Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series by Ainsley Claire (easy readers .txt) 📗

parents to bring him home. You can stay with me. Or go to my place in Santa Cruz. Do what you need to. Let’s just get you back to California. I’m here for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Where are the boys?” I ask, hoping my nephews are far away from Marco and whatever mess he’s made.

“They’re with a friend. They’re okay. I know they’ll be excited to see you.”

“You tell them I can’t wait to see them, and I’ll be at the airport in less than twenty-four hours ready for you guys. You can stay for a few weeks, months, or whatever you need.”

“Don’t tell Mom and Dad,” she weeps.

They’ve hated Marco since the second he and Alana got involved. But once they were together, my parents’ opinion shifted to her needing to stay with him regardless of how he treats her. They’re bitter enough that they’d tell her ten times over that she made her bed, now she needs to sleep in it.

I’m not that vindictive. “I won’t. They don’t even have to know you’re here.”

“Love you,” she says.

“Love you, too. Money’s in your account.”

We hang up, and despite the chaos, I’m excited. She’s been trying to figure out how to get home for a while, I think. I’m only sorry it took something so dramatic to make it happen. But I love that she’ll be here with her boys.

I can’t wait to tell Mia.

Where did that come from? It’s so out of character for me.

I pause for a moment, trying to clear my head. Despite the morning chaos, I finally decide that if this call from Alana is the worst thing that happens today, it’s going to be a good one.

I walk downstairs and find Jeremy sitting on the couch with the morning news on. When he sees me, he quickly turns it off.

“Bryan arrives this morning, and he’s going to take me to practice,” he says.

“Have you met him yet?”

Jeremy shakes his head and picks at the button in the couch.

“Well, I’m glad I’ll get to meet him with you. And I’ll be at the game. This is going to be great. Don’t let the stress of today’s home crowd distract you from doing your best. And don’t let Jonas intimidate you. Go beat the Rockies today.”

He smiles. “That’s the plan.”

There’s a knock at the door. It’s perfect timing.

Jim introduces Bryan Shepherd to both of us. He looks eighteen at most, but I know he’s done two tours in Iraq, and he’s been out a while, so he’s easily closer to thirty.

“It’s great to meet you,” Bryan tells Jeremy. “I’ll drive us over in an SUV, and we can make our plan. I have the team’s permission to hang out with you in the dressing room and walk back to the warmup pen. I’ll be listed on the team roster as a coach, but it’s nothing to worry about.”

“I hope you’re good at Fortnite,” Jeremy warns.

“I’m not a newb, if that’s what you’re asking,” Bryan replies.

I don’t hear the rest of the conversation because they’ve already walked out the door. It seems like Jeremy may have a new friend.

Jim turns to me. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure. Care for a cup of coffee?”

“Why not? Black, please.”

I nod and pour him a cup and one for myself.

“Nate Lancaster has agreed to have Jeremy move into his guest house. Bryan is going to move with him, and we’d like you to stay a few days with him at first, if possible.”

I nod. “No problem—wait, there may be a small problem.”

“Mia’s stuck where she is,” Jim offers. “With the press hounding her, we’ve asked her to stay put.”

Dammit. I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I nod rather than ask and seem like a dummy. “No, my sister and her four boys are coming in from Australia tomorrow morning. She may need me to stay with her. Something happened, and I’m flying them out with six hours’ notice.”

“Ouch. That must have cost a pretty penny.”

I shrug. “She’s my sister, and she’s in trouble.”

Jim nods. “I totally get it. I had to fly some folks out like that last year, and I know that trip is expensive. But family is family.”

“I’ll be at the game, and we can talk logistics today,” I suggest.

“You and Mia have to stay in the owners’ box. You can’t sit in the stands. She needs tighter protection for a few months.”

What? Maybe it would be worth looking like a dummy to know what’s going on here. I let out a breath, but before I can ask anything, Jim is out the door.

“I need to run, but I’ll see you later,” he calls over his shoulder.

I need a news report like nobody’s business. I’m still trying to sort out what to do when Kelly Spencer, my PA, walks in with a pastry box.

“Who was that?” she asks. “He looks angry.”

“That’s Jim Adelson of Clear Security. They’re moving Jeremy over to a guest house on Nate Lancaster’s compound.”

She nods and sets the pink box on the table with a flourish.

“What do you have there?”

“Monica has been experimenting, and these are rejects.” She opens the box, and inside I see a variety of baked goods, which all look delicious. Monica, Kelly’s wife, is a pastry chef and is continually trying new things. The tomato and kale muffins were a big miss, but others have been on their way to greatness. I have high hopes as I take a burnt orange slice of cake that I’m hoping is pumpkin and try a bite. It’s fantastic. It’s pumpkin and something else I can’t place… I look over at Kelly, who has poured herself a cup of coffee.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you face