Real Men Don't Quit(21)

“No need to set the hounds on me,” Tyler snapped. “I’m on my way.”

“I’m sorry about my mother.” Paige brushed her fingers down the length of her hair. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but she shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

“You’re damn right she shouldn’t have.”

“About your necklace. Let me talk to her. I’m sure she’ll at least pay for your materials.”

“You’re sure?”

A V appeared between Paige’s finely arched eyebrows. “Um, I can’t guarantee it. My mother iswell, she’s Crystal Kerrigan. What more can I say?”

For a moment Tyler felt sorry for Paige. Even though the woman led a privileged life, she had to put up with Crystal Kerrigan. “I won’t hold my breath, then.”

“I’d write you out a check myself, but I don’t have a local bank account anymore. Perhaps I could wire the money when I’m back in London?”

Tyler stared. “You’d do that? Why?”

“I don’t know.” Biting her lip, Paige gazed off in the distance, looking suddenly upset. “Things are pretty miserable at the moment Maybe I just need a bit of good karma coming my way.”

What on earth could make rich, blonde Paige miserable? Momentarily distracted from her own problems, Tyler reached out tentatively. “Hey, is everything okay with you?”

Whatever had rattled Paige faded as she shrugged. “Oh, sure. It’s just my mother. She exasperates me sometimes.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” This Kerrigan wasn’t so bad after all, but Paige didn’t deserve to have to pay for her mother’s sins. Tyler got into the car and started the engine. “It’s good of you to offer, Paige, but I don’t want your money. I want your mother’s.”

Paige made a wry half smile and stepped back as Tyler pulled off.

As Tyler drove toward her aunt’s house, her depression returned with a vengeance until she felt as if a giant black thundercloud was squashing her. It had been a horrible three days, starting on Friday morning, the day after the bookstore reading, when she’d found Luke’s note shoved under her door.

Sorry for being such a pain in the arse last night. I’m going away for a few days. Luke.

That was all it had said. No mention of where he was going or when to expect him back. Maybe he wouldn’t return at all. Maybe the few kisses they’d shared would be all she’d ever get. Her stomach shriveled into a painful knot, but she tried to be rational. She should take his abrupt departure as a blessing—he had quit her life before she’d had a chance to get too attached to him. Moving on was what Luke did, what he always did. He had no use for ties. He didn’t want to be weighed down with possessions. Or relationships. She just had to suck it up and get on with her life, like she always did.

At her aunt’s house she hurried in, hankering for her daughter’s sunny smile. Aunt Daphne appeared in the hallway, her forehead wrinkled. “You’re back soon.”

Tyler made a face. “Things didn’t go as planned.”

“Oh.” Aunt Daphne tweaked at her trousers nervously. “Uh, we have a surprise visitor. Your mother dropped by. She’s in the kitchen with Chloe.”

Tyler’s spirits fell even further. She hadn’t seen her mother in more than a year. “Great,” Tyler said with a groan.

Striding into the kitchen with her aunt following, she found her mother and daughter seated on opposite sides of the table. Chloe had milk and biscuits in front of her, her expression cautious as she studied her grandmother.

“Hi, Wanda,” Tyler greeted her mother. Ever since her teens, she’d refused to call her parent anything but her first name. She went over to Chloe and placed a hand on her daughter’s cheek for reassurance—her own more than Chloe’s.

Her mother raised eagle-sharp blue eyes to her. Her hair, defiantly dyed ruby red, fell to her waist. She wore draping bits of blue clothing, shimmering, clinking jewelry, and bright red lipstick. Her face, seamed with experience, was still strikingly beautiful, like that of an aging rock chick who’d somehow survived the drugs and alcohol.

“What’s up with you?” her mother asked without preamble in her twenty-smokes-a-day voice. “You look like someone stole your lunch money.”

Ignoring the question, Tyler bent to nuzzle her daughter’s cheek. “Hi, baby. Did you have fun while I was away?”

Chloe nodded then pointed her biscuit at Tyler’s mother. “I have to call her Wanda, but Aunt Daphne says she’s my grammy. Is that true?”

