“But you consort with those who do. How is that a good environment for the boys? Being around a bunch of women who talk to perfect strangers.”
Em popped up from the chair, the angry scrape of its legs screeching on the tile flooring. “And who do you do all your consortin’ with? Members of Mensa? I hate to remind you, Trixie LeMieux, but while I’m earnin’ a livin’, you’re moochin’ off your fancy girlfriend and entering beauty contests! This is ridiculous, you slingin’ arrows at me. You’ve taken enough from me, Clifton Amos. You won’t take my boys. My employment at Call Girls is honest work and it pays me well. If it weren’t for Dixie and Caine, your boys would have lost their home while you found yourself. I’m going to leave now, but if you aren’t right back here on Tuesday evenin’ at exactly six sharp with my sons, I’ll hunt you down with old man Coon’s shotgun myself. I’m not the old Emmaline With No Spine, Clifton. You’d do well to remember that!”
He was bluffing. There wasn’t a chance in the fiery depths of hell Clifton could take on the boys. He might have the power of his rich girlfriend’s money backing him, but Clifton was all hot air.
She prayed he was all hot air.
Seventeen
“Miss Emmaline?”
Em nearly jumped out of her office chair. Guilty. Oh, God. She was so guilty. Two deep breaths later and she smiled up at Sanjeev.
“Am I disturbing you?”
Yes. I was just getting to the good part where I find out what happened to Jax’s best friend Jake Landry. Good gravy. Was there no privacy when you were being a nosy biddy? She clicked the computer screen off and smiled at him. “Of course not, Sanjeev. How are you?”
Sanjeev bowed his head, his serene smile in place, his deeply bronzed skin glowing. “I am well. You?”
Em massaged the back of her neck. Sore. She was sore from sitting in the same spot for three hours hunting down information about Jax, and Jake, and the infamous Reece. She was mostly coming up with nothing more than aches and pains to show for it, but it wasn’t for lack of looking.
Jake and Jax had a software security development company they’d started right out of college along with Jax’s sister, Harper, who joined the company after Jake was killed in a car accident six years ago.
But there wasn’t much else to find. The company dissolved when Jax’s sister, Harper, was also killed in a mugging four years later. According to a couple of articles, their company had been very successful, but no mention of Reece.
Jax had suffered so much loss in such a small amount of time, her heart ached for him and little Maizy. Maybe his reaction to Reece’s picture played a part in that. Or maybe he was just angry she’d crossed the no-personal-information line? She hadn’t heard from him for two days, and it stung.
It more than stung. It hurt. It ached. She’d picked up her phone a hundred times to text him an apology, but thought better of it. She’d touched a nerve with the picture of Reece. Gone too far, or something.
She didn’t know how to approach this with him. “Hey, sorry I brought up a sore subject. Want to try that new vibrator I’ve been eyeing online?”
So what will it be like when it’s really over? Will it hurt less, Em?
“Emmaline?” Sanjeev peered over the top of her computer at her, his eyes full of concern. “Shall I make you a poultice for the cramps in your neck?”
Not a chance would she allow Sanjeev to heal her when she was doin’ the work of the devil by snooping on Jax. She shook her head then winced at the shooting pain on the left side of her neck. “No, Sanjeev. But thank you. What brings you here today? More of my undergarments lying about?”
His inky eyebrow rose, but his eyes laughed. “Not today. Though, I confess, I’m happy to see you’re moving forward and enjoying your...womanhood.”
Em’s head tipped back and she laughed. “I’m sorry I embarrassed you.”
“I’m not. I’m pleased to see you taking time for yourself. You are a selfless woman. Sometimes, in all that selflessness comes a draining of the spirit.”
“Do you really see me like that, Sanjeev? I’m not asking because I’m fishin’, mind you. I’m just not sure why everyone thinks that.” She was definitely being selfish right now.
“I do. Landon saw you that way, too. That’s why he left you in charge. You had to be selfless in order to handle his Dixie-Cup. She requires a great deal of selflessness—or she did.”
Em’s heart warmed. Whenever she felt alone, she thought of Landon, of his last days with her. Of the lessons he’d taught her about this thing called life. “Live,” he’d said. “Live hard.”
He knew what she’d been going through with Clifton. He’d offered his help. Help she’d refused. She hadn’t wanted anything more from Landon than his friendship, and she’d gotten that in spades.