Luckily, Geraldine had slept another hour after our pantry session and when she finally came downstairs, we had already eaten chicken salad sandwiches and Stone had left. But at that moment, I hadn’t cared if the Pope walked in and caught us. As long as Stone kept making my world spin.
My panties were damp. They had been all day reminding me of what we’d done. I had been able too focused on that and not Jasper. But now that I was home and Stone was here, I had to tell him. I didn’t want him to think I had been hiding anything from him. I had been, but simply because I was worried about how it would affect his relationship with Jasper. Also, I didn’t want to talk to Jasper.
Climbing out of my car, I walked toward the door passing the spot where Portia had stood this morning. She had been warning me that I didn’t know the truth but I couldn’t expect the truth from her. She was the last person I would believe. I needed to tell Stone about that too.
Inside the building it was quiet on the bottom floor. I’d seen two cars I didn’t recognize outside. Someone had company and it didn’t sound like Mack and Marty. Although both their vehicles were in the parking lot.
On the second floor, things were equally quiet. I was about to go up the stairs to Stone’s floor when the door to Fiona’s apartment opened. She stepped out into the hallway and her eyes on me immediately. She looked like gorgeous like the last time I saw. Runway model ready.
“I don’t like most people,” she began. “People annoy me in general. But you, I like. You’re the least annoying person I’ve ever met. And you got rid of Presley. “
“Uh, thank you,” I replied feeling awkward. This was a strange but very nice conversation. I was glad I didn’t annoy her although we hardly knew each other, so I wasn’t sure I could even if I tried.
“See that. Very southern and kind. Not chatty and shit. Anyway. Because I like you I wanted to warn you. His mother is up there with the bride she’s chosen for him. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both crazy bitches more than once. You’re welcome to come in here and stay with us if you want. He’ll get rid of them soon enough.”
Stone’s mother was here with the fiancé he didn’t acknowledge? I glanced up the stairs. I’d heard of Margot. Jasper had teased him with her, and Presley had mentioned her in anger.
“He didn’t call or text me to tell me not to come. I don’t know if I should hide out or if he wants me to come up there,” I said my thoughts out loud.
“Who gives a fuck what he wants? Those two are vipers. They’ll eat you alive.”
I had the feeling Fiona didn’t do relationships. She seemed more of a take care of herself and not worry about the world kind of girl. Taking her advice probably wasn’t the best idea.
“He may be counting on my showing up to save him.”
Fiona rolled her eyes. “God, I swear you have lived a sheltered life. I’m telling you that you can’t save him. He’ll need to save you.”
Feminine laughter drifted down the stairs. It didn’t sound like things were going badly inside. “I may come back if that’s okay. I think I should go upstairs and say hello since he didn’t send me a message saying otherwise.”
Fiona shrugged. “I’ll leave the door unlocked. Knock and come on in. I’ll be on the balcony and may not hear you.”
“Thank you,” I told her.
“Good luck,” she replied.
I smiled and she closed the door. With a deep breath that did little to calm me, I headed up the stairs and didn’t stop again until I was at the apartment door. I listened. I heard a female laugh again. There was another voice too but not as loud. This was his mother. He had spoken about her, but didn’t much care for her. She was still his mother and I needed to make a good impression. Glancing down at my clothes I winced. Not exactly how I would like to look meeting her the first time.
Before I opened the door, I checked my phone one more time to see if he’d messaged me. Nothing. He was expecting me. I opened the door slowly and went inside.
The voices were in the main room straight ahead. There was a tall woman standing there with dark hair that was perfectly styled and a dress that was both summery yet elegant. The heels she had on her feet however looked extremely painful. I had paused before closing the door behind me to decide who she was. Her head turned and the resemblance to Stone was unmistakable. Although she looked far too young to have a child his age.
“Who is that?” she asked as she looked at me. There was no frown but I realized that the displeasure in her eyes meant she would be frowning if she could. Her face was tight. Not much movement. She’d had work done. Maybe she was old enough to have a son Stone’s age.
Stone appeared and he moved with quick long strides until he reached me. His scowl and the tension rolling off his body was enough for me to know he hadn’t expected them and he didn’t want them here.
“Who?” another female voice asked. The woman who I could only assume was Margot stepped into view. I didn’t get a good look at her before Stone blocked my line of vision.
“Did you not get my message?” he asked.
I shook my head.
He put his hand on my shoulder. “I texted you two hours ago to stay at Geraldine’s until I called you”
I shook my head again. “I have nothing.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t want to be here. I’m trying to get them to leave.”
“I can go stay with Fiona,” I told him wishing I had.
He studied me a moment as if he was trying to make up his mind. “It’s not that I don’t want you here. It’s that they are vicious. I prefer to keep you far away from them.”
“Is that Margot?” I whispered.
He frowned. “Yes. How do you know about her?”
“Jasper, Presley. Your supposed fiancé has been mentioned a few times.” I was trying to make a joke but the scowl on his face made it obvious he wasn’t amused.
“Winston, who is this girl that walked right into your apartment without knocking. Please tell me it’s the help and not another child of your father’s ex-wives.” His mother sounded amused with her last remark. Margot giggled.
“Fuck them,” he muttered then turned around to face them with his hand splayed possessively on my back. “Mother, Margot, this is Beulah Edwards. She’s my girlfriend and she lives here.”
If he’d slapped his mother and kicked her in the gut her expression could not have been more horrified. She even paled. Several shades actually.
Margot let out a sharp laugh. I looked at her then. She was petite, beautiful, stunning even, and polished. Dark blonde hair that was silky and straight with blue eyes that reminded me of a swimming pool. The pink full lips seemed almost unnatural. “You can’t be serious,” his mother said.
His hand gripped my waist this time and pressed my body tightly up against his own. “You’ll check your words, mother. Or you’ll leave my home.”
“This isn’t your home. Manhattan is your home,” Margot drawled as if this was all very amusing.
“And you’re not my mother. Nor are you family. I have no reason to issue you even a shred of hospitality. You can leave now.”
Margot’s amused look turned to one of shock. Her eyes widened and she did a very good imitation of someone who had been offended.