Accidentally Yours. Susan Mallery

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      “We can get him,” Frankie told Owen. “He wants those towers and there’s going to be a lot of protesting. We can use that. We can get him.”

      It was what she wanted more than anything. To destroy Nathan King. To punish him in every way possible. To leave him weak and alone and afraid.

      “You can’t keeping doing this, Frankie.”

      “I can. I will. I’ll find a way.”

      “It’s time to put the past behind you.”

      She’d trusted Owen enough to tell him the truth about what had happened—she’d never thought he would use it against her.

      She stood. “It will never be time. I’ll never forgive him. I’ll get him, then people will listen and we’ll have enough money.”

      Owen rose to his feet. “Frankie, he’s your brother. He’s the one who gives you the money. You can’t use it to destroy him.”

      “Sure I can. That’s what makes it a perfect plan.”

      She walked back to her desk and returned to her typing. But her mind wasn’t on the article anymore. It was on how she was going to destroy Nathan once and for all.

      “BUT I DON’T WANNA,” Cody whined. “It’ll be boring.”

      “Probably,” Kerri said as she smiled at her son. “Long and boring.”

      “So we could stay home.”

      “You’re right. Why should we worry about all the kids in the world who don’t have food or a home or toys? I mean, they should just have to put up with that. It’s way more important than you being bored.”

      Cody sighed heavily. “You’re trying to make me feel bad.”

      “I know. Is it working?”

      “Kinda.”

      “Look at it this way. I’ll bet the food will be really good. And it’s a charity for kids, so there might be some fun stuff for you to do. Either way, we’re helping and that matters.”

      “Okay.”

      The consent was grudgingly given. Kerri could have just told him they were going and he didn’t have a choice, but she preferred to have him a willing partner. Besides, he had to learn about the importance of giving to others. Although technically they were attending the charity because Nathan King had e-mailed her that her presence, along with her son’s, was expected. But she preferred to put a happier spin on things.

      “Can we have some of the charity?” Cody asked.

      “Not this week.”

      “But what if there’s really cool stuff there?”

      “Then you’ll know what to put on your birthday list.”

      Although if it was too expensive, she wasn’t going to be able to afford it. Something to worry about later, she told herself. Fortunately, Cody’s wants had been fairly manageable to date. Although he’d asked for a video game system at Christmas last year, it hadn’t been one of the really pricey ones and she’d been able to swing it…barely.

      “Tell you what,” she said. “Events like this usually have a raffle. If it’s for something really cool, I’ll give you five dollars for tickets.”

      “Sweet.” He grinned. “Think we’ll get lucky?”

      “If it’s a car, I really hope so.”

      “Me, too. But don’t buy any tickets if it’s weird, okay, Mom? Remember that year’s supply of soup you won a couple of years ago? They were really bad.”

      “I know.”

      It had seemed like a great prize until they’d sampled the first can. The soups had been inedible.

      “You wouldn’t even give some of them away,” he grumbled. “We had to eat them all.”

      “I didn’t want to make anyone else suffer.”

      “But it was okay to make me suffer?”

      “Of course,” she told him with a grin. “You’re my child. I can do all kinds of horrible things to you. Like make you eat vegetables.”

      He laughed. “And clean my room.”

      “And do homework. Or like now, when I tell you to go pick out something nice to wear.”

      He grumbled under his breath as he turned on his crutches and moved out of the kitchen. She watched him go, seeing so much of her late husband in her son. Every day Cody reminded her more and more of Brian. She treasured the similarities, even as they continued to break her heart.

      Someone knocked on the front door. She walked through the living room and let in her friend Linda.

      “I come bearing basic black,” Linda said. “Along with a couple of blazers and accessories.”

      “Thank you. You’re saving me here. I don’t have a charity-worthy wardrobe. It’s just an afternoon thing, but I know all those rich people are going to be really well dressed and I need to fit in.”

      “You’ll do great,” Linda told her. “Now let’s get you dressed.”

      Kerri led the way into her small bedroom. She’d already curled her hair and put on makeup. After Linda closed the bedroom door, Kerri slipped out of her robe, then studied the selection her friend had brought.

      “I like the black skirt,” she said, picking it up and holding it in front of her. “Basic, but a good simple style. I bought some black pumps at the thrift store last week. They’ve barely been used and they’re Stuart Weitzman. Who gives those away? I figure somebody must have died or something and the family had no idea what they were donating.”

      “Lucky you.” Linda held up a cobalt-blue blouse. “What about this? I have a black tweed blazer. You’ll look coordinated without being too matchy. With some earrings and maybe a bracelet, you’ll be good to go.”

      “It’s perfect.”

      Kerri quickly tried everything on. The blouse and blazer were a touch long but otherwise fit great. The shoes were two kinds of heaven. Stylish but comfortable. She shrugged out of the blazer, then went into the bathroom where she began removing the curlers.

      “Tell me you’ve received the money,” Kerri called. “I’m not stepping one foot into that limo if it hasn’t been transferred yet.”

      She looked in the mirror as she spoke, making sure she got all the curlers. Linda was still in the bedroom.

      “It’s been transferred,” the other woman said.

      “Good. So you’re going to be hiring more researchers?”

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