by Vaughn, Ann
"So, you make sure he isn't around when you grab the kid. One way or another, I'm getting my money. Wade Blackwell isn't going to disappear into rehab and think he's off the hook with me."
"All right, Boss. I'll try to get him tomorrow."
"You do that, Richie. Get me my money."
Richie Ponticello was muscle for the Lanzillo family. Manny Lanzillo, his Boss, was one of the biggest operators in the sports gambling business. Wade Blackwell had fallen in with Manny and then gotten in over his head. Richie actually liked Wade. He wasn't on board with going after his ex and his kid, but whatever. He knew better than to mess with Manny where money was concerned. Wade thought he could charm his way out of paying Manny back, and it had worked to a certain extent...until his debt started getting bigger and bigger and to cope, he'd turned to drugs. Manny had no tolerance for drugs. Once Wade started doing coke, his leniency from Manny was gone. Going after the kid still felt wrong, though. The ex hadn't been in Wade's life for five years. Didn't seem right that she was going to get pulled into Wade's mess. Still, orders were orders and Richie knew he'd be wise to follow them and not upset the boss. He thought it might be in his best interest, however, to do a little bit more research on the new guy in Jenna Blackwell's life. He'd said he would grab the kid tomorrow, but the more he thought about it, the more waiting seemed like a good idea.
Chapter Thirteen
Cam came home excited and hyped up from his weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge, which was a hotel with an indoor water park. Jenna smiled when Cam launched himself into Riley's arms and gave him an exuberant hug when he saw him. Riley hung on Cam's every word, and he wasn't just indulging or patronizing him, he was asking questions and was genuinely interested in what Cam had to say. It made her love Riley all the more.
"Hey, Mom, are we supposed to go to Grandmother's tonight?" Cam asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Oh, um...I really hadn't thought about it, bud," she said. Tonight was her parents' Christmas party. With all that had happened with Riley on Friday, and having had him all to herself up until now, she had completely forgotten about it.
"What's tonight?" Riley asked.
"Grandmother's big Christmas party. Aunt Jackie just came to town last night. She texted me."
Riley studied Jenna a moment and she tried not to squirm under his scrutiny. He could tell she was uncomfortable and she could see him trying to figure out what to say to help her.
"Do you not want to go?" he asked.
She shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal."
"Mom doesn't like to go because it's all pretty snooty," Cam explained. "We have to get all dressed up."
"That wouldn't be so bad," Riley said, looking to Jenna.
She sighed and studied him. "Would you mind going with us? I know it's last minute, but you'd need a tux."
"I don't have a tux, but I have my dress whites."
Cam laughed. "Grandmother will have a cow when she sees us walk in with Riley in uniform, Mom."
Jenna knew he was right. Her mother, with all her flash and pretense, would love seeing her walk in with Riley at her side.
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into," she told Riley.
He flashed her a bright smile. "I've faced down Al Qaeda. I think I can handle you mother."
"Famous last words, my friend," she said, shaking her head.
He leaned down and kissed her. "If we're going to this shin-dig, I need to run home and grab my uniform."
"Can I come with you?" Cam asked, eyes bright.
"Sure, if it's all right with your mom."
"Can I, Mom?"
She smiled. "Sure. This thing starts at 7:00, Riley," she told him.
"OK. So we have plenty of time to get ready," he said, seeing that it was only 1:00.
She gave a sarcastic laugh. "You do, maybe. I'm going to have to hit the salon."
Riley made a face that was so reminiscent of looks she'd seen Cam give her that she rolled her eyes and turned away from them.
"You boys have fun."
***
"So, what's the story with your mom and your grandmother?" Riley asked Cam when they got to Jack's place.
Cam shrugged. "Grandmother never liked my dad. She always thought that Mom sold herself short with him."
"So, your grandparents aren't a big part of your life then?"
"Not like some people are with their grandparents. We go over there once a month for Saturday night dinner. I used to hate it when I was really little because Grandmother is pretty...I don't know, stuffy, I guess. I don't mind so much now. My other grandparents live in Nevada. They're pretty cool but I don't see them very often."
