The Bad Boy Next Door: A Red Hot Bad Boy Romance Read online

  “I hope Genie is going to arrange that DNA test soon,” Amanda observed gravely. “Preferably before she swindles you out of all that money for some alleged private school.”

  Isaac sighed. “Why are you so determined to hate her?”

  “Because, Isaac, there are too many unanswered questions with her. I asked her why she didn’t tell you immediately upon finding out she was pregnant and she completely dodged the question. When you asked her, did she dodge it again, or did she answer?”

  “Well, she got a little upset and defensive about it and said she just didn’t,” Isaac responded.

  Amanda shrugged and raised an eyebrow. “See? She hasn’t given any of us a straight answer since getting back in touch.”

  “My friend is convinced of the same thing,” Ruby said, “So she has someone in St. Louis and in Nevada doing state-wide searches for birth certificates to show when Regina was born.”

  Amanda turned around in her seat and smiled at Ruby. “I wish I had thought of that! I could have done it before I came down here.”

  Isaac frowned. “What friend, Ruby?”

  “My friend Julia. I was a little upset about some things Genie said to me, just petty stuff really, and I needed someone to talk to. So, Julia said the whole thing could be cleared up with a search for a birth certificate. If she is your daughter, then she would have been born about seven to nine months after you two broke up, depending on how far along she was at the time.”

  Isaac’s expression didn’t change. “I can’t believe you two went behind my back and are digging around like this.”

  “Oh hush,” Amanda said. “You can too believe it. You know I’m going to look out for you as long as I’m alive. You haven’t always been the most responsible kid, Isaac, and I’d hate to see somebody swindle you out of your inheritance. And if I’m not mistaken, Ruby is quite smitten with you and feels the same way I do.”

  Ruby nodded here head quickly, and was pleased to see that Isaac’s frown softened somewhat. “Fine,” he conceded. “Do what you have to do, but no more ganging up on Genie unless you have something concrete. You two need to put aside personal feelings about her for the time being. If it does turn out that Regina is my daughter then I have every intention of being part of her life.”

  Ruby nodded again. “I completely agree. If that is the case then I’ll be happy for you, and I’ll welcome her in our lives with open arms. To be honest, with everything Genie is doing to convince you, I kind of hope she does turn out to be your daughter.”

  “Why is that?” Amanda asked, shocked.

  “Because, wouldn’t it be a horrible way to exploit your own child?”

  The three occupants of the rental sedan fell silent as they pulled up in front of Isaac’s house. “Aunt Amanda and I should go in first,” Isaac said to Ruby. “I don’t want any more tension between you and Genie than there already is. I’ll make sure you get to meet her before she leaves, if all goes well.”

  “Fair enough.” Inside, Ruby was upset, but had to admit that Isaac had a point. Besides, she felt that Amanda Johnson was her ally and could keep Genie from any underhanded attempts at driving a wedge between herself and Isaac.

  ***

  Isaac and Amanda walked into the living room and were met by Genie and an older woman wearing a green print dress. On the floor sat a little girl with coal black eyes and shiny auburn hair braided in two pigtails. Isaac sat down on the floor immediately and smiled at the little girl who was playing with a set of building blocks.

  “This is my castle,” the little girl announced confidently.

  “It’s a beautiful castle. My name is Isaac.” Isaac looked into Regina’s dark eyes and stared at her for a minute. Something was nagging at the back of his head, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

  Genie sat down with them and put a hand on her daughter’s back. “Reggie, this is Isaac, he’s your daddy.”

  Amanda watched the exchange, Ruby’s words echoing in her mind. She took a seat on the couch near the other woman and held out her hand. “Amanda Johnson; Isaac’s aunt.”

  The woman smiled warmly and gave Amanda’s hand a firm shake. “Sidney Smythe. I’m Regina’s nanny. Isn’t she precious?”

  Amanda could see that Sidney was genuinely fond of Regina and her mother as well. “How long have you been babysitting Regina?” she asked.

  “Since she was a newborn. How time flies,” Sidney responded, her voice wistful.

  “Indeed. I still remember changing Isaac’s diapers and bathing him in our large kitchen sink.”

