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Jessa went still. “Oh, no.”
“Who is it?” The car came to a stop next to the Scout. When the door opened, one long leg appeared, then another, followed by an elegant genetic copy of Jessa.
“My mother.”
Fear gripped me with a cold fist in my guts. “Shit.”
Jessa smoothed her skirt, reaching for the doorknob with a weird smile on her face. “Shit is right. Mummy!” she called as she hurried onto the porch.
For a second, I stood there staring. When a droplet of sweat slid down my spine, I remembered I had no shirt on.
“Shit.”
I trotted to the mudroom, cursing the dryer, though I was grateful for its contents. Once I’d pulled on a shirt, I heard the barking.
“Shit!” I took off in a run, tearing out the door and toward my goddamn dog, who was trying to get around Jessa to the horrified woman in the white pantsuit and sunglasses.
“Beau!” I snapped, grabbing him by the collar when I got to him. “I’m sorry about him. Lemme put him up.”
Beau writhed and flopped around so hard, I nearly had to pick him up and carry him like a baby to his doghouse to tether him. My heart hammered from exertion, sure. But mostly because Jessa’s real, actual life had just pulled up in a car that cost more than just about anyone in town could make in a decade.
And I did not fit into her real, actual life.
I raked a hand through my damp hair, hurrying back to the house with no idea what was about to happen, but I seriously doubted it’d be good.
This was confirmed when I found them in a quiet argument next to the car. I hung back for a second, not sure what I was supposed to do. Jessa saw me and put that weird smile back on.
“Mother, this is Remy, Cass’s cousin. Remy, this is my mother, Lady Grace Hastings.”
I couldn’t see where she was looking for her sunglasses, but I got the sense it was all over me. Her lips were tight, I noticed as I stepped up and took her offered hand, which was palm down and limp.
I shook it, then wondered if I wasn’t supposed to do that. Should I kiss it? That didn’t seem right either.
“How do you do?” she asked all regal, taking her hand back and holding it funny.
“Nice to meet you.”
But she’d already turned back to Jessa. “Really, Jessamine. This?” She looked the house over briefly.
“It’s fine, Mother. Look, I’m in one piece and everything.”
“Not to worry, I’ve arrived.”
Jessa looked at her mother, whatever she felt well masked. “Yes, what are you doing here?”
“Ah! I was absolutely devastated to turn down Cassidy’s wedding invitation, so when I was needed in New York for a charity event, I thought—why not surprise them all?”
“Well, Mother, I’m very much surprised.”
Lady Hastings smiled at her daughter. “Oh, goodie. Gather up your things and let’s get you to civilization, shall we?”
“I don’t understand,” Jessa said. “There’s nowhere to stay in town.”
“Yes, of course, but your father is acquainted with the CEO of a rather large chain of grocery stores, and he happens to have a house in these little mountains. He was more than happy to oblige.”
“I see. And how did you find me?”
“I called Cassidy’s mother. Though when she told me you were staying in a cottage, I’ll admit this is not what I imagined. Now, if you’re through, we should go.” She stepped toward the rear doors of the Bentley, which was still running. “Run along, darling. Pleased to meet you, Remy.”
