Burn (Breathless #3)(68)

“Oh, that’s good. You look so good together. Tell me more about you, Josie. What do you do?”

Apparently Ash hadn’t spoken of Josie to Brittany. Josie licked her lips, suddenly feeling self-conscious in front of his sister. No matter that Ash had clearly outlined the difficulties Brittany had experienced, the woman still came from money. From a world Josie didn’t fit into. She’d had a wealthy husband, rich parents. Hell, her brother Ash had more money than God.

“I’m an artist,” Josie said in a husky voice. “I also design jewelry. But mostly I paint.”

Brittany’s eyes widened and Josie wasn’t sure if it was surprise, judgment or what. Her nape prickled and she immediately felt defensive.

“I’d love to see your work sometime,” Brittany said.

“I’m sure that can be arranged at some point,” Ash said. “Right now she’s busy working on something for me and she has a client who buys up all her work so she’s pretty focused on that at the moment.”

“You sound so successful!” Brittany gushed.

Josie ducked her head. “Well, yes, I suppose you could say that. It’s a rather new development, though, so I still have a hard time thinking of myself that way. Someone came into the gallery where I exhibit and bought up all my stuff and demanded more. I have no idea what they’re doing with it. I haven’t heard anything about them doing a private exhibit. Perhaps it’s for a private collection that will never be shown.”

“But still, you must be thrilled. I’d love to be that independent,” Brittany said wistfully.

“I am thrilled,” Josie said. “It means a lot for me to be able to stand on my own two feet and support myself.”

Brittany nodded, understanding bright in her eyes.

Ash had gone still beside her, his lips drawn into a firm line. Had she said or done something that displeased him? Surely he couldn’t fault her for liking being able to support herself. It in no way interfered with her relationship with him. But it gave her the confidence to remain with him, submissive, because she knew she didn’t have to. Didn’t have to rely on him to support her. And that was important. It gave her much more power to choose to be with him rather than having no other option.

Their food came, breaking the current topic of conversation. For several moments, they ate, silence descending on the table.

Brittany looked up, her mouth open as she was evidently going to say something. But then her eyes flashed and her mouth snapped shut.

“Shit,” she murmured.

Ash frowned and started to turn around to see what Brittany was looking at, but before he could, a woman strode into view, standing between Ash and Brittany at the table.

Without needing to be told, Josie guessed that this had to be their mother. It was also obvious that she was who both siblings got their looks from. She had long, blond hair that was probably helped by a bottle to cover the gray because Josie couldn’t detect any sign of her age. At least not by looking at the healthy, glossy mane of hair.

For that matter, there wasn’t a single wrinkle marring the other woman’s face. No indication of her age. Her skin was smooth and free of blemishes. Her fingernails were immaculately manicured and expensive jewelry dripped from her wrists and fingers.

“Fuck,” Ash muttered.

His mother sent him a look that would have fried a lesser man.

“Watch your language,” she snapped. “There’s no reason to be vulgar.”

“What the hell are you doing here? In my hotel,” he bit out.

The emphasis on it being his hotel wasn’t lost on Josie or his mother.

Her eyes flashed with anger as she glared at Ash. Then her gaze turned to Brittany. Josie was just glad that so far the woman was ignoring her.

“When are you going to stop this silly game?” she demanded.

Color suffused Brittany’s cheeks. No matter what the younger woman had said about handling her mother before, it was evident that she was still no match for her.

“And you,” she said, rounding on Ash. She pointed her finger in an accusing manner toward Ash. “I know what you’re doing and it won’t work.”

Her voice was like ice and the coldness of it made Josie shiver. These were her children and yet she treated them like they were people she hated.

“And what, pray tell, is it that I’m doing?” Ash drawled.

He hadn’t moved his arm from Josie and in fact he’d tightened his hold around her shoulders. She could feel his fingers digging into her arm, but she made no move to get him to loosen it. She doubted he even realized how painful his hold was. It was her only indication of how his mother’s impromptu visit was affecting him.

No matter what he might say about his mother, it still hurt him that she was so . . . bitchy.

His mother’s eyes narrowed, fury spitting from the green eyes she shared with her children.

“Using Brittany to get back at me for some imagined slight. Really, Ash. Putting her to work in your hotel? How vulgar and common is that? Do you get a good laugh out of watching her work? Does it make you happy to know how it makes me feel?”

Ash sat forward like a shot, his face dark, anger gleaming in his eyes. Brittany cast a worried look in Josie’s direction, but at least it didn’t reflect hurt. She hadn’t believed her mother’s accusation. Josie gave her a look of support and sympathy, letting her know that she didn’t believe it any more than Brittany did.