Page 106 of Mr. Fixer Upper
“Your language leaves quite a bit to be desired.” Leslie’s voice carried enough frost to curdle the leaves of the pin oak above them.
“Yourattitudeleaves quite a bit to be desired. Gannon happens to be a loyal, hard-working, generous man. He beats anyone that you sneak home from your symposiums and your fundraisers for a tasteful fuck.”
It was a cheap shot, but hey, she was a St. James, and they never backed down from going for the jugular.
Her mother sputtered in indignation.
“Gannon could be building custom furniture worthy of your snobbish friends and making millions, but he puts his family first. He ‘debased’ himself on TV to save his grandfather’s construction company so his grandmother wouldn’t have to sell the only home she’s known and so he could keep the crew that he grew up with and their families on the payroll. What have you done? Decorated a house and written a few books? If I were you, I’d watch what insults I’m throwing in other people’s faces.”
Paige had worked up a full head of steam, and it wasn’t just going to fizzle out. No, she was going out with a bang.
“Are you insinuating that I’ve done things I should be ashamed of?” Leslie demanded.
“I’m insinuating that there is nothing in your life that comes before your career. Not your marriage, not your children, and certainly not your generosity of spirit!”
“I have never been so disappointed in you, Paige.”
“Yeah, well right back at you, Mother. I find your disregard for humanity to be damned disappointing.”
Leslie’s ice blue eyes chilled Paige to the bone. “Someday, daughter, you’ll understand how to prioritize your life. Men will come and go, but success that you’ve earned can never be taken from you. I just pray that whenever you do learn, it won’t be too late.”
“So noted, thanks,” Paige snapped.
Her mother, head high, strode down the stairs and across the uneven courtyard to the gate. She turned and raised a sculpted eyebrow. “I’ll still expect to see you at Thanksgiving.”
“I’ll bring the stuffing.”
Paige watched her mother hail a cab and then disappear around the corner.
“I’ll bring the stuffing?” Gannon sounded amused.
“Ugh.” Paige threw her head back to curse the gods. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to realize you should be way more screwed up than you are.”
Paige turned to face him. “It’s nothing personal, so please don’t take it that way. It’s never personal. My mother and I just baffle each other. She was out of line and then embarrassed about being out of line.”
“And then disappointed in you for calling her out.”
Paige winced. “My, what big ears you have.”
“Come here.” He reeled her in, giving her no option other than to slip her arms around his waist and rest her face on that broad expanse of chest. Gannon placed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re an exceptional woman who is living a life you designed. If you feel one second of guilt for not doing what’s expected of you, you’re really going to piss me off.”
“Why are you so nice to me?” Paige murmured, inhaling his scent.
“I’m a glutton for punishment, and you just defended me to the dragon lady.”
Paige smiled against his chest. “She’d love that nickname.”
“I’ll be sure to use it at Thanksgiving.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Preying upon her reluctance to go back to her apartment and wallow, Gannon talked Paige into checking out a furniture boutique after shooting wrapped for the day.
He had shrugged off her mother’s insults like they were nothing more than raindrops. Paige, on the other hand, let them burn into her skin and fester. Her mother was more intent on scaring Paige away from Gannon than remembering her daughter’s birthday.
But the lesson wasn’t received as intended. As Paige had learned to do in childhood when faced with the Leslie St. Jameses of the world, sometimes it was better to head in the exact opposite direction.
