by Lexi Blake
She definitely hadn’t thought about what it would mean to Marcus. Or Brittany. She supposed Brittany really should know that her best friend was boinking her dad, but Marcus would likely get all protective. And not of Dakota.
Maybe her mom was right and this wasn’t going to go the way she thought it would.
“I don’t think he’ll hate you, but he probably wishes you’d handled it another way. You need sensitivity training, sister.”
It was said with a little affection so Dakota didn’t bristle. “That sounds horrible. Mom thinks everyone in town is going to hate me.”
“I don’t know about everyone. There’s definitely a contingent that is going to thank you.”
Dakota brightened. “I know, right? They’ll be glad I brought it all out into the open. Don’t shrinks say that all the time? You have to be honest before you can start healing?”
Mallory’s eyes widened. “I don’t think they meant it quite like that and I wasn’t talking about the actual people involved in the scandal. No. I was talking about the gossips. They’ll be thrilled. You’ve given them something to talk about for years to come.”
At least someone would be happy. “I really am sorry if it hurt Luis. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“We all do things wrong, Dakota. No one’s perfect. That’s why I want you to think about apologizing to Ginny. Not for telling the truth, but for the way you did it. For not giving her the chance to come forward herself.”
“She hadn’t come forward.” It still rankled that Ginny had taken the place Dakota had always wanted for herself. Jacob Salt was supposed to be hers. He was supposed to be the man who got her out of this godforsaken town and treated her like she should be treated. She’d been the one who loved Jacob, not Ginny. “She wasn’t going to. She was going to use the Salts and let them think her baby was Jacob’s when it couldn’t have been.”
She wouldn’t have turned Jacob away because he couldn’t have kids. Hell, it might have been a plus. It could have been just the two of them. She could have made him happy. And if he really wanted a couple of kids, they could have adopted.
“We’ll never know now, but that’s not important. What is important is how we all get through this,” Mallory said with a long sigh. “I just want you to know that I’m here if you need to talk. Whatever happens we’re still a family and we’ll get through this.”
Dakota glanced at the clock. She was anxious to get to work and get back to some kind of normalcy. “Thanks. I’m here if you need anything, too. I can always distract Marcus if you and Luis ever want to try again. I’m really good at causing a diversion apparently.”
Hey, she knew her own strengths.
Mallory shook her head, the pink in her cheeks turning pale. “Not for a very long time. And thanks for not telling Mom about it.”
She knew how to keep a secret when it deserved to be kept. Her mother would cause nothing but trouble if she knew, and Marcus was doing enough of that on his own. No one in this family wanted to acknowledge that she and Mallory were growing up. If Mallory wanted to have a boyfriend, that should be her choice. Not that she would choose Luis Moreno, but her sister’s taste in men was another subject altogether. “No problem.”
“Do you really think going into work is a good idea?” Mallory asked.
Why was everyone so worried about this? Dakota stood up and straightened her skirt again, then grabbed her purse. “Everything’s going to be fine. Stop being such a worrywart. I’m off. I’ll see you later, but call me if you need anything.”
She strode out the door ready to face whatever came her way. Surely it couldn’t be too bad. After all, she’d been a victim. Perhaps she’d even discover that she’d been a hero.
* * * *
His sister was a villain. Marcus watched Brittany dry her eyes for the hundredth time since yesterday and couldn’t help but think of Dakota that way. What the hell had she been thinking? Who did that? Not only had she stolen confidential medical records, but she’d walked right out on stage and accused the most powerful man in town of having an affair with her and fathering Ginny Moreno’s child.
Brittany’s father. Senator Sebastian Rush.
God, what was Marcus supposed to do about that? There were days he wished he’d stayed in Montana. Life hadn’t been so complicated there, but he knew when and where he was needed.
“Can I get you something?” He put a hand on Brittany’s blonde hair and felt her sigh and relax the slightest bit. “Maybe a sandwich? It’s almost lunchtime. I saw that Francine has some ham. I could make us something.”
She smiled but it was a watery, wan thing. “I can’t eat. I promise I will later, but not yet.” Her smile died. “I have to tell you something and I’m afraid you’re not going to like it.”
“I haven’t liked anything for a few weeks except you,” he admitted. He definitely didn’t like the Moreno kid sniffing around his sister. He’d gotten a text from Luis an hour before promising to lay off and offering him anything he needed to help them all get through the current crisis.
He wasn’t sure if that was maturity or another way to sneak inside Mallory’s pants. And that was the real trouble with small towns. One little thing affected so very many lives. It was like dominoes falling. What Dakota had done was set a fire that touched them all, that turned and twisted Marcus in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
And Brittany. The betrayal for Brit had to be unimaginable. Her best friend was having her father’s baby and Marcus’s sister had been the one to tell the entire world in the most horrible and degrading way possible.
“I should be the one to tell him, honey.” Payton Rush walked in wearing a tailored business suit and looking polished and perfect. He’d slept on the couch and saw her walking out early this morning. She’d given him a smile and told him she had one little errand to run.
Had she murdered Dakota? Because there was a self-satisfaction about her that told Marcus that was possible. “What is it? After yesterday I think I can handle just about anything.”
