Page 88 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

She turned and whacked my arm. “You’re incorrigible. I’m sorry, Mrs. Shaw. About the divorce,” she added in case my mother didn’t grasp what she was referring to. “No matter what leads up to it, they’re so hard. Especially the longer the marriage. When there are children involved, it just makes it all so much more difficult.”

“Luckily, mine are fully grown and can decide for themselves how they feel about their father. And me, for that matter.” She pushed her hat farther back on her head and took a bolstering breath. “I’m seeing someone too.”

“Oh.” I rubbed my chest. “That’s a new one.”

“Not that new. I started seeing Vince before Christmas.”

“Oh. Okay, then. New for me. For us. Does Preston know?”

“Absolutely not. But you can tell him if you want. Or not. You know how your brother is.”

“I do. I mean, I did. But I don’t think he’s so set in his ways anymore, ever since Ryan. His girlfriend is a witch. If that doesn’t expand your consciousness, I don’t know what would. And now that April’s had her baby, and that crew is all in love with the kid…” I trailed off and scratched the back of my neck. I was also kind of in love with the new baby. “Just saying I wouldn’t be surprised if Pres and Ryan had an announcement of their own soon.”

“Yeah, you gotta tell me the rest of that birth story,” Shelby said in an undertone.

“I will after we get Berry.” I squeezed her hand before I released her to get into the car. Then I stepped back to give my mom a long hug. “I’m happy for you. If you’re happy.” I eased back and peered closely at her face. “Are you happy, Mom?”

“Getting there.” She let out a shaky breath. “I’m not getting remarried anytime soon, I’ll tell you that. But I think your father might because he can’t do his own laundry.” Her face remained sober for another half minute before she laughed hard enough that her eyes brightened with tears. “I wish I was joking.”

I couldn’t laugh right now. “He should get hired help then and not a wife or girlfriend. What the fuck.” I shook my head and drew her in for another hug. “We’ll bring Berry and Bob over soon. But if you need to talk, call me. And if you need a voodoo curse, contact Ryan. I’m sure she knows all about them, and she doesn’t like Dad one bit.”

She laughed and patted my back before giving me a light shove backward. “Go on, you two. I’ll be just fine. I’m so glad to meet you, Shelby.” She leaned over the passenger door to speak softly to Shelby as she shot me a look. “You’re the first woman he’s brought home to meet his mama. Just saying.”

Shelby’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“As if you didn’t know that,” I interjected. “Reformed playboy, remember? Nice term from the seventies, by the way. But they don’t bring dates home to their parents. In fact, they hardly ever have relationships that last long enough to make it to girlfriend status.”

Shelby wrinkled her nose. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“His reputation is far worse than the reality,” my mother said lightly.

She was so right. At least I didn’t have to try to convince her.

“You two will have to come to dinner soon. Well, three. Of course Berry is invited here too. I’m keeping the house,” she added. “I’ve done far too much to this garden to put it on the market.”

“Who’s going to represent him in the divorce?” Before she could answer, I rounded the car and got in behind the wheel. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. As long as it’s not me or Pres, officially not our problem.” I turned on the engine and winked at her. “Sock it to him, Mom.”

Once we’d pulled out of the long driveway, Shelby turned off the radio and gripped my thigh. “I’m sorry. That has to be so hard for you.”

“I’ve known about his affairs for years,” I reminded her.

“Even so, he’s still your father. Even if he makes unsavory choices.”

I laughed although the sound scraped its way out of my chest, leaving an unexpected ache behind. “Yeah. He served as a good example of what not to do. He’s part of why I stopped…playing the field.”

“Too much variety?”

“Too much feeling as though I was cut from the old Shaw cloth. Preston didn’t date for years before Ryan. She changed his life, man. And, well, maybe I want some of that too.” I slid her a sidelong look. “That wasn’t going to happen for me if I never stopped to get to know someone for real. If I took the easy way out every damn time.”

Instead of laughing off what I said, she fumbled her sunglasses out of her purse and shoved them on in deference to the full afternoon sun. There was no shade out here, that was for sure. Unless she wanted to hide away from what I’d said.

I couldn’t entirely blame her.

“Why me?” she asked softly. “Not saying that I’m not awesome, because I actually am, the last couple of weeks aside. I had a shitty marriage, but you know, I keep going. I do everything to make sure my daughter has a good life. That we have a good life. I’m a responsible daughter and a great designer and I work hard. Just…the fun part I’m struggling with.”

I reached over to take her hand. That she gave it freely made my stomach tighten in the best possible way. “I can help you with that. You’ve got everything else on lock. You’re an amazing designer. My brother checked all your references like one hundred times before he and Bishop hired you. He was impressed—and he’s hard as hell to impress.” I laughed dryly as I plugged the name of Berry’s school into my GPS. Newfield Elementary was twenty miles from where we were, so with afternoon traffic and schools letting out all over the area, we were in for a bit of a drive. “I’ve certainly never managed to do it.”

“I don’t know why I trust you.”

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