“One moment, sir.”
Fuck. I can’t believe that bitch and her timing.
“Mr. Coulter, she asked me to say she insists on talking to you.”
Fucking figures.
“Keep her there. I’ll come down.”
I hang up.
“I’ll be back.”
“Who is that?” Violet asks.
“Just Jag’s sister; I’ll be back.” I head to her and take her face into my hands. “Stay put. Eat. I’ll only be a minute.” I drop a kiss on her lips.
Violet shivers, so I grab the blanket from the back of the couch opposite to her and drape it over her, drop another kiss on her mouth, and then grab my phone and keys and head for the door.
As I leave, I look over my shoulder and she’s watching me. She’s watching me with sadness rolling off her that makes my gut churn.
***
Jessa stands in the lobby with a metallic green box with a silver bow on it. She holds it out, fluttering her eyelashes.
She’s dressed like a Christmas elf. A slutty one in a tight red dress. A green fur-like shawl, elf hat, and sparkles on her face.
“Merry Ho Ho, Pooky,” she says. “Why didn’t you send me up?”
Is this chick whacked or what? I already knew the answer to that but it’s even more obvious now.
“C’mon, Ho. You know better than this. Showin’ up without an invite?”
She snickers. “Ha ha; very funny. Called the clubs first, hoping to run into you in one of those, but everyone said you weren’t in. So, I took a chance and…” Her expression drops. “Is that…” She shakes her head and blinks a couple times, “is that ring on your finger a joke?”
“It’s real.” I flex my hand and the light catches, making the wedding ring glimmer.
Jessa’s head jerks back like she can’t believe it even though she can plainly see it.
“When did you get married? To who?”
“Outrage? Really?”
She glares at me.
“You met the woman who became Mrs. Coulter at the Numbers opening,” I say.
She slouches and then leans back for the wall like she’s about to lose her balance. Drama queen.
“Now, fuck off, would you?” I add, smiling wide.
“Does Jagger know?” Jessa asks.
“I told him.”
“He didn’t tell me.”
“That doesn’t make it any less of a fact.”
Jagger was one of a few calls I made to announce I’d gotten hitched. After he gave his congrats, he hissed and grumbled that his twin sister would have a cow when she found out. I didn’t concern myself with that. Jessa’s mood swings haven’t ever been something I considered to be my problem – not when I was sleeping with her, so certainly not now.
“What’s with the box?” I ask. “No boiled bunnies in there are there?”
“Just a box.” She lifts the lid, showing that it’s empty. “I grabbed it from the mall Santa. One of his props.” She shrugs. “I thought we could spend the evening together. Maybe Christmas, too. Hoped you’d take me to Vail or something. I have no plans.”
“Don’t you and Jag usually do the family thing?” Not that I care.
“Jagger’s bitch uninvited me to Christmas dinner so I figured maybe we could spend it together.”
I chuckle. “What did you do? Wait, no. I don’t care. I’m in the middle of something upstairs, so I’m gonna go. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Jess.”
I press the elevator button.
“Married?” she whines and stomps a foot.
I get into the elevator.
“Congratulations. I guess,” she mutters, and then sticks her hand in at the last minute so the door doesn’t close.
I exhale some frustration as it opens wide.
She leans in.
“If you ever get bored of that, don’t hesitate to call me.” She spins, strutting the other way, obviously hoping to tease with her walk. But my eyes aren’t on Jessa’s ass as she struts away while the doors are about to close. I spot Susanna Gagne at the desk, eyes on us with obvious interest in what’s happening, so I stick my hand in the door and it opens again.
24
Violet
When the door opens, Killian isn’t alone. Susanna is behind him.
My lips part in surprise and before I can get a word out, she’s coming for me, rushing to flop on the couch beside me and throwing her arms around me.
“I’m here to save the day. Pour us some wine and skedaddle somewhere, Killer.” She drops her big purse on the floor.
“Killer?” I mumble, my face going hot.
“Killer smile. Killer abs. Just… a total lady killer. And he’s all yours, you lucky bitch.”
Killian quirks up his eyebrows and then his eyes graze me before he smiles at Susanna. “You’re kicking me out of my own home?”
“If you want me to straighten up the little missus here, you’ll leave me to do my work.” She gestures toward the door. “No, wait. Wine first.”
He goes to the wine wall and pulls down a bottle, then grabs a glass from the cupboard.
“You’re not even dressed,” she remarks, looking me over. “I’d guess you’re disheveled because of hot-stuff lover boy over there, but by the fact he told me my help was necessary, that’s probably not the case.”