Derailed (2 page)

Over his shoulder she observed the half man, half machine sketch he worked on. “Wow, I love the shading.”

“Remember that doctor that came in here the other day?”

“Oh, I think he was a pharmacist.”

“Same thing.”

“Not exactly.”

“They can give you drugs.”

Fiona wiggled her hand in the air to move him along. She didn’t have time to quibble. “So, what about him?”

“This is for him.”

“Are you serious?” Fiona picked up the sketchbook to get a closer look. “That’s awesome. Hmm, I wonder if he feels like a candy dispenser.”

“Huh?” Quinn’s thick brows hung heavy in thought.

“Nothing. Hey listen, I’ve got to go pick up Ryder from school. Bryan’s coming in for a touch-up on his red ink at three-thirty. I should be back around four.”

“Got it.”

As Fiona drove down the road in the direction of Ryder’s Catholic school, she contemplated how she could let Everett down easily. He’d been extremely nice to her, but there was no way she’d be able to get involved. Ryder had just turned ten. He needed stability and continuity. Fiona had yet to meet a man who could measure up so she hadn’t technically dated anyone since Ryder had been born.

She was sure to hurt Everett’s feelings and it didn’t factor well that she’d gotten a little drunk and a little free in New York and they’d had sex. Glorious, life-altering sex, but she still had to consider Ryder’s needs before her own.

Since that night, they’d sparred back and forth via telephone and text. They talked a little when, just last week, Fiona went to visit Bailey at the estate to assist with much needed wedding planning. He’d pleaded with her to let him take her to dinner, but she had regretfully declined as Ryder would be expecting her to prepare his dinner and would require her assistance to complete his homework and nighttime ablutions.

She had experienced true ecstasy during her night with Everett. Of course, she’d always known what it was, but now she knew what it felt like. Therefore, her life could easily be summed up in two halves—before Everett, BE; and after Everett, AE. She giggled to herself as she recalled the ways he’d made her body sing.

Fiona pulled into the receiving line just as the cacophonous bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Children began to pour from all crevices as she raptly watched for Ryder. When she spotted him her heart leapt, just as it always did.

He opened the door and climbed into the SUV, greeting her with his standard kiss on the cheek that he knew made her happy. “Hey, Mom. How’s your day going?”

Her Ryder was so grown up. “Great. I finished that landscape scene. Turned out nice. The guy was pleased.”

“All of your designs turn out awesome.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Do you feel like a little Happy Cow Café or Vegan Haven?”

He grimaced. “I wanna go to McDonald’s.”

Fiona frowned. “McDonald’s?”

“Yeah, like a normal kid.”

“But we’re vegans.”

Deflated he answered, “I don’t care where we go.”

Hmm, he’d been voicing his opinion more lately. Fiona guessed it was a product of aging. Wanting him to learn that his voice was valuable, she decided to take him to McDonald’s.

They approached the counter and stood in a haphazard line. Beside her Ryder hummed with energy. She desired to smooth down a piece of his hair that stood on end, but he’d been embarrassed by those actions lately. With his dark hair and light eyes, her boy was handsome, and already almost as tall as her.

They stepped to the counter at the same time a complete family of three did. Ryder stepped back and extended his arm in a gesture that said,
be my guest
. They shared a smile.

“Why don’t you order for us?”

He smiled at the clerk when she asked if she could take his order. “Hi, pretty busy today aren’t you?”

She nodded and smiled.

“May I have a six-piece nugget value meal with a strawberry milkshake please?” “Mom, what do you want?”

“Ooh, I’d love some French fries.”

“And a medium fry for my mom, please.”

She smiled at his politeness. She’d taught him to be respectful and aware of others.

They waited for their order and when it was ready Ryder retrieved it and they walked out to the car to drive back to the studio. On the ride back Ryder sipped his milkshake and made appreciative groans.

“Mom, try some.”

She leaned over to sip from the drink as he held it. “Mmm, it’s good.”

“Elijah’s dad invited me on their fishing trip this weekend.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, it’s real cool. He has a deep sea boat and everything.”

Despite desperately trying to remain composed, Fiona’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. She managed to keep up her smiling façade, however. “That sounds awesome!” Her voice rang through too loud and crisp.

