The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1)(137)

Max and I looked at Mom but it was Steve who spoke. “Nellie, you can’t just sit in at one of those things like you’re goin’ to watch a play.”

“Why not?” Mom asked Steve. “I’ll be quiet.”

“Like that’ll happen,” Steve muttered and Mom gasped in affront.

Max chuckled.

“We’ll go out,” Steve said to Max. “Check out that RV park and we’ll make dinner reservations for that Rooster place you were tellin’ me about…” he paused and glanced at me, “for just Nellie and me, leave you two be for awhile.”

“RV park?” Max asked.

“I’ll explain later,” I told him quickly.

Mom spoke to me. “I want to know what happens at the reading the minute you know.”

“Mom, it’s not exactly your business,” I informed her.

“Sweetie, everything that has something to do with you is my business,” Mom informed me.

“Okay, agreed, but this has to do with Max.”

“And Max is with you therefore it has to do with you so I want to know everything, immediately.”

“She’s got you there,” Max murmured and she did which was exasperating.

“Where’s my granola?” I asked, craning my neck and searching for signs of Trudy.

“Max, sweetie,” Mom called, but her head was bent, she was digging in her purse, “give me your phone number. Calling Nina is like calling England even when she’s here. I’ll call you.”

“Don’t do it, Max,” I warned.

Max looked down at me, pressing his lips together and when Mom pulled out her phone, he gave her his number.

And, in case you haven’t got it yet, I like him too, Charlie said in my head.

I sat back in the booth defeated and Max’s arm curled around my shoulders which made me feel not so defeated.

“Nina,” Steve called, my eyes went to his and his were warm but the only thing he said, and he said it softly, was, “Doll,” and that one word made me feel even better because I knew he’d make everything okay, even with Mom.

Softly back, I replied, “Love you, Steve.”

Max’s arm curled me close to his side but I only had eyes for Steve.

“Me too, darlin’,” Steve replied.

Mom pulled in an audibly shaky breath and Trudy arrived with our breakfast.

* * * * *

“Thank God you’re here!” Bitsy exclaimed on a whispered cry when Max and I walked into what a brass plaque outside the door announced was George Nielson, Attorney-at-Law’s offices.

She’d positioned herself at the door looking like she was waiting for us and wheeled herself around before the door fully closed behind us.

She only had eyes for me and at one glance through the reception area I knew why.

Shauna Fontaine was sitting across the reception area smiling like the cat who got her cream.

“Oh no,” I whispered.

“What the f**k?” Max asked, not on a whisper, his eyes were on Shauna and his face was hard.

“George says she’s mentioned in the will,” Bitsy told us, still whispering urgently and she looked like she was struggling with tears or anger or both. “He didn’t tell me until I got here, he didn’t want me to be worried.”

“Fuckin’ Curt,” Max muttered under his breath and I tore my gaze off Shauna and looked down at Bitsy.

“Just breathe deep,” I suggested because I didn’t know what else to say.

“I’d like to breathe fire,” Bitsy said back. “What was Curtis thinking?”

“Curt didn’t think much and when he did it was about himself,” Max told her bluntly and I nudged him with my elbow which I think had more of an effect on my elbow than on Max for he didn’t budge and his eyes remained in the unhappy scowl he was directing to Bitsy.

Bitsy pressed her lips together, I didn’t know if this was to bite back a retort or to hold back tears. Then she looked to me.

“I’m just glad you’re here. You can sit in, listen to the will. I’ll make George let you look at it after. If he gives Shauna anything, or… everything…” she swallowed then went on, “you can help me fight it.”

“Bitsy –”

“Just listen in, okay? I already told George you’ll be here. He says there’s no reason to be worried but I want you in there, okay?”

I looked up at Max who was looking down at me. He nodded so I pulled in a deep breath and looked back to Bitsy.

“Okay,” I told her.

“Thanks, Nina,” Bitsy whispered then she took in a deep breath too, turned her chair around and wheeled into the room.

Max and I followed.

“Max,” Shauna greeted him, her voice a contented purr then she looked at me and her eyes grew cold. “Nina.”

“She bitch from hell,” I replied, Bitsy’s head shot around and she looked at me with wide eyes, her fear had disappeared, delighted astonishment in its place while Max grunted his amusement. I heard a few twitters from the others occupying the room but Shauna glared ice daggers at me.

A tall mountain man-esque person, “esque” because he was wearing a suit but this barely concealed the mountain man within, with black hair cut super short even though there wasn’t much of it to cover his scalp walked out of his office.