Lone Star Redemption by Colleen Thompson

Author:Colleen Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

After splashing water on her face and straightening her wind-whipped hair as best she could, Jessie took a deep breath and told herself, “Three, two, one—game face,” before clapping on her most camera-ready expression.

Or trying, anyway, she thought, frowning at her reddened eyes and washed-out complexion. But she’d done her job in the past while sick, angry and even on one regrettable occasion after her breakup with her boyfriend, when she’d been seriously hungover. Pulling a tube of lipstick from her jeans, she tried to pump herself up, saying, “Fake it till you make it, baby.”

On second thought, today called for a brand-new mantra. Rock ’em till you shock ’em. Because she sensed that, unlike her son, Nancy Rayford would spill her secrets with the right questions. Zach must know it, too, thought Jessie, considering his attempt to send her away rather than letting her visit with his mother. Jessie took it as a sign she’d better milk this opportunity for all it was worth.

The trouble was, Zach was no less protective toward his mother than Gretel was of Jessie. Maybe she ought to remind him of the disaster that had unfolded the last time he took loyalty too far.

Really bad idea, she realized, instinct warning her that if she brought up the loss of his wings and the reason for it, he’d shut her down fast and hard, and there would go her last hope of any help from him.

When she walked into the living room, the hornets’ buzz of their conversation instantly went silent, and mother and son stepped apart. Neither one looked happy with the other, but Nancy Rayford was quicker to put on her own version of the game face, even if it looked a little plasticized.

“Please, dear, have a seat,” she invited, gesturing like a game show hostess toward a cream-colored sofa with a subtle floral design. Along with the complementary chairs and coffee table, it was grouped around an expensive-looking Oriental rug in front of a beautiful stone fireplace. “I’m sure Althea will be here any minute.”

“Why don’t you go check on her?” Zach suggested. “I’ll stay and keep Miss Layton company.”

Another look passed between the two, her stubborn blue-eyed frown clattering off his subtler warning. Jessie wondered what on earth their argument could be about.

Ignoring her son, Mrs. Rayford claimed a wing-back chair. Jessie hoped for her sake it was more comfortable than the stiff fabric of the sofa.

“Your home is lovely,” she said, eying a pair of beautiful—and fragile—ceramic figurines, a graceful pair of ballet dancers, male and female. “Did you do the decorating yourself?”

The older woman beamed with pleasure. “Why, thank you. Yes, I did. How could you tell?”

Jessie smiled back. Though the decor was fussy and on the old-fashioned side for her taste, she said, “It’s as warm and welcoming as you are. And so neat, too. I never would’ve guessed you have a small child living here. Or puppies, either, from what I’m hearing.”

The older woman flushed, then darted a frightened glance toward Zach.

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