Slow Burn (Dynasties Seven Sins #7) - Janice Maynard Page 0,16
two women together would have just shy of a quarter of a million dollars. There would be money for her mom to have almost anything she wanted, within reason. Nikki would be able to quit her job and spend these last precious months before kindergarten with Emma.
They would have financial freedom.
Why did the prospect seem so threatening? Perhaps because Nikki knew what it felt like to lose everything. She was superstitious about this extraordinary windfall. It was great that Black Crescent had recovered enough to restore much of what was lost. But Nikki’s father had participated in the con, the scam.
She felt guilty.
It was late when Nikki got home, so her mom was sleeping over. That was often their pattern. Even though Roberta spent a lot of time with Emma, it was healthier for the two grown women to maintain separate residences. That hadn’t always been possible in the beginning. Back when their lives had fallen apart, and Nikki had barely been an adult, they had needed to save every penny.
Eventually, things had changed.
And now, they were about to change again.
Nikki wanted desperately to go to bed, but she knew she would toss and turn if she didn’t tell her mother what was about to happen. “Mom,” she said. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “So serious, sweetheart. What’s up?”
“I had lunch with Joshua and Jake Lowell today.”
Her mother paled. “Oh?”
“I found out about the emails. Your emails. And I apologized to Joshua.”
Roberta Reardon went on the attack. “Well, I won’t apologize for wanting to protect my daughter and granddaughter. Joshua Lowell is a scoundrel. He should be supporting his baby girl.”
“Mom...” Nikki rubbed her temple, where a sledgehammer pounded. “Joshua is not Emma’s father.”
“Of course he is. Don’t try to cover for him. You told me the truth.”
“I lied.”
Roberta Reardon stared at her daughter. “I don’t understand.”
“You kept badgering me when I lost my job. Trying to get me to ask Emma’s father for child support. I didn’t want you to know the truth, so I finally told you what you wanted to hear. I never dreamed you would try to blackmail him.”
Her mother was visibly offended. “It wasn’t blackmail. I never asked for money. I just wanted him to know he had a child.”
“But he didn’t.”
“So, who is the father?”
Nikki felt her face heat. She was a grown woman, but this wasn’t an easy topic to talk about with her mother. “Jake,” she said quietly. “Jake Lowell. Not Joshua.”
Roberta put her hands to her cheeks. “Well, that makes a lot more sense. You always did love that boy. He left Falling Brook, though. He’s never been back. Right?”
“That’s true. But about five years ago I ran into him when I was working at the casino in Atlantic City.”
Her mother looked shocked. “A one-night stand? Oh, Nikki.”
“I couldn’t resist him, Mom. I made a mistake. But trust me, Jake hasn’t changed. He’s still the proverbial rolling stone. I can’t risk being with a man like that.”
She was strong. She could let Jake come over, let him spend time with Emma, but Nikki wouldn’t risk her heart. She wouldn’t give in to sexual attraction. Not this time. The stakes were too high.
Her mother’s gaze judged her. “Emma deserves a father. Even one who’s not around much. He’s her blood kin. What did he say when you told him?”
“Not much. I only confirmed what Jake had already heard from his brother. But Jake is only here for the trial. Then he’ll be gone again.”
“Life is never easy, is it?” Her mother’s eyes were filled with resignation.
“It felt easy when I was a kid. You and Daddy gave me a perfect childhood.”
“Nothing is perfect, Nikki. I thought I had a perfect marriage, but look how that turned out. It’s hard to know what’s inside a person’s heart.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. You deserved better.”
“And so do you, my dearest girl. So do you.”
Jake was answering emails in his hotel room when his phone dinged. It had been twenty-four hours since he had seen Nikki. Now she was texting him.
If you don’t have plans, you’re welcome to come over for dinner. Maybe even read Emma a bedtime story. As a friend.
Jake shook his head wryly. He did have plans, but he would cancel them. Nikki had made an overture. He wouldn’t miss this chance.
When he showed up at her house at five o’clock, he saw neighborhood kids playing outside. The weather had shifted, and the late-afternoon temps were in