“Damn.” He slapped the steering wheel and headed for the main highway. No point in delaying the trip to his parents’ place.
Chapter 11
“And where have you been?” Barbara sat on one of the barstools, her heeled foot swinging back and forth. Scarlet-tipped nails tapped on the marble countertop.
“Out.” Gillian hung up her coat and padded into the kitchen. She dug in the cupboard, pulled out a single coffee mug, and reached for the pot. With her back against the counter, mug cupped in her hands, she stared at her mother. “Was there some reason you’re back?”
“Really, Gillian, do you have nothing to wear? I swear.”
“What do you want?”
“I got a call today.” Barbara sniffed, toying with her wedding ring. “Mike is allowed phone privileges again. He called, and we had a wonderful chat. He asked after you. I gave him your phone number.”
“What? How could you do such a thing?” Gillian glared at her mother, her blood boiling at the underhanded way Barbara took control. “I have nothing to say to the bastard. If he calls me, I’ll call my lawyer and let them deal with it. That’s what restraining orders are for.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Gillian Rebecca. You’d do well to get over this stupid pettiness. The man still loves you, why I’ll never know, but…”
Gillian crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her mother, an icy calm settling over her. How typical, Barbara couldn’t tell the truth to her own child. “No, he didn’t, Mother, he loved fucking you. I was just the burden he tolerated to get into your bed. Now, if there was nothing more to this little visit, perhaps you could find something else to do with your time. Maybe spend time with your husband? Or have you gotten bored with him already?”
“Lenny is a fine man, one who knows how to treat a lady. He’s at work today.”
Gillian snorted, “Yeah, well you’re not a lady.”
“What has gotten into you of late? By God, I should slap that smirk off your face. Mind your manners, young lady. I didn’t raise you to be so—”
“You didn’t raise me, you left that chore up to Emma, an overworked, underpaid, under-appreciated nanny you took great delight in dumping me on. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be dead by now, and not by Mike’s hand!” Gillian slammed her coffee down. “Frankly I don’t know or care why you’re here, but you need to leave. I meant what I said this morning, I’m not about to follow your orders.”
“Have you gone off your meds? That would explain this sudden hostility.” Barbara rose, her hips swaying as she hurried into the bathroom.
Gillian rolled her eyes at the sound of destruction in her medicine cabinet. It would do no good to explain. Barbara had it in her mind things were to be one way. Ignoring the growing noise from the bathroom, Gillian padded to the window and stared out.
What had Jack meant about a tumble? Sure, the sex had been good, or at least she thought so, but was there more to it? Was there something she’d missed that would increase his pleasure and his desire to bed her? She’d have to do some research, look into it.
There had to be a way to seduce the man into wanting to have sex with her.
He said make love, Gilli. There is a difference.
Though I wouldn’t know. I thought it was all sex.
What Mike did was rape, what that guy from the bar did was sex, with Jack it’s making love. He wants you to feel pleasure, to come with him. So how do you plan on making sure he comes back? You have to think of something. The man isn’t out for a random fuck, and if he were, do you think he’d track you down in the middle of broad daylight to ask you out?
There has to be a reason for it. No man wants me. I’m a sexless, shapeless…
Once you get past those hang ups you’ve got you’ll find you’re anything but sexless. You’re the one who came—twice—in his bed. Remember what it felt like? How he touched you, the heat of his mouth on your—
“Gillian! I’m talking to you.”
Her mother’s voice hit like a bucket of ice water. With a shudder of revulsion, she glanced over her shoulder. “What is it, Mother?”
“Where are your prescriptions?”
“I don’t have any.” Gillian smiled. Her heart racing, she faced Barbara. “I don’t need them.”
“Obviously you do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be such a disobedient, disrespectful little bitch.”
“I learned from the best.” Gillian ignored the voice of caution and walked up to her mother. For the first time in years she felt as though the reward far outweighed the penalty. “And I’m not going to take them. If that’s everything, I’m sorry but I have to get to work. Unlike you, I have bills to pay.”
“How dare you? I’ll just have to call your doctor, get you back on the meds.”
“Don’t waste your time. I refuse to go see Doctor Jacobs. You want meds, you take them. I won’t.”
“We’ll just see about that. Until then, try to behave yourself.” Barbara whirled to grab her coat, purse, and keys. Striding to the door, she paused, hand on the knob. “Oh, and you should avoid getting in vehicles with strange men. It’s the action of one who is less than a lady, and I won’t have your slutty behavior tarnishing my reputation.”
Gillian gaped at her as she slammed out of the apartment. Her mother’s words rang in her head long after the BMW had vanished