“You said you liked his parents.”

“I do.”

“Why do you seem nervous?”

“The thought of you out on the deep sea makes me nervous.”

“We looked up the weather. It’s supposed to be clear all weekend.”

He was gearing up to ask permission. Fiona didn’t see how she could refuse him. As he got older, there would be a lot more of these requests. She swallowed back the lump in her throat. “I think a fishing trip is a fine idea.”

“You do?” Excitement laced his voice.

“I sure do. I’ll speak with Mr. Roy and see if there’s anything you should bring.”

“Cool. It’s gonna be so fun.” She felt his eyes on her. “I’ll miss you though.”

Her sweet boy always considered her feelings. “I’ll miss you too. Bunches.”

***

Everett followed Ashton through the large sparsely decorated entry of the home. As they walked he noticed large receiving rooms on each side of the hallway. Furniture lay hidden under dusty covers. Leaves and sandy dirt collected along the edges of the wall where they’d been brushed aside by foot traffic.

Courtney turned and regarded Ashton with a quizzical look. With his hand he gestured that she should keep ambling, and so she did.

Massive light fixtures, chandeliers, and antique fans hung from the high ceilings, dusty and with many blown light bulbs.

When they finally reached the end of their journey, Everett was in a room he’d spent time in before. As a child he’d played with little die cast cars on the rug in this very room, racing against his uncle—Ashton’s father.

The carpets were worn. A massive leather couch was cracked and scuffed from years of weather and use. A television rested on the hearth, with wires hanging haphazardly down to the floor. Dozens of brown crunchy leaves curled on the floor.

Ashton vigorously scratched his head as he sat on the worn couch, and it was the first time Everett noticed his attire. Denim jeans with large holes in the knees, fraying strings left to fly loose. His shirt was also denim—whether to match his jeans or for its enduring qualities Everett didn’t know. Three buttons were hooked, the others were left undone, or maybe there were only three. From where he stood Everett couldn’t tell, but suddenly he realized he was gawking. Courtney had already taken a seat in an iron patio chair so he took the cushion on the opposite end of the couch.

That was when he noticed the smell. Diesel and leather. The smell was strong. What the hell had Ashton been doing before they arrived?

“I’d rather hoped this meeting would be confidential.” Ashton cut his eyes toward Courtney.

“Oh don’t mind her. Other than her mouth, she’s harmless.”

Courtney thumbed through her phone, but managed to scoff at their exchange.

She stood. “How about I prepare us some coffee?”

“I don’t have any.”

“Tea then.”

“I’m fresh out.”

“Right. Three waters coming up. If you would just point me in the direction.”

Ashton gestured and Courtney strutted out in her three-inch heels.

Everett took in the greasiness of Ashton’s hair and the unkempt beard and wondered how long it had been since he’d bathed. He didn’t really smell bad, but he reeked of petrochemicals.

“You wanted me to take a look at an oil lease?”

Ashton stood and walked over to a console table. From a drawer he pulled a shiny black folder that he then handed to Everett. It’s actually my lease. I own a fifth of the land as it’s divided equally among my brothers and me. Recently I’ve discovered crude running beneath the parcels outlined in the document. I’m set to begin extracting the product, but I need you to oversee the business end of the operation.

“Me?”

“Your family needs representation. You’ll see in the document crude is present beneath your land as well. We’ll need to discuss pump speed and number of wells to set up to capture the oil. Please, I don’t want a family discussion. Just speak with your father and relay the info back to me.”

“Dad will probably want to speak with you.”

Ashton abruptly stood. “Forget it. I won’t extract anything. The oil can run until it’s discovered by someone else along the line. Good day.”

Ashton took hold of the document folder just as Everett tightened his grip on it. “Good day?”

“Yes.”

“You’d let it all go if extraction means you’d have to speak with my father, your uncle?”

“No, I’d let it all go if it meant I had to converse with anyone other than you.”

“Why?”

Ashton resumed his vigorous head scratching. Only it wasn’t scratching per se, but more of a rubbing, and only with one hand on the back of the head. The other hand was propped at his waist. “I don’t want to answer questions. It’s not open for discussion. I stated the terms I desire. If I can’t have them, then you may as well leave.”

