Forever Too Far (22 page)

since he had no idea what I was saying.

When I reached the top step Rush was waiting on me. “If you want me to take him and you not go in

there I will. But if you want to go in there I swear to you that she will behave or I’ll throw her out of this house.”

I wasn’t about to send my baby to see the big bad wolf and not go with him. If he had to face Nan so

did I. I held him tighter to me and shook my head. “I want to be with him.”

Rush nodded. I could see by the look on his face that he understood. He opened the door for us and

stepped back so I could walk inside with Nate.

Nan was sitting on a barstool with a pissed off snarl on her face. She spun around and her eyes went

to Nate. I could see the moment she realized that each small feature was Rush’s. He didn’t even have

my eyes. He was all Rush.

“Guess he is yours after all,” she said. I stopped and took a step back bumping into Rush’s chest. His

arm came around me and he held me there.

“You wanted to see him. Be careful what you say to his mother. Apologize for that last stupid ass

remark or I’m going to walk you to the door.”

Nan’s eyes flared with fury and I had a feeling Rush had just started something we really didn’t need

in our home. But she took a deep breath and lifted her hate filled eyes to me. “I’m sorry,” she

snapped. She didn’t mean it but the fact Rush had made her say it was worth it.

“Can I hold him?” Nan asked, lifting her gaze to Rush’s.

I went stiff as a board. If he told her yes I was making a run for it with Nate. There was only so much

he could ask of me.

“Probably not a good idea. With you glaring at his momma like that I don’t think she’s gonna feel safe

handing him over.”

Nan scowled. “He’s your kid too.”

“He is. But Blaire is his mother. I don’t let anything happen that she isn’t comfortable with.”

“God, Rush where did your balls go?”

“That’s strike two, sis.”

Nan rolled her eyes and stood up from the stool. She looked back at Nate and her eyes softened a

little. He was hard not to love. He was as beautiful as his father. “Mom would love to meet him,”

Nan said, pulling her purse strap up on her arm. “You should at least send her a photo.”

“Mom didn’t give a shit about her own babies, Nan. You know that. Why would she care about

mine?”

Nan didn’t flinch. She only shrugged. “Good point.”

Nate started to fuss in my arms. He was trying to get to the goods again. I shifted him in my arms and

Rush reached for him. “Give him to me. He won’t be thinking about milk when I’ve got him.”

I handed Nate to him and he instantly calmed down and stared up at Rush. He was fascinated with his

father.

“You’re good with him. I’m not surprised. You’ve been playing dad for as long as I can remember,”

Nan said. It was the first nice thing she’d said since she’d gotten here.

“I’m only good at it because I’ve watched Blaire. She’s taught me everything.”

Nan didn’t like that answer and it wasn’t true. He’d been a natural from day one. I started to argue

when Nan pushed her stool back scraping it across the floor. “I just wanted to see the kid and let you

know I’m doing better. If you want to see me I’m in town for a few days. I’m not up for anymore

bonding with your little family here so keep that in mind.”

I watched as she stalked out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the front door without another

word. Rush didn’t respond.

“And she’s still a bitch,” Rush muttered.

I turned to look up at him and he was frowning. “I’m sorry that she talked to you like that,” he said.

“I ignore everything she says. She wants me to be the villain and I’m afraid she always will. It’s

okay. I didn’t marry her,” I replied.

Nate heard my voice and he moved his head to look at me before he started crying. He wanted me for

my boobs. I smiled and reached out to take him. “I’m going to have to feed him again. He must not

have gotten full last time. He’s determined to eat again.”

Rush handed him to me. “Lucky little shit.”

I kicked him and he laughed that full belly laugh that I loved.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“Yes. Starving. Can you make me a sandwich?” I asked him before walking to the living room to get

comfortable in the recliner.

“Anything for you,” he replied.

Woods was standing outside of the clubhouse arguing with that Angie or Angel or Angelina... Hell I

couldn’t remember her name. She’d been around off and on through the years. I was pretty sure she

was a summer fuck for Woods when we were in high school. Her daddy was in the same business as

the Kerringtons and Grant had thought that Woods was going to marry her.

