Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series) (13 page)

Surprisingly after pizza the night took on a new atmosphere. The tension between the brothers had disappeared and Bailey found that they all took turns entertaining the children with rounds in the arcades. True to her word Bailey was forced to defend her title at Skeet ball and despite her valiant effort she lost to Beckett by 10 points. The kids didn’t care because they got to cash in on the tickets for the trinkets behind the glass. On the drive home the seating arrangements changed with Beckett and Bailey taking one car with the kids and the rest of his family piled in the other car. Tristan was asleep before they exited the parking lot and Alexis was not far behind him.

“Thank you Beckett for tonight
.”

“You’re welcome
. I meant what I said earlier Bailey they won’t get hurt and neither will you.”

She looked over at his profile and wanted desperately to touch his face. She knew she was falling for him and couldn’t stop herself. She believed he meant what he said but in the end when he walked away she would be the one who was hurt. She couldn’t blame him since he was being totally honest with her. She could only blame herself and knew the wisest thing she could do was walk away now. But she couldn’t, not when there was the slightest possibility things could change between them.
There were moments when Beckett looked at her that Bailey knew he was thinking of her as a woman, not a contract. Could she make him see her that way all the time? Her advantage was she had one year where he was totally committed to her. The disadvantage was that she couldn’t compete against Macy in the physical sense. Who was she kidding, in one year he would be gone. Why would he want her when Macy would be giving him everything he wanted? She sighed as she turned and looked out the window. When Beckett placed his hand over hers she turned to see his eyes studying her. In the dark they were grayer than blue and almost smoldering. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her heart pound against her chest.

“Bailey….trust me
.” He begged in almost a whisper.

She wasn’t sure she even heard it correctly. She could only nod and
keeping her hand gripped in his she looked at the road ahead. He continued to hold her hand in silence until they turned onto the drive. Parking his car near the front door he grabbed Alexis from the back seat while she grabbed Tristan. Careful not to wake them they carried them inside and up to their rooms. He laid Alexis on her bed leaving her it the care of Selene who had magically appeared. He walked out into the hallway stopping outside Tristan’s door. He watched as Bailey undressed him then helped him to the bathroom. Still half asleep he emptied his bladder then made his way back to his bed. Once tucked in Bailey left his nightlight on and made her way to the door where Beckett stood. He stepped out into the hallway and with one last glance at Tristan she closed the door and turned to Beckett. It wasn’t planned but as she turned she caught her foot on the rug and fell into his arms. He caught her then with his arms still around her lifted her face as his lips lowered to meet hers.

His kiss was soft and hesitant at first, testing the waters before he dove in. Bailey felt her arms involuntarily wrap around his neck pulling him closer as her lips parted for him. His tongue began to explore the sweet recesses of her mouth and she tasted the combination of his minty breath combined with his distinct flavor. She moaned as his arms circled her waist pressing the soft curves of her body against the hard muscle of his. His kiss now deepen
ed taking full possession of her as he backed her against the wall. She felt his desire grow and suddenly reality set in. She pushed against him and finally he relented. Pulling back but keeping his arms around hers he stared down into her face.

“Beckett…no….we… can
’t.” She said her voice barely a whisper. “The contract.”

Her words were as effective as if she had slapped him in the face. He immediately released her then stepped back leaning against the opposite wall as he tried to regain h
is emotions. His confusion mirrored hers on what had just transpired.

“Bailey…I’m sorry…that shouldn’t have happened
.” He said and she felt the pain stab her heart with his words. “I don’t know what I was thinking…it won’t happen again.”

With that he turned and left her standing there feeling confused and rejected. She ran into her room slamming the door behind her.
As her mind replayed what had just happened she realized it must have looked as if she was throwing herself at him. He was a man with urges and she couldn’t expect him to resist when she was so willing. But when her fingers touched her lips she remembered the tenderness of his kiss. The way he was hesitant with her as if he was waiting to pull back at the first sign of resistance. But she had pulled him to her, opened her lips to him. She had let him know she wanted him.

Her cheeks flushed with heat as she realized what he must now be thinking. How could she face him after he
r wanton display of desire? She was no better than her cousin Alicia who married a total stranger. Bailey had thrown herself at Beckett a man she barely knew. If she hadn’t remembered the contract how far would she have let him go? Bailey now understood the contract and the reason her grandmother added the clause. She was wise enough to realize that Bailey had very little experience with those of the opposite sex and Beckett was nearly an expert. Without the clause he could easily seduce Bailey to his bed and in the end leave her to move on to the next conquest. Hadn’t he told her that after the divorce they would remain friends? He had no intention of staying with her. She had to get the delusion out of her head that she could change his mind. This was a business arrangement and nothing more in his eyes.

With her back against the door she slid down to the floor as the tears fell. How
was she going to pull this off? In the next two weeks they were going to have to make several public appearances. They were going to have to appear as if they were deeply in love with each other. She was certain there would be physical contact. How could she be with Beckett, feel him touch her, maybe even kiss her and not react? If she did react how could she then control her feelings without letting her own desires overtake her? How could she also walk down the aisle and pretend to say the sacred vows meant only for those truly in love? She couldn’t do this; it was too much of them all to ask.