“I’ll make it happen.”

“Please, it’s imperative that you make everybody understand that I don’t want to be bothered.”

“Fine. Consider it done.” Everett sighed, frustrated. “I’d like one question, however, as it pertains to me.”

“What?” Ashton responded with a gruff voice.

“Why me?”

“The obvious answer being you’re an estate attorney. Additionally, it seems you have an aversion to the area.”

“That’s a point in my favor?”

“It is. You’re removed from the gossip and local societal fraternizing. I can’t tolerate southern small-town politics. I can only assume you share my sentiment given the distance you keep.”

Ashton’s green gaze burned into Everett, demanding a reply. “Yeah, I almost got sucked into the vortex of Baton Rouge high society. Until I realized, in this day and age, who gives a shit? I left to escape the clutches of Clarissa Girouard’s father.”

“The advertising guru?” Ashton’s raised brow awaited reply.

“Yeah, I was being pushed to join the family business—in which I had zero interest—just because I’d been having sex with his daughter. The family was starting to make demands: marriage, children, advertising internship. Suddenly I saw my entire life flash before my eyes and I had no control over it. As soon as I graduated I enrolled in Harvard Law and took off without saying goodbye because I was afraid her family would talk me into staying.”

Deep laughter filled the airwaves. The bastard was laughing at Everett’s most sincere confession. “Your laughter is not appreciated.”

“Oh yes, it is. I haven’t laughed in years. You better hope you don’t run into any Girouards while you’re in town.”

Everett hadn’t thought of Clarissa since undergrad. Surely she would have found a respectable and affluent southern Louisiana family to partner with by now. He shivered at the thought of how his life could have turned out.

“Where’s your sister?” Ashton’s grim demeanor was back.

“She went to get water.”

Everett followed Ashton to the kitchen where the refrigerator was open and various frozen food boxes and meats littered the countertop. The kitchen was old and dated but large enough to accommodate a small Viking clan.

Suddenly Courtney’s body emerged from the freezer where she’d been hidden by the large metal doors. Her arms cradled even more food.

“What the hell are you doing?

“Oh, there you are. I’ve been yelling for you for over five minutes.”

Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose and grimaced. “What are you doing?”

“Temperature is already up to fifty-five. Your compressor has conked out on you. Wanna keep this food in our deep freeze?”

“I do not.”

Courtney frowned. “Well it’s all going to spoil.”

“I’ll take care of it. Please leave.”

“Look here, Ashton”—Courtney placed her hand on her hip and aimed her dreaded pointer finger at him—”You’re a David and Davids don’t conduct themselves like animals.”

“Courtney.” Everett tried to divert her attention.

“We are social, we are friendly, we are hospitable, and most of all, we are family. You need to quit with this weird hermit-psycho-stalker-creep thing you’ve got going and cut your hair. Wash your clothes. Clean this place up.”

“Courtney.”

“What?!” She met Everett’s gaze. He frowned at her, but she didn’t take the subtle hint. “It’s true. Why have you been hiding in this drafty old haunted mansion all these years anyway?”

When they turned their attention to him it was clear he was upset. His eyes went out of focus, he swayed on his feet, and then he simply fainted.

“Shit! Courtney, help me.” His head had hit hard on the marble floor. They pulled him into a sitting position and leaned him against the center island. “Why’d you have to lay into him like that?”

“I was trying to help him.”

“Well maybe don’t try so hard next time.”

Everett shook his shoulders. “Ashton?”

His eyes rolled under their lids. “Ashton?”

Green eyes were visible through small slits. Once his focus was back he opened further. He cringed as he took them in, blinking frantically. “I’m sorry. I can’t …” He gasped and choked.

Courtney went down on her knees beside him and offered comfort as she rubbed his back. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry I was a bitch. I didn’t know you were …” Her brow rose when she couldn’t complete her sentence.

“I’m not good with people. I have anxiety.”

He would no longer look them in the eye. Everett offered Courtney a tight smile. “I’ve got the documents. I’ll read over them and come up with a proposal by next week. I may require access to the drilling sites.