Riley set Cam up with the X-box and went into his room to call his mother. She'd told Jenna that she knew her parents. He figured it was time to get some inside information on the Cameron's.
"Hello, my First Born Son," his mother greeted him when she answered her phone. "What can I do for you today?"
"Sheesh, Mom, what got into you?" he chuckled at her greeting.
Her laughter sounded over the line, making him smile bigger. One thing about his mother, she always had a great sense of humor.
"Can't I be happy to hear from my son?"
"Yeah, sure, OK. How well do you know Jenna's mother?"
"Well, just what I told you the other night. Elise and I served on the PTA board together when your brothers were in school and I've worked with her several times with the Junior League. What did you want to know?"
"She's hosting a big Christmas party tonight. Black tie affair."
"Oh, yes, the Camerons' annual soiree. Your dad and I will be there. Are you taking Jenna?"
"You and Dad are going?" he asked, surprised.
"We go every year. I told you, we are in the Junior League together. Elise's party is right up there with the Adtkissons' and the Chandlers' parties."
"Her family is that big, high society?"
"Ramsay Cameron is a cardiologist. One of the top in the state. He's nice, very personable. Elise...well, she has her moments. After you and Jenna left, I started thinking back over the years. Jenna and her sister Jackie were debutantes...as in, you know, Debutante Balls? It must have driven Elise insane when Jenna hooked up with Wade Blackwell. And I can't imagine what she feels about Jenna being a housekeeper, even if she does run a successful business."
"Jenna said she used to ride dirt bikes, though. I can't imagine her parents being so stuffy, Jenna being a debutante, but also riding dirt bikes. Her dad must have gotten her into that. Or grandfather or an uncle. Someone."
"I don't know what to tell you there, honey. Elise and I were never great friends. Just, friendly, you know?"
"Yeah...so, I guess I will see you and Dad there tonight."
"Yes, you will. What are you wearing? It is Black Tie and I doubt you will have time to pick up a tux at this short notice."
He laughed. "I've got uniforms, Mom, remember?"
"Oh, Elise Cameron is going to love you, my boy," she said, laughing.
"That's the plan. See you there."
Riley put his phone down and then went into his closet for the garment bag his dress whites were in. The last time he'd worn this, was at the funeral for one of his closest friends. Unzipping it, he gave it a good inspection, then stepped back to regard it a moment. If Jenna's mother was impressed by flash, he'd give her flash. Going deeper into his closet, he pulled his rucksack out and fished inside for the box containing all his medals and ribbons. He'd accumulated several over the years but had never pinned them to his uniform. Now, he set about meticulously pinning each one on. He hated the flash, but he wanted to make Jenna proud. If it meant he flaunted things a little in order to impress her mother, then he'd do it.
"Grandmother is so gonna flip out when she sees you," Cam said, coming up behind him in the room, watching him pin the last of his medals onto his jacket.
"Well...let's hope it's enough to have her treat your mom good. What are you wearing to
night?"
"Grandmother sent my tux over a couple of weeks ago."
"You don't mind getting all dressed up?"
Cam shrugged. "Doesn't bother me so much. I get to see Aunt Jackie, the food's good. And Mom always sings."
Riley stopped and looked over at Cam. "Your mom sings?"
"Aunt Jackie plays the piano and Mom sings. Every year. Mom always sings O Holy Night, because that's Grandmother's favorite Christmas song, and then she picks two more songs every year that mean something to her. Last year it was Silent Night and My Grown-Up Christmas List. I don't remember what she sang the times before that."
Jenna singing. Definitely something to look forward to, Riley decided. He zipped his uniform up and then gave Cam an assessing look.
"What?" Cam asked, shifting feet under Riley's scrutiny.
"Think you and I need to hit the barber."
Cam rubbed the unruly hair at the top of his head and eyed Riley speculatively.
"Yeah, OK. Grandmother doesn't like my mop any more than Mom does."
