Mr. Mysterious: A Mister Standalone (The Mister Series Book 4) by J.A. Huss

sighs on the other end of the phone. “Something very interesting was just delivered to the house.”
    My whole body goes tense. “What was it?”
    “I don’t think we should talk over the phone, Paxton. I’ll come see you,” she says, a lightness in her voice that shouldn’t be there. “We’ll talk then. And go to the races. I haven’t been to Del Mar in ages.”
    Fuck.
    “The Debutante Stakes is next weekend. There is a Limitless filly running who I’d like to see. I have a car scheduled. I have other meetings with potential clients so we’ll meet in the barn. Shall we say… fiveish on Saturday?”
    “Mother.” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I really don’t have time for this right now. I just got a call from Nolan and I have to do some digging for him.”
    “You don’t even like Nolan.”
    “I know.” I try to massage the headache out of my temple with my fingertips. “But it’s weird and I can’t ignore it. So I need to go help him out because West isn’t around and he’s part of the problem. I can’t ignore them, you know that.”
    “Well, I’m advising you not to ignore this either. As I said, Paxton, I have something to show you. You will want to see this. Now put that girl back on the phone. I need to ask her something.”
    “You don’t, believe me.” I stare straight in Cindy’s eyes as she waits, a pinched look on her face. I turn my back to her. “And she’s already gone, anyway. Just leave it, Mother.”
    “Call her back inside, Paxton. I have a question for her. And you know full well I will not take no for an answer. So you might as well just give in to me and get it over with.”
    I huff out some air and turn around and find Cinderella leaning up against the open patio door. Arms crossed. Frowning. I walk over, cupping my hand over the transmit end of the phone again. “Don’t say anything ,” I whisper, as I hand her the phone.
    She looks surprised, but takes the phone and places it to her ear out of instinct. “Hello?” A pause. “Cindy,” she says, looking at me. “Yes, I do.” Then, “Yes, that’s true. How did you know?”
    I shake my head at her, then drag a finger across my throat in a cut it off motion.
    But Cindy is smiling. “I love them.” More smiles. “I’d love to.”
    I pull the phone out of her hand and put it up to my ear. “No. Whatever you just asked her, it’s no. I’ll see you next weekend—”
    “Paxton?”
    “ What ?”
    “You need to bring her along.”
    “Why?” What the fuck is happening? I mean, Jesus Christ. I spend ten years doing the most questionable shit to dig scumbag offspring out of scandal and none of that was half as frustrating as Cindy and my mother right now in this moment.
    “I’ll explain on Saturday. See you then.”
    I get a dial tone, so I walk back inside and place the handset back on the base in the kitchen. “What did she ask you?”
    “She asked if I like horses. Well, first she asked me my name. And I said Cindy because Cinderella, right?” She rolls her eyes. “And then she asked if I liked horses. Which is a yes, of course. I always had ponies growing up. And then she said, ‘You love the races, don’t you?’ And of course, I said yes again.” Cindy looks up at me. “She invited me to Del Mar next weekend to watch a race. So I get to meet her. She said if you didn’t bring me with you, I should just pick up my ticket at will call and show up in the Turf Club at five.”
    “Is that right?” My head begins to pound.
    “That’s right.” Cindy shrugs.
    “So you’re going?”
    “Oh, hell the fuck yes, I’m going.”
    “What if we play that game tonight?” I ask, grinning, but it’s one of those evil grins. “And you lose.”
    She swallows hard, then lifts her head up and squares her shoulders. “I’m a winner, Mr. Mysterious. You should get used to that fact. And I’ll play that game with you if you want. But it’s got nothing to do with your mother, whom I will be