Page 76 of Filthy Rich

“I swear, I will kill you myself,” I hiss.

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Fine!” She saunters across the room and finally ducks into my bedroom.

I release Jake and collapse onto the couch in my family room. “My mom’s here.”

“So—you want me to go, right?” He’s glancing back at the door to my bedroom, which is still wide open. I suppose if you’re comfortable strolling around in your undies, why would you bother closing the door just to put more clothing on?

Mom comes out a moment later, clearly as curious as Jake. She’s pulled an oversized t-shirt over her head, but that’s it. I really wish I couldn’t see the backside she’s always bragging still looks like a teenager’s.

It doesn’t.

But it looks much better than someone who’s almost fifty-four has any right to look. “I’m Miss Phillips.” She bats her eyes.

Bats her eyes. Like she’s auditioning for Gone with the Wind.

“Mom, this is Jake Priest.” I can’t help it if my tone’s a little flat. “Now, can you please do me the favor of explaining why you’re here, in my apartment, without my permission or even any notice?”

“I needed a place.” She shrugs. “Mr. Phillips was bothering me.”

Her husband Roy’s a real jerk.

Other than Dad, they all have been. “That’s when you get a hotel.”

Her eye twitches. “I would, but the thing is, I’m between jobs.”

She’s always between jobs. Roy’s probably canceled her credit cards again. I don’t even blame him. She spends money on the most ridiculous things.

“Can we talk in your room for a moment?” Mom literally shoves her face into her patented pout and glances Jake’s way, like she’s going to flirt him into listening to her.

“Jake was just leaving,” I say. “Goodnight, Jake.”

He opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but then he snaps it shut and nods. “Yep, I sure was. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I wish he hadn’t added that. Mom will never let it go.

The second Jake shuts the door, Mom practically shouts, “You’re actually dating him? How? He’s about one million times too hot for you.”

“I get it,” I say. “Believe me. But he likes me, and I like him, so can we focus on where you’ll be moving, and who’s helping you get this crap all cleaned up?” That last bit’s a joke. We both know it’ll be me, but at least she could have the decency to act guilty or grateful or both.

“Are you in town for a while, then?”

“Just a day and a half,” I say. “But you need to go back to Roy and apologize, because?—”

“I won’t.” She folds her arms under her chest. “You don’t get it, because you’ve never really even dated anyone, except. . .” She waves her hand. “Whatever this thing with Jake is.”

“Mom.”

“But if I go back there, and if I apologize, he wins, and he cannot win. I’m way too pretty for him, so he should be doing everything he possibly can to keep me happy. That’s how it works.” She grabs my wrist. “Which is why you can’t possibly date Jake.” She closes her eyes and shakes her head slowly. When she opens them again, she says, “Tavie, believe me when I say, you need to find a very rich, very ugly man. He’ll be grateful, and he’ll treat you so much better.”

“Mom.” I’m pulling my hand away when my door whips open.

“Mrs. Phillips, with all due respect, you’re going to have to leave.” Jake’s eyes are flashing.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I know you’re Octavia’s mother, and I want to be polite, but I’ve been dying to figure out who treated her so badly. I couldn’t fathom who would damage such a beautiful soul, but it was clearly you.”

Mom blinks, dropping her hands at her side. “Have you been listening at the door?”