Tyler sat down next to her daughter. Chloe was too young to remember the last time Wanda had popped into their lives for a brief visit before disappearing again. “Yes, she’s your grammy.” She sighed.

“But I got a grammy already.” Chloe wrinkled up her nose and glanced across the table. “My grammy has ponies and puppies,” she announced to Wanda. “And kittens. And she gave me a doll, too.”

Wanda didn’t appear the least disconcerted. “Your grammy sounds wonderful.”

“Yeah, she is.” Chloe drained the glass of milk and smacked her lips. “I’m finished, Aunt Daphne. Can I watch my DVD now?”

“Sure, poppet.” Aunt Daphne held out her hand. “Why don’t you come with me?”

Alone with her mother, Tyler dabbed at the crumbs Chloe had left behind, not saying anything. She knew she came across as belligerent, but the sad truth was she didn’t have a whole lot of conversation for her mother. At least, not the polite kind.

“She’s a beautiful child,” Wanda said eventually.

Tyler didn’t say anything, just licked the crumbs off her fingers.

“And how’s business?” her mother continued, her tone still conversational.

Tyler shrugged. “Could be better.”

Five minutes in her mother’s company and already she was turning into a monosyllabic teenager, but that was the effect Wanda had on her, and she doubted it would ever change.

“Daphne told me about the troubles you’re having with your ex’s mother.”

She scowled at Wanda. “I’m not having any troubles.”

Wanda rested her arms on the table, her bracelets clinking on the wood. “I don’t understand you, Tyler. If you’re having problems raising your child, then why not go to Gretchen for help? From what I’ve heard, she has plenty of resources and she’s keen to assist. Don’t let your pride get in the way of your daughter’s welfare.”

All the breath left Tyler’s body, leaving her aching. “That’s your solution to all your problems, isn’t it? Just dump them on someone else and walk away.” She pushed to her feet and stalked out without a backward glance.

In the living room, Aunt Daphne was pressing buttons on the DVD player while Chloe waited on the couch.

“Thanks for looking after Chloe, Aunt Daphne, but we’re leaving now.” She motioned to Chloe. “Come on, baby. Let’s go home.”

“Oh dear.” Her aunt touched her shoulder. “We’ll talk later.”

Tyler bit down on her lower lip. She had to get out of here before she lost it in front of Chloe. Ignoring the girl’s protests, she hustled her out to the car.



When Luke arrived at Tyler’s door it was almost eight and past Chloe’s bedtime. Despite the crisp evening air, the back of his neck was damp, and his stomach felt like it was filled with fire ants. There was no response to his first knock. He was just raising his hand again when the door swung open.

“Oh, it’s you.” Dressed in mauve leggings and a loose white T-shirt, Tyler folded her arms and subjected him to an up-and-down stare as cool as the night. “Back so soon? Or are you just shooting through?”

She had every right to be annoyed with him, but he sensed she’d already been riled before his reappearance. Peering at her more closely, he saw her makeup was a little smudged, as if she’d been rubbing her eyes, and she looked pale and insubstantial despite her bright clothing.

“I’m sorry for leaving so abruptly. Mind if I come in for a while?”

“If you like.” Shrugging, she led the way in and dropped onto the couch, folding her long legs under her. “So where have you been these past few days?”

He pushed aside a heap of cushions on the couch and sat next to her. “I was in Sydney visiting a friend.” The trip hadn’t been the diversion he’d hoped for. He’d spent the entire time alternately fuming over his dad and wondering what Tyler was up to. He’d missed her, more than he’d anticipated.

He picked up the gift bag he’d brought with him and held it toward Tyler. “Here, I got a couple of things for you and Chloe.”

She peeked into the bag warily. The first thing she pulled out was a My Little Pony gift set comprising a garish pink pony with flowing blond locks and a hairbrush. A reluctant smile tugged at Tyler’s lips. “Chloe will adore this.”

Her brief smile untied a few knots in his gut. “Totally un-PC, I know, but what the hell.”

“And what’s this?” She drew out the remaining item from the bag. “You bought me a book?”