tone.
“Sure, Mom, but you’re hardly grandma material.”
“Don’t I know it,” Destiny said in a sarcastic tone. “How soon can you book the flight?”
Was it her imagination or did her mother seem in an awfully big hurry to get out of Vegas?
“I’ll make the reservation right away,” Star said. “It would be great if you could be here when Brandi gets home tomorrow.”
“All right then,” her mother said. “I can’t wait to kiss that baby.”
“Okay. I’ll call you back with the details.”
The line went dead. Was Destiny sincere? Or did she have another reason for wanting to come to Alaska? Maybe Destiny would act like a mother for a change. With Destiny here, Star could conclude her business at Patsy’s place, leave Brandi to their mother’s care, and get the heck out of Alaska, putting some much needed distance between Cade and her. If she had her way, she’d never see him again. Things happened for a reason. She could leave here clean. No messy relationship with Cade to worry about.
She was better off alone. She liked her life just the way it was. She wouldn’t change a thing.
Chapter Eight
Destiny Cooper White Johnson O’Hara Lamont Jones blew into town like a gale force wind—the kind that toppled trees and knocked out the power.
Star was waiting in baggage claim when she spotted her mom. Destiny’s bleached blonde hair, too tight top stretched over her surgically enhanced breasts, courtesy of husband number four, Harry Lamont, and her painted on jeans made her hard to miss. As Destiny made her way through the crowd to the luggage carousel, male heads turned, some even snapped around so fast Star was sure the men got whiplash. And Destiny noticed. She thrived on the attention, turning her megawatt smile on any man stupid enough to think he might have a chance with her.
Star wanted to yell, “Run while you have the chance,” to the men, but instead she called, “Hi, Mom.”
“Starlene, there you are,” Destiny said when she spotted Star. Star met her halfway, taking her mother’s hot pink carry–on bag from her before giving her a one–armed hug.
“You look tired,” her mother said with a frown. “You should give yourself a lift. Put some highlights in your hair. Smile more.”
Star rolled her eyes. “I look tired because I am tired. I’ve been working and making the drive here to visit Brandi every day.”
“You’ve always been a saint,” her mother said with a tight smile. “So responsible. A real little mother when you were a girl. I never understood it. You certainly didn’t get that from me.”
“No kidding.”
“Hey, Star.”
Star turned at the sound of Cade’s voice. Great. She had no desire to talk to him now, with her mother an avid onlooker. “O’Brien.” She frowned. She hadn’t seen him since their fight, and she didn’t want to see him now.
“Star, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Destiny asked, a predatory glow in her eyes.
“Oh, sorry. Mom, you remember Cade O’Brien.”
“Cade O’Brien?” her mother said, the words gushing with pleasure. “Dan’s son? Well, didn’t you grow up to be a handsome man, just like your daddy.” Her mother smiled, extending her hand, complete with hot pink acrylic nails, to Cade.
Star’s stomach tightened. She didn’t want her mother touching Cade, not even in greeting. And then it hit her. She was jealous, jealous of her own mother.
“Destiny.” Cade took her mother’s hand. “Nice to see you again.”
Destiny practically purred. Star wanted to puke. Cade pulled his hand free.
“What’re you doing here?” Star asked Cade.
“Picking up clients.” He focused his attention on Star now. “Their flight arrives in about five minutes. We could have carpooled. I don’t have to ask why you’re here.”
“Mom came to see Will,” Star offered, although she wasn’t sure why she was telling him anything.
“It’s true, I did,” Destiny said. “I couldn’t stay away.”
“Of course not,” Cade replied his tone congenial. He looked to Star. “We’re having a fish fry tomorrow night. Why don’t you and your mother come for dinner?”
Before Star could say, fat chance, her mother said, “We’d love to. Wouldn’t we, Star?”
“I don’t know,” Star hedged, rummaging for a plausible excuse. She couldn’t watch her mother paw Cade all evening. She’d rather chew broken glass. “Brandi—”
Her mother cut her off. “Will be fine without us for the evening. Unlike you, she does have a husband, remember?” Destiny gave Cade her killer smile. “What time should we be there, Cade?”
Star’s stomach rolled. Her mother was hitting on Cade. Good grief.
Cade grinned. “Six o’clock.”
“We’ll be