Page 71 of Rude Boss 2

“You have to be sure, honey,” Mom says. And here I was thinking me and Ella were talking quietly enough for her not to hear. She continues, “A man like Essex, Stewart or whatever he wants to call himself is powerful. He’s not the same boy that you spent your high school years with. This man has grown up, amassed great wealth and apparently all of that wasn’t enough because he didn’t have you.”

“Aw,” Ella says, throwing a hand over her heart.

“I know, Ma. He’s a lot, but I’m up for the challenge. You know how I felt about Stewart.”

“I did.”

“I never thought I’d see him again, and I’m marrying him.”

“Do you love him, Quin?” Ella asks.

“Yes, I love him. I’ve always loved him.”

“Buthe’snothim,” Ella says. “Seems to me Essex and Stewart are two completely different people.”

“That’s what I’m noticing, too,” Mom says. “Keep in mind that he’s not the same person you fell for back then, Quin. People change and according to you, he’s changed completely—even changed his looks. And from what I’ve seen and know about Essex so far, he’s very particular. He wants things his way.”

“Yep,” Ella says. “Like when he came to my apartment demanding I tell him where you were that one time.”

And now I feel like they’re both attacking my husband. I say, “Yes, he’s changed, but I have no choice but to accept him the way that he is because, in my thirty-four years of living, I’ve never run across a man who makes my heart flutter like Stewart.”

“You mean Essex,” Mom says. “He was also very clear in wanting to be calledEssex.”

“Well, that is his name now, so yes, that’s what I meant.”

“Hmph,” Mom says.

“What was that, Mother?”

“Nothing, dear.”

“Ma, tell me.”

“Okay. I was just thinking…you need to bereadyfor a man like him. Men…you know…especially ones in his position of power have healthy um…appetites, shall I say?”

“Ma!”

Ella says, “Oh my goodness, Mrs. Sylvie.”

Mom purses her lips, then asks, “Am I lying?”

“No,” Ella answers, “But then again, that’s all men, I think…”

“Noo, it’s not,” Mom says. “It’s men like Essex. As long as you know what you’re signing up for, I guess everything is good.”

“What am I signing up for?”

“I already told you—a wealthy, powerful, domineering man.”

“Yes, a wealthy, powerful, domineering man who loves me, and I have no doubt about that.”

“I don’t either,” Mom says. She takes a dress from the rack and says, “Look at this one. This is beautiful.”

“It is, but it’s too long. I want a gown that stops mid-calf, and it has to be free-flowing and whimsical to match the beach aesthetic.”

“Sounds like she’s just looking for an ordinary dress, Mrs. Slyvie,” Ella says. “We could’ve gone to the mall and found a dress.”

“Hush, Ella. They have dresses like that in here somewhere.”

---