A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(15)

Adam noticed Lump’s angry glare and my flight plan. Before I could answer, he lazily walked over and put his arm around my shoulders.

“Now, Denise,” he said lethargically with the corners of his mouth curved up in a knowing smile, “you ain’t having your daughter ask all the hard hitting questions for you, are ya?”

Denise looked displeased. “Adam, Jessica has already won me over, you know that. But if Elaine doesn’t get this out now, she’ll keep at it until God knows when. I am just the referee.”

“Hmm.” Adam squeezed my head into his chest. “Well, maybe you didn’t know this. Our solid little Willie accused this sweet girl of cheating on him the last week before Christmas.”

“Adam!” I said into his stone chest, not able to get myself free.

“It’s true. Willie thought she had come over to the dark side with me. Which she had, but only to feed the young bull she toiled to get, spending most of what she had. You know what she did? She stayed her course. She wanted to surprise him. She didn’t know about his past. That he thought she was a repeat...”

Both women exchanged startled looks, then looked at me, half flailing in a most unladylike fashion.

“But she stayed her course. She went through hell just to surprise him. To give him the dang thing he wanted most, besides her, but that he couldn’t obtain for himself. So don’t you question her none. Anyone would be lucky to get a girl like this here.” My head got a little shake.

Somewhere in the fun Adam had turned passionate, as often happened when he was speaking his mind. I would have liked to see their faces, but my head was rammed into an armpit.

At least this time the armpit smelled okay.

I heard someone come in, then stop abruptly. “Adam, what are you doing to that girl?”

It was Tom.

Adam released me suddenly with a chuckle. “I was just saving our little minnow from the sharks.”

“I think that little minnow has two admirers,” Elaine said with a scowl.

“Maybe, but not in this house, unless you mean Tom or Tom Jr. No, I got my eyes on a different fish. I’m just defending the one person that has always defended me is all.”

He tipped his fake hat to me with a big Texas grin.

William walked in and surveyed the scene. “What’s going on?”

“The Davies women were interrogating your woman. I came to play hero,” Adam said, pouring himself a glass of wine.

William shot his sister a glare. Something unspoken passed between them before he crossed to me with an apologetic grin. “They think because I am the youngest I still can’t tie my own shoes. Isn’t that right, sis?”

“You are a baby—I mean the baby,” she said with dry humor.

“Uh huh,” he retorted. “C’mon Jess, it’s present time. Bring your fruity cocktail.”

“Jealous of my drink, are you?”

“I can barely contain the jealousy, yes.”

Chapter Four

The night wore on, everyone mixing and talking. I somehow ended up next to Elaine, sipping wine and looking at William animatedly telling a story to Lump and Adam.

“You really love him, don’t ya?” Elaine asked me randomly.

I did a double take, not realizing she was watching me. I wondered how long she’d been at the occupation. It was slightly creepy.

“Yes,” I said matter-of-fact. I was tipsy and it didn’t occur to me to be polite.

“You’re not after his money.” It was a statement.

I laughed. “Of all the reasons to be after him...”

“What do you mean?” She was tipsy, also. More open minded.

“Really?” I asked in disbelief.

I got a questioning look.

“Okay, let’s talk for one minute as if you weren’t born to wealth. If I must list the obvious: he’s gorgeous, a gentleman, eyes that reach into your soul, a more than great body, generous to a fault, hell bent on pleasing, a good sense of humor, impeccable style, smart, and most importantly, open minded enough to let his girl be how she is. He is better than any other man I have ever met.”

“He’s the best of us, surely. He learned from our mistakes as well as his own,” she said darkly. “I’m sorry for my questioning you earlier. There are just so many girls that want him only for his money. Forget your list of qualities—they don’t look past this money to see those things. Not even the girls that have their own money.”

“Age old truth, yeah. Just like a pretty girl has to wonder if the guy is after her because of her looks, or because he actually got to know her.”

“Hmm. Never thought of it that way. So I guess you would wonder if Willie just wants you as a trophy?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I wasn’t talking about me, no. That thought never entered my mind. No, Lump,” I motioned to her. “She had a lot of problems with that in L.A. Airhead L.A. beauty, but with more than air in the head.”

“You are both pretty girls. Adam looks infatuated with her. That must be the girl he has his eye on.”

“Adam has a girlfriend.”

“No, they broke up over this Christmas thing. It was going to happen, anyway. I couldn’t imagine a worse pair.” She shrugged. “Is your friend—wait, did you call her Lump?”