating the chance to straighten out his own thoughts. And if he needed to go nuts and trash the place, her apartment was a safe place to do that too. Either way, he’d be renewed.
She’d promised to call when she got to her mom’s. When the helicopter landed on the outskirts of town, she texted Struan to tell him they were in one piece. He’d be on his way to Vancouver, maybe he was somewhere overhead.
As much as she wanted to call, the activity was just too much. She didn’t want to have an intimate conversation with Struan, saying the things she wanted to say, with Roxie just a couple of feet away. She trusted the woman, but did anyone enjoy hearing others gush to their lovers?
He stayed on her mind for the rest of the ride. It didn’t take long to get to her mother’s. Didn’t take long to get anywhere in Wishbone. The town wasn’t big enough. Roxie was right, visiting her home wasn’t like anything she’d experienced before.
Her mother’s front door wasn’t even visible from the sidewalk because a crowd of people congregated outside. There were news vans and what looked to be teenagers with cellphones. She’d never seen so many people in that particular space.
“Okay, so it’s not too crazy,” Roxie said.
She almost couldn’t believe it. “There’s got to be fifty people there.”
“I’d say closer to thirty, it’s the concentration that makes them look more.”
Yeah, because none of the other houses had people and vehicles crowded around them. They passed one of the news vans and someone spotted them.
People rushed over to surround the car.
“What are we supposed to do now?” she asked when the car stopped.
“Smile,” Roxie said, showing hers. “Push your shoulders back. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t let them make you think otherwise.”
“What should I say?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that.”
The door opened, and rather than just one driver, half a dozen men formed a perimeter of protection for them to exit into. Their guards separated them from people calling their names. This was mid-level deployment? She dreaded ever needing full deployment.
Somehow, they got through her mother’s gate, also flanked by security. That little gate had swung open and shut for as long as she could remember. From childhood games to teenage tantrums, it was always there. Right then it looked pathetic and certainly wouldn’t hold up against anyone pushing its limits. Didn’t help that the guys protecting it were huge, ridiculous in their juxtaposition to something so feeble.
Roxie stopped in the middle of the path to wave to the crowd. “Thank you all for being here. We’re so pleased to have your support,” Roxie shouted to those on the street. “Unfortunately, there’s not going to be much to see, just my girl and I coming to visit Momma Bennett. It’ll be all hair and shoes and makeup. No scandal or drama here. You want that? Head to New York, I have it on good authority that a certain special guest is showing up to The Ruby room tomorrow!” Roxie blew them a kiss. “Stay Crimson!”
Whirling around again, she forged up the stairs onto the porch.
“What guest?” she asked.
“That’s Z’s problem now. I say things and they happen. He’ll figure it out.”
Of the other men guarding the porch, one reached to open the door for them. Her mother’s door, her home, she’d never knocked or needed it opened for her in the past. If she needed a sign this was no regular day, that was it.
Roxie gestured inside. “This is your home, honey, not mine.”
The woman’s glittering smile wasn’t just for show. It imparted confidence and reassurance too.
As they went inside, her mother appeared in the kitchen at the other end of the hallway. “Oh, Bambi!” They hurried to each other, embracing by the ascending stairs. “What is all this?”
“We’ll explain everything,” she said and stepped aside. “Mom, this is Roxie.”
“Kyst,” her mother said, nodding. “You’re the internet billionaire.”
A laugh escaped Roxie’s lips. “I’ve been described as worse. I apologize for the mess. We’re doing our best to clean it up.”
“Oh, your people have been a godsend, a real godsend.” Her mother took her hand and beckoned Roxie to come sit in the kitchen. “I made pie.”
Her mother turned first, but it was the amusement in Roxie’s expression that relaxed her enough to laugh.
“Yes, my mother bakes pies.”
“I love this town,” Roxie said, going to give her a quick hug, keeping an arm around her as they headed into the kitchen. “I can already tell calories don’t count here.”
Her mother made drinks and cut pie for the three of them. When everyone was settled at the central kitchen table, she clasped her fingers near the edge of her plate.
“Where do you want to begin?” Not one for messing around, her mother got to the point. “You disappeared off to the big city. We thought you were getting along well. You didn’t mention any man, now you’re engaged?”
She stole a crumb from the edge of her plate with a fingertip. “I’m not really engaged. It’s a long story, but we had to say that to protect Roman Lowe’s reputation.”
“He’s a bit of a heartbreaker,” Roxie offered.
“And an outright hooligan at times,” her mother said, unimpressed. “That’s what my research tells me. I’m not sure how you could ever get mixed up with a man like him. I know Kevin wasn’t the best of men, but to go from him to someone like Roman Lowe—”
“I’m not with Roman,” she said. “Never have been, never will be. The man would test the patience of saints. I could never be attracted to someone like that.”
“Then why are you worried about his reputation? I don’t understand.”
“You know about the tape?” she said, unwilling to ask if her mother had seen it.
Okay, so she herself still hadn’t seen it and had no intention of seeking it out. It may not elude her forever, but she’d avoid it as long as she had the real thing. The first day at Roman’s, she’d called to calm her mom. Back then, details were sparse, and she hadn’t filled many in.
“Yes, I haven’t watched it,” her mom said. “How could you let yourself be—”
“We didn’t know there were cameras. The power was out. We were locked in that room.”
“And somehow this Roman—”
“It wasn’t Roman,” she said again. “I’m not with Roman Lowe, I’m with his brother.”