Then this Della chick had shown up and my guess was things had changed. Or not. I couldn’t tell. Last

I’d heard Della hadn’t gone to jail and it had been a misunderstanding. Woods had raised some hell at

the police station though. The girl had her hands on Woods’ arms and it looked like she was begging

him. I wasn’t sure I wanted to walk up on that conversation but the dude looked like he needed help.

He had enough shit to deal with now that his dad was dead. No one had been prepared for it and

Woods had it all thrust at him overnight.

“Get off me Angelina. I swear to God, if you don’t leave me the fuck alone I’m going to have a

restraining order on your ass,” Woods said as he shoved her hands off him. He turned to see me

walking up and the relief in his eyes was obvious. “Rush. Hey, you here for that meeting?” he asked.

I had no idea what he was talking about and I was willing to bet he’d just made that shit up. “Yep,” I

replied.

“This isn’t over, Woods. I swear to you it isn’t. You’re making a huge mistake,” she cried out as

Woods broke free from her and started toward me.

“Get me the hell away from her. Fast,” he muttered as he walked past me. I turned and followed him.

I’d been here to talk to Bethy about babysitting tomorrow night so I could take Blaire out on a date.

But it looked like I was going to get to chat with Woods first.

He opened the door to the club and went inside not waiting to see if I followed him. “Craziest fucking

bitch I’ve ever met,” he swore once we were both safely inside. He ran his hand through his hair and

let out a frustrated growl. “I was running. I was. I was gonna pull a fucking Tripp. I was taking Della

and we were going to leave this shit behind. My dad had pushed me too far and I was done. Then he

had to up and die. Come to find out Dad’s will stated that on my twenty-fifth birthday, which is in two

months, that this place became mine. My grandfather had made it very fucking clear in his will and it

was so locked up my dad couldn’t budge it. I can’t run now, can I? It’s all mine. The grandfather I

loved and admired hadn’t screwed me over after all. But God, it’s all so screwed up now. I just need

to focus on getting Della better. I don’t have time to handle all this. I know nothing, Rush.

Motherfucking NOTHING. My dad didn’t let me into the business side of it. He said I had to earn my

place.” Woods let out another frustrated sigh and started pacing the floor.

I wasn’t sure what all he was talking about but the dude had problems. Grant was the guy he needed,

not me. I wasn’t someone to share your shit with. I didn’t do heart to hearts.

“Woods?” A petite brunette with big blue eyes walked inside the door looking right at Woods with a

concerned frown. “What’s wrong?”

The man morphed right in front of me. He took two long strides and pulled her into his arms like

someone was about to touch her and he needed to make sure she stayed safe. “I’m fine. Did you get to

sleep late?” he asked in a tender voice that I swear to God I’d never heard the dude use.

She nodded and slipped her arms around him. “Yes. Everything was fine this morning. Stop

worrying,” she told him. She turned her head and looked over at me.

“Della, this is Rush Finlay. You met his wife, Blaire. Rush, this is my Della.”

His Della. Oh man, that was what was wrong. He’d been sunk. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. I

understood that feeling completely. And damned if it didn’t make me happy that Woods was wrapped

up in another woman and wasn’t sniffing after mine anymore. Thank you, Della.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

“Nice to meet you too,” I replied. She had no idea just how nice. Good ole Woods Kerrington was in

love. Funniest shit I’d heard all week.

The banging on my door sounded like a damn freight train. I pushed the covers off me and looked over

at Paige. I’d brought her home with me last night from a party. We’d both had too much to drink and

we had plenty of fun before we’d passed out. That much I could remember. Paige was always nice

and easy. She didn’t do the clingy thing.

The banging kept on. I grabbed my discarded shorts from last night and pulled them on before walking

down the hall toward the door. “Shut the fuck up! Dammit, that’s too fucking loud,” I yelled before

opening the door. The sun was up and right in my eyes. I threw my arm over my eyes and squinted

while calling whoever was at my door a crazy motherfucker.

