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“Whenever you need a sitter, call us,” Jordyn tells Ramsey as we’re getting ready to leave.
“Be careful what you sign up for,” Ramsey teases.
“She’s perfect. Really, we’re happy to help. After everything you’ve done for us, that’s the least that we can do.”
Ramsey pulls Jordyn into a hug. “It’s what we do, and don’t worry, I’m totally taking you up on the babysitting.”
Another round of goodbyes, and we’re on the road headed home. “I love your family.”
“Our family.”
“Our family.” She closes her eyes, and she’s sound asleep when we get home.
I carry her into the house and help her sleepily get ready for bed before crawling in next to her and wrapping her tightly in my arms.
We have a lifetime for nightly orgasms. We have forever.
Jordyn’s barely out of the driveway when I pull my phone from my pocket and make a call. It rings three times before she answers.
“Hello.”
“Miss Dorothy, it’s Ryder Kincaid.”
“Oh, Ryder, what can I do for you?”
“I want to adopt Tucker.”
“Oh, goodness, that’s wonderful news. I’ll start the paperwork tomorrow.”
“Thank you. Let me know what I need to do.”
“Well, I know you work a lot. How about we meet at the shelter and get the paperwork done tonight?”
“I’m on my way.” Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I jog inside to grab my keys and lock up. Jordyn told me today she always wanted a dog but was never allowed to have one.
What my girl wants, my girl gets. Tucker will be here next weekend as a surprise welcome home gift. I’ll need to get a ring before next Friday as well.
Finally, we’re working toward our future.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jordyn
“I need your help today at the country club,” my mother announces as she enters the kitchen.
“What for?” I don’t bother looking at her; instead, I keep my eyes glued to my phone. I’m not seeing anything riveting, just scrolling social media, but my phone, and what a girl I graduated from high school with had for dinner last night, is better entertainment than my mother.
“We’re leaving at noon.”
“Fine,” I mutter.
“I expect you to be put together, Jordyn. You will look and act like an Astor, just as you were raised to be.”
“Yep.” I make sure to pop the p because I know it will piss her off. It’s my favorite pastime these days. Especially knowing that her control over me is about to come to a complete halt.
“Yes,” she fires back. “I won’t settle for your disrespect.”
I glance up to find her glaring at me. “Yes,” I amend. It takes everything I have inside of me to not roll my eyes.
Two more days, I keep reminding myself. It’s Wednesday, and on Friday, I’m going to Ryder’s and we’re going to expose my mother and her threats against the Kincaids. This will all be over. Well, over as in her threats will no longer be a concern.
My mother is a monster, but she’s not dumb enough to pay someone to hurt Ryder and his family after she’s been so publicly exposed for threatening to do so.
“What do you need my help with?”
“Does it matter? You’ll whine regardless.”
She’s not wrong. I’m not a fan of the country club. It’s not the club itself that bothers me. It’s the stuck-up assholes who frequent the place. You know, my mother, her friends, and their offspring.
“I need to know how to dress.” That’s a lie and we both know it. I’m to dress to impress always. Especially moments when I’ll be with my mother.
“You dress like a damn Astor, Jordyn. Can you handle that? Do I need to lay your clothes out for you as I did when you were a toddler?”
Again, the urge to roll my eyes is strong. “I’ll figure it out.” What I want to do is remind her she’s never in my life laid out my clothes. She’s instructed my nanny, or the housemaid, to tell me what to wear, but she, herself? Nah, that’s beneath Margaret Astor.
Two more days.
“Have you thought any more about the choice you have to make?”
“No.”
“You have until the end of the weekend, or we decide for you. Your father wants to announce the new partner soon.”
“I don’t want to marry either one of them. I want to marry for love.”
She laughs. It’s humorless and full of malice. “No one marries for love, Jordyn. It’s always about what you and your partner can do for one another.”
“Are you telling me you and Father didn’t love each other when you got married?” This is the first I’ve heard of this. I guess I just assumed they were married, and it was for love. I assumed they were a perfect match. She’s evil, and he’s uncaring.
“My parents had a law firm that was in direct competition with your grandfather’s. Your father was young and eager. He approached me. He suggested we marry and merge the two. I convinced my parents, and your father was handed the firm on a silver platter.”
