“You cannot!” she yelled, throwing the purse at him.
Dodging, he started to rise from the couch with a growl. With a squeal, she ran back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Ten minutes later, he was about to heat a meal from the fridge, assuming she had changed her mind about going, when she came back out, dressed in a pink, off-the-shoulder, floral silk dress that draped over her body. The bodice completely covered her chest and breasts, the only skin showing was the one shoulder, and it had a big bow, covering most of the curve of her shoulder.
“Better?” she asked snidely.
“Much.” Satisfied, he put the unheated meal back into the refrigerator.
“You’re such a jerk.” Heatedly glowering at him, she went to pick up the purse that he left on the coffee table.
“I did you a favor.” Bravely coming out from behind the kitchen counter, he told her, “No mother wants to see her daughter’s coochie.”
Ginny trembled as if she was restraining herself. “I was not showing my coochie.”
“You weren’t seeing it from my viewpoint.”
“You were sitting down, and you didn’t see anything. You just imagined it. The dress came down to my thighs.”
“I didn’t imagine shit,” he smarted off, enjoying the fire he saw in her eyes. “When we come back, you can try it again, and I’ll take a picture on my phone to show you.”
“You’re not taking a picture of my … my …”
“Pussy,” he eagerly helped her. “Cunt … twat.”
“Quit being so uncouth!”
Reaper was smart enough to steer clear of her as he made his way to the door and she lifted her purse threateningly.
“Uncouth? What century were you born?” He laughed.
“The one when men knew how to be gentlemen.” Giving him a haughty lift of her chin, she smoothed her dress down as if brushing him off. “Obviously, you’re much older than me. Much older ….” Giving him a pitiful look, she rushed toward the door. “Here, let me open the door for you. You should conserve your strength … old man.”
The woman had no compunction about swinging below the belt when she wanted to.
“I’m not old!”
“Are, too.” Complacent at reaching her goal of rattling him, she opened the door, mockingly waving him forward. “Here you go … sir.”
“I might be older than you chronologically, but I have the cock of a sixteen-year-old. When we come back tonight, I’m going to make you sorry for calling me old man.”
Ginny blew out a hiss of hot air, dissing him. “Old man, I’ve been taking it easy on you. I’m younger; I have more stamina than you,” she boasted.
“It’s on when we come back.”
“Bring it on, ol—”
With a squeal, Ginny side-stepped the palm of his hand, hurrying toward the waiting Moke.
“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Reaper warned, leisurely following after her.
Giggling lightheartedly, Ginny ran back toward him to button his jacket for him. “You look very handsome tonight, Mr. James.” Grinning, she unabashedly ran her hand over the expensive material.
“We’re late, Ginny.” He tried to turn her around to get her walking again, but she refused to budge.
“How come you never compliment me? Am I that unattractive?”
An irritated Agent Collins stepped out of the Moke, walking toward them. “Mr. Allerton has called several times. You two can finish this conversation in the vehicle.”
Ginny sighed in frustration at the agent hurrying them. “We’re coming.” Then she gave Reaper a harassed frown.
“Don’t blame me; you’re the one who kept me in bed all evening.”
“Don’t blame me when your uncouth ass sleeps on the couch tonight.”
Climbing into the Moke, she slapped his hand away when he would have assisted her.
“I see how you are. Is that the thanks I get for taking your mind off seeing your mother and not being able to see your father?”
Ginny nearly tripped over her feet getting inside. “You made us late because you were trying to relax me?” she hissed.
“I thought it would be easier than fucking you, but I didn’t want to shower again. I’m becoming a prune.”
Both men in the front seat turned around to look at them with their mouths gaping open.
Ginny waited until he was seated in the back seat before turning both barrels on him. “Gavin, remember the good old times when you wouldn’t talk to me? Channel him back. I miss him.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ginny’s anger and hurt at Gavin evaporated the moment they entered the lobby of the private resort. The grandeur of the entryway was designed to inspire awe and envy with its masterful strokes of creams, sea foam green, and a touch of gold, making you feel as if you were traveling through a portal that only a few were allowed admission.
As they were led through the lobby, Ginny didn’t feel awe-inspired; she felt deeply rooted in sadness. Remembering how she had begged Manny to come inside, too young and innocent to know the beautiful resort was just an illusion meant to hide the ugliness and duplicity ingrained within each building block.
She had no desire to live in this world of luxury. This was the world that Kaden Cross and Dalton Andrews could easily walk among without missing a beat. Ginny had to give them credit for resisting the lure; stronger men and women hadn’t.
Going up the curved staircase, Ginny could feel the speculative gazes as their small group was escorted to the right hallway. Unconsciously, her hand went to her side, searching for Gavin’s, her exasperation with him put on the back burner as the stressful encounter with her mother loomed closer.
“You’ve got this.” It took a second for Ginny to realize the thought that had popped in her head had actually been Gavin speaking out loud.
Her nerves stretched so tightly as she skimmed over the occupants of the room, not recognizing any of the four female guests as her mother.
Allerton broke away from a tall, charismatic man to greet them.
“Mr. and Mrs. James, Agent Collins, I’m so glad you’ve joined us. We’ve been waiting.”
Agent Collins gave them an aggrieved look, and then the experienced veteran placed guilt where it belonged. “I’m going to excuse myself to make apologies on their behalf and chase down one of those waiters. Excuse me.” Agent Collins left Gavin and Ginny on their own.
Ginny couldn’t blame him for cutting and running. She wished she could, too.
Seeking a quick response for their tardy arrival, Gavin cut in with, “Mr. Allerton, please forgive us. Ginny and I are in the honeymoon stage of our marriage. I’m sure you can understand that, when romance beckons, a man wants to keep his wife happy.”
Forgetting her issue with God, she prayed the floor would open and swallow her whole.
Allerton looked like he was praying for the same thing for her, except visualizing Gavin being swallowed first. “I’m not married.”
“No? That’s a shame. You don’t know what you’re missing,” Gavin said blithely, unconcerned that Allerton was staring at them with distaste.