She sighed. That was the least of her worries now. Cole was her brother. And he was hurting. What would it take for him to let her in and help him?
Jess gave Cole a day to get over himself before tracking him down to Marcus’s mansion.
“Is he there?” she asked Cole’s best friend when she called.
“Yeah, he’s here.” Marcus sounded weary. No doubt hungover. Obviously it had been a long night.
“How is he?”
“Bad.”
Jess winced at Marcus’s one-word description.
“I’ll come over then.” Jess had already decided it was time Cole accepted she could be there for him.
“I think that’s a good idea. He’s in the west wing. Abby’s just checked in on him.”
“How is Abby?”
“Great.” Marcus’s voice warmed for a moment before dimming again. “Except I think that makes it harder for Cole, if you know what I mean.”
Yeah. Jess understood what it was like to be around people who were happy when you didn’t have someone of your own. That was exactly how Jess had been feeling lately.
“I’m on my way,” she told Marcus.
Cole and Madison had seemed so right for each other. But fate didn’t seem to care. Bad things happened to good people. Cole and Madison’s breakup proved that no matter what you did, life was likely to come and punch you in the gut.
Cole was trying hard to pretend Madison meant nothing to him. But Jess was Langford stubborn and refused to believe him. She’d learned from the best and she was just as determined that her brother would let her in.
A long walk, a coffee, and ten thousand questions later, Cole finally gave in.
He sat on the couch, shoulders slumped, hands dangling between his knees. So not like her brother. Her heart went out to him. She wanted to fix it for him.
“Do you remember when I came home from that posh school?”
“Yes,” Jess answered carefully. He was talking. That was a start.
“I got expelled.”
Jess sat up straighter. “I knew it. I knew something was up. What did you do?” The worst she could boast at school was a double detention. Being expelled was something else altogether. Secretly, she was impressed.
“Nothing.” Cole’s voice was bitter. “It was Thomas.”
“Cousin Thomas?” Jess spun her mind back. A small, stolid boy in a giant mausoleum of a house. He’d gaped at her and Cole like they were some kind of swamp creatures when they’d gone for an impromptu swim in the fountain in his front garden.
“He had drugs in his locker.” Cole told her the rest of the story. “Uncle Russell made me take the blame. That was the reason no one else in the family would help us after the accident. I approached Grandfather, but he said I’d had all the help I was going to get.” His face twisted into a scowl. “That I wasn’t going to bring the Langford name under further disrepute with my shenanigans.”
“What the fuck?” Jess didn’t realize she was on her feet until she found herself pacing. She shook her head, trying to put the pieces together. Her heart ached for what her brother had gone through. And he’d done it on his own. Buried their mom. Taken care of Jess’s treatment…waited for her to live or die. God, no wonder he was so fucked up. But… “I don’t understand what this has to do with Madison.”
“There’s more.” Cole’s voice dropped lower. “I’ve been having trouble with an unknown entity trying to stop progress on my mall development. Marcus finally tracked down the people behind the shadow company, Salamond Holdings. Uncle Russell’s name is all over it. And Madison’s mother is also involved in the plan to block the building permit.”
Jess stared at her brother. “So, let me get this straight. You think Madison is like them?” She slapped her forehead in horror. “You idiot!”
When Jess left Cole with Marcus, she still hadn’t managed to convince him how delusional he was being. Russell and Thomas had done a number on him that made it hard for her brother to look past their wealth and see anything but manipulation and power. Jess wanted to step up and do something, instead of just driving him crazy. The problem was, Cole was stubborn. Just like her.
Someone had once told Jess that if you couldn’t do something one way, try another.
So Jess did the one thing she knew Cole never would. She called Thomas. She had some half-baked idea that she could coerce Thomas into telling her brother that Madison wasn’t involved with Salamond Holdings.
Thomas went one better than that. He came to Wellsford and convinced Jess, and then Cole that he wasn’t part of his father’s plan at all. In fact, he’d had little to do with Russell since Cole had been expelled. That event was something Thomas had regretted and the sting on his conscience meant he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right.
“There is a ball coming up in Baltimore.” Jess already had the next part of her plan covered. “The St. Mathews Charity Auction. I know you’re on the Board and I know Madison is going. She’s one of the models.”
“What is it you want me to do?”
Jess walked Thomas to the front door, pausing in the doorway.
“If I can get Cole and Madison in the same room, I know Cole will back down and give her a chance. He hates admitting he’s wrong. But, there’s no way he’ll be able to resist Madison once he sees her in her ball gown. However, I’ll need tickets…”
“Done.” Thomas didn’t flinch, even though Jess knew how expensive they were. She’d looked. Her pocket money didn’t come anywhere near to covering it. “It’s the least I can do. And what about you?” He glanced toward her leg. “I heard about your accident. I didn’t know… I would have done something—”
“Forget it.” Jess waved away his concerns. “There’s nothing anyone could have done.” And she wouldn’t hold a grudge, despite the pain Thomas had caused her brother. Her mom had taught her to live for the moment because you might not get another.
