Page 34 of Our Sweet Destiny
“Yes, and if you don’t tell me something good happened, I’ll have to put you in the slammer. Besides, it’ll alleviate the guilt I have about leaving you at Fingers.”
“Ugh, right. You do owe me. I saw him. I more than saw him,” Jade teased.
“Yeah? And is Sexy Rexyall that?”
“All thatand more. I’ve never felt like this before. He…I don’t know what it is. We were bashing heads so much, but I wonder now if all that head bashing was because we’re not supposed to be together.”
“Who says?” Riley’s voice was filled with protective harshness.
“No, I mean because of the family issues, not that we’re not destined to be together. Anyway, we went to Rights Creek and…” Jade paused. The intimate details of her night with Rex seemed too personal to share, even with Riley, with whom she’d shared her darkest secrets. “And it was just a really nice night.”
“I’m happy for you, even though I can tell you’re hiding something. I can only assume it’s some dirty secret that is too spicy to say over the phone. So, what now?”
“Now you’re covering for me, so don’t be seen by my family tonight.”
“Ooh, we’re going covert? Dodging Daddy? You sneaky girl, you.”
Jade laughed. She loved the way Riley pushed and teased at all the right times. “Yes, but he thinks I’m with you seeing girlfriends in Preston and out late.”
“When in reality?”
“I’m going on a date with Rex.” A date. She loved the sound of it, and began to anticipate what it implied: holding doors, holding hands, remaining clothed, being in public together. “We’re going outside of Weston, so please back me up.”
“Like a pickup truck,” Riley teased. “I feel like I’m seventeen all over again. You’re really good for my ego.”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Well, I have a feeling I’m falling a little, so if this doesn’t work out, I might show up on your doorstep, brokenhearted and needy at three a.m.”
“I’ll have the vodka ready just in case. Oh, don’t forget. I’ve got that hot little white backless number. Come by and get it. I can’t wait to see you in it. Good luck, girlfriend, and remember, I have raked Weston clean, and there is no dirt on that man. None. Zip. You might have found the only man alive who can look like Superman and not remove his cape at every chance he gets.”
Don’t I know it.
REX HAD GROOMED the horses and put them out to pasture, then he’d taken care of the bills and placed orders for the next month, and finally, he was able to spend time with Hope. He didn’t know why, but taking care of Hope eased the longing he had for Jade. He was grooming her when his father came down to the barn. Hope would never again have the sheen of younger horses, but to Rex, she was still a beautiful horse.
“Where’s Treat today?” his father asked.
“He went into town to pick up some things for his office.”
His father nodded, patted Hope.
“You know Hope’s got plenty of years left on her, Dad.” Every time his father looked at Hope lately, a sadness appeared in his eyes, and Rex felt as though his father was feeling in some ways that he was losing their mother all over again. She’d loved Hope so much that each of them was touched by that feeling of losing her all over again to some extent.
“I know it. I’m just thinking of other things,” his father said.
“Earl Johnson?”
His father gave him a hard stare. Rex had wondered why he didn’t just pay for whatever had caused the issues so many years ago. They had enough money to buy the land outright six times over, much less pay for subdividing and legal fees, and they didn’t need the income from the property. He’d spent the entire night thinking about that piece of property and Jade’s family. His father was a generous man. He gave willingly to several charities. He’d be the first to offer to help in most any situation, and yet, where Earl was concerned, it was like that side of him didn’t exist.
Rex kept his eyes on Hope and his hands busy with the brush while he spoke. “Why didn’t we ever just buy out the Johnsons, Dad? I’ve never really understood why you let things get so bad.” The minute the words left his lips, he regretted his word choice.Why you…like it was all his father’s fault.
“I’m a man of principle, son. And on principle, you stick to your word. I stuck to mine. He didn’t stick to his. That’s pretty darn easy to understand.”
“But you said yourself that he was your friend. So what if he couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain.” His voice rose despite his efforts to restrain his emotions. He was fighting for Jade, but his father wouldn’t see that—and he might not even care, given that she was a Johnson. “We have more money than Midas. Was it really worth throwing away a friendship based on principle?”
His father stood tall next to him, dropping his shoulders, expanding his chest to its full breadth, and looking down at Rex with angry, dark eyes.
“Son, there are some things that cannot be brushed aside.” With that, his father stalked off.
Rex knew it wasn’t going to be an easy situation to rectify, but now it appeared thatimpossiblemight not be a strong enough word to describe what he and Jade were facing.
Hal stopped short and turned to face Rex again. His face was pinched tight. Illuminated by the afternoon sun, he looked larger than life, and with the power he’d always held over them, which Rex was only just now realizing, he thought he might just be. He mumbled something under his breath that Rex could not make out, then finally spat, “Your mother’s worried about you.”
“Dad.” This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. Delusion or not, every time Hal mentioned his mother to him, he relived the sadness of her loss all over again.
“Hear me out. I’m not on the same page as her this time, so I’m not gonna tell you what she wants you to hear, and heaven knows she’ll probably strike me down for not doing as she’s asked, but a man’s gotta stand by his decisions.” He lifted his strong arm and pointed at Rex, lowering his head and deepening his stare. “You be careful where you tread, son.”
