"Well, everyone in town has covered the mountain pretty well. There are just a few remote zones that haven't been checked. Would you be cool to take the Jeep out solo on back country roads for a few hours while I meet with the guys downtown?"
"Sure. I'll fix us some more coffee to go."
"Attagirl." He kisses the top of my head and strides away, leaving me to admire his long legs while he takes the stairs two at a time.
I make coffee and finish loading the dishwasher. It's wonderful to feel so at home puttering around here already. It's partly due to Kellan's energy infusing every part of this home, but it's also very logically laid out, so it’s easy to find things like travel mugs.
Could I actually live here? If our relationship keeps zooming along at this ridiculous pace, it feels inevitable. My fingertips linger on the marble counter after I wipe it down. Every detail here is luxurious, far more than someone like me could ever hope for. That warning bell rings through my chest again, making me feel hollow. This just can’t be real.
I can hear Kellan getting out of the shower as I go to my phone. Just as I'm about to check my texts it rings, causing me to jump and accidentally answer the call. As I debate disconnecting again immediately, a rough voice mutters, “Don’t you dare hang up on me, Jenna.”
There’s no stifling my heavy sigh. “Hi, Brad.”
There’s a slight grunt. “Look, this is important and I expect you to listen.”
I'm already slumping into a kitchen chair, waiting for the onslaught. “Fine. Go ahead.”
"Bernie tells us that you've been seen swanning around town with Kellan Wolfe."
I decide to say as little as possible, so as not to give him any ammunition. "So?”
"So, I expect you to help the family."
I don't say anything.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for us, Jenna."
"I'm kind of busy today, Brad. Could you please get to the point?"
He sighs. "Don't be stupid, Jenna. You could get us in with your new boyfriend. They must need computer equipment for all their…you know…stuff. I could provide some of that."
I hold back a laugh, wondering if Brad even knows what Wolfe Security does. "Look, Brad, even if I wanted to…which, frankly, I don't…I’m hardly in a position to make any recommendations about their business."
"Of course you are." Brad chuckles, and I recognize the tone. He has a certain oily laugh he uses when he's trying to talk my mother into something like going to the restaurant he wants instead of her preference.
"Look, Jenna. If he wants to get in good with you, he’ll want to help your family. I looked them up – they're fuckin’ loaded. They can easily pay a bit more for the equipment they need."
I sputter nervously for an awkward moment, then hear Kellan moving around upstairs. Somehow, knowing that he’s close by gives me strength. The filter that has always prevented me from speaking up to Brad snaps.
"So I should help you make money…for what?” I ask in a brittle voice. “Certainly not any luxury vacations for Mom. You always splurge on yourself and treat her just well enough to keep stringing her along."
My hands are shaking. "If you want their business, contact them directly, but you will not use my name. I'm never going to manipulate people the way you do. Ever."
Brad is silent for a moment. There’s the sound of a door closing. Then his sharp voice rings out clear as a bell, so much that I have to hold the phone away from my ear.
"Dammit, Jenna – you've pushed me away from day one, and normally I don't give a rat’s ass. But now you will listen to me closely. You're going to talk up my company to your new boyfriend immediately. If I don't get some hardware orders from his company within the week, you can forget about ever coming home."
“I—” My right hand is shaking so hard I nearly drop the phone.
“Yeah, you heard me,” he snarls. “I can convince your mother of anything, you know that. We’ll kick you and your stuff out the second you get home. I’ll tell her that it’s for your own good.That it’s time for you to stand on your own two feet, and that she needs the space for her crafting crap.”
There's no arguing with him. I just want to get the bastard off the line before I either cry or cuss him out.
"Sure. You got it. I'll get right on that. I'll dig around and find out their suppliers so that you can pitch Wolfe Security a better deal."
I'm not sure if he hears the sarcasm in my voice. It's trembling as I hit the end call button.
I hear footsteps on the stairs before Kellan pops into view with a bright smile. "Coffee and go time?"
