Upside Down (Breaking the Rules #3) - A.M. Madden Page 0,77

didn’t know the extent of his feelings for me. I knew he cared, but exactly how much remained a mystery.

Today was the day he’d decided to ambush his mother. We flew first-class to Indianapolis and planned on staying a few days—“unless I end up in jail once I meet the fucker,” according to Ricky.

Having finally arrived, he maneuvered the black convertible he’d rented onto the paver-stone driveway. On each side, a meticulously trimmed lawn with mature trees bursting in summer glory made for a picturesque landscape. But the white house sitting majestically in the clearing was nothing like I had imagined Ricky growing up in.

It looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting, complete with royal-blue shutters, flower boxes under each window, and a wraparound porch. In the distance, a tire swing hung from a massive oak tree on the edge of a small pond, where a few ducks paddled leisurely.

After Ricky cut the engine, he twisted his body toward mine. “Why the surprised look?”

“I guess it’s not what I expected. It’s so charming.”

“And I’m not?” he challenged gruffly. Knowing Ricky had grown up there, I tried to envision a small blond-haired boy running around the property without a care in the world. But it was hard to connect that image to the worldly man with impeccable taste who sat beside me.

“Charming is not a word I would use to describe you. More so conspicuous.”

“Thanks,” he muttered with an eye roll. Knowing the reason this surprise visit put him on edge, I also knew his mood had little to do with my assessment.

Case in point, he made no motion to move or get out of the car. “Are we sitting here all day? Eventually, she’ll see you.”

“Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.” He nosed toward the pickup truck on the driveway. “That fucker is here. There’s only one reason a man is at a woman’s house smack in the middle of a Monday.” His face twisted with disgust. “Ugh. Maybe we should go to a hotel.”

As he stared at the house, I placed a hand on his thigh. “Don’t be a pussy. So your mom has a boyfriend. Big deal.”

“It’s not the fact she has a boyfriend. It’s that she kept it from me.”

“Like mother, like son,” I countered.

“It’s not the same thing. She’s used to my philandering ways—” He stopped, dragging out the s a bit too long. “My old philandering ways.”

“Of course.” It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Regardless, you both have news, and the quicker we get in there the quicker we can enjoy our visit.”

“Fine.” He huffed and puffed, getting out of the car with great ceremony, and stomped his way to the trunk that he had popped open. By the time I joined him, both our suitcases had been placed on the slate below us with a purposeful thump. “Let’s go meet Mom and her boy toy,” he said a bit too animatedly.

“Lead the way.” I followed him up the path, up the stairs, and across the porch. Flicking his gaze my way, he repeatedly jammed a finger on the doorbell, causing the chimes to sound consecutively, mimicking a church bell tolling.

“Hold your damn—” The door flung open, some dude’s eyes bulged, and the word horses slipped out of his mouth before we heard an audible nervous swallow.

From his layered salt-and-pepper hairstyle to a matching goatee that framed his mouth, the resemblance to a younger Kenny Rogers was uncanny. There wasn’t a doubt he knew who Ricky was. And to add insult to injury, the man was as naked as the day he was born, except for the towel his large hand gripped tightly at his waist. A towel that was way too small for his paunchy frame.

The way the man looked up at Ricky as though he were deranged made for a scene out of a bad sitcom. “Well, hey… um… you caught me off guard there, son.”

A vein bulged in Ricky’s neck as he dropped the handle of his suitcase to clench his fist.

Oh fuck.

“Yeah, I’d fucking say that’s an understatement, Pops,” Ricky spit out, and I swear I saw a drop of spit land on the tip of the dude’s nose.

At that moment, a petite woman appeared beside Kenny Rogers, saying, “Who is it, honnn—”

Her hand flew over her gaping mouth as Ricky raised a brow and said, “Hello, Mother.”

She was also in a towel, and I looked away, seeing a bit too much skin for an introductory