Page 82 of Embody

“Dad, I-”

“Oh good, the whole family came down! And look, you caught her!” Doug the salesman poorly times his chipper interruption. “So, Mr. Kendrick, have we decided on the Tahoe for you and Acadia for the little lady?” he asks Jefferson while rubbing his hands together, itching for a sale.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Both “Mr. Kendricks” answer at the same time, amidst their heated stare-down.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure. I’m Doug Lumsden.” He extends his hand to Dane, who shakes it, eyes still boring into his son’s.

“Dane Kendrick, nice to meet you.” Not that you could in any way buy he actually thinks so from his tone. “You caught her? What’s that mean, Mr. Lumsden?”

The portly man is all too eager to start blathering the play-by-play of Jefferson chasing me around the parking lot between his snorting, short of air, hee-hawing. And Dane, uh, Mr. Kendrick…if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I see the corner of his mouth twitch.

“Laney, sounds as if your son has been wreaking havoc on the innocent townspeople. What should be done about that?”

“Well I don’t know, dear. I seem to have misplaced my pillory and or whipping post, so I’m fresh out of ideas.”

God, I love her. That dry wit of hers is always at the ready, and hilarious…but I know now is not the time to laugh.

“Mr. Lumsden, could we please have a few minutes alone?” Laney asks politely as he’s already backing away, with a pale, traumatized expression.

“All right, now that we’re alone, JT, honey-”

“Stop.” Mr. Kendrick interrupts his wife. “Laney, take the boy wherever you want, to say whatever you want. Bellamy, you’re coming with me, young lady.”

What?

“What?” Jefferson’s bark is ruthlessly possessive. And welcomed…I’m so petrified at the thought of being alone with an angry Mr. Kendrick my legs are shaking. “Dad, enough! You’re not Bellamy’s parent and no way are you gonna reprimand her for something that was my idea. No disrespect, sir, but,” he steps forward, lifting his chin and puffing out his chest, “she’s not leaving my sight.”

Damn. I feel lightheaded, swaying a bit. Partly because I’m sincerely worried for Jefferson’s safety, but mainly, a solid ninety-eight percent, because it’s the sexiest, most romantic, gallant and swoon worthy thing I’ve ever witnessed firsthand. And it was for me.

A lightness, visible ease, moves over Mr. Kendrick’s otherwise blank slate of ice expression…and a smug smile emerges. With it comes a palpable levity, taking my deep, relieved breath for me.

“Very impressive, Son, but you can put a muzzle on that machoism. Who said anything about reprimanding her? I know exactly whose doing all this is. If Bellamy got past security and the pass code to our safety deposit box, I have far bigger problems than your impulsiveness,” he laughs humorlessly. “Bellamy and I are going to test drive this, Acadia, was it? Since her father doesn’t seem to be here, I’m sure he’d appreciate my making sure the vehicle is sound.”

Oh my God, my parents! I haven’t even told them aboutJefferson; how the hell am I going to explain a new apartment and car? I mean, just the apartment…I’mnotgetting a new car. Surely my parents have enough faith in me that they’ll believe me when I vow I haven’t become a prostitute, right?

“You look as if you just realized your parents don’t know about your recent, big life changes,” Mr. Kendrick touches my elbow and gives me a “look” unnervingly similar to that of the one my own father would pin me with if given the chance. “You gather yourself, I’ll drive. Shall we?”

I nod and robotically follow his lead, glancing over my shoulder at Jefferson.

“Dad!” he yells.

“Laney, your son needs something. I’m busy,” he calls back. When we’re well away from them, Mr. Kendrick speaks to me. “Which one is it?”

“Sir?”

“The car you’re considering, which one is it?”

“Mr. Kendrick, I-”

“Don’t worry, we’re going to talk,whilewe drive. Now I’ll ask again, which car, Bellamy?”

I point with a trembling finger. “That one.”

“It’spurple,” he groans. Poor Mr. Kendrick appears to be color-blind. Should I tell him it’s actually a very deep burgundy and the sun’s glare is misleading?

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