Beyond Desire Collection: (A Limited Edition Boxed Set of Alpha Males, Badboys and Billionaire Romance Novels) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: azw
ISBN: 9781939962447
Publisher: Beyond Desire Collection
Published: 2014-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Five

Lucy

The two-hour drive to Santa Rosa goes by far too fast. I suspect it has a lot to do with the trepidation I have for returning to my mother’s house. I don’t want to spend the entire time defending my decision to leave Cadan. And I really don’t want to have to make nice with Randy. My skin crawls with the thought.

As I take the exit for the pharmacy, my phone buzzes for the fifth time in ten minutes. A quick glance at the screen reveals Mom’s name. Crap. How’d she get this number? Cadan probably. “I’m driving!” I yell at it. “And it’s raining. Compulsive texting isn’t going to make me answer you any faster.”

A few blocks down, I pull into the parking lot and scan the messages:

Where are you?

Don’t forget Randy’s meds.

We also need milk. Skim.

Call when you get close.

What time can I expect you?

“Holy crow.” I delete all the messages and tap in one to let her know I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, then turn the phone off and toss it into my purse.

There’s a line of retirees stocking up on blood pressure and cholesterol meds before the pharmacy closes for the holiday. The delay puts me back another ten minutes, and when I pull to a stop at Mom’s house, she’s standing outside in the rain, her arms crossed over her chest. Her salon-dyed auburn hair is already stringy from the rain, and her satin blouse has rain splotches staining it.

I take a deep breath, grab the meds, the milk, and Mom’s Christmas present, and paste a smile on my face. “Merry Christmas,” I say as cheerily as I can muster.

She uncrosses her arms and places both hands on her hips. “I was worried.”

I bite back a snarky reply and brush past her toward her front door. She can stand in the elements all day if she wants. I’ll wait on the covered porch.

“You didn’t call.” She follows me onto the porch and smoothes back her damp hair.

“Mom.” I sigh. “I sent a text when I got to the pharmacy. After that I was driving. You do realize there are laws against using the phone while driving, right?”

“Don’t be difficult. I have something to tell you.”

“Okay.” I shift and lean against the side of her house. “So spill it.”

“I invited—”

The door swings open and Cadan strolls out, wearing designer jeans and an expertly tailored sports coat. “Lucy! Merry Christmas.” He wraps his arms around me and kisses me on the cheek, lingering longer than is polite for a simple Christmas hug.

My mind whirls while my body automatically relaxes, feeling completely comfortable in his arms. Irritated with my physical response, I stiffen and pull out of his embrace, trying not to scowl. Fighting in front of Mom will only make matters worse. She’ll take a side. His. “Cadan,” I say, eyeing him, “this is a surprise. I thought you’d be with your family.”

“I am.” He nods in my direction. “I can’t spend Christmas away from you.

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