Page 23 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

Her mother wrinkled her nose.“That was one mistake.He has done nothing like that again.”

“Because since I found out what he’d done, I’ve never told him anything.”

“Well, there is that, too, I suppose.That would make it difficult to tell them anything.But you have told me and he still hasn’t said anything.”

Meri blew out a breath.“Oh, I’m sure he has, but I didn’t tell you until it didn’t matter anymore whether he knew.But I’m trusting you, Mom.Don’t make me regret doing so.”

Carole turned in her seat to face Meri.“Don’t worry, honey.I’ll keep my word.Are you coming in?”

“No, actually, I need to work if I’m going to be ready to start the drawing in Chase’s office.”

“Well, no matter what, enjoy this time with him.I understand he’s not the settling-down kind.I heard his fiancée was murdered.That kind of thing lingers.”

“That’s true.He told me so.But he’s trying to move forward.That’s why I’m doing the mural.His fiancée was the one who originally decorated the office, but now he’s ready to redo it.I hope that means he’s letting her go.Not that I’d let myself fall in love with him, anyway.I’ll never put myself in a position to have what happened with Jared happen again.Never.”

Carole reached over and took Meri’s hand.“Ladybug, don’t close yourself off to the possibility of love.Don’t let Jared affect you anymore.You’ve wallowed in this self-pity for long enough.Over two years have passed and Jared has been the one to pay.He had to move out of the state just to get away from the fallout of what he did.You, on the other hand, have flourished.Everyone loves you and knows that none of what he did was your fault.Everyone but you, that is.”

“I’m aware it wasn’t my fault.”She looked away from her mother, knowing she was lying.She questioned her own culpability.Had she done something or not done something that would have prevented him from getting involved with Angela in the first place?Should she have not introduced him to her friends?She couldn’t live like that.When she loved someone and they purported to love her in return, she wanted to share him with all the people important to her, especially her family and friends.Still, she wondered why she hadn’t seen something happening between them.How did they do so well hiding it?

“You’ve got that look on your face again.Like you’re a million miles away in some other galaxy.”

“Sorry, Mom.I guess I was.Let me help you in with your bags, then I need to get home.”

“Hot date?”

“As a matter of fact, I do and I have prep to do.Chase and I are taking his niece, who is four, to the ice show tonight.Her parents have an office party to go to and since it’s celebrating his brother’s promotion, they really have to go.”

Her mother laughed.“I suppose it would be in poor taste not to show up at your own party.”

Meri laughed, too.“Just a little.”

“Give me a kiss.You don’t have to help me in.Besides, you don’t have to get grilled by your father that way.”

She leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek.“Thanks, Mom.You’re the best.”

“I know.Now get going.You need to shower and fix your face before you go out, whether or not it’s with his niece.”

Smiling, she teased.“Are you telling me I stink?”

“Of course, not.I would never tell you, you stink.I’d say you needed a shower.”

Meri sniffed under her arms, surprised to find she had an odor.“Must have been the sun.It is hot out.”

“That’s true and I’m sure you didn’t have enough time to have one this morning since I gave you about ten minutes to be ready to go with me.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, ladybug.”

Carole got out of the car.

Meri drove away, followed by the Yukon.All the time thinking about her night coming up with Chase and his niece.She hadn’t met the little girl yet, but at four-years-old how much trouble could she be?