Down for the Count(52)

Lacey shifted in his arms with a sleepy murmur, and he pulled her closer, tucking her tighter against his chest. He fingered the gold chain against her neck and smiled. She’d looked really pleased when he gave it to her. That had to be a good sign, didn’t it?

They’d finished making love in the pool and had moved to lie on the blanket and enjoy the bottle of wine when the package had caught her eye again. “Go ahead, open it,” he’d urged.

She tore the paper off like a kid at Christmas. Nestled inside the box was a slim gold chain with a boxing glove charm. She pulled it out immediately and handed it to him. “Put it on me.”

He hooked it around her neck and she turned so he could see. “Looks great. Do you know why I got that for you?”

“Because you’re a fighter.”

“No, because you are. I don’t ever want you to forget that, or how strong you are.”

Her eyes had gotten suspiciously shiny, and she went quiet for a long moment before she took his hand. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten, Galen. Thank you.”

Now, with her soft snore tickling his chest, he wondered if his eyes were a little shiny, too. He knew one thing for sure, though. A woman didn’t look at a rebound guy that way. Tonight, Lacey had been 100 percent, unequivocally his. Now he just had to figure out how to keep her.





Chapter Eleven

“What in God’s name is going on here?”

Lacey’s eyes sprang open as she was awakened from a dead sleep. Horror drenched her when she registered the sound of her mother’s voice. Rowena Garrity stood with her arms folded over her chest, her back ramrod straight, stormy gray eyes filled with accusations.

“Mother? Wh-what are you doing here?” She pulled away from a groggy and confused Galen to drag the sheets up to her neck for more cover. Luckily, he had gotten up for a snack in the middle of the night and was only half naked. Too bad the same couldn’t be said for her.

“I’m so sorry, Lace.” Cat stepped in behind Rowena, her cheeks flushed with anger. “She caught me on the way back up from breakfast. I told her she should call first, but, well…” Cat’s disgusted face said it all. Rowena was like a titanium tank. If she wanted in, there was no stopping her.

“It’s okay, Cat. You’re not in the wrong here. Mother, what’s going on?”

“I believe that is the question you should be answering.” In spite of the frost in her tone, true to form, Rowena never raised her voice. She turned her bone-chilling gaze on Galen. He sat up, but to his credit, he didn’t flinch. Or explode into flames. “And you? I would say I expected better, but then we both know that would be a lie. I’d appreciate it if you’d give me some time to speak with my daughter, Mr. Thomas.” She turned to face Cat and dismissed her with a nod. “Mary Catherine.”

Galen’s face was stony. “Ma’am, I’m happy to do whatever makes Lacey comfortable, and if she’d like me to stay, then that’s what I’ll be doing.”#p#分页标题#e#

“From where I’m standing it appears you’ve done enough already. Taking advantage of a heartbroken young woman so you could get into her bed after her marriage implodes hardly seems like the act of someone concerned with my daughter’s happiness. She’s in no state to make decisions, and you took advantage like a carrion-feeder.”

Lacey’s whole body shook, but she managed to keep her tone even. “I’m sorry, Galen. You shouldn’t have to listen to this. It’s better if I deal with her on my own. You don’t have to leave, though—we will. Mother, please wait out front. I’ll change and meet you down the path at the café. We can talk there.”

“It was bad enough I had to confide in the staff with those archaic notes, which incidentally, I’m furious at you for disregarding. Now you think I want to discuss your infidelity in public?” Her mouth flattened into an angry slash of red against her ivory complexion.

“Infidelity?” The tenuous hold she had over her emotions threatened to snap, but she hung strong. “After what he did, I hardly owe him any loyalty.”

“Of course you do. We had an agreement, and Garritys always meet their obligations.” She hitched her Chanel bag higher onto her shoulder and waved an imperious hand in Lacey’s direction. “Get a move on. We need to hash this out ASAP so we can put this ridiculousness behind us. I swear, I don’t know what you were thinking. You’re a married woman, for the love of God. Unacceptable.”