“You’re are always so calm and determined. How can you make marriage a business deal?”
“Life is a business deal, so marriage can’t be any different,” he said, his voice firm.
“I don’t feel like I have any other option, and that makes me almost despise you, you know.”
He paused, his hands stilling on her naked skin, his face losing all expression and retreating behind the mask she was most familiar with.
“I don’t need your love, Jewell.”
This he had said before, but it still hurt. Even if she was saying things intending to wound him too, it still hurt.
“You just want my body, Blake.”
“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate. Even though she hadn’t asked him a question, he still answered.
“Don’t forget that my little brother comes along with me, Blake.”
“I like kids.”
“Have you ever even been around them?”
“I was a child once.”
Jewell had a hard time believing that. It seemed more likely that he’d sprung from the womb full-grown. Okay, that was a bit ridiculous, but she couldn’t imagine Blake smiling with dirt smeared on his cheeks, or running around playing cops and robbers. Yes, he worked on construction sites even now, but that was different than making mud pies or building forts.
“I don’t think you know how to be carefree and go with the flow,” she told him. “I don’t think you even knew how to play games when you were a child. You’re too hard, too set in your ways. You won’t be good with Justin. You’ll realize this eventually and then I’m the one who will pay the price.”
He was quiet for so long that she figured her words had finally gotten through to him and he was deciding to break things off with her. Why did that cause such a pang inside her chest?
“Once I decide on a course of action, I don’t change my mind, Jewell. I’m not letting you go, so don’t waste your time thinking about it.”
With that, he unwrapped his hands from her and stood up. Though she was exasperated with the man, she couldn’t help but look at the magnificence of his naked behind, and she almost groaned when he pulled up his pants, covering up the prime view.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to agree on this,” she said when he turned back toward her.
“It doesn’t matter what you want, Jewell. It’s about what I want.”
With that, he walked from the room. She gazed at his retreating form and sighed. What was worse than anything else at this moment was that she knew he was right.
It didn’t matter at all what she wanted.
Chapter Nineteen
I’m glad you decided to come, Jewell.”
Jewell looked at McKenzie Beaumont and attempted a smile. “I honestly don’t know why I did. I guess if you call, I come,” she replied softly. Jewell actually liked McKenzie. She had discovered in the months she’d gotten to know her employer that the woman wasn’t nearly as hardened as Jewell had originally thought.
“You came because, for some strange reason, the two of us have made a connection. Anyway, I have a surprise for you,” McKenzie said, and Jewell witnessed something she had never witnessed before with this woman — a sparkle in her eyes and an actual smile.
“Okay, you have me very curious now,” Jewell replied.
“Come on in first and sit down.” McKenzie ushered Jewell into the living room, done in beiges and reds. Jewell remembered McKenzie telling her once how a persons color choice could tell a lot about them. Was McKenzie looking for both peace in the beige and boldness in the red? Jewell didn’t know. “I was able to arrange a visit with your brother. I told you I wanted to help you, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do,” McKenzie told her.
“How?” Jewell exclaimed. Was this a joke?
“I have connections,” McKenzie answered simply.
“But I’ve been getting the runaround for ages.”
“Do you really want to talk about how it happened, or do you want to just be happy it happened?” McKenzie asked her.
“You’re right. Where is he?” Jewell looked around.
“He should be here any minute,” McKenzie told her, and Jewell’s stomach knotted in anticipation. She was so afraid that Justin had thought she hadn’t been trying to keep her promise to him.
“ Thank you, Ms. Beaumont…”
McKenzie broke in. “That’s the last time I want to hear you say ‘Ms. Beaumont.’ I’m McKenzie, and don’t you forget that!”
“Then thank you, McKenzie. This means more to me than anything anyone has ever done for me,” Jewell said, with a sheen of tears reflecting off her eyes. “I won’t question you about who you had to bribe.”
The look on McKenzie’s face told Jewell that the woman might have actually done that, but the least Jewell knew the better.
“I told you that I have connections. Once I give my word, I keep it. That’s all you need to know.”
“I can live with that,” Jewell said.
The two women had been sitting there for less than ten minutes when the doorbell rang and Jewell’s stomach tightened once more.
“Sissy!” The excited cry rent the air, and Jewell’s eyes instantly filled with tears as her little brother came barreling toward her.
“Ah, Bubby, it’s so good to see you! I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to keep my word,” Jewell exclaimed a millisecond before he launched himself into her arms.
“I’ve missed you,” he said with a sniffle, and he held on tight.
“And I’ve missed you so much. Oh, Justin, I am so, so sorry,” she said again. How could she explain this all to her beloved little brother?
“It’s okay. I just want to come home with you, though,” he begged, leaning back and making her tears fall.
“I’m doing all I can to make that happen.” She paused and decided to change the subject before she found herself making him more promises that she wasn’t sure she could keep. “Oh my goodness, you’ve grown a foot since I’ve seen you last!”
“I’ve been doing what you said, Jewell, and eating my vegetables and being good. I want to live with you so much.”
The boy clutched at his sister even more tightly. Nothing had ever felt so good for either of them.
“I’m working on it, Justin,” she said. When he grunted, she loosened her own grip around him. “I love you so much.”