"Let's go fix it then," Riley said.
***
Jenna stepped back from her full-length mirror and studied her appearance. Her gown was a deep, deep red, one side strapless, the other had a strap and an opening that left the top of her shoulder bare, and then encased her right arm in a long sleeve. The bodice was form-fitting and beaded with the design of poinsettias that came to an angled point at her left hip. The skirt was long and flowing, pooling at her feet. A slit on the left side came up a few inches above her knee. It was the most daring dress she'd ever picked to wear to one of her mother's parties, not that it was daring at all, it was just that it wasn't black. When she'd ordered it, she'd had no idea that she would be attending with a date. The bit of white lace that showed under the beaded design on the bodice would look stunning next to Riley's dress whites.
She was just finishing putting her earrings on when she heard the door open and heard Cam's voice announcing that they were home. She emerged from her bedroom and stopped halfway down the hall when she saw Riley and Cam. Riley was already dressed in his uniform and the sight was breathtaking. He'd shaved and his hair was trimmed slightly shorter than it had been. He had his hat tucked under his arm, and his green eyes were shining bright. Next to him, she barely recognized Cam. His hair was now cut just as short and neat and trimmed as Riley's.
"What do you think, Mom? I told her to cut it just like Riley's."
She smiled at him. "It looks outstanding," she told him, loving the beaming smile he gave her. "Go get dressed, OK?"
He dashed off and disappeared into his bathroom. Jenna walked into the living room and stopped just before Riley.
"You are gorgeous, Sailor," she told him.
"And you are breathtaking," he said, raising her hand to place a lingering kiss to her knuckles.
"How did you get him to cut his hair?"
"I just suggested he get a trim. I was just as surprised as you when I started seeing all those curls hit the floor."
"He adores you, Riley. And after sending him to the Great Wolf...you can do no wrong in his eyes."
"Won't always be the case, I'm sure. I better enjoy it while it lasts, huh?"
"You never know."
He stepped closer and trailed his fingers down her exposed neck. Her hair was twisted up in an elaborate braid at the nape of her neck, with a few tendrils trailing down in strategic places. To him, she looked like she'd just walked off the pages of a fashion magazine. He lightly brushed her lips with his, frustrating her when he pulled back.
"I don't want to mess your make-up," he said in explanation.
She reached up and pulled him down with a hand on his nape. "Good thing about make-up? It's easy to reapply," she said, kissing him more deeply.
Cam came out of his room, seeing his mom and Riley kissing again. They were doing that more and more and he really began to hope even harder that it meant that Riley was here to stay. He wanted that. He wanted Riley in their lives for good more than he'd ever wanted anything else, maybe even more than he'd once wanted his dad to come back to live with them. That was because, even though he was a kid, he could tell that his mother had never been this happy when his dad was still around.
"Look at you, handsome," Jenna said, noticing Cam had come in the room. "I'm going to be the envy of every woman there, with the two most handsome men in the world on my arms."
"Sheesh, Mom, stop," Cam grumbled.
"Ready to head out?" Riley asked her.
"Let's get this show on the road," she confirmed.
Riley led her out and she was stopped in her tracks once again. In her driveway, sat a gorgeous silver Mercedes.
"It's Aaron's," he told her. "Thought you'd appreciate riding in style."
"This is Aaron's car? But I thought that huge monstrosity you've been driving around was his."
"It is, but he got this for himself when he passed the bar exam."
"Impressive," she said and allowed him to help her inside.
She watched Riley round the hood and then fold himself into the front seat. Yes, her mother really was going to lose it when she met Riley Stanton.
Chapter Fourteen
Riley followed Jenna's directions to her parents' house and wasn't surprised to find that they lived in the exclusive Pecan Ridge Ranch Estates neighborhood. That theirs was the center house of an exclusive cul-de-sac didn't surprise him, either. The house was sprawling, almost Grecian plantation style with large white columns, grand staircase leading up to the front doors. He couldn't imagine Jenna growing up in such a place. It was a contradiction to all he knew of her.
