His Southern Temptation - By Robin Covington Page 0,56
become a damn country song.
Chapter Twenty-One
She really needed a drink. A big drink.
Taylor kicked off her heels and stumbled into the empty kitchen of Elliott House in search of liquid courage. Flinging her purse on the countertop, she opened the pantry and stood on tiptoe to reach the top shelf where her father kept the really good stuff. Finding the bottle of whiskey, she fished a glass out of the cabinet and poured enough of it to obliterate the headache brewing at the base of her skull. Taking a big gulp, she shivered as it burned before settling as a warm glow in her stomach.
Measured footsteps rang out against the hardwood floors in the hallway and announced the progress of her mother as she inspected the house. Taylor watched the doorway, bracing herself for the second round of today’s adventures in Crazytown. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since she’d woken up in Lucky’s arms, happy and cautiously hopeful about the future. She contemplated giving him a call, but he was busy at the police station giving a statement and pressing charges against Bodean Taggert for burning up his truck.
Taylor took another drink as her mother entered the kitchen. Her mother was thinner, her high cheekbones and fine features accented by a light tan and highlights in her hair. She didn’t look great, the lines around her eyes and mouth more pronounced, but Marian Elliott was surviving the divorce.
“Is that your father’s best?” her mother asked as she slid onto the stool next to Taylor, crossing her legs at the ankles like the proper lady she was.
“Yes.”
“Pour me one too.”
“What?” Her mother never drank anything stronger than a glass of wine or a mimosa. “Mother, are you sure?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mary-Taylor, just pour the drink. It’s been a long six months.”
She retrieved another glass, poured a good amount of the amber liquid in it, and slid it across the granite countertop to the alien currently inhabiting her mother’s body. She watched as her mother drank down a healthy shot of the whiskey without even a grimace. Okay, it was definitely an alien.
“You’ve done a fine job of packing up the house, Mary-Taylor. I appreciate your coming all the way from Hawaii to take care of it.”
“No problem. I’m glad you’re here so you can double-check me on what you want to sell and what you want to keep.”
“I’ve decided not to sell the house.”
“What?” Taylor sat down hard on the barstool, the combination of the whiskey and an empty stomach reducing her brain to slush.
“I told your father that I’ll buy him out. I’m staying in Elliott and I’m keeping the house.”
“But, Mother, I need my share to set up my business. I was counting on that money.” A momentary pang tweaked her conscience, whispering that she was pretty selfish to think only about her own problems, but this was a huge game-changer. That money was the cornerstone for all her plans for the future here in Elliott. She counted to five, breathing out the panic mounting in her chest.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not letting your father’s midlife crisis run me out of my own home.” Her mother’s voice was firm and she took another drink as if to punctuate her answer. “I’d lend you some money, but I’m going to need it all to buy your father out.”
“I understand.” Taylor grasped her mother’s shoulder, fully expecting her to stiffen under the contact. Marian Elliott wasn’t a cold woman, but physical affection wasn’t her comfort zone. She was surprised when her mother reached up and covered Taylor’s hand with her own before speaking.
“Can you get a loan, use your savings?”
“I tried, but I don’t have enough on my own. I have investors in Hawaii who will cover most of my part of the deal, but they only invest on the island. Since I’m staying here—”
“You’re doing what?”
“I’m staying here and going into business with Sissy Landon.”
Taylor faltered, fully contemplating this new development. Without the investors, if she had a prayer of getting a bank to lend her money, she’d need more than what she had in her savings. And Sissy didn’t need another employee when she was taking the financial risk of expanding. She needed a full partner who would shoulder the business burden of taking on new lines of service. Taylor would have to make some calls and see what other options she had here in Elliott. Otherwise, this plan wouldn’t work.
“Does your new business venture have