chair back under the counter. “We’ll stop by your bank before I head out of town.”
“Y-you don’t understand. I don’t have it.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to have the cash lying around. You can write me a check, or we can go to the bank and have the money transferred into my account.”
She shook her head and worried her lower lip. “I don’t have it. Here or at the bank.”
“Get it.”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “How? By turning over rocks? Chasing down leprechauns? Playing the lottery?”
“I don’t care how. Sell something. Sell the plane. Sell this house. Sell your fancy sports car.” Her deep blush told him his suspicions had been correct. Miss Playmate of the Month drove around in a fifty thousand dollar automobile while her house and hangar were falling down around her. Unbelievable.
Her bottom lip stilled. “And how would I run the business if I sold this property? The plane?”
“What business? From the looks of things, there doesn’t seem to be any business.”
Her eyes flashed all shades of mad at him. “I am not selling. Ever.”
“Fine. Then find another way.”
“There is no way I can—”
“I’m not interested in your financial problems.” He could feel the Mexican sand slipping through his grasp.
“Go to a bank. Or go to your parents. Steven told me how rich they were. Frankly, I don’t give a rip what you do. Just do it.”
She moved toward him, braced the palms of her hands on the counter. “What are you, a Nike commercial?”
This was all a joke to her. “Find the money, or I will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You might have an aversion to selling, but I don’t.” He turned and left the same way he came in. Come hell or high water, he was going to get his money. He’d finally found what he wanted, and no one was going to stop him. No one. Not even a honey-haired goddess with a centerfold’s body and hot pink nails.
FOUR
The minute the bell rang, Cody was out the door. He heard his teacher calling his name, but he ignored her. He knew what she wanted—what she always wanted lately. To rag on him about something: a bad grade, a missing assignment, a test he needed to retake. But there was no way he was going to stop and listen to that today.
Hitting the main hall, he stuffed his book and papers into his backpack, not bothering to stop at his locker. All he could think about was getting home and getting ready for the game. He was almost to the front doors when he heard his best friend.
“Hey, Code Man! Wait up.” Parker jogged up beside him, bumped him in the shoulder.
“Heya, Parker.”
“Ready for the big game?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Like duh.” Parker grinned.
They headed outside. A group of kids were piled around the front steps. Several called out to them as they hurried past. Cody and Parker tossed hi’s back without stopping.
“I heard Coach is putting Brady on third base,” Parker said as they made their way across the grass.
“Sweet. If he sticks Mason there again, we’re screwed.”
“No kidding.” Parker spotted his mom parked out front. “Wanna ride?”
“Nah, not today.”
“Okay, dude.” Parker opened the car door and threw his backpack on the floor. His younger brother and sister were in the backseat arguing about something. Parker glanced back at Cody and rolled his eyes. “See ya at the game.”
“Yeah, see ya.”
“Hello, Cody,” Parker’s mom said, leaning across to peer out the passenger side.
“Hi, Mrs. Nelson.”
“Do you need a ride to the game this afternoon?”
Cody hiked his backpack farther up onto his shoulder. He shook his head. “My mom’s taking me.”
Surprise flashed across Mrs. Nelson’s face. “That’s great. I’m glad she’ll get to see at least one game this season.”
He smiled. “Yeah, me, too.”
“Aren’t you pitching tonight?”
“Yep.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how your mother finds the time. I can barely take care of these three, let alone hold down a job. And just last week Parker’s dad and I heard your mother’s name on the news. Again.” She shook her head. “The news.” Now Mrs. N. was the one with the smile. “Something about the delivery of a set of quintuplets. Your mother has such an important job. And your father. I’m just amazed—”
“Come on, Ma,” Parker interrupted, exchanging a look with Cody. Mrs. N. would go on forever if they let her. “We gotta go.”
“Oh, all right.” She turned in her seat, said something to Parker’s brother and sister, which instantly shut them up. “If you