Page 11 of The Billionaire's Special Relationship

Stuart had grown unaccustomed to being treated without everybody jumping at his command and kowtowing to him to gain their own advantages. He appreciated that Chris was comfortable enough with him to speak his mind without feeling as if it could cost him. It was refreshing to Stuart. Which was why he smiled. “What don’t you understand this time, Christopher?”

“Your mama been dead two days. Where you been?”

It was still a sore thought for Stuart. “I had some loose ends to tie up.”

“Bad loose ends, or good loose ends?”

Stuart didn’t answer that.

The door to the office suddenly opened and a very attractive blonde stepped in. “Why if it ain’t MaryAnn,” Chris said.

“I got tired of you badgering me,” MaryAnn said as she handed him a small envelope.

“About time you start paying me back,” Chris said as he looked in the envelope.

But MaryAnn’s attention was already on Stuart. “Who’s this handsome individual? I ain’t never seen eyesthatblue.”

Chris looked. “Who him? That’s Stu Jacobs. That’s Miss Vera’s son.”

MaryAnn was surprised. “That old mean ornery woman your mama?” Then she caught herself. “Oops. I didn’t mean to call her mean. I meant no disrespect. I am so sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. She was quite mean.” He stood up as he extended his hand. “I’m Stuart. Nice to meet you.”

“Wow,” she said, looking down at him. “This is what I call a nice body. Strong too,” she said as she squeezed his muscular bicep. “And tight. You work out?”

“Okay, MaryAnn, that’s enough,” Chris said with a grin. “I’m sure your husband won’t appreciate your flirtin’ with strangers.”

She smiled. “What stranger? He’s Miss Vera’s son.”

Stuart laughed.

“Bye MaryAnn,” Chris said.

But MaryAnn was serious. She continuedto assess Stuart’s good looks and body. “If you ever need a good time, big boy, look me up. I’m a Coulter. I’m in the phone book.”

Stuart didn’t realize they still had phone books. “Have a nice day,” he said to her.

“I’m already having one,” she said with a grin. She was still smiling and assessing him as she walked back out the door.

Stuart looked at Chris with a grin on his face. He was propositioned almost daily. But never this bluntly.

Chris nodded. “Oh yeah. She’s the town’s slut alright. Every man still with a pulse been with her. Including me. Yes, I have. So if you want a good time, give her a call like she said. She’s good for it. But she’s a strange one. So watch her.”

Stuart wasn’t thinking about being with some whore. “About my mother’s estate,” he asked again.

“Speaking of strange ladies. Now that mama of yours was a strange lady. I mean, I know she didn’t want a funeral,” Chris said, “but damn. She didn’t even want a wake. Nothing. She wanted nothing.”

Stuart didn’t respond to that. The woman he knew was the second most insufferable human being he’d ever met. Second only to his also deceased father.

“Have you at least picked up her ashes from the funeral home?” Chris asked.

“No. And don’t intend to.”

Chris staredat him. “You don’t regret that?”

Stuart didn’t respond. Because, deep down, he did have a sense of regret that his mother was gone. That it was final that he and his mother would never reconcile. But that was what she wanted, not him.

Then Chris grinned. “If I live to be a hundred, I’ll never understand your family. Your daddy disowned you while you was still a teenager stealing and robbing people like you was a zip dang fool. Your mama used to beat you so bad you ended up in traction several times. Then she die and you don’t seemed bothered in the least? No matter how awful my mama was to me, if my mama dies there ain’t no way I’m not gonna be devastated.”