Jessica knew she was good at not showing her feelings.She’d had years of practice because of her family.
She tried to sound as disinterested as she could.“Of course.I’m just not sure why you’re telling me this.”
“Because I saw the way the two of you looked at each other, and I don’t like it.”
“I didn’t know we were doing that.I’ll make sure to curb my friendliness around the two of you now that I know you’re so insecure,” Jessica said and had to bite her lip at the livid expression on Bambi’s face.
“Insecure?”she screeched.“I’ve never been and will never be insecure, especially with you.We are so opposite it’s ridiculous, and I’ve often wondered how we could be full sisters.”
“Well, we might have similarities if you would eat sometimes and get some meat on your bones, so you didn’t look like a skeleton.For God’s sake, stop with the plastic surgery.Your breasts and lips get bigger every year.Stop dying your hair white.I’m shocked it hasn’t fallen out with everything you do to it.”
If her sister’s face got any redder, Jessica thought she just might burst into flames.
Her sister glared at her.“You have no idea what you’re talking about.Just stay away from my fiancé.”
“No problem.”
Her sister turned to leave when Jessica said, “Hey, I have a quick question.”Her sister turned back to face her.“Are you sure he knows the two of you are engaged?”
Her sister made a furious, strangled sound and stomped off, making Jessica chuckle.God, her sister was so uptight for someone with such a low IQ.She couldn’t remember ever seeing her sister read a book.Any reading she did was as she flipped through her women’s magazines.
The only reason she graduated from high school was their father donated to the school.Bambi also liked to brown-nose the teachers.Jessica even suspected Bambi of sleeping with some of her male teachers.
Hell, she hated the name Bambi.Her sister’s real name was Margaret, after their maternal grandmother, but her sister always hated it.When she was in junior high, their father let her use the name Bambi, and she loved it so much that it stuck.
If it had been Jessica, she would have smacked anyone who called her that ridiculous name.
Jessica got dressed in jeans with holes in them, an old, faded t-shirt, and fluffy purple socks.She grinned as she walked down the stairs.She knew if either her father or her sister saw her, they would be appalled.
She knew she shouldn’t pick at them or horrify and offend them, but it was too much fun.Jessica stopped suddenly in the dining room doorway when she caught the man’s—Gideon’s—scent.Was that even possible?He’d been gone close to two hours, and it was like he was standing next to her.
That can’t be normal.Maybe it was in her head?
She grinned.Maybe she’d ask Google when she went back up to her room after grabbing some food.She hadn’t eaten yet that day and had been in the garden all morning and early afternoon.
Jessica caught sight of the family’s cook, Lucie, and snuck up behind her before wrapping her arms around the older woman, making her screech and turn.
“Jessica Arnolt, you should be ashamed of yourself for scaring an old woman,” Lucie said, trying to hide her smile.
Jessica snorted.“I’ll be sure to remember that when I find an old lady.”
Lucie was in her late sixties but had more energy than most people.
Lucie made a psst sound before she giggled.“You are, and will always be, a terror.”
Jessica hugged the sweet woman she’d known her whole life.“But that’s the way you like me.”
“Oh, poo.Now tell me what it is that you want, dear?”Lucie went back to stirring something in a bowl.
“Nothing.I’m just going to grab an apple.”
Lucie narrowed her eyes at her.“You haven’t eaten today, young lady.You need more than an apple.”
“I was planning on eating dinner in a few hours.”
Lucie huffed.“Fine, but you have got to do better.It’s not healthy.”
Jessica pressed a quick kiss on Lucie’s face before running out of the kitchen, laughing all the way up to her room when the older woman continued to chastise her.
