Amanda's Wolves(93)

Finally, he eased out. “Baby…”

She was too sated to respond and only managed a small smile as her eyes fluttered closed. She loved these men. Both of them. Nothing would ever change that fact.

She was one lucky woman.





Chapter Twenty-Eight


“Rachel, how are you this morning?” Mary said, forcing a smile while knowing she was about to lose another client. All she could do was grin, however. This would be the last family to pull out of her school from the Church on the Hill. Hopefully, with no one left to boycott her, she was in the clear.

She still had no idea why they were doing this, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask, either. She’d chosen to take the high road. Besides, it didn’t matter. Whatever the Church on the Hill had a beef with this time, Mary was not backing down. If they were pissed about her relationship with Jazmine, they could just be pissed. It was high time Mary outed herself anyway.

She still needed to discuss it with Jaz, but she wasn’t opposed to coming out if it meant she could stop hiding and ducking every time the two of them were together.

If the church had somehow found out about Amanda’s relationship with two men, they could go fuck themselves over that topic too. It had been rehashed too many times. Mary wasn’t about to bow to that congregation over mixing races or threesomes.

And the last possibility was Amanda’s job prospect. That was a stretch. Why go after Mary if the congregation was interested in stopping Amanda? She hadn’t started the job yet. And there was no way in hell Mary would ever tell her not to take that job. It was an important study that proved more necessary by the day.

With a deep breath and a smile, Mary faced Rachel.

“Mary, I’m afraid I’m going to have to remove Kayla from your school. We have decided to move her to the facility closer to our home.”

“Oh.” Mary pretended to act surprised. “I’m sorry to hear that, Rachel. I know Kayla is very happy here.”

“Yes. It’s a shame, but the drive is proving too much.” Rachel didn’t meet Mary’s gaze as she wrung her hands in front of her. Her speech was obviously prepared. And the driving distance excuse was Mary’s favorite one to-date. After all, the town wasn’t large enough for there to be traffic, and the school closer to Rachel’s house, if that were possible, would save her perhaps one minute.

“I understand.” Mary pasted a smile on her face. She was used to this charade. “Let me just print out the paperwork.”

While Mary busied herself with the computer, Rachel fidgeted in front of her.

Finally, the woman spoke again casually. “I heard your sister moved to town.”

“Yes. She did.” Mary kept her composure and continued clicking her mouse around the screen, hoping Rachel would say more before she finished.

“Did I hear correctly she applied for a job at the college? You must be so proud.”

And there it was. Holy shit.

“She did. I’m sure you also heard she had a second interview yesterday.” Mary smiled broadly, trying to meet Rachel’s darting gaze. However this woman was getting her information was immaterial. All that mattered was that in response to Rachel’s idle threat, Mary tossed one out of her own.

“She’s more than qualified to do the research needed to help ensure this county enters the twenty-first century. After all, this area is way behind the times. It makes me sick that there are still people out there who think we should keep the races separate in the United States these days. Don’t you agree?” Mary forced an enormous smile on her face as she stared directly at Rachel.

Rachel’s cheeks turned a dark red, her eyes went wide, and her mouth opened. For several seconds, she simply stared back at Mary. “Oh. Well, I don’t know much about the topic.”

“You don’t know much about the horrors of bigotry and racism in America?”

“I mean, I don’t pay much attention, I suppose…” Rachel ducked her face and pretended to search through her purse for something imaginary.

Mary listened to the printer finishing until the room remained perfectly silent. She grabbed the paper and set it in front of Rachel, handing her a pen. “If you’ll just sign here.”

Rachel’s hand shook violently as she scribbled her signature. When she set the pen down, she looked as though she might pass out. The woman hadn’t expected to be treated to such an outburst, and she had no idea what Mary was made of.

As Rachel turned to leave, holding the strap of her purse at her shoulder with a tight grip that made her knuckles turn white, Mary tossed her final blow. “Oh, and Rachel…”