Chapter 19
Cori
Why not him? Why not? Is it because he runs a money laundering empire?
No. I’m pretty sure I don’t give a shit about that.
Who decides what’s legal and what’s not?
Rich, powerful white men. So what if Daxton Hunt works the system to his benefit and gets away with it? It’s about time someone like him did.
He’s made Shadow Cove better because of it.
There are employment opportunities. Property value has gone up, and the schools are better.
There’s a free after-school program that I’m positive he is funding.
No kid goes without a school lunch. New businesses are opening in and around Shadow Cove, and I’m sure that’s because of him.
The town is also safer. Shadow Cove was never a dangerous place, but a few years ago, there were numerous reports of car thefts and break-ins. Since he’s come to town, that’s gone away.
But he’s also heavy-handed, manipulative, and controlling. That’s my issue with the man. My father was nowhere near as controlling as Selene’s, but he’s manipulative. I don’t want to be with a man like that.
When he returned to my apartment in the middle of the night, he brought clothes with him, and some of his things hang in my closet. If they are still there tonight, I’m going to take them to the incinerator.
I don’t want a relationship. I want to start my own business. I hope that in a few years, I will be able to focus full-time on my wedding dress designs. And I want to do it all on my own. I’ve saved for it. I’ve planned. I’ve put together a business plan, and I’ve budgeted for it.
“What are you thinking about?” He looks straight ahead as he drives us.
“I’m not paying rent anymore.” His brows crease.
“What?”
“Can you not drive like an old lady going to a church revival? Speed it up. I’m hungry.”
“I’m doing the speed limit.”
“Where are we going?” He promised me brunch, but we already passed Paulene’s.
“Are we going into Boston? I’m too hungry for such a long drive.
Turn around, and let’s go to Paulene’s. They have a good brunch, and I’m thirsty.
Those bottomless mimosas won’t drink themselves.
” I wiggle my brows at him. “I’m not a gold digger, but I do appreciate your deep pockets when it comes time to eat. ”
“I’m glad being with me provides some perks.”
“I’m not with you.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Can you take me shopping after brunch?” I give him a smirk, fully expecting him to say no.
“Whatever you want, baby, whenever you want it.”
That wasn’t the answer I was expecting. There isn’t a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but the dog barks, and I don’t respond.
I decide to ignore his last statement, along with Finch.
As soon as I return home, I plan on tossing out the rest of the dog food and the dog dish he had the nerve to bring into my apartment.
I don’t know what the fuck this man thinks this is.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. You’ll like it. I promise.” He puts a hand on my lap.
“As long as there are drinks.”
“Unlimited drinks and food. Not to mention, amazing company. You look beautiful.”
The last thing I want to do is blush, but I do. I’ve always been told I was too tall. It’s never been easy for me to find someone to date due to my height. I’m either fetishized or avoided, but Dax Hunt loves my height and everything about me.
He leaves the main road and turns onto a side street. I recognize this neighborhood. I’ve followed him here. My head whips around to stare at his profile, but he won’t look at me. From the expression on his face, I know he knows I know.
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head in disbelief. The car slows enough for me to open the door and jump out without too much injury, but he’s locked me inside. “No!” I yell inside the small car. “Are you out of your damn mind? I’m not going.”
“You know where we are?” His voice is playful.
“I knew you followed me that day. Before that, I thought it was a coincidence. That was na?ve of me because there’s no such thing as a coincidence.
But never did I imagine that you would be brave enough to follow me to my mother’s house.
” He taps my lap. “I’m so glad I was wrong. ”
He turns into a long driveway. This is the blue house with white shutters. It’s picture perfect. Instead of parking outside, he opens the garage and parks there. Once my door is unlocked, I run out of the car as if it’s on fire.
“I don’t want to be here. This is your mother’s house,” I hiss.
“What’s the big deal? I had dinner with your family. Now, you can meet mine, and you can see for yourself that she’s not ugly or bald-headed.”
“No, you crashed our family dinner on purpose because you’re a manipulative control freak. You wanted to be there, but I don’t want to be here. That’s the difference, and—”
“Says the woman who started stalking me.” He takes slow, calculating steps toward me.
“Don’t you dare, Hunt, or I swear, I will be so rude and—”
“Don’t be rude to my mom.” His voice comes as a warning, but he should know by now that he doesn’t scare me.
“Who’s going to stop me? You can kiss my Black—"
The words die in my throat when the door opens, and a middle-aged woman comes out. She’s an older female version of Dax with blemish-free brown skin. She’s tall, but with an ample chest and a thick waist. I dip behind Dax and hide.
“You’re going to regret this.” He doesn’t seem to care about my warning.
I hear footsteps getting closer. After a few seconds, Dax steps to the side and puts an arm around my waist. He feels nice. He pulls me closer, and I smell his cologne, but I pinch his side as hard as I can.
“Fuck,” he mutters. “You’re so mean.”
His mother stops in front of us. She’s smiling as she looks from him to me, and I make sure not to make eye contact. She seems friendly enough, but I’m not interested in any relationship with her or her son.
“Mom, this is Cori Lamb. She’s the one I told you about.” Now, that takes me by surprise. Why is he talking about me to his mother?
“You told your mother about me?” He chuckles at the outrage in my voice. I try to pinch him again, but he inches away.
“I tell my mother everything.” Of all the things I did not expect to hear. I look at him wide-eyed, but all the idiot does is nod his head. “Everything.” He wiggles his brows.
“You can’t be serious,” I whisper with my eyes wide.
“Cori, this is my mother, Haddie Richardson.” He leans down and whispers, “Though I’m sure you already knew that.”
I plaster a fake smile on my face. The good manners I was taught kick in, and I extend a hand. She knocks it down, pulls me away from her son, and wraps her arms around me.
“Oh,” I say with a nervous giggle. Her hug tightens, and I admit, she feels nice. She smells good, too. She pulls away and smiles at me before she kisses both my cheeks.
“She’s as beautiful as you described,” she says without looking away from me.
“Thank you, Mrs. Richard—”
“None of that. I’m Haddie.” She taps my cheek.
“Where’s my grand dog?” she asks while she looks around.
Dax whistles, and the beast runs to Haddie.
I make sure to step behind her to get away from that monster.
“Hello, Finch.” She blows kisses at the thing.
“Let’s get out of this garage.” She starts to lead me away.
“Oh, well, I can’t stay,” I announce. Everyone stops walking.
Dax looks at me with an arched brow. “My mother just texted me.” I wave my phone around as if that’s proof.
“She needs me.” I clear my throat before adding, “She’s in a wheelchair, so I help her out a lot.
But I don’t want to interrupt your brunch.
You stay, Dax, and I’ll get a ride share.
” He rolls his eyes. “If you can let up the garage door, I’ll just skedaddle and get out of your hair.
” I sound stupid even to myself. I nervously clear my throat again and hope no one calls me out on my blatant lie.
“Your mom is at her sister’s house with your father for Sunday dinner. Stop that, Bella. My mother’s been cooking all day.” He takes my elbow. “She’s shy, Mom.”
“Come on, sweetheart. No need to be shy,” Haddie says, and I’m grateful she doesn’t question me.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.
We’re going to eat and get to know each other.
Dax never brings anyone home, so when he told me about you, I got really excited.
And you’re so pretty.” She takes my hand, and Dax drops my elbow.
Haddie practically drags me up the stairs and into the house. We end up in a beautiful kitchen, where I assume her favorite color is blue. The cabinets are white, with white and baby-blue marble. It’s so pretty that I run my hand on her kitchen island.
“Dax had that flown in for me from overseas,” Haddie says.