Page 34 of Bad Situation

My new co-worker can go fuck herself.

Chapter 10

Romancing a Bad Situation

Jen

I set my cell phones down next to me on the stone patio and relax back in my lounge.

We’re having a warm spell. Not warm enough to swim in November, but definitely warm enough to lay by the pool. But no amount of balmy, autumn Texas sun can outweigh my conversation with Patrick.

“What did he say?” Ellie, ever-nosy, asks. I’m just as nosy with her, so I shouldn’t judge.

I look over at my little sister. “He’s pissed, obviously. Since this shit happened to me, I’m at least grateful my lead attorney is as fired up as much or more than I am. He said he’s going to call Lehmans for an emergency meeting tonight before my hearing in the morning. Then he gave me shit about not telling him how I found out about the bogus documents in my trash.”

“You’re really not going to tell me, either? I tell you all my secrets.” Her long, blond hair is pulled into a top-knot and, even after all these years, she’s kept her lean dancer’s figure.

The three of us kids couldn’t be more different. Cam is built like a Texas steer, I got all the curves and top out at five-seven, but Ellie is tiny and always has been. Mom put her in ballet before she could speak paragraphs and that was it. Dance was all she knew but being a Montgomery meant mediocrity was not an option. She even went on to study at Julliard, though I know that was an escape. She stayed in New York for a while but became lost during that season of her life. There are days I think she wishes she had stayed, even though she won’t admit it. After all that happened, I’m lucky she stepped foot back into the state of Texas at all. I’m pretty sure it was only to be close to me and I love her for it.

I look out over the Texas hills that comprise the ranch we grew up on. “Sorry, but no. And you act like you still tell me everything but I know you don’t. I’m not the only one holding my shit close these days.”

“Whatever.” She blows me off because she knows I’m right and picks up her vodka and grapefruit, taking a sip. “You got all the brains. If you can run a Fortune 500 company, surely you can figure me out.”

Shaking my head, I pick up my water with cucumber floating in it. “Trust me, getting into your head is harder than running Montgomery Industries. You’re not seventeen anymore, Ellie, and you’re sure not easy to read.”

I look over, she’s sitting with her legs curled beneath her and her Anthropologie sweater is hanging off her bare shoulder. She ignores me and changes the subject. “Stay another night. Mom is monopolizing Griff anyway—we can tie one on. Since I finished nursing, I haven’t gotten to let loose.”

“Wish I could but you know I have the hearing first thing in the morning. I can’t show up in court tired. Plus, I need to get home.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about Eli since he left me yesterday afternoon in a hurry. It’s taken all my efforts not to let my mind wander since I got to the ranch last night. He’s texted more than once, making sure I wouldn’t be late.

We met with the wedding planner this afternoon to go over details for Saturday. Ellie and I made sure our mother didn’t switch anything up, turning it into the horse-and-pony show she’s known for, and that everything will be carried out per Paige’s wishes.

“You can stay,” she insists. “Donny will drive you in. You’ll be fine.”

My heart twists for my sister … it cuts through me to deny her anything. From the outside, it might appear that she leads a charmed and lavish life, but she’s lonely and won’t open up to anyone anymore—rarely even me.

Ellie and I have always been each other’s secret keepers, but I’m not ready to let anyone know about Eli yet. It’s not like we met under normal circumstances and now it sounds like my legal issues might not be cleared up as soon as I thought.

I reach out to grab her hand and squeeze. “I’m sorry. I have to be sharp tomorrow. But, hey, we’ll throw down next weekend at the wedding, right?”

She shifts in her lounge and stretches out her lean legs, laying back so her face soaks up the sun and doesn’t look at me when she goes on. “You know, Cam’s buddy who plays for the Cowboys will be here, right? He’s single. When was the last time you got laid?”

“Seriously?” I don’t like to be set up on a normal day and she knows that. Now, with Eli in the picture, no way.

She turns her head and squints through the afternoon sun, raising a brow, daring me to tell her.

“When was the last time you got laid?” I counter.

Her dare turns into a glare before she turns her face back to the sun.

“Don’t open that can of shit unless you’re willing to spill, Ellie Ketteman.”

She doesn’t respond but pulls in a breath before downing a gulp of her cocktail.

I change the subject, having no desire to talk about Robert, especially now that he works for me. “I’m taking Friday off to spend the day with Cam, Paige, and the kids before the rehearsal. Will you be here all week?”

Ellie shakes her head, sounding resigned. “There’s no room. Paige and Cam are taking the guest house, Jordy and Cara will be in with Mom and Dad, and some of the Carpinos are staying here, too. The ranch is big, but not big enough for the Carpinos and me. Plus, you know I don’t love being here without you.”

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