Destiny Undone: The Complete Series Box Set (31 page)

“It takes two to make it work, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does. Why? What’s going on with you? Is this about Sophie?”

I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall. It was hard to disappoint her when she had such a hopeful look on her face.

“No. Why would you think it was about Sophie? Sophie and I aren’t like that.”

“But she’s such a lovely girl.”

“Yes, she is. But seriously, Mom, I wish you’d give it a rest, please. It’s not helping me or Sophie when you’re playing cupid all the time. I had quite the encounter with her before I left and we ended up in an argument. She had this whole fantasy going that we were an item. We’re not, and we’ve never been except very briefly when we were teenagers. I’m not interested in her like that.”

“So this is about the blonde?”

“She has a name, Mom. It’s Pepper… what do you have against blondes?”

“Nothing. I know some very intelligent blondes. Helen Fairley, Juanita Hill—but I’m pretty sure she’s not a real blonde—however, I don’t think Pepper Anderson will ever be on that list,” she mused as she popped a grape into her mouth. She’d offered me some from her bowl, but I just raised my glass.

“I have my own grapes, thanks.” I turned and stared out the window, unwilling to argue with her anymore. She obviously had some sort of prejudice against Pepper but I didn’t know why. Maybe Mom was right, maybe she wasn’t the smartest girl I’d ever met. But then again, that statement flew in the face of everything I knew about her. Pepper was very intelligent, a fast learner and passionate about animals…and fucking gorgeous in a bathing suit...or anything, for that matter!

“No witty comeback?”

“I’m not in the mood to argue you with you today, Mom.”

She curled up in her over-stuffed chair and frowned at me. “I don’t like this at all. You never agree with me, especially about women. Tell me what’s happened.”

“No, I can handle it.”

“Tell me, or I’ll get your father to come and tell us about his new vaccine troubles.”

“Okay, okay, but don’t criticize, please. I know you aren’t a big fan of Pepper.”

She held up her fingers and made the Scouts salute. I laughed. “Unless you were a Boy Scout, that doesn’t count.”

“Sorry, but you know what I mean. I promise I won’t be negative.”

“Good.” I told her about Pepper’s bad news, about me not being there and her sending me away. I told her how I felt about Pepper and she just looked at me in stunned silence.

“Gabe, you do care about her, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. At first, I thought it was because I kind of felt sorry for her, but it wasn’t that and I’ve grown very close to her. She just needed a break—someone to believe in her—that she was more than a beautiful body with gorgeous, blonde hair.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I’ll admit that I only took her in as an intern because Doug Anderson asked me to and he’s a nice guy. You remember him, and he was so worried about her. I thought she’d work for a day and then disappear, but she didn’t. As a matter of fact, she became an important part of our team—not to mention that one particular dolphin loves her.”

Mom closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “I think I know what happened.”

I put my wine glass down and raised my hand to stop her before she even got started. “No mystery. I think it’s the age thing. I’m too old for someone like her.”

“What? You’re only a few years older than she is—five at the most. No, it’s not the age thing, and I’m ashamed to say it now, but I think it was me.”

Just then, Dad walked into the room and, as usual, started to tell us about the various problems he’d been dealing with, without waiting to see what we were talking about first. I loved my father, but he was definitely a focused individual and sometimes, a bit selfish.

“James! Please, give it a rest.” Now, it was my father’s turn to put his hands up in surrender and he spun around and walked away when he sensed the seriousness in Mom’s tone.

I smiled at Dad’s obedience and turned back to Mom. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Actually, no. I don’t want to tell you anything, but I guess I’m going to have to, aren’t I?”

She clasped her hands in front of her and said, “The other day, right after you left for your flight, Pepper came to the house.”

“She did? And…?”

“And I told her that you’d left with Sophie. I honestly thought you had because she ran out of the house behind you. I heard her mention that she wanted take you to the airport.”

I stood up and paced the floor. “What did you say to her?”