  “Oh, did you raise him then?” Sidney asked her.

  “Helped yes. I was his nanny so to speak. I’ve always been a sort of mother figure to him though, and when his parents passed away a couple years back, I stepped in and tried to keep him on the straight and narrow.”

  Sidney smiled. “I’m looking forward to babysitting Regina until she’s old enough to look after herself. I enjoy her company.”

  Genie spoke up, “My mother isn’t very hands on with Reggie.”

  Amanda said nothing, just nodded knowingly.

  Isaac was laying on the floor on his left side, helping Regina built a turret on her castle. Reggie was shy, and didn’t talk, but smiled at him a lot showing her approval when he handed her the blocks she wanted. Isaac looked up at Genie and couldn’t help but smile at her. She returned the smile, but Isaac had already looked back at Reggie and didn’t notice that the smile never met Genie’s eyes. He was still trying to put his finger on what it was about Reggie that had tripped him up earlier. Isaac suddenly wished he hadn’t slept through all his science classes. There was something about genetics that he was forgetting; something of dire importance.

  ***

  “Hi, Julia,” Ruby said as she answered her phone.

  “Hi. I have news,” Julia said.

  “You sound excited. Is this going to be good new or bad news?” Ruby asked her best friend.

  “Depends on who you are in this little parade of characters,” Julia responded. “The investigator had no trouble finding a birth certificate for one Regina Randles, and he is overnighting a certified copy of it to me.”

  “Did he give you the information that was listed on it?”

  “He did indeed. I think we should wait until it’s in hand to confront Genie however,” Julia cautioned. “That way she can’t refute it and accuse you of making it up.”

  “What does it say?” Ruby was excited and anxious for the information.

  “Regina Athena Randles, born October 10, 2011 to Genie Carmelina Randles. Father is listed as Brent Hartley.”

  “2011?” Ruby confirmed. “I’ll have to ask her for Regina’s birthday and see what she says.

  “I’ll have the document in hand tomorrow. Plus, she was born in Carson City, Nevada. Not St. Louis.”

  “Thank you Julia. You’ve been a big help,” Ruby said. “I’m buying lunch next time we go out.”

  The two woman exchanged pleasantries and then hung up with one another. Ruby sent Isaac a text:

  ASK GENIE WHEN REGGIE’S BIRTHDAY IS.

  After about fifteen minutes, Ruby got a response.

  “OCTOBER 10, 2010, why?” was the reply.

  Ruby sent one more text asking Isaac if she could come over, or if his aunt Amanda could come next door. He sent one back telling her to come over to his house.

  JUST COME HERE. IT’S OKAY.

  She went next door to meet the little girl. Ruby was enchanted with Regina’s long hair. “It’s so beautiful. I love the red highlights.”

  “All natural,” Genie informed her. “I’m a little jealous. I have to pay good money to have my hair look this good, and she gets it for nothing.” Her blue eyes sparkled with pride though as she looked at her daughter.

  “What private school are you applying at?” Isaac asked casually.

  “Oh, um, Kirkland,” Genie responded.

  “Ah. When is her entrance exam?” Isaac’s gazed flickered from Genie to Si
dney and then back again. It wasn’t lost on him that Sidney’s brows had knit together with confusion at the mention of the private school.

  “Um, I have to call and set it up still,” Genie said. “Regina, do you want some juice?”

  “No, Mommy. I’m building a castle that goes all the way to the sky.”

  “Will you be setting up the DNA test soon?” Isaac asked. “I’ll be happy to pay for it if you don’t have the funds. It can be quite expensive I think.”

  Genie’s face registered shock and surprise, then a slight flicker of irritation. “Now you’re on me about it, too? You didn’t seem to care until Amanda showed up.”

  Isaac shrugged. “I think it’s best to get it out of the way soon and be done with it. That way we can put the rumors to bed and get on with our lives. As soon as the DNA test is done, I’ll write a check to Kirkland for her enrollment fee.”

  “You can just give me the check,” Genie protested, “and I’ll send it with her first quarter tuition.”

  “Where is that money coming from again?” Amanda asked, picking up the thread.

