Marie Harte - Closing the Deal

“What a wonderful party,” Isabel said on a breath.

Sydney wanted to offer her an inhaler, but like James, she wanted to be on her best behavior. Bad enough one Fields was acting like a simpering moron. “Yes. Barbara was really nice to invite us.” She emphasized the nice, but Isabel was too busy flirting with James to notice.

Giving up, at least for the moment, Sydney joined Barbara to do some damage control. “Hey Barbara,” she said with forced cheer. “Thanks so much for inviting us. My mom was a surprise. I hadn’t expected her until next week.”

Barbara grinned. And in that smile, Sydney saw Derrick. Genuine, caring and slightly mischievous. “Your mother is a very interesting woman.”

Sydney groaned.

“I mean that in the nicest way.” But the look Barbara shot her mother hanging on James was anything but nice. Interesting. Before Sydney could distract her, Barbara took a deep breath and turned, putting her back to the pair. “The places she’s been, the places she’s going. Did you know she’s modeling next month in St. Croix? And then apparently she’s on to Paris, and from there, Istanbul. Such an exotic lifestyle.”

“Yeah.” Too bad the old girl couldn’t have had a gig in Egypt—tomorrow.

“And to be my age yet still look so young.” As if Barbara herself weren’t stunning. The woman was gorgeous and had a grace that only true happiness and confidence could give a woman. “She must live right.”

“She lives with Botox,” Sydney said bluntly.

Barbara choked on laughter. “Yes, well, it seems to be working. In any case, I wanted to thank you for coming tonight. We haven’t had a chance to really talk, but I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear you’re seeing my son.”

Sydney glanced over her shoulder and saw Derrick frowning at her. When their gazes met, he hurriedly turned back to Dylan and yelled about some moron having the worst passing record in the entire NFL.

God, she really hated football. If it weren’t for those tight pants, she’d never watch the games.

“Ignore him. He’s showing off and keeping Dylan away at the same time. That’s how I know he plans on keeping you around.” Barbara squeezed her arm. “So Hailey tells me you’re a busy woman.”

The discussion turned to Sydney’s business. Then Barbara mentioned a few clients looking to move downtown. Before Sydney knew it, she learned she and Barbara actually had a lot more in common than affection for Derrick. Their fascination with several reality shows, gardening and a love of biographies took up the precious minutes leading to dinner.

Something in the kitchen beeped, and Barbara started. “Goodness. I didn’t mean to talk your ear off. I really need to get dinner ready.”

“I’ll help.” Sydney started to walk with her into the kitchen when Hailey interceded.

“Go mingle. I haven’t had a chance to hang with Barbara all night.”

When Sydney frowned, Hailey mouthed Isabel and followed Barbara into the kitchen.

Sydney looked for her mother but didn’t see her.

“If you’re looking for the sexy barracuda, she went thataway. To the powder room,” Dylan said.

She turned to him and smiled. “Thanks.”

“No, Sydney. Thank you.” He chuckled, but she had no idea why.

Knowing she needed to find her mother before the proverbial shit hit the fan—especially since Isabel had been guzzling wine like it was going out of style—she hurried down the hallway toward the bathroom.

She didn’t see anyone around, so she knocked.

“Out in a minute,” she heard James say.

“Sorry.” So where was her mother? In the bathroom with James, maybe? Then again, he hadn’t seemed like her usual type. He didn’t act like he had money coming out his ass, though he had the looks her mother liked.

Still… Where was Derrick?

She heard a low voice from further down the hallway.

“Really. You are the absolute best,” Derrick gushed.

“You naughty boy.” Her mother tittered from behind a half-closed door. “So many trophies, Derrick. Your mother has turned your bedroom into a shrine. Honestly, how did you do it all?”

He chuckled, and Sydney steamed. Normally her mother waited a while before hitting on her boyfriends. But something had Isabel in a pinch. And hell, Derrick was sexier than sin.

Hadn’t she warned him to watch out for her mother? So what the hell was he doing in a bedroom with her?

Sydney took a quiet step closer and peered through the seam in the doorway, keeping herself hidden. Dylan suddenly stood behind her, but before she could say anything, he put a finger to his lips. They both watched as Isabel thrust herself fully into the game.

Isabel put a hand on Derrick’s forearm and pulled him closer, as if to study one of his trophies. She acted off-balance, one of her signature moves. Then again, with all the wine she’d consumed, she might actually be unsteady. “I can’t believe how many awards you have. An All American? College championships? And your degrees…”

“Just like my old man,” Derrick said with pride. He put an arm around her mother and hugged her.

Hugged her!

Before Isabel could turn her face up and accidentally brush her mouth against his, Derrick squeezed her too tight. Isabel coughed. “Sorry,” he apologized then stepped away from her and peered at his trophy.

“Oh wait, this one’s Dylan’s.” He nodded and turned to her again. “You know, my brother had a hell of a right arm in the day.” He proceeded to list stats and names and games, his facts seemingly unending. So much for Isabel’s grand scheme for seduction. He talked to her as if she was a sports groupie or fellow player. Sydney half expected him to slap her on the ass and wish her a good game.

Derrick had handled Isabel just right. He hadn’t offered a challenge, which she would have gone after like a dog after a meaty bone. Instead he played oblivious. Each time her mother tried to move closer and touch him, he shoved a playbook in her hands or gesticulated wildly about a past game.

He started to wind down when Dylan whispered in her ear, “That’s my cue.”

Dylan entered and knocked his brother in the arm. “There you are. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Oh good. I think I was starting to bore Isabel with our old football stats.”

Dylan raised a brow. “Which game?”

Derrick started all over again. This time he and Dylan nodded and laughed as they reminisced, leaving her mother completely out of the loop. Ingenious.

Isabel’s practiced pout turned into an honest scowl. “Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going to wash up for dinner.”

Sydney hurried back down the carpeted hallway. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and joined James, Hailey and Barbara in the dining room.

Isabel soon entered and sat down next to Sydney, who sat next to Derrick. Throughout the meal, Isabel remained mostly quiet. Back to her polite, charming self, trying to lull the hapless males into believing her harmless.

Derrick caught Sydney’s attention when Isabel turned to reply to James. He winked, and she knew it would be all right. Her lover had no intention of falling prey to her mother. One worry put to rest at least.

But when Derrick turned the table-talk to Sydney, she didn’t like it in the slightest. He complimented her business sense and laughingly told them what a hard time she’d given him—one he’d earned. She tensed, expecting to hear it any time soon. All day long he’d been throwing it around, using the word in nearly every sentence. So much for a reprieve at the family dinner.

“It’s no wonder I love her. Red hair does lead to a fiery temperament.” He winked at Isabel, who nodded absently.