“There must be something I can do for you?” Thomas asked again. Ever the diplomat. “I understand you’re studying law. Do you have an interest in politics? Perhaps I can help you with that?”
“Hell no.” Jess burst out laughing at the thought. She barely understood her law lectures, let alone the inner machinations of the great political engine that ran the country.
“What are you going to do then?”
Good question. Jess was curious about that too. She couldn’t see past the next few minutes, let alone plan past the next year or two.
How did you prepare for the future if you weren’t certain fate would give you one?
“Well, I don’t want to be a lawyer,” was all she could come up with.
“Have you ever thought about working in a hospital? After your accident you must have seen a lot of what goes on—”
“Ah, that would be a double hell no,” Jess retorted. “But there is something you could do.” The immediate future was far less complicated. “My friends and I are entering a competition. Mud, Sweat, and Tears. It’s an assault course. In mud.” She grinned. “I don’t suppose you want to sponsor us?”
Thomas looked dubious. Obviously this wasn’t the kind of favor he’d been expecting.
“Sure. I guess. I have a friend who entered the military. He and I used to compete before…well, before I had to grow up.”
“Excellent.” Jess fist pumped the air. She’d take a corporate-sponsored T-shirt over a law degree any day. And of course, Jayne and Tash would be thrilled to hear they had the political backing of the Thomas Langford for their team. There was no backing out now.
* * * * *
“Oh. Yay.” Jayne gave a very flat cheer when she shared the news with them at lunch the next day.
Jess ignored her. They needed this. She needed this too.
“It’ll be fun. How can we find out what we’re capable of if we never
try anything like this?”
Jayne was suspicious by nature. “And you’ll let us pull out if we can’t do it?”
“Of course.”
Although Jess was ninety-nine percent sure they could do it, or at least give it a bloody good attempt. She was capable of a lot more than the clinic or her brother gave her credit for. And she wanted a chance to prove it.
“Anyway, you can’t say no. I have a team name. T-shirts. A lot of planning has gone into this.”
“What’s the team name?” Tash looked mildly curious.
Gotcha. “I can’t say.” Jess hid a grin. “You’ll have to wait until you get the T-shirt.”
She hoped like hell Thomas had thought of something decent.
* * * * *
True to his word, Thomas came to the party and provided two tickets to the ball.
Whoop. Whoop.
Okay. Yes. Jess should be more excited about Cole having his big make-up session with Madison…but it was the frickin’ ball. Jess intended to make the most of it.
Which included going through Madison’s closet while she was out at yet another fitting. Madison had declared open season on her closet and Jess took advantage to try on everything. Clothes were scattered over the floor, on top of the chair, piled in a heap on the bed…
Finally, she settled on a red cocktail dress. It would be uber-short on Madison, but came just under Jess’s knees. With a decent pair of hose, no one would even notice her scars. Besides, they’d be too busy looking at her shoes. Cole had offered up a budget for Jess’s outfit and she’d spent it all on a sparkly pair of red, six-inch heels. This might be her only chance to attend something so posh, and Jess intended to go all the way.
Only not by walking. She literally couldn’t take more than two steps. But damn, the shoes looked good.
Jess twisted back in forth in front of the mirror as she got ready for the ball. If Van could see her now…
And why the hell would he? Jess hated the fact Van kept invading her thoughts at the most inappropriate times. Attending the ball was a dream come true and all she could think about was that she wanted Van to see her…to see that look on his face, like when she’d walked past his apartment with Madison. Like he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Like she was a chocolate-covered strawberry sundae that he wanted to devour whole.
Jess knew why. She’d made the decision to walk away from him. She’d chickened out and it grated. A Langford never walked away.
Van had said it was too late to join his program, but maybe now the pressure was off, she should get in touch with him again. Before he left and she never got the chance. Leaving. Just the thought of him going made her stomach curl a little tighter. A few nights of fun might be just what she needed. To end it once and for all.
A grin twisted her lips. It wasn’t like she could humiliate herself any further.
Cole hammered on the door and Jess grabbed up a white sequined wrap. She gave herself one final check over in the mirror, admiring how the dress flared out around her legs, the long line of her calves accentuated by her killer shoes. They were staying at a swanky hotel on the waterfront in Baltimore. On the top floor, no less. She teetered across the plush carpeting, gaining her balance by gripping hold of the jamb as she let her brother in.
“I’m ready,” she said. And nearly fell on her face.
Cole frowned, taking notice of Jess and her shoes for the first time in days. “Are you going to wear those?”
“I have flats in my bag in case my leg gets tired.” She opened her clutch to show him the ballet flats scrunched into the bottom.
Which she had no intention of wearing.
Thomas had really come through. Having negotiated the red carpet, the stairs, and the little narrow aisle between the chairs, Jess collapsed into her seat, two rows back from the catwalk on the left hand side. Thomas was already there. He blended in well with the rich, ostentatious crowd. Glittering dresses, fabulous jewels that sparkled like chandeliers. It was like watching a James Bond movie…except this was the real thing.