  “Don’t worry about it, Amanda,” Genie snapped.

  Isaac raised an eyebrow at her, a silent warning. Genie saw it and looked away.

  Ruby listened silently to the entire exchange, all the time handing Regina different blocks to build her castle’s towers. She made no comment and offered up no opinion on the discussion whatsoever. She preferred to listen up ‘til now.

  “Regina?” Ruby said, getting the girl’s attention.

  The girl looked at her and smiled. “What?”

  “How old are you?” Ruby asked her.

  “How dare you!” Genie said fiercely shooting to her feet.

  Reggie was oblivious to the tension between the adults and answered the question. “Four.”

  Isaac’s face fell, though he had suspected something was wrong before now. Some small part of him had hoped that Regina really was his daughter. He hadn’t realized until then that he wanted a child of his own.

  “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Genie said quickly.

  “She seemed pretty sure of herself,” Ruby observed. “If she is only four, then she can’t be Isaac’s, can she?”

  Genie’s eyes were narrowed at Ruby and her face was flush. “You keep your fucking nose out of this.” Genie’s breath was coming in ragged gasps and she felt her face growing hotter in the midst of all of the questions.

  Isaac realized what it was that had been bugging him. “Regina has dark brown eyes,” he stated.

  “Yeah, so fucking what?” Genie snapped at him.

  “Yours are blue. Mine are green. Our child wouldn’t have brown or black eyes.”

  Genie huffed and sputtered, clenching and unclenching her fists at her sides. “Dammit, Isaac. Why can’t you just believe me?” Tears squeezed out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

  Ruby could feel the woman’s desperation. She was a single parent with no support network. Five thousand dollars would be a huge weight off of her shoulders no doubt. However, Ruby wasn’t feeling particularly charitable so she asked one last question.

  “Genie, who is Brent Hartley?”

  That was all it took. Genie flew across the floor reaching for Ruby’s face, kicking her daughter’s castle over in the process. This caused a wail to be sent up from the tiny lungs. Sidney picked Reggie up and cuddled her close, cooing to her that it would be all right. Amanda got between Genie and Ruby before Genie could do any real damage.

  “Get out of here, now, before I call the police.”

  “You can’t prove anything!” Genie screamed.

  “By this time tomorrow, we’ll have a copy of Reggie’s birth certificate,” Ruby said.

  “Genie,” Sidney said softly. “What in the world is going on here? What have you done? Did your mother put you up to this charade?”

  Genie stood, shaking violently, sobbing as her plans fell apart around her like so much rubble. Now she would never get away from her mother. Brent sure as hell wasn’t going to pay a dime for his own kid. Genie said nothing, but simply picked up Regina’s toys and tucked everything back into her little suitcase. Then amid the silence that rang out in the house, she went upstairs and packed her things. When she came back down a few minutes later, neither Regina nor Sidney were in evidence.

  “They’re in Sidney’s car,” Isaac said softly. “I’m sorry Genie, but I have no idea what you were thinking or what your game was here. I don’t understand how you could do this to me.”

  “You have everything,” Genie said softly, defeated. “I have nothing.”

  “That isn’t my fault, and I’m not responsible for your happiness or comfort,” Isaac said, but without malice. “You should go, and you probably should lose my phone number and address as well. If, however, you want to sue her real father for what he owes I’d be willing to help.”

  “Isaac,” Amanda said, warning him. He put up a hand.

  “Her father needs to take responsibility,” Isaac said.

  Genie shook her head. “Never mind.” And with that, she walked out the front door, down the steps, and out of their lives.

  Ruby stood processing all that had happened over the last few days. What a whirlwind, she thought. What a drama. Amanda put an arm around her shoulder and one around Isaac’s and hugged them close.

  “It’s been an interesting few days,” Amanda said simply.

  Isaac went upstairs without saying anything to either of them. He felt a hole in his chest where his heart should have been. It hadn’t occurred to him that he would ever want children, and then when it looked like he had one, it was all he could do to keep his heart from bursting with love. Isaac felt like Genie had torn out his heart all over again and then stomped on it before walking off into the sunset. He knew that was a dramatic image, but he wanted nothing to do with the world for a while.