He pulled into the circular drive and was greeted by valets, who had Jenna's and Cam's doors opened before he had a chance to go around to help Jenna out himself. He tucked Jenna's hand into the crook of his arm and helped her up the stairs to the front door.
"Are we ready for this dog and pony show?" she asked as they waited for the door to be opened for them.
"As I'll ever be," Cam replied.
Riley winked to him as the door opened and they walked inside to the beautifully adorned foyer. He spotted her parents right away. Jenna's mother looked exactly like her, except for the eyes, and those she shared with her father. Elise Cameron was talking with someone when they walked in, but when she caught sight of her daughter, she quickly excused herself and came straight to them.
"Jenna, so glad you could finally make it," her mother said, and Riley got the impression that her mother was snidely chastising her daughter for not arriving sooner.
"Everything looks beautiful as always,'" Jenna said, ignoring the taunt.
"And who is this?" Elise asked, her eyes on Riley.
"This is Riley Stanton," Jenna told her. "Riley, my mother, Elise Cameron."
"Please to meet you, Mrs. Cameron," Riley said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "I can certainly see where Jenna gets her beauty from."
"Riley Stanton? You are Paige's oldest son," Elise stated.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you are a Naval Officer?"
"I was, ma'am. Lieutenant Commander."
"You are the one who has gone into the securities business with Jeanette Chandler's son, are you not?"
"Mike Casiano is my business partner, yes, ma'am."
"Ramsay?" Elise called over her shoulder. "Come meet Jenna's new friend."
Jenna fought the urge to roll her eyes as she looked down at Cam, whose expression mirrored her own. Her mother was so predictable. Riley was a former Naval Officer and the business partner of someone her mother considered upper echelon; therefore Riley was perfectly acceptable in her mother's eyes. Not that she minded that in the very least. Having Riley be someone her mother approved of was a huge relief.
"Aunt Jackie!!" Cam cried, running across the foyer to embrace Jenna's older sister.
Jackie squealed, much to the displeasure of their mother and stooped down to embrace her nephew. Jenna smiled
. She and Jackie may have their differences, but Jackie loved Cam and wasn't afraid to show it.
"Hey, squirt! I'm so happy to see you! I've missed you so much! Congratulations on winning the season championship. That was so awesome. I wish I could have been there."
"So, what did you do in the Navy?" Jenna's dad asked, bringing Jenna's thoughts back to them.
"I was in the SEALs," Riley replied.
"Really? And is that a Purple Heart I see?"
"Yes, sir."
"You were wounded in battle?"
"A few times, sir," Riley answered.
"He was a SEAL, Daddy. He didn't sit at a desk during his service."
"How did you meet my daughter?" Elise asked.
Riley gave them a brief description of how they met. Jenna saw her mother's eyes flash over at her and inwardly cringed. Here it comes, she thought, in three...two...
"Jenna Leigh! Your purse was stolen weeks ago and I am just now finding out about it?!" her mother admonished.
"It was no big deal since Riley got it back and I didn't lose anything."
"I know, but still! That is a traumatic thing and -"
Riley interrupted her then. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cameron, it was my fault. Jenna and I have been together just about every day since we met. I'm afraid I may have distracted her," he said with a knowing wink.
"Well, I can certainly see how that could be possible," her mother said after a moment. "And please, call me Elise."
"Oh, Elise, I see you've met my Riley," his mother said, coming up behind Jenna. She pulled Jenna into her arms and kissed her cheek. "Jenna, you look absolutely lovely."
"Thank you, Mrs. Stanton."
"Paige," she corrected. She released Jenna and turned to look up at Riley, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Gavin Riley, you look awful spiffy," she laughed.
He chuckled and leaned down to kiss his mother's cheek. "You look beautiful as ever, Mom," he told her.
"Riley, this is my Aunt Jackie," Cam said, leading Jackie over to join them.
Jackie smiled and held out her hand to Riley. "The infamous Riley Stanton. Cam has been texting me about you non-stop since you and Jenna met. I feel like I already know you."
