“No. No plans. I’ll be there.” I did have plans, though stupid of me. Holidays were prime social currency. “Can you remind me what this one is for?”
Mom didn’t have a job. She had lots of money and lots of time, but no job. Therefore, benefits occupied the times between shopping, spas, and plastic surgeons. Though I supposed there were less helpful hobbies than benefits.
The smile she gave me said she’d already explained and I was trying her patience. “For the humane society, Randall. As each plate is five hundred dollars, I’m thinking we should be able to bring in a little over a hundred thousand in donations for them.”
Kayla came to my rescue. “I love that idea, Maureen. There are so many animals that need help. Maybe they could bring some of the dogs that are having a hard time finding a home.”
Mom turned to Kayla, her mouth agape. “To the dinner? You want them to bring dogs to the dinner?”
Kayla started to speak, but Dustin cut her off with a glare.
“No. No animals at the dinner.” Mom turned back to me. “And I’d like you to bring a date, dear. Someone photogenic.” She lifted her fork, but paused as if realizing her near mistake. “And mannered.”
As if to exemplify, Dustin let out an undignified snort. “Looks like you’re finally going to be able to contribute to the family, Randall. Now that gay is in, you might be a useful commodity yet.”
No one disagreed.
Thankfully Bailey spoke up before I could think of a comeback to my brother. Her hazel eyes were bright with hope. “May I pick out a dog?”
Mom grimaced. “Your mother was wrong, dear. There will not be any dogs in attendance.” She gave a warning glance at Kayla. “At least there better not be.”
Bailey turned to Kayla, her voice full of pleading. “Can we still get a dog from somewhere else?”
Dustin cut in before Kayla could reply. “Enough, Bailey. I’ve already told you. No dogs. We are not having pets in the house. You’re going to start getting consequences if you keep asking.”
Bailey’s face fell, and Kayla bit her lip, though I was the only one who noticed, thankfully.
“I nearly forgot. I can’t believe I didn’t tell you, Bailey.”
Bailey looked up at me, eyes sad. “What?”
“I’m getting a dog tomorrow. When you come over to stay with me next week, there’ll be a dog.”
She beamed. “You are? And I can play with it?”
“Of course you can.” I needed to find out if my apartment even allowed dogs. What had I done?
“Randall, you seriously just did that to—”
“Make sure you get it from the Seattle Humane Society,” Mom cut off Dustin. “It will be a good tie-in for the benefit.” Without waiting for a response, she turned away from me. “Kayla, dear….” She waited the brief second it took Kayla to stop her excited whispered conversation with Bailey. “I will need you to show me the style you plan for your hair a week before the benefit. If it’s not up to par, I will happily book you an appointment with my stylist.”
BY THEtime dinner was over, Bailey and I had no time to go down to the lake. The dark waters spread out around me as I drove over the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge toward the twinkling skyscrapers of Seattle. What the hell had I done? There was nothing I wouldn’t do for my niece. Nothing. Including refusing to move away, and allowing my family to have more control of me than I planned. But this was ridiculous. I probably wasn’t even allowed to have a dog. And I didn’t have time for one. Plus, not having a yard meant endless walking and taking the damned thing out in the rain to shit a billion times a day.
My phone rang. I glanced at the screen but let it go to voice mail, giving myself time to make up my mind. Once the phone chirped, I hit Accept and let the voice mail play over the stereo.
“Hi, Randall. It’s Stewart. Been a while. Hey, I know it’s late, and I’m sorry for the short notice, but I wondered if you’d have time for a massage this evening. It’s been a stressful few weeks, and I could really use those magic hands of yours. I don’t care how late it might be when you get this, just let me know.”
I debated for a few minutes before calling him back, though I knew as soon as his name came up that was what I would choose. Never mind I had a photo shoot at dawn or that I apparently now needed to spend the day dog-proofing my apartment. Stewart sounded like the perfect end to the evening.
He was gorgeous, his beautiful skin taut and glistening over endless muscles in the candlelight. Yeah. He was what this day needed. He was never content with a happy ending either. He made sure I was as satisfied as he was.
And I could use the money.
Chapter Two
THERE WASN’Tenough coffee in the world to make the photo shoot worth it. The four-year-old boy wasn’t any happier than I was to be up at the crack of dawn. Granted, I didn’t cry like he did, but I felt like it. The only one who seemed to have a natural caffeine high was the young, rich mother. She was so excited about the photos she seemed to have taken a hit of speed or something before showing up on the rocky beach. She’d picked a location half an hour outside Seattle and insisted the images be captured at sunrise.
Never mind I was the photographer and knew of endless locations that would have achieved the same thing. Forget that her kid was going to be a nightmare because he was spoiled and had woken up at a heinous hour. Mama knew best, it seemed.
