Page 111 of Drive
In full view of othermen.
“When are you going to the beach?” Clearing his calendar and booking a beach vacation suddenly seemed absolutelycritical.
Rainey’s eyes swept the ceiling as though the answer hung from it. “Well, we were supposed to go to Laguna Beach in June — we started planning it when Mom and Kendall moved — but with Holi’s health…” She looked back at him, a frown tugging now at her brows. “I don’t know what we’re going todo.”
Jacques didn’t need to be told that she wasn’t just referring to the beach vacation. He tightened his arm aroundher.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she said, again, her voice sounding hollower this time. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, clearly needingcomfort.
“It’ll be okay,” he said. And he meant it. He didn’t know what would happen to Holi, but he’d be by Rainey’s side whenever itdid.
His phone rang then, the silent buzzing competing with the white noise of the television, but Jacques made no move to answerit.
“You should get that,” Rainey said, straighteningup.
Jacques shook his head. “It canwait.”
But Rainey frowned. “What if it’s Gloria trying to reachus?”
He picked up the phone and saw the name on the display. “It’s Kate,” he said. “I’ll call her backtomorrow.”
He tapped the side button to dismiss the call and set the phone down. Glancing back at Rainey showed him her freshdisappointment.
“Why won’t she help us?” she said, her voice aplea.
Jacques gathered her in both of his arms and pulled her against his chest. “I don’t know. But give her time. It’s just been a few hours, remember?” He thought of the way Ray had snatched up his business card. Intention had been written all over his face. “And don’t underestimate your little brother. I don’t think we’ve heard the last ofhim.”
Rainey tipped up her face and gave him a sad smile. “He’s really a neat kid,” she said, conviction clear in her voice. “I’m sorry I blew it with Gloria, but I’m not sorry I met him. I got five minutes with him, and that was enough to show me how special heis.”
Then she giggled in his arms. “He wants a Labradorretriever.”
Her happiness at the memory made him smile. “Oh,really?”
“Yeah, he had this book in his backpack all about labs.” Her smile grew. “He showed it tome.”
“He likes to read. What a surprise.” Jacques tried to bite down on his smile, but Rainey’s arched brow at his sarcasm made it impossible. Then he sobered. “He’s going to want a relationship with you. He’s going to bug the shit out of his mom until she reaches out to you. Just give ittime.”
Relief and something like hope filled her eyes, and Rainey nodded. “Thank you for saying that. It makes me feelbetter.”
Jacques released her and tipped his chin at the bundle of yarn she still clutched in her hand. “You should finish those,” he said. “June’s just a few weeksaway.”
She looked down at the band of yarn and back at him. “Yeah, but I doubt we’ll be able to make thetrip.”
Jacques shrugged. “Then you and I will go. I’ve never been to Laguna Beach,” he said. “Besides, if you think I’m letting you wear those without me, you’recrazy.”
“Letting me?”She elbowed him lightly in the ribs, but she suppressed alaugh.
“Yeah, you can’t wear those if I’m not around to chase off all the other guys who are eyeing those see-through shorts.” He was joking. Sort of. If she went to the beach without him, he wouldn’t mention the shorts again, but Jacques knew he’d be thinking about them the whole time she wasgone.
Her jaw dropped. “They’re for the beach. They’re supposed to be see-through.”
“That’s exactly why I want to be there,” he said, tickling her in the ribs inreturn.
She squealed and batted his hand away before he could do it a secondtime.
“Wouldn’t want to missthat.”
She narrowed her eyes at him in mock exasperation. “You’reimpossible.”
