Driven To Distraction by Lori Foster

Author:Lori Foster [Foster, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2018-11-19T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BRODIE HAD A shit-ton to say to Therman when they reached his house later that afternoon, but all his concentration seemed to be elsewhere.

The idea of his Mary, so proud and independent, having such a tragic background ate him up. The more he stewed on it, the sicker he felt. The angrier he got. The more he wanted to show her just how perfect she really was.

But he couldn’t do any of that yet.

On the return drive, she’d taken that long slinky ponytail and twisted it up into a hideous bun that he seriously hated. Not because it looked that bad—he wasn’t sure Mary could look bad, though God knew she tried—but as soon as she’d restrained her hair, she’d become a different woman.

She’d gone from being vulnerable and open to emotionally buttoned-up and almost cold.

But now, after everything she’d shared, he could see through the tiny cracks in that brick wall she’d built around herself. He still had questions, dozens of them, but he’d made some major progress.

More important, he was starting to understand the need for the bricks. He could almost imagine her putting them in place one by one over an upbringing of shame and rebellion and hurt.

Which was exactly how he’d take them away—one by one.

For now, though, he needed to concentrate on the encounter with the boss. Making demands without getting personal would be tricky.

Not that Therman was stupid. He had a feeling the man had taken one look at him with Mary and seen the fireworks going off between them. After having them visit together several times now, Therman likely had a grasp of their relationship.

He might be older, and he might be crippled, but he was still a man.

Both Howler and Mary were silent beside him when he rang the bell on the massive front doors. In his fist he held the sadly rumpled bag that supposedly contained an Oscar and documentation.

Mere seconds later, Vera greeted them with loads of drama.

“Mary!” Arms open, she swept Mary in and hugged her briskly from side to side. “Oh my God, I was so worried.”

If Brodie had ever bothered to imagine the personality and behavior of a housekeeper, he wouldn’t have envisioned anyone like Vera. She acted more like a favorite aunt than the person responsible for Therman’s mansion.

It was one of the reasons he liked her so much.

Behind Vera, an apron tied around his waist, Burl grumbled, “Turn her loose before you squeeze her to death.” Then in explanation to Brodie, he added, “Therman told us what happened. You’re both okay?” He frowned at the bandage on Brodie’s head.

Before he could answer, Vera spoke again. “We expected you yesterday and then early today, and now it’s afternoon and it’s not like you, Mary, to not be here when Therman requested.”

“I told him we couldn’t.” Brodie didn’t explain that Mary had been in the shower at the time. Telling Therman was bad enough, and if Mary knew, she’d probably have his head.

“I kept imagining the worst.

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