CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

JOSH

I’m a man of action, so waiting for her to call is pure torture. I know she’s back in town because Ryder overheard Zoey talking to her. Why won’t she call?

The girls are getting together for lunch today. I want to crash it, but I’m trying to be a good guy and wait for her to get a hold of me.

I don’t know how many times I’ve checked my phone in the last few days. A hundred maybe? If she doesn’t contact me today, I’m making a move. Enough is enough.

A disturbance in the next room gets my attention. I rise from my chair to see what’s going on, and the door opens. Kim’s mom, Gloria, waltzes in. I absolutely despise her. She’s messed with Kim and me for the last time.

I assume the reason she’s here is because the plan I put into motion is working. She is pissed. Ice queen isn’t so cool now, is she?

Gloria looks like she’s been through the ringer. I bet she has. I keep from laughing. Dear old mom has ever been treated so poorly.

I give my assistant a nod that it’s okay. Ryder will have been alerted about a woman making a scene, so he’ll come marching through the door any second, which is good, because I’ll need a witness.

She moves toward me. “You bastard,” she spits out. “It was you.”

Ryder blows into my office, but Gloria doesn’t notice. All her focus is directed at me.

“Whatever do you mean?” I notice that’s what people say when they’re really trying to get under somebody’s skin.

She points a boney finger at me. “I got kicked out of my hotel and can’t get a room anywhere in this town. You motherfucker.”

Guess it worked.

She leans over my desk and glares.

Ryder rests against the wall next to the door, enjoying himself.

“It’s time for you to leave Chicago,” I calmly tell her. “You’re not wanted here.”

“No, you can’t do that. It’s because of Kim, isn’t it? You’re trying to be a loyal boyfriend.” She scoffs at that. “She isn’t worth it.”

I can visualize my fingers wrapping around her neck and squeezing slowly. Shouldn’t do that.

“You’re not welcome in this town any longer,” I say. “No restaurant, hotel, or club will serve you anymore. Kim is off limits as well. You’ve done enough damage. I won’t let you hurt her again.”

“How dare you!” she yowls. “You can’t do this.” Then she smirks, like I don’t have the clout to do that. She doesn’t understand what the Dalton name can do. Well, she’s about to find out.

Gloria sits in a chair in front of my desk. She’s not leaving.

“It’ll break Kim’s heart when I tell her you made a pass at me.”

I swallow hard. Would Kim believe her?

“You don’t want me to do that, do you?” she continues. “Maybe if you pay me, I’ll leave town quietly.” She raises her eyebrows and tilts her head. “You’d have to make it worth my while, though.”

This has been her plan the whole time. I look over at my brother. Gloria didn’t know he was here. She eyes him.

I cough to gain her attention. “I won’t be paying you for anything. You can either leave town, or I can contact the police. Your choice.”

“What?”

I point at a clock on the wall. “Video.”

She bolts from her chair and stomps from the office.

“Video, huh?” Ryder says.

“Nice touch, don’t you think?” It really is just a clock.

“Yeah. So, are we done here?” Ryder asks. “I have a meeting to attend.”

“All done.”

He can be such a grump, but I know if I need him, he’ll be there.

My cell phone rings. It’s the call I’ve been waiting for.

“Hey, Kim. I’m glad you called.”