  Downstairs, Amanda and Ruby sat on the couch for a little bit. “I don’t think he’s coming back down,” Amanda finally said.

  Ruby nodded. “I’m going to go. I’m right next door if you need anything. I suppose I should do some real work now that the Genie drama is over.”

  *

  Ruby looked at the document on her computer. It was the rough draft for The Affair in Red, and in Ruby’s opinion, it was coming along nicely. Her main plot contained plenty of adrenaline-pumping scenes intermixed with sizzling, romantic scenes. Feedback from the Ophelia Maddox Fan Club confirmed that her readers were happy with the first book in the trilogy, and Ruby’s motto was “Don’t fix what ain’t broke.” She already had ideas for the third and final book in the series: The Affair in Aqua, would take her main characters into the deep blue sea. As such, Ruby knew she would need a great cliffhanger for the end of Red which would lead into Aqua.

  There was a knock on Ruby’s front door. She looked up at the clock and saw that it was well past dinner time, and she wasn’t expecting company. Maybe it’s Isaac, she thought. Maybe he was ready to talk about what had happened with Genie Randles. Upon opening the door however, Ruby saw that it was Amanda Johnson, Isaac’s aunt. She backed up a few steps and waved Amanda into her home.

  “Please come in. I wasn’t expecting company and thought it might be Isaac.” It was then that Ruby noticed the pensive look on Amanda’s face. “What’s wrong? Let’s sit here in the living room.” Ruby led her into the spacious room and took a seat in one of the recliners.

  Amanda had her handbag clutched to her side, cradling it. She looked at Ruby and spoke after a moment of silence. “Isaac kicked me out.”

  Ruby’s face registered shock and disbelief. “He what?! But you’re his only relative!”

  Amanda nodded. “I know. After you left I sat on the back porch reading for a bit to take my mind off of what had happened. He didn’t even come down for dinner; completely ignored my knocking on his bedroom door. Then about half an hour ago he came downstairs and asked if I would mind if we cut this visit short.”

>   “But why?” Ruby’s brows were still knitted together. “Did he give a reason?”

  “He said he wanted to be alone with his grief. I offered to go to a hotel and give him space, but he said he just wanted to be alone for a while. I think maybe since I was so against the whole Genie thing, having me around is too much like an I-told-you-so.”

  Ruby put her hand over the other woman’s and gave it a warm squeeze. “You are welcome to stay with me if you like. It’s almost ten now. No sense driving in the middle of the night after such a trying day.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t impose. I’m going to a hotel tonight and heading back to St. Louis in the morning.” Amanda smiled a wan smile and reached into her hand bag. She pulled out a business card and held it out to Ruby, who took it and looked at it.

  “I didn’t know you owned your own business. That’s amazing. It’s so hard these days I think with all the competition.” The card read Hobby Farm, LTD. Amanda Johnson, Proprietress and Purveyor of artisan breads, cheeses, & free-range meat and eggs. Two phone numbers were listed.

  “Yeah, I’ve been running that farm since my husband died ten years ago. I love the place. It’s so quiet there, located at the edge of St. Louis. But look, I need to get going so you can get back to writing.”

  “Oh, no, Amanda, it’s quite all right,” Ruby protested. She tucked the card into her purse next to her cell phone.

  Amanda smiled. “I gave you the card so you could call me if you need anything. I like you a lot, Ruby. I think you are perfect for Isaac.”

  It was Ruby’s turn to smile. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that his family likes me.”

  “If he gets out of hand or you just want to talk, don’t hesitate to call.” Amanda stood and collected herself before Ruby showed her to the door.

  Ruby wrote her own phone numbers on a sticky note and handed it to Amanda. “Here are my numbers as well in case you want to talk to me.”

  Amanda embraced the younger woman, giving a silent prayer of thanks that this beautiful young woman was in her nephew’s life. She sent up a second silent prayer that Isaac would find his way out of the darkness that seemed to have embraced him suddenly. Then she stood up and smiled a final smile at Ruby before heading to her car and pointing it towards Dallas city limits where her hotel awaited her.