“I asked her if she was really the girl in those pictures and she didn’t deny it. I reminded her that you were doing good work and that any scandal would be bad for you.”

I froze where I stood. “Tell me you didn’t. Why would you do that?” I stared at her.

“Being completely honest, I didn’t think you were that serious about her and I sure as hell don’t think she is the right girl for you. I’m sorry, Gabriel.”

I ran my hand through my hair and thought for a second. “I have to go talk to her. This is so messed up. Mom, I don’t understand why you don’t like Pepper, but you’re going to have to get over it. I like her—a lot, and that should be enough.”

“You’re right, it should be—and it is. I’m sorry I interfered.” Then she stood up and faced me, looking sad and ashamed.

“I have to go—now.” I grabbed my keys off the counter and stomped out of the house to my car. I didn’t stop to talk to Dad, even though he called after me. No wonder Pepper acted like she did and wouldn’t talk to me—my mother had told her I was off with Sophie! I flew down the driveway and drove as fast as I could to the Anderson’s place. I pulled up in front of the house, rang the bell and the housekeeper came to the door and let me in. Mills was perched on the stairs and I could tell right away that she’d been crying.

“Hey, Mills. Are you okay? Is Pepper here? Can I talk to her?”

She rubbed her eyes and ran her hands through her disheveled hair as she tried to compose herself. She sniffed and said, “She’s not here right now, Gabe. Sorry.” Then she walked down the stairs, looking like she’d just lost her best friend.

I walked up to her and put my arm around her shoulder. “What’s up? Is everything okay?”

“Not really, but thanks for asking.” She gave me a weak smile and wiped at her eyes.

“How’s your Dad? Is he here?”

“No, he’s gone to see Charlotte and I’m not sure where Pepper is, but she’s acting like her old self again.”

“What do you mean? Is she drinking?”

“She’s probably doing more than that, but don’t worry about her, Gabe. She’s not worried about anyone but herself right now.”

I gave her a hug and she held on to me and cried. Mills was so petite, her head landed in the middle of my chest. I rubbed her back and said, “I’m sure she’s going to be okay…and so are you.”

“No, she’s being an ass, but I still love her anyway.” She cried a little more and I felt my shirt getting damp with her tears, then she pushed herself away and rubbed her face on her sleeve. “Sorry for getting your shirt all wet.”

“It’s no problem, Mills. It’s just a shirt. It’s you I’m worried about.”

We stood awkwardly for a moment and I felt like she wanted to tell me something, but she didn’t. Finally I said, “Will you please tell Pepper that I called and that I know what my mother did when she came by my house. I really need to talk to her.”

“Oh, you know? I’m so glad and I’ll tell her, I promise. Have you tried to call her?”

“Yes, I did earlier, but she’s not taking my calls.”

“Keep trying, I’m sure she’ll come around.”

“Thanks, Mills.” Frustrated but concerned, I left the Anderson estate and went back home. My parents were busy chatting in the study and I didn’t bother to stop and talk to them at all. I walked quietly through the kitchen and headed toward my guest house. I shut the door, flipped on the television and grabbed a beer. It was going to be a long night—I had a lot to think about.

The music thumped and the roar of the waves crashing on the beach was right behind me. I didn’t recognize the band, but the bass demanded the crowd to bump along—and they did.
Thump, thump, boom
.
Thump, thump, boom
. My heart raced, and I felt beads of sweat running down my body, under my clothes, but I didn’t care. It felt good to be free of all the negative thoughts that had been going through my head over the past few days—and the vodka helped, too.

I had to admit, Jonathan looked pretty hot and when he wrapped his hand around my waist while we danced, it felt good to be having fun. Suddenly, the music slowed right down and Church drew me closer to him—so close I could feel his hard chest moving with the beat. Then he slid his hand down my waist to my bottom and I pushed it away.

“Church, no! I told you that wasn’t going to happen,” I huffed. “God, you just won’t take no for an answer, will you? I'm leaving. Give me my keys!”