I didn’t do hangovers well.

“Aren’t you charming this morning,” Nan drawled as she pushed past me and walked in. Shit. Not

who I wanted to deal with this morning.

I slammed the door. “What do you want, Nan? It’s ten fucking a.m.,” I growled.

Nan walked into my kitchen and leaned against the bar.

“I need a place to stay,” she said in a softer voice that she only used when she wanted something. A

year ago that shit worked with me. I was so wrapped up in her selfish ass I couldn’t see straight. It

was all the sex though. She was good at it. A fucking gymnast in the bed. I’d learned the hard way that

sex didn’t make up for heartbreak and bitchiness. I was done with her. With all of it.

“Call Rush. I’m going back to bed. You know the way out,” I replied, heading back to my bedroom.

“I can’t! He won’t help me. I can’t stand Blaire and he knows it. He loves her more than me. She took

him away from me. She took everything away from me. I hate her and I can’t pretend to like her. But I

don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t want to live with my mother. I want to come back to Rosemary.”

“Sucks for you. Bye Nan.” I opened the bedroom door and walked over to the bed and laid face

down.

“Paige? Really Grant? You don’t know where all that has been. You’ve stooped pretty low. Even for

you.”

Paige sat up rubbing her face and I enjoyed the fact she was naked and Nan was getting a very good

look at her tits. They were a helluva lot nicer than Nan’s.

“I stepped up. Last chick I fucked was you,” I replied. She’d walked into that one.

Paige looked at me then Nan with bloodshot eyes. I was pretty sure she’d been smoking pot last night.

“What the fuck?” she grumbled pulling the sheet up to cover herself.

“Nan’s here to make my life hell. Ignore her,” I said rolling on my back and propping my hands

behind my head.

“Really? This is what we’ve become?” Nan asked.

“This is what you made us, Nan. You wanted to screw around well I agree. It’s fun. Thanks for the

idea.”

“Paige, for godsake, get some clothes on and leave. We’re trying to have a conversation,” Nan

snapped at Paige who was sitting quietly listening to us.

I reached over and patted her leg. “Don’t leave. Her ass has been shown the door. She needs to take

it,” I told Paige. I really had rather they both leave but I wasn’t an ass. I wouldn’t kick Paige out. I’d let her leave on her own.

“For real? You’re gonna just whore around and not even let me explain? Did you know I was in a

rehab? Did you care? You sure as hell didn’t call me. No one did. Not even Rush.”

I felt a small pang for her but it was really small. Sometimes I still saw that little girl who wanted

someone to want her so bad. Those were the times I had compassion. Then I remembered the bitch

she had become and decided she deserved what she got.

“When you dish shit out you get shit back. That’s what my granddaddy always told me. Maybe

somebody should have taught you that too. Saved us all a fucking load of trouble.”

Nan pointed at Paige. “Leave. Now.”

I grabbed Paige’s arm. “Ignore her.”

Paige looked back and forth between the two of us and then shook her head. “You two are all kinds of

fucked up. I think I’ll go home and get some rest. My head can’t take this.” She started to get up then

reached over and kissed my cheek before crawling out of the bed naked.

I admired her ass while she got her clothes on for Nan’s sake not because I really wanted to. I was

too tired to think about naked females.

Paige waved bye to me then hurried out the door carrying her shoes. I had no idea where her car was

but that didn’t matter right now. She lived two floors up in the same condo complex as I did. Which

was another reason she was handy.

Nan walked over to the bed and sat down.

“Get off my bed, Nan. I swear to God I’ll tell you every detail of what Paige and I did on these sheets

last night if you don’t get your damn ass off my bed,” I warned. I couldn’t really remember exactly

what we’d done last night. But Nan didn’t have to know that.

“You’re disgusting,” she screamed, standing up and glaring at me.

“Yeah, so are you. At least I know Paige. She’s not some girl I just plucked off the damn street to

fuck.”