Standing up she wiped the tears from her face and opened the door prepared to find her grandmother however she ran right into Selene. From her frightened look she knew immediately something was wrong with Tristan. She pushed passed her into his room and found him sitting on his bed struggling for breath. Quickly she grabbed his inhaler and holding the mouthpiece over his nose and mouth she told him to breath
e as she pumped the medication into the device. Tristan struggled to get the medication into his lungs where it could open his airwave letting in the much needed oxygen. Bailey had done this drill enough times to know when to wait and give the medication time or when to drive to the hospital for the nebulizer. Tonight was to be one of those nights.

“He just couldn’t breath
e.” Selene said in a panic. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“It
’s ok…Selene go arrange for a car…I need to get him to a hospital.”

“
Yes miss.” She said relieved to be doing something.

Bailey wrapped Tristan in a blanket and still holding the mouthpiece to his face she lifted him in her arms and began to carry him. She wasn’t even halfway across his room when Beckett appeared at his door his face white with worry. Without a word he took Tristan from her and raced down the stairs to the car. Bailey was right behind him and when she sat down he placed Tristan in her arms. Shutting the door he
ran around to the driver’s side and gunning the engine he sped down the drive.

“What happened?” Beckett asked looking over at Tristan
. “Was it tonight?”

“I don’t know…he was fine when I laid him down….he seemed tired today after the picnic but after his nap he seemed ok
.” She said shaking her head as Tristan struggled to breathe. “Shhh Tristan….slow…slow breaths…just relax….we’ll be at the hospital soon….Beckett’s taking us.” She said trying to soothe his fears.

“Why doesn’t he have a nebulizer? Beckett asked as he ran through a yellow light before it could turn red.

“The insurance wouldn’t pay for one.” Bailey said. “They would rather we make these trips to the hospital.”

“I’ll handle that
.” He vowed gripping the wheel as he watched Tristan struggle for breath.

Bailey could see the fear in Beckett and she understood how bad it appeared to people not used to these
attacks. Her knowledge didn’t make them less severe it was just that she had witnesses so many of them over the years that she no longer showed her fear. Now she just reacted. She had even let go of the anger at the bureaucracy that thought it was better to make unnecessary trips to the emergency room than let them have a life saving device at their disposal at home. Beckett dropped her off at the emergency entrance then while she carried Tristan inside he went in search of a parking spot. When he raced inside he expected to find Bailey already in a room with Tristan not sitting on a chair with a number waiting to be called.

“Why are you sitting here?”
He asked.

“He needs to be processed
.” She said rocking Tristan as she stroked his hair. “They’ll call me up as soon as someone’s available.” She explained.

Beckett looked at the room full of people and the number Bailey was holding. Never one for waiting he took her number and walked up to one of the nurses who was serving another patient.

“Excuse me.” He said politely.

The nurse looked up at him frowning
. “Sir….please take your seat, we will call you when your number comes up.”

“Look….I’m sorry
.” He said to the patient who was being helped. “But I have a 5 year old boy having an acute asthma attack.”

“Have you given him his inhaler
?” The nurse asked.

“Of course and it
’s not helping.”

“We’ll you need to give it time….please go sit down and we will get to you as soon as we can
.” She said dismissing him.

Frustrated Beckett turned to leave then seeing
Bailey rocking Tristan and watching him struggle to breathe forced Beckett to turn.

“Look
.” He said putting his hands on her desk.

“Sir….please step back or I’ll have to call security
.”

“Good….do that….arrest me I don’t care….just get someone to take care of my child before he turns blue
.” He shouted.

“What seems to be the problem
?” A male’s voice asked causing Beckett to turn. He expected it to be a security guard but instead found himself looking face to face with a doctor dressed in scrubs.

“I have a five year old having a severe asthma attack, his inhaler isn’t working and he needs to get on a nebulizer
.” Beckett said motioning him towards Bailey.

The doctor looked over to Bailey and saw Tristan
lying in her arms. He grabbed the stethoscope from the nurse behind the desk and started towards Bailey.

“Doctor
!” She protested but one look from him shut her up.

Kneeling in front of Bailey he listened to Tristan
’s lungs.

“How long has he been like this
?” He asked her.

“It started about an hour ago….he was fine all day….fell asleep in the car ride home and when I put him down he was breathing ok
.” Bailey explained. “His nanny came and got me….he couldn’t have been in bed for more than a few minutes.”

“Is he on
albuterol?” He asked taking Tristan from Bailey.

She stood with him and she and Beckett walked with him as he bypassed the protesting nurse.

“Yes…he takes daily doses of steroids and uses the inhaler as necessary.”

“When was his last
attack?” He asked finding an empty bed.

“Uh….
a few days ago….we just moved from California….”

“What
’s his name?”

“Tristan
.”

“Tristan
.” He said looking at him. “I’m Dr. Greene…..I’m going to have them get you on a machine to help you breath ok?”

Tristan looked up at him and nodded then looked at Bailey again. She stepped forward taking his hand and Beckett stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. Dr
. Greene looked up at Bailey and she could see the concern in his eyes.

“I’ll be right back
.”

She nodded then watched as he walked away giving orders to the nurse
’s station then headed back to them.

“I’m late for surgery….the nurses know what needs to be done and the doctor on staff will be here shortly…..I’ll swing by and check on your son when I’m done
.”

“Tristan
’s my brother.” Bailey said holding her hand out. “Thank you Dr. Greene.”

He took her hand and Beckett noticed the way he seemed to be studying her. He had obviously thought they were a family. He didn’t
like the way the doctor was now checking her out.