Once again, he hoped he was overreacting. Escaping someone ordinary would take several weeks of planning. Escaping Christopher? He’d need several months and a lot of preparation. Though he’d accomplished a lot, he still had much more to do, even though it was a contingency plan for the time being.
If not for the family get-together, he probably would’ve spent the night in Seattle. No one would miss him,anyway.
The thought depressed him, which was why he headed to Hortensia Mall for a gift for his wife. He always gave her a present on Rory’s birthday. This year had been the exception and he wanted to make up for that. If he would’ve thought about it, he would’ve bought Kendall something while he was in Seattle and he didn’t feel like driving to Portland.
Several newly opened stores promised more upscale items and a particular department store now anchored the mall. There was even a gourmet grocery store at one of the side street entrances.
He went to the gift shop that had once been the most expensive store in the mall and picked out a crystal Scales of Justice. Once he paid for it, he’d head to the florist and buy Kendall ten dozen roses. She’d love them even more than she liked Bash’s.
Johnnie’s would be bigger, redder, and bolder. She’d need a champagne tub to keep them in, not just an ordinary vase.
Champagne!
Yes, he was such a fucking genius. He’d go to that new grocery store and see howgourmetit was. He’d buy Kendall the most expensive champagne they offered and toast her tonight. He’d buy her the creamiest Belgian chocolates, too.
No! Fuck no! He’d call De Smet, the president of their chapter in Tessenderlo and wire him money to overnight Kendall fresh Belgian chocolates.
She’d see how much Johnnie loved her and realize Bash, or Christopher, orMorticiancould never love her as much as he did.
Once he paid for her gift, he headed to the food court for an order of fries to hold him over until dinner. He didn’t want to eat too much and ruin his appetite but he needed something before he finalized all the gifts he’d give Kendall.
Smiling and quite pleased with himself, he dipped a handful of fries into his ketchup.
“John Boy!” Gypsy sat in the seat across from him and smiled. “What are you doing here?”
The woman had definitely seen better days. She’d gone from a smokeshow to an old hag. Years of smoking ravaged her voice as much as the time she’d spent in the sun damaged her skin. He wasn’t sure if it was overeating or age that added so much weight to her once gorgeous figure.
“Shopping makes a man hungry,” he said, pushing away his uncharitable thoughts. He was so used to his rocket of a wife, he couldn’t understand how a woman let herself go and ended up as Gypsy. “What are you doing here?”
She shrugged. “Window shopping.”
“Derby must appreciate your frugality.”
“Hopefully,” she said, glancing at him through her lashes. “If he notices.”
Johnnie nodded, then slid his fries to the middle of the table. “Have some, sweetheart.”
“I would love some, but I’m watching my girlish figure.”
Girlish?Her? In her fucking dreams.
“I understand,” he told her. “But two or three won’t hurt. You once loved fries.”
Judging by her pudginess, she still loved them.
“I don’t want the fries, Johnnie, but there’s a purse I’d love.” Her gaze wasn’t as sexy as she thought. Her lashes were too short. “I’d be so appreciative if you bought it for me.”
Shaking his head, Johnnie pulled his fries away. “I have a wife.” And Gypsy had a fucking husband, in case she’d forgotten.
“She doesn’t have to know.”
“I would know, Gypsy,” Johnnie said irritably. “Didn’t you just spend a couple of days with Kendall? Now, you’re willing to stab her in her back?”
“Unless you want to fuck me in exchange for the purse, how is that stabbing her in the back?”
“You aren’t a part of our family,” he said as patiently as possible. “Kendall will never try to fucking kill me for spending my money on her fucking friend.”
“Friend?” Gypsy scoffed. “Kendall doesn’t like me.”
