Envious by Lisa Jackson

Author:Lisa Jackson [Jackson, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2020-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“I’m just telling you she’s doing the best she can,” J.D. said into the mouthpiece of his telephone. It had been installed on Friday and he’d finally decided to report to his father.

“She’s no mother,” Carlo insisted, then his voice was softer as he turned away from the phone. “No prune juice . . . I don’t care, Frankie, I won’t drink it. Just coffee and toast. We’ll have brunch after Mass.”

“I think you’re wrong.” J.D. wasn’t afraid to stand up to the old man.

“About Tiffany?” Carlo snorted. “What would you know?”

“She loves her kids.”

“Love, shmove. Stephen’s already in trouble with the law, isn’t he?”

“A little,” J.D. lied. There was no reason to bring up the Isaac Wells mess; not until there was concrete evidence as to Stephen’s involvement. J.D. intended to take care of the situation—without his father’s interference. “She’s got problems, but she seems to be handling them.”

“Sure.” Carlo didn’t bother hiding his sarcasm. “What happened, J.D.? Have you fallen under her spell like your brother—may he rest in peace—did?”

If you only knew. “I’m just telling you what I’ve observed.”

“Yeah, and remember, if it wasn’t for her, he’d be alive today.”

“You don’t know that, but let’s not get into it again.”

J.D. wasn’t foolish enough to point the finger at Tiffany for Philip’s death, but his parents needed someone to blame, someone to punish for the loss of their firstborn.

“You’re already standing up for her and you’ve hardly been there a week yet.” Carlo sighed in disgust. “Sending you down there was probably a mistake.”

“Probably,” J.D. countered, refusing to be baited by the irascible old man. “You know I go by gut instincts.”

“Humph. And what does your gut tell you about a new winery?”

“Still working on it, but I’ll fax you copies of the most promising,” J.D. said, thankful that his father had dropped the subject of Tiffany, if only for the moment. Frances was chattering in the background. “Your mother wants to know if you’re keeping up with your physical therapy, if your leg is any better.”

“Stronger each day.”

“Good. I’ll pass the word along. You’ll call again?”

“Soon,” J.D. promised as he hung up. He was surprised that he’d stood up for Tiffany, that he was changing his mind about her. He rubbed the tension from his shoulders with his right hand.

Tiffany wasn’t quite what he’d expected when he’d driven to Bittersweet. Stronger than he’d suspected, a better mother than he ever would have thought, she gave the outward appearance of being a responsible woman trying to make it in the world. Even if, as his parents were convinced, she’d been a gold-digging girl looking for a father figure a long time ago, she’d grown up, blossomed and done her best with the kids.

“Dammit all, anyway,” he growled.

No matter what, she was a problem.

For him.

He wanted her. More than he’d ever wanted a woman. He’d given in once, when she was grieving and alone. She’d reached out and he’d reached back, going too far. He’d felt like a heel ever since, and yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her, wanting her, needing her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.