“I went in to the Savings and Loan today because I needed to deal with some paperwork,” Payton explained.
Francine was behind her looking only slightly less polished. There was a frown on her face, but she was solidly beside her friend. “You see, Marcus, she thought long and hard about this before she made the decision.”
A light went off in his head. “You fired my sister.”
“I couldn’t have her working in one of our businesses,” Payton explained. “I’m very sorry. Not for her, but for any trouble this causes you or your family. And I’m deeply sorry if it offends you. You’ve been so kind to my daughter. I can’t stand the thought that this will anger you, but I also can’t continue to pay that girl’s salary.”
Brittany looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “Please understand.”
Did they think he was so loyal to his super-bitch sister? He loved her, but he saw her for what she was. She was a product of their father, and that meant there was something inside Dakota that was broken. When Hector Alvarez loved someone, he couldn’t help but twist that person. He’d done it with his mother. He’d used fear to warp her gentle nature. And he’d used love and praise to teach Dakota to be as selfish as he was. There were many days Marcus was thrilled his father hadn’t chosen to love him.
He reached for Brittany’s hand, tangling their fingers together. “I understand. You shouldn’t have to deal with her at all much less employ her, but you should be prepared that she’ll likely file some kind of lawsuit. My sister can be pretty vengeful. As you saw yesterday.” Not that she was completely in the wrong. “Although she does have some grievance against your husband.”
“My husband can be a rotten snake in the grass, but there are some things that are larger than our own needs. I appreciate your understanding. And I need you to know that I wouldn’t have fired the girl if she’d come to me and discussed this situation like an adult. I understand what my husband did to her and the Moreno girl.
It was awful, but she dragged my children into it. She dragged us all down.”
“Unfortunately, that’s often what Dakota does.” It was exactly what their father had taught her to do. When drowning, take down as many people with you as you can. That summed up Hector’s selfish outlook on life. “I hope you don’t blame me or the rest of my family. I can’t condone what your husband did, but I also know how much my sister hurt everyone.”
Payton put a hand on his shoulder. “The firing was all the reprisal you’ll get from me. I’m going to concentrate on putting my children back on a firm footing and getting everything back in order. But I can’t promise you my husband and mother-in-law will do the same. Watch yourself, Marcus. I care about you and think you’re a fine young man. Your mother is a lovely woman. I’ll see what I can do, but I wouldn’t expect her to have a job after this.”
His mother worked for Marylee Rush. Had Dakota even thought about that? Why hadn’t she come to him? Or anyone for that matter?
“Let’s go and start some lunch,” Francine said with a gentle smile. “And maybe it’s not too early to open that bottle of Pinot Noir.”
Payton nodded. “It’s five o’clock somewhere. Actually, you know if I can’t day drink in this situation, when else can I?”
“I’m so proud of how she’s handling this.” Brittany watched as the door closed behind her mother.
Marcus actually thought she was almost handling it too well. He had to wonder if she’d known. Oh, he didn’t think she’d known names and specifics, but she’d likely known her husband was a snake. She seemed almost happy to be out here with her friend.
Maybe something good would come from this after all.
“Are you really okay?” Brittany asked.
He nodded. “Dakota should have known there would be consequences. I’m so angry with her.”
Brittany leaned over and hugged him, wrapping her arms around him. “As long as we’re okay, I think I’ll be good. I’m going to take a shower. Mom’s right. I can’t wallow in misery. How about tonight we go to Murphy’s for dinner. I should be able to eat by then.”
“I will take you anywhere you want to go.” He gave her a squeeze and let her go. At least he could be here for her. Although he wasn’t sure she was completely telling the truth about everything.
He’d tried to get her to talk about Ginny the night before, but she’d been silent. He was worried about that. She was able to talk about her father betraying her mother, but she refused to discuss Ginny Moreno. His blonde sweetheart might be a powder keg waiting to blow on that subject.
Going to Murphy’s would be good. They could get out and start to try to find some kind of normal. And not to mention he could use a damn beer. He could also see his best friend and figure out how Logan was doing.
Logan, who’d been halfway to asking Ginny Moreno to marry him.
Damn it. He couldn’t take Brit to Murphy’s if Ginny was hiding out there. He hadn’t seen the fallout from yesterday. He’d moved as quickly as he could to get Brittany out of there. He’d called his mother to check on everyone at home, but he hadn’t talked to Logan. He hadn’t been Ginny’s biggest fan, but he didn’t want his friend to think yesterday had changed anything. He wasn’t about to dump Logan because their women might have issues. However, it might be a good idea to know what he was getting into. A couple of days might make the difference between a minor scene and one that went nuclear.
He pulled his cell phone out and dialed Logan’s number. He needed to check in because he’d find some place else to take his girl if Ginny was hanging around there.
“Hey.” Logan’s voice came over the line, low and slow.
He sounded like he’d had a night, too. “How are things over there?”
A long pause, but Logan replied. “As well as can be expected, man. How’s Brittany holding up? Are you with her or did you go home?”