“All right, Pepper. Calm down. No need to get bitchy. Let’s just enjoy the music,” he mumbled into my ear. The gleam in his eye and the tone of his voice didn’t do anything to calm me, despite his sexy voice and commanding ways. Who was he to tell me what to do? Wasn’t he the guy I’d caught in the closet of the Golden Flames, with my mother riding up and down on his junk like a sleazy college girl?

“Fuck, Church! Just give me my keys!” I was pissed all over again and it might have been the booze, but whatever it was, I needed to get away from him and clear my head before something stupid happened. Besides, it wasn’t him that I was really pissed at, was it? It was her! Evangeline, ‘I’m-a-fucking-princess’ Anderson! She was way too old to be playing games like she had, and it occurred to me that I hadn’t given her a piece of my mind yet, but I sure as hell wanted to. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I planned to do—and soon. “Now, Church! Keys!” I yelled at him.

With a smartass smile, he held the keys over my head and then dropped them in the sand. He just stood there, holding his beer, with a stupid, fat grin on his face. I was so angry I didn’t know what to say, and I didn’t have the inclination to fight with him, but I was so done with his bullshit that I kneed him hard in the crotch and sent him and his beer to the ground with my keys. I snatched them up and walked away as a flock of sympathetic girls flew to his side. "Asshole!" I called over my shoulder.

I made the long trek back to my car by myself. I wasn’t worried about the paparazzi or weirdo fans, and the mood I was in, if they crossed my path right now, they’d certainly regret it. I got in my car and looked in the rear-view mirror—I looked like hell. I’d been drinking lemon drops all night, but who cared? I didn’t have far to go, just down the street. I wasn’t going home, or to Gabe’s, or anywhere else except Destiny Beach Towers. Now was the time to tell Evangeline exactly what I thought of her. I backed up and my car stalled, but that didn’t slow me down. I cranked it again and spun out of the beach parking lot down Towers Parkway. This needed to happen. I squinted my eyes against the oncoming headlights and did my best to focus on the road. I passed through the light—thankfully it was green—then turned into the Destiny Beach Towers valet line and made my way to the entrance.

“Good evening, miss. What’s the name?” said the doorman.

“Go to hell!” I said over my shoulder as I hustled into the lobby and stomped towards the elevator like a crazy woman. One of my flip-flops slid off my foot so I removed the other one to avoid falling flat on my face. I clutched my keys in my hand and I probably should have given them to the valet, but I wasn’t staying very long—that was my plan, anyway.

I banged furiously on the ‘up’ elevator button about a dozen times and ignored the officious cough of the security guard approaching behind me. What was he going to do? Throw me out? Good luck, dildo! I’d taken one guy out tonight already so I sure wasn't worried about his sorry ass.

Finally, the shiny silver doors flew open, I stepped in and pushed the button to the penthouse on the twelfth floor—she had the entire floor, naturally. Nobody could do
diva
like Evangeline. Luckily, the doors closed before the security guy could stop me and I watched the floor numbers climbing on the display. ‘1’, ‘2’…
Come on, faster!
It seemed to take forever to get there, but after a few seconds, the bell rang, the doors opened, and I walked out of the elevator and into the wide, marbled corridor that led to the penthouse suite. I didn’t slow down until I reached her place then I clenched my fist and banged on her door.

“Evangeline! It's Pepper! Open the door!” No answer, so I banged again. “Mother! Open this door now!”

I had a feeling that would get her to open up since she hated it when Mills or I called her mother—and now I knew why—she wasn’t my real mother. That made perfect sense, but the realization brought tears to my eyes and that was the first thing I said to her when she eventually opened the door. She looked startled to see me, but before she could say a word, I let her have it.

“I get it now. That’s why you wouldn’t let me call you ‘Mom’. You were never my mom. What the fuck? Why would you adopt me if you didn’t want me? Tell me!”