She studied the ballroom and everyone in it, craning her head in an effort to take everything in until the lights dimmed and a single spotlight locked on the curtains at the end of the catwalk. Slowly, the room descended into silence. In that moment, the music started and Jess’s breath caught when Madison appeared like an angel in her shimmering black-and-gold gown. She looked amazing. She was amazing. An air of confidence wrapped around her like a dazzling accessory.
Madison floated past Jess to the end of the catwalk and blew a kiss into the crowd.
Beside her, Cole’s breath hissed through his teeth and Jess laid a hand on his arm. He was going to surge forward and wrestle Madison off the stage.
Then Madison turned and her gaze locked on Jess. Shifted beside her to Cole. There it was. That moment. Their eyes met and ignited a spark of awareness so strong it flittered across Jess’s skin.
Mission accomplished.
Which left Jess free to ogle all the beautiful models in stunning gowns as they paraded on the catwalk. Long bare legs, gorgeous dresses, spangly shoes and makeup. Perfection.
This would never be her.
Jess experienced a rare moment of self-pity as she watched the models parade past her, one after another. She couldn’t even walk in a straight line, let alone strut down a catwalk, swinging her hips in time to the beat. It had never bothered her before. But then, she’d never been surrounded by dazzling women, sashaying down the runway with more swag than Jess could ever muster.
If Van was here, he wouldn’t give her a second thought. She could never compete with women like these.
And why should she, Jess thought fiercely. Van would never have noticed Jess if she hadn’t been injured. She shoved the thought away. Her mother wouldn’t have let shit like this get her down, and Jess wouldn’t either.
Jess settled back to watch the rest of the show. There was time enough to worry about it after. Now that Cole and Madison were as good as back together, Jess imagined she’d have a lot more time on her hands. She’d work something out. She always did.
The last model disappeared behind the curtain and Cole jumped up, almost running several guests down in his haste to reach Madison. She glanced around for Thomas, who was being pulled away by some rich old biddy, his arm caught in her red-painted talons.
Leaving Jess on her own.
She sighed.
Should’ve seen that coming.
Jess glanced down at her shoes. They really were pretty. How many steps would she need to take to make it to safety? It was twenty feet to the bar. If she made it that far without falling on her ass, Jess told herself she’d deserve a drink.
She sucked in a breath and let go of the back of her seat. She could do this.
“What the fuck are you doing in those shoes?”
Jess wobbled, caught between taking her first faltering step and gaping at Van. He grabbed her arm and pulled her against him in a practiced move. Her first reaction was to pull away, but the heat of his body, the warmth crawling through her limbs as she fell against his chest melted all the steel in her spine. It felt nice, despite his body vibrating with anger.
“What are you doing here?” Jess’s voice came out as more of a squeak.
“I asked first,” Van snarled. “Now sit down before you break your leg. Or maybe I should break it for you. At least that would stop you being so troublesome.”
Jess pulled free of his grip.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” she spluttered.
“Someone who cares.” Van gritted back. “Where have you been anyway?” He stopped and took a good look at her. “I’ve been worried about you.”
Van hadn’t meant to say that.
Damn it. Jess had a way of getting him off track.
After their rock-climbing date, Van thought they’d been o
kay. Except for the little blowup at the end. He’d waited for her to come into the clinic, only she hadn’t.
So he’d resorted to asking Jayne about her.
Jayne had come back stating Jess had said she didn’t even know him. That had stung more than it should have.
“Well?” Too late now. Van might as well keep charging down the path he’d started…finding out were the hell Jess had been.
“You needn’t bother worrying.” After her initial surprise, Jess had quickly regained her pissed-off attitude.
Van started to grin. God, he had missed that smart mouth of hers. Then he caught another glimpse of those ridiculous shoes.
“Take them off,” he ordered. This was one thing he wouldn’t back down from.
“No way! Have you seen how good my legs look in these things?”
Van took a leisurely perusal of her legs. She had him there. He lingered on her calves, barely visible through sheer black stockings. His balls tightened and Van had to stop himself from kneeling in front of her to run his hands all the way up her thighs. His gaze crawled upward, over her flat belly, the soft curve of her breasts.
“Take them off.” He met her stare. A faint blush stained her cheeks. Van didn’t know whether he meant her shoes, the stockings, or everything. He was happy with any of those options.
“I’m perfectly fine in them, thank you very much.”
Van’s mouth tightened. “Okay.” He let go of her arm. “Let’s go and get a drink, shall we? Why don’t you lead the way?”
Jess’s eyes darted across the twenty-foot gap to the bar. Her chin came up.
“I’m not thirsty.”
“Shall I carry you?” Van asked sweetly.
Jess scowled. “You know, I was looking forward to seeing you…and now you’re being a jerk. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
She’d been looking forward to seeing him. Van latched onto the words she’d let slip. If she only knew how many times he’d watched out his window to see if she was walking past…
“As your new physio, it is my business.” He took a step closer. “As to being a jerk—I thought that’s what all physios were like.”
Not for a Moment: One Moment, Book 3 Page 9
