Her words brought Jake to a standstill. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her further. He definitely hadn’t met her before. Perhaps she was from the agency? They were putting some more applicants together for him to review. He hadn’t had the heart or the inclination to tell them not to bother. He wouldn’t be getting another nanny for Mad.
Not after the last one.
Bracing his feet shoulder width apart, he folded his arms across his chest. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“I’m Donna. Donna Dawson.”
Dawson? Lory’s stepmother? The stiffness in his spine softened, his arms dropping to his side. “Oh, you’re looking for Lory. She isn’t here right now.”
“Lory?”
“It’s what Mad and I call her.”
“Hmm… Well, I know she isn’t here at the moment. It’s why I came now. So she couldn’t interfere any more than she has.”
“Interfere?” He shook his head. What could Lory possibly have done that would make this woman think she needed to be here when Lory wasn’t? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I understand that.” She stood taller, smiling broadly at him, but if she expected that smile to put him at ease, it didn’t. It sent a cold shiver down his back. “I’m here to meet Maddox.”
“Mad? My son?”
“Yes. Your son. My daughter’s son.Mygrandson.”
“Your daughter?”
“Yes. Renee.”
Drumming in his ears drowned out anything else this woman might say. The look on his face must have clued her in to shut her mouth though, because she pressed her lips together and gripped the strap of her bag tightly.
Jaw locked, he ground out through clenched teeth, “You’re Mallory’s stepmother?”
She nodded but held her tongue.
“Renee’smother?” Just saying the words was like spitting up razor blades and layered his tongue in bitterness. The whole conversation froze his blood. Before she said anything further, he pulled his phone from his pocket and hit Ry’s number.
“Hey, man, you want me to bring Mad home after all?” Ry answered on the first ring.
“No. Stay where you are.”
“Jake. What’s going on?”
“I’ve got a situation that I don’t want you to walk in on.”
“Mr. Conners. Jacob—”
Jake threw up a hand to stop the woman from saying another word. He didn’t take his eyes off her while he finished his call with Ry. “I’ll be there when I can but I don’t know how long that will be.”
“Okay.” Ry’s voice came through barely a murmur. “Stay away from the house and keep Mad here. Do I need to call the police? Grant? A lawyer?”
“The last one. Can you call Keaton?”
“Yes. Although I’d like to be there…”
“I appreciate that but it’s best if you stay there. Actually maybe you and Maz could go for a drive. Go visit Grant.”
“Jake, I’m not liking this cryptic conversation we’re having.”
“I get that. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hung up and glared at the woman in front of him. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on and I don’t care. Get off my property before I call the police.”