“I’m out here with Brit and her mom. Jeffry’s staying with the Waters. We’re not at the Rush estate though. We’re out at Francine Hoffman’s place. She’s doing all right. Payton’s holding up.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“I was thinking it would be good for her to get out tonight. We were thinking about heading to your place for supper and maybe a drink or two to unwind.”
“I’ll hold a table for you.”
All of Logan’s replies were stilted and clipped, as though he didn’t really want to be on the phone. How did he go about gracefully asking the question? Logan was his closest friend and he didn’t want this to come between them. Sometimes, men just had to be men and that meant getting to the heart of the matter and not dancing around. “Look, I’m sorry to put it this way, but I have to ask if your girl is going to be hanging around tonight. Brit’s upset with her and I think you can understand why.”
Ginny and Brittany had been roommates, as close as sisters, or at least that’s how Brit described it. Though she wouldn’t discuss it, Marcus could imagine the questions swirling through her mind. Had the affair happened right there under her nose? Had Ginny invited Brit’s father into the room they shared? Invited him in to betray the marriage vows he’d made to her mother?
“She’s not my girl.” Logan’s voice was a harsh growl over the line.
“What?”
“You heard me. You can’t expect that I would still be with her after what I found out about her yesterday?”
Logan had been crazy about that girl. He’d fallen head over heels. Marcus had known it would be rough, but he hadn’t quite expected this response. He had to step carefully because he’d never been super supportive of that relationship. “She made a mistake.”
“She lied to everyone. She lied to me. She lied to the Salts. Hell, she lied to her own family from what I can tell.”
“She definitely lied to herself and that might be the real problem.” Apparently he should have given his friend a call the night before. He’d gone into protective mode, thinking he’d watch out for his woman while Logan took care of his. Everything Dakota had uncovered happened before Ginny had met Logan. It wasn’t like she’d cheated on him. “She wanted the baby to be Jacob’s. I can’t blame her for that. If I were in her in position, I’d want the baby to be Jacob’s, too.”
“She lied to me, Marcus. That’s the end of the story. She wasn’t the girl I thought she was.”
He thought Logan was taking a harsh stance. Young women did foolish things. Hell, young men did, too. They all looked for love and affection where they shouldn’t. It was a difficult time to get through and the senator had preyed on their vulnerability—Ginny and Dakota and probably dozens of other girls. Though his sister should have known better than to play around with a married man, he was definitely less angry with Dakota for the affair than what she’d done on that stage yesterday. He’d expected Logan to think the same way. It seemed he’d been very wrong and his friend was hurting. “Was it really a lie if she didn’t know herself? She had no idea Jacob couldn’t father a child. I think she was trying to be optimistic.”
“I’m not talking about this with you. I’ve made up my mind about Ginny. I can’t trust her. I’m not going to be with a woman I can’t trust. I’ve had enough betrayal to last a lifetime. So feel free to bring Brit by. Ginny won’t be here. I’ve made it plain to her that she’s not welcome.” The line clicked and went dead.
Damn. Everyone was hurting.
It seemed his sister had done more damage than even he’d counted on.
Chapter Four
Travis looked down at the prescription that had been called in. Two medications. One for sleep and one for anxiety. Both were for his wife and he kind of wished at that moment that they were for him.
God, he wanted to sleep and never wake up. The night before had been pure hell. He’d listened to Celeste cry and rage and wondered if there was anyone anywhere who would listen to him.
A vision of Kristin assaulted his brain. He could see her looking up at him with pure love in her eyes as she rea
ched up to drag him down for a kiss.
Celeste had looked at him that way once. So long ago. She wouldn’t again. She loved the children and never had time for him. She never understood that the business was important. How did she think the children got to eat and got clothes on their backs? He provided. It seemed to him that she took and took and he never got anything back.
Still, it was his place as her husband to take care of her.
He’d thought Kristin was only a fling, a way to build up his fragile ego. Now he could see plainly she was the only one in the world who thought about him.
He moved to the shelves and found the medications, carefully counting them out. This was what he could do for Celeste now.
He could still see her, her arm drawn back, ready to hit Ginny Moreno. She’d been ready to do violence to a pregnant girl. No matter what she’d done, Ginny didn’t deserve that, and yet his once gentle wife hadn’t cared there was an unborn child involved. She’d been foreign to him in that moment. Like an alien had taken her over and he couldn’t recognize the woman he’d married. She’d been a shell of her former self.
All for Jacob. All that rage and pain had been for Jacob. If he died tomorrow, she likely wouldn’t notice. She would be far too busy mourning their son.
His hand tightened around the bottle of sleeping pills. It wasn’t like he didn’t mourn. Jacob was his son, too. He’d died a little that day but no one cared about his pain. All the sympathy of the world was aimed at his wife and there was none left for him. He was expected to move through his days like nothing had happened, but poor Celeste was to be coddled and protected from the world. Because of her loss.
It was his fucking loss, too.
He screwed the cap back on as he heard people moving in the outer sections of the store.
“She just stood right up there and proclaimed to the whole world that the Moreno girl was sleeping with Sebastian,” a hushed voice said.
